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): February 22, 2018
RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
|
001-36101 |
|
80-0937145 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
|
|
(Commission
|
|
(IRS Employer
|
5075 South Syracuse Street
Denver, Colorado 80237
(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip code)
(303) 770-5531
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
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))
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company o
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
On February 22, 2018, the Board of Directors (the Board) of RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. (the Company) approved the Companys Amended and Restated Bylaws (the Bylaws), which include amendments (i) to formally establish the position of Lead Independent Director of the Board (the Lead Independent Director) within the Bylaws, (ii) to clarify certain rights and authority of the Lead Independent Director and the office of Chair of the Board, and (iii) to address certain other technical and conforming amendments.
The foregoing description of the Bylaws is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Bylaws filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, which is marked to show changes to the bylaws of the Company previously in effect and which is incorporated by reference herein.
Item 5.05. Amendments to Registrants Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics.
A special committee of independent directors (the Special Committee) has concluded, as a result of an internal investigation, that David Liniger and Adam Contos violated the Companys Code of Ethics by engaging in certain transactions and by failing to report those transactions to the Company. The transactions consisted of a loan of personal funds from Liniger to Contos and cash and non-cash gifts from David and Gail Liniger to Contos. The Special Committee also identified instances of noncompliance by Liniger with the Code of Ethics and other Company policies related to workplace conduct.
The Special Committee concluded that credible evidence does not substantiate that Liniger and Contos intentionally failed to disclose the loan or gifts.
The violations of the Code of Ethics and other Company policies identified by the Special Committee have not been waived.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure. *
On February 22, 2018, the Company issued a press release announcing the conclusion of the previously disclosed internal investigation (the Investigation) by the Special Committee. A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.
On February 22, 2018, the Board adopted a Lead Independent Director Charter (the Lead Independent Director Charter), in order to expand the role of the Lead Independent Director and specify certain additional responsibilities of the Lead Independent Director.
A copy of the Lead Independent Director Charter is filed as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is also available on the investor relations section of the Companys website, www.remax.com, by selecting Investor Relations and then Corporate Governance.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits. *
Exhibit No. |
|
Description |
3.1 |
|
|
99.1 |
|
|
99.2 |
|
* The information contained in Item 7.01, and Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 of Item 9.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is being furnished and shall not be deemed filed for purposed of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other filings of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be set forth by specific reference in such filing.
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.
|
RE/MAX HOLDINGS, INC. |
|
|
|
|
Date: February 22, 2018 |
By: |
/s/ Adam Lindquist Scoville |
|
|
Adam Lindquist Scoville |
|
|
Vice President and General Counsel |
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
RE/MAX HOLDINGS, INC.
ARTICLE 1
OFFICES
Section 1.1 Registered Office.
The registered office of RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. (the Corporation ) in the State of Delaware shall be set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation.
Section 1.2 Other Offices.
The Corporation may also have offices at such other places, either within or 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 2
STOCKHOLDERS MEETINGS
Section 2.1 Place of Meetings.
Meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, or at no place and solely by means of remote communications, as may be designated by or in the manner provided in these Bylaws, or, if not so designated, as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 2.2 Annual Meetings.
The annual meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation, for the purpose of election of directors and for such other business as may lawfully come before it, shall be held on such date and at such time as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may postpone or reschedule any previously scheduled annual meeting.
Section 2.3 Special Meetings.
Special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation, other than those required by statute, may only be called in the manner provided in the Corporations Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Only such business shall be brought before a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been specified in the notice of such meeting. The Board of Directors may postpone or reschedule any previously scheduled special meeting.
Section 2.4 Notice of Meetings.
(a) Except as otherwise required from time to time by law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, written notice of each meeting of stockholders, specifying the place, if any, date and hour and purpose or purposes of the meeting, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting), shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date on which the meeting is to be held to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. Except as otherwise provided herein or permitted by applicable law, notice to stockholders shall be in writing and directed to the address of each stockholder as it appears on the books of the Corporation. If the Board of Directors fixes a date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of a meeting of stockholders, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination.
(b) When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, 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 for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and, except as otherwise required by law, shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record
date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting. At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
(c) Notice of the time, place and purpose of any meeting of stockholders may be waived in writing or by electronic transmission, either before or after such meeting, and, to the extent permitted by law, will be waived by any stockholder by his attendance thereat, in person or by proxy except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
(d) Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended ( DGCL ), the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (i) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent, and (ii) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action. Notice given pursuant to this subsection shall be deemed given: (1) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (2) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (3) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and (4) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. For purposes of these Bylaws, electronic transmission means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process. This subsection shall not apply to the acts or transactions contemplated by Sections 164, 296, 311, 312 or 324 of the DGCL.
Section 2.5 Quorum and Voting.
(a) At all meetings of stockholders except where otherwise required by law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporations securities are listed, the presence, in
person or by proxy duly authorized, of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all the shares of stock entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series is required, a majority of the voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series present in person or represented by proxy shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter. In the absence of a quorum, any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned, from time to time, by vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power represented thereat or by the
chairman
chair
of the meeting, but no other business shall be transacted at such meeting. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the stockholders present at a duly called or convened meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.
(b) Except as otherwise required by law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, and except as otherwise required by the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporations securities are listed, all matters other than the election of directors shall be decided by a majority of the votes cast on such matter affirmatively or negatively. For purposes of these Bylaws, a share present at a meeting, but for which there is an abstention or broker non-vote on a particular matter shall be counted as present for the purpose of establishing a quorum but shall not be counted as a vote cast on the matter in question.
Section 2.6 Voting Rights.
(a) Except as otherwise required by law, only persons in whose names shares entitled to vote stand on the stock records of the Corporation on the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at said meeting shall be entitled to vote at such meeting.
(b) Every person entitled to vote or to execute consents shall have the right to do so either in person or by proxy. Said proxy so appointed need not be a stockholder. No proxy shall be voted on after three (3) years from its date unless the proxy provides for a longer period. Unless and until voted, every proxy shall be revocable unless it states that it is irrevocable and is coupled with an interest sufficient at law to support an irrevocable power.
(c) Without limiting the manner in which a stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for him as proxy pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the following shall constitute a valid means by which a stockholder may grant such authority:
(1) A stockholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or persons to act for him as proxy. Execution may be accomplished by the
stockholder or his authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such writing or causing his or her signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature.
(2) A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for him as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of an electronic transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission, provided that any such transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the transmission was authorized by the stockholder. Without limiting the foregoing, such authorization may be established by the signature of the stockholder on the proxy, either in writing or by a signature stamp or facsimile signature, or by a number or symbol from which the identity of the stockholder can be determined, or by any other procedure deemed appropriate by the inspectors or other persons making the determination as to due authorization.
(d) Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to subsection (c) of this section may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.
Section 2.7 Voting Procedures and Inspectors of Elections.
(a) The Corporation may, and shall if required by law, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Corporation 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 of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.
(b) The inspectors shall (i) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, (ii) determine the shares represented at a meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors, and (v) 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 the duties of the inspectors.
(c) 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 or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes thereto, shall be accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the Court of Chancery shall determine otherwise upon application by a stockholder.
(d) In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots, the inspectors shall be limited to an examination of the proxies, any envelopes submitted with those proxies, any information provided in accordance with Section 211(e) or 212(c)(2) of the DGCL, or any information provided pursuant to Section 211(a)(2)b.(i) or (iii) thereof, ballots and the regular books and records of the Corporation, except that the inspectors may consider other reliable information for the limited purpose of reconciling proxies and ballots submitted by or on behalf of banks, brokers, their nominees or similar persons which represent more votes than the holder of a proxy is authorized by the record owner to cast or more votes than the stockholder holds of record. If the inspectors consider other reliable information for the limited purpose permitted herein, the inspectors at the time they make their certification pursuant to subsection (b)(v) of this section shall specify the precise information considered by them including the person or persons from whom they obtained the information, when the information was obtained, the means by which the information was obtained and the basis for the inspectors belief that such information is accurate and reliable.
Section 2.8 List of Stockholders.
The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at said meeting (or, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than 10 days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote on the tenth day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, showing the address of and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. The Corporation need not include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and
the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.
Section 2.9 Stockholder Proposals at Annual Meetings.
At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business (other than nominations of directors made pursuant to Section 2.10) must be brought before the meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (ii) by a stockholder of record of the Corporation (a Record Stockholder ) at the time of the giving of the notice required in the following paragraph, who is entitled to vote and the meeting and who complies with this Section 2.9. The foregoing clause (ii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose business (other than business included in the Corporations proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act )) at an annual meeting of stockholders.
In addition to any other applicable requirements for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a Record Stockholder, (a) the Record Stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, (b) any such business must be a proper matter for stockholder action under Delaware law and (c) the Record Stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf any such proposal is made, must have acted in accordance with the representations set forth in the Business Solicitation Statement required by these Bylaws. To be timely, a Record Stockholders notice must be delivered to the Secretary at the Corporations principal executive offices not less than 90 days or more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials (or, in the absence of proxy materials, its notice of meeting) for the previous years annual meeting of stockholders. However, if the Corporation did not hold an annual meeting the previous year, or if the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to or delayed by more than 30 days after the anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting, then to be timely, notice by the stockholder must be delivered to the Secretary at the Corporations principal executive offices not later than 5:00 p.m. (local time in the principal place of business of the Corporation) on the later of (i) the 90 th day prior to such annual meeting or (ii) the 10 th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholders notice as described above. Other than with respect to stockholder proposals relating to director nomination(s), which requirements are set forth in Section 2.10 below, a stockholders notice to the Secretary shall set forth 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, (ii) the name and record address of the Record Stockholder proposing such business and the beneficial owner, if
any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (iii) the class, series, and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record by the Record Stockholder, (iv) any material interest of the Record Stockholder in such business and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (v) as to the stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below) or any member of such stockholders immediate family sharing the same household, whether and the extent to which any hedging or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including, but not limited to, any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares of stock) has been made, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss or increase profit to or manage the risk or benefit of stock price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder, such Stockholder Associated Person or family member with respect to any share of stock of the Corporation (each, a Relevant Hedge Transaction ), (vi) as to the stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder Associated Person or any member of such stockholders immediate family sharing the same household, to the extent not set forth pursuant to the immediately preceding clause, (a) whether and the extent to which such stockholder, Stockholder Associated Person or family member has direct or indirect beneficial ownership of any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise, or any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation (a Derivative Instrument ), (b) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which either party has a right to vote, directly or indirectly, any shares of any security of the Corporation, (c) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder, Stockholder Associated Person or family member that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (d) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder, Stockholder Associated Person or family member is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner and (e) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder, Stockholder Associated Person or family member is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice (which information shall be supplemented by such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, not later than 10 days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date), and (vii) a statement whether or not such person intends or is part of a group that intends to deliver a proxy statement or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of voting power of all shares of capital stock reasonably believed to be sufficient to carry the proposal and/or otherwise to solicit votes or proxies in support of such proposal (such statement, a Business Solicitation Statement ).
For purposes of this Section 2.9 and Section 2.10, Stockholder Associated Person of any stockholder shall mean (i) any person controlling or controlled by, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with, such stockholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder and (iii) any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Stockholder Associated Person.
Notwithstanding anything in the Bylaws to the contrary, no business (other than a nomination submitted in accordance with Section 2.10) shall be conducted at the annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.9, provided, however, that nothing in this Section 2.9 shall be deemed to preclude discussion by any stockholder of any business properly brought before the annual meeting in accordance with said procedure.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.9, if the stockholder making a proposal or a qualified representative of such stockholder does not appear at the annual meeting to present a proposal submitted in compliance with this Section 2.9 (including without limitation any proposal included in the Corporations proxy statement under Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act), such proposal shall not be presented or voted upon at the annual meeting. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, to be considered a qualified representative of a stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized manager, officer or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by such stockholder in writing to act as such. In the event a qualified representative of a stockholder will appear at a meeting and make a proposal in lieu of a stockholder, the stockholder must provide the notice of such designation at least twenty-four hours prior to the meeting. If no such advance notice is provided only the stockholder may make the proposal and the proposal may be disregarded in the event the stockholder fails to appear and make the proposal.
The
chairman
chair
of an annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.9, and if he should so determine he shall so declare to the meeting, and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.
Nothing in this Section 2.9 shall affect the right of a stockholder to request inclusion of a proposal in the Corporations proxy statement or information statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, and any proposal submitted in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and included in the Corporations proxy statement or information statement pursuant thereto shall be deemed to be properly before the meeting. For purposes of these Bylaws, public announcement shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Section 2.10 Nominations of Persons for Election to the Board of Directors.
In addition to any other applicable requirements, only persons who are nominated in accordance with the following procedures shall be eligible for election as directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be made at a meeting of stockholders (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or by any nominating committee or person appointed by the Board of Directors, (ii) by any Record Stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors at the meeting who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.10. The foregoing clause (ii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations at a meeting of stockholders.
In addition to any other applicable requirements for nominations to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder (a) such nominations must be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and (b) the Record Stockholder, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, and the nominee, must have acted in accordance with the representations set forth in the Nomination Solicitation Notice required by these Bylaws. To be timely, a stockholders notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, not less than 90 days or more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials (or, in the absence of proxy materials, its notice of meeting) for the previous years annual meeting of stockholders. However, if the Corporation did not hold an annual meeting the previous year, or if the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to or delayed by more than 30 days after the anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting, then to be timely, notice by the stockholder must be delivered to the Secretary at the Corporations principal executive offices not later than 5:00 p.m. (local time in the principal place of business of the Corporation) on the later of (i) the 90 th day prior to such annual meeting or (ii) the 10 th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Notwithstanding anything in the preceding sentence to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and there has been no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or indicating the increase in the size of the Board of Directors made by the Corporation at least 10 days before the last day a Record Stockholder may deliver a notice of nomination in accordance with the preceding sentence, a Record Stockholders notice required by this bylaw shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10 th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholders notice as described above. The stockholders notice relating to director nomination(s) shall set forth (a) as to each
person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director, (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of the person, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of the person, (iii) the class, series and number of shares of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by the person, (iv) any other information relating to the person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations for proxies for election of directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act and such persons written consent to serve as a director if elected; (b) as to the Record Stockholder giving the notice, and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal was made, (i) the name and record address of the stockholder, and (ii) the class, series and number of shares of the Corporation which are beneficially owned; (c) as to the Record Stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined in Section 2.9) or any member of such stockholders immediate family sharing the same household, to the extent not set forth pursuant to the immediately preceding clause, whether and the extent to which any Relevant Hedge Transaction (as defined in Section 2.9) has been entered into; and (d) as to the stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder Associated Person or any member of such stockholders immediate family sharing the same household, (1) whether and the extent to which any Derivative Instrument (as defined in Section 2.9) is directly or indirectly beneficially owned, (2) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which either party has a right to vote, directly or indirectly, any shares of any security of the Corporation, (3) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (4) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner and (5) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including without limitation any such interests held by members of such stockholders immediate family sharing the same household (which information shall be supplemented by such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, not later than 10 days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date); and (e) a statement whether or not such person or its nominee intends or is part of a group that intends to deliver a proxy statement or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of voting power of all shares of capital stock reasonably believed to be sufficient to elect the nominee or nominees proposed to be nominated and/or otherwise to solicit votes or proxies in support of such nomination (the Nomination Solicitation Notice ). The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation. No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth herein. These provisions shall not apply to nomination of any persons entitled to be separately elected by holders of preferred stock.
A person shall not be eligible for election or re-election as a director at an annual meeting unless (i) the person is nominated by a Record Stockholder in accordance with this Section 2.10 or (ii) the person is nominated by or at the direction of the Board of Directors. Only such business shall be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.10, if the stockholder making a nomination or a qualified representative of such stockholder does not appear at the annual meeting to present a nomination submitted in compliance with this Section 2.10, such nomination(s) shall not be presented or voted upon at the annual meeting. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, to be considered a qualified representative of a stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized manager, officer or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by such stockholder in writing to act as such. In the event a qualified representative of a stockholder will appear at a meeting and make a nomination in lieu of a stockholder, the stockholder must provide the notice of such designation at least twenty-four hours prior to the meeting. If no such advance notice is provided only the stockholder may make the nomination and the nomination may be disregarded in the event the stockholder fails to appear and make the nomination.
The
chairman
chair
of the 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.
Section 2.11 Action Without Meeting.
Unless otherwise provided in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the stockholders of the Corporation may not act by written consent.
Section 2.12 Conduct of Stockholder Meetings.
The
Chairman
Chair
of the Board, or in his or her absence the Chief Executive Officer, or
the Lead Independent Director, or
any other person designated by the Board of Directors, shall act as
chairman
chair
of and preside at any meeting of the stockholders. Each of the
chairman
chair
of the meeting and the Board shall have the authority to adopt and enforce rules providing for the orderly conduct of the meeting and the safety of those in attendance, including without limitation the authority to: (i) determine when the polls will open and close on items submitted for stockholder action; (ii) fix the time allotted for consideration of each agenda item and for questions and comments by persons in attendance; (iii) adopt rules for determining who may pose questions and comments during the meeting; (iv) adopt rules for determining who may attend the meeting; and (v) adopt procedures (if any) requiring attendees to provide the Corporation advance notice of their intent to attend the meeting. The
chairman
chair
of the meeting may adjourn or recess any meeting of stockholders, whether pursuant to Section 2.5 of this Article 2 or otherwise, and notice of such adjournment or recess need be given only if required by law.
ARTICLE 3
DIRECTORS
Section 3.1 Number and Term of Office.
(a) The number of directors of the Corporation shall not be less than 3 nor more than 18. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the exact number of directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by resolutions duly adopted by a majority of the Whole Board. The term
Whole Board
shall mean the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorship. Subject to the foregoing provisions for changing the number of directors, the number of directors of the Corporation has been fixed at
thirteen (13
ten (10
). Elected directors shall hold office until the next annual meeting in which their terms expire and until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified. Directors need not be stockholders. In no case will a decrease in the number of directors shorten the term of any incumbent director.
(b) The directors shall be divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Upon the effectiveness of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation including this provision, each director then in office shall be designated as a Class I director, a Class II director or a Class III director. The initial Class I directors shall serve for a term expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation following the effective time of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation; the initial Class II directors shall serve for a term expiring at the second annual meeting of stockholders following the effective time of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation; and the initial Class III directors shall serve for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the effective time of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. At each annual meeting of stockholders beginning with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the effective time of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the successors of the class of directors whose term expires at that meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders held following their election, with each director in each such class to hold office until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more classes or series of preferred stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the applicable terms of these Bylaws and any certificate of designation creating such class or series of preferred stock, and such directors so elected shall not be divided into classes pursuant to this Section 3.1 unless expressly provided by such terms.
(c) Except as provided in Section 3.3 of this Article III, the directors shall be elected by a plurality vote of the votes cast and entitled to vote on the election of directors at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present.
Section 3.2 Powers.
The powers of the Corporation shall be exercised, its business conducted and its property controlled by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.3 Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships.
Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from the death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled only by a majority vote of the directors then in office and entitled to vote thereon, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director entitled to vote thereon, and not by the stockholders, and each director so elected shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the term of the director whose place shall be vacant or until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.
Section 3.4 Resignations and Removals.
(a) Any director may resign at any time by delivering his resignation to the Secretary in writing or by electronic transmission, such resignation to specify whether it will be effective at a particular time or upon the happening of a particular event, upon receipt by the Secretary or at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. If no such specification is made it shall be deemed effective upon receipt. When one or more directors shall resign from the Board of Directors effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office and entitled to vote thereon, including those who have so resigned, shall have power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective.
(b) Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock then outstanding, except as otherwise set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a director, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office only for cause, at a meeting called for that purpose, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty- six and two-thirds percent (66 2 / 3 %) of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote at an election of directors, voting together as a single class.
Section 3.5 Meetings.
(a) Except as hereinafter otherwise provided, regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may also be held at any place, within or without the State of Delaware, which has been approved by the Board of Directors.
(b) Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time and place within or without the State of Delaware whenever called by at the direction of (i) directors constituting a majority of the Whole Board, (ii) the
Chairman
Chair
of the Board of Directors,
(iii) the Lead Independent Director,
or (
iii
iv
) the Chief Executive Officer.
(c) Written notice of the time and place of all regular and special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be delivered personally to each director or sent by any form of electronic transmission at least 48 hours before the start of the meeting, or sent by first class mail at least 120 hours before the start of the meeting. Notice of any meeting may be waived in writing or by electronic transmission at any time before or after the meeting and will be waived by any director by attendance thereat unless the director attends for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting need be specified in any such waiver. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.
Section 3.6 Quorum and Voting.
(a) A quorum of the Board of Directors shall consist of a majority of the Whole Board as fixed from time to time in accordance the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws.
(b) At each meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present, all questions and business shall be determined by a vote of a majority of the directors present, unless a different vote be required by law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws.
(c) Any member of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting by means of conference telephone or other communication equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 3.7 Action Without Meeting.
Unless otherwise restricted by the Amended and Restated 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 or by electronic transmission, and such writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
Section 3.8 Fees and Compensation.
Directors and members of committees may receive such compensation, if any, for their services, and such reimbursement for expenses, as may be fixed or determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.9 Committees.
(a) Executive Committee : The Board of Directors may appoint an Executive Committee of not less than one member, each of whom shall be a director. To the extent permitted by law, the Executive Committee shall have and may exercise when the Board of Directors is not in session all powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, except such committee shall not have the power or authority to amend these Bylaws or to approve or recommend to the stockholders any action (other than the election or removal of directors) which must be submitted to stockholders for approval under the DGCL.
(b) Other Committees : The Board of Directors may from time to time appoint such other committees as may be permitted by law. Except as otherwise required by law, such other committees appointed by the Board of Directors shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be prescribed by the resolution or resolutions creating such committee.
(c) Term : Subject to the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 3.9, the Board of Directors may at any time increase or decrease the number of members of a committee or terminate the existence of a committee; provided that no committee shall consist of less than one member. The membership of a committee member shall terminate on the date of his death or voluntary resignation, but the Board of Directors may at any time for any reason remove any individual committee member and the Board of Directors may fill any committee vacancy created by death, resignation, removal or increase in the number of members of the committee. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee, and, in
addition, in the absence or disqualification of any 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.
(d) Meetings : Unless the Board of Directors shall otherwise provide, regular meetings of the Executive Committee or any other committee appointed pursuant to this Section 3.9 shall be held at such times and places as are determined by the Board of Directors, or by any such committee, and when notice thereof has been given to each member of such committee, no further notice of such regular meetings need be given thereafter; special meetings of any such committee may be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation or at any place which has been designated from time to time by resolution of such committee, and may be called by any director who is a member of such committee upon written notice to the members of such committee of the time and place of such special meeting given in the manner provided for the giving of written notice to members of the Board of Directors of the time and place of special meetings of the Board of Directors. Notice of any special meeting of any committee may be waived in writing at any time after the meeting and will be waived by any director by attendance thereat unless the director attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. A majority of the authorized number of members of any such committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of those present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of such committee.
Section 3.10 Lead Independent Director.
The independent directors of the Board of Directors may also appoint an independent member of the Board of Directors to serve as the Lead Independent Director and such Lead Independent Director shall perform such duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time. The Lead Independent Director shall be subject to election annually and in no event less frequently than every fifteen months.
ARTICLE 4
OFFICERS
Section 4.1 Officers Designated.
The officers of the Corporation shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board of Directors
or the Chief Executive Officer
may also appoint a
Chairman
Chair
of the Board of Directors, one or more Vice-Presidents, Assistant
Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers, and such other officers and agents with such powers and duties as it or he shall deem necessary
.
, and the Board of Directors may also delegate the power to appoint officers to the Chief Executive Officer; provided, that such delegation shall not in any event limit the right of the Board of Directors to appoint or remove any officers.
The order of the seniority of the Vice-Presidents shall be in the order of their nomination unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may assign such additional titles to one or more of the officers as they shall deem appropriate. Any one person may hold any number of offices of the Corporation at any one time unless specifically prohibited therefrom by law. The salaries and other compensation of the officers of the Corporation shall be fixed by or in the manner designated by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.2 Tenure and Duties of Officers.
(a)
General
: All officers shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified, unless sooner removed
.
, except that the Chair of the Board of Directors shall be subject to election annually and in no event less frequently than every fifteen months.
Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the Board of Directors. If the office of any officer becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy may be filled by the Board of Directors. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be construed as creating any kind of contractual right to employment with the Corporation.
(b)
Duties of the
Chairman
Chair
of the Board of Directors
: The
Chairman
Chair
of the Board of Directors (if there be such an officer appointed) when present shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. The
Chairman
Chair
of the Board of Directors shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time.
(c)
Duties of Chief Executive Officer
: The Chief Executive Officer shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation and shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and at all meetings of the Board of Directors, unless the
Chairman
Chair
of the Board of Directors
or the Lead Independent Director
has been appointed and
either
is present. The Chief Executive Officer shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time.
(d) Duties of Vice-Presidents : The Vice-Presidents may assume and perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer in the absence or disability of the Chief Executive Officer or whenever the office of the Chief Executive Officer is vacant. The Vice-President shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall designate from time to time.
(e) Duties of Secretary : The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors and any committee thereof, and shall record all acts and proceedings thereof in the minute book of the Corporation, which may be
maintained in either paper or electronic form. The Secretary shall give notice, in conformity with these Bylaws, of all meetings of the stockholders and of all meetings of the Board of Directors and any Committee thereof requiring notice. The Secretary shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time. The Chief Executive Officer may direct any Assistant Secretary to assume and perform the duties of the Secretary in the absence or disability of the Secretary, and each Assistant Secretary shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall designate from time to time.
(f) Duties of Treasurer : The Treasurer shall keep or cause to be kept the books of account of the Corporation in a thorough and proper manner, and shall render statements of the financial affairs of the Corporation in such form and as often as required by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. The Treasurer, subject to the order of the Board of Directors, shall have the custody of all funds and securities of the Corporation. The Treasurer shall perform all other duties commonly incident to his office and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall designate from time to time. The Chief Executive Officer may direct any Assistant Treasurer to assume and perform the duties of the Treasurer in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, and each Assistant Treasurer shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall designate from time to time.
Section 4.3 Delegation of Authority.
The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officer or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
ARTICLE 5
EXECUTION OF CORPORATE INSTRUMENTS, AND
VOTING OF SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION
Section 5.1 Execution of Corporate Instruments.
(a) The Board of Directors may in its discretion determine the method and designate the signatory officer or officers, or other person or persons, to execute any corporate instrument or document, or to sign the corporate name without limitation, except where otherwise provided by law, and such execution or signature shall be binding upon the Corporation.
(b) Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Board of Directors or otherwise required by law, formal contracts of the Corporation, promissory notes, deeds of trust, mortgages and other evidences of indebtedness of the Corporation, and other corporate instruments or documents requiring the corporate seal, and certificates of
shares of stock owned by the Corporation, may be executed, signed or endorsed by the
Chairman of the Board of Directors (if there be such an officer appointed), by the
Chief Executive Officer or by any Vice- President, and by the Secretary or Treasurer or any Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer. All other instruments and documents requiring the corporate signature but not requiring the corporate seal may be executed as aforesaid or in such other manner as may be directed by the Board of Directors.
(c) All checks and drafts drawn on banks or other depositaries on funds to the credit of the Corporation or in special accounts of the Corporation shall be signed by such person or persons as the Board of Directors shall authorize so to do.
(d) Execution of any corporate instrument may be effected in such form, either manual, facsimile or electronic signature, as may be authorized by the Board of Directors.
Section 5.2 Voting of Securities Owned by Corporation.
All stock and other securities of other entities owned or held by the Corporation for itself or for other parties in any capacity shall be voted, and all proxies with respect thereto shall be executed, by the person authorized so to do by resolution of the Board of Directors or, in the absence of such authorization, by the
Chairman
Chair
of the Board of Directors (if there be such an officer appointed), or by the Chief Executive Officer, or by any Vice-President.
ARTICLE 6
SHARES OF STOCK
Section 6.1 Form and Execution of Certificates.
The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Certificates for the shares of stock of the Corporation shall be in such form as is consistent with the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. Every holder of stock in the Corporation represented by a certificate shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, the
Chairman
Chair
of the Board of Directors (if there be such an officer appointed), or by the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice-President and by the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary, certifying the number of shares owned by him in the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall be deemed the President for purposes of Section 158 of the DGCL with respect to signing certificates. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a
certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue. If the Corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate which the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, provided that, except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the DGCL, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate which the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
Section 6.2 Lost Certificates.
The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate or certificates (or uncertificated shares in lieu of a new certificate) to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates (or uncertificated shares in lieu 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 or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his legal representative, to indemnify the Corporation in such manner as it shall require and/or to give the Corporation a surety bond in such form and amount 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 or destroyed.
Section 6.3 Transfers.
Transfers of record of shares of stock of the Corporation shall be made only upon its books by the holders thereof, in person or by attorney duly authorized, who shall furnish proper evidence of authority to transfer, and in the case of stock represented by a certificate, upon the surrender of a certificate or certificates for a like number of shares, properly endorsed.
Section 6.4 Fixing Record Dates.
(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may, except as otherwise required by law, fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is
adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and 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. 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 determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.4 at the adjourned meeting.
(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing or by electronic transmission without a meeting, the Board of Directors may, except as otherwise required by law, fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which date shall not be more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing or by electronic transmission without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by the DGCL, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent or electronic transmission setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in 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; provided that any such electronic transmission shall satisfy the requirements of Section 2.4(d) and, unless the Board of Directors otherwise provides by resolution, no such consent by electronic transmission shall be deemed to have been delivered until such consent is reproduced in paper form and until such paper form shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in 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 a Corporations registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing or by electronic transmission without a meeting shall be at the
close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
(c) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders 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 date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Section 6.5 Registered Stockholders.
The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and to vote as such owner, 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 Delaware.
ARTICLE 7
OTHER SECURITIES OF THE CORPORATION
All bonds, debentures and other corporate securities of the Corporation, other than stock certificates, may be signed by the
Chairman
Chair
of the Board of Directors (if there be such an officer appointed), or the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice-President or such other person as may be authorized by the Board of Directors and the corporate seal impressed thereon or a facsimile of such seal imprinted thereon and attested by the signature of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer; provided, however, that where any such bond, debenture or other corporate security shall be authenticated by the manual signature of a trustee under an indenture pursuant to which such bond, debenture or other corporate security shall be issued, the signature of the persons signing and attesting the corporate seal on such bond, debenture or other corporate security may be the imprinted facsimile of the signatures of such persons. Interest coupons appertaining to any such bond, debenture or other corporate security, authenticated by a trustee as aforesaid, shall be signed by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Corporation, or such other person as may be authorized by the Board of Directors, or bear imprinted thereon the facsimile signature of such person. In case any officer who shall have signed or attested any bond, debenture or other corporate security, or whose facsimile signature shall appear thereon has ceased to be an officer of the Corporation before the bond, debenture or other corporate security so signed or attested shall have been delivered, such bond, debenture or other corporate security nevertheless may be adopted by the Corporation and issued and delivered as though the
person who signed the same or whose facsimile signature shall have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer of the Corporation.
ARTICLE 8
INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS
Section 8.1 Right to Indemnification.
Each person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved (as a party, witness, or otherwise), in any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, investigation, or proceeding, and any appeal thereof, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative, or investigative or otherwise and/or any inquiry or investigation, whether formal or informal, conducted by the Corporation or any other party, that such person in good faith believes might lead to the institution of any such action (hereinafter a Proceeding ), related to or arising out of the fact that such person, or a person of whom he is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer, or an agent with whom the Corporation has executed an indemnification agreement, or while a director or officer is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, or related to or arising out of anything done or not done by such person in any such capacity (hereinafter an Indemnitee ), shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL (subject to the exceptions contained in these Bylaws and any other agreement) against any and all expenses, liability, and loss (including attorneys fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties, and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement, and any interest, assessments, or other charges imposed thereon, and any federal, state, local, or foreign taxes imposed on any Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Article) (collectively, Liabilities ) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection with such Proceeding.
Expenses incurred by an Indemnitee in defending a Proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding, provided, however, that if required by the DGCL, or any other agreement between the Indemnitee and Corporation, such expenses shall be advanced only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnitee 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 Article or otherwise. Expenses incurred by other employees or agents of the Corporation may be advanced upon such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors deems appropriate. Any obligation to reimburse the Corporation for expense advances shall be unsecured and no interest shall be charged thereon.
Section 8.2 Limits on Indemnification and Advancement.
Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws or any other agreement to the contrary, an Indemnitee shall not be entitled pursuant to this Article (a) to indemnification or advancement in connection with any Proceeding initiated by the Indemnitee against the Corporation or any of its directors or officers unless (i) the Corporation has consented to the initiation of such Proceeding, or (ii) the proceeding is brought under Section 8.3 hereof to enforce Indemnitees rights hereunder; or (b) to indemnification on account of any suit in which judgment is rendered against the Indemnitee pursuant to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act for an accounting of profits made from the purchase or sale by the Indemnitee of securities of the Corporation, (c) to any amounts described in Section 8.8, or (d) to any amounts described in Section 8.12.
Section 8.3 Right of Claimant to Bring Suit.
If a claim under Section 8.1 or 8.2 of this Article is not paid in full by the Corporation within 60 days after a written demand has been made by the Indemnitee to the Corporation, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, if successful in whole or in part, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred in prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending a Proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking has been tendered to the Corporation) that the Indemnitee has not met the standards of conduct that make it permissible under the DGCL for the Corporation to indemnify the Indemnitee for the amount claimed. The burden of proving such a defense shall be on the Corporation. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification is proper under the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
Section 8.4 Provisions Nonexclusive.
The rights conferred on any person by this Article shall not be exclusive of any other rights that such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
Section 8.5 Authority to Insure.
The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance to protect itself and any person against any Liability, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify the person against such Liability under applicable law or the provisions of this Article.
Section 8.6 Enforcement of Rights.
Without the necessity of entering into an express contract, all rights provided under this Article shall be deemed to be contractual rights and be effective to the same extent and as if provided for in a contract between the Corporation and such Indemnitee. Any rights granted by this Article to an Indemnitee shall be enforceable by or on behalf of the person holding such right in any court of competent jurisdiction.
Section 8.7 Survival of Rights.
The rights provided by this Article shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be an Indemnitee and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such a person.
Section 8.8 Settlement of Claims.
The Corporation shall not be liable to indemnify any Indemnitee under this Article (a) for any amounts paid in settlement of any action or claim effected without the Corporations written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; or (b) for any judicial award if the Corporation was not given a reasonable and timely opportunity, at its expense, to participate in the defense of such action.
Section 8.9 Effect of Amendment.
Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article VIII that adversely affects any right of an indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit, eliminate, or impair any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal.
Section 8.10 Primacy of Indemnification.
Notwithstanding that an Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by other persons (collectively, the Other Indemnitors ), the Corporation: (i) shall be the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to an Indemnitee are primary and any obligation of the Other Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by such Indemnitee are secondary); and (ii) shall be required to advance the full
amount of expenses incurred by an Indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all Liabilities, without regard to any rights such Indemnitee may have against any of the Other Indemnitors. No advancement or payment by the Other Indemnitors on behalf of an Indemnitee with respect to any claim for which such Indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Corporation shall affect the immediately preceding sentence, and the Other Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of such Indemnitee against the Corporation.
Section 8.11 Subrogation.
In the event of payment under this Article, the Corporation shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee (other than against the Other Indemnitors), who shall execute all papers required and shall do everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the Corporation effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.
Section 8.12 No Duplication of Payments.
Except as otherwise set forth in Section 8.11 above, the Corporation shall not be liable under this Article to make any payment in connection with any claim made against the Indemnitee to the extent the Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment (under any insurance policy, agreement, vote, or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.
Section 8.13 Saving Clause.
If this Article or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each Indemnitee to the fullest extent not prohibited by any applicable portion of this Article that shall not have been invalidated, or by any other applicable law.
ARTICLE 9
NOTICES
Whenever, under any provisions of these Bylaws, notice is required to be given to any stockholder, the same shall be given either (1) in writing, timely and duly deposited in the United States Mail, postage prepaid, and addressed to his last known post office address as shown by the stock record of the Corporation, or (2) by a means of electronic transmission that satisfies the requirements of Section 2.4(d) of these Bylaws, and has been consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. An affidavit of mailing, executed by a duly authorized and competent employee of the Corporation or its transfer agent appointed with respect to the class of stock affected, specifying the name
and address or the names and addresses of the stockholder or stockholders, director or directors, to whom any such notice or notices was or were given, and the time and method of giving the same, shall be prima facie evidence of the statements therein contained. All notices given by mail, as above provided, shall be deemed to have been given as at the time of mailing and all notices given by means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have been given as at the sending time recorded by the electronic transmission equipment operator transmitting the same. It shall not be necessary that the same method of giving notice be employed in respect of all directors, but one permissible method may be employed in respect of any one or more, and any other permissible method or methods may be employed in respect of any other or others. Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of the statutes or of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, or of these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto. Whenever notice is required to be given, under any provision of law or of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Corporation, to any person with whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person. Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to any such person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. In the event that the action taken by the Corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate under any provision of the DGCL, the certificate shall state, if such is the fact and if notice is required, that notice was given to all persons entitled to receive notice except such persons with whom communication is unlawful.
ARTICLE 10
AMENDMENTS
Except as otherwise provided in Section 8.9 above, these Bylaws may be repealed, altered or amended or new Bylaws adopted (i) by the Board of Directors by unanimous written consent or at any annual, regular, or special meeting by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Whole Board or (ii) in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, by the affirmative vote of holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2 / 3 %) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a class, unless a larger vote is required by these Bylaws or the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
ARTICLE 11
SEVERABILITY
If any provision or provisions of these Bylaws shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of these Bylaws (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of these Bylaws containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
RE/MAX ANNOUNCES CONCLUSION OF INTERNAL INVESTIGATION
DENVER, February 22, 2018
The Board of Directors (the Board) of RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. (the Company or RE/MAX Holdings) (NYSE: RMAX), parent company of RE/MAX, one of the worlds leading franchisors of real estate brokerage services, and Motto Mortgage, an innovative mortgage brokerage franchise, today announced the conclusion of the previously disclosed internal investigation by a Special Committee chartered by its independent directors and consisting solely of independent directors.
With the assistance of external counsel, the Special Committee conducted a complete and independent investigation. The Special Committees investigation did not identify any matters requiring adjustments to the Companys previously issued financial statements.
The investigation addressed previously undisclosed transactions involving a loan of personal funds from then CEO David Liniger to then COO Adam Contos as well as certain other personal transactions, including cash and non-cash gifts, from David and Gail Liniger to Contos and others.
Dick Covey, the Companys Lead Independent Director, noted, Although the loan, gifts, and other transactions between the Linigers and Adam Contos did not involve use of any corporate funds, the Special Committee concluded that these transactions created an actual or apparent conflict of interest. This, and the non-disclosure of these personal transactions to the Company, violated Company policies. The Board accepts that this nondisclosure was unintentional, and Adam has committed to repay the loan as promptly as possible.
The Special Committee also identified instances of noncompliance with other Company policies related to workplace conduct, which were limited to Linigers actions and did not extend to other members of the Companys leadership team.
As previously reported, after founding, and leading the company for 45 years, Liniger completed the transition out of his position as Co-CEO of RE/MAX on February 14, 2018. Contos was appointed as Co-CEO in May 2017 as part of the Boards planned leadership succession process and now serves as sole CEO of RE/MAX Holdings. Covey said, The Board looks forward to working with Adam and his senior leadership team to continue to build on RE/MAXs strong foundation and lead RE/MAX into its next chapter.
Liniger will continue to serve on the Board in the role of non-executive Chairman and provide his insights and experience on the real estate industry and the Companys business. The Board has also broadened the scope of Coveys responsibilities as Lead Independent Director.
As a result of the Investigation, the Board and Senior Leadership will implement remedial measures in the weeks and months ahead. These include enhanced corporate policies and practices related to gifts, loans, conflicts of interest and workplace conduct, and the reporting of such matters, and enhanced training on the responsibilities of officers and leaders related to these items.
# # #
About the RE/MAX Network
RE/MAX was founded in 1973 by David and Gail Liniger, with an innovative, entrepreneurial culture affording its agents and franchisees the flexibility to operate their businesses with great independence. Over 115,000 agents provide RE/MAX a global reach of over 100 countries and territories. Nobody sells more real estate than RE/MAX as measured by total residential transaction sides.
RE/MAX, one of the worlds leading franchisors of real estate brokerage services, and Motto Mortgage, an innovative mortgage brokerage franchise, are subsidiaries of RMCO LLC, which is controlled and managed by RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: RMAX).
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of words such as believe, intend, expect, estimate, plan, outlook, project, anticipate, may, will, would and other similar words and expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends that are not statements of historical matters. Forward-looking statements include statements related to the implications of the Special Committee investigation and its impact on the Company and its operations, the Companys remedial efforts and other measures in response to the outcome and findings of the Special Committee investigation, the Companys Board and management structure, including statements related to the roles of Adam Contos and the senior management team, the roles of Dave Liniger and of Richard Covey and the independent members of the Board, statements regarding the impact of the findings of the special committee investigation on the Companys historical financial statements as well as the Companys strategic and operational plans and business models. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily accurately indicate the times at which such performance or results may be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or managements good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-
looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: (1) the impact of the findings and recommendations of the Special Committee on the Company and its management and operations, (2) that while the Independent Committee investigation has been completed, the full implications of the investigation on the Company and its operations are still being evaluated and there may be unanticipated adverse or negative effects that are not identified at this time, including reputational damage to the Company as well as the time and expense incurred in implementing the recommendations of the Special Committee, (3) any legal proceedings or governmental or regulatory investigations or actions directly or indirectly related to the underlying matters of the Special Committees internal investigation or other matters may result in adverse findings, the imposition of fines or other penalties, increased costs and expenses, and the diversion of managements time and resources to address such matters, any of which may have a material adverse effect on the Company, (4) the impact of recent changes to the Companys senior management team, (5) the impact of disclosing previously undisclosed transactions between members of our management team, including a loan from David Liniger to Adam Contos, (6) the existence and identification of control deficiencies, including disclosure controls or internal controls over financial reporting, and any impact of such control deficiencies as well as the associated costs in remediating those control deficiencies, (7) changes in business and economic activity in general, (8) changes in the real estate market or interest rates and availability of financing, (9) the Companys ability to attract and retain quality franchisees, (10) the Companys franchisees ability to recruit and retain real estate agents and mortgage loan originators, (11) changes in laws and regulations, (12) the Companys ability to enhance, market, and protect the RE/MAX and Motto Mortgage brands, (13) fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, (14) the Companys preliminary financial results for the third and fourth quarters of 2017 and full-year 2017 are subject to change and may be subject to revision or change, and (15) the impact of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act, as well as those risks and uncertainties described in the sections entitled Risk Factors and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and similar disclosures in subsequent periodic and current reports filed with the SEC, which are available on the investor relations page of the Companys website at www.remax.com and on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update this information to reflect future events or circumstances.
Investor Contact: |
|
Media Contact: |
Andy Schulz |
|
Cory Vasquez |
(303) 796-3287 |
|
(303) 796-3667 |
aschulz@remax.com |
|
cjvasquez@remax.com |
I. Purpose
The Board of Directors (the Board) of RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. (the Company) has determined to establish the position of a Lead Independent Director (the Lead Independent Director), to designate a non-employee independent director of the Board to serve as such Lead Independent Director, and to have such Lead Independent Director serve in a lead capacity to, among other things: (i) coordinate the activities of the other independent directors of the Board; (ii) provide guidance and assistance to the Companys Chief Executive Officer with respect to a range of matters including assuring that the guidance and feedback of the Board of Directors to the Chief Executive Officer and the management team are available to facilitate the transition of the management of the Company from one led by its long-time founder, chair and chief executive officer to one led by a Chief Executive Officer and a team of other executive officers; and (iii) perform such other duties and responsibilities as the Board of Directors or the other independent directors may determine, from time to time. All powers of the Lead Independent Director are subject to the restrictions in the Companys Amended and Restated Bylaws and applicable law.
II. Qualifications, Appointment, and Removal
The Lead Independent Director shall be an independent director. Independent means that such director has been determined by the Board to be independent within the meaning of the listing rules of the New York Stock Exchange and applicable laws including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, in each case as applicable generally to members of an Audit Committee. In addition, such Lead Independent Director shall be free of any relationship that, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere with his or her individual exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of the Lead Independent Director.
The initial Lead Independent Director as of February 21, 2018 shall be Richard Covey. The Lead Independent Director shall be subject to election by a majority vote of the independent directors of the Board annually and in no event less frequently than every fifteen months. Although elected annually, the Lead Independent Director is generally expected to serve for more than one year.
The independent members of the Board of Directors shall establish appropriate compensation for the Lead Independent Director for services as Lead Independent Director.
III. Roles and Responsibilities
The Lead Independent Director is expected to maintain free and open communication with the management of the Company. This communication shall include, at the discretion of the Lead Independent Director, regularly scheduled sessions with both the Chief Executive Officer and with other member of senior management including periodic meetings with the senior group of
officers as may be constituted from time to time as an Executive Committee of senior management if such an Executive Committee is in place. The Lead Independent Director has the following additional roles, powers and responsibilities:
a) Schedule meetings of the independent directors and executive sessions of the independent directors from time to time and preside at and coordinate all aspects of such meetings and sessions (but not less than twice a year).
b) To preside at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board, unless the Chair of the Board of Directors has been appointed and is present.
c) To call meetings of the independent directors.
d) To call meetings of the Board.
e) To serve as the primary interface between the Board and the Chief Executive Officer and seek input from the Chief Executive Officer on any actions and agenda items for the Board of Directors.
f) To work with the Chairman of the Board to establish agendas for meetings and actions of the Board.
g) To maintain free and open communication with the management of the Company. This communication shall include, at the discretion of the Lead Independent Director, regularly scheduled private sessions with management.
h) To serve as the principal liaison between the Chair and the independent directors, including such items as providing feedback after Board meetings.
i) To assist the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer in the review and approval of information and materials to be sent to the Board, including in particular providing input as to the quality, quantity and timeliness of the information submitted by the Companys management that is necessary or appropriate for the independent directors to effectively and responsibly perform their duties.
j) To recommend to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and to the Chair, selection for the membership and chairman position for each committee of the Board.
k) To interview, along with the chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee director candidates and make recommendations to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
l) To be available, when appropriate, for consultation and direct communication with stockholders.
m) To lead, in conjunction with the Compensation Committee, the independent directors evaluation of the Chief Executive Officers effectiveness as Chief Executive Officer.
n) In conjunction with the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, to review and reassess, periodically, the adequacy of this Charter and make recommendations to the Board regarding any revisions to this Charter from time to time as appropriate.
IV. Resources
The Lead Independent Director shall have the sole authority, to the extent he or she deems necessary or appropriate, to retain outside advisors and consultants who may report directly to the Board of Directors on Board-wide issues or to the Lead Independent Director, and the Lead Independent Director may, at the Companys sole expense, select, retain and consult with outside advisors and consultants as the Lead Independent Director deems appropriate. The Company will provide for appropriate funding for payment of compensation to any such advisors and consultants.
V. Disclosure of Charter
This Charter will be made available on the Companys website.