Exhibit 3.1
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
Membership Collective Group Inc.
Membership Collective Group Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”) hereby certifies as follows:
1. The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 10, 2021 (the “Original Certificate”) under the name Membership Collective Group Inc. and was most recently amended and restated pursuant to an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 19, 2021 (the “Amended and Restated Certificate”).
2. The Corporation is filing this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Certificate”) attached hereto as Exhibit A, which restates, integrates and further amends the Amended and Restated Certificate, as heretofore amended, and which was duly adopted by all necessary action of the board of directors of the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).
3. The text of the Amended and Restated Certificate is hereby amended and restated in its entirety hereby to read in full as Exhibit A hereto.
4. The Certificate shall be effective at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time of the 20th date of March, 2023.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Amended & Restated Certificate to be signed by a duly authorized officer as of this 17th date of March, 2023.
MEMBERSHIP COLLECTIVE GROUP INC.
By: /s/Thomas Allen
Name: Thomas Allen
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Exhibit A
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
SOHO HOUSE & CO Inc.
The name of the corporation (hereinafter the “Corporation”) is Soho House & Co Inc.
The name and address of the Corporation’s registered agent in the State of Delaware is Corporate Creations Network Inc., 3411 Silverside Road Tatnall Building #104, Wilmington, Delaware 19810, New Castle County, or such other agent and address as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) shall from time to time select.
The nature of the business of the Corporation and the objects or purposes to be transacted, promoted or carried on by the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL, including, without limitation, (i) investing in securities of Soho House Holdings Limited and any of its subsidiaries, (ii) exercising all rights, powers, privileges and other incidents of ownership or possession with respect to the Corporation’s assets, including managing, holding, selling and disposing of such assets and (iii) engaging in any other activities incidental or ancillary thereto.
Section 4.01Authorized Capital Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is two billion (2,000,000,000) shares of capital stock, of which 1,000,000,000 shares shall be Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), 500,000,000 shares shall be Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Class B Common Stock” and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”) and 500,000,000 shares shall be preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”). Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, the number of authorized shares of any of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL or any successor provision thereof, and no vote of the holders of any of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor.
Section 4.02Common Stock. The terms of the Common Stock set forth below shall be subject to the express terms of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding.
(a)Voting Rights. Except as otherwise required by applicable law or this Certificate:
(i)each share of Class A Common Stock shall entitle the record holder thereof as of the applicable record date to one (1) vote per share in person or by proxy on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Class A Common Stock, whether voting separately as a class or otherwise;
(ii)each share of Class B Common Stock shall entitle the record holder thereof as of the applicable record date to ten (10) votes per share in person or by proxy on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Class B Common Stock, whether voting separately as a class or otherwise; and
(iii) except as otherwise required in this Certificate, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall vote together as a single class (or, if any holders of shares of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, as a single class with such holders of Preferred Stock) on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
(b)Dividends and Distributions. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends or distributions, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive, as, if and when declared by the Board out of the funds of the Corporation legally available therefor, such dividends (payable in cash, shares of stock of the Corporation, property or assets of the Corporation or otherwise) as the Board may from time to time in its sole discretion determine.
(c)Liquidation Rights. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and after making provisions for preferential and other amounts, if any, to which the holders of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Class A Common Stock with respect to payments in liquidation shall be entitled, the remaining assets and funds of the Corporation available for distribution shall be divided among and paid ratably to the holders of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock in proportion to the number of shares held by each such stockholder. A consolidation, reorganization or merger of the Corporation with any other Person or Persons (as defined below), or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, shall not be considered to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Section 4.02(c).
(i)From and after the effectiveness of this Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Effective Time”), shares of Class B Common Stock may be issued only to, and registered only in the name of, a member of the Voting Group (as defined in
the Stockholders Agreement, dated on or about the Effective Time, by and among the Corporation and Yucaipa American Alliance Fund II, L.P., Yucaipa American Alliance (Parallel) Fund II, L.P., Richard Caring and Nick Jones (as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Stockholders’ Agreement”)) (such holders, collectively, the “Permitted Class B Owners”).
Section 4.03Conversions and Transfers of Class B Common Stock.
(a)Optional Conversion of Class B Common Stock. At the option of a holder of Class B Common Stock, each share of Class B Common Stock shall be convertible, at any time or from time to time, into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock as provided herein. Each holder of Class B Common stock who elects to convert the same into shares of Class A Common Stock shall surrender the certificate or certificates (if any), duly endorsed, at the office of the Corporation or the Corporation’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”), and shall give written notice to the Corporation at such office that such holder elects to convert the same and shall state therein the number of shares of Class B Common Stock being converted. Such conversion shall be deemed to have been made immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such surrender and the certificate or certificates representing the shares of Class B Common Stock, or, if the shares are uncertificated, immediately prior to the close of business on the date that the holder delivers notice of such conversion to the Transfer Agent and the person entitled to receive the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder of such shares of Class A Common Stock at such time.
(b)Automatic Conversion of Class B Common Stock. Each share of Class B Common Stock shall automatically, without any further action, convert into one share of Class A Common Stock immediately following a transfer to any person other than a Permitted Class B Owner. Such conversion shall occur automatically without the need for any further action by the holders of such shares and whether or not the certificates representing such shares (if any) are surrendered to the Corporation or the Transfer Agent; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be obligated to issue certificates evidencing the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon such conversion unless the certificates evidencing such shares of Class B Common Stock are either delivered to the Corporation or the Transfer Agent, or the holder notifies the Corporation that such certificates have been lost, stolen or destroyed and executes an agreement satisfactory to the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation from any loss incurred by it in connection with such certificates. Upon the occurrence of such automatic conversion of the shares of Class B Common Stock, the holder of Class B Common Stock so converted shall surrender the certificates representing such shares (if any) at the office of the Corporation or the Transfer Agent.
(c)Conversion upon Death. Each share of Class B Common Stock held of record by a natural person, including a natural person serving in a trustee capacity, other than a Permitted Class B Owner, shall automatically, without any further action, convert into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock upon the death of such natural person.
(d)Final Conversion of Class B Common Stock. At such time as the Voting Group owns less than 15% of the shares of the Corporation’s total outstanding Common Stock (the “Final Conversion Date”), each issued share of Class B Common Stock shall automatically, without any further action, convert into one share of Class A Common Stock. Following the Final
Conversion Date, the Corporation may no longer issue any additional shares of Class B Common Stock. Such conversion shall occur automatically without the need for any further action by the holders of such shares and whether or not the certificates representing the shares (if any) are surrendered to the Corporation or the Transfer Agent; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be obligated to issue certificates evidencing the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon such conversion unless the certificates evidencing such shares of Class B Common Stock are either delivered to the Corporation or the Transfer Agent, or the holder notifies the Corporation that such certificates have been lost, stolen or destroyed and executes an agreement satisfactory to the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation from any loss incurred by it in connection with such certificates. Upon the occurrence of such automatic conversion of the shares of Class B Common Stock, the holder of Class B Common Stock so converted shall surrender the certificates representing such shares (if any) at the office of the Corporation or the Transfer Agent.
(e)Procedures. The Board may, to the extent permitted by law, from time to time establish, modify, amend or rescind, by bylaw or otherwise, regulations and procedures not inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 4.03 for determining whether any transfer or acquisition of shares of Class B Common Stock would violate the provisions hereof and for the orderly application, administration and implementation of the provisions of this Section 4.03. Any such procedures and regulations shall be kept on file with the Secretary of the Corporation and with the Transfer Agent and shall be made available for inspection by and, upon written request shall be mailed to, holders of shares of Class B Common Stock.
(f)Immediate Effect. In the event of a conversion of shares of Class B Common Stock to shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to this Section 4.03, such conversions shall be deemed to have been made at the time that the transfer of shares occurred or immediately upon the Final Conversion Date, as applicable.
Section 4.04Certificates. All certificates or book entries representing shares of Class B Common Stock shall bear a legend substantially in the following form (or in such other form as the Board may determine):
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS [CERTIFICATE][BOOK ENTRY] ARE SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS (INCLUDING RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER) SET FORTH IN THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF THE CORPORATION AS IT MAY BE AMENDED AND/OR RESTATED (A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION AND SHALL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO ANY STOCKHOLDER MAKING A REQUEST THEREFOR).
Section 4.05Fractions. Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock may be issued and transferred in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder to exercise fractional voting rights and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, as applicable. Subject to the Restrictions, holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to transfer fractions thereof and the Corporation shall, and shall cause the Transfer Agent to, facilitate any such transfers, including by issuing certificates or making book entries representing any such fractional shares. For all purposes of this
Certificate of Incorporation, all references to Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock or any share thereof (whether in the singular or plural) shall be deemed to include references to any fraction of a share of such Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock.
Section 4.06Amendment. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation (as defined below)) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation).
Section 4.07Preferred Stock. The Board is authorized, by resolution or resolutions, to provide, out of the authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for the issuance from time to time of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series and, by filing a certificate of designation (a “Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation”) pursuant to the applicable provisions of the DGCL, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, with such powers (including voting powers, if any), designations, preferences, participating, optional or other rights, if any, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, as are stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance thereof adopted by the Board, including, but not limited to, determination of any of the following:
(a)the distinctive designation of the series, whether by number, letter or title, and the number of shares which will constitute the series;
(b)the dividend rate, if any, and the times of payment of dividends, if any, on the shares of the series, whether such dividends will be cumulative and, if so, from what date or dates, and the relation which such dividends, if any, shall bear to the dividends payable on any other class or classes or series of stock;
(c)the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions on which, the shares of the series may be redeemed at the option of the Corporation or the holder thereof or upon the happening of a specified event;
(d)whether or not the shares of the series will be entitled to the benefit of a retirement or sinking fund to be applied to the purchase or redemption of such shares and, if so entitled, the amount of such fund and the terms and provisions relative to the operation thereof;
(e)the amounts payable on, and the preferences, if any, of the shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation or upon the happening of any other specified event;
(f)whether or not the shares of the series will be convertible into, or exchangeable for, at the option of either the holder or the Corporation or upon the happening of a specified event, shares of any other class or classes or series of stock of the Corporation and, if so convertible or exchangeable, the conversion price or prices, or the rates of exchange, and any adjustments thereof, at which such conversion or exchange may be made, and any other terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange;
(g)whether or not the shares of the series will have priority over or be on a parity with or be junior to the shares of any other class or classes or series of stock of the Corporation in any respect, or will be entitled to the benefit of limitations restricting the issuance of shares of any other class or classes or series of stock of the Corporation, restricting the payment of dividends on or the making of other distributions in respect of shares of any other class or classes or series of stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the shares of the series as to dividends or distributions, or restricting the purchase or redemption of the shares of any such junior class or classes or series of stock of the Corporation, and the terms of any such restriction;
(h)whether or not the shares of the series will have voting rights or powers and, if so, the terms of such voting rights and powers; and
(i)any other powers, preferences and rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the series.
Except as otherwise required by law, holders of any series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to only such voting rights and powers, if any, as shall expressly be granted thereto by this Certificate. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Certificate, no vote of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock shall be a prerequisite to the issuance of any shares of any series of the Preferred Stock so authorized in accordance with this Certificate. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately as a class or together with the holders of one or more other such series as a separate class, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate or pursuant to the DGCL. Unless otherwise provided by this Certificate, the Board may, by resolution or resolutions, increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series of Preferred Stock established by a Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation pursuant to this Article IV and the DGCL and, if the number of shares of such series shall be so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status that they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series.
Section 4.08Rights upon Liquidation and Dissolution. On any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock will be entitled to share equally, identically and ratably in all assets remaining after the payment of any liabilities, liquidation preferences and accrued or declared but unpaid dividends, if any, with respect to any outstanding preferred stock, unless a different treatment is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of such affected class, voting separately as a class
Section 4.09Change of Control Transactions. The holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock will be treated equally and identically with respect to shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock owned by them, unless different treatment of the shares of each class is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the class treated differently, voting separately as a class, on (a) the closing of the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, (b) the consummation of a consolidation, merger or reorganization which results in the voting securities
of the Corporation outstanding immediately before the transaction (or the voting securities issued with respect to the voting securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately before the transaction) representing less than a majority of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Corporation or the surviving or acquiring entity or (c) the closing of the transfer (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to a person or group of affiliated persons of securities of the company if, after closing, the transferee person or group would hold 50% or more of the outstanding voting power of the Corporation (or the surviving or acquiring entity). However, consideration to be paid or received by a holder of common stock in connection with any such assets sale, consolidation, merger or reorganization under any employment, consulting, severance or other compensatory arrangement will be disregarded for the purposes of determining whether holders of common stock are treated equally and identically.
Section 5.01General Powers. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law or this Certificate, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board.
Section 5.02Number of Directors. Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to Article IV and this Article V (relating to the rights of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors); the total number of directors shall be as determined from time to time exclusively by the Board; provided, that in no event shall the total number of directors be less than three (3) nor more than fifteen (15). Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws (as defined below) shall so require.
Section 5.03Classified Board; Term of Office. The directors (other than those directors elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more other such series, as the case may be) shall be divided into three classes designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of such directors. Class I directors shall initially serve for a term expiring at the first annual general meeting of stockholders following the date the Common Stock is first publicly traded (the “IPO Date”), Class II directors shall initially serve for a term expiring at the second annual general meeting of stockholders following the IPO Date and Class III directors shall initially serve for a term expiring at the third annual general meeting of stockholders following the IPO Date. At each succeeding annual general meeting, successors to the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a term expiring at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders. If the number of such directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any such additional director of any class elected to fill a newly created directorship resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors remove or shorten the term of any incumbent director. Each director shall hold office until the annual meeting at which his or her term expires and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, removal or disqualification. The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to their respective class.
Section 5.04Quorum. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Certificate, the Bylaws or applicable law, but in addition to any requirements set forth in this Certificate, the Bylaws and applicable law, if the Voting Group owns at least 9% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation and there is at least one member of the Board who is a Voting Group Designee (as defined in the Stockholders’ Agreement), a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board shall include at least one Voting Group Designee unless each Voting Group Designee provides notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation waiving his or her right to be included in the quorum at such meeting. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, but in addition to any other vote required by this Certificate, the Bylaws or applicable law, at any time that the Voting Group owns at least 9% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation, the Corporation shall not (directly or indirectly, by merger, consolidation or otherwise) amend, alter or repeal this Section 5.04, or adopt any provision inconsistent herewith, without the prior written consent of the Voting Group.
Section 5.05Vacancies; Newly Created Directorships. Except as otherwise provided by this Certificate, and subject to the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement, any vacancy resulting from the death, resignation, removal or disqualification of a director or other cause, or any newly created directorship in the Board, shall be filled only by an affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by the stockholders of the Corporation; provided, that, (i) for so long as the Voting Group owns, at least 9% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation, any vacancy resulting from the death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cause in respect of any Voting Group Designee, including the failure of any Voting Group Designee to be elected, shall be filled only by the Voting Group and (ii) for so long as any member of the Voting Group owns at least 5% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation and has the right to nominate a director pursuant to Section 3.1(b) of the Stockholders Agreement, any vacancy resulting from the death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cause in respect of any Member Designee, including the failure of any Member Designee to be elected, shall be filled only by such member of the Voting Group. Except as otherwise provided by this Certificate, a director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors of the class to which he or she has been appointed and until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, removal or disqualification.
Section 5.06Removal of Directors. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Stockholders’ Agreement or this Certificate, directors may be removed only for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.
Section 5.07Voting Rights of Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more such other series of Preferred Stock, to elect directors, the election, term of office, removal, filling of vacancies (including filling any newly created directorships) any and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of the other provisions of this Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, during any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock have the right to elect additional directors, then upon
commencement and for the duration of the period during which such right continues: (i) the then otherwise total number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by such specified number of directors, and the holders of such Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to such provisions, and (ii) each such additional director shall serve until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s right to hold such office terminates pursuant to such provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, removal or disqualification. Except as otherwise provided by the Board in the resolution or resolutions establishing such series, whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to the provisions of such stock, the terms of office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of such stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, retirement, removal or disqualification of such additional directors, shall forthwith terminate, and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be reduced accordingly.
In furtherance and not in limitation of the rights, powers, privileges and discretionary authority granted or conferred by the DGCL or other statutes or laws of the State of Delaware, the Board is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Bylaws”), without any action on the part of the stockholders.
Except as otherwise required by law, and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by (i) the Chairperson of the Board, at any time, (ii) the Secretary of the Corporation at the direction of a majority of the directors then in office, at any time, or (iii) until such time as The Yucaipa Companies LLC and its Affiliates (as such term is defined in Section 11.06 below (collectively, “Yucaipa”) ceases to beneficially own at least 50.1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the “Trigger Event”), the Secretary of the Corporation at the written request of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding Common Stock, and special meetings may not be called by any other person or persons. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice.
To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as it now exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty owed to the Corporation or its stockholders. Any repeal or amendment or modification of this Article VIII (including by changes in applicable law), or the adoption of any provision of this Certificate inconsistent with this Article VIII, shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in applicable law permits the Corporation to provide a broader limitation on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and shall not adversely affect any limitation on the personal liability of any director of the Corporation with respect to acts or omissions occurring
prior to the time of such repeal or amendment or modification or adoption of such inconsistent provision. If any provision of the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of directors shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.
Subject to the rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding to act by written consent as provided in any Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation, any action required or permitted to be taken by stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders; provided, that prior to the Trigger Event, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by or on behalf of the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation in accordance with the DGCL.
Section 10.01Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative is or was, at any time during which this Certificate is in effect (whether or not such person continues to serve in such capacity at the time any indemnification or payment of expenses pursuant hereto is sought or at the time any proceeding relating thereto exists or is brought), a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was at any such time serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans maintained or sponsored by the Corporation (hereinafter, an “Indemnitee”), whether the basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent, shall be (and shall be deemed to have a contractual right to be) indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation (and any successor of the Corporation by merger or otherwise) to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended or modified from time to time (but, in the case of any such amendment or modification, only to the extent that such amendment or modification permits the Corporation to provide greater indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment or modification), against all expense, liability and loss (including reasonably incurred attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that except as provided in Section 10.04 of this Article X, the Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding (or part
thereof) initiated by such person only if such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized in the first instance by the Board.
Section 10.02Advancement of Expenses. The right to indemnification conferred upon Indemnitees in this Article X shall include the right, without the need for any action by the Board, to be paid by the Corporation (and any successor of the Corporation by merger or otherwise) the expenses incurred in defending any such Proceeding in advance of its final disposition, such advances to be paid by the Corporation within twenty (20) days after the receipt by the Corporation of a statement or statements from the claimant requesting such advance or advances from time to time; provided, however, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right of appeal that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Article X or otherwise.
Section 10.03Nature of Rights; Other Sources. The rights conferred upon Indemnitees in this Article X shall be contract rights between the Corporation and each Indemnitee to whom such rights are extended that vest at the commencement of such person’s service to or at the request of the Corporation and all such rights shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation or ceased to serve at the Corporation’s request as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, as described herein, and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. The Corporation hereby acknowledges that certain Indemnitees may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance (other than directors’ and officers’ liability insurance or similar insurance obtained or maintained by or on behalf of the Corporation, its affiliates or any of the foregoing’s respective subsidiaries) from persons or entities other than the Corporation (collectively, the “Other Indemnitors”). The Corporation hereby agrees (i) that it is the indemnitor of first resort of the Indemnitees (i.e., its obligations to an Indemnitee hereunder are primary and any obligation of the Other Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by such Indemnitee are secondary), (ii) that it shall be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by an Indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonably incurred attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms hereof, without regard to any rights an Indemnitee may have against the Other Indemnitors, and (iii) that it irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the Other Indemnitors from any and all claims against the Other Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. The Corporation further agrees that no advancement or payment by the Other Indemnitors on behalf of an Indemnitee with respect to any claim for which such Indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Corporation hereunder shall affect the foregoing and the Other Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of such Indemnitee against the Corporation. For the avoidance of doubt, no person or entity providing directors’ or officers’ liability insurance or similar insurance obtained or maintained by or on behalf of the Corporation,
any of its affiliates or any of the foregoing’s respective subsidiaries, including any person or entity providing such insurance obtained or maintained as contemplated by Section 10.08, shall be an Other Indemnitor.
Section 10.04 Claims. To obtain indemnification under this Article X, a claimant shall submit to the Corporation a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the claimant and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the claimant is entitled to indemnification. Upon written request by a claimant for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 10.04, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to the claimant’s entitlement thereto shall be made as follows: (i) if requested by the claimant, by Independent Counsel (as hereinafter defined), or (ii) if no request is made by the claimant for a determination by Independent Counsel, (a) by a majority vote of Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined), even though less than a quorum, (b) if there are no such Disinterested Directors, or if a majority of the Disinterested Directors so directs, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to the claimant, or (c) if a majority of Disinterested Directors so directs, by a majority of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board. If it is so determined that the claimant is entitled to indemnification, payment to the claimant shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination.
Section 10.05Enforcement. If a claim under Section 10.01 of this Article X is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty (60) days after a written claim pursuant to Section 10.04 of this Article X has been received by the Corporation, or if a claim under Section 10.02 of this Article X is not paid in full by the Corporation within twenty (20) days after a written claim therefor has been made, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by law. It shall be a defense to any such action that in the case of a claim for indemnification, the claimant has not met the standard of conduct which makes it permissible under the DGCL for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board, Disinterested Directors, Independent Counsel or stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board, Disinterested Directors, Independent Counsel or stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
Section 10.06Procedures. If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 10.04 of this Article X that the claimant is entitled to indemnification, the Corporation shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to Section 10.05 of this Article X. The Corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to Section 10.05 of this Article X that the procedures and presumptions of this Article X are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in such proceeding that the Corporation is bound by all the provisions of this Article X.
Section 10.07Non-Exclusive Rights. The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending a Proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Article X: (i) shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of this Certificate, Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or Disinterested Directors or otherwise and (ii) cannot be terminated by the Corporation, the Board or the stockholders of the Corporation with respect to any act or omission that is the subject of the Proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought prior to the date of such termination. Any amendment, modification, alteration or repeal of this Article X (by merger, consolidation or otherwise) that in any way diminishes, limits, restricts, adversely affects or eliminates any right of an Indemnitee or his or her successors to indemnification, advancement of expenses or otherwise shall be prospective only and shall not, without the written consent of the Indemnitee, in any way diminish, limit, restrict, adversely affect or eliminate any such right with respect to any actual or alleged state of facts, occurrence, action or omission then or previously existing, or any action, suit or proceeding previously or thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part upon any such actual or alleged state of facts, occurrence, action or omission.
Section 10.08Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
Section 10.09Additional Rights. The Board may grant rights to indemnification, and rights to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in connection with any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition, to any current or former employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article X with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of current or former directors and officers of the Corporation.
Section 10.10Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Article X shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article X (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Article X containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article X (including, without limitation, each such portion of any Section of this Article X containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
Section 10.11Definitions; Construction. For purposes of this Article X: “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Corporation who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by the claimant; and “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, a member of a law firm, or an independent practitioner, that is experienced in matters of corporate law and shall include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would not have a conflict of interest in representing either the Corporation or the claimant in an action to determine the claimant’s rights under this Article X. Any reference to an officer of the Corporation in this Article X shall be deemed to refer exclusively to the officers appointed as such pursuant to the Bylaws by the Board or by an officer to whom the Board has
delegated the power to appoint officers, and any reference to an officer of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be deemed to refer exclusively to an officer appointed by the Board (or equivalent governing body) of such other entity pursuant to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws (or equivalent organizational documents) of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise. The fact that any person who is or was an employee of the Corporation or an employee of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise has been given or has used the title of “vice president” or any other title that could be construed to suggest or imply that such person is or may be an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall not result in such person being constituted as, or being deemed to be, an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise for purposes of this Article X.
Section 10.12Notices. Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given to the Corporation under this Article X shall be in writing and either delivered in person or sent by telecopy, fax, email, overnight mail or courier service, or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the Secretary of the Corporation and shall be effective only upon receipt by the Secretary.
Section 11.01Recognition of Corporate Opportunities. In recognition and anticipation that (i) certain directors, officers, principals, partners, members, managers, employees, agents and/or other representatives of Yucaipa or its respective Affiliates (as defined below) may serve as directors, officers or agents of the Corporation and its Affiliates, and (ii) Yucaipa or its respective Affiliates may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation and Affiliates, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation and its Affiliates, directly or indirectly, may engage, the provisions of this Article XI are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation and its Affiliates with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities as they may involve Yucaipa or its respective Affiliates and any person or entity who, while a stockholder, director, officer or agent of the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, is a director, officer, principal, partner, member, manager, employee, agent and/or other representative of Yucaipa or its Affiliates (each, an “Identified Person”), on the one hand, and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its Affiliates and its and their respective stockholders, directors, officers, and agents in connection therewith, on the other. To the fullest extent permitted by law (including, without limitation, the DGCL), and notwithstanding any other duty (contractual, fiduciary or otherwise, whether at law or in equity), each Identified Person (i) shall have the right to, directly or indirectly, engage in and possess interests in other business ventures of every type and description, including those engaged in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Corporation or any of its Affiliates or deemed to be competing with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, on its own account, or in partnership with, or as a direct or indirect equity holder, controlling person, stockholder, director, officer, employee, agent, Affiliate (including any portfolio company), member, financing source, investor, director or indirect manager, general or limited partner or assignee of any other person or entity with no obligation to offer to the
Corporation or its subsidiaries or other Affiliates the right to participate therein and (ii) shall have the right to invest in, or provide services to, any person that is engaged in the same or similar business activities as the Corporation or its Affiliates or directly or indirectly competes with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates.
Section 11.02Competitive Opportunities. In the event that any Identified Person acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter which may be an investment, corporate or business opportunity or prospective economic or competitive advantage in which the Corporation or its Affiliates could have an interest or expectancy (contractual, equitable or otherwise) (a “Competitive Opportunity”) or otherwise is then exploiting any Competitive Opportunity, to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL and notwithstanding any other duty existing at law or in equity, the Corporation and its Affiliates will have no interest in, and no expectation (contractual, equitable or otherwise) that such Competitive Opportunity be offered to it. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any such interest or expectation (contractual, equitable or otherwise) is hereby renounced so that such Identified Person shall (i) have no duty to communicate or present such Competitive Opportunity to the Corporation or its Affiliates, (ii) have the right to either hold any such Competitive Opportunity for such Identified Person’s own account and benefit or the account of the former, current or future direct or indirect equity holders, controlling persons, stockholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, Affiliates, members, financing sources, investors, direct or indirect managers, general or limited partners or assignees of any Identified Person or to direct, recommend, assign or otherwise transfer such Competitive Opportunity to persons or entities other than the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, Affiliates or direct or indirect equity holders and (iii) notwithstanding any provision in this Certificate to the contrary, not be obligated or liable to the Corporation, any stockholder, director or officer of the Corporation or any other person or entity by reason of the fact that such Identified Person, directly or indirectly, took any of the actions noted in the immediately preceding clause (ii), pursued or acquired such Competitive Opportunity for itself or any other person or entity or failed to communicate or present such Competitive Opportunity to the Corporation or its Affiliates.
Section 11.03Acknowledgement. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in any shares of capital stock of the Corporation or any other interest in the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article XI.
Section 11.04Interpretation; Duties. In the event of a conflict or other inconsistency between this Article XI and any other Article or provision of this Certificate, this Article XI shall prevail under all circumstances. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, under no circumstances shall the provisions of this Article XI (other than this Section 11.04 of this Article XI) apply to (or result in or be deemed to result in a limitation or elimination of any duty (contractual, fiduciary or otherwise, whether at law or in equity)) owed by any employee of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, irrespective of whether such employee otherwise would be an Identified Person, and any Competitive Opportunity waived or renounced by any person or entity pursuant to such other provisions of this Article XI shall be expressly reserved and maintained by such person or entity, as applicable (and shall not be waived or renounced) as to any such employee.
Section 11.05Section 122(17) of the DGCL. For the avoidance of doubt, subject to Section 11.04 of this Article XI, this Article XI is intended to constitute, with respect to the Identified Persons, a disclaimer and renunciation, to the fullest extent permitted under Section 122(17) of the DGCL, of any right of the Corporation or any of its Affiliates with respect to the matters set forth in this Article XI, and this Article XI shall be construed to effect such disclaimer and renunciation to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL.
Section 11.06Definitions. Solely for purposes of this Article XI, (A) “Affiliate” shall mean (a) with respect to Yucaipa, any person or entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by a Yucaipa entity, controls a Yucaipa entity, or is under common control with a Yucaipa entity, excluding (i) the Corporation, and (ii) any entity that is controlled by the Corporation (including its direct and indirect subsidiaries), and (b) in respect of the Corporation, any person or entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Corporation, and (B) “Yucaipa” shall mean the The Yucaipa Companies LLC.
Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, other employee or stockholder of the Corporation, (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or of this Certificate or the Bylaws or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (d) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, but subject to the foregoing provisions of this Article XII, the federal district courts of the United States shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any action, suit or proceeding asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The provisions of this Article XII do not apply to claims arising under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to have consented to the provisions of this Article XII.
Section 13.01Section 203 of the DGCL. The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.
Section 13.02Interested Stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not engage in any business combination (as defined below), at any point in time at which the Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, with any interested stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three (3) years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:
(a)prior to such time, the Board approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, or
(b)upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock (as defined below) of the Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned (a) by persons who are directors and also officers and (b) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer, or
(c)at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the Board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation which is not owned by the interested stockholder.
Section 13.03Certain Exceptions. The restrictions contained in this Article XIII shall not apply if:
(a)a stockholder becomes an interested stockholder inadvertently and (i) as soon as practicable divests itself of ownership of sufficient shares so that the stockholder ceases to be an interested stockholder and (ii) would not, at any time, within the three-year period immediately prior to the business combination between the Corporation and such stockholder, have been an interested stockholder but for the inadvertent acquisition of ownership, or
(b)the business combination is proposed prior to the consummation or abandonment of and subsequent to the earlier of the public announcement or the notice required hereunder of a proposed transaction which (i) constitutes one of the transactions described in the second sentence of this Section 13.03(b), (ii) is with or by a person who either was not an interested stockholder during the previous three years or who became an interested stockholder with the approval of the Board and (iii) is approved or not opposed by a majority of the directors then in office (but not less than one) who were directors prior to any person becoming an interested stockholder during the previous three years or were recommended for election or elected to succeed such directors by a majority of such directors. The proposed transactions referred to in the preceding sentence are limited to (x) a merger or consolidation of the Corporation (except for a merger in respect of which, pursuant to Section 251(f) of the DGCL, no vote of the stockholders of the Corporation is required), (y) a sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (other than to any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary or to the Corporation) having an aggregate market value equal to fifty percent or more of either that aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of the Corporation or (z) a proposed tender or exchange offer for fifty percent or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation. The Corporation shall give not less than 20 days’ notice to all interested stockholders prior to the consummation of any of the transactions described in clause (x) or (y) of the second sentence of this Section 13.03.
Section 13.04Definitions. For purposes of this Article XIII only, references to:
(a)“affiliate” means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another person.
(b) “associate”, when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means: (i) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock; (ii) any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (iii) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person.
(c)“business combination”, when used in reference to the Corporation and any interested stockholder of the Corporation, means:
(i)any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (a) with the interested stockholder, or (b) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation Section 13.02 of this Article XIII is not applicable to the surviving entity;
(ii)any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the interested stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to 10% or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of the Corporation;
(iii) any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested stockholder, except: (a) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested stockholder became such; (b) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (c) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the interested stockholder became such; (d) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all holders of said stock; or (e) any issuance or transfer of stock by the Corporation; provided, however, that in no case under items (c)‑(e) of this subsection (iii) shall there be an increase in the interested stockholder’s proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the voting stock of the Corporation (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments);
(iv)any transaction involving the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series, or securities convertible into the stock of any class or series, of the Corporation or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the interested stockholder, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares of stock not caused, directly or indirectly, by the interested stockholder; or
(v)any receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges, or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in subsections (i)‑(iv) above) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary.
(d)“control”, including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract, or otherwise. A person who is the owner of 20% or more of the outstanding voting stock of a corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Section, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.
(e)“interested stockholder” means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, or (ii) is an affiliate or associate of the Corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation at any time within the three (3) year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder; and the affiliates and associates of such person; but “interested stockholder” shall not include any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the 15% limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation, provided that such person shall be an interested stockholder if thereafter such person acquires additional shares of voting stock of the Corporation, except as a result of further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of “owner” below but shall not include any other unissued stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.
(f)“owner,” including the terms “own” and “owned,” when used with respect to any stock, means a person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates:
(g)beneficially owns such stock, directly or indirectly; or
(i)has (A) the right to acquire such stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote such stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any stock because of such person’s right to vote such stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to ten (10) or more persons; or
(ii)has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in item (B) of subsection (i) above), or disposing of such stock with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such stock.
(h)“person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity.
(i)“stock” means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest.
(j)“voting stock” means stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. Every reference to a percentage of voting stock shall refer to such percentages of the votes of such voting stock.
If any provision or provisions of this Certificate shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Certificate (including, without limitation, each portion of any Article (or section or subsection thereof) of this Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Certificate (including, without limitation, each such portion of any Article (or any section or subsection thereof) of this Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service to or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.
The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Certificate and the
DGCL, and all rights, preferences and privileges herein conferred upon stockholders by and pursuant to this Certificate in its current form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Article XV. Notwithstanding the foregoing, from and after the occurrence of the Trigger Event, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Certificate or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to greater or additional vote or consent required hereunder (including any vote of the holders of any particular class or classes or series of stock required by law or by this Certificate), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal Section 4.03 of Article IV, Articles V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII and XIII, and this Article XV.
From and after the occurrence of the Trigger Event, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Certificate or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any additional or greater vote or consent required hereunder (including any vote of the holders of any particular class or classes or series of stock required by law or by this Certificate), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders of the Corporation to alter, amend or repeal, in whole or in part, any provision of the Bylaws or to adopt any provision inconsistent therewith.
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