As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 2, 2013

Registration No. 333-    

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 


 

HD Supply Holdings, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

26-0486780

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

3100 Cumberland Boulevard, Suite 1480
Atlanta, Georgia 30339

(770) 852-9000
(Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including Area Code of Registrant’s Principal Executive Office)

 


 

HDS INVESTMENT HOLDING, INC. STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC. 2013 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC. EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
(Full title of the plan)

 


 

Ricardo J. Nunez, Esq.

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

HD Supply Holdings, Inc.

3100 Cumberland Boulevard, Suite 1480

Atlanta, Georgia 30339

(770) 852-9000

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 


 

With copies to:

 

Steven J. Slutsky, Esq.
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
919 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
(212) 909-6000

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer o

 

Non-accelerated filer x (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Smaller reporting company o

 


 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Name of Plan

 

Title of Securities
to be registered

 

Amount to be
registered(1)

 

Proposed
maximum offering
price per share

 

Proposed
maximum
aggregate offering
price

 

Amount of
registration fee

 

HDS Investment Holding, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan

 

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

 

14,818,000

 

$

13.00

(2)

$

192,634,000

 

$

26,275.28

 

HD Supply Holdings, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

 

2,000,000

 

$

18.00

(3)

$

36,000,000

 

$

4,910.40

 

HD Supply Holding, Inc. 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan

 

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

 

12,500,000

 

$

18.00

(3)

$

225,000,000

 

$

30,690.00

 

(1)   The number of shares being registered represents the shares underlying option awards outstanding under the HDS Investment Holding, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan, and shares reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under the HD Supply Holdings, Inc. 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan and the HD Supply Holdings, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  Pursuant to Rule 416(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock that became issuable under the applicable plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction.

 

(2)   Computed pursuant to Rule 457(h) solely for purpose of determining the registration fee, based upon an assumed price of $13 per share of Common Stock, which is the weighted average exercise price of the outstanding option awards under the HDS Investment Holding, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan.

 

(3)   Computed pursuant to Rule 457(h) solely for purpose of determining the registration fee, based upon an assumed price of $18 per share of Common Stock, which is the initial public offering price.

 

 

 



 

Part I

 

Information Required in the Section 10(a) Prospectus

 

All information required by Part I to be contained in the prospectus is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act” ).

 

Part II

 

Information Required in the Registration Statement

 

Item 3.          Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.

 

The following documents previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) by HD Supply Holdings, Inc. (the “ Company ”) are incorporated herein by reference:

 

(1) the Company’s prospectus filed with the Commission on June 28, 2013 pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, relating to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-187872);

 

(2) the description of the Company’s Common Stock contained in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-35979) filed on June 21, 2013.

 

All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement that indicate that all securities offered hereby have been sold or that deregister all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the respective dates of filing of such documents.

 

Item 4.          Description of Securities.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5.          Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 6.          Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Delaware General Corporation Law

 

The Company is incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware.

 

Section 145(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or the ‘‘DGCL,’’ provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

Section 145(b) of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

Section 145(c) of the DGCL provides that to the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145 of the DGCL, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.

 

Section 145(e) of the DGCL provides that expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by an officer or director of the corporation in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in Section 145 of the DGCL. Such expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by former directors and officers or other persons serving at the request of the corporation as directors, officers, employees or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.

 

Section 145(g) of the DGCL specifically allows a Delaware corporation to purchase liability insurance on behalf of its directors and officers and to insure against potential liability of such directors and officers regardless of whether the corporation would have the power to indemnify such directors and officers under Section 145 of the DGCL.

 

The Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions permitted under Delaware General Corporation Law relating to the liability of directors. These

 

2



 

provisions eliminate a director’s personal liability to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL for monetary damages resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty, except in circumstances involving:

 

·                                           any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty;

 

·                                           acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law;

 

·                                           under Section 174 of the DGCL (unlawful dividends); or

 

·                                           any transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit.

 

The principal effect of the limitation on liability provision is that a stockholder is unable to prosecute an action for monetary damages against a director unless the stockholder can demonstrate a basis for liability for which indemnification is not available under the DGCL. These provisions, however, should not limit or eliminate the Company’s rights or any stockholder’s rights to seek non-monetary relief, such as an injunction or rescission, in the event of a breach of director’s fiduciary duty. These provisions do not alter a director’s liability under federal securities laws. The inclusion of this provision in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation may discourage or deter stockholders or management from bringing a lawsuit against directors for a breach of their fiduciary duties, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise have benefited the Company and its stockholders.

 

The amended and restated by-laws require the Company to indemnify and advance expenses to its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL and other applicable law, except in certain cases of a proceeding instituted by the director or officer without the approval of our Board. The amended and restated by-laws provide that the Company is required to indemnify its directors and executive officers, to the fullest extent permitted by law, for all judgments, fines, settlements, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with pending or threatened legal proceedings because of the director’s or officer’s positions with the Company or another entity that the director or officer serves at our request, subject to various conditions, and to advance funds to the directors and officers to enable them to defend against such proceedings.

 

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a Delaware corporation to include a provision in its certificate of incorporation eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. This provision, however, may not eliminate or limit a director’s liability (1) for breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (3) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (4) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. The Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains such a provision.

 

The Board of Directors of the Company has approved a form of indemnification agreement with respect to the directors and intends to enter into such form of indemnification agreement with each of its directors. The form of indemnification agreement provides the directors with contractual rights to the indemnification and expense advancement rights provided under the Company’s amended and restated by-laws, as well as contractual rights to additional indemnification as provided in the indemnification agreement.

 

The Company has obtained directors’ and officers’ liability insurance which insures against certain liabilities that its directors and officers and its subsidiaries, may, in such capacities, incur.

 

3



 

Item 7.          Exemption from Registration Claimed.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 8.          Exhibits.

 

The Exhibits accompanying this Registration Statement are listed on the accompanying Exhibit Index.

 

Item 9.          Undertakings.

 

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

 

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement; and

 

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;

 

provided, however , that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

 

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

4



 

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

5



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Atlanta, Georgia on July 2, 2013.

 

 

HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

/s/ Ricardo J. Nunez

 

 

Ricardo J. Nunez, Esq.

 

 

Senior Vice President, General

 

 

Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Joseph J. DeAngelo

 

Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

July 2, 2013

Joseph J. DeAngelo

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Ronald J. Domanico

 

Senior Vice President and

 

July 2, 2013

Ronald J. Domanico

 

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial

 

 

 

 

Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Evan Levitt

 

Controller and Assistant Treasurer

 

July 2, 2013

Evan Levitt

 

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

Director

 

July 2, 2013

James G. Berges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

Director

 

July 2, 2013

Charles W. Peffer

 

 

 

 

 

6



 

*

 

Director

 

July 2, 2013

Brian A. Bernasek

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

Director

 

July 2, 2013

Paul Edgerley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

Director

 

July 2, 2013

Mitchell Jacobson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

Director

 

July 2, 2013

Lew Klessel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

Director

 

July 2, 2013

Gregory S. Ledford

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

Director

 

July 2, 2013

Nathan K. Sleeper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

Director

 

July 2, 2013

Stephen M. Zide

 

 

 

 

 

 

* By:

/s/ Ricardo J. Nunez

 

 

Ricardo J. Nunez, Esq.

 

 

Attorney in Fact

 

 

7



 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

 

Exhibits

 

 

 

 

 

3.1

 

Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of HD Supply Holdings, Inc.

 

 

 

3.2

 

Third Amended and Restated By-laws of HD Supply Holdings, Inc.

 

 

 

5.1

 

Opinion of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP.

 

 

 

23.1

 

Consent of Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP.

 

 

 

23.2

 

Consent of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

 

 

 

24.1

 

Powers of Attorney.

 

 

 

99.1

 

HDS Investment Holding, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (No. 333-187872) (the “ S-1 Registration Statement ”).

 

 

 

99.2

 

HD Supply Holdings, Inc. 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.49 to the S-1 Registration Statement.

 

 

 

99.3

 

HD Supply Holdings, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.51 to the S-1 Registration Statement.

 

8


Exhibit 3.1

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC.

 

HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, hereby certifies as follows:

 

1.             The present name of the corporation is HD Supply Holdings, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”).

 

2.             The Corporation was originally formed as Pro Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation, on June 18, 2007.  An Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, changing the name of the Corporation from Pro Acquisition Corporation to HDS Investment Holding, Inc. was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “ Secretary of State ”) on August 22, 2007.  A Certificate of Amendment, changing the name of the Corporation from HDS Investment Holding, Inc. to HD Supply Holdings, Inc. was filed with the Secretary of State on April 11, 2013.  A Certificate of Amendment changing the Corporation’s authorized capital and affecting a 1 for 2 reverse stock split was filed with the Secretary of State on June 12, 2013.

 

3.             The Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended and restated pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (as amended from time to time, the “ DGCL ”), so as to read in its entirety in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by this reference (Exhibit A and this Certificate collectively constituting the Corporation’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation).

 

4.             The amendment and restatement of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the DGCL, the Board of Directors of the Corporation having adopted resolutions setting forth such amendment and restatement, declaring its advisability, and directing that it be submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation for their approval; and 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 having consented in writing to the adoption of such amendment and restatement.

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned officer of the Corporation has executed this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation on the 2nd day of July, 2013.

 

 

HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ricardo J. Nunez

 

 

Name: Ricardo J. Nunez

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

[Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of HD Supply Holdings, Inc.]

 



 

Exhibit A

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

HD SUPPPLY HOLDINGS, INC.

 

FIRST Name .  The name of the corporation is HD Supply Holdings, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”).

 

SECOND Registered Office .  The Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is at 160 Greentree Drive, Suite 101, in the City of Dover, County of Kent, 19904.  The name of its registered agent at such address is National Registered Agents, Inc.

 

THIRD Purpose .  The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (as amended from time to time, the “ DGCL ”).

 

FOURTH Capital Stock .  The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,100,000,000, consisting of:  ( x ) 1,000,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), and ( y ) 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Preferred Stock ”), issuable in one or more series as hereinafter provided.

 

(a)   Common Stock .  Except as otherwise provided ( i ) by the DGCL, ( ii ) by Section (b) of this Article FOURTH, or ( iii ) by resolutions, if any, of the board of directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) fixing the powers, designations, preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other rights of the Preferred Stock, or the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, the entire voting power of the shares of the Corporation for the election of directors and for all other purposes shall be vested exclusively in the Common Stock.  Each share of Common Stock shall have one vote upon all matters to be voted on by the holders of the Common Stock, and shall be entitled to participate equally in all dividends payable with respect to the Common Stock and to share equally, subject to any rights and preferences of the Preferred Stock (as fixed by resolutions, if any, of the Board of Directors), in all assets of the Corporation, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, or upon any distribution of the assets of the Corporation.

 

(b)   Preferred Stock .  Subject to the provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors is authorized to fix from time to time by resolution or resolutions the number of shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock, and to determine the voting powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of any such class or series.  Further, within the limits and restrictions stated in any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors originally fixing the number of shares constituting any such class or series, the Board of Directors is authorized to

 



 

increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such class or series then outstanding) the number of shares of any such class or series subsequent to the issue of shares of that class or series.

 

FIFTH Management of Corporation .  The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation and for the purpose of creating, defining, limiting and regulating the powers of the Corporation and its directors and stockholders:

 

(a)   The number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be not fewer than three and not more than twenty-one, each of whom shall be a natural person.  Subject to any special rights of any holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock to elect directors and for so long as the Second Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, among the Corporation and certain of its stockholders, dated as of September 21, 2007 (as amended from time to time, the “ Stockholders Agreement ”) is in effect, the then-applicable terms, if any, of the Stockholders Agreement, the precise number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed, and may be altered from time to time, only by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

(b)   The directors of the Corporation, subject to any rights of the holders of shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, shall be classified with respect to the time for which they severally hold office into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible. One class’s initial term will expire at the first annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, another class’s initial term will expire at the second annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and another class’s initial term will expire at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, with directors of each class to hold office until their successors are duly elected and qualified, provided that the term of each director shall continue until the election and qualification of his or her successor or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.  At each annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation beginning with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, subject to any rights of the holders of shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock and for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, the then-applicable terms, if any, of the Stockholders Agreement, the successors of the directors whose term expires at that meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the third year following the year of their election.  In the case of any increase or decrease, from time to time, in the number of directors of the Corporation, the number of directors in each class shall be apportioned as nearly equal a possible.  No decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

 

2



 

(c)   Subject to this Article FIFTH, the election of directors may be conducted in any manner approved by the person presiding at a meeting of the stockholders or the directors, as the case may be, at the time when the election is held and need not be by written ballot.

 

(d)   Subject to any rights of the holders of shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock, if any, to elect additional directors under specified circumstances and for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, the then-applicable terms, if any, of the Stockholders Agreement, (i) following the effectiveness of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and until the first date (the “ Trigger Date ”) on which the Sponsors (as defined in Article EIGHTH) cease collectively to beneficially own (directly or indirectly) more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, a director may be removed at any time, either for or without cause, upon affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the votes to which all the stockholders of the Corporation would be entitled to cast in any election of directors or class of directors and (ii) from and after the Trigger Date, a director may be removed from office only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of holders of at least three- fourths (75%) of the votes to which all the stockholders of the Corporation would be entitled to cast in any election of directors or class of directors.

 

(e)   Subject to any rights of the holders of shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock, if any, to elect additional directors under specified circumstances and for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, the then-applicable terms, if any, of the Stockholders Agreement, and except as otherwise provided by law, any vacancy in the Board of Directors that results from an increase in the number of directors, from the death, disability, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director or from any other cause shall be filled solely by a majority of the total number of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director.

 

(f)    All corporate powers and authority of the Corporation (except as at the time otherwise provided by law, by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or by the by-laws of the Corporation) shall be vested in and exercised by the Board of Directors.

 

(g)   To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, a director of the Corporation shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.  If the DGCL is amended after the date of the filing of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended from time to time.

 

(h)   To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to the directors of the Corporation, provided

 

3



 

that, except as otherwise provided in the by-laws of the Corporation, the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify or advance expenses to a director of the Corporation in respect of an action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) instituted by such director, unless such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) has been authorized by the Board of Directors.  The rights provided by this Article FIFTH, Section (i) shall not limit or exclude any rights, indemnities or limitations of liability to which any director of the Corporation may be entitled, whether as a matter of law, under the by-laws of the Corporation, by agreement, vote of the stockholders, approval of the directors of the Corporation or otherwise.

 

SIXTH Stockholder Action by Written Consent .  Until the Trigger Date, 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 of stockholders, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, are: (i) signed by 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 (but not less than the minimum number of votes otherwise prescribed by law) and (ii) delivered within 60 days of the earliest dated consent so delivered to the Corporation, to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the books in which proceedings of meetings of the stockholders are recorded.  From and after the Trigger Date, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken only upon the vote of the stockholders at an annual or special meeting duly called and may not be taken by written consent of the stockholders.

 

SEVENTH Special Meetings .  Subject to the special rights of any series of Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes may be called only by or at the direction of the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors adopted by a majority of the total number of directors then in office; provided that, until the Trigger Date, a special meeting of the stockholders may also be called by the Secretary of the Corporation at the request of the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. From and after the Trigger Date, the stockholders of the Corporation do not have the power to call a special meeting of the stockholders.  Except as otherwise required by law, the business conducted at a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation shall be limited exclusively to the business set forth in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, and the individual or group calling such meeting shall have exclusive authority to determine the business included in such notice.  Any special meeting of the stockholders shall be held either within or without the State of Delaware, at such place, if any, and on such date and time, as shall be specified in the notice of such special meeting.  The by-laws of the Corporation may establish procedures regulating the submission by stockholders of nominations and proposals for consideration at meetings of stockholders of the Corporation.

 

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EIGHTH Business Opportunities .  To the fullest extent permitted by Section 122(17) of the DGCL (or any successor provision) and except as may be otherwise expressly agreed in writing by the Corporation and any of Bain Capital Integral Investors 2006, LLC, Carlyle Partners V, L.P., Carlyle Partners V-A, L.P., CP V Coinvestment A, L.P., CP V Coinvestment B, L.P., Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Fund VII, L.P., CD&R Parallel Fund VII, L.P., Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Fund VII (Co-Investment), L.P. and their respective affiliates (each, a “ Sponsor ” and together the “ Sponsors ”) and The Home Depot, Inc. and its affiliates (“ THD ” and each of the Sponsors and THD an “ Investor ”) with respect to such Investor, the Corporation, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, renounces and waives any interest or expectancy of the Corporation and its subsidiaries in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, directly or indirectly, any potential transactions, matters or business opportunities (including, without limitation, any business activities or lines of business that are the same as or similar to those pursued by, or competitive with, the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or any dealings with customers or clients of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries) that are from time to time presented to any of the Investors or any of their respective officers, directors, agents, stockholders, members, partners, affiliates and subsidiaries, even if the transaction, matter or opportunity is one that the Corporation or its subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so and no such person shall be liable to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or officer or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such person pursues, acquires or participates in such business opportunity, directs such business opportunity to another person or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business opportunity, to the Corporation or its subsidiaries.  Any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article EIGHTH.  Neither the alteration, amendment or repeal of this Article EIGHTH, nor the adoption of any provision of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article EIGHTH, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, any modification of law, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article EIGHTH in respect of any business opportunity first identified or any other matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article EIGHTH, would accrue or arise, prior to such alteration, amendment, repeal, adoption or modification.  If any provision or provisions of this Article EIGHTH shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article EIGHTH (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Article EIGHTH 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 (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article EIGHTH (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Article EIGHTH 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

 

5



 

fullest extent permitted by law. This Article EIGHTH shall not limit any protections or defenses available to, or indemnification or advancement rights of, any director or officer of the Corporation under this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the by- laws of the Corporation or applicable law.

 

NINTH Section 203 of the General Corporation Law .  The Corporation elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL, “Business Combinations With Interested Stockholders”, as permitted under and pursuant to subsection (b)(3) of Section 203 of the DGCL.

 

TENTH Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation .  The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter or repeal any provision contained in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the DGCL, and all rights herein conferred upon stockholders or directors are granted subject to this reservation, provided , however, that any amendment, alteration or repeal of Article FIFTH, Section (g) or Section (h) shall not adversely affect any right or protection existing under this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation immediately prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal, including any right or protection of a director thereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and notwithstanding that a lesser percentage may be permitted from time to time by applicable law, no provision of Articles FIFTH, SIXTH, SEVENTH, EIGHTH, NINTH, this Article TENTH and Articles ELEVENTH and TWELFTH may be altered, amended or repealed in any respect, nor may any provision or by-law inconsistent therewith be adopted, unless in addition to any other vote required by this Second Amended and Rested Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise required by law, (i) until the Trigger Date, such amendment, alteration, or repeal is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, and (ii) from and after the Trigger Date, such amendment, alteration or repeal is approved at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose by, in addition to any other vote otherwise required by law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least three-fourths (75%) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

ELEVENTH Amendment of By-Laws . In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to amend, alter or repeal the by-laws of the Corporation subject to the power of the stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote with respect thereto to amend, alter or repeal the by-laws.  Any amendment, alteration or repeal of the by-laws of the Corporation by the Board of Directors shall require the approval of a majority of the Board of Directors then in office.  In addition to any other vote otherwise required by law, the stockholders of the Corporation may amend, alter or repeal the by-laws of the Corporation, provided that any such action will require (i) until the Trigger Date, the

 

6



 

affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote with respect thereto, voting together as a single class and (ii) from and after the Trigger Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least three- fourths (75%) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote with respect thereto, voting together as a single class.

 

TWELFTH Exclusive Jurisdiction for Certain Actions .  Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the by-laws of the Corporation, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each such case subject to said Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein. 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 consented to the provisions of this Article TWELFTH.

 

7


Exhibit 3.2

 

 

 

 

HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC.

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS

 

Effective as of July 2, 2013

 

 

 

 



 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE I STOCKHOLDERS

1

 

 

Section 1.01.

Annual Meetings

1

Section 1.02.

Special Meetings

1

Section 1.03.

Participation in Meetings by Remote Communication

1

Section 1.04.

Notice of Meetings; Waiver

2

Section 1.05.

Quorum

2

Section 1.06.

Voting

2

Section 1.07.

Voting Lists

3

Section 1.08.

Adjournment

3

Section 1.09.

Proxies

3

Section 1.10.

Organization; Procedure; Inspection of Elections

4

Section 1.11.

Stockholder Action by Written Consent

5

Section 1.12.

Notice of Stockholder Proposals and Nominations

5

 

 

 

ARTICLE II BOARD OF DIRECTORS

8

 

 

 

Section 2.01.

General Powers

8

Section 2.02.

Election of Directors

8

Section 2.03.

Annual and Regular Meetings: Notice

9

Section 2.04.

Special Meetings; Notice

9

Section 2.05.

Quorum

9

Section 2.06.

Voting

9

Section 2.07.

Adjournment

10

Section 2.08.

Action Without a Meeting

10

Section 2.09.

Regulations; Manner of Acting

10

Section 2.10.

Action by Telephonic Communications

10

Section 2.11.

Removal; Resignation

10

Section 2.12.

Director Fees and Expenses

10

Section 2.13.

Reliance on Accounts and Reports, etc .

11

 

 

 

ARTICLE III COMMITTEES

11

 

 

 

Section 3.01.

How Constituted

11

Section 3.02.

Powers

11

Section 3.03.

Proceedings

12

Section 3.04.

Quorum and Manner of Acting

12

Section 3.05.

Action by Telephonic Communications

12

Section 3.06.

Resignations

13

Section 3.07.

Removal

13

Section 3.08.

Vacancies

13

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV OFFICERS

13

 

 

 

Section 4.01.

Number

13

Section 4.02.

Election

13

 

i



 

Table of Contents

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Section 4.03.

Salaries

14

Section 4.04.

Removal and Resignation; Vacancies

14

Section 4.05.

Authority and Duties of Officers

14

Section 4.06.

Chairman of the Board

14

Section 4.07.

Chief Executive Officer

14

Section 4.08.

President

14

Section 4.09.

Vice President

15

Section 4.10.

Secretary and Assistant Secretaries

15

Section 4.11.

Chief Financial Officer

15

Section 4.12.

Security

15

Section 4.13.

Action with Respect to Securities of Other Companies

16

 

 

 

ARTICLE V CAPITAL STOCK

16

 

 

 

Section 5.01.

Certificates of Stock, Uncertificated Shares

16

Section 5.02.

Signatures; Facsimile

16

Section 5.03.

Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates

16

Section 5.04.

Transfer of Stock

16

Section 5.05.

Registered Stockholders

17

Section 5.06.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

17

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI INDEMNIFICATION

17

 

 

 

Section 6.01.

Nature of Indemnity

17

Section 6.02.

Successful Defense

18

Section 6.03.

Determination That Indemnification Is Proper

18

Section 6.04.

Advance of Expenses

18

Section 6.05.

Procedure for Indemnification of Directors and Officers

18

Section 6.06.

Contract Right; Non-Exclusivity; Indemnification Priority Survival

19

Section 6.07.

Insurance

20

Section 6.08.

Subrogation

20

Section 6.09.

Employees and Agents

20

Section 6.10.

Interpretation, Severability

20

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII OFFICES

20

 

 

 

Section 7.01.

Registered Office

20

Section 7.02.

Other Offices

20

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII GENERAL PROVISIONS

21

 

 

 

Section 8.01.

Dividends

21

Section 8.02.

Reserves

21

Section 8.03.

Execution of Instruments

21

 

ii



 

Table of Contents

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Section 8.04.

Voting as Stockholder

21

Section 8.05.

Fiscal Year

21

Section 8.06.

Seal

22

Section 8.07.

Books and Records; Inspection

22

Section 8.08.

Electronic Transmission

22

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS

22

 

 

 

Section 9.01.

Amendment

22

 

 

 

ARTICLE X CONSTRUCTION

23

 

 

 

Section 10.01.

Construction

23

 

iii



 

HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC.

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS

 

As amended and restated effective July 2, 2013

 

ARTICLE I

 

STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 1.01.  Annual Meetings .  The annual meeting of the stockholders of HD Supply Holdings, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”) for the election of directors (each, a “ Director ”) to succeed directors whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as properly may come before such meeting shall be held each year, either within or without the State of Delaware, at such place, if any, and on such date and at such time, as may be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Corporation’s Board of Directors (the “ Board of Directors ”) and set forth in the notice or waiver of notice of the meeting, unless, subject to the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”) and Section 1.11 of these by-laws, the stockholders have acted by written consent to elect Directors as permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time (the “ DGCL ”).  The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 1.02.  Special Meetings .  Special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called only in the manner set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.  Notice of every special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall state the purpose or purposes of such meeting.  Except as otherwise required by law, the business conducted at a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation shall be limited exclusively to the business set forth in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, and the individual or group calling such meeting shall have exclusive authority to determine the business included in such notice.  Any special meeting of the stockholders shall be held either within or without the State of Delaware, at such place, if any, and on such date and time, as shall be specified in the notice of such special meeting.

 

Section 1.03.  Participation in Meetings by Remote Communication .  The Board of Directors, acting in its sole discretion, may establish guidelines and procedures in accordance with applicable provisions of the DGCL and any other applicable law for the participation by stockholders and proxyholders in a meeting of stockholders by means of remote communications, and may determine that any meeting of stockholders will not be held at any place but will be held solely by means of remote communication.  Stockholders and proxyholders complying with such procedures and guidelines and otherwise entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be deemed present in person and entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication.

 

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Section 1.04.  Notice of Meetings; Waiver .

 

(a)  The Secretary or any Assistant Secretary shall cause notice of each meeting of stockholders to be given in a manner permitted by the DGCL not less than ten nor more than 60 days prior to the meeting, to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting, subject to such exclusions as are then permitted by the DGCL.  The notice shall specify ( i ) the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date of stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting), ( ii ) the place, if any, date and time of such meeting of the stockholders, ( iii ) the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, ( iv ) in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is called and ( v ) such other information as may be required by law or as may be deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of the Corporation.  If the stockholder list referred to in Section 1.07 of these By-Laws is made accessible on an electronic network, the notice of meeting shall indicate how the stockholder list can be accessed.  If a stockholder meeting is to be held solely by means of electronic communications, the notice of such meeting must provide the information required to access such stockholder list.

 

(b)  A written waiver of notice of meeting signed by a stockholder, or a waiver by electronic transmission by a stockholder, whether given before or after the meeting, is deemed equivalent to notice.  Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in a waiver of notice.  The attendance of any stockholder at a meeting of stockholders is a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the stockholder attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business at the meeting on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

Section 1.05.  Quorum .  Except as otherwise required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of record of a majority in voting power of the shares entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, provided , however , that where a separate vote by a class or series is required, the holders of a majority in voting power of all issued and outstanding stock of such class or series entitled to vote on such matter, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to such matter.  In the absence of a quorum, the stockholders so present may, by a majority in voting power thereof, adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 1.08 of these By-laws until a quorum shall attend.

 

Section 1.06.  Voting .  Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or by law, every holder of record of shares entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each such share outstanding in his or her name on the books of the Corporation at the close of business on the record date for such vote.  If no record date has been fixed for a meeting of stockholders, then every holder of record of shares entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote (unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or by applicable law) for each such share of stock outstanding in his or her name on the books of the Corporation at the close of business on the day next preceding

 

2



 

the day on which notice of the meeting is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.  Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-Laws, the rules and regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, for so long as the Second Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, among the Corporation and certain of its stockholders, dated as of September 21, 2007 (as amended from time to time, the “ Stockholders Agreement ”) is in effect, the then-applicable terms, if any, of the Stockholders Agreement, or pursuant to any other rule or regulation applicable to the Corporation or its stockholders, the vote of a majority in voting power of the shares entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders on the subject matter in question represented in person or by proxy at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient for the transaction of any business at such meeting.  The stockholders do not have the right to cumulate their votes for the election of Directors.

 

Section 1.07.  Voting Lists .  The officer of the Corporation who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare, at least 10 days before every meeting of the stockholders (and before any adjournment thereof for which a new record date has been set), a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder.  This list, which may be in any format including electronic format, shall be open to the examination of any stockholder prior to and during the meeting for any purpose germane to the meeting in the manner required by the DGCL and other applicable law.  The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled by this section to examine the list required by this section or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 1.08.  Adjournment .  Any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned from time to time, by the chairperson of the meeting or by the vote of a majority in voting power of the shares of stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting, to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the place, if any, and date and time thereof (and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting) are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken unless the adjournment is for more than 30 days or a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting after the adjournment, in which case notice of the adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 1.04 of these By-Laws shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.  At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting.

 

Section 1.09.  Proxies .  Any stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of the stockholders or to express consent to or dissent from corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy.  A stockholder may authorize a valid proxy by executing a written instrument signed by such stockholder, or by causing his or her signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature, or by transmitting or authorizing an electronic transmission setting forth an authorization to act as proxy to the person designated as the holder of the proxy, a proxy solicitation firm or a like authorized agent.  No proxy may be voted or acted upon after the expiration of three years from the date of such proxy, unless such proxy provides for a longer period.  Every proxy is revocable at the pleasure of the stockholder

 

3



 

executing it unless the proxy states that it is irrevocable and applicable law makes it irrevocable.  A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or by filing another duly executed proxy bearing a later date with the Secretary.  Proxies by electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder.  Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of a writing or transmission created pursuant to this section 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.

 

Section 1.10.  Organization; Procedure; Inspection of Elections.

 

(a)  At every meeting of stockholders the presiding person shall be the Chairman of the Board or, in the event of his or her absence or disability, the Chief Executive Officer or, in the event of his or her absence or disability, a presiding person chosen by resolution of the Board of Directors.  The Secretary, or in the event of his or her absence or disability, the Assistant Secretary, if any, or if there be no Assistant Secretary, in the absence of the Secretary, an appointee of the presiding person, shall act as secretary of the meeting.  The Board of Directors may make such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of stockholders as it shall deem necessary, appropriate or convenient.  Subject to any such rules and regulations, the presiding person of any meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe rules, regulations and procedures for such meeting and to take all such actions as in the judgment of the presiding person are appropriate for the proper conduct of such meetings.  Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the presiding person of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: ( i ) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; ( ii ) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; ( iii ) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders or records of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the presiding person of the meeting shall determine; ( iv ) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and ( v ) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants.  The presiding person at any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such presiding person should so determine, such presiding person shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter of business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered.  Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

(b)  Preceding any meeting of the stockholders, the Board of Directors may, and when required by law shall, appoint one or more persons to act as inspectors of elections, and may designate one or more alternate inspectors.  If no inspector or alternate so appointed by the Board of Directors is able to act, or if no inspector or alternate has been appointed and the appointment of an inspector is required by law, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint

 

4



 

one or more inspectors to act at the meeting.  No Director or nominee for the office of Director shall be appointed as an inspector of elections.  Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of an inspector, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability.  The inspectors shall discharge their duties in accordance with the requirements of applicable law.

 

Section 1.11.  Stockholder Action by Written Consent .  Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, stockholders may not take any action by written consent in lieu of action at an annual or special meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 1.12.  Notice of Stockholder Proposals and Nominations .

 

(a)  Annual Meetings of Stockholders.  (i) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only ( A ) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of the meeting (or any supplement thereto), ( B ) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or a Committee appointed by the Board for such purpose, ( C ) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who complies with the notice procedures set forth in clauses (ii) and (iii) of this Section 1.12(a) and who is a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered and at the date of the meeting, or ( D ) by any Sponsor (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement.

 

(ii)                                   For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to subclause (C) of Section 1.12(a)(i) of these By-Laws, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and any such proposed business other than nominations must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not fewer than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (which anniversary date, in the case of the first annual meeting of stockholders following the closing of the Corporation’s initial underwritten public offering of common stock, shall be deemed to be May 15, 2014); provided that if the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed by more than 70 days from such anniversary date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than 120 days prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90 th  day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.  Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth ( A ) as to each person whom the 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 and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a Director if elected; ( B ) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting (including the text of any resolution proposed for consideration and if such business includes proposed amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws, the text of the proposed amendments), the reasons for conducting

 

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such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and of any beneficial owner on whose behalf the proposal is made; and ( C ) as to the stockholder giving the notice and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made ( 1 ) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, ( 2 ) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, ( 3 ) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination, and ( 4 ) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends ( x ) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or ( y ) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination.  Notice of a stockholder nomination or proposal shall also set forth, as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made ( A ) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between or among such stockholder and any such beneficial owner, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such nomination or other business; ( B ) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including, regardless of the form of settlement, any derivative, long or short positions, profit interests, forwards, futures, swaps, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into by or on behalf of, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding that has been made, the effect or intent of which is to create or mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder or any such beneficial owner or any such nominee with respect to the Corporation’s securities (a “ Derivative Instrument ”); ( C ) to the extent not disclosed pursuant to the immediately preceding clause ( B ), the principal amount of any indebtedness of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries beneficially owned by such stockholder or by any such beneficial owner, together with the title of the instrument under which such indebtedness was issued and a description of any Derivative Instrument entered into by or on behalf of such stockholder or such beneficial owner relating to the value or payment of any indebtedness of the Corporation or any such subsidiary; and ( D ) any other information relating to such stockholder and any such beneficial owner required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in an election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.  The foregoing notice requirements shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his or her intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) promulgated under the Exchange Act, and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a Director of the Corporation.  In addition, a stockholder seeking to bring an item of business before the annual meeting shall promptly provide any other information reasonably requested by the Corporation.

 

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(iii)                                Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of Section 1.12(a)(ii) of these By-Laws to the contrary, in the event that the number of Directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for Director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the Corporation at least 70 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (which anniversary date, in the case of the first annual meeting of stockholders following the closing of the Corporation’s initial underwritten public offering of common stock, shall be deemed to be May 15, 2014), a stockholder’s notice under this Section 1.12(a) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

(b)  Special Meetings of Stockholders .  Only such business as shall have been brought before the special meeting of the stockholders pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting shall be conducted at such meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which Directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting ( i ) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or a Committee appointed by the Board for such purpose or ( ii ) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that the Directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.12(b) and who is a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation.  In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more Directors of the Corporation, any stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting may nominate a person or persons, as the case may be, for election to such position(s) as specified by the Corporation, if the stockholder’s notice as required by Section 1.12(a)(ii) of these By-Laws shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the 120 days prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90 th  day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting.

 

(c)  General .

 

(i)  Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, the presiding person of a meeting of stockholders shall have the power and duty ( x ) to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.12 (including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies in support of such stockholder’s nominee or proposal in compliance with such stockholder’s representation as required by clause (a)(ii)(C)(4) of this Section 1.12), and (y) if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Section 1.12, to declare

 

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that such defective nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted.

 

(ii)                                   If the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) making a nomination or proposal under this Section 1.12 does not appear at a meeting of stockholders to present such nomination or proposal, the nomination shall be disregarded and/or the proposed business shall not be transacted, as the case may be, notwithstanding that proxies in favor thereof may have been received by the Corporation.  For purposes of this Section 1.12, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

 

(iii)                                For purposes of this Section 1.12, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

(iv)                               Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.12, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 1.12.  Nothing in this Section 1.12 shall be deemed to affect any rights of (x) stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (y) the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect Directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or of the relevant preferred stock certificate of designation.

 

(v)                                  The announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual or special meeting does not commence a new time period (and does not extend any time period) for the giving of notice of a stockholder nomination or a stockholder proposal as described above.

 

ARTICLE II

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 2.01.  General Powers .  Except as may otherwise be provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-Laws, the property, affairs and business of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors and the Board of Directors may exercise all the powers and authority of the Corporation.

 

Section 2.02.  Classification; Election of Directors .  The Board of Directors shall be classified into three classes as provided by the Certificate of Incorporation.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.14 of these By-Laws, at each annual meeting of the stockholders the successors of the Directors whose term expires at that meeting shall be elected.  At each meeting of the stockholders for the election of Directors, provided a quorum is present, the Directors who are standing for election shall be elected by a plurality of the votes validly cast in such election,

 

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provided that for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, the election of any Director shall also be subject to the then-applicable terms, if any, of the Stockholders Agreement.

 

Section 2.03.  Annual and Regular Meetings: Notice .  The annual meeting of the Board of Directors for the purpose of electing officers and for the transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting shall be held as soon as possible following adjournment of the annual meeting of the stockholders either ( i ) at the place of such annual meeting of the stockholders, in which event notice of such annual meeting of the Board of Directors need not be given, or ( ii ) at such other time and place as shall have been specified in advance notice given to members of the Board of Directors of the date, place and time of such meeting.  Any such notice shall be given at least 48 hours in advance if sent to each Director by facsimile or any form of electronic transmission previously approved by a Director, which approval has not been revoked (“ Approved Electronic Transmission ”), or delivered to him or her personally, or at least five days in advance, if notice is mailed to each Director, addressed to him or her at his or her usual place of business or other designated address.  Any such notice need not be given to any Director who attends such meeting without protesting the lack of notice to him or her, prior to or at the commencement of such meeting, or to any Director who submits a signed waiver of notice (including by Approved Electronic Transmission), whether before or after such meeting.

 

The Board of Directors from time to time may by resolution provide for the holding of regular meetings.  Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at the place (if any), on the date and at the time as shall have been established by the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors.  A notice of a regular meeting, the date of which has been so publicized, shall not be required.

 

Section 2.04.  Special Meetings; Notice .  Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held whenever called by any member of the Board of Directors, at such place (within or without the State of Delaware), date and time as may be specified in the respective notices or waivers of notice of such meetings.  Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called on ( i ) 48 hours’ notice, if such notice is sent by facsimile or Approved Electronic Transmission to each Director or delivered to him or her personally or ( ii ) five days’ notice, if such notice is mailed to each Director, addressed to him or her at his or her usual place of business or other designated address.  Notice of any special meeting need not be given to any Director who attends such meeting without protesting the lack of notice to him or her, prior to or at the commencement of such meeting, or to any Director who submits a signed waiver of notice (including by electronic transmission), whether before or after such meeting.  Any business may be conducted at a special meeting of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.05.  Quorum .  A quorum for meetings of the Board of Directors shall consist of a majority of the total number of Directors then in office; provided that, so long as the applicable terms of the Stockholders Agreement are then in effect, such majority must include at least one Stockholder Designee (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement) of each of the Principal Investors (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement) entitled to designate a Stockholder Designee.

 

Section 2.06.  Voting .  Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, the vote of a majority of the Directors present at any meeting at

 

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which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors, subject, for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, to the then-applicable terms, if any, of the Stockholders Agreement.

 

Section 2.07.  Adjournment .  A majority of the Directors present, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn any meeting of the Board of Directors to another time or place, provided such adjourned meeting is no earlier than 48 hours after written notice (in accordance with these By-Laws) of such adjournment has been given to the Directors (or such notice is waived in accordance with these By-Laws), and, at any such adjourned meeting, a quorum shall consist of a majority of the total number of Directors then in office; provided that, so long as the applicable terms of the Stockholders Agreement are then in effect,  such majority must include at least one Stockholder Designee of each of the Principal Investors entitled to designate a Stockholder Designee.

 

Section 2.08.  Action Without a Meeting .  Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors consent thereto in writing or by Approved Electronic Transmission, and such writing or writings or Approved Electronic Transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.  Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

 

Section 2.09.  Regulations; Manner of Acting .  To the extent consistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation and these By-Laws, the Board of Directors may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings of the Board of Directors and for the management of the property, affairs and business of the Corporation as the Board of Directors may deem appropriate.  In addition to the election of the Chairman of the Board, the Board may elect one or more vice-chairpersons or lead Directors to perform such other duties as may be designated by the Board.

 

Section 2.10.  Action by Telephonic Communications .  Members of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this provision shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

Section 2.11.  Removal; Resignation .  Directors may only be removed as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.  Any Director may resign at any time by submitting an electronic transmission or by delivering a written notice of resignation to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary.  Such resignation shall take effect upon delivery unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of a specified event.

 

Section 2.12.  Director Fees and Expenses .  The amount, if any, which each Director shall be entitled to receive as compensation for his or her services shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors, subject, for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, to the then-applicable terms, if any, of the Stockholders Agreement.  The non-employee directors of the

 

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Corporation shall be paid their reasonable expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be reimbursed a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors, paid an annual retainer or paid other compensation, including equity compensation, as the Board determines.

 

Section 2.13.  Reliance on Accounts and Reports, etc .  A Director, or a member of any Committee designated by the Board of Directors shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or Committees designated by the Board of Directors, or by any other person as to the matters the 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.

 

ARTICLE III

 

COMMITTEES

 

Section 3.01.  How Constituted .  The Board of Directors shall have a Compensation Committee, an Audit Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and such other committees as the Board of Directors may determine (collectively, the “ Committees ”).  Each Committee shall consist of such number of Directors as from time to time may be fixed by a majority of the total number of Directors then in office, provided that for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, the Composition of each Committee shall also be subject to the then-applicable terms, if any, of the Stockholders Agreement.  Any Committee may be abolished or re-designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.  Each member of any such Committee (whether designated at an annual meeting of the Board of Directors or to fill a vacancy or otherwise) shall hold office until his or her successor shall have been designated or until he or she shall cease to be a Director, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

 

Section 3.02.  Powers .  Each Committee shall have such powers and responsibilities as the Board of Directors may from time to time authorize and, each Committee, except as otherwise provided in this Section 3.02, shall have and may exercise such powers of the Board of Directors as may be provided by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors.  No Committee shall have the power or authority:

 

(a)  to amend the Certificate of Incorporation (except that a Committee may, to the extent authorized in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of shares of stock adopted by the Board of Directors as provided in Section 151(a) of the DGCL, fix the designations and any of the preferences or rights of such shares relating to dividends, redemption, dissolution, any distribution of assets of the Corporation or the conversion into, or the exchange of such shares for, shares of any other class or classes or any other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock of the Corporation or fix the number of shares of any series of stock or authorize the increase or decrease of the shares of any series);

 

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(b)  to adopt an agreement of merger or consolidation or a certificate of ownership and merger;

 

(c)  to recommend to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property and assets;

 

(d)  to recommend to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation of a dissolution;

 

(e)  to amend these By-Laws of the Corporation; or

 

(f)  for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, take any other action that pursuant to the then-applicable terms, if any, of the Stockholders Agreement would require any approval of the Principal Investors.

 

Any Committee may be granted by the Board of Directors, power to authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to any or all papers which may require it.

 

Section 3.03.  Proceedings .  Each Committee may fix its own rules of procedure and may meet at such place (within or without the State of Delaware), at such time and upon such notice, if any, as it shall determine from time to time, provided that the Board of Directors may adopt other rules and regulations for the governance of any Committee not inconsistent with the provisions of these By-Laws and for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, the then-applicable terms, if any, of the Stockholders Agreement.  Each such Committee shall keep minutes of its proceedings and shall report such proceedings to the Board of Directors at the meeting of the Board of Directors following any such proceedings.

 

Section 3.04.  Quorum and Manner of Acting .  Except as may be otherwise provided in the resolution creating a Committee, at all meetings of any Committee the presence of members constituting a majority of the total authorized membership of such Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; provided , however, that if any members of such Committee are serving on such Committee pursuant to the then-applicable terms, if any, of the Stockholders Agreement, a quorum shall require such member.  The act of the majority of the members of a Committee present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of such Committee, subject, for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, to the then-applicable terms, if any, of the Stockholders Agreement.  Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of any Committee may be taken without a meeting, if all members of such Committee shall consent to such action in writing or by electronic transmission, and such writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Committee.  Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.  The members of any Committee shall act only as a Committee, and the individual members of such Committee shall have no power as such.

 

Section 3.05.  Action by Telephonic Communications .  Members of any Committee designated by the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of such Committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons

 

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participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this provision shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

Section 3.06.  Resignations .  Any member of any Committee may resign from such Committee at any time by submitting an electronic transmission or by delivering a written notice of resignation to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary.  Unless otherwise specified therein, such resignation shall take effect upon delivery.

 

Section 3.07.  Removal .  Any member of any Committee may be removed from his or her position as a member of such Committee at any time, either for or without cause, by resolution adopted by a majority of the number of Directors then in office, provided that for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, the removal of any member of a Committee shall be subject to the then-applicable terms, if any, of the Stockholders Agreement.

 

Section 3.08.  Vacancies .  If any vacancy shall occur in any Committee, by reason of disqualification, death, resignation, removal or otherwise, the remaining members shall continue to act, and any such vacancy may be filled by the Board of Directors subject to Section 3.01 of these By-Laws and for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, to the then-applicable terms, if any, of the Stockholders Agreement.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

OFFICERS

 

Section 4.01.  Number .  The officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and, subject to the last sentence of this Section 4.01, shall be a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, one or more Vice Presidents and a Secretary, provided that for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, the choosing of any such officer shall also be subject to the then-applicable terms, if any, of the Stockholders Agreement.  The Board of Directors may also designate as officers a President, one or more Assistant Secretaries, a Treasurer, one or more Assistant Treasurers, and such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary.  Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal.  Any number of offices may be held by the same person, except that one person may not concurrently hold both the office of Chief Executive Officer and Secretary.  The Board may, subject to the then-applicable terms, if any, of the Stockholders Agreement (so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect), determine that the Chairman of the Board will not be an officer of the Corporation.  The Chairman of the Board (whether or not an officer) shall be a Director, but no other officer need be a Director.

 

Section 4.02.  Election .  Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors and except as otherwise provided in these By-Laws, the officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors at the annual meeting of the Board of Directors, and shall be elected to hold office until the next succeeding annual meeting of the Board of Directors at which his or her successor has been elected and qualified.  In the event of the failure to elect officers at such annual meeting, officers may be elected at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors.  Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor has been elected and qualified,

 

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or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.  For so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, the election of the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer shall be subject to the then-applicable terms, if any, of the Stockholders Agreement.

 

Section 4.03.  Salaries .  The salaries and other compensation of all officers and agents of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board or in the manner established by the Board.

 

Section 4.04.  Removal and Resignation; Vacancies .  Any officer may be removed for or without cause at any time by the Board of Directors or by the Chief Executive Officer as permitted pursuant to Section 4.07.  Any officer may resign at any time by delivering notice of resignation, either in writing signed by such officer or by electronic transmission, to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary.  Unless otherwise specified therein, such resignation shall take effect upon delivery.  Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation by death, resignation, removal or otherwise, shall be filled by the Board of Directors, or, if the Chief Executive Officer has authority pursuant to Section 4.07 of these By-Laws to fill such office, then by the Chief Executive Officer subject to Section 4.07 of these By-Laws or by the Board of Directors.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.04, for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, the removal of the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, and the filling of vacancy in such positions, shall be subject to the then-applicable terms, if any, of the Stockholders Agreement.

 

Section 4.05.  Authority and Duties of Officers .  The officers of the Corporation shall have such authority and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be specified in these By-Laws or in a resolution of the Board of Directors, except that in any event each officer shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be required by law.  The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officer or agent, notwithstanding any provision hereof.

 

Section 4.06.  Chairman of the Board .  The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and stockholders at which he or she is present and shall have such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4.07.  Chief Executive Officer .  The Chief Executive Officer shall have, subject to the supervision, direction and control of the Board of Directors, the general powers and duties of supervision, direction, and management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, including, without limitation, all powers necessary to direct and control the organizational and reporting relationships within the Corporation.  The Chief Executive Officer shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. In addition, the Chief Executive Officer shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors or as are set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws.  If the Board of Directors has not elected or appointed a President or the office of the President is otherwise vacant, and no officer otherwise functions with the powers and duties of the President, then, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall also have all the powers and duties of the President.

 

Section 4.08.  President .  The President, if there is such an officer and the Board of Directors so directs, shall serve as chief operating officer and have the powers and duties

 

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customarily and usually associated with the office of chief operating officer unless the Board of Directors provides for another officer to serve as chief operating officer (or to have the powers and duties of chief operating officer).  The President shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be delegated to him or her from time to time by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.  If the Board of Directors has not elected or appointed a Chief Executive Officer or the office of Chief Executive Officer is otherwise vacant, then, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the President shall also have all the powers and duties of the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 4.09.  Vice President .  Each Vice President shall have the powers and duties delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors or the President.  One Vice President may be designated by the Board of Directors to perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President in the event of the President’s absence or disability.

 

Section 4.10.  Secretary and Assistant Secretaries .  The Secretary shall issue all authorized notices for, and shall keep minutes of, all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors.  He or she shall have charge of the corporate books and shall perform other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

Any Assistant Secretary, if there is such an officer, shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, President or the Secretary may from time to time prescribe.  In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary (or if there shall be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board of Directors), shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary.

 

Section 4.11.  Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers .  The Chief Financial Officer shall keep or cause to be kept the books of account of the Corporation in a thorough and proper manner and shall render statements of the financial affairs of the Corporation in such form and as often as required by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. The Chief Financial Officer, subject to the order of the Board of Directors, shall have the custody of all funds and securities of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall perform other duties commonly incident to such office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President shall designate from time to time. The Chief Executive Officer or President may direct the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, if there is such an officer, to assume and perform the duties of the Chief Financial Officer in the absence or disability of the Chief Financial Officer, and each Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer shall perform other duties commonly incident to such office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President shall designate from time to time.

 

Section 4.12.  Security .  The Board of Directors may require any officer, agent or employee of the Corporation to provide security for the faithful performance of his or her duties, in such amount and of such character as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

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Section 4.13.  Action with Respect to Securities of Other Companies .  Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, or any officer of the Corporation authorized thereby, shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of stockholders or equityholders of, or with respect to any action of, stockholders or equityholders of any other entity in which the Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which the Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other entity.

 

ARTICLE V

 

CAPITAL STOCK

 

Section 5.01.  Certificates of Stock, Uncertificated Shares .  The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, except to the extent that the Board of Directors has provided by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the stock of the Corporation shall be uncertificated shares.  Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation.  Every holder of stock in the Corporation represented by certificates shall be entitled to have, and the Board of Directors may in its sole discretion permit a holder of uncertificated shares to receive upon request a certificate signed by the appropriate officers of the Corporation, representing the number of shares registered in certificate form.  Such certificate shall be in such form as the Board of Directors may determine, to the extent consistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation and these By-Laws.

 

Section 5.02.  Signatures; Facsimile .  All signatures on the certificates referred to in Section 5.01 of these By-Laws may be in facsimile, engraved or printed form, to the extent permitted by law.  In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed, or whose facsimile, engraved or printed signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

 

Section 5.03.  Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates .  A new certificate may be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, only upon delivery to the Corporation of an affidavit of the owner or owners (or their legal representatives) of such certificate, setting forth such allegation and a bond or undertaking as may be satisfactory to a financial officer of the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of any such new certificate.

 

Section 5.04.  Transfer of Stock .  Upon surrender to the Corporation or the transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate representing shares, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, the Corporation shall issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.  Within a reasonable time after the transfer of uncertificated stock, the Corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to Sections 151, 156, 202(a)

 

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or 218(a) of the DGCL.  Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and these By-Laws, the Board of Directors may prescribe such additional rules and regulations as it may deem appropriate relating to the issue, transfer and registration of shares of the Corporation.

 

Section 5.05.  Registered Stockholders .  Prior to due surrender of a certificate for registration of transfer and to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation may treat the registered owner as the person exclusively entitled to receive dividends and other distributions, to vote, to receive notice and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of the owner of the shares represented by such certificate, and the Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or legal claim to or interest in such shares on the part of any other person, whether or not the Corporation shall have notice of such claim or interests, provided that if a transfer of shares shall be made for collateral security, and not absolutely, this fact shall be so expressed in the entry of the transfer if, when the certificates are presented to the Corporation for transfer or uncertificated shares are requested to be transferred, both the transferor and transferee request the Corporation to do so.

 

Section 5.06.  Transfer Agent and Registrar .  The Board of Directors may appoint one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars, and may require all certificates representing shares to bear the signature of any such transfer agents or registrars.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 6.01.  Nature of Indemnity .  The Corporation shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL and other applicable law, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (each, a “ proceeding ”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was or has agreed to become a Director or officer of the Corporation, or while serving as a Director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a Director, officer, employee, manager or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection with such proceeding and any appeal therefrom, if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful; provided that in the case of an action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor ( i ) such indemnification shall be limited to expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in the defense or settlement of such action or suit, and ( ii ) no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to Section 6.05 of these By-Laws, the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify a Director or officer of the Corporation in respect of a proceeding (or part thereof) instituted by such Director or officer, unless such proceeding (or part thereof) has been authorized in the specific case by the Board of Directors.

 

The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

Section 6.02.  Successful Defense .  To the extent that a present or former Director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any proceeding referred to in Section 6.01 of these By-Laws or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he or she shall be indemnified by the Corporation against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith.

 

Section 6.03.  Determination That Indemnification Is Proper .  Any indemnification of a present or former Director or officer of the Corporation under Section 6.01 of these By-Laws (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only upon a determination that indemnification of such person is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 6.01 of these By-Laws.  Any such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a Director or officer at the time of such determination ( i ) by a majority vote of the Directors who are not parties to such proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or ( ii ) by a committee of such Directors designated by majority vote of such Directors, even though less than a quorum, or ( iii ) if there are no such Directors, or if such Directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or ( iv ) by the stockholders.

 

Section 6.04.  Advance of Expenses .  Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a present or former Director or officer in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation prior to the final disposition of such proceeding upon written request by such person and delivery of an undertaking by such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation under this Article or applicable law; provided that the Board of Directors may not require such Director or officer to post any bond or otherwise provide any security for such undertaking.  The Corporation or, in respect of a present Director or officer, the Board of Directors may authorize the Corporation’s counsel to represent (subject to applicable conflict of interest considerations) such present or former Director or officer in any proceeding, whether or not the Corporation is a party to such proceeding.

 

Section 6.05.  Procedure for Indemnification of Directors and Officers .  Any indemnification of a Director or officer of the Corporation under Sections 6.01 and 6.02 of these By-Laws, or advance of expenses to such persons under Section 6.04 of these By-Laws, shall be made promptly, and in any event within 30 days, upon the written request by or on behalf of such person (together with supporting documentation).  If a determination by the Corporation that such person is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article is required, and the Corporation

 

18



 

fails to respond within 60 days to a written request for indemnity, the Corporation shall be deemed to have approved such request.  If the Corporation denies a written request for indemnity or advancement of expenses, in whole or in part, or if payment in full pursuant to such request is not made within 30 days, the right to indemnification or advances as granted by this Article shall be enforceable by such person in any court of competent jurisdiction.  Such person’s costs and expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing his or her right to indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such action shall also be indemnified, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by the Corporation.  It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for the advance of costs, charges and expenses under Section 6.04 of these By-Laws where the required undertaking, if any, has been received by or tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standard of conduct set forth in Section 6.01 of these By-Laws, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Corporation.  Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors or any Committee thereof, its independent legal counsel, and its 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 Section 6.01 of these By-Laws, nor the fact that there has been an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors or any Committee thereof, its independent legal counsel, and its 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 6.06.  Contract Right; Non-Exclusivity; Indemnification Priority Survival .

 

(a)  The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by this Article shall be deemed to be separate contract rights between the Corporation and each Director and officer who serves in any such capacity at any time while these provisions as well as the relevant provisions of the DGCL are in effect and any repeal or modification thereof shall not adversely affect any right or obligation then existing with respect to any state of facts then or previously existing or any proceeding previously or thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part upon any such state of facts.  Such “contract rights” may not be modified retroactively as to any present or former Director or officer without the consent of such Director or officer.

 

(b)  The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by this Article shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Director or officer and shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which a present or former Director or officer of the Corporation seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested Directors, or otherwise provided , that to the extent that that an indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation pursuant to this Article and by any stockholder of the Corporation or any affiliate of any such stockholder (other than the Corporation) under any other agreement or instrument, or by any insurer under a policy maintained by such stockholder or affiliate, the obligations of the Corporation pursuant to this Article shall be primary, and the obligations of such stockholder, affiliate or insurer secondary and the Corporation shall not be entitled to contribution or indemnification from or subrogation against such stockholder or affiliate.

 

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(c)  The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by this Article to any present or former Director or officer shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

 

Section 6.07.  Insurance .  The Corporation shall purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was or has agreed to become a Director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a Director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of this Article, provided that such insurance is available on commercially reasonable terms consistent with then prevailing rates in the insurance market.

 

Section 6.08.  Subrogation .  In the event of payment under this Article VI, the Corporation shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the indemnitee, who shall execute all documents, and do all acts, that as the Corporation may reasonably request to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents as the Corporation may reasonably request to enable the Corporation effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

Section 6.09.  Employees and Agents .  The Board of Directors, or any officer authorized by the Board of Directors generally or in the specific case to make indemnification decisions, may cause the Corporation to indemnify any present or former employee or agent of the Corporation in such manner and for such liabilities as the Board of Directors may determine, up to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL and other applicable law.

 

Section 6.10.  Interpretation, Severability .  Terms defined in Sections 145(h) or (i) of the DGCL have the meanings set forth in such sections when used in this Article.  If this Article or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each Director or officer as to costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any proceeding, whether, civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or otherwise, including an action by or in the right of the Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

OFFICES

 

Section 7.01.  Registered Office .  The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware shall be located at the location provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 7.02.  Other Offices .  The Corporation may maintain offices or places of business at such other locations within or without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as the business of the Corporation may require.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 8.01.  Dividends .  Subject to any applicable provisions of law and the Certificate of Incorporation and for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, the then-applicable terms, if any, of the Stockholders Agreement, dividends upon the shares of the Corporation may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors and any such dividend may be paid in cash, property, or shares of the Corporation’s capital stock.

 

A member of the Board of Directors, or a member of any Committee designated by the Board of Directors shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the 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, or by any other person as to matters the Director 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, as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities and/or net profits of the Corporation, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of surplus or other funds from which dividends might properly be declared and paid.

 

Section 8.02.  Reserves .  There may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in its absolute discretion, thinks proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors shall think conducive to the interest of the Corporation and the Corporation’s stockholders, and the Board of Directors may similarly modify or abolish any such reserve.

 

Section 8.03.  Execution of Instruments .  Except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may authorize the Chief Executive Officer or any other officer or agent to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name and on behalf of the Corporation.  Any such authorization may be general or limited to specific contracts or instruments.

 

Section 8.04.  Voting as Stockholder .  Unless otherwise determined by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President shall have full power and authority on behalf of the Corporation to attend any meeting of stockholders of any corporation in which the Corporation may hold stock, and to act, vote (or execute proxies to vote) and exercise in person or by proxy all other rights, powers and privileges incident to the ownership of such stock at any such meeting or through action without a meeting.  The Board of Directors may by resolution from time to time confer such power and authority upon (in general or confined to specific instances) any other person or persons.

 

Section 8.05.  Fiscal Year .  The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

21



 

Section 8.06.  Seal .  The seal of the Corporation shall be circular in form and shall contain the name of the Corporation, the year of its incorporation and the words “Corporate Seal” and “Delaware”.  The form of such seal shall be subject to alteration by the Board of Directors.  The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed, affixed or reproduced, or may be used in any other lawful manner.

 

Section 8.07.  Books and Records; Inspection .  Except to the extent otherwise required by law, the books and records of the Corporation shall be kept at such place or places within or without the State of Delaware as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 8.08.  Electronic Transmission .  “ Electronic transmission ”, as used in these By-Laws, means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS

 

Section 9.01.  Amendment .  Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-Laws may be amended, altered or repealed:

 

(a)  by resolution adopted by a majority of the Board of Directors if at any special or regular meeting of the Board of Directors if, in the case of such special meeting only, notice of such amendment, alteration or repeal is contained in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting, provided that for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, any approvals required by the then-applicable terms, if any, of the Stockholders Agreement shall also have been obtained,

 

(b)  until the Trigger Date (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation), at any regular or special meeting of the stockholders upon the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors if, in the case of such special meeting only, notice of such amendment, alteration or repeal is contained in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting, or

 

(c)  from and after the Trigger Date, at any regular or special meeting of the stockholders upon the affirmative vote of at least three-fourths (75%) of the shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors if, in the case of such special meeting only, notice of such amendment, alteration or repeal is contained in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.  So long as the Stockholders Agreement remains in effect, the Board of Directors shall not approve any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of these By-Laws, or the adoption of any new by-law, that would be contrary to or inconsistent with the then-applicable terms, if any, of the Stockholders Agreement or this sentence.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, ( x ) no amendment to the Stockholders Agreement (whether or not such amendment modifies any provision of the Stockholders Agreement to

 

22



 

which these By-Laws are subject) shall be deemed an amendment of these By-Laws for purposes of this Section 9.01 and ( y ) no amendment, alteration or repeal of Article VI shall adversely affect any right or protection existing under these By-Laws immediately prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal, including any right or protection of a present or former Director or officer thereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment.

 

ARTICLE X

 

CONSTRUCTION

 

Section 10.01.  Construction .  In the event of any conflict between the provisions of these By-Laws as in effect from time to time and the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation as in effect from time to time, the provisions of such Certificate of Incorporation shall be controlling.

 

23


Exhibit 5.1

 

July 1, 2013

 

HD Supply Holdings, Inc.

3100 Cumberland Boulevard, Suite 1480

Atlanta, GA 30339

 

Re:  HD Supply Holdings, Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-8

 

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to HD Supply Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the filing by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “ Registration Statement ”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 (the “ Securities Act ”), relating to the registration of up to 29,318,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), up to 14,818,000 of which shares may be issued pursuant to the HDS Investment Holding, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan, up to 12,500,000 of which shares may be issued pursuant to the HD Supply Holdings, Inc. 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan and up to 2,000,000 of which shares may be issued pursuant to the HD Supply Holdings, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (together, the “ Plans ”).

 

We have examined the originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the Plans and such other corporate records, documents, certificates or other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion set forth below.  In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies thereof and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documentation.

 

The opinions expressed herein are limited to the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the 29,318,000 shares of Common Stock that are reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plans have been duly authorized and, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Plans will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement.  In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933 or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

 

1



 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

 

2


Exhibit 23.1

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated April 11, 2013, except for the effects of the 1 for 2 reverse stock split described in Note 16, as to which the date is June 11, 2013, relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedules of HD Supply Holdings, Inc., which appears in the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on April 11, 2013 and subsequently amended.

 

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

 

 

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

 

Atlanta, Georgia

 

 

July 2, 2013

 

1


Exhibit 24.1

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Ronald J. Domanico and Ricardo J. Nunez, jointly and severally, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, acting alone, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement filed on Form S-8 of HD Supply Holdings, Inc., and any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto and any new registration statement with respect to the offering contemplated thereby filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to the Act, and any and all other instruments which said attorney-in-fact and agent deem necessary or advisable to enable the Company to comply with the Act, the rules, regulations and requirements of the SEC in respect thereof, and the securities or Blue Sky laws of any State or governmental subdivision, giving and granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing whatsoever necessary or appropriate to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents as he might or could do it personally present at the doing thereof, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or substitute or substitutes, may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Joseph J. DeAngelo

 

Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

July 2, 2013

Joseph J. DeAngelo

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Ronald J. Domanico

 

Senior Vice President and Chief

 

July 2, 2013

Ronald J. Domanico

 

Financial Officer (Principal Financial

 

 

 

 

Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Evan Levitt

 

Controller and Assistant Treasurer

 

July 2, 2013

Evan Levitt

 

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ James G. Berges

 

Director

 

July 2, 2013

James G. Berges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Charles W. Peffer

 

Director

 

July 2, 2013

Charles W. Peffer

 

 

 

 

 

1



 

/s/ Brian A. Bernasek

 

Director

 

July 2, 2013

Brian A. Bernasek

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Paul Edgerley

 

Director

 

July 2, 2013

Paul Edgerley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Mitchell Jacobson

 

Director

 

June 25, 2013

Mitchell Jacobson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Lew Klessel

 

Director

 

July 2, 2013

Lew Klessel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Gregory S. Ledford

 

Director

 

July 2, 2013

Gregory S. Ledford

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Nathan K. Sleeper

 

Director

 

July 2, 2013

Nathan K. Sleeper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Stephen M. Zide

 

Director

 

July 2, 2013

Stephen M. Zide

 

 

 

 

 

2