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): April 21, 2023



TREAN INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware
001-39392
84-4512647
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

150 Lake Street West
Wayzata, Minnesota
 
55391
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
(952) 974-2200
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
 


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

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
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
TIG
The 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.  ☐



INTRODUCTORY NOTE.
 
As previously disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Trean Insurance Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on December 16, 2022, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of December 15, 2022, by and among the Company, Treadstone Parent Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and Treadstone Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”), providing for the acquisition of the Company by affiliates of Altaris, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Altaris”), subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein (the “Merger”). Parent and Merger Sub are indirectly owned by investment funds managed by Altaris. On April 21, 2023, the Merger became effective and the Company and Parent took various other actions, as discussed further below.
 
ITEM 2.01.
COMPLETION OF ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.
 
On April 21, 2023, pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Merger was completed, with Merger Sub being merged with and into the Company, with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. At the effective time of the Merger, each outstanding share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), subject to certain exceptions, was automatically converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to $6.15 per share, without interest, pursuant to the Merger Agreement. A description of the consideration payable to holders of the Company’s options, restricted stock units, performance stock units and market stock units is set forth under the heading “Terms of the Merger Agreement—Transaction Consideration—Outstanding Trean Equity Awards” in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on March 16, 2023, as supplemented on April 12, 2023 (the “Proxy Statement”), and such description is incorporated herein by reference.
 
The total aggregate cash consideration paid to holders of Company Common Stock, options, restricted stock units, performance stock units and market stock units outstanding at the effective time of the Merger (subject to certain exceptions) was approximately $148.8 million. The sources of funds for such cash consideration were equity contributions from investment funds associated with Altaris, together with cash from the Company's balance sheet.
 
The information set forth in the Introductory Note above is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description, including the portions incorporated by reference herein, does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Merger Agreement, which is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 2.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
 
ITEM 3.01.
NOTICE OF DELISTING OR FAILURE TO SATISFY A CONTINUED LISTING RULE OR STANDARD; TRANSFER OF LISTING.
 
In connection with the completion of the Merger, on April 21, 2023, the Company (i) notified the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) that the Merger has been completed and (ii) submitted a request to Nasdaq for Nasdaq to cease trading of the Common Stock on Nasdaq and to suspend the listing of the Common Stock and to file with the SEC an application on Form 25 to delist the Common Stock from Nasdaq and deregister the Common Stock under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
 
The Company intends to file with the SEC a certification on Form 15 with respect to the Common Stock requesting the deregistration of the Common Stock under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and the suspension of the Company’s reporting obligations under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
 
The information set forth in the Introductory Note and Item 2.01 above (including the section of the Proxy Statement listed therein) is incorporated herein by reference.
 
ITEM 3.03.
MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
 
Upon the effective time of the Merger on April 21, 2023, each issued and outstanding share of Common Stock, subject to certain exceptions, was canceled and ceased to exist, and holders of Common Stock immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger ceased to have any rights as stockholders of the Company (other than their right to receive the transaction consideration of $6.15 per share in cash, without interest, pursuant to the Merger Agreement). The foregoing description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Merger Agreement, which is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 2.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
 
The information set forth in the Introductory Note, Item 2.01, Item 3.01, Item 5.01 and Item 5.03 is incorporated herein by reference.
 

ITEM 5.01.
CHANGES IN CONTROL OF REGISTRANT.
 
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger on April 21, 2023, the Company became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent and, accordingly, a change in control of the Company occurred.
 
The information set forth in the Introductory Note, Item 2.01, Item 3.01, Item 3.03, Item 5.02 and Item 5.03 is incorporated herein by reference.
 
ITEM 5.02.
DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR CERTAIN OFFICERS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS; APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS; COMPENSATORY ARRANGEMENTS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS.
 
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Mary A. Chaput, Philip I. Smith, Randall D. Jones and Terry P. Mayotte ceased serving as members of the Company’s board of directors and each committee thereof. Following the consummation of the Merger, Nicholas Fulco was appointed as a member of the Company’s board of directors until the earlier of his death, resignation or removal or until his respective successor is duly elected and qualified, and Andrew M. O’Brien, Daniel G. Tully, Julie A. Baron and Steven B. Lee remained members of the Company’s board of directors.
 
ITEM 5.03.
AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OR BYLAWS; CHANGES IN FISCAL YEAR.

At the effective time of the Merger on April 21, 2023, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, was amended and restated in its entirety. In addition, in connection with the Merger, the Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company, were amended and restated in their entirety. The Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company are attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.2, respectively, and are incorporated by reference herein.

 ITEM 8.01.
OTHER EVENTS.
 
On April 21, 2023, the Company and Altaris issued a joint press release announcing the closing of the Merger. The joint press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.
 
ITEM 9.01.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
 
(d)
Exhibits.

Exhibit No.
Description
   
2.1
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 15, 2022, by and among Trean Insurance Group, Inc., Treadstone Parent Inc., and Treadstone Merger Sub Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 19, 2022, File No. 001-39392)*
   
Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Trean Insurance Group, Inc.
   
Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Trean Insurance Group, Inc.
   
Joint Press Release issued April 21, 2023
   
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

* Certain schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish a supplemental copy of any omitted schedule or attachment to the SEC upon request.


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

Date: April 21, 2023
 
   
 
TREAN INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
     
 
By:
/s/ Nicholas J. Vassallo
 
Name:
Nicholas J. Vassallo
 
Title:
Chief Financial Officer




Exhibit 3.1

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
 
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
 
OF
 
TREAN INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
 
ARTICLE ONE
 
The name of the corporation is Trean Insurance Group, Inc. (hereinafter called the “Corporation”).
 
ARTICLE TWO
 
The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19808.  The name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.
 
ARTICLE THREE
 
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
 
ARTICLE FOUR
 
The total number of shares which the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is one hundred (100) shares, all of which shall be shares of Common Stock, with a par value of $0.01 per share.
 
ARTICLE FIVE
 
The directors shall have the power to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws, except as may be otherwise be provided in the Bylaws.
 
ARTICLE SIX
 
The Corporation expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
 

ARTICLE SEVEN
 
Section 1.  Nature of Indemnity.  Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he (or a person of whom he is the legal representative), is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary, or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent which it is empowered to do so by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment) against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such proceeding) and such indemnification shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 2 of this Article Seven, the Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding initiated by such person only if such proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.  The right to indemnification conferred in this Article Seven shall be a contract right and, subject to Sections 2 and 5 of this Article Seven, shall include the right to payment by the Corporation of the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition.  The Corporation may, by action of the Board of Directors, provide indemnification to employees and agents of the Corporation with the same scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification of directors and officers.
 
Section 2.  Procedure for Indemnification of Directors and Officers.  Any indemnification of a director or officer of the Corporation under Section 1 of this Article Seven or advance of expenses under Section 5 of this Article Seven shall be made promptly, and in any event within 30 days, upon the written request of the director or officer.  If a determination by the Corporation that the director or officer is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article Seven is required, and the Corporation fails to respond within sixty days to a written request for indemnity, the Corporation shall be deemed to have approved the request.  If the Corporation denies a written request for indemnification or advancing of expenses, in whole or in part, or if payment in full pursuant to such request is not made within 30 days, the right to indemnification or advances as granted by this Article Seven shall be enforceable by the director or officer in any court of competent jurisdiction.  Such person’s costs and expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing his right to indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such action shall also be indemnified by the Corporation.  It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking, if any, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of such defense shall be on the Corporation.  Neither the failure of the Corporation (including the Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
 

Section 3.  Nonexclusively of Article Seven.  The rights to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Article Seven shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the certificate of incorporation, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
 
Section 4.  Insurance.  The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on its own behalf and on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, fiduciary, or agent of the Corporation or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this Article Seven.
 
Section 5.  Expenses.  Expenses incurred by any person described in Section 1 of this Article Seven in defending a proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of such proceeding’s final disposition unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors in the specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.  Such expenses incurred by other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Board of Directors deems appropriate.
 
Section 6.  Employees and Agents.  Persons who are not covered by the foregoing provisions of this Article Seven and who are or were employees or agents of the Corporation, or who 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 extent authorized at any time or from time to time by the Board of Directors.
 
Section 7.  Contract Rights.  The provisions of this Article Seven shall be deemed to be a contract right between the Corporation and each director or officer who serves in any such capacity at any time while this Article Seven and the relevant provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or other applicable law are in effect, and any repeal or modification of this Article Seven or any such law shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts or proceeding then existing.
 
Section 8.  Merger or Consolidation.  For purposes of this Article Seven, references to “the Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this Article Seven 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.
 

ARTICLE EIGHT
 
To the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, a director or officer of this Corporation shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer.  Any repeal or modification of this Article Eight shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director or officer of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.

ARTICLE NINE
 
The Corporation reserves the right to amend or repeal any provisions contained in this Certificate of Incorporation from time to time and at any time in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware, and all rights conferred upon stockholders and directors are granted subject to such reservation.




Exhibit 3.2

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
 
OF

TREAN INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
 
A Delaware Corporation (the “Corporation”)
 
ARTICLE I
 
OFFICES
 
Section 1.1        Registered Office.  The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware shall be located at 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19808.  The name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.  The registered office and/or registered agent of the Corporation may be changed from time to time by action of the board of directors.
 
Section 1.2       Other Offices.  The Corporation may also have offices at such other places, both within and without the State of Delaware, as the board of directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
 
ARTICLE II
 
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
 
Section 2.1       Place and Time of Meetings.  An annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held each year for the purpose of electing directors and conducting such other proper business as may come before the meeting.  The date, time and place of the annual meeting shall be determined by resolution of the board of directors.  Only stockholders entitled to vote at an annual meeting shall have the right to attend such annual meeting.
 
Section 2.2        Special Meetings.  Special meetings of stockholders may be called for any purpose (including, without limitation, the filling of board of directors vacancies and newly created directorships), and may be held at such time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be stated in a notice of meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof.  Such meetings may be called at any time by a majority of the members of the board of directors, or upon the written request to the Corporation of holders of shares entitled to cast not less than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding shares of the Corporation’s voting stock.  Only stockholders entitled to vote at a special meeting shall have the right to attend such special meeting.
 
Section 2.3      Place of Meetings.  The board of directors may designate any place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the place of meeting for any annual meeting or for any special meeting called by the board of directors.  If no designation is made, or if a special meeting be otherwise called, the meeting shall be held telephonically or at the principal executive office of the Corporation.
 

Section 2.4       Notice.  Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take action at a meeting, written or printed notice stating the place, date, time, and, in the case of special meetings, the purpose or purposes, of such meeting, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting.  All such notices shall be delivered, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the board of directors, the chief executive officer or the secretary, and if mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his, her or its address as the same appears on the records of the Corporation.  Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.  Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given.  Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation.  Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (1) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent and (2) such inability becomes known to the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided that the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.  Notice given by a form of electronic transmission shall be deemed given: (i) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (ii) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (iii) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and (iv) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.  An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.  For purposes of this Section 2.4, “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.
 
Section 2.5       Stockholders List.  The officer having charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall make, at least ten days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting arranged in alphabetical order, showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder.  Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held.  The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.
 

Section 2.6      Quorum.  Except as otherwise provided by applicable law or by the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, a majority of the outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders.  If less than a majority of the outstanding shares is represented at a meeting, a majority of the shares so represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time in accordance with Section 2.7, until a quorum shall be present or represented.
 
Section 2.7       Adjourned Meetings.  When a meeting is adjourned to another time and place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.  At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting.  If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
 
Section 2.8        Vote Required.  When a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of the majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders, unless the question is one upon which by express provisions of an applicable law or of the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.  Where a separate vote by class is required, the affirmative vote of the majority of shares of such class present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting shall be the act of such class, unless the question is one upon which by express provisions of an applicable law or of the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.
 
Section 2.9        Voting Rights.  Except as otherwise provided by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or by the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation and subject to Section 6.3 hereof, every stockholder shall at every meeting of the stockholders be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of stock entitled to vote held by such stockholder.
 
Section 2.10     Proxies.  Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for him, her or it by proxy.  Every proxy must be signed by the stockholder granting the proxy or by his, her or its attorney-in-fact.  No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period.  A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power.  A proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the Corporation generally.
 

Section 2.11      Action by Written Consent.  Unless otherwise provided in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, any action required 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 such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken and bearing the dates of signature of the stockholders who signed the consent or consents, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than a majority of the shares entitled to vote, or, if greater, not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the state of Delaware, or the Corporation’s principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book or books in which proceedings of meetings of the stockholders are recorded.  Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested; provided that no consent or consents delivered by certified or registered mail shall be deemed delivered until such consent or consents are actually received at the registered office.  All consents properly delivered in accordance with this section shall be deemed to be recorded when so delivered.  No written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within 60 days of the earliest dated consent delivered to the Corporation as required by this section, written consents signed by the holders of a sufficient number of shares to take such corporate action are so recorded.  Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing.  Any action taken pursuant to such written consent or consents of the stockholders shall have the same force and effect as if taken by the stockholders at a meeting thereof.
 
Section 2.12      Ratification of Acts of Directors and Officers.  Except as otherwise provided by law or by the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, any transaction or contract or act of the Corporation or of the directors or the officers of the Corporation may be ratified by the affirmative vote of the holders of the number of shares which would have been necessary to approve such transaction, contract or act at a meeting of stockholders, or by the written consent of stockholders in lieu of a meeting.
 
ARTICLE III
 
DIRECTORS
 
Section 3.1        General Powers.  The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the board of directors.
 
Section 3.2        Number, Election, Voting Rights and Term of Office.  The number of directors shall be established by the board from time to time but shall not be less than one (1).  The directors shall be elected by a majority of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote in the election of directors.  The directors shall be elected in this manner at the annual meeting of the stockholders, except as provided in Section 3.4 hereof.  Each director elected shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal as hereinafter provided.
 
Section 3.3       Removal and Resignation.  Any director or the entire board of directors may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors.  Whenever the holders of any class or series are entitled to elect one or more directors by the provisions of the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, the provisions of this section shall apply, in respect to the removal without cause of a director or directors so elected, to the vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of that class or series and not to the vote of the outstanding shares as a whole.  Any director may resign at any time upon written notice to the Corporation.
 

Section 3.4      Vacancies.  Except as otherwise provided by the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote thereon or by a majority of the members of the board of directors then in office.  Each director so chosen shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal as herein provided.
 
Section 3.5       Annual Meetings.  The annual meeting of each newly elected board of directors shall be held without other notice than this bylaw immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of stockholders.
 
Section 3.6       Other Meetings and Notice.  Regular meetings, other than the annual meeting, of the board of directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the board of directors.  Special meetings of the board of directors may be called by or at the request of the chairman or a majority of the members of the board of directors then in office on at least four days (if the meeting is to be held in person) or two days (if the meeting is to be held by telephone communications or video conference) notice to each director, either personally, by telephone, by mail, by e-mail, or by telegraph with a sufficient time for the convenient assembly (including, without limitation, in accordance with Section 3.10 hereof) of the directors thereat.
 
Section 3.7        Quorum, Required Vote and Adjournment.  A majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  The vote of a majority of the total number of directors then appointed to the board of directors shall be the act of the board of directors.  If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the board of directors, the directors present thereat shall adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
 
Section 3.8        Committees.  The board of directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the total number of directors then appointed to the board of directors, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation, which to the extent provided in such resolution or these bylaws shall have and may exercise the powers of the board of directors in the management and affairs of the Corporation except as otherwise limited by law.  The board of directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee.  Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the board of directors.  Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the board of directors when required.
 
Section 3.9        Committee Rules.  Each committee of the board of directors may fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the board of directors designating such committee.  Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, the presence of at least a majority of the members of the committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum.  In the event that a member and that member’s alternate, if alternates are designated by the board of directors as provided in Section 3.8 hereof, of such committee is or are absent or disqualified, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the board of directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.
 

Section 3.10      Communications Equipment.  Members of the board of directors or any committee thereof may participate in and act at any meeting of such board of directors or committee through the use of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in the meeting pursuant to this section shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
 
Section 3.11      Waiver of Notice and Presumption of Assent.  Any member of the board of directors or any committee thereof who is present at a meeting shall be conclusively presumed to have waived notice of such meeting except when such member attends for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.  Such member shall be conclusively presumed to have assented to any action taken unless his or her dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless his or her written dissent to such action shall be filed with the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall be forwarded by registered mail to the secretary of the Corporation immediately after the adjournment of the meeting.  Such right to dissent shall not apply to any member who voted in favor of such action.
 
Section 3.12     Action by Written Consent.  Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation, 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 the then members of the board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the board or committee.
 
Section 3.13     Fees and Compensation.  Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the members of the board of directors may, if it so desires, authorize members of the board of directors to be compensated for their expenses, if any, of attendance at each regular or special meeting of the board of directors.  Such compensation may, in the board of directors’ discretion, also include a fixed sum for each meeting and an annual fee for serving as a director, such as may be allowed by resolution of the board of directors.  Directors who are officers or employees of the Corporation may receive, if the board of directors desires, fees for serving as directors.  Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
 
ARTICLE IV
 
OFFICERS
 
Section 4.1        Number.  The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the board of directors and shall consist of a chairman, if any is elected, a chief executive officer, if any is elected, a president, one or more vice presidents, a secretary, a chief financial officer, if any is elected, and such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed necessary or desirable by the board of directors.  Any number of offices may be held by the same person, except that no person may simultaneously hold the office of president and secretary.  In its discretion, the board of directors may choose not to fill any office for any period as it may deem advisable.
 

Section 4.2      Election and Term of Office.  The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the board of directors at its first meeting held after each annual meeting of stockholders or as soon thereafter as conveniently may be.  The president shall appoint other officers to serve for such terms as he or she deems desirable.  Vacancies may be filled or new offices created and filled at any meeting of the board of directors.  Each officer shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal as hereinafter provided.
 
Section 4.3       Subordinate Officers.  In addition to the principal officers enumerated in Section 4.1, the Corporation may have one or more assistant treasurers, one or more assistant secretaries and such other officers, agents and employees as the board of directors may deem necessary, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform such duties as the president, the chief executive officer, if any, or the board of directors may from time to time designate.  The board of directors may delegate to any principal officer the power to appoint and to remove any such subordinate officers, agents or employees.
 
Section 4.4       Removal.  Any officer or agent elected by the board of directors may be removed by the board of directors whenever in its judgment the best interests of the Corporation would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.
 
Section 4.5        Vacancies.  Any vacancy occurring in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise, may be filled by the board of directors for the unexpired portion of the term by the board of directors then in office.
 
Section 4.6       Compensation.  Compensation of all officers shall be fixed by the board of directors, and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by virtue of his or her also being a director of the Corporation.
 
Section 4.7      Power and duties.  The officers shall each have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Corporation as from time to time may be prescribed by the board of directors and as may be delegated by the president or the chief executive officer, if any, without limiting the foregoing.
 
Section 4.8        The Chairman of the Board of Directors.  The chairman of the board of directors, if one shall have been elected, shall be a member of the board of directors and, if present, shall preside at each meeting of the board of directors or shareholders.  The chairman of the board of directors, in his or her capacity as the chairman of the board of directors, shall not have any of the rights, powers or obligations of an officer of the Corporation, unless he or she is appointed as an officer of the Corporation by the board of directors.
 
Section 4.9        The Chief Executive Officer.  In the absence of the chairman of the board of directors or if a chairman of the board of directors shall have not been elected, the chief executive officer, if any, shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and board of directors at which he or she is present; subject to the powers of the board of directors, shall have general charge of the business, affairs and property of the Corporation, and control over its officers, agents and employees; and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the board of directors are carried into effect.  The chief executive officer, if any, shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or as may be provided in these bylaws.
 

Section 4.10      The President.  The president shall, in the absence or disability of the chief executive officer, act with all of the powers and be subject to all the restrictions of the chief executive officer.  The president shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors, the chief executive officer or as may be provided in these bylaws.
 
Section 4.11      Vice-presidents.  The vice-president, if any, or if there shall be more than one, the vice-presidents in the order determined by the board of directors shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of directors, the chief executive officer or these bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe.
 
Section 4.12     The Secretary and Assistant Secretaries.  The secretary shall attend all meetings of the board of directors, all meetings of the committees thereof and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings in a book or books to be kept for that purpose.  Under the chief executive officer’s supervision, the secretary shall give, or cause to be given, all notices required to be given by these bylaws or by law; shall have such powers and perform such duties as the board of directors, the chief executive officer or these bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe; and shall have custody of the corporate seal of the Corporation.  The secretary, or an assistant secretary, if any, shall have authority to affix the corporate seal to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by his or her signature or by the signature of such assistant secretary.  The board of directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing by his or her signature.  The assistant secretary, if any, or if there be more than one, the assistant secretaries in the order determined by the board of directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of directors, the chief executive officer, or secretary may, from time to time, prescribe.
 
Section 4.13      The Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Treasurer.  The chief financial officer, if any, shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities; shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation; shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation as may be ordered by the board of directors; shall cause the funds of the Corporation to be disbursed when such disbursements have been duly authorized, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements; and shall render to the chief executive officer and the board of directors, at its regular meeting or when the board of directors so requires, an account of the Corporation; shall have such powers and perform such duties as the board of directors, the chief executive officer or these bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe.  The assistant treasurer, if any, or if there shall be more than one, the assistant treasurers in the order determined by the board of directors, shall in the absence or disability of the chief financial officer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the chief financial officer.  The assistant treasurers shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of directors, the chief executive officer or chief financial officer may, from time to time, prescribe.
 

Section 4.14     Other Officers, Assistant Officers and Agents.  Officers, assistant officers and agents, if any, other than those whose duties are provided for in these bylaws, shall have such authority and perform such duties as may from time to time be prescribed by resolution of the board of directors.
 
Section 4.15      Absence or Disability of Officers.  In the case of the absence or disability of any officer of the Corporation and of any person hereby authorized to act in such officer’s place during such officer’s absence or disability, the board of directors may by resolution delegate the powers and duties of such officer to any other officer or to any director, or to any other person whom it may select.
 
ARTICLE V
 
INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND OTHERS
 
Section 5.1       Nature of Indemnity.  Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or a person of whom he is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer, of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary, or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent which it is empowered to do so by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment) against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such proceeding) and such indemnification shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 5.2 hereof, the Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding initiated by such person only if such proceeding was authorized by the board of directors of the Corporation.  The right to indemnification conferred in this Article V shall be a contract right and, subject to Sections 5.2 and 5.5 hereof, shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition.  The Corporation may, by action of its board of directors, provide indemnification to employees and agents of the Corporation with the same scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification of directors and officers.
 

Section 5.2        Procedure for Indemnification of Directors and Officers.  Any indemnification of a director or officer of the Corporation under Section 5.1 hereof or advance of expenses under Section 5.5 hereof shall be made promptly, and in any event within 30 days, upon the written request of the director or officer.  If a determination by the Corporation that the director or officer is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article V is required, and the Corporation fails to respond within 60 days to a written request for indemnity, the Corporation shall be deemed to have approved the request.  If the Corporation denies a written request for indemnification or advancing of expenses, in whole or in part, or if payment in full pursuant to such request is not made within 30 days, the right to indemnification or advances as granted by this Article V shall be enforceable by the director or officer in any court of competent jurisdiction.  Such person’s costs and expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing his or her right to indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such action shall also be indemnified by the Corporation.  It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking, if any, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of such defense shall be on the Corporation.  Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its board of directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its board of directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
 
Section 5.3       Nonexclusivity of Article V.  The rights to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Article V shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
 
Section 5.4       Insurance.  The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on its own behalf and on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, fiduciary, or agent of the Corporation or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this Article V.
 
Section 5.5       Expenses.  Expenses incurred by any person described in Section 5.1 hereof in defending a proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of such proceeding’s final disposition unless otherwise determined by the board of directors in the specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the 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.  Such expenses incurred by other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the board of directors deems appropriate.
 
Section 5.6       Employees and Agents.  Persons who are not covered by the foregoing provisions of this Article V and who are or were employees or agents of the Corporation, or who 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 extent authorized at any time or from time to time by the board of directors.
 

Section 5.7        Contract Rights.  The provisions of this Article V shall be deemed to be a contract right between the Corporation and each director or officer who serves in any such capacity at any time while this Article V and the relevant provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or other applicable law are in effect, and any repeal or modification of this Article V or any such law shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts or proceeding then existing.
 
Section 5.8         Merger or Consolidation.  For purposes of this Article V, references to “the Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this Article V 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.
 
ARTICLE VI
 
CAPITAL STOCK
 
Section 6.1      Certificate of Shares.  The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the board of directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares.  Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation.  Notwithstanding the adoption of such a resolution by the board of directors, every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by the chairman or vice chairman of the board of directors, chief executive officer, or the president or vice president, and by the treasurer or an assistant treasurer, Chief Administrative Officer or the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation representing the number of shares registered in certificate form; provided, however, that, where any such certificate is signed (a) by a transfer agent or an assistant transfer agent, or (b) by a transfer clerk acting on behalf of the Corporation and a registrar, if the board of directors shall by resolution so authorize, the signature of such chairman of the board of directors, president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, assistant treasurer or assistant secretary may be facsimiles thereof.  In case any officer or officers of the Corporation who shall have signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used on, any such certificate shall cease to be such officer or officers, whether by reason of death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate shall have been delivered by the Corporation, such certificate may nevertheless be adopted by the Corporation and be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate, or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been affixed thereto, had not ceased to be such officer or officers.
 
Section 6.2        Stock Ledger.  A record shall be kept by the secretary, transfer agent or by any other officer, employee or agent designated by the board of directors of the name of the person, firm or corporation holding the stock represented by such certificate, the number of shares represented by such certificate, and the date of issuance thereof, and in case of cancellation, the date of cancellation.
 

Section 6.3        Cancellation.  Every certificate surrendered to the Corporation for exchange or transfer shall be cancelled, and no new certificate or certificates shall be issued in exchange for any existing certificate until such existing certificate shall have been so cancelled, except in cases provided for in Section 6.7.
 
Section 6.4      Transfer of Stock.  Transfers of shares of the capital stock of the Corporation shall be made only on the books of the Corporation by the registered holder thereof, or by his attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the Corporation or with a transfer clerk or a transfer agent appointed as provided in Section 6.6 hereof, and on surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares properly endorsed and the payment of all taxes thereon.  The person in whose name shares of stock stand on the books of the Corporation shall be deemed the owner thereof for all purposes as regards the Corporation; provided, however, that whenever any transfer of shares shall be made for collateral security, and not absolutely, such fact, if known to the secretary of the Corporation, shall be so expressed in the entry of transfer.
 
Section 6.5       Regulations.  The board of directors may make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient, not inconsistent with the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for shares of the stock of the Corporation.  It may appoint, or authorize any principal officer or officers to appoint, one or more transfer clerks or one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars, and may require all certificates of stock to bear the signature or signatures of any of them.
 
Section 6.6       Lost, Stolen, Mutilated or Destroyed Certificates.  As a condition to the issue of a new certificate of stock in the place of any certificate theretofore issued and alleged to have been lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed, the board of directors, in its discretion, may require the owner of any such certificate, or his legal representatives, to give the Corporation a bond in such sum and in such form as it may direct or to otherwise indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft, mutilation or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.  Proper evidence of such loss, theft, mutilation or destruction shall be procured for the board of directors, if required.  The board of directors, in its discretion, may authorize the issuance of such new certificate without any bond when in its judgment it is proper to do so.
 
Section 6.7        Record Date. The board of directors may fix a date (which shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted) in advance of, not exceeding 60 days preceding, the date of any meeting of stockholders (and in such case not less than 10 days before the date of such meeting), or the date for the payment of any dividend or distribution, or the date for the allotment of rights, or the date when any exercise of any rights, change or conversion or exchange of capital stock shall go into effect or a date in connection with obtaining any written consent to corporate action without a meeting (and in such case not more than 10 days after the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the board of directors), as a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, such meeting, and any adjournment thereof, or to receive payment of any dividend or distribution, or to receive any such allotment of rights, or to exercise the rights in respect of any such change, conversion or exchange of capital stock or to give such written consent, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any stock on the books of the Corporation after any record date so fixed.  If no record date is set by the board of directors then the record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, be determined as follows:
 

(a) the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held;
 
(b) the record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting when no prior action of the board of directors is required by law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law, or, if prior action by the board of directors is required by law, shall be at the close of business on the day on which the board of directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action; and
 
(c) the record date for determining stockholders for any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect to any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or any other purpose, shall be at the close of business on the day on which the board of directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
 
Section 6.8       Issue of New Shares or Sale of Treasury Stock.  Shares of the capital stock of the Corporation which have been authorized but not issued, and treasury shares, may be issued or sold from time to time and for such consideration, not less than the par value thereof, as may be determined by the board of directors.
 
ARTICLE VII
 
GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
Section 7.1      Dividends.  Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, if any, may be declared by the board of directors at any regular or special meeting, pursuant to law.  Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions of the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation.  Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or any other purpose and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.
 
Section 7.2      Checks, Drafts or Orders.  All checks, drafts, or other orders for the payment of money by or to the Corporation and all notes and other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the Corporation, and in such manner, as shall be determined by resolution of the board of directors or a duly authorized committee thereof.
 

Section 7.3       Contracts.  The board of directors may authorize any officer or officers, or any agent or agents, of the Corporation to enter into any contract or to execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
 
Section 7.4      Loans.  The Corporation may lend money to, or guarantee any obligation of, or otherwise assist any officer or other employee of the Corporation or of its subsidiary, including any officer or employee who is a director of the Corporation or its subsidiary, whenever, in the judgment of the directors, such loan, guaranty or assistance may reasonably be expected to benefit the Corporation.  The loan, guaranty or other assistance may be with or without interest, and may be unsecured, or secured in such manner as the board of directors shall approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of shares of stock of the Corporation.  Nothing in this section contained shall be deemed to deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the Corporation at common law or under any statute.
 
Section 7.5      Fiscal Year.  The fiscal year end for the Corporation shall be on December 31 of each calendar year, unless otherwise fixed by resolution of the board of directors.
 
Section 7.6      Corporate Seal.  The board of directors may provide a corporate seal that shall be in the form of a circle and shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware”.  The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
 
Section 7.7        Voting Securities Owned by Corporation.  Voting securities in any other Corporation held by the Corporation shall be voted by the chairman, unless the board of directors confers other authority to vote with respect thereto, which authority may be general or confined to specific instances, upon some other person or officer.  Any person authorized to vote securities shall have the power to appoint proxies, with general power of substitution.
 
Section 7.8        Inspection of Books and Records.  Any stockholder of record, in person or by attorney or other agent, shall, upon written demand under oath stating the purpose thereof, have the right during the usual hours for business to inspect for any proper purpose the Corporation’s stock ledger and a list of its stockholders and to make copies or extracts therefrom.  A proper purpose shall mean any purpose reasonably related to such person’s interest as a stockholder.  In every instance where an attorney or other agent shall be the person who seeks the right to inspection, the demand under oath shall be accompanied by a power of attorney or such other writing that authorizes the attorney or other agent to so act on behalf of the stockholder.  The demand under oath shall be directed to the Corporation at its registered office in the State of Delaware or at its principal place of business.
 
Section 7.9        Section Headings.  Section headings in these bylaws are for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.
 

Section 7.10    Inconsistent Provisions.  In the event that any provision of these bylaws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or any other applicable law the provisions of these bylaws shall not be given any effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full force and effect.
 
ARTICLE VIII
 
AMENDMENTS
 
These bylaws may be amended, altered, or repealed and new bylaws adopted at any meeting of the board of directors by a majority vote.  The fact that the power to adopt, amend, alter, or repeal the bylaws has been conferred upon the board of directors shall not divest the stockholders of the same powers.
 



Exhibit 99.1

Altaris Completes Acquisition of Trean Insurance Group
 
WAYZATA, MN. and NEW YORK, NY, April 21, 2023 – Trean Insurance Group, Inc. (“Trean” or the “Company”), a leading provider of products and services to the specialty insurance market, today announced the completion of the acquisition of the Company by funds managed by Altaris, LLC (collectively with its affiliates, “Altaris”) for $6.15 per share in cash. The transaction was announced on December 16, 2022 and received approval from stockholders on April 18, 2023. As a result, Trean’s common stock ceased trading and will no longer be listed on Nasdaq.
 
 “We are thrilled to begin the next chapter of Trean’s successful partnership with Altaris, which will continue to enhance our longtime focus on strong partnerships, underwriting discipline and exceptional claims management to generate long-term growth,” said Julie Baron, President and Chief Executive Officer of Trean. “Starting with their original investment in 2015, Altaris’s healthcare expertise and support have been critical in helping to drive our Company’s transformation to become a leading national provider of workers’ compensation and other specialty insurance services. I would like to thank our entire team for their outstanding efforts to bring this transaction to a successful conclusion, delivering substantial value to our stockholders and positioning the Company for future success.”
 
Ms. Baron will remain President and Chief Executive Officer following the transaction, and Trean will maintain its headquarters in Wayzata, Minnesota. Andrew O’Brien, the founder of Trean and Executive Chairman of the Board, will remain Executive Chairman of the Board as well as an investor in the Company.
 
Advisors
 
Houlihan Lokey served as independent financial advisor to the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Trean, and Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP served as independent legal advisor to the Special Committee. Bass Berry & Sims PLC served as legal advisor to Trean. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisor to Altaris.
 
About Trean

Trean provides products and services to the specialty insurance market. Trean underwrites workers’ compensation and specialty casualty insurance products both through its program partners and its own managing general agencies. Trean also provides its program partners with a variety of services including issuing carrier services, claims administration and reinsurance brokerage. Trean is licensed to write business across 49 states and the District of Columbia. For more information, please visit www.trean.com.

About Altaris

Altaris is a healthcare investment firm with an exclusive focus on building companies that deliver value to the healthcare system through innovation and efficiency. Since inception in 2003, Altaris has invested in 49 healthcare companies which have generated significant value appreciation for investors. Altaris is headquartered in New York City and manages approximately $5.0 billion of equity capital. For more information, please visit www.altariscap.com

CONTACTS

Investor Relations
investor.relations@trean.com
(952) 974-2260