Sec Form 4 Filing - Zaitzeff Michael @ BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP INC - 2022-01-30

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Zaitzeff Michael 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP INC [ BHLB] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) X __ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O HOLDCO ASSET MANAGEMENT, LP, 300 SE 2ND STREET, SUITE 600 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 01/30/2022 (Street) FORT LAURDERDALE, FL33301 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 01/30/2022 A 2,248 A $ 0 2,248 I By Stock Award II( 1 )( 2 )( 4 ) Common Stock 1,048( 5 ) I By Stock Award I( 1 )( 2 )( 3 ) Common Stock 1,673,202( 5 ) I By HoldCo Opportunities Fund III, L.P.( 1 )( 2 )

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Zaitzeff Michael C/O HOLDCO ASSET MANAGEMENT, LP 300 SE 2ND STREET, SUITE 600 FORT LAURDERDALE, FL33301 X Signatures /s/ Michael Zaitzeff 02/01/2022 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Securities of the Issuer beneficially owned directly by HoldCo Opportunities Fund III, L.P. ("HoldCo Fund"). VM GP VII LLC ("VM GP VII"), as the general partner of HoldCo Fund, may be deemed the beneficial owner of the securities of the Issuer beneficially owned by HoldCo Fund. HoldCo Asset Management, LP ("HoldCo Asset Management"), as the investment manager of HoldCo Fund, may be deemed the beneficial owner of the securities of the Issuer beneficially owned by HoldCo Fund. VM GP II LLC ("VM GP II"), as the general partner of HoldCo Asset Management, may be deemed the beneficial owner of the securities of the Issuer beneficially owned by HoldCo Fund. The Reporting Person, as a managing member of each of VM GP II and VM GP VII, may be deemed the beneficial owner of the securities of the Issuer beneficially owned by HoldCo Fund. ( 2 )The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities of the Issuer reported herein except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed to be an admission that the Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose. ( 3 )Stock Awards granted pursuant to the Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. 2018 Equity Compensation Plan vest in three equal annual installments beginning on January 30, 2022. HoldCo Fund (as defined above) receives the economic benefit, if any, of this Stock Award. ( 4 )Stock Awards granted pursuant to the Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. 2018 Equity Compensation Plan vest 100% on January 30, 2023. HoldCo Fund (as defined above) receives the economic benefit, if any, of this Stock Award. ( 5 )Since the reporting person's last report, 523 shares previously held through Stock Award I have vested and are now owned indirectly.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

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