UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  May  15, 2014

 

COGENT COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-31227

 

52-2337274

(State or Other Jurisdiction

 

(Commission

 

(IRS Employer

of Incorporation)

 

File Number)

 

Identification No.)

 

1015 31st St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia

 

20007

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  202-295-4200

 

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report.)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

o                         Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o                         Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o                         Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o                         Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

Introductory Note

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K is being filed for the purpose of establishing Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”), as a “successor issuer” pursuant to Rule 12g-3(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), and to timely disclose certain other events required to be disclosed on Form 8-K with respect to Cogent Communications Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Holdings.

 

In connection with the succession, the common stock of Holdings is deemed to be registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act by operation of law.  As a result, Holdings is subject to the informational and disclosure requirements imposed by the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and will hereafter file reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”).

 

Item 1.01.                                         Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On May 15, 2014, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “ Merger Agreement ”), dated as of May 15, 2014, by and among the Company, Holdings and Cogent Communications Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Merger Sub ”), the Company adopted a new holding company organizational structure whereby the Company is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings.

 

The holding company organizational structure was effected by a merger (the “ Merger ”) conducted pursuant to Section 251(g) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “ DGCL ”), which provides for the formation of a holding company structure without a vote of the stockholders of the constituent corporations.  Because the holding company organizational structure has occurred at the parent company level, the remainder of the Company’s subsidiaries, operations and customers will not be affected by this transaction.

 

Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub merged with and into the Company, with the Company surviving the merger and becoming a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings.  The Company formed Holdings as a wholly owned subsidiary solely for the purpose of implementing the Merger, which in turn formed Merger Sub as its wholly owned subsidiary.  Immediately prior to the Merger, Holdings had no assets, liabilities or operations.

 

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, all of the outstanding capital stock of the Company was converted, on a share for share basis, into capital stock of Holdings.  As a result, each former stockholder of the Company became the owner of an identical number of shares of capital stock of Holdings, evidencing the same proportional interests in Holdings and having the same designations, rights, powers and preferences, qualifications, limitations and restrictions, as those that the stockholder held in the Company.

 

Additionally, each outstanding option to purchase shares of common stock of the Company was automatically converted into an option to purchase, upon the same terms and conditions, an identical number of shares of Holdings’ common stock.

 

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Holdings’ common stock will continue to be listed and trade on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol “CCOI” without interruption.  The conversion of shares of capital stock under the Merger Agreement occurred without an exchange of certificates.  Accordingly, certificates formerly representing shares of outstanding capital stock of the Company are deemed to represent the same number of shares of capital stock of Holdings.

 

Pursuant to Section 251(g) of the DGCL, the provisions of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Holdings are substantially identical to those of the Company prior to the date on which the Merger Agreement took effect.  The authorized capital stock of Holdings, the designations, rights, powers and preferences of such capital stock, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof are also substantially identical to those of the capital stock of the Company immediately prior to the date of the Merger.  Further, the directors and executive officers of Holdings are the same individuals who were directors and executive officers, respectively, of the Company immediately prior to the date of the Merger.

 

Notwithstanding this transaction, Holdings is not the “successor issuer” to the Company’s senior secured credit facilities or senior unsecured notes, including the Company’s 8.375% Senior Secured Notes due February 15, 2018 or its 1.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (the “ Convertible Notes ”), or other outstanding debt obligations.  Additionally, Holdings has not become subject to the restrictive covenants under the Company’s outstanding debt obligations.  However, as provided in Item 3.03 below, Holdings has guaranteed the Company’s outstanding debt obligations under the Convertible Notes.

 

The description of the Merger Agreement does not purport to be a complete description and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2.03.                                         Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

 

In connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, on May 15, 2014, Holdings also executed a supplemental indenture (the “ Supplemental Indenture ”) to the indenture governing the Company’s Convertible Notes, pursuant to which Holdings agreed to guarantee the obligations of the Company under such indenture.  As of the date hereof, there is approximately $92.0 million in aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes outstanding.

 

The description of the Supplemental Indenture does not purport to be a complete description and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Supplemental Indenture, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.02.                                         Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

In connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, on May 15, 2014, the Company and Holdings also executed an assignment and

 

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assumption agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 (the “ Assignment and Assumption Agreement ”) pursuant to which, from and after the effective time of the Merger, the Company assigned to Holdings, and Holdings has assumed and agreed to perform, all obligations of the Company under its 2004 Incentive Award Plan, each stock option agreement and/or restricted stock agreement entered into pursuant to the 2004 Incentive Award Plan, and each outstanding Company option granted thereunder.

 

The description of the Assignment and Assumption Agreement does not purport to be a complete description and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Assignment and Assumption Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.03.                                         Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

Prior to the date hereof, the Holdings adopted a certificate of incorporation (the “ Certificate ”) and bylaws (the “ Bylaws ”) that are identical to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company immediately prior to the Merger, except for certain amendments that are permissible under Section 251(g)(4) of the DGCL.  Holdings has the same authorized capital stock and the designations, rights, powers and preferences of such capital stock, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof are the same as that of the Company’s capital stock immediately prior to the Merger.

 

The Certificate and the Bylaws of Holdings are attached hereto as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 8.01.                                     Other Events.

 

On May 15, 2014, the Company issued a press release announcing that it had adopted a new holding company structure.  A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Item 9.01.                                         Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(c)  Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description of Exhibit

 

 

 

2.1

 

Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of May 15, 2014, by and among Cogent Communications Group, Inc., Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. and Merger Sub.

 

 

 

3.1

 

Certificate of Incorporation of Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc.

 

 

 

3.2

 

Bylaws of Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc.

 

 

 

4.1

 

Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 15, 2014, by and among Cogent Communications Group, Inc., Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.

 

 

 

10.1

 

Assignment and Assumption Agreement, dated as of May 15, 2014, by and between Cogent Communications Group, Inc. and Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc.

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press Release issued by the Company on May 15, 2014.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

Date: May 15, 2014

 

 

 

 

Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Schaeffer

 

Name:

David Schaeffer

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description of Exhibit

 

 

 

2.1

 

Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of May 15, 2014, by and among Cogent Communications Group, Inc., Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. and Merger Sub.

 

 

 

3.1

 

Certificate of Incorporation of Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc.

 

 

 

3.2

 

Bylaws of Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc.

 

 

 

4.1

 

Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 15, 2014, by and among Cogent Communications Group, Inc., Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.

 

 

 

10.1

 

Assignment and Assumption Agreement, dated as of May 15, 2014, by and between Cogent Communications Group, Inc. and Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc.

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press Release issued by the Company on May 15, 2014.

 

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Exhibit 2.1

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION

 

This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION (“ Agreement ”), dated as of May 15, 2014, is among Cogent Communications Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“ Holdings ”), and Cogent Communications Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings (“ Merger Sub ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, as of the close of business on May 6, 2014, the authorized capital stock of the Company consisted of (i) 75,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“ Company Common Stock ”), of which 46,657,552 shares were issued and outstanding, 187,282 shares were reserved for issuance under the 2004 Incentive Award Plan and no shares were held in treasury, and (ii) 10,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Company Preferred Stock ”), of which none is outstanding.

 

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of Holdings consists of (i) 75,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“ Holdings Common Stock ”), of which 100 shares are issued and outstanding and no shares are held in treasury,  (ii) 10,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Holdings Preferred Stock ”), of which none is outstanding, and (iii) the Company owns all the issued and outstanding Holdings Common Stock.

 

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of Merger Sub consists of 100 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“ Merger Sub Common Stock ”), of which 100 shares are issued and outstanding and no shares are held in treasury, and Holdings owns all the issued and outstanding Merger Sub Common Stock.

 

WHEREAS, the designations, rights, powers and preferences, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the Holdings Common Stock and the Holdings Preferred Stock are the same as those of the Company Common Stock and the Company Preferred Stock, respectively.

 

WHEREAS, the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws of Holdings immediately after the Effective Time (as hereinafter defined) will contain provisions identical to the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company immediately before the Effective Time (other than with respect to matters excepted by Section 251(g) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”)).

 

WHEREAS, the directors of the Company immediately prior to the Merger (as hereinafter defined) will be the directors of Holdings as of the Effective Time.

 

WHEREAS, the officers of the Company immediately prior to the Merger will be the officers of Holdings as of the Effective Time.

 



 

WHEREAS, Holdings and Merger Sub are each newly formed corporations organized for the purpose of participating in the transactions herein contemplated.

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to create a new holding company structure by merging Merger Sub with and into the Company with the Company being the Surviving Corporation (as defined below), and converting each outstanding share of Company Common Stock into one share of Holdings Common Stock, all in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of Holdings, Merger Sub and the Company have approved this Agreement and the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement (the “ Merger ”).

 

WHEREAS, the parties intend, by executing this Agreement, to adopt a plan of reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) and Treasury Regulations Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a), and to cause the Merger to qualify as a reorganization under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the Code and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Company, Holdings and Merger Sub hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I.
THE MERGER

 

Section 1.1                                                 The Merger .  In accordance with Section 251(g) of the DGCL and subject to and upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Merger Sub shall, at the Effective Time, be merged with and into the Company, the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease and the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation. The Company as the surviving corporation after the Merger is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “ Surviving Corporation .” At the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as provided in Section 259 of the DGCL.

 

Section 1.2                                                 Effective Time .  The Merger shall become effective upon the filing of a copy of this Agreement or a Certificate of Merger relating hereto with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the time of such filing being referred to herein as the “ Effective Time ”).

 

Section 1.3                                                 Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation .  From and after the Effective Time, the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be amended as set forth in Exhibit A hereto, in accordance with Section 251(g) of the DGCL, and as so amended shall thereafter continue in full force and effect as the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided by law.

 

Section 1.4                                                 Bylaws .  From and after the Effective Time, the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided therein or by applicable law.

 

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Section 1.5                                                 Directors .  The directors of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial directors of the Surviving Corporation and will hold office from the Effective Time until their successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation or as otherwise provided by law.

 

Section 1.6                                                 Officers .  The officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial officers of the Surviving Corporation and will hold office from the Effective Time until their successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation or as otherwise provided by law.

 

Section 1.7                                                 Additional Actions .  Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the parties hereto shall take all such reasonable and lawful action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to effectuate the Merger and to comply with the requirements of Section 251(g) of the DGCL. If, at any time after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall consider or be advised that any deeds, bills of sale, assignments, assurances or any other actions or things are necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm, of record or otherwise, in the Surviving Corporation its right, title or interest in, to or under any of the rights, properties or assets of either of Merger Sub or the Company acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger or otherwise to carry out this Agreement, the officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of each of Merger Sub and the Company, all such deeds, bills of sale, assignments and assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of each of Merger Sub and the Company or otherwise, all such other actions and things as may be necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm any and all right, title and interest in, to and under such rights, properties or assets in the Surviving Corporation or otherwise to carry out this Agreement.

 

Section 1.8                                           Conversion of Securities .  At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Holdings, Merger Sub, the Company or the holder of any of the following securities:

 

(a)                                  Each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and thereafter represent one duly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of Holdings Common Stock.

 

(b)                                  Each share of Merger Sub Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and thereafter represent one duly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.

 

(c)                                   Each share of Holdings Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Merger shall automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist.

 

(d)                                  From and after the Effective Time, holders of certificates formerly evidencing Company Common Stock shall cease to have any rights as stockholders of the

 

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Company, except as provided by law; provided , however , that such holders shall have the rights set forth in Section 1.9 herein.

 

Section 1.9                                                 No Surrender of Certificates; Stock Transfer Books .  At the Effective Time, the designations, rights, powers and preferences, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the capital stock of Holdings will, in each case, be identical with those of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time. Accordingly, until thereafter surrendered for transfer or exchange in the ordinary course, each outstanding certificate that, immediately prior to the Effective Time, evidenced Company Common Stock shall, from the Effective Time, be deemed and treated for all corporate purposes to evidence the ownership of the same number of shares of Holdings Common Stock into which such shares of Company Common Stock were converted pursuant to Section 1.8 herein.

 

ARTICLE II.
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN
CONNECTION WITH THE MERGER

 

Section 2.1                                           Conversion of Options .  At the Effective Time, all unexercised and unexpired options to purchase Company Common Stock (“ Company Options ”) then outstanding, under the 2004 Incentive Award Plan (the “ Company Stock Option Plan ”), whether or not then exercisable, will be assumed by Holdings and each Company Option so assumed by Holdings under this Agreement will be converted into an option to purchase an equal number of shares of Holdings Common Stock subject to, the same terms and conditions as set forth in the Company Stock Option Plan and any agreements thereunder immediately prior to the Effective Time (including, without limitation, the vesting schedule (without acceleration thereof by virtue of the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby) and per share exercise price) in accordance with Treasury Regulation 1.424-1(a).

 

Section 2.2                                           Assumption of Company Stock Option Plan, Stockholders Agreements and Other Agreements .  Holdings and the Company hereby agree that they will, at or promptly following the Effective Time, execute, acknowledge and deliver an assignment and assumption agreement (the “ Assignment and Assumption Agreement ”) pursuant to which, from and after the Effective Time, the Company will assign to Holdings, and Holdings will assume and agree to perform, all obligations of the Company pursuant to the Company Stock Option Plan, each stock option agreement and/or restricted stock agreement entered into pursuant to the Company Stock Option Plan, and each outstanding Company Option granted thereunder.  At the Effective Time, the Company Stock Option Plan, and each stock option agreement and restricted stock agreement entered into pursuant to the Company Stock Option Plan, shall each be automatically be deemed to be amended as necessary to provide that references to the Company in such agreements shall be read to refer to Holdings.

 

Section 2.3                                           Reservation of Shares .  On or prior to the Effective Time, Holdings will reserve sufficient shares of Holdings Common Stock to provide for the issuance of Holdings Common Stock upon exercise of the Company Options outstanding under the Company Stock Option Plan.

 

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Section 2.4                                           Successor Issuer under the Securities Act .  It is the intent of the parties hereto that Holdings, as of the Effective Time, be deemed a “successor issuer” for purposes of continuing offerings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”).  As soon as practicable following the Merger, Holdings will, to the extent deemed appropriate, file post-effective amendments to the Company’s registration statements, adopting such registration statements as its own registration statements for all purposes of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), and setting forth any additional information necessary to reflect any material changes made in connection with or resulting from the succession, or necessary to keep the registration statements from being misleading.

 

Section 2.5                                           Successor Issuer under the Exchange Act .  It is the intent of the parties hereto that the Merger will constitute a “succession” for purposes of Rule 12g-3(a) under the Exchange Act and, upon issuance of the Holdings Common Stock in connection with the Merger, the Holdings Common Stock will be deemed to be registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act.  It is the further intent of the parties hereto that Holdings will be considered a “successor issuer” of the Company and will be considered a large accelerated filer for purposes of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act.

 

Section 2.6                                                 Company Obligations .  Notwithstanding the Merger contemplated herein, Holdings shall not be deemed the successor issuer to, or become subject to the restrictive covenants under, the Company’s 8.375% Senior Secured Notes due February 15, 2018 (the “ Senior Notes ”) or the Company’s 1.00% Convertible Senior Notes (the “ Convertible Notes ”), or other outstanding debt obligations. However, Holdings shall guarantee the Company’s outstanding debt obligations under the Convertible Notes. The Company will remain the primary obligor under its outstanding debt obligations.

 

ARTICLE III.
CONDITIONS OF MERGER

 

Section 3.1                                                 Conditions Precedent .  The obligations of the parties to this Agreement to consummate the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to fulfillment or waiver by the parties hereto at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions:

 

(a)                                  No order, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, injunction, stay, decree, judgment or restraining order that is in effect shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any court or governmental or regulatory authority or instrumentality which prohibits or makes illegal the consummation of the Merger or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(b)                                  The Board of Directors of the Company shall have determined that holders of Company Common Stock will not recognize gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the Merger.

 

(c)                                   All third party consents and approvals required, or deemed by the Board of Directors of the Company advisable, to be obtained under any note, bond, mortgage, deed of trust, security interest, indenture, law, regulation, lease, license, contract, agreement, exchange

 

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membership, exchange allocation, plan or instrument or obligation to which the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company is a party, or by which the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, or any property of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company may be bound, in connection with the Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby, shall have been obtained by the Company or its subsidiary or affiliate, as the case may be.

 

ARTICLE IV.
COVENANTS

 

Section 4.1                                                 Election of Directors .  Effective as of the Effective Time, the Company, in its capacity as the sole stockholder of Holdings, will, if necessary to comply with Section 251(g) of the DGCL, remove each of the then directors of Holdings, cause the board of directors of Holdings to effect such amendments to the bylaws of Holdings as are necessary to increase the number of directors of Holdings to equal the number of directors of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time, and elect each person who is then a member of the board of directors of the Company as a director of Holdings, each of whom shall serve until his successor shall have been elected and qualified in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation.

 

Section 4.2                                                 The Company Stock Option Plan .  The Company and Holdings will take or cause to be taken all actions necessary or desirable in order for Holdings to assume the Company Stock Option Plan, each stock option and restricted stock agreement entered into pursuant thereto, and each Company Option granted thereunder, all to the extent deemed appropriate by the Company and Holdings and permitted under applicable law and the Company Stock Option Plan.

 

Section 4.3                                                 Guarantee .  In connection with the Merger, Holdings shall become a guarantor of the obligations of the Company under the Convertible Notes, and Holdings shall execute and deliver a guaranty thereto and such other documents, as applicable.

 

Section 4.4                                                 Insurance .  Holdings shall procure insurance or cause the execution of the insurance policies of the Company such that, upon consummation of the Merger, Holdings shall have insurance coverage that is substantially identical to the insurance coverage held by the Company immediately prior to the Merger.

 

Section 4.5                                                 Assumption of Agreements .  The Company and Holdings will take or cause to be taken all actions necessary or desirable in order for Holdings to assume and perform the obligations of the Company under any other agreements to the extent deemed appropriate by the Company and Holdings and permitted under applicable law.

 

Section 4.6                                                 Plan of Reorganization . This Agreement is intended to constitute a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a).  Each party hereto shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Merger to qualify, and will not knowingly take any actions or cause any actions to be taken which could reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying, as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

 

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ARTICLE V.
TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

 

Section 5.1                                                 Termination . This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time by action of the Board of Directors of the Company or the Board of Directors of Merger Sub if such Board of Directors should determine that for any reason the completion of the transactions provided for herein would be inadvisable or not in the best interest of such corporation or its stockholders. In the event of such termination and abandonment, this Agreement shall become void and the Company, Holdings and Merger Sub, and their respective stockholders, directors or officers, shall have no liability with respect to such termination and abandonment.

 

Section 5.2                                                 Amendment . At any time prior to the Effective Time, this Agreement may, to the extent permitted by the DGCL, be supplemented, amended or modified by the mutual consent of the Boards of Directors of the parties to this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE VI.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

Section 6.1                                                 Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced under the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

Section 6.2                                                 Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

Section 6.3                                                 Entire Agreement .  This Agreement together with the Assignment and Assumption Agreement, constitute the entire agreement and supersede all other agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement may not be amended or supplemented except by a written document executed by the parties to this Agreement.

 

Section 6.4                                                 Severability .  The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and in the event any provision hereof is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not in any way affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Holdings, Merger Sub and the Company have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

COGENT COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert N. Beury, Jr.

 

Name:

Robert N. Beury, Jr.

 

Title:

Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Assistant Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COGENT COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert N. Beury, Jr.

 

Name:

Robert N. Beury, Jr.

 

Title:

Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Assistant Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COGENT COMMUNICATIONS MERGER SUB, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert N. Beury, Jr.

 

Name:

Robert N. Beury, Jr.

 

Title:

President and Secretary

 

Agreement and Plan of Restructuring

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

COGENT COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC.

 

FIRST:  The name of the corporation (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Corporation”) is:

 

Cogent Communications Group, Inc.

 

SECOND:  The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, in the City of Wilmington, in the County of New Castle, 19808, Delaware.  The name of the Corporation’s registered agent for service of process on the Corporation in the State of Delaware, at such address, is Corporation Service Company.

 

THIRD:  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 (the “DGCL”).

 

FOURTH:  The aggregate number of all classes of shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is one hundred (100) shares of common stock, with a par value of $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”).

 

FIFTH:  The rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted or imposed upon the Common Stock are as follows:

 

1.                                             Dividends .  The holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled to the payment of dividends when and as declared by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) out of funds legally available therefor and to receive other distributions from the Corporation, including distributions of contributed capital, when and as declared by the Board.  Any dividends declared by the Board to the holders of the then outstanding Common Stock shall be paid to the holders thereof pro rata in accordance with the number of shares of Common Stock held by each such holder as of the record date of such dividend.

 



 

2.                                             Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up .  In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the funds and assets of the Corporation that may be legally distributed to the Corporation’s stockholders shall be distributed among the holders of the then outstanding Common Stock pro rata , in accordance with the number of shares of Common Stock held by each such holder.

 

3.                                             Voting .  Each holder of Common Stock shall have full voting rights and powers equal to the voting rights and powers of each other holder of Common Stock and shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share of Common Stock held by such holder.  Each holder of Common Stock shall be entitled to notice of any stockholders’ meeting in accordance with the bylaws of the Corporation (as in effect at the time in question) and applicable law on all matters put to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation.

 

SIXTH:  In furtherance and not in limitation of the power conferred by statute, the Board is expressly authorized to make, alter or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation subject to any limitations contained therein.

 

SEVENTH:  No director of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for the breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended.  Any amendment, modification or repeal of the foregoing sentence shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.

 

EIGHTH:  Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the bylaws of the Corporation shall so provide.

 

NINTH:  The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provisions contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the DGCL.  All rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.

 



 

TENTH:  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation is authorized to provide indemnification of (and advancement of expenses to) agents of the Corporation (and any other persons to which the DGCL permits the Corporation to provide indemnification) through bylaw provisions or agreements with such agents or other persons, by vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, in excess of the indemnification and advancement otherwise permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL, subject only to limits created by the DGCL and applicable decisional law, with respect to actions for breach of duty to the Corporation, its stockholders, and others.

 

ELEVENTH:  Any act or transaction by or involving the Corporation (other than the election or removal of directors of the Corporation) that requires for its adoption under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or this certificate of incorporation the approval of the stockholders of the Corporation shall, pursuant to Section 251(g) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, require, in addition, the approval of the stockholders of Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto by merger, by the same vote that is required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and/or this certificate of incorporation.

 


Exhibit 3.1

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

COGENT COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, INC.

 

The undersigned, a natural person, for the purpose of organizing a corporation for conducting the business and promoting the purposes hereinafter stated, under the provisions and subject to the requirements of the laws of the State of Delaware (particularly Chapter 1, Title 8 of the Delaware Code and the acts amendatory thereof and supplemental thereto, and known, identified and referred to as the “General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware” (hereinafter, the “General Corporation Law”)), hereby certifies that:

 

ARTICLE 1.  NAME.

 

The name of the corporation (hereinafter the “Corporation”) is Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc.

 

ARTICLE 2.  REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT.

 

The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, in the City of Wilmington, in the County of New Castle, 19808, Delaware.  The name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.

 

ARTICLE 3.  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.

 

ARTICLE 4.  CAPITAL STOCK.

 

A.             Authorized Shares .   The total number of shares of capital stock of all classes that the Corporation will have the authority to issue is seventy five million ten thousand (75,010,000) shares, of which: (i) seventy five million (75,000,000) shares, of a par value of $.001 per share, shall be of a class designated “Common Stock”; and (ii) ten thousand (10,000) shares, of a par value of $.001 per share, shall be designated as “Preferred Stock”.

 

The authorized but unissued Preferred Stock may be issued in one or more series, each series to be appropriately designated by a distinguishing letter or title prior to the issue of any shares thereof.  The Board of Directors is hereby authorized to fix or alter the dividend rights, dividend rate, conversion rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption including sinking fund provisions, if any, the redemption price or prices, the liquidation preferences, any other qualifications, limitations, or restrictions thereof, of any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock, and the number of shares constituting any such unissued series and the designation thereof, or any of them; and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series subsequent to the issue of shares of that series, but not below the number of shares of such series

 



 

then outstanding.  In case the number of shares of any series shall be so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status which they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series.

 

Except as otherwise set forth in a certificate designating any authorized but unissued Preferred Stock (such certificate, a “Certificate of Designation”), the designations, preferences, privileges and powers and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock shall be as follows:

 

B.                                     Preferred Stock .  Except as otherwise required by the General Corporation Law or as provided in the Certificate of Designation relating to such series of Preferred Stock, shares of Preferred Stock shall be voted together with the shares of the Common Stock without distinction as to class or series at each annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, and may act by written consent in the same manner as the Common Stock, upon the following basis: each holder of a share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock such holder of Preferred Stock would receive upon conversion of such share of Preferred Stock held by such stockholder into Common Stock.  Such determination shall be made with (1) respect to a meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation on the record date fixed for meeting, or (2) with respect to a written consent of the stockholders of the Corporation, on the effective date of such written consent.

 

C.             Common Stock.

 

1.                                       Prior Rights of Preferred Stock.   The voting, dividend and liquidation rights of the holders of the Common Stock are subject to and qualified by the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock as may be issued in accordance with the provisions hereof.

 

2.                                       Voting Rights.   The holders of the Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held at all meetings of stockholders.  There shall be no cumulative voting.

 

3.                                       Dividends.   Subject to the rights of any series of Preferred Stock set forth in a Certificate of Designation, dividends may be declared and paid on the Common Stock from funds lawfully available therefor as and when determined by the Board of Directors and subject to any preferential dividend rights of any then outstanding Preferred Stock.

 

4.                                       Increases or Decreases.   Subject to the rights of any series of Preferred Stock set forth in a Certificate of Designation, the number of authorized shares of Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding or reserved for conversion of the then outstanding Preferred Stock) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding stock of the Corporation (voting together on an as-if converted basis).

 

ARTICLE 5.  COMPROMISE OR ARRANGEMENT WITH CREDITORS.

 

Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between the Corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between the Corporation and its stockholders or any class of

 



 

them, any court of equitable jurisdiction within the State of Delaware may, on the application in a summary way of the Corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof or on the application of any receiver or receivers appointed for the Corporation under the provisions of Section 291 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code or on the application of trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers appointed for the Corporation under the provisions of Section 279 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code, order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of the Corporation, as the case may be, to be summoned in such manner as the said court directs.  If a majority in number representing three-fourths in value of the creditors or class of creditors and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of the Corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement and to any reorganization of the Corporation as a consequence of such compromise or arrangement, the said compromise or arrangement and the said reorganization shall, if sanctioned by the court to which the said application had been made, be binding on all the creditors or class of creditor, and/or on all the stockholders or class of stockholders, of the Corporation, as the case may be, and also on the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE 6.  DIRECTORS LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION.

 

A.             Indemnification.   The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the General Corporation Law, as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time, indemnify and advance expenses to, (i) its directors and officers, and (ii) any person who, at the request of the Corporation is or was serving as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, from and against any and all of the expenses, liabilities, or other matters referred to in or covered by said section as amended or supplemented (or any successor), for actions taken in such person’s capacity as such a director, officer, employee or agent, and then only to the extent such person is not indemnified for such actions by such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise; provided, however, that except with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the by-laws of the Corporation may provide that the Corporation shall indemnify any director, officer or such person in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such director, officer or such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.  The Corporation, by action of its Board of Directors, may provide indemnification or advance expenses to employees and agents of the Corporation or other persons only on such terms and condition and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors in its sole and absolute discretion.  The indemnification provided for herein shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in their official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

 

B.             Limitation of Liability.   No director of this Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for any monetary damages for breaches of fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability; provided that this provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director, to the extent that such liability is imposed by applicable law, (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders; (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional

 



 

misconduct or a knowing violation of law (iii) under Section 174 or successor provisions of the General Corporation Law; or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.  This provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director for any act or omission if such elimination or limitation is prohibited by the General Corporation Law.  No amendment to or repeal of this provision shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.  If the General Corporation Law is amended 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 General Corporation Law, as so amended.

 

C.             Prospective Amendment.   Any repeal or modification of this Article 6 shall be prospective and shall not affect the rights under this Article 6 in effect at the time of the alleged occurrence of any act or omission to act giving rise to liability or indemnification.

 

ARTICLE 7.  INCORPORATOR.

 

The name and the mailing address of the incorporator are as follows:

 

NAME

MAILING ADDRESS

 

 

Eleanor Romanelli

c/o Latham & Watkins LLP

 

555 11 th  Street Northwest, Suite 1000

 

Washington, District of Columbia 20004

 

 

 

 

Signed on April 17, 2014.

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Eleanor Romanelli

 

Eleanor Romanelli, Incorporator

 


Exhibit 3.2

 

BYLAWS

 

OF

 

COGENT COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, INC.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

PAGE

 

 

 

ARTICLE I. OFFICES

1

 

 

 

Section 1.

REGISTERED OFFICE

1

Section 2.

OTHER OFFICES

1

 

 

 

ARTICLE II. MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

1

 

 

 

Section 3.

PLACE OF MEETINGS

1

Section 4.

NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER BUSINESS AND NOMINATIONS

1

Section 5.

QUORUM; ADJOURNED MEETINGS AND NOTICE THEREOF

3

Section 6.

VOTING

3

Section 7.

PROXIES

3

Section 8.

SPECIAL MEETINGS

3

Section 9.

NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS, MEETINGS

3

Section 10.

MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF STOCKHOLDER LIST

3

Section 11.

STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING

4

 

 

 

ARTICLE III. DIRECTORS

4

 

 

 

Section 12.

THE NUMBER OF DIRECTORS

4

Section 13.

VACANCIES

4

Section 14.

POWERS

4

Section 15.

PLACE OF DIRECTORS’ MEETINGS

4

Section 16.

REGULAR MEETINGS

4

Section 17.

SPECIAL MEETINGS

4

Section 18.

QUORUM

4

Section 19.

ACTION WITHOUT MEETING

5

Section 20.

TELEPHONIC MEETINGS

5

Section 21.

COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS

5

Section 22.

MINUTES OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS

5

Section 23.

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

5

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV. INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE

5

 

 

 

Section 24.

POWER TO INDEMNIFY IN ACTIONS, SUITS OR PROCEEDINGS OTHER THAN THOSE BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION

5

Section 25.

POWER TO INDEMNIFY IN ACTIONS, SUITS OR PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION

6

Section 26.

AUTHORIZATION OF INDEMNIFICATION

6

Section 27.

GOOD FAITH DEFINED

6

Section 28.

INDEMNIFICATION BY A COURT

6

Section 29.

EXPENSES PAYABLE IN ADVANCE

7

Section 30.

NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES

7

Section 31.

INSURANCE

7

Section 32.

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

7

Section 33.

SURVIVAL OF INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES

7

 

i



 

Section 34.

LIMITATION ON INDEMNIFICATION

8

Section 35.

INDEMNIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS

8

 

 

 

ARTICLE V. OFFICERS

8

 

 

 

Section 36.

OFFICERS

8

Section 37.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

8

Section 38.

COMPENSATION OF OFFICERS

8

Section 39.

TERM OF OFFICE; REMOVAL AND VACANCIES

8

Section 40.

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

8

Section 41.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

8

Section 42.

PRESIDENT

8

Section 43.

VICE PRESIDENTS

8

Section 44.

SECRETARY

8

Section 45.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY

9

Section 46.

TREASURER

9

Section 47.

ASSISTANT TREASURER

9

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI. CERTIFICATES OF STOCK

9

 

 

 

Section 48.

CERTIFICATES

9

Section 49.

SIGNATURES ON CERTIFICATES

9

Section 50.

STATEMENT OF STOCK RIGHTS, PREFERENCES, PRIVILEGES

9

Section 51.

LOST CERTIFICATES

10

Section 52.

TRANSFERS OF STOCK

10

Section 53.

FIXING RECORD DATE

10

Section 54.

REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS

10

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS

10

 

 

 

Section 55.

DIVIDENDS

10

Section 56.

PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS; DIRECTORS’ DUTIES

10

Section 57.

CHECKS

10

Section 58.

FISCAL YEAR

10

Section 59.

CORPORATE SEAL

10

Section 60.

MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE

10

Section 61.

WAIVER OF NOTICE

11

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS

11

 

 

 

Section 62.

AMENDMENT

11

 

ii



 

ARTICLE 1.

OFFICES

 

Section 1.  REGISTERED OFFICE.  The registered office of Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. (the “Corporation”) shall be in the City of Dover, County of Kent, State of Delaware.

 

Section 2. OTHER OFFICES. The Corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

ARTICLE 2.

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 3. PLACE OF MEETINGS. Meetings of stockholders shall be held at any place within or outside the State of Delaware designated by the Board of Directors. In the absence of any such designation, stockholders’ meetings shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation.

 

Section 4. NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER BUSINESS AND NOMINATIONS. The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held each year at a date and a time designated by the Board of Directors. At each annual meeting directors shall be elected and any other proper business may be transacted.

 

(A)                                            ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS.

 

(1)                                               Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation 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 meeting (or any supplement thereto), (b) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (c) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record of the Corporation at the time the notice provided for in this Section 4 is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 4.

 

(2)                                               For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (c) of paragraph (A)(1) of this Section 4, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action.  To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty days before or more than seventy days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth 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 by the Corporation).  In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.  Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth: (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and Rule 14a-11 thereunder (and 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, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the By-laws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment; and (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and or such beneficial owner, (ii) the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned

 

1



 

beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (iii) 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 of nomination, and (iv) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends to (a) 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 (b) otherwise solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination. 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.

 

(3)                                               Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 4 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least one hundred days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 4 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 at the principal executive office 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 shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting pursuant to Section 9.  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 (1) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (2) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 4 is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 4.  In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 4 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth 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. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

(C)                                            GENERAL

 

(1)                                               Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 4 shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 4.  Except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to (a) determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 4 and (b) if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Section 4 (including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made solicits (or is part of a group which solicits), or fails to so solicit (as the case may be), proxies in support of such stockholder’s proposal in compliance with such stockholder’s representation required by clause (c)(iv) of Section (A)(2) of this By-law), to declare that such defective nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted.

 

(2)                                               For purposes of this Section 4, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national

 

2



 

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.

 

(3)                                               Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4, 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 4.  Nothing in this Section 4 shall be deemed to affect any rights (a) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (b) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances.

 

Section 5. QUORUM; ADJOURNED MEETINGS AND NOTICE THEREOF. A majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, the holders of which are present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum and the votes present may continue to transact business until adjournment. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, a majority of the voting stock represented in person or by proxy may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. If the adjournment is for more than thirty days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat.

 

Section 6. VOTING. When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock having voting power present in person or represented by proxy shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which by express provision of the statutes, or the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, a different vote is required in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.

 

Section 7. PROXIES. At each meeting of the stockholders, each stockholder having the right to vote may vote in person or may authorize another person or persons to act for him by proxy appointed by an instrument in writing subscribed by such stockholder and bearing a date not more than three years prior to said meeting, unless said instrument provides for a longer period. All proxies must be filed with the Secretary of the Corporation at the beginning of each meeting in order to be counted in any vote at the meeting. Each stockholder shall have one vote for each share of stock having voting power, registered in his name on the books of the Corporation on the record date set by the Board of Directors as provided in Article 6, Section 53 hereof.

 

Section 8. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose, or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, may be called by the President and shall be called by the President or the Secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the Board of Directors, or at the request in writing of stockholders owning at least a majority of the entire capital stock of the Corporation, issued and outstanding, and entitled to vote. Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.

 

Section 9. NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall be given which notice shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. The written notice of any meeting shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting. If mailed, notice is given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.

 

Section 10. MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF STOCKHOLDER LIST. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten days before every meeting of stockholders, 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. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary

 

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business hours, for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.

 

Section 11. STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, including the election of directors, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be 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. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing.

 

ARTICLE 3.

DIRECTORS

 

Section 12. THE NUMBER OF DIRECTORS. The number of directors which shall constitute the whole Board shall be six (6). Thereafter, the number of directors constituting the whole Board may be increased or decreased, from time to time, in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation or any Stockholders Agreement (as defined below). The directors need not be stockholders. The directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders, except as provided in Section 13, and each director elected shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified; provided, however, that unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, any stockholders agreement, the execution of which is approved unanimously the Board of Directors (a “Stockholders Agreement”), or by law, any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed, either with or without cause, from the Board of Directors at any meeting of stockholders by a majority of the stock represented and entitled to vote thereat.

 

Section 13. VACANCIES. Vacancies on the Board of Directors by reason of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office, or otherwise, and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, provided, however, that the Board of Directors shall not take any action unless and until the any Stockholders entitled to designate nominees of the Board of Directors under any Stockholders Agreement have been given adequate opportunity to do so.

 

Section 14. POWERS. The Board of Directors shall elect and appoint management to manage the business and property of the Corporation. In addition to the powers and authorities by these Bylaws expressly conferred upon them, the Board may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

 

Section 15. PLACE OF DIRECTORS’ MEETINGS. The directors may hold their meetings and have one or more offices, and keep the books of the Corporation outside of the State of Delaware.

 

Section 16. REGULAR MEETINGS.  Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board.

 

Section 17. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board or the President on forty-eight hours’ notice to each director, either personally or by mail or by facsimile; special meetings shall be called by the President or the Secretary in like manner and on like notice on the written request of two directors.

 

Section 18. QUORUM. At all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the then-appointed directors shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum, shall be the act of the Board of

 

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Directors, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, by the Certificate of Incorporation, by any Stockholders Agreement or by these Bylaws. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. If only one director is authorized, such sole director shall constitute a quorum. At any meeting, a director shall have the right to be accompanied by counsel (provided that such counsel shall agree to any confidentiality restrictions reasonably imposed by the Corporation) and an observer (to the extent such right is agreed upon in any Stockholders Agreement).

 

Section 19. ACTION WITHOUT MEETING. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.

 

Section 20. TELEPHONIC MEETINGS. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee, by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

Section 21. COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, each such committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, shall make recommendations regarding the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation.

 

Section 22. MINUTES OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS.  Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors.

 

Section 23. COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, any Stockholders Agreement or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated salary as director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for attending committee meetings.

 

ARTICLE 4.

INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE

 

Section 24. POWER TO INDEMNIFY IN OTHER THAN ACTIONS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION.  Subject to Section 26 of this Article 4, the Corporation shall 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 such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such 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, such person had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The

 

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termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that such person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such 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 reasonably cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

Section 25. POWER TO INDEMNIFY IN ACTIONS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION.  Subject to Section 26 of this Article 4, the Corporation shall 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 or by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; 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 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 Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

Section 26. AUTHORIZATION OF INDEMNIFICATION. Any indemnification under this Article 4 (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director or officer is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 24 or 25 of this Article 4, as the case may be. Such determination shall be made (i) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (ii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iii) by the stockholders. To the extent, however, that a director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense if any action, suit or proceeding described above, 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, without the necessity of authorization in the specific case.

 

Section 27. GOOD FAITH DEFINED. For purposes of any determination under Section 26 of this Article 4, a person shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, or, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, to have had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful, if such person’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Corporation or another enterprise, or on information supplied to such person by the officers of the Corporation or another enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Corporation or another enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Corporation or another enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Corporation or another enterprise. The term “another enterprise” as used in this Section 27 shall mean any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which such person is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as director, officer, employee or agent. The provisions of this Section 27 shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 24 or 25 of this Article 4, as the case may be.

 

Section 28. INDEMNIFICATION BY A COURT. Notwithstanding any contrary determination in the specific case under Section 26 of this Article 4, and notwithstanding the absence of any determination thereunder, any director or officer may apply to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or any other court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware for indemnification to the extent otherwise permissible under Sections 24 and 25 of this Article 4. The basis of such indemnification by a court shall be a determination by such court that indemnification of the director or officer is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standards of conduct set forth in Section 24 or 25 of this Article 4, as the case may be. Neither a contrary determination in the specific case under Section 26 of this Article 4 nor the absence of any determination thereunder

 

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shall be a defense to such application or create a presumption that the director or officer seeking indemnification has not met any applicable standard of conduct. Notice of any application for indemnification pursuant to this Section 28 shall be given to the Corporation promptly upon the filing of such application. If successful, in whole or in part, the director or officer seeking indemnification shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such application.

 

Section 29. EXPENSES PAYABLE IN ADVANCE. Expenses incurred by a director or officer in defending or investigating a threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding shall 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 this Article 4.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not be required to advance any expenses to an Indemnitee in the event and to the extent that such Indemnitee has entered a plea of guilty in the applicable criminal proceeding.

 

Section 30. NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES. The indemnification and the advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to this Article 4 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the Certificate of Incorporation or any By-law, agreement, contract, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or pursuant to the direction (howsoever embodied) of any court of competent jurisdiction or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, it being the policy of the corporation that indemnification of persons specified in Section 24 and 25 of this Article 4 shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law. The provisions of this Article 4 shall not be deemed to preclude the indemnification of any person who is not specified in Section 24 or 25 of this Article 4 but whom the Corporation has the power or obligation to indemnify under the provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) or otherwise.

 

Section 31. INSURANCE. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article 4.

 

Section 32. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For the purposes of this Article 4, references to the “Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors or officers, so that any person who is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation, or is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article 4 with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued. For purposes of this Article 4, references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director or officer which respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Article 4.

 

Section 33. SURVIVAL OF INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article 4 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified. continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

 

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Section 34. LIMITATION ON INDEMNIFICATION. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article 4 to the contrary, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification (which shall be governed by Section 28 hereof), the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any director or officer (or his heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives) or advance expenses in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

Section 35. INDEMNIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, provide rights to indemnification and to advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Corporation similar to those conferred in this Article 4 to directors and officers of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE 5.

OFFICERS

 

Section 36. OFFICERS. The officers of this corporation shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and shall include a Chief Executive Officer, President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The Corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, such other officers as are desired, including a Chairman of the Board, one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers, and such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 hereof. In the event there are two or more Vice Presidents, then one or more may be designated as Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, or other similar or dissimilar title. Any number of offices may be held by the same person unless the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws otherwise provide.

 

Section 37. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.  The Board of Directors, at its first meeting after each annual meeting of stockholders, shall choose the officers of the Corporation.

 

Section 38. COMPENSATION OF OFFICERS.  The salaries of all officers and agents of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors on the advice and consent of the Compensation Committee thereof.

 

Section 39. TERM OF OFFICE; REMOVAL AND VACANCIES. The officers of the Corporation shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualify in their stead. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors. If the office of any officer or officers becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 40. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The Chairman of the Board, if such an officer be elected, shall, if present, preside at meetings of the Board of Directors and shall have no power or authority to manage the affairs of the corporation.

 

Section 41. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation shall be the principle officer of the Corporation and shall have general supervision, direction and control of the business and officers of the Corporation. He shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, or if there be none, at all meetings of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 42. PRESIDENT. The President shall be the chief operating officer of the Corporation. He shall assist the Chief Executive Officer at the Chief Executive Officer’s discretion in the performance of his duties.

 

Section 43. VICE PRESIDENTS.  The Vice Presidents shall assist the President at the President’s discretion in the performance of his duties.

 

Section 44. SECRETARY. The Secretary shall attend all sessions of the Board of Directors and all meetings of the stockholders and record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose; and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when required by the Board of Directors. He shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors.

 

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He shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Corporation, and when authorized by the Board, affix the same to any instrument requiring it, and when so affixed it shall be attested by his signature or by the signature of an Assistant Secretary. The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing by his signature.

 

Section 45. ASSISTANT SECRETARY. The Assistant Secretary, or if there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board of Directors, or if there be no such determination, the Assistant Secretary designated by the Board of Directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the Secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary.

 

Section 46. TREASURER. The Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys, and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation, in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. He shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the Board of Directors, at its regular meetings, or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation. If required by the Board of Directors, he shall give the Corporation a bond, in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors, for the faithful performance of the duties of his office and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of his death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in his possession or under his control belonging to the Corporation.

 

Section 47. ASSISTANT TREASURER. The Assistant Treasurer, or if there shall be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers, shall, in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer.

 

ARTICLE 6.

CERTIFICATES OF STOCK

 

Section 48. CERTIFICATES. Every holder of stock of the Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the President or a Vice President, and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares represented by the certificate owned by such stockholder in the Corporation, except that the Board of Directors may provide that some or all of any class or series of stock will be uncertificated shares.  No decision to have uncertificated shares will apply to stock represented by a certificate until that certificate has been surrendered to the Corporation.

 

Section 49. SIGNATURES ON CERTIFICATES. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile 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 were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue.

 

Section 50. STATEMENT OF STOCK RIGHTS, PREFERENCES, PRIVILEGES. If the Corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualification, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate which the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, provided that, except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate which the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.

 

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Section 51. LOST CERTIFICATES. The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as it shall require and/or to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

 

Section 52. TRANSFERS OF STOCK. Upon surrender to the Corporation, or the transfer agent of the Corporation, of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignation 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 book.

 

Section 53. FIXING RECORD DATE. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of the stockholders, or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date which shall not be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty days prior to any other action. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

 

Section 54. REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS. The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of stock as the holder in fact thereof and accordingly shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim or interest in such share on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, save as expressly provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

ARTICLE 7.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 55. DIVIDENDS. Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting, pursuant to law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 56. PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS; DIRECTORS’ DUTIES. Before payment of any dividend there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve fund to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for such other purpose as the directors shall think conducive to the interests of the Corporation, and the directors may abolish any such reserve.

 

Section 57. CHECKS.  All checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

 

Section 58. FISCAL YEAR.  The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the calendar year.

 

Section 59. CORPORATE SEAL. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware.” Said Seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.

 

Section 60. MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE. Whenever, under the provisions of the statutes or of the Certificate of Incorporation or of these Bylaws, notice is required to be given to any director or stockholder, it shall not be construed to mean personal notice, but such notice may be given in writing, by mail, addressed to such director or stockholder, at his address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid,

 

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and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail. Notice to directors may also be given by telegram or by facsimile or e-mail at such fax or e-mail addresses as the directors have last given to the Secretary.

 

Section 61. WAIVER OF NOTICE. Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of the statutes or of the Certificate of Incorporation or of these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto.

 

ARTICLE 8.

AMENDMENTS

 

Section 62. AMENDMENT. These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed or new Bylaws may be adopted by the Board of Directors or stockholders at any annual, regular or special meeting, in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and any Stockholders Agreement, if notice of such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption of new Bylaws be contained in the notice of such meeting.

 

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Exhibit 4.1

 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of May 15, 2014, among Cogent Communications Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Guarantor ”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “ Trustee ”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H

 

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (the “ Indenture ”), dated as of June 11, 2007 providing for the issuance of the Company’s 1.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (the “ Notes ”);

 

WHEREAS, on May 15, 2015, the Company merged with and into a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “ Merger ”) and immediately following the Merger, the Company was a subsidiary of the Guarantor;

 

WHEREAS, the Guarantor desires to fully and unconditionally guarantee all obligations of the Company under the Notes and the Indenture on a senior basis on the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture (the “ Guarantee ”); and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 10.01(d) of the Indenture, the Company and the Trustee are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture without notice to or consent of any Holder;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

 

1.                                                               CAPITALIZED TERMS. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

2.                                                               AGREEMENT TO GUARANTEE. The Guarantor hereby agrees to irrevocably fully and unconditionally provide the Guarantee subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture.

 

3.                                                               NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN. This Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

4.                                                               COUNTERPARTS. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

 



 

5.                                                               EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

6.                                                               THE TRUSTEE. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no duties, responsibilities or liabilities are assumed or shall be construed to be assumed by the Trustee by reason of this Supplemental Indenture.  The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guarantor and the Company.

 

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.

 

 

GUARANTOR:

 

 

 

 

COGENT COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert N. Beury, Jr.

 

 

Name:

Robert N. Beury, Jr.

 

 

Title:

Vice President, Chief Legal Officer

 

 

 

and Assistant Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

THE COMPANY:

 

 

 

 

COGENT COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert N. Beury, Jr.

 

 

Name:

Robert N. Beury, Jr.

 

 

Title:

Vice President, Chief Legal Officer

 

 

 

and Assistant Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

TRUSTEE:

 

 

 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

 

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Yana Kislenko

 

 

Name:

Yana Kislenko

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

Signature Page to Cogent Communications Group, Inc.

Supplemental Indenture

 


Exhibit 10.1

 

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

 

This ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT (“Agreement”), is entered into as of May 15, 2014, by and between Cogent Communications Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”).  Capitalized terms used in this Agreement but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement (as defined below).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Holdings are parties to that certain Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “ Merger Agreement ”) dated as of May 15, 2014, and pursuant to which, the Company and Holdings have agreed that Holdings will assume and agree to perform all obligations of the Company pursuant to the Company’s 2004 Incentive Award Plan (as amended through February 20, 2013) (the “ Company Stock Option Plan ”), each stock option agreement and/or restricted stock agreement entered into pursuant to the Company Stock Option Plan (collectively and together with the Company Stock Option Plan, the “ Assumed Agreements ”) and each outstanding Company Option granted thereunder.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Company and Holdings hereby agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Assignment .  Effective as of, but subject to the occurrence of, the Effective Time, the Company hereby grants, sells, assigns, transfers and delivers to Holdings all of the right, title and interest of the Company in and to the Assumed Agreements.

 

2.                                       Assumption .  Effective as of, but subject to the occurrence of, the Effective Time, Holdings hereby assumes and agrees to pay, discharge or perform, as appropriate, all liabilities and obligations of the Company under the Assumed Agreements.  In addition, Holdings agrees that to the extent that any of the Assumed Agreements contains a provision with respect to a “change of control” or other similar such occurrence of the Company, that such provision shall apply in the event of a “change of control” or other similar such occurrence of Holdings.

 

3.                                       Consideration .  In consideration of the assumption by Holdings of all of the rights and obligations of the Company under the Assumed Agreements, the Company agrees to pay all expenses incurred by Holdings in connection with the assumption of the Assumed Agreements pursuant to this Agreement.

 

4.                                       Conforming Changes .  Upon effectiveness of the assignment contemplated by this Agreement, all references to the Company or its predecessors in the Assumed Agreements are hereby deemed to be automatically amended to be references to Holdings, except where the context clearly dictates otherwise.

 

5.                                       Further Assurances .  Subject to the terms of this Agreement and each of the Assumed Agreements, the parties hereto shall from time to time after the date hereof, without further consideration, execute, acknowledge and deliver such further acts, assignments, transfers,

 



 

conveyances, assumptions and assurances as may be reasonably required to carry out the intent of this Agreement, including, without limitation, entering into amendments to the Assumed Agreements and notifying the other parties thereto of such assignment and assumption.

 

6.                                       Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

7.                                       Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

8.                                       Entire Agreement .  This Agreement together with the Merger Agreement constitute the entire agreement and supersede all other agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement may not be amended or supplemented except by a written document executed by the parties to this Agreement.

 

9.                                       Severability .  The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and in the event any provision hereof is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not in any way affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof.

 

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

2



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Holdings have caused this agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

COGENT COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert N. Beury, Jr.

 

Name:

Robert N. Beury, Jr.

 

Title:

Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Assistant Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COGENT COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert N. Beury, Jr.

 

Name:

Robert N. Beury, Jr.

 

Title:

Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Assistant Secretary

 

Assignment and Assumption Agreement

 


Exhibit 99.1

 

GRAPHIC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Cogent Contacts:

 

For Public Relations:

For Investor Relations:

Travis Wachter

+ 1 (202) 295-4212

+ 1 (202) 295-4217

investor.relations@cogentco.com

twachter@cogentco.com

 

 

Cogent Communications Group, Inc.

 

Adopts New Holding Company Structure

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. May 15, 2014 — Cogent Communications Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CCOI) (the “Company”) today announced that it has adopted a new holding company organizational structure.

 

The restructuring was accomplished through a merger under Section 251(g) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, pursuant to which all stockholders of Cogent Communications Group, Inc. at the effective time of the merger became stockholders of the new holding company, Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”), and Cogent Communications Group, Inc. became a subsidiary of Holdings.  The business operations of Cogent Communications Group, Inc. have not changed as a result of the restructuring.

 

Holdings’ common stock will continue to be listed and trade on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol “CCOI” without interruption.  The certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Holdings are substantially the same as the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Cogent Communications Group, Inc. prior to the merger and the officers and directors of Cogent Communications Group, Inc. have also become the officers and directors of Holdings.

 

Cogent Communications Group, Inc.’s stockholders were not required to take any action in connection with the corporate restructuring.  All outstanding shares were converted into shares of Holdings in a non-taxable transaction with the same rights, privileges and interests as the shares of Cogent Communications Group, Inc. previously held by such stockholders.  The shares of Holdings will continue to be represented by the same stock certificates that previously represented shares of Cogent Communications Group, Inc. capital stock.

 



 

About Cogent Communications

 

Cogent Communications (NASDAQ: CCOI) is a multinational, Tier 1 facilities-based ISP. Cogent specializes in providing businesses with high speed Internet access, Ethernet transport, and colocation services. Cogent’s facilities-based, all-optical IP network backbone provides services in over 180 markets globally.

 

Cogent Communications is headquartered at 1015 31st Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20007. For more information, visit www.cogentco.com. Cogent Communications can be reached in the United States at (202) 295-4200 or via email at info@cogentco.com.

 

#  #  #

 

Information in this release may involve expectations, beliefs, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based upon information available to Cogent Communications Group, Inc. as of the date of the release, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement. The statements in this release are not guarantees of future performance and actual results could differ materially from our current expectations. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences. Some of the factors and risks associated with our business are discussed in Cogent’s registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in its other reports filed from time to time with the SEC.

 

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