UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 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):   November 3, 2016

 

HILL INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Delaware

 

000-33961

 

20-0953973

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

(Commission
File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

One Commerce Square
2005 Market Street, 17
th  Floor
Philadelphia, PA

 

19103

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  ( 215) 309-7700

 

 

(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:

 

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))

 

 

 



 

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

 

Effective November 3, 2016, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Hill International, Inc. (the “Company”) adopted the Company’s 2016 Executive Retention Plan (the “Plan Document”) and approved a form of Retention Plan Participation Agreement (the “Agreement,” and, together with the Plan Document, the “Plan”).

 

The Plan provides for the payment of severance benefits by the Company to certain designated employees (each a “Participant”) whose employment is permanently terminated due to an Involuntary Termination (as defined in the Plan).  Upon termination of a Participant’s employment by the Company without “Cause” (as set forth in the Plan) or by the Participant for “Good Reason” (as defined in the Plan), the Company will be required to pay to the Participant a lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to one times the Participant’s base salary at such time; notwithstanding the foregoing, if the termination is within one year following a Change in Control (as defined in the Plan), the Company will be required to pay to the Participant a lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to two times the Participant’s base salary at such time and any and all unvested stock options, stock grants or other stock based compensation granted to the Participant shall then immediately vest.

 

The Plan contains customary confidentiality provisions and provides that Participants will be subject to noncompetition and noninterference covenants for a period of one year following the termination of employment. The Plan also contains a mandatory claims procedure if a Participant is denied benefits under the Plan.

 

Effective November 3, 2016, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, John Fanelli, III, and its Regional President (Middle East) of its Project Management Group, Mohammed Al Rais, were designated as a Participant under the Plan; no other named executive officer was designated as a Participant under the Plan.

 

The description of the terms of the Plan set forth herein is qualified in its entirety by the Plan and the Agreement, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

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

 

Effective November 3, 2016, the Board amended the Company’s Bylaws to remove provisions with respect to a Lead Independent Director considering the Chairman of the Company is independent.  The foregoing is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Amended and Restated Bylaws, which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.  A marked copy of the Amended Bylaws indicating changes made to the prior Bylaws of the Company is also filed as Exhibit 3.2 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.

 

Further, the Board amended its Corporate Governance Guidelines to remove provisions with respect to a Lead Independent Director.  The Corporate Governance Guidelines will be made available in the Corporate Governance section of the Company’s website at www.hillintl.com.

 

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)                                  Exhibits .

 

Exhibit Number

 

Description

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Hill International, Inc.

3.2

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Hill International, Inc. (marked copy)

10.1

 

Hill International, Inc. 2016 Executive Retention Plan

10.2

 

Form of Hill International, Inc. 2016 Executive Retention Plan Participation Agreement

 

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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.

 

 

 

HILL INTERNATIONAL, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William H. Dengler, Jr.

 

Name:

William H. Dengler, Jr.

Dated: November 9, 2016

Title:

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

 

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Exhibit 3.1

 

BYLAWS

 

OF

 

HILL INTERNATIONAL, INC.

 

(as Amended and Restated to November 3, 2016)

 

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

 

1.1                                Registered Office .  The registered office of Hill International, Inc. (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware shall be established and maintained at Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19808 and Corporation Service Company shall be the registered agent of the Corporation in charge thereof.

 

1.2                                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 of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

ARTICLE II
 
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

2.1                                Place of Meetings .  All meetings of the stockholders shall be held at such time and place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof.

 

2.2                                Annual Meetings .  The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held on such date and at such time as may be fixed by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting, for the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of only such other business as is properly brought before the meeting in accordance with these Bylaws (the “Bylaws”).

 

Written notice of an annual meeting stating the place, date and hour of the meeting, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the annual meeting.

 

To be properly brought before the annual meeting, business must be either (i) specified in the notice of annual meeting (or any supplement or amendment thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (ii) otherwise brought before the annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by a stockholder (a) who is a stockholder of the Corporation at the time the notice of annual meeting is delivered, (b) is entitled to vote at the annual meeting, and (c) complies with notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.2.  In addition, any proposal of business must be a proper matter for stockholder action.  Irrespective of whether a matter is already the subject of any notice to stockholders, for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation.  A stockholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received, at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (i) not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days in advance of the anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting date (the “Anniversary Date”) provided that the annual meeting is held on a day which is not more than thirty (30)

 



 

days in advance of the Anniversary Date or not later than seventy (70) days after the Anniversary Date, and (ii) with respect to any other annual meeting of stockholders, by the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the date of public disclosure of the date of such meeting whether by press release, filing with the SEC or other manner reasonably calculated to inform stockholders.

 

A stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth (a) as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, and (ii) any material interest of the stockholder in such business, and (b) as to the stockholder giving the notice (i) the name and record address of the stockholder, (ii) the class, series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by the stockholder and (iii) any other information relating to the stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is being made, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the proposal and pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at the annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.2.  The officer of the Corporation presiding at an annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the annual meeting that business was not properly brought before the annual meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.2, and if such officer should so determine, such officer shall so declare to the annual meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted. The requirements of this Section 2.2 shall apply to any business to be brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder whether such business is to be included in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act or presented to stockholders by means of an independently financed proxy solicitation.  The requirements of this Section 2.2 are included to provide the Corporation notice of a stockholder’s intention to bring business before an annual meeting and shall in no event be construed as imposing upon any stockholder the requirement to seek approval from the Corporation as a condition precedent to bringing any such business at an annual meeting.

 

2.3                                Special Meetings .  Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), may only be called by a majority of the entire Board of Directors, or the Chief Executive Officer or the Chairman, and shall be called by the Secretary at the request in writing of stockholders owning not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the voting power of all outstanding shares of the Corporation’s common stock which would be entitled to vote on the business transacted thereat.  Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.

 

Unless otherwise provided by law, written notice of a special meeting of stockholders, stating the time, place and purpose or purposes thereof, shall be given by the Company to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, not less than ten (10) or more than sixty (60) days before the date fixed for the meeting.  Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.

 

2.4                                Quorum .  The holders of a majority of the capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the

 

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meeting from time to time, in the manner provided by Section 2.10, until a quorum shall be present or represented. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the subsequent withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum.

 

2.5                                Organization .  The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall act as chairman of meetings of the stockholders.  The Board of Directors may designate any other officer or director of the Corporation to act as chairman of any meeting in the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Board of Directors may further provide for determining who shall act as chairman of any meeting of stockholders in the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and such designee. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of any meeting of the stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (b) the determination of when the polls shall open and close for any given matter to be voted on at the meeting; (c) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (d) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (e) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (f) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as secretary of all meetings of the stockholders, but in the absence of the Secretary the presiding officer may appoint any other person to act as secretary of any meeting.

 

2.6                                Voting .  Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any question (other than the election of directors) brought before any meeting of stockholders shall be decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock represented and entitled to vote thereat.  At all meetings of stockholders for the election of directors, a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect.  Each stockholder represented at a meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to cast one vote for each share of the capital stock entitled to vote thereat held by such stockholder, unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation.  Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize any person or persons to act for him by proxy.  All proxies shall be executed in writing and shall be filed with the Secretary of the Corporation not later than the day on which exercised.  No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period.  The Board of Directors, in its discretion, or the officer of the Corporation presiding at a meeting of stockholders, in his discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.

 

2.7                                Action of Shareholders Without Meeting .  Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, 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, and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded.  Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return

 

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receipt requested.  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.

 

2.8                                Voting List .  The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, 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 business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the election, either at a place within the city, town or village where the election is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not specified, at the place where said meeting is to be held.  The list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of election during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder of the Corporation who is present.

 

2.9                                Stock Ledger .  The stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list required by Section 2.8 or the books of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

2.10                         Adjournment .  Any meeting of the stockholders, including one at which directors are to be elected, may be adjourned for such periods as the presiding officer of the meeting or the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall direct and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place are announced at the meeting at which adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of the adjourned meeting and shall direct that notice of the adjourned meeting is given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of the adjourned meeting. In no event shall the public disclosure of an adjournment or postponement of any meeting of the stockholders commence a new notice time period (or extend any notice time period), except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.10.

 

2.11                         Ratification .  Any transaction questioned in any stockholders’ derivative suit, or any other suit to enforce alleged rights of the Corporation or any of its stockholders, on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of any director, officer or stockholder, nondisclosure, miscomputation or the application of improper principles or practices of accounting may be approved, ratified and confirmed before or after judgment by the Board of Directors or by the holders of Common Stock and, if so approved, ratified or confirmed, shall have the same force and effect as if the questioned transaction had been originally duly authorized, and said approval, ratification or confirmation shall be binding upon the Corporation and all of its stockholders and shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned transaction.

 

2.12                         Inspectors and Meetings of Stockholders .  The Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer or any other officer designated by the Board or Directors, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, may, and shall if required by law, appoint one or more inspectors, who may be employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and make a written report thereof. The Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer or any other officer designated by the Board of Directors may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge

 

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of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall (a) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, (b) determine the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum and the validity of proxies and ballots, (c) count all votes and ballots, (d) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors and (e) certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and their count of all votes and ballots. The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance of their duties. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, the date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting. No ballot, proxies, votes or any revocation thereof or change thereto shall be accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware upon application by a stockholder shall determine otherwise. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. No person who is a candidate for director at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.

 

ARTICLE III
 
DIRECTORS

 

3.1                                Powers; Number; Qualifications .  The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise provided by law or in the Certificate of Incorporation.  The number of directors which shall constitute the Board of Directors shall be not less than three (3) nor more than [eleven (11)].  The exact number of directors shall be fixed from time to time, within the limits specified in this Section 3.1 or in the Certificate of Incorporation, by the Board of Directors.  Directors need not be stockholders of the Corporation.  The Board may be divided into Classes as more fully described in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

No person shall qualify for service or serve as a director of the Corporation (i) unless such person is in compliance with all applicable laws and regulatory requirements to which the Corporation’s Directors may be subject in connection with such person’s service as a Director, (ii) if such person has been convicted in, or entered a plea of nolo contendere with respect to, a criminal proceeding involving fraud, misappropriation or other similar charge during the ten years preceding the date of election, or if such person has been found responsible for or admitted responsibility for fraud, misappropriation or other similar charge in any governmental investigation or proceeding or other civil judicial proceeding during the ten years preceding the date of election, or if such person has been found responsible for or admitted responsibility for any material violation of any foreign, federal or state securities law or federal commodities law during the ten years preceding the date of election, (iii) if such person has been convicted of, or entered a plea of nolo contendere with respect to, any felony, (iv) if such person serves on the board of directors of more than three other public companies, (v) if such person is a director, officer or holder of more than a five percent (5%) equity interest, directly or indirectly, in a business that competes, directly or indirectly, with the Corporation, (vi) if such person has made or makes any contribution or expenditure in connection with the election of any candidate for political office, including any contribution to any committee supporting such a candidate or to a political party, in any jurisdiction which results in the Corporation becoming ineligible to conduct its business or any portion thereof, or (vii) if such person has ever been the subject of a filing of personal bankruptcy in any jurisdiction, either voluntarily or involuntarily (and in the case of an involuntary filing, if such filing was not dismissed within 60 days) during the ten years preceding the date of election.  In addition, if any communication (including any proxy soliciting materials) made by or on behalf of a Director Nominee (as defined in Section 3.3) includes a statement regarding such Director Nominee which at the time and in the light of the circumstances under which it is made, is false or misleading with respect to any material fact

 

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regarding such Director Nominee, or omits to state any material fact regarding such Director Nominee necessary in order to make the statements therein not false or misleading, such fact shall be grounds for disqualification from service.

 

3.2                                Election; Term of Office; Vacancies .  Each director shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders at which his Class stands for election or until such director’s earlier resignation, disqualification, removal from office, death or incapacity.  Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or from any other cause may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. A director elected to fill a vacancy or a newly created directorship shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen, subject to the election and qualification of a successor and to such director’s earlier resignation, disqualification, removal from office, death or incapacity.

 

3.3                                Nominations .  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation at a meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be made at such meeting (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (b) by any committee or persons appointed by the Board of Directors, or (c) by any stockholder (a “Proposing Stockholder”) who (i) is a stockholder of the Corporation at the time the notice of such meeting is delivered, (ii) is entitled to vote for the election of directors at the meeting, and (iii) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 3.3. Such nominations by the Proposing Stockholder shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation even if such matter is already the subject of any notice to the stockholders. A stockholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received, at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one-hundred-twenty (120) days in advance of the Anniversary Date.  If the annual meeting or any other meeting of the stockholders for the purpose of electing directors is not held thirty (30) days before or seventy (70) days after the Anniversary Date, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received, at the principal executive offices of the Corporation by the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the public disclosure of the date of such meeting.

 

Such stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth and include (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director (“Director Nominee”), (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of the Director Nominee, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of the Director Nominee, (iii) the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned of record and beneficially by the Director Nominee, (iv) any other information relating to the Director Nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations for proxies for election of directors (even if an election contest or solicitation is not involved) or that is otherwise required to be disclosed under Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (v) the consent of the Director Nominee to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected and qualified and (b) as to the Proposing Stockholder (i) the name and record address of the Proposing Stockholder and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made, (ii) the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned by the Proposing Stockholder and owned by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made as of the date of the stockholder’s notice, (iii) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to such nomination between or among the Proposing Stockholder and any of its affiliates or associates, and any others (including their names) acting in concert with any of the foregoing, (iv) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, the Proposing Stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit from share price changes, or increase or decrease the voting

 

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power of the Proposing Stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation, (v) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding in connection with candidacy or service as a director of the Corporation between or among a Director Nominee and the Proposing Stockholder and any of its affiliates or associates, (vi) a representation that the Proposing Stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice, (vii) a representation whether or not the Proposing Stockholder intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve the nomination and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of the nomination, and (viii) a representation that the Director Nominee is not disqualified from service on the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Bylaws.  The Corporation shall require any Director Nominee to furnish timely such other information as reasonably required by the Corporation (i) to determine the eligibility of such Director Nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation or (ii) that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the competence and independence (or lack thereof) of such Director Nominee, including, but not limited to, completing the Corporation’s director and officer questionnaire. Failure to provide such information to the Corporation shall be grounds for disqualification from service.

 

No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth herein. The officer of the Corporation presiding at an annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedure, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded. The requirements of this Section 3.3 shall apply to any nominations to be brought before a meeting by a stockholder whether such nominations are to be included in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to any applicable rule promulgated under the Exchange Act or presented to stockholders by means of an independently financed proxy solicitation. The requirements of this Section 3.3 are included to provide the Corporation notice of a stockholder’s intention to propose nominations before a meeting and shall in no event be construed as imposing upon any stockholder the requirement to seek approval from the Corporation as a condition precedent to propose such nominations before a meeting.

 

3.4                                Meetings .  The Board of Directors of the Corporation may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware.  The first meeting of each newly elected Board of Directors shall be held immediately after and at the same place as the meeting of the stockholders at which it is elected and no notice of such meeting shall be necessary to the newly elected directors in order to legally constitute the meeting, provided a quorum shall be present.  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 of Directors.

 

Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chief Executive Officer or a majority of the entire Board of Directors.  Notice thereof stating the place, date and hour of the meeting shall be given to each director either by mail not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the date of the meeting, by telephone, facsimile, telegram or e-mail on twenty-four (24) hours notice, or on such shorter notice as the person or persons calling such meeting may deem necessary or appropriate in the circumstances.

 

3.5                                Quorum .  Except as may be otherwise specifically provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, at all meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, a majority of the entire Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors.  If a quorum shall not be present at any

 

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meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof, a majority of 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.

 

3.6                                Organization of Meetings .  The Board of Directors shall elect one of its members to be Chairman of the Board of Directors.  The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall lead the Board of Directors in fulfilling its responsibilities as set forth in these Bylaws, including its responsibility to oversee the performance of the Corporation, and shall determine the agenda and perform all other duties and exercise all other powers which are or from time to time may be delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors.  Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or in his or her absence, by the Chief Executive Officer, or in the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer, or in the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer by such other person as the Board of Directors may designate or the members present may select.

 

3.7                                Actions of Board of Directors 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 of Directors or of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filled with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.

 

3.8                                Removal of Directors by Stockholders .  Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws, any director may be removed from office only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in any annual election of directors.

 

3.9                                Resignations .  Any director may resign at any time by submitting his or her written resignation to the Board of Directors or Secretary of the Corporation.  Such resignation shall take effect at the time of its receipt by the Corporation unless another time be fixed in the resignation, in which case it shall become effective at the time so fixed.  The acceptance of a resignation shall not be required to make it effective.

 

3.10                         Committees .  The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation.  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 by law and in the resolution of the Board of Directors establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to amending the Certificate of Incorporation, adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation of a dissolution or amending the Bylaws of the Corporation; and, unless the resolution expressly so provides, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of stock or to adopt a certificate of ownership and merger.  Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required.

 

3.11                         Compensation .  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 amount (in cash or other form of

 

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consideration) for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors, service as a director and service as a chairperson of a special or standing committee.  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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no payment shall be made to any director if he or she is a party to any compensatory, payment or other financial agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation, or has received any such compensation or other payment from any person or entity other than the Corporation, in each case in connection with candidacy or service as a director of the Corporation; provided that agreements providing only for indemnification and/or reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses in connection with candidacy as a director (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with service as a director) and any pre-existing employment agreement a director has with his or her employer (not entered into in contemplation of the employer’s investment in the Corporation or such employee’s candidacy or service as a director), shall not render a director ineligible to receive compensation from the Corporation.

 

3.12                         Interested Directors .  No contract or transaction between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association, or other organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because his or their votes are counted for such purpose, if (i) the material facts as to his or their relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors or the committee, and the Board of Directors or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; or (ii) the material facts as to his or their relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or (iii) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the Board of Directors, a committee thereof or the stockholders.  Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.

 

3.13                         Meetings by Means of Teleconference or Videoconference .  Members of the Board of Directors or any committee designed by the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee of the Board of Directors by means of teleconference, videoconference or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this subsection shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

ARTICLE IV
 
OFFICERS

 

4.1                                General .  The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors and may consist of: a Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, Secretary and Treasurer.  The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may also elect one or more Vice Presidents (including Executive Vice Presidents and Senior Vice Presidents), Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers, a Controller and such other officers as in the judgment of the Board of Directors may be necessary or desirable.  Any number of offices may be held by the same person and more than one person may hold the same office, unless otherwise prohibited by law, the

 

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Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.  The officers of the Corporation need not be stockholders of the Corporation, nor need such officers be directors of the Corporation.

 

4.2                                Election .  The Board of Directors at its first meeting held after each annual meeting of stockholders shall elect the officers of the Corporation who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors; and all officers of the Corporation shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal.  Except as otherwise provided in this Article IV, any officer elected by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors.  Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board of Directors.  The salaries of all officers who are directors of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.

 

4.3                                Voting Securities Owned by the Corporation .  Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the Chief Executive Officer or his or her designee, and any such officer may, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation may own securities and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed if present.  The Board of Directors may, by resolution, from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.

 

4.4                                Chief Executive Officer .  Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall have ultimate authority for decisions relating to the general management and control of the affairs and business of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties and exercise such other powers which are or from time to time may be delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws, all in accordance with basic policies as established by and subject to the oversight of the Board of Directors.

 

4.5                                Chief Financial Officer .  The Chief Financial Officer shall have general supervision, direction and control of the financial affairs of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties and exercise such other powers which are or from time to time may be delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws, all in accordance with basic policies as established by and subject to the oversight of the Board of Directors.  In the absence of a named Treasurer, the Chief Financial Officer shall also have the powers and duties of the Treasurer as hereinafter set forth and shall be authorized and empowered to sign as Treasurer in any case where such officer’s signature is required.

 

4.6                                Vice Presidents .  At the request of the Chief Executive Officer or in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, the Vice President or the Vice Presidents if there is more than one (in the order designated by the Board of Directors) shall perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon such office.  Each Vice President shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors from time to time may prescribe.  If there be no Vice President, the Board of Directors shall designate the officer of the Corporation who, in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer or in the event of the inability or refusal of such officer to act, shall perform the duties of such office, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon such office.

 

4.7                                Secretary .  The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings of stockholders and record all the proceedings thereat in a book or books to be kept for that

 

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purpose; the Secretary shall also perform like duties for the standing committees when required.  The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, under whose supervision the Secretary shall be.  If the Secretary shall be unable or shall refuse to cause to be given notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, then any Assistant Secretary shall perform such actions.  If there be no Assistant Secretary, then the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may choose another officer to cause such notice to be given.  The Secretary shall have custody of the seal of the Corporation and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, if there be one, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by the signature of the Secretary or by the signature of any such 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.  The Secretary shall see that all books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by law to be kept or filed are properly kept or filed, as the case may be.

 

4.8                                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.  The Treasurer 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 Chief Executive Officer and 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, the Treasurer 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.

 

4.9                                Assistant Secretaries .  Except as may be otherwise provided in these Bylaws, Assistant Secretaries, if there be any, shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President, if there be one, or the Secretary, and in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of his disability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the Secretary, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Secretary.

 

4.10                         Assistant Treasurers .  Assistant Treasurers, if there be any, shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President, if there be one, or the Treasurer, and in the absence of the Treasurer or in the event of his disability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the Treasurer, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Treasurer.  If required by the Board of Directors, an Assistant Treasurer 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.

 

4.11                         Controller .  The Controller shall establish and maintain the accounting records of the Corporation in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis, maintain proper internal control of the assets of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President of the Corporation may prescribe.

 

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4.12                         Other Officers .  Such other officers as the Board of Directors may choose shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors may delegate to any other officer of the Corporation the power to choose such other officers and to prescribe their respective duties and powers.

 

4.13                         Vacancies .  The Board of Directors shall have the power to fill any vacancies in any office occurring from whatever reason.

 

4.14                         Resignations .  Any officer may resign at any time by submitting his or her written resignation to the Corporation.  Such resignation shall take effect at the time of its receipt by the Corporation, unless another time be fixed in the resignation, in which case it shall become effective at the time so fixed or unless the Corporation accepts such resignation at an earlier date.  The acceptance of a resignation shall not be required to make it effective.

 

4.15                         Removal .  Subject to the provisions of any employment agreement approved by the Board of Directors, any officer of the Corporation may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE V
 
CAPITAL STOCK

 

5.1                                Shares of Stock .  Shares of stock in the Corporation may be issued and held in certificated or in uncertificated form.  Stock certificates shall be signed, in the name of the Corporation, by (i) the Chief Executive Officer or a Vice President and (ii) the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares whose ownership is reflected by such certificate.  Shares of capital stock held in uncertificated form shall be registered in a qualified Direct Registration Program.  The Corporation shall deliver to stockholders who hold shares in uncertificated form, either directly or through the agency of its transfer agent, written statements that include the information required to be provided by applicable law.

 

5.2                                Signatures .  Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile, including, but not limited to, signatures of officers of the Corporation and countersignatures of a transfer agent or registrar.  In case an 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.

 

5.3                                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, 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 his legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as the Board of Directors 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.

 

5.4                                Transfers .  Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these Bylaws.  Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the person named in the certificate or by his attorney lawfully constituted in writing and upon the surrender of the

 

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certificate therefor, which shall be canceled before a new certificate shall be issued.  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, assignment or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transactions upon its books, unless the Corporation has a duty to inquire as to adverse claims with respect to such transfer which has not been discharged.  The Corporation shall have no duty to inquire into adverse claims with respect to such transfer unless (a) the Corporation has received a written notification of an adverse claim at a time and in a manner which affords the Corporation a reasonable opportunity to act on it prior to the issuance of a new, reissued or re-registered share certificate and the notification identifies the claimant, the registered owner and the issue of which the share or shares is a part and provides an address for communications directed to the claimant; or (b) the Corporation has required and obtained, with respect to a fiduciary, a copy of a will, trust, indenture, articles of co-partnership, Bylaws or other controlling instruments, for a purpose other than to obtain appropriate evidence of the appointment or incumbency of the fiduciary, and such documents indicate, upon reasonable inspection, the existence of an adverse claim.  The Corporation may discharge any duty of inquiry by any reasonable means, including notifying an adverse claimant by registered or certified mail at the address furnished by him or, if there be no such address, at his residence or regular place of business that the security has been presented for registration of transfer by a named person, and that the transfer will be registered unless within thirty days from the date of mailing the notification, either (a) an appropriate restraining order, injunction or other process issues from a court of competent jurisdiction; or (b) an indemnity bond, sufficient in the Corporation’s judgment to protect the Corporation and any transfer agent, registrar or other agent of the Corporation involved from any loss which it or they may suffer by complying with the adverse claim, is filed with the Corporation.

 

5.5                                Fixing Record Date .  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice or to vote at any meeting of 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 record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, and, in relation to consents to corporate action in writing without a meeting, not more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date of such action is adopted by the Board of Directors.  If no record date is fixed:

 

(a)                                  The record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.

 

(b)                                  The record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is necessary, shall be fourteen (14) days from the first date on which the Corporate Secretary is notified in writing that such an action is proposed or, if no such notice is given, thirty (30) days from the first date on which a signed written consent is delivered to the Corporation.

 

(c)                                   The record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

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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.

 

5.6                                Registered Stockholders .  Prior to due presentment for transfer of any share or shares, the Corporation shall treat the registered owner thereof as the person exclusively entitled to vote, to receive notifications and to all other benefits of ownership with respect to such share or shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State Delaware.

 

ARTICLE VI
 
NOTICES AND COMMUNICATIONS

 

6.1                                Form of Notice .  Notices to directors and stockholders other than notices to directors of special meetings of the Board of Directors which may be given by any means stated in Section 3.4, shall be in writing and delivered personally or mailed to the directors or stockholders at their addresses appearing on the books of the Corporation.  Notice by mail shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be mailed.  Notice to directors may also be given by telegram.

 

6.2                                Waiver of Notice .  Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of law or the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws of the Corporation, a written waiver, signed by the person or persons entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.  Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.  Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular, or special meeting of the stockholders, Directors, or members of a committee of Directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

6.3                                Communications with Stockholders . Any notices, statements or other communications to or with stockholders of any kind required or permitted under the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or applicable law (whether from the Corporation, the Board of Directors or any stockholder) may be sent, delivered or made available in any reasonable manner if not otherwise prescribed or prohibited by applicable law, including, without limitation, by email or other electronic means or by posting on a website; and such communications shall comply with the requirements of any applicable securities law or regulation and may be sent, delivered or otherwise made available to stockholders in accordance with house holding or other similar rules under which a single copy of such communication may be sent to stockholders who reside at the same address.

 

ARTICLE VII
 
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

 

7.1                                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 he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and

 

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amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.  The 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 the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he 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 reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

 

7.2                                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 by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the 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.

 

7.3                                To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 7.1 or 7.2, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith.

 

7.4                                Any indemnification under Sections 7.1 or 7.2 (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, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in such section.  Such determination shall be made:

 

(a)                                  By the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or

 

(b)                                  If such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or

 

(c)                                   By the stockholders.

 

7.5                                Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Section.  Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Board of Directors deems appropriate.

 

7.6                                The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to the other sections of this Article VII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those

 

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seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.

 

7.7                                The Corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Article VII.

 

7.8                                For purposes of this Article VII, 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, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer employee or agent of such constituent Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this Article VII with respect to the resulting or surviving Corporation as he would have with respect to such constituent Corporation of its separate existence had continued.

 

7.9                                For purposes of this Article VII, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any 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, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he 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 VII.

 

7.10                         The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VII shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, 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.

 

7.11                         No director or officer of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or to any stockholder of the Corporation for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, provided that this provision shall not limit the liability of a director or officer (i) for any breach of the director’s or the officer’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 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal benefit.

 

ARTICLE VIII
 
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

8.1                                Reliance on Books and Records .  Each Director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, and each officer of the Corporation, shall, in the performance of his duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the

 

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Corporation, including reports made to the Corporation by any of its officers, by an independent certified public accountant, or by an appraiser selected with reasonable care.

 

8.2                                Dividends .  Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, if any, dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation 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.  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 or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for such other purpose as the Directors shall think conducive to the interest of the Corporation, and the Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

 

8.3                                Annual Statement .  The Chief Executive Officer or his designee shall present at each annual meeting, and at any special meeting of the stockholders when called for by vote of the stockholders, a full and clear statement of the business and condition of the Corporation.

 

8.4                                Checks .  All checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

 

8.5                                Fiscal Year .  The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as determined by the Board of Directors.

 

8.6                                Seal .  The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware”.  The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any manner reproduced.

 

8.7                                Forum .  Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, either the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the federal courts of the District of Delaware shall be the exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case subject to said court having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein. For any other action regarding these Bylaws, the state courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in and for Philadelphia County or the federal courts of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania shall be the exclusive forum for such action.

 

8.8                                Amendments . The original or other Bylaws may be adopted, amended or repealed by the stockholders entitled to vote thereon at any regular or special meeting or by the Board of Directors, as provided herein and in the Certificate of Incorporation. The fact that such power has been so conferred upon the Board of Directors shall not divest the stockholders of the power nor limit their power to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws.

 

8.9                                Interpretation of Bylaws .  All words, terms and provisions of these Bylaws shall be interpreted and defined by and in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended, and as amended from time to time hereafter.

 

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Exhibit 3.2

 

BYLAWS

 

OF

 

HILL INTERNATIONAL, INC.

 

(as Amended and Restated to November 3 January 21 , 2016)

 

ARTICLE I
 
OFFICES

 

1.1                                Registered Office .  The registered office of Hill International, Inc. (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware shall be established and maintained at Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19808 and Corporation Service Company shall be the registered agent of the Corporation in charge thereof.

 

1.2                                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 of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

ARTICLE II
 
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

2.1                                Place of Meetings .  All meetings of the stockholders shall be held at such time and place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof.

 

2.2                                Annual Meetings .  The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held on such date and at such time as may be fixed by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting, for the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of only such other business as is properly brought before the meeting in accordance with these Bylaws (the “Bylaws”).

 

Written notice of an annual meeting stating the place, date and hour of the meeting, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the annual meeting.

 

To be properly brought before the annual meeting, business must be either (i) specified in the notice of annual meeting (or any supplement or amendment thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (ii) otherwise brought before the annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by a stockholder (a) who is a stockholder of the Corporation at the time the notice of annual meeting is delivered, (b) is entitled to vote at the annual meeting, and (c) complies with notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.2.  In addition, any proposal of business must be a proper matter for stockholder action.  Irrespective of whether a matter is already the subject of any notice to stockholders, for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation.  A stockholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received, at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (i) not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days in advance of the anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting date (the “Anniversary Date”) provided that the annual meeting is held on a day which is not more than thirty (30)

 



 

days in advance of the Anniversary Date or not later than seventy (70) days after the Anniversary Date, and (ii) with respect to any other annual meeting of stockholders, by the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the date of public disclosure of the date of such meeting whether by press release, filing with the SEC or other manner reasonably calculated to inform stockholders.

 

A stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth (a) as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, and (ii) any material interest of the stockholder in such business, and (b) as to the stockholder giving the notice (i) the name and record address of the stockholder, (ii) the class, series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by the stockholder and (iii) any other information relating to the stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is being made, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the proposal and pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at the annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.2.  The officer of the Corporation presiding at an annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the annual meeting that business was not properly brought before the annual meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.2, and if such officer should so determine, such officer shall so declare to the annual meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted. The requirements of this Section 2.2 shall apply to any business to be brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder whether such business is to be included in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act or presented to stockholders by means of an independently financed proxy solicitation.  The requirements of this Section 2.2 are included to provide the Corporation notice of a stockholder’s intention to bring business before an annual meeting and shall in no event be construed as imposing upon any stockholder the requirement to seek approval from the Corporation as a condition precedent to bringing any such business at an annual meeting.

 

2.3                                Special Meetings .  Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), may only be called by a majority of the entire Board of Directors, or the Chief Executive Officer or the Chairman, and shall be called by the Secretary at the request in writing of stockholders owning not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the voting power of all outstanding shares of the Corporation’s common stock which would be entitled to vote on the business transacted thereat.  Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.

 

Unless otherwise provided by law, written notice of a special meeting of stockholders, stating the time, place and purpose or purposes thereof, shall be given by the Company to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, not less than ten (10) or more than sixty (60) days before the date fixed for the meeting.  Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.

 

2.4                                Quorum .  The holders of a majority of the capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the

 

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meeting from time to time, in the manner provided by Section 2.10, until a quorum shall be present or represented. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the subsequent withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum.

 

2.5                                Organization .  The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall act as chairman of meetings of the stockholders.  The Board of Directors may designate any other officer or director of the Corporation to act as chairman of any meeting in the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Board of Directors may further provide for determining who shall act as chairman of any meeting of stockholders in the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and such designee. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of any meeting of the stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (b) the determination of when the polls shall open and close for any given matter to be voted on at the meeting; (c) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (d) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (e) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (f) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as secretary of all meetings of the stockholders, but in the absence of the Secretary the presiding officer may appoint any other person to act as secretary of any meeting.

 

2.6                                Voting .  Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any question (other than the election of directors) brought before any meeting of stockholders shall be decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock represented and entitled to vote thereat.  At all meetings of stockholders for the election of directors, a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect.  Each stockholder represented at a meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to cast one vote for each share of the capital stock entitled to vote thereat held by such stockholder, unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation.  Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize any person or persons to act for him by proxy.  All proxies shall be executed in writing and shall be filed with the Secretary of the Corporation not later than the day on which exercised.  No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period.  The Board of Directors, in its discretion, or the officer of the Corporation presiding at a meeting of stockholders, in his discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.

 

2.7                                Action of Shareholders Without Meeting .  Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, 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, and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded.  Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return

 

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receipt requested.  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.

 

2.8                                Voting List .  The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, 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 business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the election, either at a place within the city, town or village where the election is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not specified, at the place where said meeting is to be held.  The list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of election during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder of the Corporation who is present.

 

2.9                                Stock Ledger .  The stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list required by Section 2.8 or the books of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

2.10                         Adjournment .  Any meeting of the stockholders, including one at which directors are to be elected, may be adjourned for such periods as the presiding officer of the meeting or the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall direct and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place are announced at the meeting at which adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of the adjourned meeting and shall direct that notice of the adjourned meeting is given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of the adjourned meeting. In no event shall the public disclosure of an adjournment or postponement of any meeting of the stockholders commence a new notice time period (or extend any notice time period), except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.10.

 

2.11                         Ratification .  Any transaction questioned in any stockholders’ derivative suit, or any other suit to enforce alleged rights of the Corporation or any of its stockholders, on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of any director, officer or stockholder, nondisclosure, miscomputation or the application of improper principles or practices of accounting may be approved, ratified and confirmed before or after judgment by the Board of Directors or by the holders of Common Stock and, if so approved, ratified or confirmed, shall have the same force and effect as if the questioned transaction had been originally duly authorized, and said approval, ratification or confirmation shall be binding upon the Corporation and all of its stockholders and shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned transaction.

 

2.12                         Inspectors and Meetings of Stockholders .  The Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer or any other officer designated by the Board or Directors, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, may, and shall if required by law, appoint one or more inspectors, who may be employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and make a written report thereof. The Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer or any other officer designated by the Board of Directors may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge

 

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of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall (a) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, (b) determine the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum and the validity of proxies and ballots, (c) count all votes and ballots, (d) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors and (e) certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and their count of all votes and ballots. The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance of their duties. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, the date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting. No ballot, proxies, votes or any revocation thereof or change thereto shall be accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware upon application by a stockholder shall determine otherwise. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. No person who is a candidate for director at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.

 

ARTICLE III
 
DIRECTORS

 

3.1                                Powers; Number; Qualifications .  The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise provided by law or in the Certificate of Incorporation.  The number of directors which shall constitute the Board of Directors shall be not less than three (3) nor more than [eleven (11)].  The exact number of directors shall be fixed from time to time, within the limits specified in this Section 3.1 or in the Certificate of Incorporation, by the Board of Directors.  Directors need not be stockholders of the Corporation.  The Board may be divided into Classes as more fully described in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

No person shall qualify for service or serve as a director of the Corporation (i) unless such person is in compliance with all applicable laws and regulatory requirements to which the Corporation’s Directors may be subject in connection with such person’s service as a Director, (ii) if such person has been convicted in, or entered a plea of nolo contendere with respect to, a criminal proceeding involving fraud, misappropriation or other similar charge during the ten years preceding the date of election, or if such person has been found responsible for or admitted responsibility for fraud, misappropriation or other similar charge in any governmental investigation or proceeding or other civil judicial proceeding during the ten years preceding the date of election, or if such person has been found responsible for or admitted responsibility for any material violation of any foreign, federal or state securities law or federal commodities law during the ten years preceding the date of election, (iii) if such person has been convicted of, or entered a plea of nolo contendere with respect to, any felony, (iv) if such person serves on the board of directors of more than three other public companies, (v) if such person is a director, officer or holder of more than a five percent (5%) equity interest, directly or indirectly, in a business that competes, directly or indirectly, with the Corporation, (vi) if such person has made or makes any contribution or expenditure in connection with the election of any candidate for political office, including any contribution to any committee supporting such a candidate or to a political party, in any jurisdiction which results in the Corporation becoming ineligible to conduct its business or any portion thereof, or (vii) if such person has ever been the subject of a filing of personal bankruptcy in any jurisdiction, either voluntarily or involuntarily (and in the case of an involuntary filing, if such filing was not dismissed within 60 days) during the ten years preceding the date of election.  In addition, if any communication (including any proxy soliciting materials) made by or on behalf of a Director Nominee (as defined in Section 3.3) includes a statement regarding such Director Nominee which at the time and in the light of the circumstances under which it is made, is false or misleading with respect to any material fact

 

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regarding such Director Nominee, or omits to state any material fact regarding such Director Nominee necessary in order to make the statements therein not false or misleading, such fact shall be grounds for disqualification from service.

 

3.2                                Election; Term of Office; Vacancies .  Each director shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders at which his Class stands for election or until such director’s earlier resignation, disqualification, removal from office, death or incapacity.  Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or from any other cause may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. A director elected to fill a vacancy or a newly created directorship shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen, subject to the election and qualification of a successor and to such director’s earlier resignation, disqualification, removal from office, death or incapacity.

 

3.3                                Nominations .  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation at a meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be made at such meeting (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (b) by any committee or persons appointed by the Board of Directors, or (c) by any stockholder (a “Proposing Stockholder”) who (i) is a stockholder of the Corporation at the time the notice of such meeting is delivered, (ii) is entitled to vote for the election of directors at the meeting, and (iii) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 3.3. Such nominations by the Proposing Stockholder shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation even if such matter is already the subject of any notice to the stockholders. A stockholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received, at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one-hundred-twenty (120) days in advance of the Anniversary Date.  If the annual meeting or any other meeting of the stockholders for the purpose of electing directors is not held thirty (30) days before or seventy (70) days after the Anniversary Date, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received, at the principal executive offices of the Corporation by the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the public disclosure of the date of such meeting.

 

Such stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth and include (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director (“Director Nominee”), (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of the Director Nominee, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of the Director Nominee, (iii) the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned of record and beneficially by the Director Nominee, (iv) any other information relating to the Director Nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations for proxies for election of directors (even if an election contest or solicitation is not involved) or that is otherwise required to be disclosed under Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (v) the consent of the Director Nominee to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected and qualified and (b) as to the Proposing Stockholder (i) the name and record address of the Proposing Stockholder and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made, (ii) the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned by the Proposing Stockholder and owned by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made as of the date of the stockholder’s notice, (iii) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to such nomination between or among the Proposing Stockholder and any of its affiliates or associates, and any others (including their names) acting in concert with any of the foregoing, (iv) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, the Proposing Stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit from share price changes, or increase or decrease the voting

 

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power of the Proposing Stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation, (v) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding in connection with candidacy or service as a director of the Corporation between or among a Director Nominee and the Proposing Stockholder and any of its affiliates or associates, (vi) a representation that the Proposing Stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice, (vii) a representation whether or not the Proposing Stockholder intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve the nomination and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of the nomination, and (viii) a representation that the Director Nominee is not disqualified from service on the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Bylaws.  The Corporation shall require any Director Nominee to furnish timely such other information as reasonably required by the Corporation (i) to determine the eligibility of such Director Nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation or (ii) that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the competence and independence (or lack thereof) of such Director Nominee, including, but not limited to, completing the Corporation’s director and officer questionnaire. Failure to provide such information to the Corporation shall be grounds for disqualification from service.

 

No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth herein. The officer of the Corporation presiding at an annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedure, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded. The requirements of this Section 3.3 shall apply to any nominations to be brought before a meeting by a stockholder whether such nominations are to be included in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to any applicable rule promulgated under the Exchange Act or presented to stockholders by means of an independently financed proxy solicitation. The requirements of this Section 3.3 are included to provide the Corporation notice of a stockholder’s intention to propose nominations before a meeting and shall in no event be construed as imposing upon any stockholder the requirement to seek approval from the Corporation as a condition precedent to propose such nominations before a meeting.

 

3.4                                Meetings .  The Board of Directors of the Corporation may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware.  The first meeting of each newly elected Board of Directors shall be held immediately after and at the same place as the meeting of the stockholders at which it is elected and no notice of such meeting shall be necessary to the newly elected directors in order to legally constitute the meeting, provided a quorum shall be present.  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 of Directors.

 

Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chief Executive Officer or a majority of the entire Board of Directors.  Notice thereof stating the place, date and hour of the meeting shall be given to each director either by mail not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the date of the meeting, by telephone, facsimile, telegram or e-mail on twenty-four (24) hours notice, or on such shorter notice as the person or persons calling such meeting may deem necessary or appropriate in the circumstances.

 

3.5                                Quorum .  Except as may be otherwise specifically provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, at all meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, a majority of the entire Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors.  If a quorum shall not be present at any

 

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meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof, a majority of 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.

 

3.6                                Organization of Meetings .  The Board of Directors shall elect one of its members to be Chairman of the Board of Directors.  The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall lead the Board of Directors in fulfilling its responsibilities as set forth in these Bylaws, including its responsibility to oversee the performance of the Corporation, and shall determine the agenda and perform all other duties and exercise all other powers which are or from time to time may be delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors.  Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or in his or her absence, by the Chief Executive Officer, or in the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer, the Lead Independent Director, or in the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Lead Independent Director by such other person as the Board of Directors may designate or the members present may select.

 

3.7                                Lead Independent Director .  A majority of the independent directors shall appoint a Lead Independent Director to coordinate the activities of the independent directors.  The Lead Independent Director shall have such powers and perform such duties as are assigned by these bylaws and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties, not inconsistent with these bylaws, as from time to time may be assigned by the Board of Directors.

 

3.8 3.7 Actions of Board of Directors 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 of Directors or of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filled with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.

 

3.9 3.8 Removal of Directors by Stockholders.  Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws, any director may be removed from office only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in any annual election of directors.

 

3.10 3.9 Resignations.  Any director may resign at any time by submitting his or her written resignation to the Board of Directors or Secretary of the Corporation.  Such resignation shall take effect at the time of its receipt by the Corporation unless another time be fixed in the resignation, in which case it shall become effective at the time so fixed.  The acceptance of a resignation shall not be required to make it effective.

 

3.11 3.10 Committees.  The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation.  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 by law and in the resolution of the Board of Directors establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to amending the Certificate of Incorporation, adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation of a dissolution or amending the Bylaws of the Corporation; and, unless the resolution

 

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expressly so provides, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of stock or to adopt a certificate of ownership and merger.  Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required.

 

3.12 3.11 Compensation.  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 amount (in cash or other form of consideration) for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors, service as a director and service as a chairperson of a special or standing committee.  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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no payment shall be made to any director if he or she is a party to any compensatory, payment or other financial agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation, or has received any such compensation or other payment from any person or entity other than the Corporation, in each case in connection with candidacy or service as a director of the Corporation; provided that agreements providing only for indemnification and/or reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses in connection with candidacy as a director (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with service as a director) and any pre-existing employment agreement a director has with his or her employer (not entered into in contemplation of the employer’s investment in the Corporation or such employee’s candidacy or service as a director), shall not render a director ineligible to receive compensation from the Corporation.

 

3.13 3.12 Interested Directors.  No contract or transaction between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association, or other organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because his or their votes are counted for such purpose, if (i) the material facts as to his or their relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors or the committee, and the Board of Directors or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; or (ii) the material facts as to his or their relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or (iii) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the Board of Directors, a committee thereof or the stockholders.  Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.

 

3.14 3.13 Meetings by Means of Teleconference or Videoconference.  Members of the Board of Directors or any committee designed by the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee of the Board of Directors by means of teleconference, videoconference or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this subsection shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

ARTICLE IV
 
OFFICERS

 

4.1                                General .  The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors and may consist of: a Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief

 

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Financial Officer, President, Secretary and Treasurer.  The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may also elect one or more Vice Presidents (including Executive Vice Presidents and Senior Vice Presidents), Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers, a Controller and such other officers as in the judgment of the Board of Directors may be necessary or desirable.  Any number of offices may be held by the same person and more than one person may hold the same office, unless otherwise prohibited by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.  The officers of the Corporation need not be stockholders of the Corporation, nor need such officers be directors of the Corporation.

 

4.2                                Election .  The Board of Directors at its first meeting held after each annual meeting of stockholders shall elect the officers of the Corporation who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors; and all officers of the Corporation shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal.  Except as otherwise provided in this Article IV, any officer elected by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors.  Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board of Directors.  The salaries of all officers who are directors of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.

 

4.3                                Voting Securities Owned by the Corporation .  Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the Chief Executive Officer or his or her designee, and any such officer may, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation may own securities and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed if present.  The Board of Directors may, by resolution, from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.

 

4.4                                Chief Executive Officer .  Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall have ultimate authority for decisions relating to the general management and control of the affairs and business of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties and exercise such other powers which are or from time to time may be delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws, all in accordance with basic policies as established by and subject to the oversight of the Board of Directors.

 

4.5                                Chief Financial Officer .  The Chief Financial Officer shall have general supervision, direction and control of the financial affairs of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties and exercise such other powers which are or from time to time may be delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws, all in accordance with basic policies as established by and subject to the oversight of the Board of Directors.  In the absence of a named Treasurer, the Chief Financial Officer shall also have the powers and duties of the Treasurer as hereinafter set forth and shall be authorized and empowered to sign as Treasurer in any case where such officer’s signature is required.

 

4.6                                Vice Presidents .  At the request of the Chief Executive Officer or in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, the Vice President or the Vice Presidents if there is more than one (in the order designated by the Board of Directors) shall perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon such office.  Each Vice President shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors from time to time may prescribe.  If there be no Vice President, the Board of Directors shall designate the officer of the Corporation who, in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer or in the event of the inability or refusal of such officer to act, shall perform the duties

 

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of such office, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon such office.

 

4.7                                Secretary .  The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings of stockholders and record all the proceedings thereat in a book or books to be kept for that purpose; the Secretary shall also perform like duties for the standing committees when required.  The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, under whose supervision the Secretary shall be.  If the Secretary shall be unable or shall refuse to cause to be given notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, then any Assistant Secretary shall perform such actions.  If there be no Assistant Secretary, then the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may choose another officer to cause such notice to be given.  The Secretary shall have custody of the seal of the Corporation and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, if there be one, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by the signature of the Secretary or by the signature of any such 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.  The Secretary shall see that all books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by law to be kept or filed are properly kept or filed, as the case may be.

 

4.8                                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.  The Treasurer 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 Chief Executive Officer and 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, the Treasurer 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.

 

4.9                                Assistant Secretaries .  Except as may be otherwise provided in these Bylaws, Assistant Secretaries, if there be any, shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President, if there be one, or the Secretary, and in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of his disability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the Secretary, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Secretary.

 

4.10                         Assistant Treasurers .  Assistant Treasurers, if there be any, shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President, if there be one, or the Treasurer, and in the absence of the Treasurer or in the event of his disability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the Treasurer, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Treasurer.  If required by the Board of Directors, an Assistant Treasurer 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.

 

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4.11                         Controller .  The Controller shall establish and maintain the accounting records of the Corporation in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis, maintain proper internal control of the assets of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President of the Corporation may prescribe.

 

4.12                         Other Officers .  Such other officers as the Board of Directors may choose shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors may delegate to any other officer of the Corporation the power to choose such other officers and to prescribe their respective duties and powers.

 

4.13                         Vacancies .  The Board of Directors shall have the power to fill any vacancies in any office occurring from whatever reason.

 

4.14                         Resignations .  Any officer may resign at any time by submitting his or her written resignation to the Corporation.  Such resignation shall take effect at the time of its receipt by the Corporation, unless another time be fixed in the resignation, in which case it shall become effective at the time so fixed or unless the Corporation accepts such resignation at an earlier date.  The acceptance of a resignation shall not be required to make it effective.

 

4.15                         Removal .  Subject to the provisions of any employment agreement approved by the Board of Directors, any officer of the Corporation may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE V
 
CAPITAL STOCK

 

5.1                                Shares of Stock .  Shares of stock in the Corporation may be issued and held in certificated or in uncertificated form.  Stock certificates shall be signed, in the name of the Corporation, by (i) the Chief Executive Officer or a Vice President and (ii) the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares whose ownership is reflected by such certificate.  Shares of capital stock held in uncertificated form shall be registered in a qualified Direct Registration Program.  The Corporation shall deliver to stockholders who hold shares in uncertificated form, either directly or through the agency of its transfer agent, written statements that include the information required to be provided by applicable law.

 

5.2                                Signatures .  Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile, including, but not limited to, signatures of officers of the Corporation and countersignatures of a transfer agent or registrar.  In case an 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.

 

5.3                                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, 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 his legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as the Board of Directors shall require and/or to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct

 

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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.

 

5.4                                Transfers .  Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these Bylaws.  Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the person named in the certificate or by his attorney lawfully constituted in writing and upon the surrender of the certificate therefor, which shall be canceled before a new certificate shall be issued.  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, assignment or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transactions upon its books, unless the Corporation has a duty to inquire as to adverse claims with respect to such transfer which has not been discharged.  The Corporation shall have no duty to inquire into adverse claims with respect to such transfer unless (a) the Corporation has received a written notification of an adverse claim at a time and in a manner which affords the Corporation a reasonable opportunity to act on it prior to the issuance of a new, reissued or re-registered share certificate and the notification identifies the claimant, the registered owner and the issue of which the share or shares is a part and provides an address for communications directed to the claimant; or (b) the Corporation has required and obtained, with respect to a fiduciary, a copy of a will, trust, indenture, articles of co-partnership, Bylaws or other controlling instruments, for a purpose other than to obtain appropriate evidence of the appointment or incumbency of the fiduciary, and such documents indicate, upon reasonable inspection, the existence of an adverse claim.  The Corporation may discharge any duty of inquiry by any reasonable means, including notifying an adverse claimant by registered or certified mail at the address furnished by him or, if there be no such address, at his residence or regular place of business that the security has been presented for registration of transfer by a named person, and that the transfer will be registered unless within thirty days from the date of mailing the notification, either (a) an appropriate restraining order, injunction or other process issues from a court of competent jurisdiction; or (b) an indemnity bond, sufficient in the Corporation’s judgment to protect the Corporation and any transfer agent, registrar or other agent of the Corporation involved from any loss which it or they may suffer by complying with the adverse claim, is filed with the Corporation.

 

5.5                                Fixing Record Date .  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice or to vote at any meeting of 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 record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, and, in relation to consents to corporate action in writing without a meeting, not more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date of such action is adopted by the Board of Directors.  If no record date is fixed:

 

(a)                                  The record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.

 

(b)                                  The record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is necessary, shall be fourteen (14) days from the first date on which the Corporate Secretary is notified in writing that such an action is proposed or, if no such notice is given, thirty (30) days from the first date on which a signed written consent is delivered to the Corporation.

 

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(c)                                   The record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

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.

 

5.6                                Registered Stockholders .  Prior to due presentment for transfer of any share or shares, the Corporation shall treat the registered owner thereof as the person exclusively entitled to vote, to receive notifications and to all other benefits of ownership with respect to such share or shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State Delaware.

 

ARTICLE VI
 
NOTICES AND COMMUNICATIONS

 

6.1                                Form of Notice .  Notices to directors and stockholders other than notices to directors of special meetings of the Board of Directors which may be given by any means stated in Section 3.4, shall be in writing and delivered personally or mailed to the directors or stockholders at their addresses appearing on the books of the Corporation.  Notice by mail shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be mailed.  Notice to directors may also be given by telegram.

 

6.2                                Waiver of Notice .  Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of law or the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws of the Corporation, a written waiver, signed by the person or persons entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.  Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.  Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular, or special meeting of the stockholders, Directors, or members of a committee of Directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

6.3                                Communications with Stockholders . Any notices, statements or other communications to or with stockholders of any kind required or permitted under the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or applicable law (whether from the Corporation, the Board of Directors or any stockholder) may be sent, delivered or made available in any reasonable manner if not otherwise prescribed or prohibited by applicable law, including, without limitation, by email or other electronic means or by posting on a website; and such communications shall comply with the requirements of any applicable securities law or regulation and may be sent, delivered or otherwise made available to stockholders in accordance with house holding or other similar rules under which a single copy of such communication may be sent to stockholders who reside at the same address.

 

ARTICLE VII
 
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

 

7.1                                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

 

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fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.  The 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 the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he 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 reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

 

7.2                                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 by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the 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.

 

7.3                                To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 7.1 or 7.2, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith.

 

7.4                                Any indemnification under Sections 7.1 or 7.2 (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, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in such section.  Such determination shall be made:

 

(a)                                  By the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or

 

(b)                                  If such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or

 

(c)                                   By the stockholders.

 

7.5                                Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Section.  Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Board of Directors deems appropriate.

 

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7.6                                The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to the other sections of this Article VII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.

 

7.7                                The Corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Article VII.

 

7.8                                For purposes of this Article VII, 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, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer employee or agent of such constituent Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this Article VII with respect to the resulting or surviving Corporation as he would have with respect to such constituent Corporation of its separate existence had continued.

 

7.9                                For purposes of this Article VII, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any 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, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he 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 VII.

 

7.10                         The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VII shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, 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.

 

7.11                         No director or officer of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or to any stockholder of the Corporation for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, provided that this provision shall not limit the liability of a director or officer (i) for any breach of the director’s or the officer’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 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal benefit.

 

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ARTICLE VIII
 
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

8.1                                Reliance on Books and Records .  Each Director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, and each officer of the Corporation, shall, in the performance of his duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Corporation, including reports made to the Corporation by any of its officers, by an independent certified public accountant, or by an appraiser selected with reasonable care.

 

8.2                                Dividends .  Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, if any, dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation 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.  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 or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for such other purpose as the Directors shall think conducive to the interest of the Corporation, and the Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

 

8.3                                Annual Statement .  The Chief Executive Officer or his designee shall present at each annual meeting, and at any special meeting of the stockholders when called for by vote of the stockholders, a full and clear statement of the business and condition of the Corporation.

 

8.4                                Checks .  All checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

 

8.5                                Fiscal Year .  The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as determined by the Board of Directors.

 

8.6                                Seal .  The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware”.  The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any manner reproduced.

 

8.7                                Forum .  Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, either the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the federal courts of the District of Delaware shall be the exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case subject to said court having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein. For any other action regarding these Bylaws, the state courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in and for Philadelphia County or the federal courts of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania shall be the exclusive forum for such action.

 

8.8                                Amendments . The original or other Bylaws may be adopted, amended or repealed by the stockholders entitled to vote thereon at any regular or special meeting or by the Board of Directors, as provided herein and in the Certificate of Incorporation. The fact that such power has been so conferred

 

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upon the Board of Directors shall not divest the stockholders of the power nor limit their power to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws.

 

8.9                                Interpretation of Bylaws .  All words, terms and provisions of these Bylaws shall be interpreted and defined by and in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended, and as amended from time to time hereafter.

 

18


Exhibit 10.1

 

HILL INTERNATIONAL, INC.

 

2016 EXECUTIVE RETENTION PLAN

 

Plan Effective Date November 3, 2016

 



 

ARTICLE I

 

BACKGROUND, PURPOSE AND TERM OF PLAN

 

Section 1.01 — Background and Purpose .  Hill International, Inc. (the “ Company ”) hereby establishes the Hill International, Inc. 2016 Executive Retention Plan (the “ Plan ”) for the purpose of providing severance benefits to certain Employees (as defined below) whose employment with the Company is permanently terminated due to an Involuntary Termination (as defined below).  This Plan is intended to be an unfunded plan maintained primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly-compensated employees within the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.  This Plan shall supersede prospectively, any policy, plan or program, if any, heretofore maintained or in effect under which the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, has ever made payments of severance to Participants (as defined below) and the adoption of this Plan shall act to terminate any other policy, plan or program with respect to such Participants.  This document sets forth the terms of the Plan.

 

The Plan, as set forth herein, is intended to alleviate financial hardships that may be experienced by Participants whose employment is terminated due to an Involuntary Termination.  The Plan is intended to be included in the definitions of “employee pension benefit plan” and “pension plan” set forth under Section 3(2) of ERISA as a “severance pay arrangement” within the meaning of Section 3(2)(b)(i) of ERISA.

 

This Plan does not constitute an employment contract.  Severance benefits are not to be viewed as automatic and are not compensation for past services, but instead are intended only as prospective payments that will be offered by the Company in exchange for a written release signed by the Employee.  An Employee will be granted the benefits offered under this Plan only if he or she executes and, if applicable, does not thereafter revoke, the release in a form acceptable to the Company.  This release is discussed further in Section 3.02 herein and an Employee may wish to consult an attorney before executing the release.

 

Section 1.02 — Term of the Plan .  The Plan, subject to Section 7.01, will continue until all Severance Benefits are provided to Participants.

 

ARTICLE II

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 2.01 .  “ Base Salary ” shall mean the Participant’s established annual salary as of the Employment Termination Date.  Base Salary shall not include bonuses, incentives, awards, or any other allowances or contingent amounts.

 

Section 2.02 .  “ Cause ” shall mean a termination of employment initiated by the Company on account of any of the following actions by the Employee: (a) conviction of any felony or any other crime involving moral turpitude, (b) fraud against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates or theft of or maliciously intentional damage to the property of the Company or any of their Subsidiaries or affiliates, (c) willful breach of the Employee’s fiduciary duties to the Company, or (d) breach by the Employee of any provision of this Plan; provided,

 

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however, that with respect to clause (d) above, in order for the Employee to be terminated “with Cause”, the unacceptable conduct must continue after the Company has given the Employee written notice thereof and a reasonable opportunity to correct such conduct.

 

Section 2.03 .  “ Change in Control ” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

(i)            Any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock of the Company that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company, excluding the acquisition of additional stock by a person or more than one person acting as a group who is considered to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company;

 

(ii)           A majority of Board members are replaced during a two-year period by directors whose election is not endorsed by a majority of the Board members prior to the election; or

 

(iii)          The consummation of a merger, reorganization, consolidation or similar transaction of the Company, with any other corporation, other than a merger, reorganization, consolidation or similar transaction which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) at least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company, or such surviving entity or its parent outstanding immediately after such merger, reorganization, consolidation or similar transaction; or

 

(iv)          A dissolution or liquidation of the Company.

 

The definition of Change in Control under this Plan will be construed consistent with the definition of “Change in Control” as defined in Section 409A of Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations, as amended from time to time.

 

Section 2.04 .  “ Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Section 2.05 .  “ Company ” shall mean Hill International, Inc. and its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 2.06 .  “ Employee ” shall mean any salaried individual in the employ of the Company who is characterized by the Company as a part-time or full-time employee and who receives or is entitled to receive a Form W-2 from the Company as to the wages paid to such individual and who is considered to be within a select group of management or highly compensated employees of the Company.

 

Section 2.07 .  “ Employment Termination Date ” shall mean the date on which the active employment of the Employee by the Company is severed by reason of an Involuntary Termination.

 

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Section 2.08 .  “ ERISA ” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

Section 2.09 .  “ Good Reason ” shall mean an Employee’s voluntary termination of employment that occurs under the following conditions:

 

(a)           The termination of employment must occur during a period of time not to exceed one (1) year following the initial existence of one or more of the conditions set forth in paragraphs (1) through (6) of this Section 2.09(a) arising without the prior written consent of the Employee (the existence of any of which conditions shall constitute “Good Reason”):

 

(1)           Any material diminution in Base Salary;

 

(2)           Any material diminution in the Employee’s authority, duties or responsibilities;

 

(3)           Any material diminution in the budget over which the Employee retains authority;

 

(4)           Any change in the geographic location at which the Employee must perform the services under this Agreement greater than 50 miles from the principal place of then current employment without the Employee’s mutual agreement, which change is material to the Employee;

 

(5)           Any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by the Company of this Plan; or

 

(6)           Failure of successor company (upon a Change in Control) to assume the Plan or Agreement; and

 

(b)           The Employee shall provide notice to the Company of the existence of the “Good Reason” condition within ninety (90) days after the Employee becomes aware of the initial existence of such “Good Reason” condition, upon notice of which the Company shall have a period of sixty (60) days during which it may remedy such condition.

 

Section 2.10. Involuntary Termination ” shall mean a permanent termination of an Employee’s employment which is initiated (a) by the Company for reasons other than for Cause or (b) by the Employee for Good Reason.  Under no circumstances will a termination for Cause, voluntary resignation (other than for Good Reason) or retirement be considered an Involuntary Termination.

 

Section 2.11 .  “ Named Fiduciary ” shall mean the Plan Administrator and the Named Appeals Fiduciary within the meaning of Section 9.03 of this Plan.  Each Named Fiduciary shall have only those particular powers, duties, responsibilities and obligations as are specifically given him/her/it under this Plan.  Any Named Fiduciary, if so appointed, may perform in more than one fiduciary capacity and may also perform in a non-fiduciary capacity.

 

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Section 2.12 .  “ Participant ” shall mean any Employee entitled to receive Severance Benefits in accordance with Article III of this Plan.

 

Section 2.13 .  “ Plan ” shall mean the Hill International, Inc. 2016 Executive Retention Plan, as set forth herein, and as the same may from time to time be amended.

 

Section 2.14 .  “ Plan Administrator ” shall mean the Company; and the Company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer (or another Company designee) shall have authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to its duties as an administrator of the Plan, as set forth herein and as provided for under applicable law.

 

Section 2.15 .  “ Plan Year ” shall mean January 1 through December 31.  The initial Plan Year for the Plan shall be a short plan year, from November 3, 2016 through December 31, 2016.

 

Section 2.16 . “ Release ” shall mean a General Release, which will contain a waiver of claims by the Employee against the Company and will be prepared at the discretion of the Company and provided to the Participant for execution as required by Section 3.02.

 

Section 2.17 .  “ Retention Plan Participation Agreement ” shall mean the Retention Plan Participation Agreement setting forth the terms applicable to the Severance Benefits payable to a Participant that is provided to such Participant in accordance with Section 3.01.

 

Section 2.18 .  “ Severance Benefit ” shall mean the amounts that a Participant is eligible to receive pursuant to Article IV of the Plan.

 

Section 2.19 .  “ Subsidiary ” shall mean any entity, whether or not incorporated, in which the Company directly or indirectly owns more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding equity or other ownership interests.

 

ARTICLE III

 

PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY FOR SEVERANCE BENEFITS

 

Section 3.01 - Participation .   An Employee shall become a Participant under this Plan only if the Company designates in writing through the issuance of a Retention Plan Participation Agreement that the Employee (a) is eligible to become a Participant and (b) is entitled to Severance Benefits in the event that the Employee’s employment is terminated by reason of an Involuntary Termination, and the Employee satisfies all of the conditions of Section 3.02.

 

Section 3.02 - Conditions .

 

(a)           As further conditions to the entitlement to Severance Benefits, an Employee must:  (i) remain actively employed through the Employment Termination Date; (ii) execute and not revoke a valid Release; and (iii) comply fully with all agreements between the Employee and the Company including, but not limited to, any confidentiality agreements and post-employment restrictive covenants.

 

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(b)           Any amounts owed by the Participant to the Company shall be deducted from the Participant’s Severance Benefit in such manner as the Company shall decide.  As an additional condition to receiving a Severance Benefit under this Plan, the Company may require the Participant to execute a written agreement that authorizes the deduction of amounts owed to the Company prior to the payment of any Severance Benefit.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

DETERMINATION OF SEVERANCE BENEFIT

 

Section 4.01 - Amount of Severance Benefit upon an Involuntary Termination .  A Participant who meets all of the conditions specified in Section 3.02 will be entitled to receive a Severance Benefit under the Plan.  The Severance Benefit to which a Participant is entitled under the Plan will be in the amount set forth in the Participant’s Retention Plan Participation Agreement.

 

Section 4.02 - Reduction of Severance Benefit .  As determined by the Company, the Severance Benefit payable hereunder to any Participant may be reduced by any and all payments required to be made by the Company in the nature of severance or separation pay under any employment contract or other arrangement or under federal, state and local law including, but not limited to, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, 29 United States Code Section 2101, et seq. or similar state or local laws.

 

ARTICLE V

 

METHOD AND DURATION OF SEVERANCE BENEFIT PAYMENTS

 

Section 5.01 - Method of Payment .  The Severance Benefit to which a Participant is entitled, as determined pursuant to Section 4.01, shall be paid in accordance with the terms set forth in the Participant’s Retention Plan Participation Agreement.  Severance Benefits payable under Article IV are subject to withholding for applicable federal, state and local taxes, all of which shall be deducted from each payment, as applicable.  In the event of the Participant’s death prior to the completion of all payments, any remaining payments shall be paid to the Participant’s beneficiary under the Company’s group term life insurance plan.

 

Section 5.02 - Other Arrangements .  The Severance Benefits under this Plan are not additive or cumulative to severance benefits that a Participant might also be entitled to receive under the terms of a written employment agreement, a severance agreement or any other arrangement or legal requirement.  Should a Participant in this Plan be entitled to receive severance benefits under the terms of a written employment agreement, a severance agreement or other arrangement or legal requirement, the Participant will receive severance benefits under the plan or arrangement that provides the higher level of benefits, and such payment shall be deemed to be the Severance Benefit for such Participant under this Plan.  Any overpayments made under the Plan shall be promptly repaid by the Participant after written request.

 

Section 5.03 - Termination of Eligibility for Severance Benefits .  A Participant shall cease to participate in the Plan, and all Severance Benefits shall cease upon the occurrence of the earliest of: (a) subject to Section 7.01, termination of the Plan; and (b) reemployment of the Participant by the Company or a Subsidiary.

 

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ARTICLE VI

 

THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR

 

Section 6.01 - Authority and Duties .  It shall be the duty of the Plan Administrator, on the basis of information supplied to it by the Company, to properly administer the Plan.  The Plan Administrator shall have the full power, authority and discretion to construe, interpret and administer the Plan, to make factual determinations, to correct deficiencies therein, and to supply omissions.

 

Section 6.02 - Records.  Reporting and Disclosure .  The Plan Administrator shall keep a copy of all records relating to the payment of Severance Benefits to Participants and former Participants and all other records necessary for the proper operation of the Plan.  Upon request to the Plan Administrator, all Plan records shall be made available to the Company and to each Participant for examination during regular business hours at Company headquarters at One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, 17 th  Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, or at a Participant’s regular work site, except that a Participant shall examine only such records as pertain exclusively to the examining Participant and to the Plan.  Upon written request to the Plan Administrator, copies of relevant Plan records may be provided to a Participant; however, a reasonable charge may be made for the production of such documents.  The Plan Administrator shall prepare and shall file all reports, forms, documents and other items required by ERISA, the  Code, and every other relevant statute, each as amended, and all regulations thereunder (except that the Company, as payor of the Severance Benefits, shall prepare and distribute to the proper recipients all forms relating to withholding of income or wage taxes, Social Security taxes, and other amounts that may be similarly reportable).

 

ARTICLE VII

 

AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION

 

Section 7.01 - Amendment, Suspension and Termination .  The Company shall have the exclusive right, at any time and from time to time, to amend, suspend or terminate the Plan, in whole or in part, for any reason or without reason; provided that no such amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall adversely affect the Severance Benefits payable to a Participant without a formal written instrument executed by both the Company and each affected Participant.  Any such modification, amendment or termination shall be effective at such date as the Plan Administrator may determine.  Amendment or termination of the Plan is a corporate and not a fiduciary function.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

DUTIES OF THE COMPANY

 

Section 8.01 - Records .  The Company shall supply to the Plan Administrator all records and information necessary to the performance of the Plan Administrator’s duties.

 

Section 8.02 - Payment .  The Company shall make payments of Severance Benefits, in such amount as determined by the Company under Article IV, from its general assets to Participants in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

 

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Section 8.03 - Discretion .  Any decisions, actions or interpretations to be made under the Plan by the Company shall be made in its sole discretion, not in any fiduciary capacity, and need not be uniformly applied to similarly situated individuals, and such decisions, actions or interpretations shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all parties.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

CLAIMS PROCEDURES

 

Section 9.01 - Claim .  In the event that any Severance Benefits under the Plan, an Employee’s eligibility for Severance Benefits under the Plan, or the amount of Severance Benefits awarded under the Plan, is denied in whole or in part, the affected terminated Employee shall be notified of such denial in writing by the Plan Administrator within 60 days of such Employee’s Employment Termination Date.

 

The notice advising of the denial shall specify the reason or reasons for denial, make specific reference to pertinent Plan provisions, describe any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim (explaining why such material or information is needed), and advise the Employee of the procedure for the appeal of such denial , including a statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA, following an adverse benefit determination on appeal.

 

Section 9.02 - Appeals of Denied Claims .  All appeals shall be made by the following procedure:

 

(a)                                  The terminated Employee whose claim has been denied shall file with the Plan Administrator a notice of appeal of the denial.  Such notice shall be filed within 60 calendar days of notification by the Plan Administrator of the denial of a claim, shall be made in writing, and shall set forth all of the facts upon which the appeal is based.  Appeals not timely filed shall be barred.

 

(b)                                  The Plan Administrator shall, within 30 calendar days of receipt of the terminated Employee’s notice of appeal, schedule a meeting to review the terminated Employee’s appeal.

 

(c)                                   The Named Appeals Fiduciary shall consider the merits of the claimant’s written presentations, the merits of any facts or evidence in support of the denial of benefits, and such other facts and circumstances as the Named Appeals Fiduciary shall deem relevant.

 

(d)                                  The Named Appeals Fiduciary shall render a determination upon the appealed claim, no later than 60 days after receipt of the notice of appeal.  The review period may be extended by the named Appeals Fiduciary for up to an additional 60 days by written notice to the claimant before the initial review period elapses.  The final determination upon appeal shall be accompanied by a written statement as to the reasons therefore and the Plan

 

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provisions on which the denial is based.  The decision will also state that the claimant or the claimant’s authorized representative may review pertinent Plan documents and request copies of them, free of charge. The determination so rendered shall be binding upon all parties, except that the claimant will have a right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA, following the appeal, provided such civil action is filed within 180 days of the final determination.

 

Section 9.03 - Appointment of the Named Appeals Fiduciary .  The Named Appeals Fiduciary shall be the Company; and the Company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer is hereby authorized to act on behalf of the Company with respect to its duties as the Named Appeals Fiduciary under the terms of the Plan and applicable law.  The Named Appeals Fiduciary shall be a “Named Fiduciary” within the meaning of ERISA, and unless granted other fiduciary responsibilities, shall have no authority, responsibility, or liability with respect to any matter other than the proper discharge of the functions of the Named Appeals Fiduciary as set forth herein.

 

ARTICLE X

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 10.01 - Nonalienation of Benefits .  None of the payments, benefits or rights of any Participant shall be subject to any claim of any creditor of any Participant, and to the fullest extent permitted by law, all such payments, benefits and rights shall be free from attachment, garnishment, trustee’s process, or any other legal or equitable process available to any creditor of such Participant.  No Participant shall have the right to alienate, anticipate, commute, plead, encumber or assign any of the benefits or payments that he or she may expect to receive, contingently or otherwise, under this Plan, except for the designation of a beneficiary as set forth in Section 5.01.

 

Section 10.02 - No Contract of Employment .  Neither the establishment of the Plan, nor any modification thereof, nor the creation of any fund, trust or account, nor the payment of any Severance Benefit shall be construed as giving any Participant or Employee, or any person whosoever, a contract of employment and/or the right to be retained in the service of the Company, and all Participants and other Employees shall remain subject to discharge to the same extent as if the Plan had never been adopted.

 

Section 10.03 - Severability of Provisions .  If any provision of this Plan shall be held invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such provisions had not been included.

 

Section 10.04 - Heirs, Assigns, and Personal Representatives .  This Plan shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of the parties, including each Participant, present and future.  Any benefit payable to or for the benefit of a minor or an incompetent person shall be deemed paid when paid to such person’s guardian or to the party providing or reasonably appearing to provide for the care of such person, and such payment shall fully discharge the Company and all other parties with respect thereto.

 

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Section 10.05 - Headings and Captions .  The headings and captions herein are provided for reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of the Plan, and shall not be employed in the construction of the Plan.

 

Section 10.06 - Number .  Except where otherwise clearly indicated by context, the singular shall include the plural, and vice-versa.

 

Section 10.07 - Unfunded Plan .  The Plan shall not be funded.  No Participant shall have any right to, or interest in, any assets of the Company that may be applied by the Company to the payment of Severance Benefits.

 

Section 10.08 - Lost Payees .  A Severance Benefit shall be deemed forfeited if the Company is unable to locate a Participant to whom a Severance Benefit is due.  Such Severance Benefit shall be reinstated if application is made by the Participant for the forfeited Severance Benefit while this Plan is in operation.

 

Section 10.09 - Controlling Law .  This Plan shall be construed and enforced according to the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the extent not superseded by Federal law.

 

Section 10.10 — Code Section 409A .  The payments and benefits payable pursuant to this Plan are intended to comply with, or be exempt from, Section 409A of the Code (“ Section 409A ”).  To the extent the requirements of Section 409A are applicable hereto, and the provisions of this Plan shall be construed and administered in a manner consistent with that intention. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) if at the time of Participant’s termination of employment with the Company, Participant is a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A, and the deferral of the commencement of any payments or benefits otherwise payable hereunder as a result of such termination of employment is necessary in order to prevent any accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A, then the Company will defer the commencement of the payment of any such payments or benefits hereunder (without any reduction in such payments or benefits ultimately paid or provided to Participant) to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 409A until the first business day that is more than six (6) months following Participant’s termination of employment with the Company (or the earliest date as is permitted under Section 409A) and (ii) if any other payments of money or other benefits due to Participant hereunder could cause the application of an accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A, such payments or other benefits shall be deferred if deferral will make such payment or other benefits compliant under Section 409A, or otherwise such payment or other benefits shall be restructured, to the extent possible, in a manner, determined by the Company’s Board of Directors, that does not cause such an accelerated or additional tax.  In the event that payments under this Agreement are deferred pursuant to this paragraph in order to prevent any accelerated tax or additional tax under Section 409A, then such payments shall be paid at the time specified hereunder without any interest thereon.  The Company shall consult with Participant in good faith regarding the implementation of this Section 10.10; provided that neither the Company nor any of its employees or representatives shall have any liability to Participant with respect to the imposition of any early or additional tax under Section 409A.  For purposes of Section 409A, each payment made under this Agreement shall be designated as a “separate payment” within the meaning of Section 409A.

 

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Without limiting the foregoing, the terms “terminates” or “termination of employment” or similar terms used in this Plan shall be interpreted to mean to occur when a “separation of service” occurs as defined under Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, no particular tax result for a Participant with respect to any income recognized by such Participant in connection with this Plan is guaranteed.

 

11


Exhibit 10.2

 

HILL INTERNATIONAL, INC.

2016 EXECUTIVE RETENTION PLAN

 

RETENTION PLAN PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

 

THIS RETENTION PLAN PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) made as of this      day of            ,       , by and between Hill International, Inc. (the “ Company ”) and         (the “ Participant ”), sets forth the terms of the Participant’s Severance Benefit as provided under the Hill International, Inc. 2016 Executive Retention (the “ Plan ”).  For the purpose of this Agreement, all capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the definition ascribed to them in the Plan.

 

1.                                       Severance Benefit . Upon an Involuntary Termination, (a) the Participant is entitled to receive, and the Company shall make, one lump sum cash payment sixty (60) days after such Involuntary Termination (other than in the event of an Involuntary Termination by the Employee for Good Reason, in which case such cash payment shall be made six (6) months following Participant’s termination of employment with the Company in accordance with the terms of Section 12 below), in an amount equal to one (1) times the Participant’s Base Salary, subject to the terms and conditions as set forth in this Agreement and the Plan.

 

Upon an Involuntary Termination within one (1) year following any Change in Control , (a) the Participant is entitled to receive, and the Company shall make, one lump sum cash payment sixty (60) days after such Involuntary Termination (other than in the event of an Involuntary Termination by the Employee for Good Reason, in which case such cash payment shall be made six (6) months following Participant’s termination of employment with the Company in accordance with the terms of Section 12 below), in an amount equal to two (2) times the Participant’s Base Salary, subject to the terms and conditions as set forth in this Agreement and the Plan and (b) any and all unvested stock options, stock grants or other stock based compensation granted to the Participant shall then immediately vest.  As indicated herein, the Participant must sign and not revoke a Release Agreement as a condition of receiving the Severance Benefit.  The Participant shall not sign a Release Agreement any sooner than the Employment Termination Date.  For the purposes of the timing of payment of the Severance Benefit under this Agreement, the Company shall make payment of the Severance Benefit subject to the seven (7) day Revocation Period described in the Release Agreement.

 

2.                                       Release Agreement . The payments and benefits set forth in Section 1 shall be conditioned upon the Participant’s execution, delivery and non-revocation of a valid and enforceable general release of claims satisfactory to the Company (the “ Release Agreement ”) in favor of the Company Released Parties (as defined therein).  The form of the Release Agreement shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A but which may be modified by the Company taking into account applicable local law.

 

3.                                       Successors; Binding Agreement . The Plan and this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns, and the

 



 

Company shall have the right to assign its obligations under the Plan and this Agreement, in whole or in part, to any successor employer or its affiliates, in which case, the Company shall have no further liability with respect to the assigned obligations (but shall remain entitled to its rights or benefits) pursuant to the Plan and this Agreement.  The Participant further hereby consents and agrees that Employer may assign this Agreement and any of the rights or obligations hereunder to any third party in connection with the sale, merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation or transfer, in whole or in part, of the Company’s control and/or ownership of its assets or business.

 

4.                                       Non-Exclusivity of Rights .  Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Participant’s continuing or future participation in any benefit, bonus, incentive or other plan or program provided by the Company and for which the Participant may qualify, nor shall anything herein limit or reduce such rights as the Participant may have under any other agreements with the Company.  Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Participant is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan or program of the Company shall be payable in accordance with such plan or program, except as explicitly modified by the Plan.

 

5.                                       No Guaranteed Employment .  The Participant and the Company acknowledge that, except as may otherwise be provided under any other written agreement between the Participant and the Company, the employment of the Participant by the Company is “at will” and may be terminated by either the Participant or the Company at any time.  The terms of this Agreement and the Plan are not intended to and should not be construed as providing a guarantee of employment for a specific term or length of time.

 

6.                                       Confidential Company Information .  While employed by the Company, the Company has and will continue to provide the Participant with access to, and may confide in him, information, business methods and systems, techniques and methods of operation developed at great expense by the Company and which are assets of the Company.  The Participant recognizes and acknowledges that: (a) all Confidential Information (as defined below) is the property of the Company and is unique, extremely valuable and developed and acquired by great expenditures of time, effort and cost; (b) the misuse, misappropriation or unauthorized disclosure by the Participant of the Confidential Information would constitute a breach of trust and would cause serious irreparable injury to the Company; and (c) it is essential to the protection of the Company’s goodwill and to the maintenance of the Company’s competitive position that the Confidential Information be kept secret and that the Participant not disclose the Confidential Information to others or use same to his own advantage or to the advantage of others.  Accordingly, the Participant shall not, while employed by the Company or thereafter, directly or indirectly, in any manner, utilize or disclose to any person, firm, corporation, association or other entity, or use on his own behalf, any confidential and proprietary information of the Company, including, but not limited to, information relating to strategic plans, sales, costs, client lists, client preferences, client identities, investment strategies, computer programs, profits or the business affairs and financial condition of the Company, or any of its clients, or any of the Company’s business methods, systems, marketing materials, clients or techniques (collectively “ Confidential Information ”), except for (i) such

 

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disclosures where required by law, but only after written notice to the Company detailing the circumstances and legal requirement for the disclosure; or (ii) as authorized during the performance of the Participant’s duties for such use or purpose as are reasonably believed by the Participant to be in the best interests of the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement does not limit or proscribe in any way Participant’s ability to communicate truthfully with any government agencies pursuant to applicable whistleblower laws or regulations.  At any time, upon request, the Participant shall deliver to the Company all of its property including, but not limited to, its Confidential Information (whether electronically stored or otherwise) which are in his possession or under his control.  Property to be returned includes, but is not limited to, notebook pages, documents, records, prototypes, client files, drawings, electronically stored data, computer media or any other materials or property in the Participant’s possession.

 

To the maximum extent enforceable under applicable law, the Participant understands and agrees that: (y) the existence and terms of the Plan and this Agreement are confidential and are not to be discussed with or disclosed to any third party or other employee of the Company (other than the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, or General Counsel of the Company), and (z) in the event that the Participant fails to comply with this confidentiality obligation, then the Participant will not be viewed as an individual eligible for the Severance Benefit under the terms of the Plan and this Agreement.

 

7.                                       Non-Interference .  The Participant agrees that for a period of twelve (12) months following the end of employment with the Company, for whatever reason, he will not, directly or indirectly, for himself or on behalf of any third party, at any time or in any manner:

 

a.                                       request or cause any of the Company’s clients or potential clients to cancel, modify or terminate any existing or continuing or, to the Participant’s knowledge, prospective business relationship with the Company;

 

b.                                       directly or indirectly, personally or as an employee, partner, stockholder, officer, director, member, contractor, consultant or agent of or for any other person, solicit, recruit, hire, authorize, encourage, request, induce, approve or otherwise cause or attempt to influence any employee or contractor of the Company to terminate, in whole or in part, such employment or contractor relationship.  In addition, the Participant shall not, directly or indirectly, interfere in any way with the Company’s contractual or professional relationships with any employee or contractor of the Company;

 

c.                                        engage in or participate in any effort or act to induce, or in any way cause, any client or, to Participant’s knowledge, prospective client of the Company, to deal with the Participant or any other person or entity except in a capacity as representative of the Company, or otherwise take any action which might reasonably be expected to be disadvantageous to the Company;

 

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d.                                       persuade, induce, solicit, influence or attempt to influence any client or, to the Participant’s knowledge, prospective client of the Company to cease or refrain from doing business, or to decline to do business, or to change or alter any existing or prospective business relationship, with the Company;

 

e.                                        accept business from, or perform or provide any services for, any client, or to the Participant’s knowledge, prospective client of the Company;

 

f.                                         contract with or communicate with, in either case in connection with services, any client or, to the Participant’s knowledge, prospective client of the Company; or

 

g.                                        provide any third party with any information concerning any client, or to the Participant’s knowledge, prospective client of the Company, including but not limited to, the disclosure of any client name or data, in whatever form, to such third party.

 

8.                                       Non-Compete .  For a period of twelve (12) months following the end of employment with the Company, for whatever reason, the Participant shall not, within the United States or in any foreign country in which the Participant has rendered services for the Company during the term of employment, directly or indirectly, engage or participate in, or become employed by, or affiliated with, or render advisory or any other services to, any person or business entity or organization, of whatever form, that provides services and/or products that are competitive with those provided by the Company.  The Participant specifically acknowledges that the nature of the Company’s activities is such that competitive activities could be conducted effectively within the territory described above, and that the geographical and temporal limitations, in view of the nature of the Company’s business, is reasonable and necessary to protect its legitimate business interests.

 

9.                                       Injunctive Relief .  The Participant acknowledges that his compliance with the covenants in Sections 6, 7 and 8 hereof is necessary to protect the good will, Confidential Information and other proprietary interests of the Company, that such covenants are supported by adequate and sufficient consideration, and that, in the event of any violation or threatened violation by the Participant of any such provision, the Company will sustain serious, irreparable and substantial harm to its business, the extent of which will be difficult to determine and impossible to remedy by an action at law for money damages.  Accordingly, the Participant agrees that, in the event of such violation or threatened violation by him, the Company shall be entitled to an injunction before trial from any court of competent jurisdiction as a matter of course and upon the posting of not more than a nominal bond, in addition to all such other legal and equitable remedies as may be available to the Company.  The Participant further acknowledges that he has carefully considered the nature and extent of the restrictions contained herein and the rights and remedies conferred upon the Company under this Agreement, and hereby acknowledges and agrees that the same are reasonable, are designed to protect the legitimate business interests of the Company, and do not confer benefits upon the Company disproportionate to the detriment upon him.  In the event that the Participant violates any of the covenants in this Agreement and the Company commences legal action for injunctive or other relief,

 

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the Company shall have the benefit of the full period of the covenants, computed from the date the Participant ceased violation of the covenants, either by order of the court or otherwise.  The Participant acknowledges that any claim or cause of action he may have against the Company shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of his covenants in this Agreement (e.g., these covenants are independent of any other provision in this Agreement and of any other promise made to the Participant).  The Participant also acknowledges that his experience and capabilities are such that he can obtain suitable employment otherwise than in violation of the covenants in this Agreement and that the enforcement of these covenants will not prevent the earning of a livelihood nor cause undue hardship.  Without limiting the foregoing, in the event of a breach by the Participant of any provision of Section 6, 7 or 8 of this Agreement, the Company’s obligations under this Agreement shall immediately terminate, the Participant shall not be entitled to any additional monetary payments or benefits of any kind whatsoever and the Participant shall reimburse the Company for all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs associated with any legal or equitable proceedings or litigation seeking to enforce the terms of this Agreement.

 

10.                                Consent . By executing this Agreement, the Participant hereby approves and consents to the terms of the Agreement.

 

11.                                Miscellaneous .  No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company or, in the event of assignment, the successor employer.  No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.  No agreement or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.

 

12.                                Section 409A Considerations .  All of the payments and benefits payable pursuant to this Agreement are intended to comply with, or be exempt from, Section 409A to the extent the requirements of Section 409A are applicable hereto, and the provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and administered in a manner consistent with that intention. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) if at the time of the Participant’s termination of employment with the Company, the Participant is a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A, and the deferral of the commencement of any payments or benefits otherwise payable hereunder as a result of such termination of employment is necessary in order to prevent any accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A, then the Company will defer the commencement of the payment of any such payments or benefits hereunder (without any reduction in such payments or benefits ultimately paid or provided to the Participant) to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 409A until the first business day that is more than six (6) months following the Participant’s termination of employment with the Company (or the earliest date as is permitted under Section 409A) and (ii) if any other payments of money or other benefits due to the Participant hereunder could cause the application of an accelerated or

 

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additional tax under Section 409A, such payments or other benefits shall be deferred if deferral will make such payment or other benefits compliant under Section 409A, or otherwise such payment or other benefits shall be restructured, to the extent possible, in a manner, determined by the Company’s Board of Directors, that does not cause such an accelerated or additional tax.  In the event that payments under this Agreement are deferred pursuant to this paragraph in order to prevent any accelerated tax or additional tax under Section 409A, then such payments shall be paid at the time specified hereunder without any interest thereon.  For purposes of Section 409A of the Code, each payment made under this Agreement shall be designated as a “separate payment” within the meaning of Section 409A.  Without limiting the foregoing, the terms “terminates” or “termination of employment” or similar terms used in the Plan shall be interpreted to mean to occur when a “separation of service” occurs as defined under Section 409A.

 

13.                                Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the extent not superseded by Federal law.

 

14.                                Severability .  The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.

 

15.                                Entire Agreement .  This Agreement (together with the Plan) constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements, if any, understandings and arrangements, oral or written, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof except that any non-solicitation, confidentiality and/or return of property agreements between the parties are not superseded but expressly preserved by this Agreement.

 

16.                                Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer and the Participant has executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

HILL INTERNATIONAL, INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

David L. Richter

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

PARTICIPANT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

«Name»

 

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Exhibit A

 

Release Agreement

 

This Release Agreement (this “ Release Agreement ”) dated as of [         ], 201[   ] (the “ Effective Date ”) is entered into by [                 ] (the “ Employee ”) for the benefit of Hill International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and its affiliates.

 

In consideration of the payments described in Section 1 of the Retention Plan Participation Agreement dated as of            [   ], 2016 by and between the Company  and the Employee (the “ Retention Plan Participation Agreement ”) and other good and valuable consideration, which are given to the Employee specifically in exchange for this release as a result of negotiations between the Company and the Employee, the Employee, on behalf of himself/herself, his/her heirs, successors and assigns, hereby releases and discharges the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates, its and their employee benefit plans, its and their current or former directors, officers, Employees, agents, insurers, attorneys, consultants, and auditors, and any and each of their successors and assigns and predecessors (“ Company Released Parties ”), from any and all claims, charges, causes of action and damages (including attorneys’ fees and costs incurred) (“ Claims ”), known and unknown, including, but not limited to, those Claims related in any way to the Employee’s employment with the Company or any of its affiliates, or the termination of Employee’s employment relationship or positions as an officer or employee of the Company, arising on or prior to the Effective Date.  The waivers in this Release Agreement shall not waive the Employee’s rights respecting the Company’s obligations under the Retention Plan Participation Agreement and claims for benefits under any health, disability, retirement, life insurance or other, similar employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”)) of the Company.

 

For the purposes of implementing a full and complete release and discharge of the Company Released Parties, the Employee expressly acknowledges that this Release Agreement is intended to include in its affect, without limitation, all Claims which Employee does not know or suspect to exist in his/her favor at the time Employee signs this Release Agreement, and that this Release Agreement is intended to fully and finally resolve any such Claim or Claims.

 

This release specifically includes, but is not limited to, rights and claims under the local, state or federal laws prohibiting discrimination in employment, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, ERISA (except as otherwise stated herein), the Employee protection provisions of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. § 1831j), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, as well as any other local, state, federal or foreign laws or common law theories relating to discrimination in employment, the termination of employment, or personal injury, including without limitation all claims for wrongful discharge, breach of contract, breach of an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, intentional infliction of emotional distress, tortious interference with contract or

 

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prospective economic advantage, defamation, loss of consortium, infliction of emotional distress; or any claim for any compensation, including, but not limited to additional compensation, back pay, front pay, or benefits (other than as provided for in the Retention Plan Participation Agreement), severance, reinstatement, or any other form of economic loss; and all claims for personal injury, including, but not limited to: mental anguish, emotional distress, pain and suffering, humiliation, and damage to name or reputation; and all claims for liquidated damages and punitive damages and all claims for counsel fees and costs.

 

The Employee represents that he/she has not filed any Claim that was released in this Release Agreement against the Company Released Parties with any court or government agency, and that he will not, to the extent allowed by applicable law, do so at any time in the future; provided, however, that the covenants contained herein will not prevent the Employee from filing a claim to enforce the terms of the Retention Plan Participation Agreement or any other Claim not released hereunder.  If any government agency brings any claim or conducts any investigation against the Company, nothing in this Release Agreement shall prevent the Employee from cooperating in such proceedings.

 

Employee represents that he/she has read carefully and fully understands the terms of this Release Agreement, and that Employee has been advised to consult with an attorney and has had the opportunity to consult with an attorney prior to signing this Release Agreement.  Employee acknowledges that he/she is executing this Agreement voluntarily and knowingly and that he/she has not relied on any representations, promises or agreements of any kind made to Employee in connection with Employee’s decision to accept the terms of this Agreement, other than those set forth in the Retention Plan Participation Agreement and this Release Agreement.  Employee acknowledges that Employee has been given at least forty-five (45) days to consider whether Employee wants to sign this Release Agreement and that the Age Discrimination in Employment Act gives Employee the right to revoke this Release Agreement within seven (7) days after it is signed, and Employee understands that he/she will not receive any payments not otherwise due him/her under this Agreement until such seven (7) day revocation period (the “ Revocation Period ”) has passed and then, only if Employee has not revoked this Agreement.  Employee may revoke the Agreement during the Revocation Period by providing written notice of the revocation to the Company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at the Company’s corporate office at One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, 17 th  Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103.  Upon such revocation, this Release Agreement and Section 1 of the Retention Plan Participation Agreement shall be null and void and of no further force and effect.  To the extent Employee has executed this Agreement within less than forty-five (45) days after its delivery to Employee, Employee hereby acknowledges that his/her decision to execute this Release Agreement prior to the expiration of such forty-five (45) day period was entirely voluntary.

 

The Employee understands and acknowledges the significance of this Release Agreement and acknowledges that this Release Agreement is voluntary and has not been given as a result of any coercion.  The Employee also acknowledges that he/she has been given full opportunity to review and negotiate the Retention Plan Participation Agreement and this Release Agreement, that he/she has been specifically advised to consult with legal counsel prior to signing it, that

 

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he/she has in fact carefully reviewed it with his/her attorney before signing it, and that he/she executes this Release Agreement only after full reflection and analysis.

 

Other than as to rights, claims and causes of action arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the release of claims set forth in this Release Agreement shall be immediately effective upon execution by the Employee.

 

The Employee acknowledges and agrees that he/she has not, with respect to any transaction or state of facts existing prior to the date hereof, filed any complaints, charges or lawsuits against any Company Released Party with any governmental agency, court or tribunal.

 

The Employee acknowledges that the payments he/she is receiving under Section 1 of the Retention Plan Participation Agreement in connection with the release of claims set forth in this Release Agreement are in addition to anything of value to which the Employee is entitled from the Company.

 

Each provision hereof is severable from this Release Agreement, and if one or more provisions hereof are declared invalid, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.  If any provision of this Release Agreement is so broad, in scope, or duration or otherwise, as to be unenforceable, such provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.

 

This Release Agreement constitutes the complete agreement in respect of the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all prior agreements between the Company and the Employee in respect of the subject matter hereof except to the extent set forth herein.

 

The failure to enforce at any time any of the provisions of this Release Agreement or to require at any time performance by the Employee of any of the provisions hereof shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provisions or to affect the validity of this Release Agreement, or any part hereof, or the right of the Company thereafter to enforce each and every such provision in accordance with the terms of this Release Agreement.

 

This Release Agreement shall be binding upon any and all successors and assigns of the Employee and the Company.

 

Except for issues or matters as to which federal law is applicable, this Release Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Employee has executed this Agreement as of the date set forth above.

 

 

 

 

Employee

 

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