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) June 17, 2019

 

BED BATH & BEYOND INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

New York

 

0-20214

 

11-2250488

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

650 Liberty Avenue, Union, New Jersey 07083

 

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

 

(908) 688-0888

 

(Registrant’s 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))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading Symbol

 

Name of each exchange on which
registered

Common stock, $.01 par value

 

BBBY

 

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
(Nasdaq Global Select Market)

 

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 June 17, 2019 and effective on the same date, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (the “Company”) amended and restated the Company’s Amended By-laws (as so amended and restated, the “Amended and Restated By-Laws”).  The Amended and Restated By-Laws reflect the previously announced amendment approved by the Board on April 21, 2019, which allows the Company to appoint a Director Emeritus or Chairman Emeritus and removed the requirement that the Chairman of the Board be considered an executive officer of the Company. In addition, the Amended and Restated By-Laws update the description of the Chairman’s responsibilities to reflect that the Chairman is no longer an officer of the Company, delete that the Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall perform all duties and functions and exercise all powers of the Chairman in the absence of the Chairman, and make certain other conforming changes.

 

The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended and Restated By-Laws, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1.

 

Item 8.01               Other Events.

 

On June 19, 2019, the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Committee”) adopted a form of award agreement for “performance stock units” (“PSUs”, and such award agreement, the “PSU Award Agreement”) under the Company’s 2018 Incentive Compensation Plan (“2018 Plan”) or the Company’s 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan (“2012 Plan”), based on the Committee’s review including consideration of feedback from the Committee’s independent compensation consultant and independent legal counsel. The PSU Award Agreement will be used as a part of the Company’s equity incentive program for its executive officers and certain other key executives, with the first awards pursuant to the PSU Award Agreements expected to be made in June 2019. The PSU Award Agreement is generally based on the form of PSU award agreement previously used by the Company under the 2012 Plan, with the following key features:

 

·                   Twenty-five percent (25%) of the PSUs will be subject to a Performance Goal (as defined in the PSU Award Agreement) based on the Company’s Earnings Before Income Tax (EBIT) relative to a target EBIT during a one-year performance period;

 

·                   Thirty-seven and a half percent (37.5%) of the PSUs will be subject to a Performance Goal based on the Company’s Total Shareholder Return (as described in the PSU Award Agreement) relative to a pre-selected peer group of the Company during a three-year performance period;

 

·                   Thirty-seven and a half percent (37.5%) of the PSUs will be subject to a Performance Goal based on the Company’s cumulative EBIT relative to a target cumulative EBIT during a three-year performance period;

 

·                   Awards are capped at 150% of target achievement, except that awards are capped at 100% of target achievement in the event that the Company’s Total Shareholder Return is negative during the applicable performance period;

 

·                   The awards generally vest, if at all, at the end of the applicable performance periods, subject to the recipient’s continued service through each applicable date;

 

·                   In the event that the award recipient’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, by the recipient for Good Reason, or due to a Constructive Termination without Cause (as described in the PSU Award Agreement), a portion of the PSUs will vest on a prorated basis, based upon the period of the participant’s employment with the Company following the grant date, subject to the Committee’s certification of the achievement of applicable Performance Goals.

 

A copy of the form of PSU Award Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1. The summary of the PSU Award Agreement contained herein does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the attached form.

 

Item 9.01                Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits:

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

3.1

 

Amended and Restated By-Laws of Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.

10.1

 

Form of Standard Performance Unit Award Agreement

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

BED BATH & BEYOND INC.

 

(Registrant)

 

 

Date: June 19, 2019

By:

/s/ Robyn M. D’Elia

 

 

Robyn M. D’Elia

 

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

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Exhibit 3.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS

 

OF

 

BED BATH & BEYOND INC.
(a New York Corporation)

 

ARTICLE I — OFFICES

 

The Corporation may have such offices within and without the State of New York as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

ARTICLE II   — MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

Section 1.                                           Place of Meetings .  All meetings of the shareholders shall be held at such place within or without the State of New York as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

Section 2.                                           Annual Meetings .  The annual meeting of the shareholders for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting shall be held on such date and at such hour as shall from time to time be fixed by the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors acting by resolution may postpone and reschedule any previously scheduled annual meeting of shareholders.

 

Section 3.                                           Special Meetings .

 

A.                                     General .  Special meetings of the shareholders for any purpose or purposes may be called by the Board of Directors, the Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer.  Subject to Section 3(B) of this Article II, a special meeting of shareholders shall be called by the Secretary of the Corporation upon the written request of the record holders of at least 50% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of the Corporation (the “ Requisite Percentage ”).  Business to be conducted at a special meeting may only be brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting.

 

B.                                     Shareholder Requested Special Meetings .

 

1.                                       Except in accordance with this Section 3(B), shareholders shall not be permitted to propose business to be brought before a special meeting of the shareholders.  In order for a Shareholder Requested Special Meeting (as defined below) to be called, one or more requests for a special meeting (a “ Special Meeting Request ”) must be signed by the Requisite Percentage of record holders (or their duly authorized agents) and must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation by registered mail, return receipt requested.  Each Special Meeting Request shall (i) set forth a statement of the specific purpose or purposes of the special meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at such special meeting (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration), (ii) bear the date of signature of each such shareholder (or duly authorized agent) signing the Special Meeting Request, (iii) set

 


 

forth (A) as to each shareholder who signed such request (or on whose behalf the Special Meeting Request is signed), the name and address of such shareholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, (B) the Shareholder Ownership Information (as defined in Section 10(A)(1)(c) of this Article II) with respect to such shareholder of record and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the Special Meeting Request is made, including documentary evidence of such shareholder’s or beneficial owner’s record and beneficial ownership of any class or series of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments (as defined in Section 10(A)(1)(c) of this Article II) included in the Shareholder Ownership Information with respect to such shareholder of record and any beneficial owner, (iv) set forth all information relating to each such shareholder that must be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and (v) include a representation that the shareholder and any beneficial owners who submit the Special Meeting Request intends to appear in person at the special meeting to present the proposal(s) or business proposed to be brought before such special meeting.  In addition, each requesting shareholder shall promptly provide any other information reasonably requested by the Corporation in connection with the matters proposed to be acted on at such special meeting.  Any requesting shareholder may revoke his, her or its request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation.  If any such revocation(s) are received by the Secretary after the Secretary’s receipt of Special Meeting Request(s) from the Requisite Percentage of record holders, and as a result of such revocation(s), there no longer are unrevoked Special Meeting Request(s) from the Requisite Percentage of record holders to call a special meeting, the Board of Directors shall have the discretion to determine whether or not to proceed with the special meeting, which determination shall be binding on the Corporation and its shareholders.

 

2.                                       The Secretary shall not be required to call a special meeting upon shareholder request (a “ Shareholder Requested Special Meeting ”) if (i) the Special Meeting Request does not comply with this Section 3(B), (ii) the Board of Directors calls an annual or special meeting of shareholders to be held not later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the date on which valid Special Meeting Requests submitted by the Requisite Percentage of record holders (or their duly authorized agents) in accordance with this Section 3(B) have been delivered to the Secretary (the “ Delivery Date ”) and the purpose(s) of such meeting include (among other matters properly before such meeting) the purpose(s) specified by the Requisite Percentage of record holders (or their duly authorized agents) in the Special Meeting Request, (iii) the Special Meeting Request is received by the Corporation during the period commencing ninety (90) days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the immediately preceding annual meeting and ending on the date of the next annual meeting, (iv) an identical or substantially similar item (a “ Similar Item ”) was presented at any meeting of shareholders held within ninety (90) days prior to the Delivery Date (and for purposes of this clause (iv), the election of directors shall be deemed a “Similar Item” with respect to all items of business involving the election or removal of directors), (v) the Special Meeting Request relates to an item of business that is not a proper subject for shareholder action under applicable law or (vi) the Special Meeting Request was made in a manner that involved a violation of the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or other applicable law.  The Board of Directors shall determine in good

 

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faith whether the requirements set forth in this Section 3(B)(2) have been satisfied, which determination shall be binding on the Corporation and its shareholders.

 

3.                                       Except as provided in the next sentence, any special meeting shall be held at such date and time as may be fixed by the Board of Directors in accordance with these By-laws and applicable law.  In the case of a Shareholder Requested Special Meeting, such meeting shall be held at such date and time as may be fixed by the Board of Directors; provided , however , that the date of any Shareholder Requested Special Meeting shall be not more than sixty (60) days after the record date for such meeting (the “ Meeting Record Date ”), which shall be fixed in accordance with Section 5 of this Article II; provided further that, if the Board of Directors fails to designate, within ten (10) days after the Delivery Date, a date and time for a Shareholder Requested Special Meeting, then such meeting shall be held at 9:00 a.m. local time on the 60th day after the Meeting Record Date (or, if that day shall not be a business day, then on the next preceding business day); and provided further that in the event that the Board of Directors fails to designate a place for a Shareholder Requested Special Meeting within ten (10) days after the Delivery Date, then such meeting shall be held at the Corporation’s principal executive offices.  In fixing a date and time for any Shareholder Requested Special Meeting, the Board of Directors may consider such factors as it deems relevant within the good faith exercise of business judgment, including, without limitation, the nature of the matters to be considered, the facts and circumstances surrounding any request for meeting and any plan of the Board of Directors to call an annual meeting or a special meeting, which determination shall be binding on the Corporation and its shareholders.  The Board of Directors shall provide written notice of such special meeting to the shareholders in accordance with Section 4 of this Article II.

 

4.                                       Business transacted at any Shareholder Requested Special Meeting shall be limited to the specific purpose(s) stated in the Special Meeting Request(s); provided , however , that nothing herein shall prohibit the Board of Directors from submitting matters to the shareholders at any Shareholder Requested Special Meeting.

 

Section 4.                                           Notice of Meetings .  Written notice of each annual and special meeting of shareholders shall state the date, time, place and purpose or purposes of each such meeting of shareholders and, unless it is the annual meeting, shall indicate that it is being issued at the direction of the person or persons requesting the meeting.

 

Section 5.                                           Fixing Record Date .  For the purpose of determining the shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of the shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to or dissent from any taking of corporate action without a meeting, or for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or the allotment of any rights, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a date as the record date for any such determination of shareholders.  Such date shall not be less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of any such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days before any other action.  If no record date is fixed, it shall be determined by statute; provided , however , that if no record date is fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders, the close of business on the day before the first notice is given shall be the record date.  When a determination of shareholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders has been made as provided in this

 

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Section 5, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof, unless the Board of Directors fixes a new record date for the adjourned meeting or further notice is required by statute.

 

Section 6.                                           Quorum .  Unless otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of the votes of shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of shareholders for the transaction of business.  When a quorum is once present to organize a meeting, it shall not be broken by the subsequent withdrawal of any shareholders.  At any time a quorum is not present at a meeting of the shareholders, a majority of the shareholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than an announcement at the meeting of the place, date and hour of the adjourned meeting, until a quorum shall be present, and at the adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

 

Section 7.                                           Waivers .  Notice of meeting need not be given to any shareholder who signs and submits a waiver of notice, in person or by proxy, whether before or after the meeting.  The attendance of any shareholder at a meeting, in person or by proxy, without protesting prior to the conclusion of the meeting the lack of notice of such meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice by such shareholder.

 

Section 8.                                           Proxies .  Every shareholder entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders or to express consent or dissent without a meeting may authorize another person or other persons to act for him or her by proxy, in the manner and to the extent provided by statute.

 

Section 9.                                           Qualification of Voters .  Every shareholder of record shall be entitled at every meeting of the shareholders to one vote for each share standing in his or her name on the record of shareholders of the Corporation, unless otherwise provided by statute, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws.

 

Section 10.                                    Notice of Shareholder Business and Nominations .

 

A.                                     Annual Meeting of Shareholders .

 

1.                                       Nominations for Election to the Board of Directors .

 

(a)                                  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at an annual meeting of shareholders only (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (iii) by any shareholder or a group of shareholders of the Corporation pursuant to Section 11 of this Article II or (iv) by any shareholder of the Corporation who (x) was a shareholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 10(A)(1) and at the time of the annual meeting, (y) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (z) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 10(A)(1) as to such nomination; clauses (iii) and (iv) shall be the exclusive means for a shareholder to make nominations before an annual meeting of shareholders.

 

(b)                                  Without qualification, for any nominations to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder pursuant to Section 10(A)(1)(a)(iii) of this Article II, the shareholder must have given Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in writing to

 

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the Secretary of the Corporation.  To be timely, a shareholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting and not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of shareholders; provided , however , that if either (x) the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date or (y) no annual meeting of shareholders was held in the previous year, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than one hundred (100) days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the 10th day following the date on which notice of the date of the meeting is given to shareholders or made public, whichever occurs first (such notice, within such time periods, “ Timely Notice ”).  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 shareholder’s notice as described above.

 

(c)                                   To be in proper form, a shareholder’s notice to the Secretary pursuant to this Section 10(A)(1) must: (i) set forth, as to the shareholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made (x) the name and address of such shareholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, if any, (y) (A) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record by such shareholder and such beneficial owner, (B) 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 or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of 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 (a “ Derivative Instrument ”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such shareholder and 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, (C) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such shareholder has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Corporation, (D) any short interest in any security of the Corporation (for purposes of this By-law a person shall be deemed to have a short interest in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security), (E) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such shareholder that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (F) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such shareholder is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner and (G) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such shareholder 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 shareholder’s immediate family sharing the same household (which information shall be supplemented by such shareholder and beneficial owner, if any, not later than ten (10) days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date) (the information required to be disclosed pursuant to this clause 10(A)(1)(c)(i)(y), the “ Shareholder Ownership Information ”), and (z) any other information relating

 

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to such shareholder and beneficial owner, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (ii) set forth, as to each person, if any, whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection to the Board of Directors (x) all information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected) and (y) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three (3) years, and any other material relationships, between or among such shareholder and beneficial owner, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the shareholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, if any, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant; and (iii) with respect to each nominee for election or reelection to the Board of Directors, include a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 12 of this Article II.  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 an independent director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable shareholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.

 

(d)                                  Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph 10(A)(1)(b) to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a shareholder’s notice required by this Section 10(A)(1) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

2.                                       Proposals of Business to be Brought Before an Annual Meeting .

 

(a)                                  The proposal of business to be considered by the shareholders may be made at an annual meeting of shareholders only (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) by any shareholder of the Corporation who (x) was a shareholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 10(A)(2) and at the time of the annual meeting, (y) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (z) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 10(A)(2) as to such business; clause (iii) shall be the exclusive means for a shareholder to submit business (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and included in the Corporation’s notice of meeting) before an annual meeting of shareholders.

 

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(b)                                  Without qualification, for any business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder pursuant to Section 10(A)(2)(a)(iii) of this Article II, the shareholder must have given Timely Notice (as defined in Section 10(A)(1)(b) of this Article II) thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and such business must otherwise be a proper matter for shareholder action.  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 shareholder’s notice as described above.

 

(c)                                   To be in proper form, a shareholder’s notice to the Secretary must: (i) set forth, as to the shareholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made (x) the name and address of such shareholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, if any, (y) the Shareholder Ownership Information (as defined in Section 10(A)(1)(c) of this Article II) with respect to such shareholder of record and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the proposal is made, and (z) any other information relating to such shareholder and beneficial owner, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the proposal pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (ii) set forth (x) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest of such shareholder and beneficial owner, if any, in such business and (y) a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such shareholder and beneficial owner, if any, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such shareholder.

 

B.                                     Special Meetings of Shareholders .  Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of shareholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting.  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any shareholder of the Corporation who (x) is a shareholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 10(B) and at the time of the special meeting, (y) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (z) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 10(B) as to such nomination.  In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such shareholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the shareholder’s notice required by Section 10(A)(1)(c) of this Article II with respect to any nomination (including the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 12 of this Article II) shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th  day prior to the date of such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of such special meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such special meeting is less than one hundred (100) days prior to the date of such special meeting, the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of such special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting.  In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a

 

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special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a shareholder’s notice as described above.

 

C.                                     General .

 

1.                                       Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 10 shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of shareholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 10.  Except as otherwise provided by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 10 and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Section 10, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 10(C), if the shareholder (or a qualified representative of the shareholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of shareholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation.

 

2.                                       The Board of Directors shall be entitled to make such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of shareholders as it shall deem necessary, appropriate, convenient or desirable.  Subject to such rules and regulations of the Board of Directors, if any, the chairman of the meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures, and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are necessary, appropriate, convenient or desirable for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, establishing an agenda or order of business for the meeting, rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present, limitations on participation in such meeting to shareholders of record of the Corporation and their duly authorized and constituted proxies, and such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall permit, restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof, limitations on the time allotted to questions or comment by participants and regulation of the opening and closing of the polls for balloting on matters which are to be voted on by ballot.  Unless, and to the extent, otherwise determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of shareholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

3.                                       For purposes of this Section 10, “ public announcement ” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

4.                                       Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 10, a shareholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 10; provided , however , that any references in these By-laws to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to nominations to

 

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be considered pursuant to Sections 10(A)(1) or 10(B) of this Article II, or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to Section 10(A)(2) of this Article II.  Nothing in this By-law shall be deemed to affect any rights (i) of shareholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, or (ii) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock if and to the extent provided for under law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws.

 

Section 11.                                    Proxy Access .

 

A.                                     General Requirements .

 

1.                                       Whenever the Board of Directors solicits proxies with respect to the election of directors at an annual meeting of shareholders, subject to the provisions of this Section 11, the Corporation shall include in its proxy materials for such annual meeting the name, together with the Required Information (as defined below), of any person nominated for election (the “ Shareholder Nominee ”) to the Board of Directors by a shareholder or group of no more than 20 shareholders (counting as one shareholder, for this purpose, any two or more funds that are (i) under common management and investment control, (ii) under common management and funded primarily by the same employer or (iii) a “group of investment companies,” as such term is defined in Section 12(d)(1)(G)(ii) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) that (i) satisfies the requirements of this Section 11 (such shareholder or shareholder group, including each member thereof to the extent the context requires, the “ Eligible Shareholder ”) and (ii) expressly elects at the time of providing the notice required by this Section 11 (the “ Notice of Proxy Access Nomination ”) to have its Shareholder Nominee included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 11.  For purposes of this Section 11, the “ Required Information ” means (i) information provided to the Secretary of the Corporation by the Eligible Shareholder concerning the Shareholder Nominee and the Eligible Shareholder that is required to be disclosed in the Corporation’s proxy materials by the rules under the Exchange Act and (ii) if the Eligible Shareholder so elects, a written statement, not to exceed 500 words, in support of each of its Stockholder Nominee(s)’ candidacy.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 11, the Corporation may (i) omit from its proxy materials any information that (x) is untrue in any material respect, (y) omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the information, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading or (z) would violate any applicable law or regulation and (ii) solicit against, and include in the proxy materials its own statement relating to, any Eligible Shareholder or any Shareholder Nominee.

 

2.                                       If the Eligible Shareholder consists of a group of shareholders, any and all requirements and obligations for an individual Eligible Shareholder that are set forth in this Section 11, including the Minimum Holding Period (as defined below), shall apply to each member of such group; provided , however , that the Required Ownership Percentage (as defined below) shall apply to the ownership of the group in the aggregate.  No shareholder shall be permitted to join more than one group of shareholders to become an Eligible Shareholder pursuant to this Section 11 per each annual meeting.

 

3.                                       To be timely, the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination must be received by the Secretary of the Corporation no earlier than the close of business on the 150th

 

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day prior to and no later than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date that the Corporation mailed its proxy statement for the previous year’s annual meeting of shareholders (such 120th day, the “ Final Proxy Access Nomination Date ”); provided , however , that if either (i) the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or after the first anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting or (ii) no annual meeting of shareholders was held in the previous year, the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination must be received by the Secretary of the Corporation between the dates, or by the date, publicly announced by the Corporation (such date(s) shall be a reasonable time before the Corporation mails its proxy statement for such annual meeting) and the Final Proxy Access Nomination Date shall be the latest of such date(s).

 

4.                                       The maximum number of Shareholder Nominees nominated by all Eligible Shareholders that will be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials with respect to an annual meeting of shareholders shall not exceed the greater of (i) two and (ii) 20% of the total number of directors in office as of the Final Proxy Access Nomination Date (rounded down to the nearest whole number) (the “ Proxy Access Nominee Maximum ”).  If the Board of Directors resolves to reduce the size of the Board of Directors after the Final Proxy Access Nomination Date but before the date of the annual meeting, the maximum number of Shareholder Nominees included in the Corporation’s proxy materials shall be calculated based on the number of directors in office as so reduced.  The following persons shall be counted as a Shareholder Nominee for purposes of determining whether the Proxy Access Nominee Maximum has been reached:

 

(a)                                  any person serving on the Board of Directors as of the Final Proxy Access Nomination Date who (1) will be included as a management nominee for the Board of Directors in the Corporation’s proxy materials for the annual meeting to which the Proxy Access Nominee Maximum determination relates and (2) was included in the Corporation’s proxy materials as a Shareholder Nominee pursuant to this Section 11 for either of the two preceding annual meetings; or

 

(b)                                  any individual nominated by an Eligible Shareholder for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 11 and:

 

i.                                           whom the Board of Directors decides to nominate as a nominee of the Board of Directors; or

 

ii.                                        whose nomination is subsequently withdrawn (whether before or after the Final Proxy Access Nomination Date).

 

5.                                       Any Eligible Shareholder submitting more than one Shareholder Nominee for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 11 shall rank such Shareholder Nominees based on the order that the Eligible Shareholder desires such

 

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Shareholder Nominees to be selected for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials if the total number of Shareholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Shareholders pursuant to this Section 11 exceeds the Proxy Access Nominee Maximum.  If the number of Shareholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Shareholders pursuant to this Section 11 exceeds the Proxy Access Nominee Maximum, the highest ranking Shareholder Nominee who meets the requirements of this Section 11 from each Eligible Shareholder will be selected for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials until the Proxy Access Nominee Maximum is reached.  Selection will be in order of the amount (from largest to smallest) of shares of the Corporation’s common stock each Eligible Shareholder disclosed as owned in its respective Notice of Proxy Access Nomination.  If the Proxy Access Nominee Maximum is not reached after the highest ranking Shareholder Nominee who meets the requirements of this Section 11 from each Eligible Shareholder has been selected, this process will continue as many times as necessary, following the same order each time, until the Proxy Access Nominee Maximum is reached.

 

B.                                     Eligible Shareholder and Shareholder Nominee Requirements .

 

1.                                       For purposes of this Section 11, an Eligible Shareholder shall be deemed to “ own ” only those outstanding shares of common stock of the Corporation as to which the shareholder possesses both:

 

(a)                                  the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares; and

 

(b)                                  the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit from and risk of loss on) such shares;

 

provided that the number of shares calculated in accordance with clauses (a) and (b) shall not include (x) any shares with respect to which such shareholder’s economic interest has been reduced or otherwise hedged as a result of any transaction, including a short sale, or (y) any shares:

 

(A)                                sold by such shareholder or any of its affiliates in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, including any short sale;

 

(B)                                borrowed by such shareholder or any of its affiliates for any purposes or purchased by such shareholder or any of its affiliates pursuant to an agreement to resell; or

 

(C)                                subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale, other derivative or similar agreement entered into by such shareholder or any of its affiliates, whether any such instrument or agreement is to be settled with shares or with cash based on the notional amount or value of shares of common stock of the Corporation, in any such case which instrument or agreement has, or is

 

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intended to have, or if exercised by either party would have, the purpose or effect of:

 

i.                                           reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such shareholder’s or its affiliates’ full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares; and/or

 

ii.                                        hedging, offsetting or altering to any degree any gain or loss realized or realizable from maintaining the full economic ownership of such shares by such shareholder or its affiliates.

 

A shareholder shall “ own ” shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the shareholder (i) retains the right to instruct how the shares are voted with respect to the election of directors and the right to direct the disposition thereof and (ii) possesses the full economic interest in the shares, in each case subject to the provisos in paragraphs (A), (B) and (C) above.  A shareholder’s ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the shareholder has (i) delegated any voting power by means of a proxy, power of attorney or other instrument or arrangement which is revocable at any time by the shareholder or (ii) loaned such shares provided that the shareholder has the power to recall such loaned shares on five business days’ notice.  The terms “ owned ,” “ owning ” and other variations of the word “ own ” shall have correlative meanings.  For purposes of this Section 11, the term “ affiliate ” or “ affiliates ” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto by Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act.

 

2.                                       In order to make a nomination pursuant to this Section 11, an Eligible Shareholder (i) must have owned the Required Ownership Percentage (as defined below) of the Corporation’s outstanding common stock (the “ Required Shares ”) continuously for the Minimum Holding Period (as defined below) as of both the date the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination is received by the Secretary of the Corporation in accordance with this Section 11 and the record date for determining the shareholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting of shareholders and (ii) must continue to own the Required Shares through the date of such annual meeting. For purposes of this Section 11, the “ Required Ownership Percentage ” is 3% or more, and the “ Minimum Holding Period ” is 3 years or more.

 

3.                                       In order to make a nomination pursuant to this Section 11, within the time period specified in this Section 11 for delivering the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination, an Eligible Shareholder must provide the following information in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation:

 

(a)                                  the number of shares it is deemed to own for the purposes of this Section 11;

 

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(b)                                  written statement(s), from a person and in a form acceptable for purposes of a shareholder proposal under Rule 14a-8(b)(2) under the Exchange Act, verifying that, as of a date within seven calendar days prior to the date the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination is received by the Secretary of the Corporation, the Eligible Shareholder owns, and has owned continuously for the Minimum Holding Period, the Required Shares;

 

(c)                                   the Eligible Shareholder’s agreement to provide, within five business days after the record date for the annual meeting, written statement(s), from a person and in a form acceptable for purposes of a shareholder proposal under Rule 14a-8(b)(2) under the Exchange Act, verifying the Eligible Shareholder’s continuous ownership of the Required Shares through the record date;

 

(d)                                  a copy of the Schedule 14N that has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as required by Rule 14a-18 under the Exchange Act;

 

(e)                                   the information, representations and agreements that are the same as those that would be required to be set forth in a shareholder’s notice of nomination pursuant to Section 10(A)(1)(c) of this Article II;

 

(f)                                    a representation that the Eligible Shareholder:

 

i.                                           acquired the Required Shares in the ordinary course of business and not with the intent to change or influence control at the Corporation, and does not presently have such intent;

 

ii.                                        will maintain ownership of the Required Shares through the date of the annual meeting;

 

iii.                                     has not nominated and will not nominate for election any individual as a director at the annual meeting, other than its Shareholder Nominee(s) pursuant to this Section 11;

 

iv.                                    has not engaged and will not engage in, and has not and will not be a “participant” in another person’s, “solicitation,” within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the Exchange Act, in support of the election of any individual as a director at the annual meeting other than its Shareholder Nominee(s) or a nominee of the Board of Directors;

 

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v.                                       agrees to comply with all applicable laws and regulations with respect to any solicitation in connection with the annual meeting or applicable to the filing and use, if any, of soliciting material;

 

vi.                                    will provide facts, statements and other information in all communications with the Corporation and its shareholders that are or will be true and correct in all material respects and that do not or will not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the communications, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and

 

(g)                                   an undertaking that the Eligible Shareholder agrees to:

 

i.                                           assume all liability stemming from any legal or regulatory violation arising out of the Eligible Shareholder’s communications with the shareholders of the Corporation or out of the information that the Eligible Shareholder provided to the Corporation, in each case in connection with the Eligible Shareholder’s use of this Section 11 or efforts to elect its Shareholder Nominee(s);

 

ii.                                        indemnify and hold harmless the Corporation and each of its directors, officers and employees individually against any liability, loss or damages in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether legal, administrative or investigative, against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers or employees arising out of any nomination submitted by the Eligible Shareholder pursuant to this Section 11; and

 

iii.                                     in the case of a nomination by a group of shareholders that together is an Eligible Shareholder, the designation by all group members of one group member that is authorized to act on behalf of all such members with respect to the nomination and matters related thereto, including withdrawal of the nomination.

 

4.                                       In order to be eligible for nomination pursuant to this Section 11, within the time period specified in this Section 11 for delivering the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination, a Shareholder Nominee must deliver to the Secretary of the Corporation:

 

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(a)                                  a consent of such Shareholder Nominee to being named in the proxy materials as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected;

 

(b)                                  the information required with respect to such Shareholder Nominee if he were a person nominated for election or reelection as a director pursuant to Section 12 of this Article II;

 

(c)                                   a written representation and agreement that such Shareholder Nominee:

 

i.                                           will submit all questionnaires required by the Corporation of its directors and director nominees; and

 

ii.                                        will provide facts, statements and other information in all communications with the Corporation and its shareholders that are or will be true and correct in all material respects and that do not or will not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the communications, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(d)                                  such additional information requested by the Corporation as necessary to permit the Board of Directors to determine if such Shareholder Nominee is independent under the listing standards of the principal U.S. exchange upon which the common stock of the Corporation is listed, any applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in determining and disclosing the independence of the Corporation’s directors; and

 

5.                                       If any information or communications provided by the Eligible Shareholder or the Shareholder Nominee to the Corporation or its shareholders (i) ceases to be true and correct in all material respects or (ii) requires disclosure of a new material fact to make the information or communications, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, each Eligible Shareholder or Shareholder Nominee, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the Secretary of the Corporation of any defect in such previously provided information and of the information that is required to correct any such defect.

 

C.                                     Disqualification .

 

1.                                       The Corporation shall not be required to include, pursuant to this Section 11, a Shareholder Nominee in its proxy materials for any annual meeting of shareholders:

 

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(a)                                  for which the Secretary of the Corporation receives a notice that a shareholder has nominated a person for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to the advance notice requirements for shareholder nominees for director set forth in Section 10(A)(1) of this Article II;

 

(b)                                  if the Eligible Shareholder who has nominated such Shareholder Nominee has engaged in or is currently engaged in, or has been or is a “participant” in another person’s, “solicitation,” within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the Exchange Act, in support of the election of any individual as a director at the annual meeting other than its Shareholder Nominee(s) or a nominee of the Board of Directors;

 

(c)                                   if the Shareholder Nominee is or becomes a party to any compensatory, payment, reimbursement, indemnification or other financial agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation, or has received or will receive any such compensation, reimbursement, indemnification or other payment from any person or entity other than the Corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation, in each case in connection with candidacy or service as a director of the Corporation (other than agreements providing only for indemnification and/or reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses in connection with candidacy as a director) unless the amount(s) of compensation, source(s) of compensation, payment criteria, form and timing of compensation, and all other material terms and conditions with respect to such compensatory, payment, reimbursement, indemnification or other financial agreements, arrangements or understandings are accurately disclosed by such Shareholder Nominee to the Corporation’s shareholders in timely filed and distributed proxy solicitation disclosures in connection with the annual meeting;

 

(d)                                  who is not independent under the listing standards of any principal U.S. exchange upon which the common stock of the Corporation is listed, any applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in determining and disclosing independence of the Corporation’s directors;

 

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(e)                                   whose election as a director would cause the Corporation to be in violation of these By-laws, the Certificate of Incorporation, the rules and listing standards of any principal U.S. exchange upon which the common stock of the Corporation is listed, or any applicable state or federal law, rule or regulation;

 

(f)                                    who is or has been, within the past three (3) years, an officer or director of a competitor, as defined in Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914;

 

(g)                                   who is subject to an event for which disclosure would be required by Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K in the proxy statement for the annual meeting;

 

(h)                                  who is subject to any disqualification event specified in Rule 506(d) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;

 

(i)                                      if such Shareholder Nominee, or the Eligible Shareholder that nominated such Shareholder Nominee, has provided information to the Corporation or its shareholders in respect to such nomination that was untrue in any material respect or that omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the information, in light of the circumstances under which they were provided, not misleading; or

 

(j)                                     if such Shareholder Nominee, or the Eligible Shareholder that nominated such Shareholder Nominee, fails to comply with his, her or its obligations pursuant to these By-laws, including, but not limited to, this Section 11.

 

2.                                       Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting may declare the nomination of a Shareholder Nominee by an Eligible Shareholder to be invalid, and such nomination shall be disregarded notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation, if:

 

(a)                                  such Shareholder Nominee and/or such Eligible Shareholder has breached his, her or its obligations under this Section 11; or

 

(b)                                  such Eligible Shareholder (or a qualified representative thereof) does not appear at the annual meeting to present such nomination pursuant to this Section 11.

 

3.                                       Any Shareholder Nominee who is included in the Corporation’s proxy materials for a particular annual meeting of shareholders but either:

 

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(a)                                  withdraws from or becomes ineligible or unavailable for election at the annual meeting; or

 

(b)                                  does not receive at least 25% of the votes cast in favor of such Shareholder Nominee’s election

 

will be ineligible to be a Shareholder Nominee pursuant to this Section 11 for the next two annual meetings.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 11(C)(3) shall not prevent any shareholder from nominating any person to the Board of Directors pursuant to and in accordance with Section 10(A)(1) of this Article II.

 

D.                                     Effective Date .  This Section 11 shall become effective immediately following the conclusion of the Corporation’s 2017 annual meeting of shareholders.

 

Section 12.                                    Submission of Questionnaire, Representation and Agreement .   To be eligible to be a nominee for election or reelection as a director of the Corporation, a person must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Section 10 of this Article II) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such person and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request) and a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such person (A) is not and will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “ Voting Commitment ”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (B) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed therein, and (C) in such person’s individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation.

 

Section 13.                                    List of Shareholders .  A list of shareholders as of the record date, certified by the corporate officer responsible for its preparation or by a transfer agent, shall be produced at any meeting upon the request thereat or prior thereto of any shareholder.  If the right to vote at any meeting is challenged, the inspectors of the election, or the chairman of the meeting, shall require such list of shareholders to be produced as evidence of the right of the persons challenged to vote at such meeting, and all persons who appear from such list to be shareholders entitled to vote thereat may vote at such meeting.

 

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Section 14.                                    Inspectors of Election .  Prior to the holding of each annual or special meeting of the shareholders, one or more inspectors of election to serve thereat shall be appointed by the Board of Directors.  If there shall be a failure to appoint an inspector, or if, at any such meeting, the inspector or inspectors so appointed shall be absent or shall fail to act or the office shall become vacated, the chairman of the meeting may appoint such inspector or inspectors of election to act thereat.  The inspector or inspectors of election so appointed to act at any meeting of the shareholders, before entering upon the discharge of their duties, shall be sworn faithfully to execute the duties of inspector at such meeting, with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability, and the oath so taken shall be subscribed by such inspector.  Such inspector or inspectors of election shall take charge of the polls, and, after the voting on any question, shall make a certificate of the results of the vote taken.  No director or candidate for the office of director shall act as an inspector of an election of directors.  Inspectors need not be shareholders.

 

ARTICLE III   — BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 1.                                           Number, Qualification and Term of Office .  The business of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors.  The number of directors that shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be fixed exclusively by one or more resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors.  The directors need not be residents of the State of New York and need not be shareholders.  No decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of an incumbent director.  Members of the Board of Directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of shareholders in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.  Directors so elected shall serve until their successors have been elected and qualified or until an earlier resignation, removal or other displacement from office as provided in these By-laws.

 

Section 2.                                           Place of Meetings .  The Board of Directors may hold its meetings, regular or special, at such place or places, within or without the State of New York, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as may be specified in the notice of any meeting.

 

Section 3.                                           Annual Meetings .  An annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held following the annual meeting of the shareholders for the purposes of electing officers of the Corporation and the committees of the Board of Directors and transacting any other business which may properly come before the meeting.  Notice of annual meetings of the Board of Directors need not be given in order legally to constitute the meeting, provided a quorum shall be present.

 

Section 4.                                           Regular Meetings .  Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at times and dates fixed by the Board of Directors or at such other times and dates as the Chairman or Chief Executive Officer shall determine and as shall be specified in the notice of such meetings.  Notice of regular meetings of the Board of Directors need not be given except as otherwise required by statute or these By-laws.

 

Section 5.                                           Special Meetings .  Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Secretary of the Corporation upon the written request of the Chairman or Chief Executive Officer, or any two directors.

 

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Section 6.                                           Notice of Meetings .  Notice of each special meeting of the Board of Directors (and of each regular meeting for which notice shall be required) shall be given by the Secretary as hereinafter provided in this Section 6, which notice shall state the time, place and, if required by statute or these By-laws, the purposes of such meeting.  Notice of each such meeting shall be mailed, postage thereon prepaid, to each director, by first-class mail, at least four days before the day on which such meeting is to be held, or shall be sent by facsimile transmission or comparable medium, or be delivered personally or by telephone, at least twenty-four hours before the time at which such meeting is to be held.  Any meeting of the Board of Directors shall be a legal meeting without notice thereof having been given, if all the directors of the Corporation then holding office shall be present thereat.

 

Section 7.                                           Waivers .  Notice of a meeting need not be given to any director who signs a waiver of notice, whether before or after the meeting.  The attendance of any director at a meeting without protesting prior to the meeting or at its commencement the lack of notice of such meeting, shall constitute a waiver of notice by such director.

 

Section 8.                                           Quorum .  Unless otherwise provided by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, a majority of the entire Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business or of any specified item of business.  At any time a quorum is not present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the directors participating may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present thereat; and notice of any adjournment to another time or place shall be given to the directors who were absent at the time of the adjournment and, unless the new time and place are announced at the meeting to be adjourned, to the other directors.

 

Section 9.                                           Meeting Participation Without Physical Presence .  Any one or more members of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or of such committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time.  Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.

 

Section 10.                                    Action of the Board .  Unless otherwise provided by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, the vote of a majority of the directors at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.  Each director shall have one vote regardless of the number of shares, if any, which he or she may hold.

 

Section 11.                                    Action by Consent Without a Meeting .  Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or of such committee consent in writing to the adoption of a resolution authorizing such action.  The written consent or consents to each such action, including the resolutions adopted thereby, shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors or of the committee taking such action.

 

Section 12.                                    Executive and other Committees .  The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board of Directors, may designate from among its members an executive committee and other committees, each consisting of one (1) or more directors, and each of which shall have all the authority of the Board of Directors to the extent provided in the

 

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resolution, except as otherwise provided by statute.  Each such committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and shall keep minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors as and when requested by the Board of Directors and shall observe such other procedures with respect to its meetings as are provided in these By-laws or, to the extent not provided herein, as may be provided by the Board of Directors in the resolution appointing such committee or as may be adopted by the Board of Directors thereafter.

 

Section 13.                                    Voting .  Unless otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the vote required for (i) the election of directors by the shareholders shall be the affirmative vote of a “majority of votes cast” (as defined below), unless the election is contested, in which case directors shall be elected by a plurality of votes cast.  An election shall be contested if, as of the record date (or such later date as may be determined by the Board of Directors based on events occurring after the record date, but in no event later than the date the Corporation files with the Securities and Exchange Commission its definitive proxy statement or any supplement or revision thereto regarding the election of directors), the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected.  A “ majority of votes cast ” means that the number of shares properly voted “for” a director exceeds the number of votes “withheld” or cast “against” that director at a meeting of shareholders, whether in person or by proxy, and abstentions and broker non-votes shall not constitute votes cast or votes withheld, and (ii) all other corporate action shall be the affirmative vote of  a majority of the votes properly cast at a meeting of shareholders, whether in person or by proxy.  All voting for the election of directors shall be by ballot.

 

Section 14.                                    Advance Contingent Resignation to Address Majority Voting .  As a condition for nomination as a director, any nominee who is an incumbent director shall agree to submit a letter of resignation from the Board of Directors in the event the director fails to receive a majority of votes cast (as defined in Section 13 of this Article III) in an uncontested election.  An incumbent nominee who does not receive a majority of the votes cast shall immediately tender his or her resignation, and the Board of Directors shall decide, through a process managed by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (excluding from such process the nominee in question), whether to accept the resignation.  Prior to making the decision whether to accept any such resignation, the Board of Directors will afford the nominee an opportunity to provide any information or statement that he or she deems relevant.  If any tendered resignation is accepted, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall recommend to the Board of Directors whether to fill such vacancy or vacancies or to reduce the size of the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors in making its decision may consider any factors or information that it considers appropriate or relevant.  The Board of Director’s explanation of its decision shall be promptly disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The decision of the Board of Directors and such disclosure shall be completed within ninety (90) days from the date of the certification of the election results.  If a majority of the members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee received a greater number of votes “withheld” from their election or cast “against” such members than votes “for” their election at the same election, then the remaining directors who are on the Board of Directors and who did not receive a greater number of votes “withheld” from their election or cast “against” such directors than votes “for” their election would consider the matter directly or may appoint a committee of the Board of Directors among themselves solely for the purpose of considering the tendered resignations that would make the recommendation to the Board of Directors whether to accept or reject them.

 

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Section 15.                                    Removal .  Unless otherwise provided by statute, any or all directors may be removed for cause by vote of the shareholders or by action of the Board of Directors at a special meeting called for that purpose.

 

Section 16.                                    Resignation .  Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors, the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of the Corporation.  Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the Board of Directors or such officer, and acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

 

Section 17.                                    Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies .  Newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and vacancies occurring in the Board of Directors for any reason shall be filled by a majority of directors then in office.

 

Section 18.                                    Compensation .  The Board of Directors, by resolution and irrespective of any personal interest of any of its members, shall have the authority to establish reasonable compensation and fix reimbursement for reasonable expenses of all directors for their services to the Corporation as directors, officers or otherwise.

 

Section 19.                                    Director and Chairman Emeritus .  The Board of Directors may, from time to time in its discretion, by majority vote, designate one or more of its former directors a Director Emeritus or, in the case of a former Chairman of the Board, a Chairman Emeritus. Each such designation shall be for such term as is determined by a majority of the Board of Directors or until such Director Emeritus’ or Chairman Emeritus’ earlier death, resignation, retirement or removal (for any reason or no reason by a majority of the Board of Directors). Each Director Emeritus and Chairmen Emeritus may be re-appointed for one or more additional terms.  Directors Emeritus and the Chairmen Emeritus may attend board meetings as and when invited by the Board of Directors and attend meetings of any committee of the Board of Directors as and when invited by the committee, but they shall not be entitled to notice of any such meetings or to vote or be counted for quorum purposes at any such meetings. If present, Directors Emeritus and the Chairmen Emeritus may participate in the discussions occurring at such meetings. Any person holding the position of Director Emeritus or Chairman Emeritus shall not be considered a director or officer for any purpose, including the corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation and bylaws, applicable federal securities laws and the New York Business Corporation Law, as it may be amended (the “ NYBCL ”), and a Director Emeritus or Chairman Emeritus shall have no power or authority to manage the affairs of the Corporation. Directors Emeritus and the Chairman Emeritus shall not have any of the responsibilities or liabilities of a director or officer of the Corporation under the NYBCL, nor any of a director’s or officer’s rights, powers or privileges in their capacities as Directors Emeritus or Chairman Emeritus. Reference in these By-laws to “directors” or “officers” shall not mean or include Directors Emeritus or the Chairman Emeritus. Directors Emeritus and the Chairman Emeritus will be entitled to receive fees for such service in such form and amount as approved by the Board of Directors, and shall be reimbursed for reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket business expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees. Directors Emeritus and the Chairman Emeritus shall remain subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and shall remain subject to all of the Corporation’s policies applicable to directors. A Director Emeritus and the

 

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Chairman Emeritus shall be entitled to benefits and protections in accordance Article V of these By-laws (“ Indemnification ”).

 

Section 20.                                    The Chairman .  The Chairman shall be a member of the Board of Directors and shall, when present, preside as chairman at all meetings of the shareholders and of the Board of Directors.  The Chairman shall also have such other powers and perform such other duties required by statute or by these By-laws or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

ARTICLE IV   — OFFICERS

 

Section 1.                                           Officers .  The officers of the Corporation shall include the Chief Executive Officer, the President, one or more Vice Presidents (one or more of whom may be designated as Executive Vice Presidents or as Senior Vice Presidents or by other designations), the Secretary, the Treasurer and such other officers as the Board of Directors may from time to time deem necessary, each of whom shall have such duties, powers and functions as provided in these By-laws and as may be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. Two or more offices may be held by the same person; provided , however , that no officer shall execute, acknowledge or verify any instrument in more than one capacity. Each of the officers shall, when requested, consult with and advise the other officers of the Corporation.

 

Section 2.                                           Election or Appointment and Term of Office .  Officers shall be elected or appointed by the Board of Directors to hold office until the next annual meeting of the Board of Directors and until his or her successor is elected or appointed and qualified, or until such earlier date as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors at the time of his or her election or appointment or until an earlier resignation, removal or displacement from office. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by vote of a majority of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may delegate to the Chief Executive Officer authority to appoint and remove one or more officers (excluding executive officers) and to prescribe the duties of such officers.

 

Section 3.                                           Vacancies .  In the event of the resignation, removal or other displacement from office of an officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may elect or appoint a successor to fill the unexpired term.

 

Section 4.                                           The Chief Executive Officer .  The Chief Executive Officer shall have general and active supervision and direction over the business and affairs of the Corporation and over its several officers, agents and employees, subject to the control and direction of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5.                                           President and Vice Presidents .  The President and each Vice President shall have such powers and perform such duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors or be delegated to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 6.                                           Treasurer .  The Treasurer shall have the safekeeping and custody of the corporate funds and other valuable effects, including securities, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation, and shall deposit all money and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such

 

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depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and render to the Chief Executive Officer at the annual and regular meetings of the Board of Directors, or whenever the Chief Executive Officer requires it, an account of all transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation. The Treasurer shall make a full financial report at the annual meeting of shareholders. The Treasurer shall also have such other powers and perform such other duties incident to the office of Treasurer required by statute or by these By-laws or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

Section 7.                                           Secretary .  The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept in one or more books provided for such purpose, the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors, shareholders and committees of the Board of Directors, see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these By-laws and as required by law and see that the books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by law to be kept and filed are properly kept and filed.  The Secretary shall also have such other powers and perform such other duties incident to the office of Secretary required by law or by these By-laws or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

Section 8.                                           Designated Officers .  The Board of Directors may from time to time designate officers to serve as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and other such designated positions and to fulfill the responsibilities of such designated positions in addition to the powers and duties applicable to his or her office as set forth in this Article IV.  Such designated officers shall also have such other powers and duties incident to his or her designated position as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

Section 9.                                           Compensation .  The salaries and other compensation of all officers elected by the Board of Directors shall be fixed from time to time by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE V — INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 1.                                           Right to Indemnification .  The Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted or required by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment and unless applicable law otherwise requires, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), shall indemnify and hold harmless any person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation and who is or was involved in any manner (including, without limitation, as a party or a witness) or is threatened to be made so involved in any threatened, pending or completed investigation, claim, action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or otherwise (including, without limitation, any action, suit or proceedings by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor) (a “ Proceeding ”) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was at the request of the Corporation serving as an officer or director or in any other capacity with another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or entity (including, without limitation, any employee benefit plan) (a “ Covered Entity ”), against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such Proceeding; provided, however , that the foregoing

 

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shall not apply to a director or officer of the Corporation with respect to a Proceeding that was commenced by such director or officer unless the Proceeding was commenced after a Change in Control (as hereinafter defined in Section 4(E) of this Article V).  Any director or officer of the Corporation entitled to indemnification as provided in this Section 1 is hereinafter called an “ Indemnitee ”.  Any right of an Indemnitee to indemnification shall be a contract right and shall include the right to receive, prior to the conclusion of any Proceeding, payment of any expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding, consistent with the provisions of applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment and unless applicable law otherwise requires, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader rights to payment of expenses than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), and the other provisions of this Article V.

 

Section 2.                                           Insurance, Contracts and Funding .  The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance to protect itself and any Indemnitee against any expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement as specified in Section 1 of this Article V or incurred by any Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding referred to in Section 1 of this Article V, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under applicable law.  The Corporation may enter into contracts with any Indemnitee in furtherance of the provisions of this Article V and may create a trust fund, grant a security interest or use other means (including, without limitation, a letter of credit) to ensure the payment of such amounts as may be necessary to effect indemnification as provided or authorized in this Article V.

 

Section 3.                                           Indemnification Not Exclusive Right .  The right of indemnification provided in this Article V shall not be exclusive of any other rights to which an Indemnitee may otherwise be entitled, and the provisions of this Article V shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs and legal representatives of any Indemnitee under this Article V and shall be applicable to Proceedings commenced or continuing after the adoption of this Article V, whether arising from acts or omissions occurring before or after such adoption.  Any termination or amendment of this Article V (unless such amendment broadens the rights of an Indemnitee under this Article V) will only be prospective and will not affect the rights under Article V in effect at the time of the alleged occurrence of any action or omission giving rise to a claim by an Indemnitee under this Article V.

 

Section 4.                                           Advancement of Expenses;  Procedures;  Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings;  Remedies .  In furtherance, but not in limitation of the foregoing provisions, the following procedures, presumptions and remedies shall apply with respect to advancement of expenses and the right to indemnification under this Article V:

 

A.                                     Advancement of Expenses .  All reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding shall be advanced to the Indemnitee by the Corporation within twenty (20) days after the receipt by the Corporation of a statement or statements from the Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding.  Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the expenses incurred by the Indemnitee and, if required by law at the time of such advance, shall include or be accompanied by an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay the amounts advanced if ultimately it should be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such expenses

 

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pursuant to this Article V.  The sole requirements for qualification by an Indemnitee for such advances shall be delivery of the statement and undertaking described above.

 

B.                                     Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification .

 

1.                                       To obtain indemnification under this Article V, an Indemnitee shall submit to the Secretary of the Corporation a written request, including such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification (the “ Supporting Documentation ”).  The determination of the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be made not later than sixty (60) days after receipt by the Corporation of the written request for indemnification together with the Supporting Documentation.  The Secretary shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in writing that the Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

 

2.                                       The Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification under this Article V shall be determined in one of the following ways:  (A) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, if a Change in Control has occurred and the Indemnitee so requests, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to the Indemnitee; (B) if and to the extent applicable law does not permit a determination to be made by Independent Counsel, and, in any event, if a Change in Control has not occurred (or if a Change in Control has occurred but the Indemnitee does not request that the determination be made by Independent Counsel), (x) by the Board acting by a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors, or (y) if a quorum under clause (x) above is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, a quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs: (I) by the Board upon the opinion in writing of Independent Counsel (a copy of which shall be delivered to the Indemnitee), or (II) by the shareholders of the Corporation; or (C) as provided in Section 4(C) of this Article V.

 

3.                                       In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 4(B)(2) of this Article V, a majority of the Disinterested Directors shall select the Independent Counsel, but only an Independent Counsel to which the Indemnitee does not reasonably object; provided, however , that if a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Indemnitee shall select such Independent Counsel, but only an Independent Counsel to which a majority of the Disinterested Directors does not reasonably object.

 

C.                                     Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings .  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Article V, if a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification under this Article V (with respect to actions or omissions occurring prior to such Change in Control) upon submission of a request for indemnification together with the Supporting Documentation in accordance with Section 4(B)(1) of this Article V, and thereafter the Corporation shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in reaching a contrary determination.  In any event, if the person or persons empowered under Section 4(B) of this Article V to determine entitlement to indemnification shall not have been appointed or shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Corporation of the request therefor, together with the Supporting Documentation, the Indemnitee shall be deemed to be, and shall be, entitled to indemnification unless (A) the

 

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Indemnitee misrepresented or failed to disclose a material fact in making the request for indemnification or in the Supporting Documentation or (B) such indemnification is prohibited by law.  The termination of any Proceeding described in Section 1 of this Article V, or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, adversely affect the right of the Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation or, with respect to any criminal proceeding, that the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that such conduct was unlawful.

 

D.                                     Remedies of Indemnitee .

 

1.                                       In the event that a determination is made pursuant to Section 4(B) of this Article V that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Article V, (A) the Indemnitee shall be entitled to seek an adjudication of entitlement to such indemnification either, at the Indemnitee’s sole option, in (x) an appropriate court of the State of New York or any other court of competent jurisdiction or (y) an arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association;  (B) any such judicial proceeding or arbitration shall be de novo and the Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of such adverse determination;  and (C) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, in any such judicial proceeding or arbitration, the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Article V (with respect to actions or omissions occurring prior to such Change in Control).

 

2.                                       If a determination shall have been made or deemed to have been made, pursuant to Section 4(B) or (C) of this Article V, that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Corporation shall be obligated to pay the amounts constituting such indemnification within fifteen (15) days after such determination has been made or deemed to have been made and shall be conclusively bound by such determination unless (A) the Indemnitee misrepresented or failed to disclose a material fact in making the request for indemnification or in the Supporting Documentation or (B) such indemnification is prohibited by law.  In the event that (x) advancement of expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 4(A) of this Article V or (y) payment of indemnification is not made within fifteen (15) days after a determination of entitlement to indemnification has been made or deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 4(B) or (C) of this Article V, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to seek judicial enforcement of the Corporation’s obligation to pay to the Indemnitee such advancement of expenses or indemnification.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation may bring an action, in an appropriate court in the State of New York or any other court of competent jurisdiction, contesting the right of the Indemnitee to receive indemnification hereunder due to the occurrence of an event described in sub-clause (A) or (B) of this clause (2) (a “ Disqualifying Event ”); provided, however , that in any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving the occurrence of such Disqualifying Event.

 

3.                                       The Corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 4(D) that the procedures and presumptions of this Article V are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any

 

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such court or before any such arbitrator that the Corporation is bound by all the provisions of this Article V.

 

4.                                       In the event that the Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 4(D), seeks a judicial adjudication of or an award in arbitration to enforce rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Article V, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the Corporation, and shall be indemnified by the Corporation against, any expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee if the Indemnitee prevails in such judicial adjudication or arbitration.  If it shall be determined in such judicial adjudication or arbitration that the Indemnitee is entitled to receive part but not all of the indemnification or advancement of expenses sought, the expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such judicial adjudication or arbitration shall be prorated accordingly.

 

E.                                     Definitions .  For purposes of this Article V:

 

1.                                       Change in Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following: (w) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other entity shall occur unless the voting securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior to such transaction continue to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such transaction that have the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity, (x) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all, or substantially all, the assets of the Corporation, or the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation, or (y) individuals who constitute a majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall be elected to the Board of Directors and the election or the nomination for election by the shareholders of such directors was not approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors in office immediately prior to such election.

 

2.                                       Disinterested Director ” means a director of the Corporation who is not or was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by the Indemnitee.

 

3.                                       Independent Counsel ” means a law firm or a member of a law firm that neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (x) the Corporation or the Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party or (y) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification under this Article V.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing under the law of the State of New York, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Corporation or the Indemnitee in an action to determine the Indemnitee’s rights under this Article V.

 

Section 5.                                           Severability .  If any provision or provisions of this Article V shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article V (including, without limitation, all portions of any paragraph of this Article V containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that are not themselves invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be

 

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affected or impaired thereby; and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article V (including, without limitation, all portions of any paragraph of this Article V containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that are not themselves invalid, illegal or enforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

 

Section 6.                                           Indemnification of Employees Serving as Directors or Officers .  The Corporation, to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article V with respect to the indemnification of directors and officers of the Corporation, shall indemnify and hold harmless any person who is or was an employee of the Corporation and who is or was involved in any manner (including, without limitation, as a party or a witness) or is threatened to be made so involved in any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding by reason of the fact that such employee is or was serving (a) as a director or officer of a corporation or in a capacity equivalent to that of a director or officer for any partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (including, without limitation, any employee benefit plan) in which the Corporation had at the time of such service, directly or indirectly, a 50% or greater equity interest (a “ Subsidiary Director ”) or (b) at the written request of the Corporation, as a director or officer of a corporation or in a capacity equivalent to that of a director or officer for any partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (including, without limitation, any employee benefit plan) in which the Corporation had at the time of such service, directly or indirectly, a significant business interest but a less than 50% equity interest (or, in the case of an employee benefit plan, no equity interest at all) (a “ Requested Employee ”), against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such Subsidiary Director or Requested Employee in connection with such Proceeding.  The Corporation shall also advance expenses incurred by any such Subsidiary Director or Requested Employee in connection with any such Proceeding, consistent with the provisions of this Article V with respect to the advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE VI — SHARES

 

Section 1.                                           Certificates for Shares .  The certificates for shares of the Corporation shall be in such form as shall be determined by the Board of Directors, and shall be numbered and entered in the books of the Corporation as they are issued. Each certificate shall exhibit the registered holder’s name, the number and class of shares, and the designation of any series, if any, that it evidences, and shall set forth such other statements as may be required by statute. Each certificate shall be signed by the Chief Executive Officer or the President and by the Secretary or the Treasurer, any or all of whose signatures may be facsimile if such certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent or registered by a registrar. Each certificate may be sealed with the seal of the Corporation or a facsimile thereof. In case any one or more of the officers who have signed or whose facsimile signatures appear on any such certificate shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Corporation, whether because of resignation, removal or other displacement from office, before such certificate is issued and delivered, it may nonetheless be issued and delivered with the same effect as if such officer or officers had continued in office.

 

Section 2.                                           Lost, Mutilated, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates .  The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate or new certificates be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, mutilated, stolen or destroyed.

 

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When authorizing such issue of a new certificate, the Board of Directors, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, may prescribe such terms and conditions as it deems expedient, and may require such indemnities as it deems adequate, to protect the Corporation from any claim that may be made against it with respect to any such certificate alleged to have been lost, mutilated, stolen or destroyed.

 

Section 3.                                           Transfer Agent and Registrar; Regulations .  The Board of Directors may appoint transfer agents or registrars, or both, and may require all share certificates to bear the signature of either or both.  The Board of Directors may make such additional rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for shares of the Corporation.

 

Section 4.                                           Transfer of Shares .  Upon surrender to the Corporation or the transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, the Corporation shall issue or cause the transfer agent to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, shall cancel the old certificate and shall record such transfer upon the books of the corporation.

 

Section 5.                                           Cancellation of Certificates. Each certificate for shares to be canceled shall be marked “CANCELED” across the face thereof by the Secretary, with the date of cancellation, and the transaction shall be immediately recorded in the certificate book opposite the memorandum of issue.  The canceled certificate should be inserted thereafter in the certificate book.

 

Section 6.                                           Contingent Interest in Shares .  No entry shall be made in the books of the Corporation or on any certificate for shares that any person is entitled to any future, limited or contingent interest in any share.

 

Section 7.                                           Uncertificated Shares .  The Board of Directors may in its discretion authorize the issuance of shares which are not represented by certificates and provide for the registration and transfer thereof on the books and records of the Corporation or any transfer agent or registrar so designated.

 

Section 8.                                           Shareholder Records .  The names and addresses of the persons to whom shares are issued, and the number of shares and the dates of issue and any transfer thereof, whether in certificated or uncertificated form, shall be entered on records kept for that purpose.  The stock transfer records and the blank stock certificates shall be kept by the transfer agent, or by the treasurer, or such other officer as shall be designated by the Board of Directors for that purpose.

 

ARTICLE VII — GENERAL

 

Section 1.                                           Fiscal Year .  The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed and may from time to time be changed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.                                           Seal .  The seal of the Corporation, if any, shall be circular in form and bear the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal New York.” The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed, affixed or reproduced directly on the instrument or writing to be sealed.

 

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Section 3.                                           Instruments and Documents .  All corporate instruments and documents shall be signed, countersigned, executed, verified or acknowledged by such officers or other person or persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

 

Section 4.                                           Amendments .  These By-laws may be amended or repealed or new By-laws may be adopted by the shareholders at any annual or special meeting if the notice thereof mentions that amendment or repeal or the adoption of new By-laws is one of the purposes of such meeting.  These By-laws may also be amended or repealed or new By-laws may be adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors given at any meeting, if the notice thereof mentions that amendment or repeal or the adoption of new By-laws is one of the purposes of such meeting.  If any By-laws relating to the  election of directors or meetings of shareholders are amended, notice of such amendment shall be given to shareholders to the extent required by law.

 

31


Exhibit 10.1

 

Exhibit A

 

This PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT is entered into as of             , 20   (the “ Grant Date ”), between BED BATH & BEYOND INC. (the “ Company ”) and                      (“ you ”).

 

1.               Performance Stock Unit Grant .  Subject to the restrictions, terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement, the Company hereby awards you the number of Performance Stock Units (the “ Performance Stock Units ”) specified in paragraph 7 below.  The Performance Stock Units are subject to certain restrictions as set forth in the Plan and this Agreement.

 

2.               The Plan The Performance Stock Units are entirely subject to the terms of the Company’s [2012][2018]* Incentive Compensation Plan , as amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”).  A description of key terms of the Plan is set forth in the Prospectus for the Plan.  Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Agreement have the meanings set forth in the Plan.

 

3.               Restrictions on Transfer .  You will not sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate, assign or otherwise dispose of (any such action, a “ Transfer ”) the Performance Stock Units, except as set forth in the Plan or this Agreement.  Any attempted Transfer in violation of the Plan or this Agreement will be void and of no effect.

 

4.               Payment .  With respect to each Performance Stock Unit that vests in accordance with the schedule set forth in paragraph 8 below, you will be entitled to receive a number of shares of Common Stock equal to one times the Payment Percentage set forth opposite the Achievement Percentile or Achievement Percentage, as applicable in paragraph 7 below.  Subject to paragraph 5 below, and further subject to satisfaction of the Performance Goals (as defined below), you will be paid such share(s) of Common Stock with respect to each vested Performance Stock Unit within thirty (30) days following the later of: (i) the applicable vesting date set forth in paragraph 8 below (the “ Time-Based Vesting Date ”); and (ii) the date of certification of the Achievement Percentile or Achievement Percentage, as applicable, attained with respect to the applicable Performance Goal by the Committee (the “ Performance-Based Vesting Date ”), to the extent administratively practicable. The later of the Time-Based Vesting Date and the Performance-Based Vesting Date shall be referred to as the “ Vesting Date .”

 

5.               Forfeiture; Certain Terminations .  Except as provided in this paragraph: (i) upon your Termination, all unvested Performance Stock Units shall immediately be forfeited without compensation; and (ii) upon the failure to attain a Performance Goal, any unvested Performance Stock Units subject to any such unachieved Performance Goal shall immediately be forfeited without compensation.   Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Performance Stock Units will vest in full upon a Termination by reason of your death or Disability.  In the event of your Termination by the Company without Cause or, if provided in an agreement between you and the Company in effect as of the Grant Date, by you for Good Reason or due to a Constructive Termination without Cause, as each such term (or concept of like import) is defined in that agreement, notwithstanding anything herein or in any agreements with the Company to the contrary, including without limitation, your employment agreement, a pro-rated portion of the Performance Stock Units, based upon the period of your employment with the Company during the applicable Performance Period, relative to the full Performance Period will vest upon, and subject to, the certification by the Committee of attainment of the applicable Performance Goal regardless of whether or not you are employed on the date of certification.

 

6.               Rights with Regard to Performance Stock Units .  On and after the Grant Date, you will have the right to receive dividend equivalents with respect to the shares of Common Stock underlying the Performance Stock Units ultimately achieved under the Performance Goal described in paragraph 7, subject to the terms and conditions of this paragraph.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall a dividend equivalent be issued or paid with respect to any Performance Stock Unit that has been forfeited pursuant to paragraph 5.  If the Company pays a dividend (whether in cash or stock) on its Common Stock shares, or its Common Stock shares are split, or the Company pays to holders of its Common Stock other shares, securities, monies, warrants, rights, options or property representing a dividend or distribution in respect of the Common Stock, then the Company will credit a deemed dividend or distribution to a book entry account on your behalf with respect to each share of Common Stock underlying the Performance Stock Units held by you, provided that your right to actually receive such cash or property shall be subject to the same restrictions as the Performance Stock Units to which the cash or property relates, and the cash or property shall be paid to you at the same time you receive the payment of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Performance Stock Units.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, dividend equivalents shall not be deemed to be reinvested in Common Stock and shall be treated as uninvested at all times, without crediting any interest or earnings. Except as provided in this paragraph, you will have no rights as a holder of Common Stock with respect to the Performance Stock Units unless and until the Performance Stock Units become vested hereunder and you become the holder of record of the Common Stock underlying the Performance Stock Units.

 

7.               Grant Size; Performance Goals .  Performance Stock Units covered by this award:               .  Twenty-five percent (25%) of the Performance Stock Units will be subject to a one-year performance goal based on the Company’s EBIT relative to the target EBIT (the “ One-Year EBIT Goal ”), as defined and approved by the Committee, thirty-seven and a half percent (37.5%) of the Performance Stock Units will be subject to a three-year performance goal based on the Company’s Total Shareholder Return (the “ Three-Year TSR Goal ”), as defined and approved by the Committee, and the remaining thirty-seven and a half percent (37.5%) of the Performance Stock Units will be subject to a three-year performance goal based on the Company’s cumulative EBIT over such three-year period relative to the target cumulative EBIT (the “ Three-Year EBIT Goal ”), as defined and approved by the Committee.  In allocating the Performance Stock Units between the One-Year EBIT Goal, the Three-Year TSR Goal, and the Three-Year EBIT Goal, any remaining fractional share of Common Stock underlying the Performance Stock Units shall be allocated to the One-Year EBIT Goal.  The One-Year EBIT Goal, the Three-Year TSR Goal, and the Three-Year EBIT Goal (each a “ Performance Goal ”) have been set forth in a resolution adopted by the Committee and separately communicated to you (the “ Resolution ”).  The following schedules set forth the Achievement Percentiles, Achievement Percentages and Payment Percentages applicable to Performance Stock Units subject to each Performance Goal, in the event that over the periods in which the Performance Stock Units are subject to a One-Year Goal and the Three-Year Goals, as applicable (the “ Performance Period ”), the Company’s Total Shareholder Return (as calculated pursuant to the formula described in the Resolution) is either zero (0) or a positive number:

 

Performance Stock Units Subject to One-Year
EBIT Goal (25% Weighting)

 

Achievement Percentage
(% of Target)(1)

 

Payment Percentage of
Common Stock
Underlying PSUs

 

Greater than    %

 

150%

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

Less than    %

 

   %

 

 


* Reference applicable Incentive Compensation Plan under which Performance Stock Unit award is granted.

(1)  Subject to linear interpolation for achievement percentages or achievement percentiles between amounts listed on the table.

 


 

Performance Stock Units Subject to Three-Year
TSR Goal (37.5% Weighting)

 

Achievement Percentile
(Peer Group)(1),(2)

 

Payment Percentage of
Common Stock
Underlying PSUs

 

Greater than     th  Percentile

 

150%

 

    th  Percentile

 

   %

 

    th  Percentile

 

   %

 

    th  Percentile

 

   %

 

Less than     th  Percentile

 

   %

 

 

Performance Stock Units Subject to Three-Year
EBIT Goal (37.5% Weighting)

 

Achievement Percentage
(% of Target)(1)

 

Payment Percentage of
Common Stock
Underlying PSUs

 

Greater than    %

 

150%

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

Less than    %

 

   %

 

 

T he following schedules set forth the Achievement Percentiles, Achievement Percentages and Payment Percentages applicable to Performance Stock Units subject to each Performance Goal, in the event that over the relevant Performance Period, the Company’s Total Shareholder Return (as calculated pursuant to the formula described in the Resolution) is a negative number:

 

Performance Stock Units Subject to One-Year
EBIT Goal (25% Weighting)

 

Achievement Percentage
(% of Target)(1)

 

Payment Percentage of
Common Stock
Underlying PSUs

 

Greater than    %

 

100%

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

Less than    %

 

   %

 

 

Performance Stock Units Subject to Three-Year
TSR Goal (37.5% Weighting)

 

Achievement Percentile
(Peer Group)(1),(2)

 

Payment Percentage of
Common Stock
Underlying PSUs

 

Greater than     th  Percentile

 

100%

 

    th  Percentile

 

   %

 

    th  Percentile

 

   %

 

    th  Percentile

 

   %

 

Less than     th  Percentile

 

   %

 

 

Performance Stock Units Subject to Three-Year
EBIT Goal (37.5% Weighting)

 

Achievement Percentage
(% of Target)(1)

 

Payment Percentage of
Common Stock
Underlying PSUs

 

Greater than    %

 

100%

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

   %

 

Less than    %

 

   %

 

 

8.               Vesting Schedule . Except in the case of death or Disability, your vesting in any portion of the Performance Stock Units is contingent on attainment of the applicable Performance Goal and on the subsequent certification of that attainment by the Committee. In the event a Performance Goal is not attained during the relevant Performance Period, as applicable, all of the Performance Stock

 


(2)  The “Peer Group” applicable to the Three-Year TSR Goal is based on the peer group of companies selected by the Committee prior to the Grant Date and separately communicated to you.

 


 

Units subject to such Performance Goal for such Performance Period shall be forfeited without compensation.  Subject to the attainment of the applicable Performance Goal and the subsequent certification described above, unless you experience a Termination before the applicable Vesting Date as provided in paragraph 5, the Performance Stock Units will become vested in accordance with the following vesting schedules:

 

Time-Based Vesting Date

 

Percent Vested Subject to
One-Year Goal

 

Percent Vested Subject to
Three-Year Goals

 

1st anniversary of Grant Date

 

100%

 

N/A

 

3rd anniversary of Grant Date

 

N/A

 

100%

 

 

For purposes of the payment of applicable withholding taxes required by applicable law, the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Performance Stock Units to which you become entitled on payment shall be automatically reduced by the Company to cover the applicable minimum statutorily required withholding obligation, except that you may elect to pay some or all of the amount of such obligation in cash in a manner acceptable to the Company.  In the event that the amount of tax withholding is automatically reduced, it is the intent of this Agreement that any deemed “sale” of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Performance Stock Units withheld will be exempt from liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 16b-3.  All unscheduled and scheduled blackout periods (each, a “BP”) are determined by the Company.  If any shares of Common Stock underlying vested Performance Stock Units are scheduled to be paid during a BP to which you are subject, (i) you will be paid the applicable number of shares of Common Stock on the scheduled payment date (net of any shares withheld by the Company to pay minimum required taxes), but (ii) you will be unable to sell such shares of Common Stock until the earliest date on which all BPs to which you are subject have expired.

 

Subject to paragraph 5 above, all vesting will occur only on the appropriate Vesting Date, with no proportionate or partial vesting in the period prior to any such date.  Except as otherwise provided in the preceding paragraph, when any Performance Stock Unit becomes vested, the Company (unless it determines a delay is required under applicable law or rules) will, on the payment date described in paragraph 4 above (or promptly thereafter) issue and deliver to you a stock certificate registered in your name or will promptly recognize ownership of your shares through uncertificated book entry or another similar method, subject to applicable federal, state and local tax withholding in the manner described herein or otherwise acceptable to the Committee.  Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, you will be permitted to transfer shares of Common Stock following your receipt thereof, but only to the extent permitted by applicable law or rule.

 

9.               Code Section 409A . Although the Company does not guarantee the particular tax treatment of any payment under this Agreement, payments made under this Agreement are intended to comply with, or be exempt from, the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the Plan and this Agreement shall be limited, construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent.  To the extent any payment made under this Agreement constitutes “non-qualified deferred compensation” pursuant to Section 409A of the Code, the provisions of Section 13.13(b) of the Plan (including, without limitation, the six-month delay relating to “specified employees”) shall apply.

 

10.        Notice .  Any notice or communication to the Company concerning the Performance Stock Units must be in writing and delivered in person, or by U.S. mail, to the following address (or another address specified by the Company): Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., Finance Department — Stock Administration, 650 Liberty Avenue, Union, New Jersey 07083 .

 

BED BATH & BEYOND INC.

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

An Authorized Officer

 

Recipient (You)