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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 26, 2020

 

United Therapeutics Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Delaware   000-26301   52-1984749
(State or Other   (Commission   (I.R.S. Employer
Jurisdiction of   File Number)   Identification Number)
Incorporation)        

 

1040 Spring Street    
Silver Spring, MD   20910
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (301) 608-9292

 

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:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

¨            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(s) Name of each exchange on which
registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share UTHR 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      ¨

 

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.  ¨

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

As described in Item 5.07 below, on June 26, 2020, at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of United Therapeutics Corporation (the “Company”), the Company’s shareholders approved an amendment and restatement (the “2020 Restatement”) of the United Therapeutics Corporation Amended and Restated 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The 2020 Restatement had previously been approved by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) upon the recommendation of its Compensation Committee. The effective date of the 2020 Restatement is June 26, 2020.

 

The Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board, which is comprised of independent directors. The purpose of the Plan is to stimulate the efforts of non-employee directors, officers, employees and other service providers, in each case who are selected to be participants in the Plan, by heightening the desire of such persons to continue working toward and contributing to the success and progress of the Company. The Plan allows grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and stock awards, any of which may be performance-based, and for incentive bonuses.

 

The 2020 Restatement makes the following changes to the Plan:

 

· increases the maximum number of shares of the Company’s common stock that may be issued under the Plan by 500,000 shares;

 

· changes the fungible share ratio to 1.35:1;

 

· removes certain references to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code that are no longer relevant; and

 

· extends the expiration date of the Plan to April 29, 2030.

 

Additional details regarding the Plan are included in the Company’s 2020 Proxy Statement under the heading Proposal No. 4 — Approval of the Amendment and Restatement of the United Therapeutics Corporation Amended and Restated 2015 Stock Incentive Plan. The foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

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

 

As described in Item 5.07 below, at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the Company’s shareholders, upon the recommendation of the Board, approved amendments to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate”) in order to phase out the classification of the Board and to provide for the annual election of all directors, as described below. The amendments to the Certificate (the “Declassification Amendment”) became effective upon filing with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Secretary of State”) on June 26, 2020. The Board also adopted and filed with the Delaware Secretary of State a certificate of elimination to eliminate from the Certificate all matters set forth in the certificate of designation with respect to the Company’s Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Elimination”). The Certificate of Elimination also became effective upon filing with the Delaware Secretary of State on June 26, 2020.

 

Article VII, Section (c) of the Certificate provided that the Board was divided into three classes of approximately equal size, composed of directors each serving terms of office of three years. The Declassification Amendment amends Section (c) to provide for the annual election of directors and adds a new Section (d) on removal of directors to Article VII. Specifically, the Declassification Amendment provides for the annual election of directors beginning at the 2021 annual meeting of shareholders, and the declassification of the Board will be phased in over a period of three years. Beginning with the 2023 annual meeting of shareholders, the declassification of the Board will be complete and all directors will be subject to annual election for one-year terms. Consistent with Delaware law, the Declassification Amendment also provides that directors elected annually may be removed either for or without cause. Directors elected for and serving out the remainder of a three-year term would continue to be removable only for cause. Removal of directors will be governed by the default standard under the Delaware General Corporation Law, which requires approval by a majority of the shares entitled to vote thereon.

 

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Following shareholder approval of the Declassification Amendment, the Board also approved conforming amendments to Article III, Sections 3.1 and 3.2 of the Company’s Seventh Amended and Restated By-laws (the “By-laws”). The By-law amendments also clarify that any director elected to fill a new Board seat resulting from an increase in the number of directors after the effective date of the Declassification Amendment would be elected for a term expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders. Directors elected by the Board to fill vacancies would have the same remaining terms as that of their predecessors. The amendments to the By-laws became effective upon filing of the Declassification Amendment with the Delaware Secretary of State on June 26, 2020.

 

Also on June 26, 2020, the Company filed with the Delaware Secretary of State a Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which incorporates the Declassification Amendment, the amendments resulting from the Certificate of Elimination and previous amendments to the Certificate, but does not further amend the Certificate (the “Restated Certificate”). A copy of the Restated Certificate and the Company’s Eighth Amended and Restated By-laws are attached hereto as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively. The descriptions of the Declassification Amendment and the Certificate of Elimination, and the amendments to the By-laws are qualified in their entireties by reference to the full text contained in Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively.

 

Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

On June 26, 2020, the Company held its 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Company’s shareholders considered five matters, each of which is described in more detail in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2020. The final voting results for the meeting are as follows:

 

1. Election of Class III directors, each to serve a term of three years:

 

Nominee   Votes For     Votes Against     Abstentions     Broker
Non-Votes
 
Raymond Dwek     32,958,024       1,953,572       28,218       1,782,141  
Christopher Patusky     31,381,144       3,534,487       24,183       1,782,141  
Tommy Thompson     31,127,600       3,785,547       26,667       1,782,141  

 

2. An amendment to the Company’s Certificate in order to phase out the classification of the Board and to provide for the annual election of all directors:

 

Votes for:     34,866,245  
Votes against:     56,126  
Abstentions:     17,443  
Broker non-votes:     1,782,141  

 

3. An advisory resolution to approve executive compensation:

 

Votes for:     11,959,439  
Votes against:     22,909,955  
Abstentions:     70,420  
Broker non-votes:     1,782,141  

 

4. Approval of the amendment and restatement of the United Therapeutics Corporation Amended and Restated 2015 Stock Incentive Plan:

 

Votes for:     27,669,975  
Votes against:     7,213,501  
Abstentions:     56,338  
Broker non-votes:     1,782,141  

 

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5. Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2020:

 

Votes for:     36,166,307  
Votes against:     523,552  
Abstentions:     32,096  
Broker non-votes:      

 

Item 9.01. Exhibits

 

  (d)  Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.   Description of Exhibit
3.1   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of United Therapeutics Corporation
3.2   Eighth Amended and Restated By-laws of United Therapeutics Corporation
10.1   United Therapeutics Corporation Amended and Restated 2015 Stock Incentive Plan
104   The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted in Inline XBRL

 

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SIGNATURE

 

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

 

  UNITED THERAPEUTICS CORPORATION
     
Dated: June 26, 2020 By: /s/ Paul A. Mahon
  Name: Paul A. Mahon
  Title: General Counsel

 

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Exhibit 3.1

 

RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
UNITED THERAPEUTICS CORPORATION

It is hereby certified that:

 

1.               The present name of the corporation (hereinafter called the “corporation”) is United Therapeutics Corporation. The name under which the corporation was originally incorporated was Lung Rx, Inc.; and the date of filing the original certificate of incorporation of the corporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware is June 26, 1996.

 

2.               This restated certificate of incorporation restates and integrates, but does not further amend the provisions of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation (as heretofore amended or supplemented), there being no discrepancy between such amended and restated certificate of incorporation (as so amended or supplemented), and the provisions hereof.

 

3.               This restated certificate of incorporation has been duly adopted in accordance with Section 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and shall read as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

The name of the corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Corporation”) is United Therapeutics Corporation.

 

ARTICLE II

 

The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19801. The name and address of the Registered agent is The Corporation Trust Company, Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington Delaware, 19801.

 

ARTICLE III

 

The period of duration of the Corporation is perpetual.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”).

 

ARTICLE V

 

(a) The total number of shares of capital stock of all classes which the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is Two Hundred Fifty-Five Million (255,000,000) shares, consisting of Two Hundred Forty-Five Million (245,000,000) shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, and Ten Million (10,000,000) shares of Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share.

 

 

 

(b) The designations, voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of the above classes of stock are as follows:

 

(i) Subject to the limitations hereinafter contained and to the requirements of the laws of the State of Delaware, authority is hereby vested in the Board of Directors of the Corporation to issue from time to time said Ten Million (10,000,000) shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, with such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such stock adopted by the Board of Directors. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such shares of each particular series of Preferred Stock, subject to the limitations hereinafter contained and to the requirements of the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors is also expressly authorized:

 

(A) to fix the distinctive serial designation of the shares of any such series;

 

(B) to fix the consideration for which the shares of any such series are to be issued;

 

(C) to fix the rate or amount per annum, if any, at which the holders of the shares of any such series shall be entitled to receive dividends, the dates on which such dividends shall be payable, whether the dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative, and if cumulative, to fix the date or dates from which such dividends shall be cumulative;

 

(D) to fix the price or prices at which, the times during which, and the other terms, if any, upon which the shares of any such series may be redeemed;

 

(E) to fix the rights, if any, which the holders of shares of any such series have in the event of dissolution or upon distribution of the assets of the Corporation;

 

(F) to determine whether the shares of any such series shall be made convertible into or exchangeable for other securities of the Corporation, including shares of the Common Stock of the Corporation or shares of any other series of the Preferred Stock of the Corporation, now or hereafter authorized, or any new class of preferred stock of the Corporation hereafter authorized, the price or prices or the rate or rates at which conversion or exchange may be made, and the terms and conditions upon which any such conversion right or exchange right shall be exercised;

 

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(G) to determine whether a sinking fund shall be provided for the purchase or redemption of shares of any series and, if so, to fix the terms and amount or amounts of such sinking fund;

 

(H) to determine whether the shares of any such series shall have voting rights, and, if so, to fix the voting rights of the shares of such series; and

 

(I) to fix such other preferences and rights privileges and restrictions applicable to any such series as may be permitted by law.

 

(ii) Subject to the prior rights of the holders of any shares of Preferred Stock, the holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled to receive, to the extent permitted by law, such dividends as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, distribution of assets or winding up of the Corporation, after the holders of the Preferred Stock then outstanding, if any, shall have received the full preferential amounts to which such holders may be entitled upon such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, distribution of assets or winding up, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled, to the exclusion of such holders of the Preferred Stock then outstanding, to receive all the remaining assets of the Corporation of whatever kind available for distribution to stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them respectively. A consolidation, merger or reorganization of the Corporation with any other corporation or corporations, or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, shall not be considered a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of the immediately preceding sentence.

 

Except as may otherwise by required by law, the By-Laws of the Corporation or this Certificate of Incorporation, each holder of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held of record in the name of such stockholder on all matters voted upon by the stockholders, including the election of directors.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

All preemptive rights of shareholders are hereby denied, so that no shares of capital stock of the Corporation of any class whether now or hereafter authorized and no other security of the Corporation shall carry with it and no holder or owner of any share or shares of capital stock of the Corporation of any class whether now or hereafter authorized or of any other security of the Corporation shall have any preferential or preemptive right to acquire additional shares of capital stock of the Corporation of any class whether now or hereafter authorized or of any other security of the Corporation.

 

All cumulative voting rights are hereby denied, so that none of the capital stock of the Corporation of any class whether now or hereafter authorized or of any other security of the Corporation shall carry with it and no holder or owner of any share or shares of capital stock of the Corporation of any class whether now or hereafter authorized or of any other security of the Corporation shall have any right to cumulative voting in the election of directors or for any other purpose.

  

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The foregoing provisions are not intended to modify or prohibit any provisions of any voting trust or agreement between or among holders or owners of shares of stock or other securities.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

(a) Except as may be otherwise provided by law or in this Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. The number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed by, or in the manner provided in, the By-Laws of the Corporation. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized and empowered:

 

(i) to make, alter, amend or repeal the By-Laws of the Corporation in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or this Certificate of Incorporation, subject to the power of the stockholders, at the time entitled to vote, to alter, amend or repeal By-Laws made by the Board of Directors;

 

(ii) to fix from time to time the amount of net profits of the Corporation or of its surplus to be reserved as working capital or for any other lawful purpose;

 

(iii) to authorize and issue obligations of the Corporation, secured or unsecured, and to include therein such provisions as to redemption, conversion or other terms thereof as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may determine, and to authorize the mortgaging or pledging, as security therefor, of any property of the Corporation, real or personal, including after-acquired property;

 

(iv) to determine whether any, and if any, what part, of the net profits of the Corporation or of its surplus shall be declared in dividends and paid to the stockholders, and to direct and determine the use and disposition of such net profits or such surplus; and

 

(v) from time to time, without the vote or assent of the stockholders, to issue additional shares of authorized Common Stock.

 

In addition to the powers and authorities herein or by law expressly conferred upon it, the Board of Directors may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the laws of the State of Delaware, of this Certificate of Incorporation and of the By-Laws of the Corporation.

 

(b) No contract or other transaction of the Corporation shall be affected by the fact that any of the directors of the Corporation are in any way interested in or connected with any other party to such contract or transaction, or are themselves parties to such contract or transaction, provided that at the meeting of the Board of Directors or of the committee there of authorizing or confirming such contract or transaction there shall be present a quorum of directors not so interested or connected, and such contract or transaction shall be approved by a majority of such quorum, which shall consist of directors not so interested or connected.

 

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(c) Commencing with the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation held in 2021, but subject to any provision for the election of directors by one or more series of Preferred Stock, the directors shall be elected by the stockholders entitled to vote thereon for terms expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that any director elected or appointed prior to the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders shall complete the term of office to which such director has been elected or appointed. The term of office for each director serving in the class elected at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2018 shall expire at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2021; the term of office for each director serving in the class elected at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2019 shall expire at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2022; and the term of office for each director serving in the class elected at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2020 shall expire at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2023. The division of the Board of Directors into classes shall terminate at the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders. A director shall hold office until his or her successor shall be elected and shall qualify, subject, however, to prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office.

 

(d) Any directors serving in a class of directors elected for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the election of such class may be removed only for cause, and all other directors may be removed either for or without cause. Subject to any provisions for the election of directors by one or more series of Preferred Stock, the removal of any director, whether for or without cause, requires the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

(a) The Corporation shall to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of Delaware as the same now or may hereafter exist, indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. To the extent that a director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in this subsection (a) of this ARTICLE VIII or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he or she shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith.

 

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(b) Any indemnification required under subsection (a) of this ARTICLE VIII (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director or officer is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsection (a) of this ARTICLE VIII. Such determination shall be made (1) by the board of directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (2) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (3) by the stockholders.

 

(c) Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or a director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in or pursuant to this ARTICLE VIII.

 

(d) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to paragraph (c) of this ARTICLE VIII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, the By-Laws of the Corporation or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.

 

(e) Without limiting the provisions of this ARTICLE VIII, the Corporation is authorized from time to time, without further action by the stockholders of the Corporation, to enter into agreements with any director or officer of the Corporation providing such rights of indemnification as the Corporation may deem appropriate, up to the maximum extent permitted by law. Any agreement entered into by the Corporation with a director may be authorized by the other directors, and such authorization shall not be invalid on the basis that similar agreements may have been or may thereafter be entered into with other directors.

 

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

 

(g) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this ARTICLE VIII shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

 

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(h) For purposes of this ARTICLE VIII, references to a corporation shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors or officers so that a person who is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this ARTICLE VIII with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

 

(i) For purposes of this ARTICLE VIII, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director or officer of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by such director or officer with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this ARTICLE VIII.

 

(j) Persons who are not covered by the foregoing provisions of this ARTICLE VIII and who are or were employees or agents of the Corporation, or are or were serving at the request of the Corporation as employees or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, may be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of Delaware as the same now or may hereafter exist or to such lesser extent as the Board of Directors of the Corporation, in its discretion, may from time to time deem appropriate.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by consent in writing by such stockholders. A special meeting of stockholders may be called only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors or by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President.

 

ARTICLE X

 

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

 

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ARTICLE XI

 

A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director except (i) for breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL (providing for liability of directors for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions), or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Should the DGCL be amended hereafter so as to expand or limit the liability of a director, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be so expanded to the fullest extent required or so limited to the fullest extent permitted by such amendment without the need for amendment of this Certificate of Incorporation or further action on the part of the stockholders of the Corporation.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, United Therapeutics Corporation has caused this Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be executed by the undersigned duly authorized officer, this 26th day of June, 2020.

 

UNITED THERAPEUTICS CORPORATION

   
By: /s/ John S. Hess, Jr.  
Name: John S. Hess, Jr.  
Title: EVP, Deputy General Counsel, Asst. Corporate Secretary  

  

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Exhibit 3.2

 

EIGHTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS OF
UNITED THERAPEUTICS CORPORATION

 

Article I

OFFICES

 

Section 1.1. Registered Office. The registered office of United Therapeutics Corporation (the “Corporation”) shall be in the State of Delaware at such location and with such registered agent in charge thereof as may be established by the Board of Directors from time to time.

 

Section 1.2. Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices, and keep the books and records of the Corporation, except as may be required by law, at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

Article II

STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 2.1. Annual Meetings. An annual meeting of stockholders shall be held for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and to transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting at such date, time and place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting.

 

Section 2.2. Special Meetings. A special meeting of the stockholders may be called only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors or by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President. For purposes of these bylaws, the term “entire Board of Directors” shall mean the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.3. Notice of Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, annual or special, a written notice of the meeting shall be given which shall state the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise provided by law, the notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting.

 

 

 

 

Section 2.4. Notice of Stockholder Business at Meetings. At any annual meeting of stockholders, only such business shall be conducted, and only such proposals shall be acted upon, as shall have been properly brought before the meeting as hereinafter provided. For a proposal to be properly brought before an annual meeting, each item of business must either (a) be specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or the persons calling the meeting as herein provided, (b) be otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (c) be otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder (who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice is provided) who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this section. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clause (c) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose business (other than business included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (such act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “Exchange Act”)) at an annual meeting of stockholders. For a proposal to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than thirty (30) days or delayed (other than as the result of adjournment) by more than thirty (30) days from the anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder must be delivered not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. The provisions of this Section 2.4 shall also govern what constitutes timely notice for purposes of Rule 14a-4(c) under the Exchange Act. A stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting (a) a brief description of the proposal desired to be brought before the meeting (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (b) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, (c) the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (d) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business, (e) as to the stockholder giving the notice or, if the notice is given on behalf of a beneficial owner on whose behalf the proposal is made, as to such beneficial owner, and if such stockholder or beneficial owner is an entity, as to each director, executive, managing member or control person of such entity (any such individual or control person, a “control person”), (i) the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are beneficially owned (as defined below) by such stockholder or beneficial owner and by any control person as of the date of the notice, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for such meeting of the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation beneficially owned by such stockholder or beneficial owner and by any control person as of the record date for the meeting, (ii) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the proposal between or among such stockholder, beneficial owner or control person and any other person, including without limitation any agreements that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 5 or Item 6 of Exchange Act Schedule 13D (regardless of whether the requirement to file a Schedule 13D is applicable) and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for such meeting of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting, and (iii) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including without limitation any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, such stockholder, beneficial owner or control person, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss, manage risk or benefit from changes in the share price of any class of the Corporation’s capital stock, or maintain, increase or decrease the voting power of the stockholder, beneficial owner or control person with respect to securities of the Corporation, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for such meeting of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting, and (f) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends (i) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal and/or (ii) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal. For purposes of clause (e) of this paragraph, shares shall be treated as “beneficially owned” by a person if the person beneficially owns such shares, directly or indirectly, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Regulations 13D and 13G thereunder or has or shares pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing): (a) the right to acquire such shares (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the fulfillment of a condition or both), (b) the right to vote such shares, alone or in concert with others and/or (c) investment power with respect to such shares, including the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such shares.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.4 to the contrary, if the record date for determining if the stockholder is entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders is different from the record date for determining if the stockholder is entitled to a notice of the meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.4 shall set forth a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for determining if the stockholder is entitled to vote at the meeting, or by the opening of business on the date of the meeting (whichever is earlier), of the information required under clauses (e)(i), (ii) and (iii) of this Section 2.4, and such information when provided to the Corporation shall be current as of the record date for determining if the stockholder is entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

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Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.4. The Board of Directors may reject any stockholder proposal submitted for consideration at a meeting of stockholders which is not made in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.4 or which is not a proper subject for stockholder action in accordance with provisions of applicable law. Alternatively, if the Board of Directors does not consider the validity of any such stockholder proposal, the chairman of the meeting of stockholders may, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the persons attending the meeting that the business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.4, and he or she shall further declare that any such business not properly brought before such meeting shall not be transacted. The Board of Directors or, as the case may be, the chairman of the meeting shall have absolute authority to decide questions of compliance with the foregoing procedures and the Board of Directors or, as the case may be, the ruling thereon of the chairman of the meeting shall be final and conclusive. If none of the stockholders who submitted business proposals (or their qualified representatives), whether pursuant to the requirements of these bylaws or in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, appears at the meeting to present the matter or matters to be brought before the meeting that were specified in such stockholder’s request, the Corporation need not present the matter or matters for a vote at the meeting, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of these bylaws, “qualified representative” shall mean a person that is a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder (or a reliable reproduction or electronic transmission of the writing) delivered to the Corporation prior to the making of such proposal at such meeting (and in any event not fewer than 5 days before the meeting) by such stockholder stating that such person is authorized to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, a stockholder seeking to include a proposal in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies shall 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 2.4. Nothing in this Section 2.4 shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

 

For purposes of these bylaws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

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Section 2.5. Nomination of Director Candidates. To be qualified for election as a director, persons must be nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.5 or in Section 2.14 of these bylaws. Nominations of candidates for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be made only by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or by a stockholder (who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice is provided under this Section 2.5 or Section 2.14 of these bylaws) entitled to vote at such meeting of stockholders who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this section. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing sentence shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations at an annual or special meeting, as applicable, of stockholders. All such nominations, except those made by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely under this Section 2.5, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to or mailed and received by the Secretary not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting and, in the case of a special meeting at which directors are to be elected, not less than ten (10) days immediately following the public announcement of such special meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than thirty (30) days or delayed (other than the result of adjournment) by more than thirty (30) days from the anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder must be delivered not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of any meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth (a) all information relating to such nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, (b) the information required to be submitted by nominees pursuant to Section 2.15(a) of these bylaws, (c) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, (d) the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (e) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such nomination, (f) as to the stockholder giving the notice or, if the notice is given on behalf of a beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, as to such beneficial owner, and if such stockholder or beneficial owner is an entity, as to each director, executive, managing member or control person of such entity (any such individual or control person, a “control person”), (i) the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by such stockholder or beneficial owner and by any control person as of the date of the notice, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for such meeting of the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation beneficially owned by such stockholder or beneficial owner and by any control person as of the record date for the meeting, (ii) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination between or among such stockholder, beneficial owner or control person and any other person, including without limitation any agreements that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 5 or Item 6 of Exchange Act Schedule 13D (regardless of whether the requirement to file a Schedule 13D is applicable) and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for such meeting of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting, and (iii) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including without limitation any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, such stockholder, beneficial owner or control person, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss, manage risk or benefit from changes in the share price of any class of the Corporation’s capital stock, or maintain, increase or decrease the voting power of the stockholder, beneficial owner or control person with respect to securities of the Corporation, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for such meeting of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting, and (g) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends (i) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least a majority of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and/or (ii) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such nomination. For purposes of clause (f) of this paragraph, shares shall be treated as “beneficially owned” by a person if the person beneficially owns such shares, directly or indirectly, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Regulations 13D and 13G thereunder or has or shares pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing): (a) the right to acquire such shares (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the fulfillment of a condition or both), (b) the right to vote such shares, alone or in concert with others and/or (c) investment power with respect to such shares, including the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such shares.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.5 to the contrary, if the record date for determining if the stockholder is entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders is different from the record date for determining if the stockholder is entitled to notice of the meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.5 shall set forth a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for determining if the stockholders is entitled to vote at the meeting, or by the opening of business on the date of the meeting (whichever is earlier), of the information required under clauses (f)(i), (ii) and (iii) of this Section 2.5, and such information when provided to the Corporation shall be current as of the record date for determining if the stockholder is entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

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The Board of Directors may reject any stockholder nomination submitted for consideration at a meeting of stockholders that is not made in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.5 or Section 2.14. Alternatively, if the Board of Directors does not consider the validity of any such stockholder nomination, the chairman of the meeting of stockholders may, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the persons attending the meeting that the nomination was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.5, and he or she shall further declare that any such nomination not properly brought before such meeting shall be disregarded. The Board of Directors or, as the case may be, the chairman of the meeting shall have absolute authority to decide questions of compliance with the foregoing procedures and the Board of Directors or, as the case may be, the ruling thereon of the chairman of the meeting shall be final and conclusive. If none of the stockholders who submitted stockholder nominations (or their qualified representatives) appears at the meeting to present the nomination specified in such stockholder’s notice, the Corporation need not present the nominee for a vote at the meeting, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation.

 

Section 2.6. Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time for any reason, by the chairman of the meeting whether or not a quorum is present. Notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof, and means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed present and in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

 

Section 2.7. Quorum. At each meeting of stockholders, except where otherwise required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The stockholders present or represented at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum. Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series is required, a majority of the voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series present in person or represented by proxy shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter.

 

Section 2.8. Organization. The Chairman of the Board or such other person as the Board of Directors may have designated shall preside over any meetings of stockholders. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting. No ballot, proxies or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes thereto, shall be accepted by the inspectors of election after the closing of the polls.

 

The Board of Directors shall be entitled to make such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of stockholders as it shall deem necessary, appropriate or convenient. 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 or convenient 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 the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies and such other persons as the chairman shall permit, restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof, limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants, regulation of the opening and closing of the polls for balloting and matters which are to be voted on by ballot (if any), and procedures (if any) requiring attendees to provide the Corporation advance notice of their intent to attend the meeting.

 

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Section 2.9. Voting; Proxies. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share of stock held by him or her which has voting power upon the matter in question. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for him or her by proxy in accordance with Section 212 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot. In all director elections other than contested director elections, each nominee for election as a director shall be elected if the number of votes cast for the nominee’s election exceeds the number of votes cast against the nominee’s election. In all contested director elections, the nominees for election as a director shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast. For purposes of this Section 2.9, a “contested director election” means any meeting of stockholders at which the number of candidates exceeds the number of directors to be elected and with respect to which (a) the Secretary of the Corporation receives a notice that a stockholder intends to nominate a person for election to the Board of Directors in compliance with the requirements for stockholder nominees for director set forth in Section 2.5 or Section 2.14 of these bylaws and (b) such a notice of an intent to nominate a candidate for election has not been withdrawn, on or before the fifth (5th) business day prior to the date that the Corporation files its definitive proxy statement relating to such meeting with the SEC (regardless of whether thereafter revised or supplemented). All other questions shall, unless otherwise required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, or provided by these bylaws or the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed, be decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, present in person or by proxy, at the meeting, provided that (except as otherwise required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation) the Board of Directors may require a larger vote upon any election or question.

 

Section 2.10. Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may, except as otherwise required by law, fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 3 at the adjourned meeting.

 

In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

Section 2.11. List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The Corporation shall prepare, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, annual or special, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or, (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be examined by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then such list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.

 

Section 2.12. Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required by law to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, may not be effected by consent in writing in lieu of a meeting by such stockholders.

 

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Section 2.13. Meetings by Remote Communications. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication in accordance with Section 211(a)(2) of the DGCL. If authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board of Directors may adopt, stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication (a) participate in a meeting of stockholders and (b) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided that: (i) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder; (ii) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings; and (iii) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.

 

Section 2.14. Proxy Access for Director Nominations.

 

(a)                                         The Corporation shall include in its proxy statement and on its form of proxy for an annual meeting of stockholders the name of, and the Additional Information (as defined below) relating to, any nominee for election to the Board of Directors who satisfies the eligibility requirements set forth in this Section 2.14 (a “Stockholder Nominee”) and who is identified in a timely and proper notice delivered under Section 2.14(g) of these bylaws (the “Stockholder Notice”) by a stockholder on behalf of one or more persons, but in no case more than twenty (20) persons, who (i) expressly elect to have such Stockholder Nominee included in the Corporation’s proxy statement, (ii) own and have owned (as defined below in Section 2.14(c)) shares representing at least three percent (3%) of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors continuously for at least three years (the “Required Shares”) as of the date of the Stockholder Notice and through the date of such annual meeting, and (iii) satisfy such additional requirements as shall be set forth in these bylaws, as amended from time to time (such stockholder or stockholders and additional persons on behalf of whom a stockholder is acting, an “Eligible Stockholder”).

 

(b)                                        For purposes of satisfying the foregoing ownership requirement under Section 2.14(a), (i) the outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation owned by one or more stockholders, or by the beneficial owner or owners who own outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation and on whose behalf any stockholder is acting, may be aggregated, provided that the number of stockholders and other beneficial owners whose ownership of shares is aggregated for such purpose shall not exceed twenty (20), and (ii) any two or more funds that are (1) under common management and funded primarily by a single employer or (2) 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, shall be treated as one stockholder or owner.

 

(c)                                         For purposes of this Section 2.14, an Eligible Stockholder shall be deemed to “own” only those outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation as to which the stockholder possesses both (i) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares and (ii) the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit and risk of loss on) such shares; provided that the number of shares calculated in accordance with clauses (i) and (ii) shall not include any shares (1) sold by such stockholder or any of its affiliates in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, (2) borrowed by such stockholder or any of its affiliates for any purposes or purchased by such stockholder or any of its affiliates pursuant to an agreement to resell, or (3) subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale, other derivative or similar agreement entered into by such stockholder 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 outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation, in any such case which instrument or agreement has, or is intended to have, the purpose or effect of (A) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such stockholder’s or its affiliates’ full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares, and/or (B) hedging, offsetting, or altering to any degree gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of such shares by such stockholder or affiliate. A stockholder shall “own” shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the stockholder retains the right to instruct how the shares are voted with respect to the election of directors and possesses the full economic interest in the shares. A stockholder’s ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the stockholder has delegated any voting power by means of a proxy, power of attorney, or other instrument or arrangement that is revocable at any time by the stockholder. A stockholder’s ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the stockholder has loaned such shares provided that the stockholder has the power to recall such loaned shares on three (3) business days’ notice and has recalled such loaned shares as of the date of the Stockholder Notice and through the date of the annual meeting. The terms “owned,” “owning” and other variations of the word “own” shall have correlative meanings. Whether outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation are “owned” for these purposes shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

 

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(d)                                        No stockholder or beneficial owner may be a member of more than one group of stockholders constituting an Eligible Stockholder under this Section 2.14.

 

(e)                                         An Eligible Stockholder (or in the case of a group, each stockholder or beneficial owner whose shares are aggregated for purposes of constituting an Eligible Stockholder) must (i) within five (5) business days after the date of the Stockholder Notice, provide one or more written statements from the record holder(s) of the Required Shares and from each intermediary through which the Required Shares are or have been held, in each case during the requisite three (3)-year holding period, verifying that, as of the date of the Stockholder Notice, the Eligible Stockholder owns, and has owned continuously for the preceding three (3) years, the Required Shares, and (ii) include in the written statements provided pursuant to Item 4 of Schedule 14N filed with the SEC a certification that it owns and has owned, as defined in Section 2.14(c) of these bylaws, the Required Shares for at least three (3) years.

 

(f)                                          For purposes of this Section 2.14, the “Additional Information” that the Corporation will include in its proxy statement is (i) the information concerning the Stockholder Nominee and the Eligible Stockholder that is required to be disclosed in the Corporation’s proxy statement by the regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act; and (ii) if the Eligible Stockholder so elects, a written statement of the Eligible Stockholder, not to exceed five hundred (500) words, in support of the Stockholder Nominee, which must be provided at the same time as the Stockholder Notice for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders (the “Statement”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.14, the Corporation may omit from its proxy statement any information or Statement that it, in good faith, believes would violate any applicable law or regulation. Nothing in this Section 2.14 shall limit the Corporation’s ability to solicit against and include in its proxy statement its own statements relating to any Stockholder Nominee and any Eligible Stockholder.

 

(g)                                        The Stockholder Notice shall set forth and consist of (i) all applicable information required under Section 2.5 and Section 2.15(a) of these bylaws; (ii) a statement by the Eligible Stockholder (or in the case of a group, each stockholder or beneficial owner whose shares are aggregated for purposes of constituting an Eligible Stockholder) certifying as to the number of shares of voting stock of the Corporation it owns and has owned (as defined in Section 2.14(c)) continuously for at least three (3) years as of the date of the Stockholder Notice and agreeing to continue to own through the date of such annual meeting such shares it is deemed to own for purposes of this Section 2.14; (iii) a copy of the Schedule 14N that has been or is concurrently being filed with the SEC as required by Rule 14a-18 under the Exchange Act; and (iv) the written agreement of the Eligible Stockholder (or in the case of a group, each stockholder or beneficial owner whose shares are aggregated for purposes of constituting an Eligible Stockholder) addressed to the Corporation, setting forth the following additional agreements, representations, and warranties: (1) the Eligible Stockholder’s agreement to provide written statements from the record holder and intermediaries in the same form as required under Section 2.14(e) verifying the Eligible Stockholder’s continuous ownership of the Required Shares through and as of the business day immediately preceding the date of the annual meeting, together with the Eligible Stockholder’s agreement to continue to own such shares through the date of the annual meeting; (2) the Eligible Stockholder’s representation and warranty that the Eligible Stockholder (including each member of any group of stockholders that together is an Eligible Stockholder under this Section 2.14) (A) 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, (B) has not nominated and will not nominate for election to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting any person other than the Stockholder Nominee(s) being nominated pursuant to this Section 2.14, (C) 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 clause (l) of Rule 14a-1 under the Exchange Act in support of the election of any individual as a director at the annual meeting other than its Stockholder Nominee or a nominee of the Board of Directors, and (D) will not distribute to any stockholder any form of proxy for the annual meeting other than the form distributed by the Corporation; and (3) the Eligible Stockholder’s agreement to (A) assume all liability stemming from any legal or regulatory violation arising out of the Eligible Stockholder’s communications with the stockholders of the Corporation or out of the information that the Eligible Stockholder provided to the Corporation, (B) comply with all other laws and regulations applicable to any solicitation in connection with the annual meeting, (C) file all materials described below in Section 2.14(i) with the SEC, regardless of whether any such filing is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, or whether any exemption from filing is available for such materials under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, and (D) provide to the Corporation prior to the election of directors such additional information as necessary or reasonably requested by the Corporation. The inspector of elections shall not give effect to the Eligible Stockholder’s votes with respect to the election of directors if the Eligible Stockholder breaches any of its agreements, representations, or warranties set forth in the Stockholder Notice, or if any of the information in the Stockholder Notice was not, when provided, true and correct.

 

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(h)                                        To be timely under this Section 2.14, a Stockholder Notice must be received by the Secretary of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred and fiftieth (150th) day prior to the first anniversary of the date the definitive proxy statement was first released to stockholders in connection with the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or forty-five (45) days after the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, in order to be timely the Stockholder Notice must be so received not later than the close of business on the later of the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting or the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which the public announcement of the date of the annual meeting is first made. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

(i)                                          The Eligible Stockholder shall file with the SEC any solicitation or other communication relating to the Corporation’s annual meeting, one or more of the Corporation’s directors then in office or any Stockholder Nominee, regardless of whether any such filing is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, or whether any exemption from filing is available for such solicitation or other communication under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act.

 

(j)                                          The number of Stockholder Nominees appearing in the Corporation’s proxy statement with respect to an annual meeting, combined with the number of (i) directors currently serving on the Board of Directors as a result of being elected pursuant to this Section 2.14, where the term of that director or directors extends past the election of directors for which the Corporation is soliciting proxies in connection with such annual meeting, and (ii) Stockholder Nominees who satisfy the requirements for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy statement but who are either withdrawn or are nominated by the Board of Directors as Board nominees, shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the number of directors then serving in office as of the last day on which a Stockholder Notice may be delivered pursuant to this Section 2.14, or if such amount is not a whole number, the closest whole number below twenty percent (20%); provided, however, that if fewer than ten (10) directors are serving on the Board of Directors as of the last day on which a Stockholder Notice may be delivered pursuant to Section 2.14(h), the number of Stockholder Nominees shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the number of directors then serving in office as of such date. In the event that the number of Stockholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Stockholders pursuant to this Section 2.14 exceeds this maximum number, each Eligible Stockholder will select one Stockholder Nominee for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy statement until the maximum number is reached, going in order of the amount (largest to smallest) of shares of voting stock of the Corporation each Eligible Stockholder disclosed as owned in its respective Stockholder Notice submitted to the Corporation. If the maximum number is not reached after each Eligible Stockholder has selected one Stockholder Nominee, this selection process will continue as many times as necessary, following the same order each time, until the maximum number is reached. The Corporation shall not be required to include, pursuant to this Section 2.14, any Stockholder Nominee(s) in its proxy statement for any meeting of stockholders for which the Secretary of the Corporation receives notice that a stockholder intends to nominate a person for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to the advance notice requirements for stockholder nominees for director set forth in Section 2.5 of these byaws and which stockholder does not expressly elect to have its nominee(s) included in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to this Section 2.14.

 

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(k)                                        Any Stockholder Nominee who is included in the Corporation’s proxy statement for a particular annual meeting but either (i) withdraws from or becomes ineligible or unavailable for election at the annual meeting, or (ii) does not receive at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the votes cast in favor of the Stockholder Nominee’s election, will be ineligible to be a Stockholder Nominee pursuant to this Section 2.14 for the next two annual meetings.

 

(l)                                          The Corporation shall not be required to include, pursuant to this Section 2.14, any Stockholder Nominees in its proxy statement for any meeting of stockholders (i) who is not independent under the listing standards of the principal U.S. exchange upon which the shares of the Corporation are listed, any applicable rules of the SEC, and any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in determining and disclosing the independence of the Corporation’s directors, (ii) who does not qualify as independent under the audit committee independence requirements set forth in the rules of the principal U.S. exchange on which shares of the Corporation are listed, as a “non-employee director” under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, or as an “outside director” for the purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (or any successor provision), (iii) 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, as amended, or (iv) who is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses) or has been convicted in a criminal proceeding within the past ten (10) years.

 

Section 2.15. Submission of Information by Director Nominees.

 

(a)                                         To be eligible to be a nominee for election or re-election as a director of the Corporation, a person must deliver in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation (if delivered by electronic mail or facsimile, the information shall be directed to the Secretary at the electronic mail address or facsimile number, as the case may be, specified in the Corporation’s most recent proxy statement) the following information: (i) a written representation and agreement, which shall be signed by such person and pursuant to which such person shall represent and agree that such person: (1) consents to serving as a director if elected and (if applicable) to being named in the Corporation’s proxy statement and form of proxy as a nominee, and currently intends to serve as a director for the full term for which such person is standing for election; (2) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity: (A) as to how the person, if elected as a director, will act or vote on any issue or question that has not been disclosed to the Corporation; or (B) that could limit or interfere with the person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law; (3) 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 or nominee that has not been disclosed to the Corporation; and (4) if elected as a director, will comply with all of the Corporation’s corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines, and any other Corporation policies and guidelines applicable to directors (which will be provided to such person promptly following a request therefor); and (ii) all completed and signed questionnaires prepared by the Corporation (including those questionnaires required of the Corporation’s directors and any other questionnaire the Corporation determines is necessary or advisable to assess whether a nominee will satisfy any qualifications or requirements imposed by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, any law, rule, regulation or listing standard that may be applicable to the Corporation, and the Corporation’s corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines, and any other Corporation policies and guidelines applicable to directors), which will be provided to such person promptly following a request therefor.

 

(b)                                        A nominee for election or re-election as a director of the Corporation shall also provide to the Corporation such other information as it may reasonably request. The Corporation may request such additional information as necessary to permit the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such person to serve as a director of the Corporation, including information relevant to a determination whether such person can be considered an independent director.

 

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(c)                                         Notwithstanding any other provision of these bylaws, if a stockholder has submitted notice of an intent to nominate a candidate for election or re-election as a director pursuant to Section 2.5 or Section 2.14 of these bylaws, the questionnaires described in Section 2.15(a)(ii) above and the additional information described in Section 2.15(a)(i)(4) and Section 2.15(b) above shall be considered timely if provided to the Corporation by the deadline for submission of such notice provided in Section 2.5 or Section 2.14(h), as applicable, and all information provided pursuant to this Section 2.15 shall be deemed part of such stockholder’s notice submitted pursuant to Section 2.5 or Section 2.14, as applicable.

 

Section 2.16. Delivery to the Corporation. Whenever this Article II requires one or more persons (including a record or beneficial owner of stock) to deliver a document or information to the Corporation or any officer, employee or agent thereof (including any notice, request, questionnaire, revocation, representation or other document or agreement), the Corporation shall not be required to accept delivery of such document or information unless the document or information is in writing exclusively (and not in an electronic transmission) and delivered exclusively by hand (including, without limitation, overnight courier service) or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.

 

Article III

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 3.1. Powers; Number; Qualifications. Except as may be otherwise required by law, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject to Delaware law, the Certificate of Incorporation and these bylaws. The number of directors which shall constitute the entire Board of Directors shall be not less than five (5) nor more than twenty (20). The exact number of directors within the minimum and maximum limitation specified in the preceding sentence shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by resolution of a majority of the entire Board of Directors. Directors need not be stockholders or residents of the State of Delaware.

 

The term of office of each director shall be as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 3.2. Election; Term of Office; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies. Commencing with the annual meeting of stockholders held in 2021, and except as otherwise set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation, the directors shall be elected annually by the stockholders entitled to vote thereon. Each director shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which he or she was elected and shall continue in office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. Any director may resign at any time upon written or electronic notice to the Board of Directors or to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary of the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, and unless otherwise specified therein, no acceptance of such resignation shall be necessary to make it effective. Any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall, unless otherwise required by law or by resolution of the Board of Directors, be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director, and directors so chosen shall hold office until the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders, and until their successors shall be elected and qualified; provided, however, that any directors so elected to fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall have the same remaining term of office as that of their predecessor, and shall hold office until their successors shall be elected and qualified. No decrease in the authorized number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. The stockholders of the Corporation are expressly prohibited from cumulating their votes in any election of directors of the Corporation.

 

Section 3.3. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such places within or without the State of Delaware and at such times as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine; provided, however, that no fewer than one regular meeting per year shall be held. A notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.

 

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Section 3.4. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time or place within or without the State of Delaware whenever called by the Chairman of the Board, if any, by the Vice Chairman of the Board, if any, by the Chief Executive Officer or the President, or by a majority of the entire Board of Directors. The person or persons authorized to call a special meeting may fix the place and time of such meeting. Notice of each such meeting shall be given to each director, if by mail, addressed to such director as his or her residence or usual place of business, at least five (5) days before the day on which such meeting is to be held, or shall be sent to such director by electronic transmission or be delivered personally or by telephone, in each case at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the time set for such meeting. Notice of any meeting need not be given to a director who shall, either before or after the meeting, submit a waiver of such notice or who shall attend such meeting without protesting, prior to or at its commencement, the lack of notice to such director. A notice of special meeting need not state the purpose of such meeting, and, unless indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.

 

Section 3.5. Telephonic Meetings Permitted. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or of such committee, as the case may be, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 3.5 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

Section 3.6. Quorum; Vote Required for Action. Except as otherwise required by law, at all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the entire Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board unless the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws shall require a vote of a greater number. In case at any meeting of the Board of Directors a quorum shall not be present, the members of the Board of Directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. To the fullest extent permitted by law, at any adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

 

Section 3.7. Organization. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, or in his or her absence by another director appointed by the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

Section 3.8. Action by Written Consent. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission. After an action by consent is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes of the Board of Directors or such committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form. Such action by written consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the Board of Directors. An action by consent may be made effective in the future in accordance with Section 141(f) of the DGCL.

 

Section 3.9. Compensation. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix compensation of directors. Directors may receive reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with service on the Board of Directors.

 

Section 3.10. Emergency Bylaws. In the event of any emergency, disaster or catastrophe, as referred to in Section 110 of the DGCL, or other similar emergency condition, as a result of which a quorum of the Board of Directors or a standing committee of the Board of Directors cannot readily be convened for action, then the director or directors in attendance at the meeting shall constitute a quorum. Such director or directors in attendance may further take action to appoint one (1) or more of themselves or other directors to membership on any standing or temporary committees of the Board of Directors as they shall deem necessary and appropriate.

 

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Article IV

COMMITTEES

 

Section 4.1. Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board of Directors, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting of such committee and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at such meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have power or authority in reference to the following matters: (i) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, or (ii) adopting, amending or repealing any bylaw of the Corporation. All committees of the Board of Directors shall keep minutes of their meetings and shall report their proceedings to the Board of Directors when appropriate.

 

Section 4.2. Committee Rules. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise provides, each committee designated by the Board of Directors may make, alter and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of a provision by the Board of Directors or a provision in the rules of such committee to the contrary, a majority of the members in office of such committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present at a meeting at the time of such vote if a quorum is then present shall be the act of such committee, and in all other respects each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of Directors of the Corporation conducts its business pursuant to ARTICLE III of these bylaws.

 

Article V

OFFICERS

 

Section 5.1. Officers; Election; Qualification; Term of Office; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and such other officers as may be appointed by (or in the manner determined by) the Board of Directors, each to have such authority, functions or duties as determined by or at the direction of the Board of Directors. Each officer shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or by contract and until such person’s successor shall have been duly chosen and qualified, or until person’s earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal. Any officer may resign at any time upon written or electronic notice to the Board of Directors or to the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of the Corporation, without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract to which such officer is party. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, and unless otherwise specified therein no acceptance of such resignation shall be necessary to make it effective. The Board of Directors may remove any officer with or without cause at any time. Any such removal shall be without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract to which such officer is party, but the election or appointment of an officer shall not of itself create contractual rights. Any number of 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 if such instrument is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws to be executed, acknowledged or verified by two or more officers. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation by death, resignation, removal or otherwise may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by (or in the manner determined by) the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5.2. Powers and Duties of Officers. The officers of the Corporation shall have such powers and duties in the management of the Corporation as may be prescribed by or at the direction of the Board of Directors and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may require any officer, agent or employee to give security for the faithful performance of his or her duties.

 

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Article VI

STOCK

 

Section 6.1. Certificates. The shares of the Corporation may be represented by certificates, or may be issued in uncertificated form in accordance with the DGCL, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of stock shall be uncertificated shares. The issuance of shares in uncertificated form shall not affect shares already represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Every holder of stock in the Corporation represented by a certificate shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Corporation by any two authorized officers of the Corporation, including, without limitation, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Secretary, or an Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary, of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by him or her in the Corporation. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

 

Section 6.2. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his or her legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificated or uncertificated shares. The Board of Directors may adopt such other provisions and restrictions with reference to lost certificates, not inconsistent with applicable law, as it shall in its discretion deem appropriate.

 

Article VII

INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 7.1. Indemnification of Officers and Directors. The Corporation shall to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of Delaware as the same now or may hereafter exist, indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or otherwise, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a current or former director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. To the extent that a director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 7.1 of this ARTICLE VII or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he or she shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith.

 

Section 7.2. Determination. Any indemnification required under Section 7.1 of this ARTICLE VII (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director or officer is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 7.1 of this ARTICLE VII. Such determination shall be made (1) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, (3) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.

 

Section 7.3. Advancement of Expenses. Expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by a current or former officer or a director in defending any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or otherwise, shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in or pursuant to this ARTICLE VII.

 

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Section 7.4. Other Rights of Indemnification. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to this ARTICLE VII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw of the Corporation, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.

 

Section 7.5. Indemnification Agreements. Without limiting the provisions of this ARTICLE VII, the Corporation is authorized from time to time, without further action by the stockholders of the Corporation, to enter into agreements with any director or officer of the Corporation providing such rights of indemnification and advancement as the Corporation may deem appropriate, up to the maximum extent permitted by law. Any agreement entered into by the Corporation with a director may be authorized by the other directors, and such authorization shall not be invalid on the basis that similar agreements may have been or may thereafter be entered into with other directors.

 

Section 7.6. Liability Insurance. The Corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of this ARTICLE VII.

 

Section 7.7. Survival of Right to Indemnification. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this ARTICLE VII shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

 

Section 7.8. Definitions. For purposes of this ARTICLE VII, references to a “corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors or officers so that a person who is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this ARTICLE VII with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

 

For purposes of this ARTICLE VII, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director or officer of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by such director or officer with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this ARTICLE VII.

 

Section 7.9. Indemnification of Employees and Agents. Persons who are not covered by the foregoing provisions of this ARTICLE VII and who are or were employees or agents of the Corporation, or are or were serving at the request of the Corporation as employees or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, may be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of Delaware as the same now or may hereafter exist or to such lesser extent as the Board of Directors of the Corporation, in its discretion, may from time to time deem appropriate.

 

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Article VIII

FORUM FOR ADJUDICATION OF DISPUTES

 

Section 8.1. Forum. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including any beneficial owner) to bring (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws, (d) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, or (e) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of any provision of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws, shall be a state court located within the State of Delaware (or, if no state court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware); in all cases subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants.

 

Section 8.2. Personal Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section 8.1 of these bylaws is filed in a court other than a state court within the State of Delaware (or, if no state court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder (including any beneficial owner), such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (a) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Section 8.1 of these bylaws and (b) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

 

Section 8.3. Enforceability. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this ARTICLE VIII. If any provision of this ARTICLE VIII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this ARTICLE VIII (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this ARTICLE VIII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Article IX

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 9.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 9.2. Seal. The Corporation may have a corporate seal which shall have the name of the Corporation inscribed thereon and shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board of Directors. The corporate seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.

 

Section 9.3. Manner of Notice. Except as otherwise required by law, notice may be given to a stockholder in writing directed to a stockholder’s mailing address as it appears on the records of the Corporation and shall be given: (i) if mailed, when notice is deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid; and (ii) if delivered by courier service, the earlier of when the notice is received or left at such stockholder’s address.

 

So long as the Corporation is subject to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s proxy rules set forth in Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, notice shall be given in the manner required by such rules. To the extent permitted by such rules, or if the Corporation is not subject to Regulation 14A, notice may be given by electronic transmission directed to the stockholder’s electronic mail address, and if so given, shall be given when directed to such stockholder’s electronic mail address unless the stockholder has notified the Corporation in writing or by electronic transmission of an objection to receiving notice by electronic mail or such notice is prohibited by Section 232(e) of the DGCL. If notice is given by electronic mail, such notice shall comply with the applicable provisions of Sections 232(a) and 232(d) of the DGCL.

 

Notice may be given by other forms of electronic transmission with the consent of a stockholder in the manner permitted by Section 232(b) of the DGCL, and shall be deemed given as provided therein.

  

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An affidavit of the mailing or other means of giving any notice of any stockholders meeting, executed by the Secretary or any transfer agent of the Corporation giving the notice, shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

 

Section 9.4. Waiver of Notice of Meetings of Stockholders, Directors and Committees. Whenever notice is required to be given by law or under any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. To the extent permitted by law, attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting was not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, directors, or members of a committee of directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws.

 

Section 9.5. Form of Records; Maintenance and Inspection of Records. Any records administered by or on behalf of the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account and minute books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device, method or one (1) or more electronic networks or databases (including one (1) or more distributed electronic networks or databases), provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time.

 

Section 9.6. Amendment of Bylaws. These bylaws may be altered or repealed, and new bylaws made, by the Board of Directors or by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than eighty percent (80%) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

Section 9.7. Subject to Law and Certificate of Incorporation. All powers, duties and responsibilities provided for in these bylaws, whether or not explicitly so qualified, are qualified by the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.

 

Section 9.8. Electronic Signatures, etc. Except as otherwise required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws (including, without limitation, as otherwise required by Section 2.16), any document, including, without limitation, any consent, agreement, certificate or instrument, required by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws to be executed by any officer, director, stockholder, employee or agent of the Corporation may be executed using a facsimile or other form of electronic signature to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. All other contracts, agreements, certificates or instruments to be executed on behalf of the Corporation may be executed using a facsimile or other form of electronic signature to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. The terms “electronic mail,” “electronic mail address,” “electronic signature” and “electronic transmission” as used herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the DGCL.

 

Effective as of June 26, 2020.

 

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Exhibit 10.1

 

UNITED THERAPEUTICS CORPORATION
AMENDED AND RESTATED
2015 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

(effective June 26, 2020)

1.            Purpose

 

The purpose of the United Therapeutics Corporation Amended and Restated 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (this “Plan”) is to advance the interests of United Therapeutics Corporation (the “Company”) by stimulating the efforts of employees, officers, non-employee directors and other service providers, in each case who are selected to be participants, by heightening the desire of such persons to continue working toward and contributing to the success and progress of the Company. This Plan amends and restates, effective June 26, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), the Amended and Restated United Therapeutics Corporation 2015 Stock Incentive Plan, which was approved by stockholders on June 26, 2019, and which amended and restated the United Therapeutics Corporation 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Original 2015 Plan”). The Original 2015 Plan was approved by shareholders on June 26, 2015 (the “Original Effective Date”), and superseded the Company’s Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan (as amended effective as of September 24, 2004) (the “Prior Plan”). This Plan provides for the grant of Incentive and Nonqualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Stock Awards, any of which may be performance-based, and for Incentive Bonuses, which may be paid in cash or stock or a combination thereof, as determined by the Administrator. No new awards were to be issued under the Prior Plan following the Original Effective Date, but outstanding awards under the Prior Plan as of the Original Effective Date shall continue to be governed by the Prior Plan. The Plan is hereby amended and restated effective as of the Effective Date to increase the number of Shares issuable pursuant to Awards.

 

2.            Definitions

 

As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

(a)               “Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(b)               “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Plan in accordance with Section 19.

 

(c)               “Affiliate” means, with respect to any entity, any other corporation, organization, association, partnership, sole proprietorship or other type of entity, whether incorporated or unincorporated, directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such entity.

 

(d)               “Award” means an Incentive Stock Option, Nonqualified Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Stock Award or Incentive Bonus granted to a Participant pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, any of which the Administrator may structure to qualify in whole or in part as a Performance Award.

 

 

 

 

(e)               “Award Agreement” means a written agreement or other instrument as may be approved from time to time by the Administrator implementing the grant of each Award. An Agreement may be in the form of an agreement to be executed by both the Participant and the Company (or an authorized representative of the Company) or certificates, notices or similar instruments as approved by the Administrator.

 

(f)                “Board” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

(g)               “Cause” has the meaning specified in the Participant’s employment agreement (if any) or otherwise means (1) any act of personal dishonesty taken by the Participant in connection with his or her responsibilities as an employee or other service provider and intended to result in substantial personal enrichment of the Participant; (2) the Participant’s conviction of a felony; (3) an act by the Participant which constitutes willful or gross misconduct and which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company; or (4) continued substantial willful violations by the Participant of the Participant’s duties after there has been delivered to the Participant a written demand for performance from the Company which specifically sets forth the factual basis for the Company's belief that the Participant has not substantially performed his or her duties.

 

(h)               “Change in Control” means, and shall be deemed to have occurred:

 

(1)       if any person or group (as used in Section 13(d) of the Act) (other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, or any company owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act) of securities of the Company representing more than 30% of (a) the Shares then outstanding or (b) the combined voting power (other than in the election of directors) of all voting securities of the Company then outstanding; or

 

(2)       if, during any period of 24 consecutive months, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board, and any director whose election or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved (the “Incumbent Board”), cease for any reason (other than death or disability) to constitute at least a majority thereof; or

 

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(3)       upon the consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries unless, following such event, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners of the Company’s common stock or the combined voting power of all voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent securities) and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent governing body), as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such transaction (including, without limitation, an entity that, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such transaction of the Company’s common stock or voting securities, as the case may be, (B) no person (excluding any corporation resulting from such transaction or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such transaction) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such transaction or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation, except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the transaction, and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent governing body) of the entity resulting from such transaction were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board providing for such transaction; or

 

(4)       upon the complete liquidation of the Company or the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than a liquidation of the Company into a wholly-owned subsidiary.

 

(i)                 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the rulings and regulations issued thereunder.

 

(j)                 “Company” means United Therapeutics Corporation.

 

(k)               “Disability” means, in the Company’s reasonable judgment, either (a) the Participant has been unable to perform the Participant’s duties because of a physical or mental impairment for 80% or more of the normal working days during six consecutive calendar months or 50% or more of the normal working days during twelve consecutive calendar months, or (b) the Participant has become totally and permanently incapable of performing the usual duties of his or her employment with the Company on account of a physical or mental impairment.

 

(l)                 “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the closing price of a Share on the principal exchange on which Shares are then trading, if any (or as reported on any composite index which includes such principal exchange). If Shares are not traded as of a particular date, the Fair Market Value of a Share as of such date shall be the closing price on the preceding trading date. If Shares not publicly traded on an exchange and not quoted on Nasdaq or a successor quotation system, the Fair Market Value of a Share shall be established by the Administrator in good faith.

 

(m)             “Incentive Bonus” means a bonus opportunity awarded under Section 10 pursuant to which a Participant may become entitled to receive an amount based on satisfaction of such performance criteria as are specified in the Award Agreement or otherwise.

 

(n)               “Incentive Stock Option” means a stock option that is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

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(o)               “Nonemployee Director” means each person who is, or is elected to be, a member of the Board and who is not an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(p)               “Nonqualified Stock Option” means a stock option that is not intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

(q)               “Option” means an Incentive Stock Option and/or a Nonqualified Stock Option granted pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan.

 

(r)                “Participant” means any individual described in Section 3 to whom Awards have been granted from time to time by the Administrator and any authorized transferee of such individual.

 

(s)                “Person” has the same meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Act.

 

(t)                 “Performance Award” means an Award, the grant, issuance, retention, vesting or settlement of which is subject to satisfaction of one or more Qualifying Performance Criteria established pursuant to Section 14.

 

(u)               “Plan” means the 2015 United Therapeutics Corporation Stock Incentive Plan as set forth herein and as amended from time to time.

 

(v)               “Qualifying Performance Criteria” has the meaning set forth in Section 14(b).

 

(w)             “Restricted Stock” means Shares granted pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan.

 

(x)               “Restricted Stock Unit” means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8 pursuant to which Shares or cash in lieu thereof may be issued in the future.

 

(y)               “Share” means a share of the Company’s par value common stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13.

 

(z)               “Stock Appreciation Right” means a right granted pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan that entitles the Participant to receive, in cash or Shares or a combination thereof, as determined by the Administrator, value equal to or otherwise based on the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of a specified number of Shares at the time of exercise over (ii) the exercise price of the right, as established by the Administrator on the date of grant.

 

(aa)            “Stock Award” means an award of Shares to a Participant pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan.

 

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(bb)           “Subsidiary” means any corporation (other than the Company), limited liability company or other form of entity in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Company where each of the entities in the unbroken chain other than the last entity owns stock possessing at least 50 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other entities in the chain, and if specifically determined by the Administrator in the context other than with respect to Incentive Stock Options, may include an entity in which the Company has a significant ownership interest or that is directly or indirectly controlled by the Company.

 

(cc)            “Substitute Awards” means Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, by a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines.

 

(dd)           “Termination of Employment” means ceasing to serve as an employee of the Company and its Subsidiaries or, with respect to a Nonemployee Director or other non-employee service provider, ceasing to serve as such for the Company, except that with respect to all or any Awards held by a Participant (i) the Administrator may determine that a transition of employment to service with a partnership, joint venture or corporation not meeting the requirements of a Subsidiary in which the Company or a Subsidiary is a party is not considered a Termination of Employment, (ii) unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, service as a member of the Board or other service provider shall not be deemed to constitute continued employment with respect to Awards granted to a Participant while he or she served as an employee, (iii) service as an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary shall constitute continued employment with respect to Awards granted to a Participant while he or she served as a member of the Board or other service provider, and (iv) the Administrator may determine that an approved leave of absence or approved employment on a less than full-time basis is considered a Termination of Employment. The Administrator shall determine whether any corporate transaction, such as a sale or spin-off of a division or subsidiary that employs a Participant, shall be deemed to result in a Termination of Employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries for purposes of any affected Participant’s Awards, and the Administrator’s decision shall be final and binding.

 

3.             Eligibility

 

Any person who is a current or prospective officer or employee of the Company or of any Subsidiary shall be eligible for selection by the Administrator for the grant of Awards hereunder. In addition, Nonemployee Directors and any other service providers who have been retained to provide consulting, advisory or other services to the Company or to any Subsidiary shall be eligible for the grant of Awards hereunder as determined by the Administrator. Options intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to employees of the Company or any Subsidiary, as selected by the Administrator.

 

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4.             Effective Date and Termination of Plan

 

The Original 2015 Plan was adopted by the Board as of April 29, 2015 and approved by shareholders on the Original Effective Date. This Plan hereby amends and restates the Plan as previously amended and restated effective as of June 26, 2019 as of the Effective Date. All Awards granted under this Plan in excess of the aggregate limitation approved by shareholders at the 2019 annual meeting of shareholders are subject to, and may not be exercised before, the approval of this Plan by the shareholders prior to the first anniversary of the date the Board adopts the Plan, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares of the Company present, or represented by proxy, and entitled to vote, at a meeting of the Company’s shareholders or by written consent in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware; provided that if such approval by the shareholders of the Company is not forthcoming, all Awards previously granted under this Plan in excess of the aggregate limitation approved by shareholders at the 2019 annual meeting of shareholders shall be void. The Plan shall remain available for the grant of Awards until April 29, 2030. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Plan may be terminated at such earlier time as the Board may determine. Termination of the Plan will not affect the rights and obligations of the Participants and the Company arising under Awards theretofore granted and then in effect.

 

5.             Shares Subject to the Plan and to Awards

 

(a)               Aggregate Limits. The aggregate number of Shares issuable pursuant to all Awards shall not exceed 10,000,000; provided that (i) any Shares granted under Options or Stock Appreciation Rights shall be counted against this limit on a one-for-one basis, and (ii) any Shares granted prior to March 17, 2020, as Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights shall be counted against this limit as 2.14 Shares for every one (1) Share subject to such Award and (iii) any Shares granted on or after March 17, 2020, as Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights shall be counted against this limit as 1.35 Shares for every one (1) Share subject to such Award. The aggregate number of Shares available for grant under this Plan and the number of Shares subject to outstanding Awards shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13. The Shares issued pursuant to Awards granted under this Plan may be shares that are authorized and unissued or shares that were reacquired by the Company, including shares purchased in the open market.

 

(b)               Issuance of Shares. For purposes of Section 5(a), the aggregate number of Shares issued under this Plan at any time shall equal only the number of Shares actually issued upon exercise or settlement of an Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Shares subject to an Award under the Plan may not again be made available for issuance under the Plan if such Shares are: (i) Shares that were subject to a stock-settled Stock Appreciation Right and were not issued upon the net settlement or net exercise of such Stock Appreciation Right, (ii) Shares used to pay the exercise price of an Option, (iii) Shares delivered to or withheld by the Company to pay the withholding taxes related to an Award, or (iv) Shares repurchased on the open market with the proceeds of an Option exercise. Shares subject to Awards that have been canceled, expired, forfeited or otherwise not issued under an Award and Shares subject to Awards settled in cash shall not count as Shares issued under this Plan. Any Shares that were subject to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights and that again become available for Awards under the Plan pursuant to this Section shall be added as one (1) Share for every one (1) Share subject to such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights. Any Shares that were subject to Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights that again become available for Awards under the Plan pursuant to this Section shall (i) prior to March 17, 2020 be added as 2.14 Shares for every one (1) Share subject to such Awards and (ii) from and after March 17, 2020, be added as 1.35 Shares for every one (1) Share subject to such Awards.

 

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(c)               Individual and Tax Code Limits. The aggregate number of Shares subject to Awards granted under this Plan during any calendar year to any one Participant shall not exceed 1,000,000, which number shall be calculated and adjusted pursuant to Section 13, but which number shall not count any tandem SARs (as defined in Section 7). The aggregate number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options granted under this Plan shall not exceed 10,000,000, which number shall be calculated and adjusted pursuant to Section 13 only to the extent that such calculation or adjustment will not affect the status of any option intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code. The maximum cash amount payable pursuant to that portion of an Incentive Bonus granted in any calendar year to any Participant under this Plan shall not exceed $5,000,000.

 

(d)            Director Awards.

 

(1)            The aggregate dollar value of Awards (based on the aggregate accounting value on the date of grant) granted pursuant to this Plan during any calendar year to any Nonemployee Director shall not exceed $400,000 for annual equity grants (plus, for the year an individual first becomes a Nonemployee Director (x) an initial equity grant valued at $400,000, plus (y) a pro-rata portion of the $400,000 annual equity-based award value based on the number of months remaining in the Board service year at the date of grant), payable in Options, Restricted Stock Units, or a split evenly between Options and Restricted Stock Units, based on an election by the Nonemployee Director. Such dollar limits shall be converted into a number of Awards as follows:

 

(A)             Options: The number of Options shall be calculated by dividing the equity value (e.g., $400,000) by the fair value of each Option, calculated in accordance with the Black-Scholes methodology utilized by the Company in calculating share-based compensation for financial reporting purposes. Black-Scholes inputs shall be the same as those used in the Company’s most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K, except that the Share price input shall be the average closing price of the Shares over a recent time period prior to the date of grant (May 10 through June 10, in the case of annual grants made in June).

 

(B)              Restricted Stock Units: The number of Restricted Stock Units shall be calculated by dividing the equity value (e.g., $400,000) by the average closing price of the Shares over a recent time period prior to the date of grant (May 10 through June 10, in the case of annual grants paid in June).

 

(C)              Rounding: The resulting number of Options and/or Restricted Stock Units, calculated as above, shall be rounded to the nearest 10 Shares.

 

(2)               In addition, the amount of cash compensation paid or payable by the Company to a Nonemployee Director with respect to any calendar year shall not exceed $60,000 (with additional cash compensation of $35,000 for the lead independent director, $25,000 for each committee chairmanship, and $15,000 for each other committee membership), plus a pro-rated portion of the aggregate cash compensation for the roles in which the Nonemployee Director serves for the year an individual first becomes a Nonemployee Director, to reflect the number of months then remaining in the Board service year as of the date the individual becomes a Nonemployee Director. For the avoidance of doubt, cash compensation shall be counted towards the limit specified in this subclause in the year earned (regardless of whether deferred), and any interest or other earnings on such compensation shall not count towards the limit.

 

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(e)               Substitute Awards. Substitute Awards shall not reduce the Shares authorized for issuance under the Plan or authorized for grant to a Participant in any calendar year. Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary, or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines, has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by shareholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Shares authorized for issuance under the Plan; provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were employees, directors or other service providers of such acquired or combined company before such acquisition or combination.

 

6.            Options

 

(a)               Option Awards. Options may be granted at any time and from time to time prior to the termination of the Plan to Participants as determined by the Administrator. No Participant shall have any rights as a shareholder with respect to any Shares subject to Options hereunder until said Shares have been issued. Each Option shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Options granted pursuant to the Plan need not be identical but each Option must contain and be subject to the terms and conditions set forth below.

 

(b)               Price. The Administrator will establish the exercise price per Share under each Option, which, in no event will be less than the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant; provided, however, that the exercise price per Share with respect to an Option that is granted in connection with a merger or other acquisition as a substitute or replacement award for options held by optionees of the acquired entity may be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date such Option is granted if such exercise price is based on a formula set forth in the terms of the options held by such optionees or in the terms of the agreement providing for such merger or other acquisition. The exercise price of any Option may be paid in Shares, cash or a combination thereof, as determined by the Administrator, including an irrevocable commitment by a broker to pay over such amount from a sale of the Shares issuable under an Option, the delivery of previously owned Shares and withholding of Shares deliverable upon exercise, or in such other form as is acceptable to the Administrator.

 

(c)               Provisions Applicable to Options. The date on which Options become exercisable shall be determined at the sole and absolute discretion of the Administrator and set forth in an Award Agreement. However, in no event shall any Option vest before the first anniversary of the date of grant; provided that, if so determined by the Committee, an Option may fully or partially vest before such anniversary in the event of the Participant’s death or disability or a Change in Control. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, an approved leave of absence or employment on a less than full-time basis shall not result in an adjustment to the vesting period and/or exercisability of an Option to reflect the effects of any period during which the Participant is on an approved leave of absence or is employed on a less than full-time basis. In no event may any Option include a reload feature.

 

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(d)               Term of Options and Termination of Employment: The Administrator shall establish the term of each Option, which in no case shall exceed a period of ten (10) years from the date of grant. Unless an Option earlier expires upon the expiration date established pursuant to the foregoing sentence, upon the Participant’s Termination of Employment, his or her rights to exercise an Option then held shall be only as follows, unless the Administrator specifies otherwise:

 

(1)               General. If a Participant’s Termination of Employment is for any reason other than the Participant’s death, Disability, or termination for Cause, Options granted to the Participant may continue to be exercised in accordance with their terms for a period of ninety (90) days after such Termination of Employment, but only to the extent the Participant was entitled to exercise the Options on the date of such termination.

 

(2)               Death. If a Participant dies either while an employee or officer of the Company or a Subsidiary or member of the Board, or after the Termination of Employment other than for Cause but during the time when the Participant could have exercised an Option, the Options issued to such Participant shall become fully vested and exercisable by the personal representative of such Participant or other successor to the interest of the Participant for one year after the Participant’s death.

 

(3)               Disability. If a Participant’s Termination of Employment is due to Disability, then all of the Participant’s Options shall immediately fully vest, and the Options held by the Participant at the time of such Termination of Employment shall be exercisable by the Participant or the personal representative of such Participant for one year following such Termination of Employment.

 

(4)               Termination for Cause. If a Participant is terminated for Cause, the Participant shall have no further right to exercise any Options previously granted. The Administrator or one or more officers designated by the Administrator shall determine whether a termination is for Cause.

 

(e)               Incentive Stock Options. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6, in the case of the grant of an Option intending to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option: (i) if the Participant owns stock possessing more than 10 percent of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, the exercise price of such Option must be at least 110 percent of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant and the Option must expire within a period of not more than five (5) years from the date of grant, and (ii) Termination of Employment will occur when the person to whom an Award was granted ceases to be an employee (as determined in accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder) of the Company and its corporate Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 6 to the contrary, options designated as Incentive Stock Options shall not be eligible for treatment under the Code as Incentive Stock Options (and will be deemed to be Nonqualified Stock Options) to the extent that either (a) the aggregate Fair Market Value of Shares (determined as of the time of grant) with respect to which such Options are exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any corporate Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, taking Options into account in the order in which they were granted, or (b) such Options otherwise remain exercisable but are not exercised within three (3) months of Termination of Employment (or such other period of time provided in Section 422 of the Code).

 

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7.             Stock Appreciation Rights

 

Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted to Participants from time to time either in tandem with or as a component of other Awards granted under the Plan (“tandem SARs”) or not in conjunction with other Awards (“freestanding SARs”) and may, but need not, relate to a specific Option granted under Section 6. The provisions of Stock Appreciation Rights need not be the same with respect to each grant or each recipient. Any Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with an Award may be granted at the same time such Award is granted or at any time thereafter before exercise or expiration of such Award. All freestanding SARs shall be granted subject to the same terms and conditions applicable to Options as set forth in Section 6 (including, without limitation, the vesting provisions of Section 6(c)) and all tandem SARs shall have the same exercise price, vesting, exercisability, forfeiture and termination provisions as the Award to which they relate. Subject to the provisions of Section 6 and the immediately preceding sentence, the Administrator may impose such other conditions or restrictions on any Stock Appreciation Right as it shall deem appropriate. Stock Appreciation Rights may be settled in Shares, cash or a combination thereof, as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

8.              Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units

 

(a)               Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units may be granted at any time and from time to time prior to the termination of the Plan to Participants as determined by the Administrator. Restricted Stock is an award or issuance of Shares the grant, issuance, retention, vesting and/or transferability of which is subject during specified periods of time to such conditions (including continued employment or performance conditions) and terms as the Administrator deems appropriate. Restricted Stock Units are Awards denominated in units of Shares under which the issuance of Shares is subject to such conditions (including continued employment or performance conditions) and terms as the Administrator deems appropriate. Each grant of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, each Restricted Stock Unit will be equal to one Share and will entitle a Participant to either the issuance of Shares or payment of an amount of cash determined with reference to the value of Shares. To the extent determined by the Administrator, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units may be satisfied or settled in Shares, cash or a combination thereof. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to the Plan need not be identical but each grant of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units must contain and be subject to the terms and conditions set forth below.

 

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(b)               Contents of Agreement. Each Award Agreement shall contain provisions regarding (i) the number of Shares or Restricted Stock Units subject to such Award or a formula for determining such number, (ii) the purchase price of the Shares, if any, and the means of payment, (iii) the performance criteria, if any, and level of achievement versus these criteria that shall determine the number of Shares or Restricted Stock Units granted, issued, retainable and/or vested, (iv) such terms and conditions on the grant, issuance, vesting and/or forfeiture of the Shares or Restricted Stock Units as may be determined from time to time by the Administrator, (v) the term of the performance period, if any, as to which performance will be measured for determining the number of such Shares or Restricted Stock Units, and (vi) restrictions on the transferability of the Shares or Restricted Stock Units. Shares issued under a Restricted Stock Award may be issued in the name of the Participant and held by the Participant or held by the Company, in each case as the Administrator may provide.

 

(c)               Vesting and Performance Criteria. The grant, issuance, retention, vesting and/or settlement of shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units will occur when and in such installments as the Administrator determines or under criteria the Administrator establishes, which may include Qualifying Performance Criteria. However, in no event shall any shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units vest before the first anniversary of the date of grant; provided that, if so determined by the Committee, shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units may fully or partially vest before such anniversary in the event of the Participant’s death or disability or a Change in Control.

 

(d)               Termination of Employment. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise:

 

(i)       General. In the event of Termination of Employment for any reason other than death or Disability, any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units still subject in full or in part to restrictions at the date of such Termination of Employment shall automatically be forfeited and returned to the Company.

 

(ii)       Death or Disability. In the event a Participant’s Termination of Employment is because of death or Disability, the restrictions remaining on any or all Shares remaining subject to a Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award shall lapse.

 

(e)               Voting Rights. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, Participants holding shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may exercise full voting rights with respect to those shares during the period of restriction. Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to Shares underlying Restricted Stock Units unless and until such Shares are reflected as issued and outstanding shares on the Company’s stock ledger.

 

(f)                Dividends and Distributions. Participants in whose name Restricted Stock is granted shall be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to those Shares, unless determined otherwise by the Administrator. The Administrator will determine whether any such dividends or distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of Restricted Stock and subject to the same restrictions on transferability as the Restricted Stock with respect to which they were distributed or whether such dividends or distributions will be paid in cash. Shares underlying Restricted Stock Units shall be entitled to dividends or dividend equivalents only to the extent provided by the Administrator. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall dividends, distributions or dividend equivalents be currently payable with respect to unvested or unearned Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit awards.

 

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(g)               Payment of Restricted Stock Units. In all events, unless payment with respect to a Restricted Stock Unit is deferred in a manner consistent with Section 409A of the Code, the Shares and/or cash underlying such Restricted Stock Unit shall be paid to the Participant no later than two and one-half months following the end of the year in which the Restricted Stock Unit is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.

 

(h)               Legending of Restricted Stock. The Administrator may also require that certificates representing shares of Restricted Stock be retained and held in escrow by a designated employee or agent of the Company or any Subsidiary until any restrictions applicable to shares of Restricted Stock so retained have been satisfied or lapsed. Any certificates evidencing shares of Restricted Stock awarded pursuant to the Plan shall bear the following legend:

 

The shares represented by this certificate were issued subject to certain restrictions under the United Therapeutics Corporation 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). This certificate is held subject to the terms and conditions contained in a restricted stock agreement that includes a prohibition against the sale or transfer of the stock represented by this certificate except in compliance with that agreement and that provides for forfeiture upon certain events. Copies of the Plan and the restricted stock agreement are on file in the office of the Secretary of the Company.

 

9.            Stock Awards

 

(a)       Grant. Stock Awards may be granted at any time and from time to time prior to the termination of the Plan to Participants as determined by the Administrator. Stock Awards shall be subject to such terms and conditions, consistent with the other provisions of the Plan, as may be determined by the Administrator. However, in no event shall any Stock Award vest before the first anniversary of the date of grant; provided that, if so determined by the Committee, a Stock Award may fully or partially vest before such anniversary in the event of the Participant’s death or disability or a Change in Control.

 

(b)       Rights as a Shareholder. A Participant shall have all voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights with respect to Shares issued to the Participant as a Stock Award under this Section 9 upon the Participant becoming the holder of record of the Shares granted pursuant to such Stock Award; provided, that the Administrator may impose such restrictions on the assignment or transfer of Shares awarded pursuant to a Stock Award as it considers appropriate.

 

10.           Incentive Bonuses

 

(a)               General. Each Incentive Bonus Award will confer upon the Participant the opportunity to earn a future payment tied to the level of achievement with respect to one or more performance criteria established for a performance period of not less than one year.

 

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(b)               Incentive Bonus Document. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the terms of any Incentive Bonus will be set forth in an Award Agreement. Each Award Agreement evidencing an Incentive Bonus shall contain provisions regarding (i) the target and maximum amount payable to the Participant as an Incentive Bonus, (ii) the performance criteria and level of achievement versus these criteria that shall determine the amount of such payment, (iii) the term of the performance period as to which performance shall be measured for determining the amount of any payment, (iv) the timing of any payment earned by virtue of performance, (v) restrictions on the alienation or transfer of the Incentive Bonus prior to actual payment, (vi) forfeiture provisions and (vii) such further terms and conditions, in each case not inconsistent with this Plan as may be determined from time to time by the Administrator.

 

(c)               Performance Criteria. The Administrator shall establish the performance criteria and level of achievement versus these criteria that shall determine the target and maximum amount payable under an Incentive Bonus, which criteria may be based on financial performance and/or personal performance evaluations.

 

(d)               Timing and Form of Payment. The Administrator shall determine the timing of payment of any Incentive Bonus. Payment of the amount due under an Incentive Bonus may be made in cash or in Shares, as determined by the Administrator. The Administrator may provide for or, subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator may specify, may permit a Participant to elect for the payment of any Incentive Bonus to be deferred to a specified date or event. In all events, unless payment of an Incentive Bonus is deferred in a manner consistent with Section 409A of the Code, any Incentive Bonus shall be paid to the Participant no later than two and one-half months following the end of the year in which the Incentive Bonus is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.

 

(e)               Discretionary Adjustments. Notwithstanding satisfaction of any performance goals, the amount paid under an Incentive Bonus on account of either financial performance or personal performance evaluations may, to the extent specified in the Award Agreement or other document evidencing the Award, be adjusted by the Administrator on the basis of such further considerations as the Administrator shall determine.

 

11.           Deferral of Awards

 

The Administrator may, in an Award Agreement or otherwise, provide for the deferred delivery of Shares upon settlement, vesting or other events with respect to Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, or in payment or satisfaction of an Incentive Bonus. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event will any deferral of the delivery of Shares or any other payment with respect to any Award be allowed if the Administrator determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that the deferral would result in the imposition of the additional tax under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code. No award shall provide for deferral of compensation that does not comply with Section 409A of the Code, unless the Board, at the time of grant, specifically provides that the Award is not intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code. The Company shall have no liability to a Participant, or any other party, if an Award that is intended to be exempt from, or compliant with, Section 409A of the Code is not so exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Board.

 

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12.          Conditions and Restrictions Upon Securities Subject to Awards

 

The Administrator may provide that the Shares issued upon exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or otherwise subject to or issued under an Award shall be subject to such further agreements, restrictions, conditions or limitations as the Administrator in its sole and absolute discretion may specify prior to the exercise of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right or the grant, vesting or settlement of such Award, including without limitation, conditions on vesting or transferability, forfeiture or repurchase provisions and method of payment for the Shares issued upon exercise, vesting or settlement of such Award (including the actual or constructive surrender of Shares already owned by the Participant) or payment of taxes arising in connection with an Award. Without limiting the foregoing, such restrictions may address the timing and manner of any resales by the Participant or other subsequent transfers by the Participant of any Shares issued under an Award, including without limitation (i) restrictions under an insider trading policy or pursuant to applicable law, (ii) restrictions designed to delay and/or coordinate the timing and manner of sales by Participant and holders of other Company equity compensation arrangements, (iii) restrictions as to the use of a specified brokerage firm for such resales or other transfers and (iv) provisions requiring Shares to be sold on the open market or to the Company in order to satisfy tax withholding or other obligations.

 

13.           Adjustment of and Changes in the Stock

 

(a)       General. The number and kind of Shares available for issuance under this Plan (including under any Awards then outstanding), and the number and kind of Shares subject to the limits set forth in Section 5 of this Plan, shall be equitably adjusted by the Administrator to reflect any reorganization, reclassification, combination of shares, stock split, reverse stock split, spin-off, dividend or distribution of securities, property or cash (other than regular, quarterly cash dividends), or any other event or transaction that affects the number or kind of Shares outstanding. Such adjustment shall be designed to comply with Sections 409A and 424 of the Code as applicable, or, except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 5(c) of this Plan, may be designed to treat the Shares available under the Plan and subject to Awards as if they were all outstanding on the record date for such event or transaction or to increase the number of such Shares to reflect a deemed reinvestment in Shares of the amount distributed to the Company’s securityholders. The terms of any outstanding Award shall also be equitably adjusted by the Administrator as to price, number or kind of Shares subject to such Award, vesting, and other terms to reflect the foregoing events, which adjustments need not be uniform as between different Awards or different types of Awards.

 

In the event there shall be any other change in the number or kind of outstanding Shares, or any stock or other securities into which such Shares shall have been changed, or for which it shall have been exchanged, by reason of a change of control, other merger, consolidation or otherwise, then the Administrator shall determine the appropriate and equitable adjustment to be effected.

 

No right to purchase fractional shares shall result from any adjustment in Awards pursuant to this Section 13. In case of any such adjustment, the Shares subject to the Award shall be rounded up to the nearest whole share for Awards other than Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, and shall be rounded down to the nearest whole Share with respect to Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. The Company shall notify Participants holding Awards subject to any adjustments pursuant to this Section 13 of such adjustment, but (whether or not notice is given) such adjustment shall be effective and binding for all purposes of the Plan.

 

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(b)       Change in Control. The Administrator may determine the effect of a Change in Control on outstanding Awards in a manner that, in the Administrator’s discretion, is fair and equitable to Participants. Such effects, which need not be the same for every Participant, may include, without limitation: (x) the substitution for the Shares subject to any outstanding Award, or portion thereof, of stock or other securities of the surviving corporation or any successor corporation to the Company, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, in which event the aggregate purchase or exercise price, if any, of such Award, or portion thereof, shall remain the same, and/or (y) the conversion of any outstanding Award, or portion thereof, into a right to receive cash or other property upon or following the consummation of the Change in Control in an amount equal to the value of the consideration to be received by holders of Shares in connection with such transaction for one Share, less the per share purchase or exercise price of such Award, if any, multiplied by the number of Shares subject to such Award, or a portion thereof.

 

14.          Qualifying Performance-Based Compensation

 

(a)               General. The Administrator may establish performance criteria and level of achievement versus such criteria that shall determine the number of Shares to be granted, retained, vested, issued or issuable under or in settlement of or the amount payable pursuant to an Award, which criteria may be based on Qualifying Performance Criteria or other standards of financial performance and/or personal performance evaluations.

 

(b)               Qualifying Performance Criteria. For purposes of this Plan, the term “Qualifying Performance Criteria” shall mean any one or more of the following performance criteria, or derivations of such performance criteria, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, applied to either the Company as a whole or to a business unit or Subsidiary, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, and measured either annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to previous years’ results or to a designated comparison group, in each case as specified by the Administrator: (i) net earnings or earnings per share (including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, license fees, share-based compensation, and/or amortization, or other non-GAAP profitability measures), (ii) income, net income or operating income, (iii) revenues, (iv) net sales, (v) return on sales, (vi) return on equity, (vii) return on capital (including return on total capital or return on invested capital), (viii) return on assets or net assets, (ix) economic value added measurements, (x) return on invested capital, (xi) return on operating revenue, (xii) cash flow (before or after dividends), (xiii) stock price, (xiv) total shareholder return, (xv) market capitalization, (xvi) economic value added, (xvii) debt leverage (debt to capital), (xviii) operating profit or net operating profit, (xix) operating margin or profit margin, (xx) cash from operations, (xxi) market share, (xxii) product development or release schedules, (xxiii) new product innovation, (xxiv) cost reductions, (xxv) customer service, or (xxvi) customer satisfaction. The Committee (A) shall appropriately adjust any evaluation of performance under a Qualifying Performance Criterion to eliminate the effects of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations, extraordinary items and all items of gain, loss or expense determined to be extraordinary or unusual in nature or related to the disposal of a segment of a business or related to a change in accounting principle all as determined in accordance with applicable accounting provisions, as well as the cumulative effect of accounting changes, in each case as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or identified in the Company’s financial statements or notes to the financial statements, and (B) may appropriately adjust any evaluation of performance under a Qualifying Performance Criterion to exclude any of the following events that occurs during a performance period: (i) asset write- downs, (ii) litigation, claims, judgments or settlements, (iii) the effect of changes in tax law or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results, and (iv) accruals of any amounts for payment under this Plan or any other compensation arrangement maintained by the Company.

 

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15.          Transferability

 

Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, each Award may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and each Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable only by the Participant during his or her lifetime. To the extent permitted by the Administrator, the person to whom an Award is initially granted (the “Grantee”) may transfer an Award to any “family member” of the Grantee (as such term is defined in Section 1(a)(5) of the General Instructions to Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Form S-8”)), to trusts solely for the benefit of such family members and to partnerships in which such family members and/or trusts are the only partners; provided that, (i) as a condition thereof, the transferor and the transferee must execute a written agreement containing such terms as specified by the Administrator, and (ii) the transfer is pursuant to a gift or a domestic relations order to the extent permitted under the General Instructions to Form S-8. Except to the extent specified otherwise in the agreement the Administrator provides for the Grantee and transferee to execute, all vesting, exercisability and forfeiture provisions that are conditioned on the Grantee’s continued employment or service shall continue to be determined with reference to the Grantee’s employment or service (and not to the status of the transferee) after any transfer of an Award pursuant to this Section 15, and the responsibility to pay any taxes in connection with an Award shall remain with the Grantee notwithstanding any transfer other than by will or intestate succession.

 

16.           Suspension or Termination of Awards

 

Except as otherwise provided by the Administrator, if at any time (including after a notice of exercise has been delivered or an award has vested) the Company’s chairman and co-chief executive officer or any other person designated by the Administrator (each such person, an “Authorized Officer”) reasonably believes that a Participant may have committed an Act of Misconduct as described in this Section 16, the Authorized Officer, Administrator or the Board may suspend the Participant’s rights to exercise any Option, to vest in an Award, and/or to receive payment for or receive Shares in settlement of an Award pending a determination of whether an Act of Misconduct has been committed.

 

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If the Administrator or an Authorized Officer determines a Participant has committed an act of embezzlement, fraud, dishonesty, nonpayment of any obligation owed to the Company or any Subsidiary, breach of fiduciary duty, violation of Company ethics policy or code of conduct, or deliberate disregard of the Company or Subsidiary rules resulting in loss, damage or injury to the Company or any Subsidiary, or if a Participant makes an unauthorized disclosure of any Company or Subsidiary trade secret or confidential information, solicits any employee or service provider to leave the employ or cease providing services to the Company or any Subsidiary, breaches any intellectual property or assignment of inventions covenant, engages in any conduct constituting unfair competition, breaches any non-competition agreement, induces any Company or Subsidiary customer to breach a contract with the Company or any Subsidiary or to cease doing business with the Company or any Subsidiary, or induces any principal for whom the Company or any Subsidiary acts as agent to terminate such agency relationship (any of the foregoing acts, an “Act of Misconduct”), then except as otherwise provided by the Administrator, (i) neither the Participant nor his or her estate nor transferee shall be entitled to exercise any Option or Stock Appreciation Right whatsoever, vest in or have the restrictions on an Award lapse, or otherwise receive payment of an Award, (ii) the Participant will forfeit all outstanding Awards and (iii) the Participant may be required, at the Administrator’s sole and absolute discretion, to return and/or repay to the Company any then unvested Shares previously issued under the Plan. In making such determination, the Administrator or an Authorized Officer shall give the Participant an opportunity to appear and present evidence on his or her behalf at a hearing before the Administrator or its designee or an opportunity to submit written comments, documents, information and arguments to be considered by the Administrator.

 

17.          Compliance with Laws and Regulations

 

This Plan, the grant, issuance, vesting, exercise and settlement of Awards thereunder, and the obligation of the Company to sell, issue or deliver Shares under such Awards, shall be subject to all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations, stock exchange rules and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental or regulatory agency as may be required. The Company shall not be required to register in a Participant’s name or deliver any Shares prior to the completion of any registration or qualification of such shares under any foreign, federal, state or local law or any ruling or regulation of any government body which the Administrator shall determine to be necessary or advisable. To the extent the Company is unable to or the Administrator deems it infeasible to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be relieved of any liability with respect to the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. No Option shall be exercisable and no Shares shall be issued and/or transferable under any other Award unless a registration statement with respect to the Shares underlying such Option is effective and current or the Company has determined that such registration is unnecessary.

 

In the event an Award is granted to or held by a Participant who is employed or providing services outside the United States, the Administrator may, in its sole and absolute discretion, modify the provisions of the Plan or of such Award as they pertain to such individual to comply with applicable foreign law or to recognize differences in local law, currency or tax policy. The Administrator may also impose conditions on the grant, issuance, exercise, vesting, settlement or retention of Awards in order to comply with such foreign law and/or to minimize the Company’s obligations with respect to tax equalization for Participants employed outside their home country.

 

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18.           Withholding

 

To the extent required by applicable federal, state, local or foreign law, a Participant shall be required to satisfy, in a manner satisfactory to the Company, any withholding tax obligations that arise by reason of an Option exercise, disposition of Shares issued under an Incentive Stock Option, the vesting of or settlement of an Award, an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code or otherwise with respect to an Award. To the extent a Participant makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code, within ten days of filing such election with the Internal Revenue Service, the Participant must notify the Company in writing of such election. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be required to issue Shares, make any payment or to recognize the transfer or disposition of Shares until all such obligations are satisfied. The Administrator may provide for or permit these obligations to be satisfied through the mandatory or elective sale of Shares and/or by having the Company withhold a portion of the Shares that otherwise would be issued to him or her upon exercise of the Option or the vesting or settlement of an Award, or by tendering Shares previously acquired.

 

19.           Administration of the Plan

 

(a)               Administrator of the Plan. The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator who shall be the Compensation Committee of the Board or, in the absence of a Compensation Committee, the Board itself. Any power of the Administrator may also be exercised by the Board, except to the extent that the grant or exercise of such authority would cause any Award or transaction to become subject to (or lose an exemption under) the short-swing profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Act. To the extent that any permitted action taken by the Board conflicts with action taken by the Administrator, the Board action shall control. The Compensation Committee may by resolution authorize one or more officers of the Company to perform any or all things that the Administrator is authorized and empowered to do or perform under the Plan, and for all purposes under this Plan, such officer or officers shall be treated as the Administrator; provided, however, that no such officer shall designate himself or herself as a recipient of any Awards granted under authority delegated to such officer. The Compensation Committee may delegate any or all aspects of the day-to-day administration of the Plan to one or more officers or employees of the Company or any Subsidiary, and/or to one or more agents.

 

(b)              Powers of Administrator. Subject to the express provisions of this Plan, the Administrator shall be authorized and empowered to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the administration of this Plan, including, without limitation: (i) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to this Plan and to define terms not otherwise defined herein; (ii) to determine which persons are Participants, to which of such Participants, if any, Awards shall be granted hereunder and the timing of any such Awards; (iii) to grant Awards to Participants and determine the terms and conditions thereof, including the number of Shares subject to Awards and the exercise or purchase price of such Shares and the circumstances under which Awards become exercisable or vested or are forfeited or expire, which terms may but need not be conditioned upon the passage of time, continued employment, the satisfaction of performance criteria, the occurrence of certain events (including a Change in Control), or other factors; (iv) to establish and verify the extent of satisfaction of any performance goals or other conditions applicable to the grant, issuance, exercisability, vesting and/or ability to retain any Award; (v) to prescribe and amend the terms of the agreements or other documents evidencing Awards made under this Plan (which need not be identical) and the terms of or form of any document or notice required to be delivered to the Company by Participants under this Plan; (vi) to determine the extent to which adjustments are required pursuant to Section 13; (vii) to interpret and construe this Plan, any rules and regulations under this Plan and the terms and conditions of any Award granted hereunder, and to make exceptions to any such provisions in if the Administrator, in good faith, determines that it is necessary to do so in light of extraordinary circumstances and for the benefit of the Company (provided that nothing in this Section 19(b) permits the Committee to provide that any Award may vest before the first anniversary of the date of grant other than in connection with the Participant’s death or disability or a Change in Control); (viii) to approve corrections in the documentation or administration of any Award; and (ix) to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Plan. The Administrator may, in its sole and absolute discretion, without amendment to the Plan, waive or amend the operation of Plan provisions respecting exercise after termination of employment or service to the Company or an Affiliate and, except as otherwise provided herein, adjust any of the terms of any Award (subject to the proviso in item (vii) of the immediately preceding sentence). Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities or other property), stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, Change in Control, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities, or similar transaction(s)), the Company may not, without obtaining shareholder approval: (w) amend the terms of outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights to reduce the exercise price of such outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights; (x) cancel outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights in exchange for Options or Stock Appreciation Rights with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Options or Stock Appreciation Rights; (y) cancel outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights with an exercise price above the current stock price in exchange for cash or other securities; or (z) otherwise amend, exchange or reprice Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

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(c)               Determinations by the Administrator. All decisions, determinations and interpretations by the Administrator regarding the Plan, any rules and regulations under the Plan and the terms and conditions of or operation of any Award granted hereunder, shall be final and binding on all Participants, beneficiaries, heirs, assigns or other persons holding or claiming rights under the Plan or any Award. The Administrator shall consider such factors as it deems relevant, in its sole and absolute discretion, to making such decisions, determinations and interpretations including, without limitation, the recommendations or advice of any officer or other employee of the Company and such attorneys, consultants and accountants as it may select.

 

(d)               Subsidiary Awards. In the case of a grant of an Award to any Participant employed by a Subsidiary, such grant may, if the Administrator so directs, be implemented by the Company issuing any subject Shares to the Subsidiary, for such lawful consideration as the Administrator may determine, upon the condition or understanding that the Subsidiary will transfer the Shares to the Participant in accordance with the terms of the Award specified by the Administrator pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, such Award may be issued by and in the name of the Subsidiary and shall be deemed granted on such date as the Administrator shall determine.

 

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(e)               Indemnification of Administrator. Neither any member nor former member of the Administrator nor any individual to whom authority is or has been delegated shall be personally responsible or liable for any act or omission in connection with the performance of powers or duties or the exercise of discretion or judgment in the administration and implementation of the Plan. Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Administrator shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from and against any cost, liability or expense imposed or incurred in connection with such person’s or the Administrator’s taking or failing to take any action under the Plan. Each such person shall be justified in relying on information furnished in connection with the Plan’s administration by any employee, officer, agent or expert employed or retained by the Administrator or the Company.

 

20.           Amendment of the Plan or Awards

 

The Board may amend, alter or discontinue this Plan and the Administrator may amend or alter any agreement or other document evidencing an Award made under this Plan but, except as provided pursuant to the provisions of Section 13, no such amendment shall, without the approval of the shareholders of the Company:

 

(a)               increase the maximum number of Shares for which Awards may be granted under this Plan;

 

(b)               reduce the price at which Options or Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted below the price provided for in Section 6(a);

 

(c)               amend the last sentence of Section 19(b) (relating to direct and indirect repricings of outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights);

 

(d)               amend the proviso in Section 19(b)(vii);

 

(e)               extend the term of this Plan;

 

(f)                change the class of persons eligible to be Participants;

 

(g)               otherwise amend the Plan in any manner requiring shareholder approval by law or under Nasdaq Global Select Market listing requirements (or the listing requirements of any successor exchange or market that is the primary stock exchange or market for trading of Shares); or

 

(h)               increase the individual maximum limits in Sections 5(c) and (d).

 

No amendment or alteration to the Plan or an Award or Award Agreement shall be made which would impair the rights of the holder of an Award, without such holder’s consent, provided that no such consent shall be required if the Administrator determines in its sole and absolute discretion and prior to the date of any Change in Control that such amendment or alteration either is required or advisable in order for the Company, the Plan or the Award to satisfy any law or regulation or to meet the requirements of or avoid adverse financial accounting consequences under any accounting standard. In addition, the Plan may not be amended in any way that causes the Plan to fail to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Code, unless the Board expressly determines to amend the Plan to be subject to Section 409A of the Code.

 

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21.           No Liability of Company

 

The Company and any Subsidiary or Affiliate which is in existence or hereafter comes into existence shall not be liable to a Participant or any other person as to: (a) the non-issuance or sale of Shares as to which the Company has been unable to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder; and (b) any tax consequence expected, but not realized, by any Participant or other person due to the receipt, exercise or settlement of any Award granted hereunder.

 

22.          Non-Exclusivity of Plan

 

Neither the adoption of this Plan by the Board nor the submission of this Plan to the shareholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or the Administrator to adopt such other incentive arrangements as either may deem desirable, including without limitation, the granting of restricted stock or stock options otherwise than under this Plan, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

 

23.           Governing Law

 

This Plan and any agreements or other documents hereunder shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the Delaware and applicable federal law. Any reference in this Plan or in the agreement or other document evidencing any Awards to a provision of law or to a rule or regulation shall be deemed to include any successor law, rule or regulation of similar effect or applicability.

 

24.           No Right to Employment, Reelection or Continued Service

 

Nothing in this Plan or an Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company, its Subsidiaries and/or its Affiliates to terminate any Participant’s employment, service on the Board or service for the Company at any time or for any reason not prohibited by law, nor shall this Plan or an Award itself confer upon any Participant any right to continue his or her employment or service for any specified period of time. Neither an Award nor any benefits arising under this Plan shall constitute an employment contract with the Company, any Subsidiary and/or its Affiliates. Subject to Sections 4 and 20, this Plan and the benefits hereunder may be terminated at any time in the sole and exclusive discretion of the Board without giving rise to any liability on the part of the Company, its Subsidiaries and/or its Affiliates.

 

25.           Unfunded Plan

 

The Plan is intended to be an unfunded plan. Participants are and shall at all times be general creditors of the Company with respect to their Awards. If the Administrator or the Company chooses to set aside funds in a trust or otherwise for the payment of Awards under the Plan, such funds shall at all times be subject to the claims of the creditors of the Company in the event of its bankruptcy or insolvency.

 

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