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): December 29, 2009

 

 

Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-33767   27-1310817

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

3000 John Deere Road

Toano, Virginia

  23168
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (757) 259-4280

Lumber Liquidators, Inc.

(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:

 

¨ 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))

 

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Registrant”), is the successor issuer to Lumber Liquidators, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Predecessor”), pursuant to Rule 12g-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”). Until the transaction described in this item, the Predecessor had its common stock, par value $0.001 per share, registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.

On December 29, 2009, the Predecessor entered into an Agreement of Merger and Plan of Reorganization (the “Reorganization Agreement”) with the Registrant and Lumber Liquidators Merger Sub, Inc. (the “Merger Sub”) to form a holding company (the “Reorganization”). The holding company was formed to provide a more efficient corporate structure.

The Reorganization was effected by a merger conducted pursuant to Section 251(g) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), which provides for the formation of a holding company without a vote of the stockholders of the constituent corporations. Pursuant to the terms of the Reorganization Agreement, the Predecessor merged with its indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary, the Merger Sub (the “Merger”) and survived the Merger. As a result, the separate corporate existence of the Merger Sub ceased and the Predecessor became a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Registrant. The Merger became effective at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on December 31, 2009.

In accordance with the terms of the Reorganization Agreement:

 

  (i) each share or fractional share of Common Stock of the Predecessor (the “Predecessor Common Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Merger was converted into a right to receive a share or fractional share of Common Stock of the Registrant (the “Registrant Common Stock”) having the same designations, rights, powers and preferences, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as the shares of Predecessor Common Stock so converted;

 

  (ii) each share of capital stock of the Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Merger was converted into a share of Common Stock of the Predecessor; and

 

  (iii) each share of Common Stock of the Registrant owned by the Predecessor immediately prior to the Merger was cancelled and retired and ceased to exist.

The Merger qualified as a reorganization under section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and, as a result, the stockholders of the Predecessor will not recognize gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes.

The business, management, directors and the rights and limitations of stockholders following the Merger will be identical to the business, management, directors and the rights and


limitations of stockholders immediately preceding the Merger. The revised “Description of Capital Stock” for the Registrant, which is substantively identical to the description applicable to the Predecessor before the Merger, is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

The common stock of the Registrant is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the same symbol (“LL”) under which the Common Stock of the Predecessor was listed prior to the Merger. The Common Stock of the Predecessor ceased trading at the close of the market on December 31, 2009. The Registrant will mail to all stockholders instructions regarding the process of exchanging shares of the Predecessor’s Common Stock for shares of the Common Stock of the Registrant. A form of the certificate of Common Stock of the Registrant is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1.

A copy of the Reorganization Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1 and is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01. A copy of the Registrant’s press release announcing the Reorganization is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2.

 

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

(e) The Registrant adopted all of the active stockholder-approved stock plans of the Predecessor, including those in which its named executive officers may participate (the “Plans”). The Plans have been amended to reflect the assumption by the Registrant of the obligations of the Predecessor under the Plans. The adoption by the Registrant of the Plans and its assumption of the Predecessor’s obligations under the Plans were approved by its Board of Directors. The amendments to the 2004 Stock Option and Grant Plan and 2007 Equity Compensation Plan are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, and are incorporated into this Item 5.02.

 

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

(a) The Registrant adopted a certificate of incorporation (the “Certificate”) and bylaws (the “Bylaws”) that are identical to the pre-Merger certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Predecessor except for certain amendments that are permissible under Section 251(g)(4) of the DGCL. The Registrant will have the same authorized capital stock and the designations, rights, powers and preferences of such capital stock, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof will be the same as that of the Predecessor’s capital stock immediately prior to the Merger.

The Certificate and the Bylaws of the Registrant are attached hereto as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, and are incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.

 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

As reported under Item 5.02(e), the Registrant has adopted all of the active stockholder-approved stock plans of the Predecessor. These include a plan in which non-management directors may participate: the 2006 Equity Plan for Non-Employee Directors, an amendment to which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.3 and is incorporated by reference into this Item 8.01.


Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

  2.1    Agreement of Merger and Plan of Reorganization among Lumber Liquidators, Inc., Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc., and Lumber Liquidators Merger Sub, Inc., dated December 29, 2009.
  3.1    Certificate of Incorporation of Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.
  3.2    Bylaws of Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.
  4.1    Form of Certificate of Common Stock of Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.
10.1    Amendment to the 2004 Stock Option and Grant Plan.
10.2    Amendment to the 2007 Equity Compensation Plan.
10.3    Amendment to the 2006 Equity Plan for Non-Employee Directors.
99.1    Description of Capital Stock
99.2    Press Release dated January 4, 2010.


SIGNATURES

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

 

    LUMBER LIQUIDATORS HOLDINGS, INC.
                                (Registrant)
Date: January 4, 2010     By:   / S /    E. L IVINGSTON B. H ASKELL        
      E. Livingston B. Haskell
      Secretary and General Corporate Counsel


Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

  2.1    Agreement of Merger and Plan of Reorganization among Lumber Liquidators, Inc., Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc., and Lumber Liquidators Merger Sub, Inc., dated December 29, 2009.
  3.1    Certificate of Incorporation of Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.
  3.2    Bylaws of Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.
  4.1    Form of Certificate of Common Stock of Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.
10.1    Amendment to the 2004 Stock Option and Grant Plan.
10.2    Amendment to the 2007 Equity Compensation Plan.
10.3    Amendment to the 2006 Equity Plan for Non-Employee Directors.
99.1    Description of Capital Stock.
99.2    Press Release dated January 4, 2010.

Exhibit 2.1

AGREEMENT OF MERGER AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION

AMONG

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS, INC.,

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS HOLDINGS, INC.,

and

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS MERGER SUB, INC.

December 29, 2009

 

Page 1 of 11


AGREEMENT OF MERGER AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION

THIS AGREEMENT OF MERGER AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION (“Agreement”), dated as of December 29, 2009, is entered into by and among Lumber Liquidators, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Holdco”) and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and Lumber Liquidators Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“MergerSub”) and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco.

RECITALS

A. The Company’s authorized capital stock consists of (i) 35,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share (“Company Common Stock”), of which 27,239,086 shares were issued and outstanding as of December 28, 2009 and (ii) 8,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $.01 per share, none of which is currently outstanding (“Company Preferred Stock”).

B. As of the date hereof, Holdco’s authorized capital stock consists of (i) 35,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share (“Holdco Common Stock”), of which 100 shares were issued and outstanding as of December 28, 2009 and (ii) 8,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $.01 per share, none of which is currently outstanding (“Holdco Preferred Stock”).

C. The designations, rights and preferences, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the Holdco Preferred Stock and the Holdco Common Stock are the same as those of the Company Preferred Stock and the Company Common Stock.

D. The Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws of Holdco immediately after the Effective Time (as hereinafter defined) will contain provisions identical to the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company immediately before the Effective Time (to the extent required by Section 251(g) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”)).

E. The directors of the Company immediately prior to the Merger (as hereinafter defined) will be the directors of Holdco as of the Effective Time.

F. Holdco and MergerSub are newly formed corporations organized for the purpose of participating in the transactions herein contemplated.

G. The Company desires to create a new holding company structure in accordance with Section 251(g) of the DGCL by merging MergerSub with and into the Company with the Company being the surviving corporation, and converting each outstanding share of Company Common Stock into a like number of shares of Holdco Common Stock, all in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

Page 2 of 11


H. The Boards of Directors of Holdco, MergerSub and the Company have approved this Agreement and the merger of MergerSub with and into the Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement (the “Merger”).

I. The Company will, immediately prior to the Effective Time, contribute to the capital of Holdco, to be converted to Holdco Common Stock and held in the treasury of Holdco, any shares of Company Common Stock then held by the Company in its treasury.

J. For federal income tax purposes, the Merger shall qualify as a reorganization under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Company, Holdco and MergerSub hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

THE MERGER

Section 1.1 The Merger . In accordance with Section 251(g) of the DGCL and subject to and upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement, MergerSub shall, at the Effective Time, be merged with and into the Company, the separate corporate existence of MergerSub shall cease, and the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation. The Company as the surviving corporation after the Merger is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Surviving Corporation.” At the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as provided in Section 259 of the DGCL.

Section 1.2 Effective Time . The Merger shall become effective at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on December 31, 2009 (such time being referred to herein as the “Effective Time”).

Section 1.3 Certificate of Incorporation . From and after the Effective Time the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided by law; provided, however, that, from and after the Effective Time:

(a) Article IV shall be amended and restated so as to read in its entirety as follows:

“Article IV—Stock

The aggregate number of shares which the Corporation shall have authority to issue shall be 10,000, consisting of 10,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share.”

 

Page 3 of 11


(b) Article V shall be amended and restated so as to read in its entirety as follows:

Section 1 . Number . The initial number of directors of the Corporation shall be three (3). The exact number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by, or in the manner provided in, the Corporation’s Bylaws.

Section 2 . Powers . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, a Board of Directors, which shall exercise all the powers of the Corporation except as are by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation conferred upon or reserved to the stockholders of the Corporation.”

Section 1.4 Bylaws . From and after the Effective Time, the Bylaws of MergerSub, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall thereafter continue in full force and effect as the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended or repealed as provided therein.

Section 1.5 Directors . The directors of MergerSub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial directors of the Surviving Corporation and will hold office from the Effective Time until their successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation or as otherwise provided by law.

Section 1.6 Officers . The officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial officers of the Surviving Corporation and will hold office from the Effective Time until their successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation or as otherwise provided by law.

Section 1.7 Additional Actions . Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the parties hereto shall take all such reasonable and lawful action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to effectuate the Merger. If, at any time after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall consider or be advised that any deeds, bills of sale, assignments, assurances or any other actions or things are necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm, of record or otherwise, in the Surviving Corporation its right, title or interest in, to or under any of the rights, properties or assets of either of MergerSub or the Company acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger or otherwise to carry out this Agreement, the officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of each of MergerSub and the Company, all such deeds, bills of sale, assignments and assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of each of MergerSub and the Company or otherwise, all such other actions and things as may be necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm any and all right, title and interest in, to and under such rights, properties or assets in the Surviving Corporation or otherwise to carry out this Agreement.

Section 1.8 Conversion of Securities . At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Holdco, MergerSub, the Company or the holder of any of the following securities:

(a) Each share or fraction of a share of the Company issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, upon compliance with the procedures specified in Section 1.9 of this Agreement, be converted in the Merger into the right to receive a duly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share or equal fraction of a share of Holdco having the same preferences, rights, and limitations as the share or fraction of a share of the Company being converted in the Merger. Each right to acquire shares of the Company outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted in the Merger into a right to acquire shares of Holdco having the same preferences, rights, and limitations as the right to acquire shares of the Company being converted in the Merger.

 

Page 4 of 11


(b) Each share or fraction of a share of MergerSub outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted in the Merger into a share or equal fraction of a share of the Surviving Corporation.

(c) Each share of Holdco Common Stock owned by the Company immediately prior to the Merger shall automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist.

(d) From and after the Effective Time, holders of certificates formerly evidencing Company Common Stock shall cease to have any rights as stockholders of the Company, except as provided by law; provided, however, that such holders shall have the rights set forth in Section 1.9 herein.

(e) Immediately prior to the Effective Time, the Company will contribute to the capital of Holdco, to be converted to Holdco Common Stock and held in the treasury of Holdco, any shares of Company Common Stock then held by the Company in its treasury.

Section 1.9 Procedures Relating to Company Common Stock .

(a) Exchange of Certificates . Immediately following the Effective Time, Holdco shall make available to each record holder who, as of the Effective Time, was a holder of an outstanding certificate or certificates which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented Company Common Stock (the “Certificate” or “Certificates”), a letter of transmittal and instructions (“Letter of Transmittal”) for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates for conversion thereof. Delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to Holdco and the form of Letter of Transmittal shall so reflect. Upon surrender to Holdco of a Certificate, together with such Letter of Transmittal duly executed, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor one or more certificates as requested by the holder (properly issued, executed and countersigned, as appropriate) representing that number of shares of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Holdco Common Stock to which such holder of Company

 

Page 5 of 11


Common Stock shall have become entitled pursuant to the provisions of Section 1.8 hereof and the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be canceled. No interest will be paid or accrued on the consideration payable upon the surrender of the Certificates. If any portion of the consideration to be received upon exchange of a Certificate is to be issued or paid to a person other than the person in whose name the Certificate surrendered in exchange therefor is registered, it shall be a condition of such issuance and payment that the Certificate so surrendered shall be properly endorsed or otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the person requesting such exchange shall pay in advance any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the issuance of a certificate for Holdco Common Stock to such other person, or established to the satisfaction of Holdco that such tax has been paid or that such tax is not applicable. From the Effective Time until surrender in accordance with the provisions of this Section 1.9, each Certificate shall represent for all purposes only the right to receive the consideration provided in Section 1.8. All payments of respective shares of Holdco Common Stock that are made upon surrender of Certificates in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been made in full satisfaction of rights pertaining to the Company Common Stock evidenced by such Certificates.

(b) Dividends and Distributions . No dividends or other distributions with respect to Holdco Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate with respect to the shares of Holdco Common Stock, until the surrender of such Certificate in accordance with this Section 1.9. Following surrender of any such Certificate, there shall be paid to the holder of the certificate representing shares of Holdco Common Stock issued in exchange therefor, without interest, (i) the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore paid with respect to such shares of Holdco Common Stock and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time but prior to such surrender and with a payment date subsequent to such surrender payable with respect to such shares of Holdco Common Stock.

(c) Lost, Mislaid, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates . In the case of any lost, mislaid, stolen or destroyed Certificate, the holder thereof may be required, as a condition precedent to delivery to such holder of the consideration described in Section 1.8 hereof, to deliver to Holdco a bond in such reasonable sum or a reasonably satisfactory indemnity agreement as Holdco may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against Holdco or the Surviving Corporation with respect to the Certificate alleged to have been lost, mislaid, stolen or destroyed.

(d) No Stock Transfers . After the Effective Time, there shall be no transfers on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Corporation of the Company Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation for transfer, they shall be canceled and exchanged for the consideration described in Section 1.8.

 

Page 6 of 11


(e) Unclaimed Merger Consideration . Any shares of Holdco Common Stock due former shareholders of the Company pursuant to Section 1.8 hereof that remain unclaimed by such former shareholders after the Effective Time shall be held by Holdco, and any former holder of Company Common Stock who has not theretofore complied with Section 1.9(a) shall thereafter look only to Holdco for issuance of the number of shares of Holdco Common Stock to which such holder has become entitled pursuant to the provisions of Section 1.8 and Section 1.9(b) hereof; provided, however, that neither Holdco nor any party hereto shall be liable to a former holder of Company Common Stock for any amount required to be paid to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.

ARTICLE II

ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN

CONNECTION WITH THE MERGER

Section 2.1 Assumption of Registered Stock Plans and Other Agreements . Holdco and the Company hereby agree that they will execute, acknowledge and deliver an assumption agreement pursuant to which Holdco will, from and after the Effective Time, assume and agree to perform all outstanding obligations of the Company pursuant to (i) the Company’s stock plans, including the Lumber Liquidators, Inc. 2007 Equity Compensation Plan (Reg. No. 333-147247), the Lumber Liquidators, Inc. 2006 Equity Compensation Plan (Reg. No. 333-147247) and the Lumber Liquidators, Inc. 2004 Stock Option and Grant Plan (Reg. No. 333-147247) (collectively, the “Registered Stock Plans”); (ii) each stock option agreement and/or similar agreement entered into pursuant to the Registered Stock Plans, and each outstanding Option granted thereunder; and (iii) any other agreements that management of the Company deems necessary to be assumed by Holdco (the “Other Agreements”). At the Effective Time, the Registered Stock Plans and the Other Agreements shall each be automatically amended as necessary to provide that references to the Company in such agreements shall be read to refer to Holdco.

The outstanding options and other awards assumed by Holdco shall be exercisable and/or settled upon the same terms and conditions as under the Plans immediately prior to the Effective Time, except that, upon the exercise of each such option or settlement of such award, shares of Holdco Common Stock shall be issuable in lieu of each share of Company Common Stock issuable with respect thereto immediately prior to the Effective Time.

The Company and Holdco will take or cause to be taken all actions necessary or desirable in order for Holdco to assume and perform the obligations of the Company under the Registered Stock Plans and Other Agreements, all to the extent deemed appropriate by the Company and Holdco and permitted under applicable law.

Section 2.2 Post-Effective Amendments . It is the intent of the parties hereto that Holdco, as of the Effective Time, be deemed a “successor issuer” for purposes of continuing offerings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. As soon as practicable following the Merger, Holdco will file post-effective amendments to the Company’s registration statements on Form S-8 covering the Registered Stock Plans, adopting such statements as its own registration

 

Page 7 of 11


statements for all purposes of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and setting forth any additional information necessary to reflect any material changes made in connection with or resulting from the succession, or necessary to keep the registration statements from being misleading.

Section 2.3 Reservation of Shares . On or prior to the Effective Time, Holdco will reserve sufficient shares of Holdco Common Stock to provide for the issuance of Holdco Common Stock with respect to awards outstanding under the Registered Stock Plans.

Section 2.4 Employee Benefit Plans . The Company and Holdco will take or cause to be taken all actions necessary or desirable in order for Holdco to assume (or become a participating employer in) each existing employee benefit plan and agreement of the Company, with or without amendments, or to adopt, comparable plans, all to the extent deemed appropriate by the Company and Holdco and permitted under applicable law.

ARTICLE III

CONDITIONS OF MERGER

Section 3.1 Conditions Precedent . The obligations of the parties to this Agreement to consummate the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to fulfillment or waiver by the parties hereto of each of the following conditions:

(a) The Company shall have received any approvals or permits and any consents, waivers or amendments or other modification to the outstanding agreements, contracts, instruments or other understandings which the Company deems necessary or desirable in connection with the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(b) Prior to the Effective Time, no order, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, injunction, stay, decree, judgment or restraining order shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any court or governmental or regulatory authority or instrumentality which prohibits or makes illegal the consummation of the Merger or the transactions contemplated hereby.

ARTICLE IV

TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

Section 4.1 Termination . This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time by action of the Board of Directors of the Company, Holdco or MergerSub if any such Board of Directors should determine that for any reason the completion of the transactions provided for herein would be inadvisable or not in the best interest of such corporation or its stockholders. In the event of such termination and abandonment, this Agreement shall become void and neither the Company, Holdco or MergerSub nor their respective stockholders, directors or officers shall have any liability with respect to such termination and abandonment.

 

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Section 4.2 Amendment . This Agreement may be supplemented, amended or modified by the mutual consent of the Boards of Directors of the parties to this Agreement.

ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 5.1 Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced under the laws of the State of Delaware.

Section 5.2 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.

Section 5.3 Entire Agreement . This Agreement, including the documents and instruments referred to herein, constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

Section 5.4 Severability . The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and in the event any provision hereof is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not in any way affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

Page 9 of 11


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company, Holdco and MergerSub have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS, INC.

By:  

/s/

Name:  
Title:  
LUMBER LIQUIDATORS HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/

Name:  
Title:  

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS MERGER SUB, INC.

By:  

/s/

Name:  
Title:  

 

Page 10 of 11


CERTIFICATE OF THE SECRETARY

OF

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS, INC.

I, E. Livingston B. Haskell, Secretary of Lumber Liquidators, Inc., a Delaware corporation, hereby certify that this Agreement to which this certificate is attached has been adopted pursuant to Subsection 251(g) of the DGCL and the conditions specified in the first sentence of Subsection 251(g) have been satisfied.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this certificate as of the 29 th day of December, 2009.

 

Lumber Liquidators, Inc.

/s/ E. Livingston B. Haskell

By:   E. Livingston B. Haskell, Secretary

 

Page 11 of 11

Exhibit 3.1

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS HOLDINGS, INC.

THE UNDERSIGNED, a natural person, for the purpose of organizing a corporation for conducting the business and promoting the purposes hereinafter stated, under the provisions and subject to the requirements of the laws of the State of Delaware, certifies:

Article I – Name

The name of the corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “ Corporation ”) is Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.

Article II – Agent

The registered office of the Corporation is to be located at 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, in the City of Wilmington, in the County of New Castle, in the State of Delaware, with a zip code of 19808. The name of its registered agent at that address is Corporation Service Company.

Article III – Purpose

The purpose for which the Corporation is organized is to conduct any lawful business, to promote any lawful purpose and to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or any applicable successor thereto, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “ DGCL ”).

Article IV – Stock

Section 1 . Authorized Stock . The total number of shares of stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 43,000,000 shares of capital stock, consisting of 35,000,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”) and 8,000,000 shares of preferred stock (the “ Preferred Stock ”) with a par value of $0.01 per share. The number of authorized shares of Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding) by such affirmative vote as may be required at that time by the DGCL.

Section 2 . Preferred Stock .

(a) General .

(i) Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more classes or series from time to time. The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) is expressly authorized to provide for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more classes or series and, by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware (hereinafter referred to as “ Preferred Stock Designation ”) to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such class or series, and to fix the designations and powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of each class or series of preferred stock prior to its issuance. Each such class or series of Preferred Stock shall have such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, as shall be authorized by the Board of Directors and stated in the applicable Preferred Stock Designation.


(ii) The Common Stock shall be subject to the express terms of any series of Preferred Stock. Except as required by a Preferred Stock Designation or applicable law, holders of Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote at or receive notice of any meeting of stockholders.

Section 3 . Common Stock .

(a) Voting .

(i) Election of Directors . Except as otherwise provided by law or by the resolution or resolutions provided for the issue of any series of Preferred Stock, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to elect all of the Directors of the Corporation. Such Director(s) shall be elected by a plurality vote, with the elected candidates being the candidates receiving the greatest number of affirmative votes (with each holder entitled to cast one vote for or against each candidate with respect to each share held by such holder), with votes cast against such candidates and votes withheld having no legal effect. The election of such Directors shall occur at the annual meeting of holders of capital stock or at any special meeting called and held in accordance with the by-laws of the Corporation, or by consent in lieu thereof in accordance with this Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.

(ii) Voting Generally . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or required by law or the resolution or resolutions provided for the issue of any class or series of Preferred Stock, the holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and for all other purposes. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or required by law, each holder of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one (1) vote in respect of each share of Common Stock held thereby of record on the books of the Corporation for the election of directors and on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.

(b) Dividends . Subject to applicable law, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive dividends out of funds legally available therefor at such times and in such amounts as the Board of Directors may determine in its sole discretion, subject to any preferential dividend rights of outstanding Preferred Stock.

(c) Liquidation . Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, whether voluntary or involuntary (a “ Liquidation Event ”), after the payment or provision for payment of all debts and liabilities of the Corporation and all preferential amounts to which the holders of any outstanding class or series Preferred Stock may be entitled pursuant to the terms thereof with respect to the distribution of assets in liquidation, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to share ratably in the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution. The term “Liquidation Event” shall not be deemed to be occasioned by or to include any voluntary consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other corporation or other entity or corporation or other entities or a sale, lease or conveyance of all or a part of the Corporation’s assets.

(d) No Pre-Emptive Rights . No holder of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to any pre-emptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights.

 

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Article V – Board of Directors

Section 1 . Number and Classification .

(a) Number . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board of Directors consisting of not fewer than three individuals nor more than 15 individuals (exclusive of directors referred to in the last paragraph of this Section 1), the exact number of directors to be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors then in office.

(b) Classes . From and after the date of the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the filing of this Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, the directors shall be divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as may be possible, of one-third of the total number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors. The initial division of the Board of Directors into classes shall be made by the decision of the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors then in office. Class I directors shall serve for an initial term ending at the annual meeting of stockholders held in 2010, Class II directors for an initial term ending at the annual meeting of stockholders held in 2011 and Class III directors for an initial term ending at the annual meeting of stockholders held in 2012. At each annual meeting of stockholders beginning in 2010, successors to the directors in the class whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a three-year term.

(c) Changes in Numbers of Directors; Classification . If the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any additional director of any class elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for the remaining term of that class, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors shorten the term of any incumbent director.

(d) Length of Term . Each director shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor shall be elected and shall qualify, subject, however, to prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office. Directors shall be elected by the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast by shares entitled to vote in the election at a meeting at which a quorum is present.

(e) Written Ballot Required . Elections of directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders shall be by written ballot.

(f) Preferred Stock Directors . Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the number of such directors and the election, term of office, filling of vacancies and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the provisions of this Article V and any resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant thereto, and such directors shall not be divided into classes unless expressly so provided therein.

Section 2 . Vacancies . Any vacancy in the Board of Directors that results from an increase in the number of directors, from the death, disability, resignation, disqualification, removal of any director or from any other cause shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Any director elected to fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall hold office for the remaining term of his or her predecessor.

 

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Section 3 . Removal . Subject to the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock, any Director or the entire Board may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding Common Stock.

Section 4 . Committees . Pursuant to the Bylaws, the Board of Directors may establish one or more committees to which may be delegated any of or all of the powers and duties of the Board of Directors to the full extent permitted by laws.

Section 5 . Authority . For the management of the business and the conduct of affairs of the Corporation, and in further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Corporation and its Directors and of its stockholders or any class thereof, as the case may be, it is further provided that:

(a) The Board of Directors shall have powers to fix and vary the amount of shares to be reserved for any proper purpose; to authorize and cause to be executed mortgages and liens upon all or any part of the property of the Corporation; to determine the use and disposition of any surplus or net profits; and to fix the times for the declaration and payment of dividends;

(b) The Directors in their discretion may submit any contract or act for approval or ratification at any annual meeting of the stockholders or at any meeting of the stockholders called for the purpose of considering any such act or contract, and any contract or act that shall be approved or ratified by the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Corporation which is represented in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereat (provided that a lawful quorum of stockholders be there represented in person or by proxy) shall be as valid and binding upon the Corporation and upon all stockholders as though it had been approved or ratified by every stockholder of the Corporation, whether or not the contract or act would otherwise be open to legal attack because of directors’ interest or for any other reason; and

(c) In addition to the powers and authorities conferred upon the Directors by statute or this Certificate of Incorporation, the Directors are hereby empowered to 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 DGCL, this Certificate of Incorporation and to any by-laws made from time to time by the stockholders; provided, however, that no by-laws so made shall invalidate any prior act of the Directors that would have been valid if such by-law had not been made.

Article VI – Liability of Directors and Officers

Section 1 . Elimination of Certain Liability of Directors . A Director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any 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) under Section 174 of the DGCL; or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. If the DGCL is hereafter amended to permit further elimination or limitation of the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a Director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as so amended.

 

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Section 2 . Indemnification and Insurance .

(a) Right to Indemnification . 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 she, or a person of whom he or she 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 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 or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, 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, judgments, liens, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and excise taxes or penalties arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in paragraph (b) hereof, the Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors. The right to indemnification conferred in this Section shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as such in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section or otherwise (an “undertaking”); and provided further that such advancement of expenses incurred by any person other than a director or officer shall be made only upon the delivery of an undertaking to the foregoing effect and may be subject to such other conditions as the Board may deem advisable.

(b) Non-Exclusivity of Rights; Accrued Rights . The right to indemnification and the advancement of expenses conferred in this Section shall not be exclusive of any other right that any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, bylaw of the Corporation, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. Such rights shall be contract rights, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors and administrators. Any repeal or modification of this Article shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

(c) Insurance . The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

 

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(d) Other Employees and Agents . The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee not within the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section or to any agent of the Corporation, subject to such conditions as the Board of Directors may deem advisable.

(e) Savings Clause . If this Article VI or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each person entitled to indemnification hereunder as to all expense, liability, and loss (including attorney’s fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes, penalties and amounts to be paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred or suffered by such person and for which indemnification is available to such person pursuant to this Article VI to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article VI that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

Article VII – Existence

The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.

Article VIII – Other Constituencies; Creditor Arrangements

Section 1 . Consideration of Other Constituencies . In addition to any other considerations which they may lawfully take into account in determining whether to take or to refrain from taking action on any matter and in discharging their duties under applicable law and this Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors, its committees and each Director may take into account the interests of customers, distributors, suppliers, creditors, current and retired employees and other constituencies of the Corporation and its subsidiaries and the effect upon the communities in which the Corporation and its subsidiaries do business; provided, however, that this Article shall be deemed solely to grant discretionary authority only and shall not be deemed to provide to any constituency a right to be considered.

Section 2 . Compromises with Creditors . 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 the DGCL 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 the DGCL 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 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, and/or on all the stockholders or class of stockholders, of the Corporation, as the case may be, and also on the Corporation.

 

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Article IX – Stockholder Action

Section 1 . Actions at Meetings Duly Called; No Written Consents . Subject to the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken only upon the vote of the stockholders at an annual or special meeting duly called and may not be taken by written consent of the stockholders.

Section 2 . Regulation of Stockholder Submissions . The Bylaws may establish procedures regulating the submission by stockholders of nominations and proposals for consideration at meetings of stockholders of the Corporation.

Section 3 . Special Meetings . Subject to the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders may be called at any time only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of Directors then in office or by the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Article X – Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation

Subject to any requirement of applicable law or any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation and to any voting rights granted to or held by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, the Corporation reserves the right at any time from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, and any other provisions authorized by the DGCL at the time in force may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by law; and all rights, preferences and privileges of whatsoever nature conferred upon stockholders, Directors or any other persons whomsoever by and pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Article. In addition to any affirmative vote required by applicable law or any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or specified in any agreement, and in addition to any voting rights granted to or held by the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding Common Stock shall be required to amend, add, alter, change, repeal or adopt any provisions inconsistent with this Certificate of Incorporation.

Article XI – Amendment of By-laws

The Board of Directors is expressly authorized and empowered to adopt, amend and repeal the Bylaws by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors present at a regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors at which there is a quorum (as defined from time to time in the Certificate of Incorporation) or by written consent. The stockholders of the Corporation may not adopt, amend or repeal any Bylaw, and no provision inconsistent therewith shall be adopted by the stockholders, unless such action is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding Common Stock.

Article XII – Section 203 of the DGCL

The Corporation expressly elects to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.

 

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Exhibit 3.2

BYLAWS

OF

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS HOLDINGS, INC.

Article I – Offices

1. Registered Office . Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”) shall have and maintain at all times (i) a registered office in the State of Delaware, which office shall be located at 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, in the City of Wilmington, in the County of New Castle, in the State of Delaware 19808; and (ii) a registered agent located at such address whose name is Corporation Service Company, until changed from time to time as provided by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as in effect from time to time (the “ DGCL ”).

2. Other Offices . The principal office of the Corporation may be located within or without the State of Delaware, as designated by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”). The Corporation may have other offices and other places of business at such places within or without the State of Delaware as shall be determined by the Directors or as may be required by the business of the Corporation.

Article II – Stockholders

1. Annual Meeting . The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held each year at the place, either within or without the State of Delaware (including by remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the DGCL), and at the date and time determined by the Board of Directors from time to time. The purposes for which the annual meeting is to be held, in addition to those prescribed by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”) or by these Bylaws, shall be for the purpose of electing Directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for such other purposes as may properly come before it, including such as shall be properly specified in the notice for the meeting pursuant to Section 4 of this Article II, and only business within such purposes may be conducted at the meeting.

2. Special Meetings . Subject to the rights of the holders of the preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation (the “ Preferred Stock ”), special meetings 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 total number of directors then in office or by the Chairman of the Board. Any such special meeting shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware (including by remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the DGCL), and at such date and time determined by the Board of Directors of the Chairman of the Board shall designate, as set forth in the notice of the meeting. At the adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting. Only business within the purpose or purposes described in the meeting notice may be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders.

3. Place of Meetings . All meetings of stockholders shall be held at the principal office of the Corporation unless a different place is fixed by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer and is specified in the notice of the meeting or the meeting is held solely by means of remote communication in accordance with Section 12 of this Article II.


4. Notice of Meetings .

(a) Except as otherwise provide by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, a written notice of the date, time and place of all meetings of stockholders, describing the purposes of the meeting, shall be given by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (or other person authorized by the Board of Directors to provide notice of such meeting) no fewer than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the meeting date to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting and to each stockholder who, by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, is entitled to such notice, except that where any other minimum or maximum notice period for any action to be taken at such meeting is required under the DGCL, then such other minimum or maximum notice period shall control.

(b) If at any meeting action is proposed to be taken which, if taken, would entitle stockholders fulfilling the requirements of Section 262(d) of the DGCL to an appraisal of the fair value of their shares, the notice of such meeting shall contain a statement of that purpose and to that effect and shall be accompanied by a copy of that statutory Section.

5. Requirement of Notice . If an annual or special meeting of stockholders is adjourned to a different date, time or place, written notice need not be given of the new date, time or place if the new date, time or place, if any, is announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken before adjournment; provided , however , that if the date for any adjourned meeting is more than 30 days after the date of the original meeting, or if a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in conformity with this Article II. At the adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting. All notices to stockholders shall conform to the requirements of Article IV.

6. Waiver of Notice . A stockholder may waive any notice of meeting required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws either before or after the date and time stated in the notice. The waiver shall be in writing, be signed by the stockholder entitled to the notice, and be delivered to the Corporation for inclusion with the records of the meeting. To the extent permitted by law, a stockholder’s attendance at a meeting, in person or by proxy, waives objection to (i) lack of notice or defective notice of the meeting, unless the stockholder at the beginning of the meeting objects to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting; and (ii) consideration of a particular matter at the meeting that is not within the purpose or purposes described in the meeting notice, unless the stockholder objects to considering the matter when it is presented. Any stockholder so waiving notice of a meeting shall be bound by the proceedings of such meeting in all respects as if due notice thereof had been given.

7. Quorum .

(a) Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter by a voting group, present in person or by proxy, constitutes a quorum of that voting group for action on that matter. As used in these Bylaws, a “voting group” includes all shares of one or more classes or series that, under the Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL, are entitled to vote and to be counted together collectively on a matter at a meeting of stockholders.

(b) A share once represented for any purpose at a meeting is deemed present for quorum purposes for the remainder of the meeting and for any adjournment of that meeting unless (i) the stockholder attends solely to object to lack of notice, defective notice or the conduct of the meeting on other grounds and does not vote the shares or otherwise consent that they are to be deemed present, or (ii) in the case of an adjournment, a new record date is or shall be set for that adjourned meeting.

 

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(c) If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairman of the meeting or the holders of a majority of the votes of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to be voted at the meting who are present, in person or by proxy, may adjourn the meeting to another place, date and time, without notice other than as specified in Section 5 of this Article.

8. Organization . Such person as the Chairman of the Board may have designated or, in the absence of such person, such person as the Board of Directors may have designated or, in the absence of such person, the Chief Executive Officer, or in his or her absence, such person as may be chosen by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, shall call to order any meeting of the stockholders and act as chairman of the meeting. In the absence of the Secretary, the secretary of the meeting shall be such person as the chairman of the meeting appoints.

9. Conduct of Business .

(a) 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 by the chairman of the meeting. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of the meeting shall have the right and authority to convene and to adjourn the meeting, to determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such rules and regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seems to him or her in order, and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such presiding person, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting.

(b) Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the presiding person of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants

(c) The chairman of any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such presiding person should so determine, such chairman shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

10. Voting and Proxies .

(a) Subject to the terms of the Preferred Stock, at any meeting of stockholders, each stockholder shall have, with respect to each matter voted upon at a meeting of stockholders, one

 

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vote for each share of stock entitled to vote owned by such stockholder of record according to the books of the Corporation, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation.

(b) At any meeting of stockholders, a stockholder entitled to vote in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation may either (i) vote his or her shares in person or (ii) appoint a proxy to vote or otherwise act for him or her by authorizing such proxy by an instrument in writing or a transmission permitted by law. An appointment of a proxy is effective when filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting or, if not such procedures are established, when received by the Secretary or other officer or agent authorized to tabulate votes. Unless otherwise provided in an appointment form, an appointment is valid for a period of three years from the date the stockholder signed the form or, if it is undated, from the date of its receipt by the officer or agent, unless and to the extent otherwise provided in the proxy. Except as otherwise limited therein, proxies shall entitle the persons authorized thereby to vote at any adjournment of such meeting but shall not be valid after final adjournment of such meeting. A proxy with respect to stock held in the name of two or more persons shall be valid if executed by one of them if the person signing appears to be acting on behalf of all the co-owners unless at or prior to exercise of the proxy the Corporation receives a specific written notice to the contrary from any one of them. Subject to the provisions of Section 212 of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereof) and to any express limitation on the proxy’s authority provided in the appointment form, the Corporation is entitled to accept the proxy’s vote or other action as that of the stockholder making the appointment.

(c) All voting, except as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or where otherwise required by law, may be by a voice vote; provided , however , that upon demand therefor by a stockholder entitled to vote or by his or her proxy, a stock vote shall be taken. Every stock vote shall be taken by ballots, each of which shall state the name of the stockholder or proxy voting and such other information as may be required under the procedure established for the meeting.

(d) In advance of any meeting of stockholders, the Board of Directors shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof and may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability and may perform such other duties not inconsistent herewith as may be requested by the Corporation.

11. Action at Meeting . Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, if a quorum of a voting group exists, favorable action on a matter is taken by a voting group if the votes cast within the group favoring the action exceed the votes cast opposing the action. The election of directors shall be conducted in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and each director so elected shall hold office as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. The Corporation shall not directly or indirectly vote any share of its own stock.

12. No Action by Written Consent . No action required to be taken or which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, and such actions may not be taken by written consent of the stockholders.

 

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13. Record Date . The Board of Directors may fix the record date in order to determine the stockholders entitled to notice of a meeting of stockholders, to demand a special meeting, to vote, or to take any other action. If a record date for a specific action is not fixed by the Board of Directors, such record date shall be that specified by the section of the DGCL dealing with that action (or any successor provision thereof) or, if no such record date is specified, in accordance with Section 213 of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto). A record date fixed under this Section may not be more than 60 days nor less than 10 days before the meeting or action requiring a determination of stockholders. A determination of stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders is effective for any adjournment of the meeting unless the Board of Directors in its discretion fixes a new record date, which it shall do if the meeting is adjourned to a date more than 30 days after the date fixed for the original meeting.

14. Meetings by Remote Communications . Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, if authorized by the Directors, any annual or special meeting of stockholders, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or by means of remote communication, may be conducted in whole or in part by means of remote communication. 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 communications: (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: (1) 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; (2) 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 (3) 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.

15. Form of Stockholder Action .

(a) Any vote, consent, waiver, proxy appointment or other action by a stockholder or by the proxy or other agent of any stockholder shall be considered given in writing, dated and signed, if, in lieu of any other means permitted by law, it consists of an electronic transmission that sets forth or is delivered with information from which the Corporation can determine (i) that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder or proxyholder and transmitted by the stockholder, proxyholder or a person authorized to act for them and (ii) the date on which such stockholder, proxyholder or authorized person transmitted the electronic transmission. The date on which the electronic transmission is transmitted shall be considered to be the date on which it was signed. The electronic transmission shall be considered received by the Corporation if it has been sent to any address specified by the Corporation for the purpose or, if no address has been specified, to the principal office of the Corporation, addressed to the Secretary or other officer or agent having custody of the records of proceedings of stockholders.

(b) Any copy, facsimile or other reliable reproduction of a vote, consent, waiver, proxy appointment or other action by a stockholder or by the proxy or other agent of any stockholder may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, so long as the copy, facsimile or other reproduction is a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.

 

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16. Stockholders List for Meeting .

(a) After fixing a record date for a meeting of stockholders, the office of the Corporation who had charge of its stock ledger shall prepare an alphabetical list of the names of all its stockholders who are entitled to notice of the meeting. The list shall be arranged by voting group, and within each voting group by class or series of shares, and show the address of and number of shares held by each stockholder, but need not include an electronic mail address or other electronic contact information for any stockholder.

(b) The list of stockholders shall be available for inspection by any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period beginning ten days prior to the meeting for which the list was prepared and continuing through the meeting: (i) during ordinary business hours, at the Corporation’s principal office; or (ii) 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. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time there of and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, the list shall be made available on an electronic network and the information required to gain access to such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.

17. Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations .

(a) (i) To be properly brought before an annual meeting or special meeting, nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors or other business must be (A) specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; (B) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; or (C) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder.

(ii) For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder (A) the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary; (B) the subject matter thereof must be a matter which is a proper subject matter for stockholder action at such meeting; and (C) the stockholder must be a stockholder of record of the Corporation at the time the notice required by this Section is delivered to the Corporation and must be entitled to vote at the meeting.

(iii) Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, to be considered timely notice, a stockholder’s notice must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 120 calendar days before the date of the Corporation’s proxy statement released to stockholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders. If no annual meeting was held in the previous year, or if the date of the applicable annual meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date of the previous year’s annual meeting, then a stockholder’s notice, in order to be considered timely, must be received by the Secretary not later than the later of the close of business on the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or public disclosure of such date was made. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth:

(A) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director, (1) all information relating to such person 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 in accordance with Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “ Exchange Act ”) and such other information as may be required by the Corporation pursuant to any policy of the Corporation governing the selection of directors; and (2) such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected;

 

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(B) as to any business the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, (1) a brief description of such business; (2) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment); (3) the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting; and (4) any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal or nomination is made; and

(C) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal or nomination is made, (1) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner; (2) the class and number of shares of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and held of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner; (3) 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 or nomination; and (4) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends (x) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding shares of capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee; and/or (y) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination.

The foregoing notice requirements shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his or her intention to present a proposal or nomination at an annual meeting in compliance with applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal or nomination has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation. In addition, a stockholder seeking to bring an item of business before the annual meeting shall promptly provide any other information reasonably requested by the Corporation.

(iv) Notwithstanding anything in paragraph (a)(iii) to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

(b) Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; or (ii) so long as and provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the

 

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Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section is delivered to the Secretary, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, a stockholder who seeks to have any proposal included in the Corporation’s proxy materials must provide notice as required by and otherwise comply with the applicable requirements of the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act. Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to affect any rights of (a) stockholders to request inclusion of proposals or nominations in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act; or (b) the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of such Preferred Stock and/or the Certificate of Incorporation.

(d) The chairman of an annual meeting shall determine all matters relating to the conduct of the meeting, including, but not limited to, determining whether any nomination or item of business has been properly brought before the meeting in accordance with these Bylaws (including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies in support of such stockholder’s nominee or proposal in compliance with such stockholder’s representation as required by clause (a)(iii)(C)(4) of this Section), and if the chairman should so determine and declare that any nomination or item of business has not been properly brought before an annual or special meeting, then such business shall not be transacted at such meeting and such nomination shall be disregarded.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or item of business, such proposed business shall not be transacted and such nomination shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation.

Article III – Directors

1. Powers . All corporate power shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of, its Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may exercise (or grant authority to be exercised) all the powers and authority of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things except (i) as are by law or otherwise required or directed to be exercised or done by the stockholders or (ii) as and to the extent set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

2. Number, Election and Qualification . Subject to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock, the number of Directors shall be such number as is from time to time determined in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. The election of Directors shall be conducted from time to time in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, and each Director so elected shall hold office as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. No Director need be a stockholder.

3. Vacancies; Reduction of Board . Any vacancy in the Board of Directors, however occurring, including a vacancy resulting from the enlargement of the Board of Directors, may be filled only in the manner provided in and to the extent permitted under the Certificate of Incorporation. A vacancy that will occur at a specific later date may be filled before the vacancy occurs but the new Director may not take office until the vacancy occurs.

 

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4. Resignation . Any Director may resign at any time by delivering his or her written resignation to the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board (if any) or to the Corporation at its principal office. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified therein to be effective at some later time. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

5. Removal . Subject to the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock, any director, or the entire Board of Directors, may only be removed from office in the manner provided in and to the extent permitted under the Certificate of Incorporation.

6. Meetings .

(a) Annual Meetings . The Board of Directors shall meet for the purpose of organization, the election of officers and the transaction of other business, as soon as practicable after each annual meeting of stockholders, on the same day and at the same place where such annual meeting shall be held. Notice of such meeting need not be given. In the event such annual meeting is not so held, the annual meeting of the Board of Directors may be held at such other time or place (within or without the State of Delaware) as provided in Section 8(c) hereof.

(b) Regular Meetings . Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held without notice at such time or times, on such date or dates and at such place or places as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine and publicized among all directors. A notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.

(c) Special Meetings . Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by one-third of the Directors then in office (rounded up to the nearest whole number), by the Chairman of the Board, or by the Chief Executive Officer, and shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as they or he or she shall fix.

7. Notice of Special Meeting . Notice of the time, date and place of all special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given to each Director by whom it is not waived by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary, or in case of the death, absence, incapacity or refusal of such persons, by the officer or one of the Directors calling the meeting, in each case not less than 24 hours before the meeting. Notice of any such meeting need not be given to any Director who shall waive such notice in conformity with Section 8. A notice of a special meeting of the Board of Directors need not specify the purposes of the meeting unless required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. All notices to Directors shall conform to the requirements of Article IV.

8. Waiver of Notice of Special Meeting . A Director may waive any notice of a special meeting before or after the date and time of the meeting. The waiver shall be in writing, signed by the Director entitled to the notice, or in the form of an electronic transmission by the Director to the Corporation, and filed with the minutes or corporate records. A Director’s attendance at or participation in a meeting waives any required notice to him or her of the meeting unless the Director at the beginning of the meeting, or promptly upon his or her arrival, objects to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting and does not thereafter vote for or assent to action taken at the meeting.

9. Quorum . At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the total number of Directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for all purposes; provided , that if a quorum of Directors shall fail to attend any meeting, any number of Directors (whether one or more and whether or not constituting a quorum) constituting a majority of Directors present at such meeting may adjourn the meeting to another place, date or time, without further notice or waiver thereof.

 

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10. Action at Meeting . At any meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present (or such smaller number as may make a determination pursuant to Section 145 of the DGCL or any successor provision), business shall be transacted in such order and manner as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine, and all matters shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the Directors present at such meeting at which there is a quorum, except as is required or provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws.

11. Action Without Meeting . Unless the Certificate of Incorporation otherwise provides, any action required or permitted to be taken by the Directors may be taken without a meeting if the action is taken by the unanimous consent of the members of the Board of Directors. The action must be evidenced by one or more consents describing the action taken, in writing, signed by each Director, or delivered to the Corporation by mail or by electronic transmission to the address specified by the Corporation for the purpose or, if no address has been specified, to the principal office of the Corporation, addressed to the Secretary or other officer or agent having custody of the records of proceedings of Directors, and included in the minutes or filed with the corporate records reflecting the action taken. Action taken under this Section is effective when the last Director signs or delivers the consent, unless the consent specifies a different effective date. A consent signed or delivered under this Section has the effect of a meeting vote and may be described as such in any document.

12. Telephone Conference Meetings . Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may permit any or all Directors to participate in a regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors, or any meeting of any committee thereof, by, or conduct the meeting through the use of, any means of communication by which all Directors participating may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting. A Director participating in a meeting by this means is considered to be present in person at the meeting.

13. Committees .

(a) Audit, Compensation and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committees . The Board of Directors shall appoint from among its members an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, each composed of at least two directors or such higher number of directors as may be required by law or the standards of any stock exchange on which shares of the Corporation are listed, with such lawfully delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers or that are required by law or such standards of any stock exchange on which shares of the Corporation are listed.

(b) Other Committees . Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors, by vote of a majority of all the Directors then in office, the Board of Directors may from time to time elect from its number one or more other committees of the Board and may delegate thereto such lawfully delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers. All members of any such committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors may abolish any such committee at any time. Any committee to which the Board of Directors delegates any of its powers or duties shall keep records of its meetings and shall report its action to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall have the power to rescind any action of any such committee, but no such rescission shall have retroactive effect.

 

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(c) Substitution of Members . In the absence or disqualification of any member of any committee and any alternate member in his or her place, the member or members of the committee present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they constitute a quorum may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.

(d) Delegable Authority . Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors or these Bylaws, 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 (i) unless the resolution, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws expressly so provide, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend, authorize the issuance of stock, to adopt a certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to Section 253 of the DGCL or to recommend to the stockholders either the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property and assets or a dissolution of the Corporation (or the revocation of a dissolution); and (ii) no such committee shall have the power or authority of the Board of Directors in reference to adopting, amending or repealing any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws or approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval other than those identified in (i) above.

(e) Term . The Board, subject to the requirements specifically set forth in this Section, may at any time change, increase or decrease the number of members of a committee or terminate the existence of a committee. The membership of a committee member shall terminate on the date of his death or resignation, but the Board may at any time for any reason remove any individual committee member and the Board may, subject to the requirements specifically set forth in this Section, fill any committee vacancy created by death, resignation, removal or increase in the number of members of the committee. The Board of Directors may, subject to the requirements specifically set forth in this Section, designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee, and, in addition, in the absence or disqualification of any member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may, subject to the requirements specifically set forth in this Section, unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member

(f) Conduct of Business of Committees . Each committee may determine the procedural rules for meeting and conducting its business and shall act in accordance therewith, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law. Adequate provision shall be made for notice to members of all meetings. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum unless the committee shall consist of one or two members, in which event one member shall constitute a quorum; and all matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present. Action may be taken by any committee without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of such committee.

14. Compensation . Directors, as such, may receive, pursuant to resolution of the Board of Directors, fixed fees and other compensation for their services as directors, including, without limitation, their services as members of committees of the Board of Directors.

 

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Article IV – Manner of Notice

1. Notices . Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or required by law, all notices required to be given to any stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand delivery to the recipient thereof, by depositing such notice in the mails, postage paid, or by sending such notice by prepaid telegram or mailgram. Any such notice shall be addressed to such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent at his or her last known address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. The time when such notice is received, if hand delivered , or dispatched, if delivered through the malls or by telegram or mailgram shall be the time of the giving of the notice.

2. Waivers . A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver.

Article V – Officers

1. Enumeration . The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and such other officers, including one or more Senior Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Assistant Treasurers or Assistant Secretaries, as the Board of Directors may determine from time to time. The Board may elect one of its members to the office of Chairman of the Board, and one or more of its members to the office of Vice Chairman, and from time to time define the powers and duties of such offices, notwithstanding any other provisions of these Bylaws.

2. Appointment . Officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors, which shall consider that subject at its first meeting after every annual meeting of stockholders. Any such officer that is appointed by the Board of Directors shall be a “Board Appointed Officer.” A Board Appointed Officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the Board of Directors. Each officer has the authority and shall perform the duties set forth in these Bylaws or, to the extent consistent with these Bylaws, the duties prescribed by the Board of Directors or by direction of an officer authorized by the Board of Directors to prescribe the duties of other officers.

3. Qualification . No officer need be a stockholder or Director. Any number of offices may be held by any person.

4. Tenure . Except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, each officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal.

5. Resignation . Any officer may resign by delivering his written resignation to the Corporation at its principal office, and such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some later time. If a resignation is made effective at a later date and the Corporation accepts the future effective date, the Board of Directors may fill the pending vacancy before the effective date if the Board of Directors provides that the successor shall not take office until the effective date. An officer’s resignation shall not affect the Corporation’s contract rights, if any, with the officer.

 

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6. Removal . The Board of Directors may remove any officer with or without cause by a vote of a majority of the entire number of Directors then in office. Nothing herein shall limit the power of any officer to discharge any subordinate.

7. Vacancies . Any vacancy in any office may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Board of Directors or by a Board Appointed Officer if so authorized by the Board of Directors.

8. Chairman of the Board . The Chairman of the Board, or in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman, if any, or the Chief Executive Officer, if any, shall preside as chairman at meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall, in addition, have such other duties as the Board may prescribe that he or she perform. At the request of the Chief Executive Officer (if other than the Chairman of the Board), the Chairman of the Board may, in the case of the Chief Executive Officer’s absence or inability to act, temporarily act in his place. In the case of death of the Chief Executive Officer or in the case of his absence or inability to act without having designated the Chairman of the Board to act temporarily in his place, the Chairman of the Board shall perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer, unless the Board of Directors, by resolution, provides otherwise. If the Chairman of the Board shall be unable to act in place of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or the President may exercise such powers and perform such duties as provided below.

9. Chief Executive Officer . Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of chief executive or which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors and shall, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, have general supervision and control of its business. He or she shall have power to sign all contracts and other instruments of the Corporation that are authorized and shall have general supervision and direction of all of the other officers, employees and agents of the Corporation. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, he or she shall preside, when present, at all meetings of stockholders and (unless a Chairman of the Board has been appointed and is present) of the Board of Directors.

10. President . Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors, the President shall perform all duties and have all powers that are commonly incident to the office of president, including the power to sign any stock certificates, or that are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors.

11. Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents . Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors, any Senior Vice President or Vice President shall perform such duties and have such powers (a) as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate, or (b) in the absence of specific delegation by the Directors, then as the President may from time to time designate.

12. Chief Financial Officer . The Chief Financial Officer shall, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, have general charge of the financial affairs of the Corporation and have responsibility for maintaining the financial records of the Corporation. He or she shall have custody of all funds, securities, and valuable documents of the Corporation, except as the Board of Directors may otherwise provide, and shall make such disbursements of the funds of the Corporation as are authorized and shall render from time to time an account of all such transactions and of the financial condition of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall also perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

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13. Treasurer . Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors, the President shall perform all duties and have all powers that the Board of Directors may delegate to him or her from time to time. In addition to those responsibilities, the Treasurer may authenticate and sign on behalf of the Corporation any certificate representing any debt or equity security issued by the Corporation.

14. Secretary . The Secretary shall issue all authorized notices for, and have responsibility for preparing minutes of, the meetings of stockholders and the Board of Directors, and for authenticating records of the Corporation. He or she shall have charge of the corporate books and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. In case a Secretary is not appointed or is absent, an Assistant Secretary shall keep a record of the meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors and may authenticate records of the Corporation. In the absence of the Secretary from any meeting of stockholders, an Assistant Secretary (if one be appointed) or otherwise a Temporary Secretary designated by the person presiding at the meeting, shall perform the duties of the Secretary.

15. Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries . Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries, if any, shall be elected and shall have such powers and perform such duties, respectively, as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

16. Other Powers and Duties; Delegation .

(a) Subject to these Bylaws, each officer of the Corporation shall have in addition to the duties and powers specifically set forth in these Bylaws, such duties and powers as are customarily incident to his office, and such duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or by direction of an officer authorized by the Board of Directors to prescribe the duties of such other officer.

(b) Whenever an officer or officers is absent, or whenever for any reason the Board of Directors may deem it desirable, the Board may delegate the powers and duties of any officer or officers to any director or directors.

(c) The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officers or agents, notwithstanding any other provision hereof.

17. Compensation . The compensation of the officers of the Corporation for their services as such shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors. An officer of the Corporation shall not be prevented from receiving compensation by reason of the fact that he is also a director of the Corporation.

18. Employment Contracts . The Corporation may enter into employment contracts authorized by the Board of Directors extending beyond the terms of office of the Directors. An employment contract shall be valid despite any inconsistent provision of these Bylaws relating to terms of officers and removal of officers with or without cause but shall not affect the authority of the Board of Directors to remove or fail to reappoint officers. Any removal or failure to reappoint an officer shall be without prejudice to the officer’s contract rights, if any, with the Corporation.

 

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19. Officers’ Bonds or Other Security . If required by the Board of Directors, any officer of the Corporation shall give a bond or other security for the faithful performance of his duties, in such amount and with such surety as the Board of Directors may require.

Article VI – Execution of Corporate Instruments and

Voting of Securities Owned by the Corporation

1. Execution of Corporate Instruments .

(a) The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, determine the method and designate the signatory officer or officers, or other person or persons, to execute any corporate instrument or document, or to sign the corporate name without limitation, except where otherwise provided by law, and such execution or signature shall be binding upon the Corporation.

(b) Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Board of Directors or otherwise required by law, formal contracts of the Corporation, promissory notes, deeds of trust, mortgages and other evidences of indebtedness of the Corporation, and other corporate instruments or documents requiring the corporate seal shall be executed, signed or endorsed by the Chairman of the Board (if there be such an officer appointed) or by the Chief Executive Officer; in the alternative, such documents may be executed by the Chief Financial Officer or the President and countersigned or attested by the Secretary or Treasurer or any Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer. Certificates of stock shall be signed as set forth in Section 2 of Article VII of these Bylaws. All other instruments and documents requiring the corporate signature, but not requiring the corporate seal, may be executed as aforementioned or in such other manner as may be directed by the Board of Directors.

(c) All checks and drafts drawn on banks or other depositaries on funds to the credit of the Corporation, or in special accounts of the Corporation, shall be signed by such person or persons as the Board of Directors shall authorize so to do

2. Voting of Securities Owned by Corporation . All stock and other securities of other corporations owned or held by the Corporation for itself, or for other parties in any capacity, shall be voted, and all proxies with respect thereto shall be executed, by the person authorized so to do by resolution of the Board of Directors or, in the absence of such authorization, by the Chairman of the Board (if there be such an officer appointed), or by the Chief Executive Officer (if there be such an officer appointed), or by the Chief Financial Officer (if there be such an officer appointed) or the President (if there be such an officer appointed).

Article VII – Capital Stock

1. Issuance and Consideration . Subject to any applicable requirements of law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may direct the Corporation to issue the number of shares of each class or series of stock authorized by the Certificate of Incorporation. The Board of Directors may authorize shares to be issued for any valid consideration. Before the Corporation issues shares, the Board of Directors shall determine that the consideration received or to be received for shares to be issued is adequate. That determination by the Board of Directors is conclusive insofar as the adequacy of consideration for the issuance of shares relates to whether the shares are validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable. Subject to any applicable requirements of law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall determine the terms upon which the rights, options, or warrants for the purchase of shares or other securities of the Corporation are issued by the Corporation and the terms, including the consideration, for which the shares or other securities are to be issued.

 

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2. Share Certificates . If shares are represented by certificates, at a minimum each share certificate shall state on its face: (a) the name of the Corporation and that it is organized under the laws of The State of Delaware; (b) the name of the person to whom issued; and (c) the number and class of shares and the designation of the series, if any, the certificate represents. If different classes of shares or different series within a class are authorized, then the variations in rights, preferences and limitations applicable to each class and series, and the authority of the Board of Directors to determine variations for any future class or series, must be summarized on the front or back of each certificate. Alternatively, each certificate may state conspicuously on its front or back that the Corporation will furnish the stockholder this information on request in writing and without charge. Unless shares can be issued only in uncertificated form, each stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, either manually or in facsimile, the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors (if there be such officers appointed) or the President, a Senior Vice President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or any two officers designated by the Board of Directors, certifying the name of shares owned by him or her. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be by facsimile, and any such certificate shall bear the corporate seal or its facsimile. If the person who signed, either manually or in facsimile, a share certificate no longer holds office when the certificate is issued, the certificate shall be nevertheless valid.

3. Uncertificated Shares . The Board of Directors may authorize the issue of some or all of the shares of any or all of the Corporation’s classes or series without certificates. The authorization shall not affect shares already represented by certificates until they are surrendered to the Corporation. Within a reasonable time after the issue or transfer of shares without certificates, upon the request of any stockholder, the Corporation shall send the stockholder a written statement of the information required by the DGCL to be on physical share certificates of the Corporation.

4. Record and Beneficial Owners . The Corporation shall be entitled to treat as the stockholder the person in whose name shares are registered in the records of the Corporation or, if the Board of Directors has established a procedure by which the beneficial owner of shares that are registered in the name of a nominee will be recognized by the Corporation as a stockholder, the beneficial owner of shares to the extent provided in such procedure.

5. Lost or Destroyed Certificates . The Board of Directors of the Corporation may, subject to Delaware Code, Title 6, Section 8-405 (or any successor provision), determine the conditions upon which a new share certificate may be issued in place of any certificate alleged to have been lost, destroyed, or wrongfully taken. The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, require the owner of such share certificate, or his or her legal representative, to give a bond, sufficient in its opinion, with or without surety, to indemnify the Corporation against any loss or claim which may arise by reason of the issue of the new certificate.

6. Transfers . Transfers of stock shall be made only upon the transfer books of the Corporation kept at an office of the Corporation or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares of stock of the Corporation. Subject to any restrictions on transfer and except when a certificate is issued in accordance with Section 8 of Article VII of these Bylaws, shares of stock may be transferred on the books of the Corporation by the surrender to the Corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate therefor properly endorsed or accompanied by a written

 

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assignment and power of attorney properly executed, with transfer stamps (if necessary) affixed, and with such proof of the authenticity of signature as the Corporation or its transfer agent may reasonably require. A record shall be made of each transfer and whenever a transfer shall be made for collateral security, and not absolutely, it shall be so expressed in the entry of the transfer.

7. Record Date . In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or for the purposes of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date in accordance with Section 13 of Article II of these Bylaws.

8. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates . In the event of the loss, theft or destruction of any certificate of stock, another may be issued in its place pursuant to such regulations as the Board of Directors may in their discretion establish concerning proof of such loss, theft or destruction and concerning the giving of a satisfactory bond or bonds of indemnity.

9. Regulations . The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificates of stock shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish.

10. Registered Stockholders . The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and to vote as such owner and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.

11. Dividends . Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may, out of funds legally available therefor at any regular or special meeting, declare dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation as and when they deem expedient. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock of the Corporation; and in the case of a dividend paid in shares of theretofore unissued capital stock of the Corporation, the Board of Directors shall, by resolution, direct that there be designated as capital in respect of such shares an amount not less than the aggregate par value of such shares and, in the case of shares without par value, such amount as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors. Before declaring any dividend, there may be set apart out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends, such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time in its discretion deems proper for working capital or as a reserve fund to meet contingencies or for such other purposes as the Board of Directors shall deem conducive to the interests of the Corporation.

Article VIII – Corporate Records

1. Records to be Kept .

(a) The Corporation shall keep as permanent records minutes of all meetings of its stockholders and Board of Directors, a record of all actions taken by the stockholders or Board of Directors without a meeting, and a record of all actions taken by a committee of the Board of Directors in place of the Board of Directors on behalf of the Corporation. The Corporation or its agent shall maintain a record of its stockholders, in a form that permits preparation of a list of the names and addresses of all stockholders, in alphabetical order by class of shares showing the number and class of shares held by each. The Corporation shall maintain its records in written form or in another form capable of conversion into written form within a reasonable time.

 

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(b) The Corporation shall keep within The State of Delaware a copy of such records at its principal office or an office of its transfer agent or of its Secretary or Assistant Secretary or of its registered agent as may be required by law.

Article IX – Indemnification

1. Indemnification of Directors and Officers . 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 she, or a person of whom he or she 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 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 or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, 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, judgments, liens, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and excise taxes or penalties arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that the Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors.

2. Advance for Expenses . The right to indemnification conferred in this Section shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as such in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section or otherwise (an “ undertaking ”); and provided, further, that such advancement of expenses incurred by any person other than a director or officer shall be made only upon the delivery of an undertaking to the foregoing effect and may be subject to such other conditions as the Board may deem advisable.

3. Right of Claimant to Bring Suit . If a claim under Section 1 of this Article is not paid in full by the Corporation within 60 days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such suit. It shall be a defense to any such suit (other than a suit brought to enforce a right to advancement of expenses where the required undertaking has been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the

 

18


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 DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such standard, shall be a defense to the suit or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

4. Non-Exclusivity of Rights; Accrued Rights . The right to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred in Section 1 of this Article 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, Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. Such rights shall be contract rights, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors and administrators. Any repeal or modification of this Article shall not adversely affect any right hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

5. Insurance . The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

6. Other Employees and Agents . The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee not within the provisions of Section 1 of this Article or to any agent of the Corporation, subject to such conditions as the Board may deem advisable.

7. Savings Clause . If this Article X or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each person entitled to indemnification under Section 1 of this Article as to all expense, liability, and loss (including attorney’s fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes, penalties and amounts to be paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred or suffered by such person and for which indemnification is available to such person pursuant to this Article X to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article X that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

Article X – Miscellaneous Provisions

1. Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as fixed by the Board of Directors. If the Board makes no determination to the contrary, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the twelve months ending with December 31 in each year.

2. Seal . The Board of Directors shall have power to adopt and alter the seal of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary. If and when so directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary.

3. Execution of Instruments . All deeds, leases, transfers, contracts, bonds, notes and other obligations to be entered into by the Corporation in the ordinary course of its business without Director action, may be executed on behalf of the Corporation by the President, any Vice President or the Treasurer.

 

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4. Voting of Securities . Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, the President or Treasurer may waive notice of and act on behalf of this Corporation, or appoint another person or persons to act as proxy or attorney in fact for this Corporation with or without discretionary power and/or power of substitution, at any meeting of stockholders or stockholders of any other corporation, entity or organization, any of whose securities or interests are held by this Corporation.

5. Certificate of Incorporation . All references in these Bylaws to the Certificate of Incorporation shall be deemed to refer to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended and in effect from time to time.

6. Amendments . The Board of Directors and stockholders may adopt, amend and repeal the Bylaws in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.

7. Time Periods . In applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the date of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.

8. Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records . Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, and each officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors so designated, or by any other person as to matters that such director or committee member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

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

 

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LOGO


 

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS HOLDINGS, INC.

 

   

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

   

  TEN COM

  - as tenants in common     UNIF GIFT MIN ACT-                                Custodian                             
           

          (Cust)                                     (Minor)

   

  TEN ENT

  - as tenants by the entireties       under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act                 
           

                                     (State)

   

  JT TEN

  - as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common     UNIF TRF MIN ACT                    Custodian (until age      )                 
           

    (Cust)                                             (Minor)

            under Uniform Transfers to Minors Act             
           

                                             (State)

       

 

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

 

  PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

For value received,                  hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

 

   

 

 

(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Shares

represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint

  

 

  

 

Attorney

to transfer the said Shares on the books of the within named Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises.

  

 

Dated:   

 

  20   

 

    

Signature(s) Guaranteed: Medallion Guarantee Stamp

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (Banks, Stockbrokers, Savings and Loan Associations and Credit Unions) WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15.

 

Signature:

  

 

    

 

Signature:

  

 

    
   Notice:    The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate, in every particular, without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatever.     

LOGO

Exhibit 10.1

Amendment to 2004 Stock Option and Grant Plan

The following paragraphs and sections of the 2004 Stock Option and Grant Plan have been amended, effective December 31, 2009, to read as follows:

(a) The name of the Plan shall be the “Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. 2004 Stock Option and Grant Plan.”

(b) “Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.” shall replace “Lumber Liquidators, Inc.” each place where it appears in the Plan.

(c) “Delaware” shall replace “Massachusetts” in the second sentence of Section 1.

Exhibit 10.2

Amendment to the 2007 Equity Compensation Plan

The following paragraphs and sections of the 2007 Equity Compensation Plan have been amended, effective December 31, 2009, to read as follows:

(a) The name of the Plan shall be the “Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. 2007 Equity Compensation Plan.”

(b) “Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.” shall replace “Lumber Liquidators, Inc.” each place where it appears in the Plan.

(c) “Delaware” shall replace “Massachusetts” in the second sentence of Section 1 and in Section 2(a)(iii).

(d) Section 14 is replaced in its entirety with the following:

This Plan is effective as of August 10, 2007 (the “Effective Date”) and the shareholders of Lumber Liquidators, Inc. approved the Plan on August 10, 2007. If at any time subsequent to the Effective Date the requirements of any applicable federal or state securities laws fail to be met, no Restricted Stock or Unrestricted Stock shall be awarded, no Stock Option granted shall be exercisable, and no Restricted Stock Units or Stock Appreciation Rights payable in shares of Company Stock shall be paid, until the Committee has determined that these requirements have again been met.

Exhibit 10.3

Amendment to 2006 Equity Plan for Non-Employee Directors

The following paragraphs and sections of the 2006 Equity Plan for Non-Employee Directors have been amended, effective December 31, 2009, to read as follows:

(a) The name of the Plan shall be the “Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. 2006 Equity Plan for Non-Employee Directors.”

(b) “Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.” shall replace “Lumber Liquidators, Inc.” each place where it appears in the Plan.

(c) “Delaware” shall replace “Massachusetts” in the second sentence of Section 1.

Exhibit 99.1

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware on November 12, 2009. The following discussion is a summary of the terms of our capital stock, our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws, as well as certain applicable provisions of Delaware law. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws are filed as exhibits to the Current Report on Form 8-K to which this description is an exhibit.

Common Stock

Our authorized capital stock consists of 35,000,000 shares of common stock, with a par value of $0.001 per share and 8,000,000 shares of preferred stock. As of January 4, 2010, 27,239,086 shares of common stock were outstanding.

Holders of common stock will be entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors may elect all of the directors standing for election. In addition, holders of common stock are entitled to receive proportionately any dividends that may be declared by our board of directors, subject to any preferential dividend rights of outstanding preferred stock. Holders of common stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights.

In the event of any reorganization of Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. with one or more corporations or a merger or share exchange of Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. with another corporation in which shares of our common stock are converted into or exchangeable for shares of stock, other securities or property, including cash, all holders of our common stock will be entitled to receive with respect to each share held the same kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities and property, including cash. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive proportionately our net assets available after the payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any outstanding preferred stock.

Our outstanding shares of common stock are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of common stock are subject to, and may be impacted by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.

Preferred Stock

Our certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of an aggregate of 8,000,000 shares of preferred stock. As of January 4, 2010, no shares of preferred stock were outstanding.

 

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Our board of directors may, from time to time, direct the issue of shares of preferred stock in series and may, at the time of issue, determine the designation, powers, rights, preferences and limitations of each series. Satisfaction of any dividend preferences of outstanding preferred stock would reduce the amount of funds available for the payment of dividends on shares of common stock. Holders of preferred stock may be entitled to receive a preference payment in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. before any payment is made to the holders of common stock. Under certain circumstances, the issuance of preferred stock may render more difficult or tend to discourage a merger, tender offer or proxy contest, the assumption of control by a holder of a large block of securities of Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. or the removal of incumbent management. Upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors then in office, the board of directors may issue shares of preferred stock with voting and conversion rights that could adversely affect the holders of shares of common stock.

Pre-emptive Rights

Our shareholders are not entitled to pre-emptive rights to subscribe for additional issuances of common stock or any other class or series of common stock or any security convertible into such stock.

Certain Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaw Provisions

Our certificate of incorporation provides for the board to be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, serving staggered terms. About one-third of the board will be elected annually, and each member will serve a three-year term. The provision for a classified board could prevent a party who acquires control of a majority of the outstanding voting shares from obtaining control of the board until the second annual shareholders meeting following the date the acquirer obtains the controlling share interest. The classified board provision is designed to have the effect of discouraging a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. and to increase the likelihood that incumbent directors will retain their positions. Under Delaware law, directors of a corporation with a classified board may only be removed for cause unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our certificate of incorporation does not provide that our shareholders can remove the directors without cause.

Our certificate of incorporation provides that shareholder action can be taken only at an annual or special meeting of shareholders and cannot be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting. Our bylaws provide that, except as otherwise required by law, annual or special meetings of the shareholders can only be called pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors then in office or by the chairman of the board. Shareholders are not permitted to call a general meeting or to require the board of directors to call a general meeting. The bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for shareholder proposals to be brought before a general meeting of shareholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to the board of directors. Shareholders at a general meeting may only consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the board of directors or by a shareholder who was a shareholder of record on the

 

2


record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has given timely written notice, in proper form, of the shareholder’s intention to bring that business before the meeting. Although neither the certificate of incorporation nor the bylaws gives the board of directors the power to approve or disapprove shareholder nominations of candidates or proposals about other business to be conducted at a general meeting, the certificate of incorporation and the bylaws may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed or may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of Lumber Liquidators.

Our certificate of incorporation provides that the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which relate to business combinations with interested shareholders, will apply to Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. Section 203 provides that, subject to certain exceptions, an interested stockholder of a Delaware corporation may not engage in any business combination, including mergers or consolidations or acquisitions of additional shares of the corporation, with the corporation for a three-year period following the date that the stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Under Section 203, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns or, in some cases, within three years prior owned, 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock.

Our board of directors will be permitted to alter certain provisions of our bylaws without obtaining shareholder approval.

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

Our certificate of incorporation provides that no director shall be liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except as required by the Delaware General Corporation Law as in effect from time to time. Our bylaws provide that, to the full extent permitted by law, we will indemnify any person made or threatened to be made a party to any action by reason of the fact that the person is or was our director or officer, or serves or served as a director or officer of any other enterprise at our request.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

Listing

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “LL.”

 

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Exhibit 99.2

LOGO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS ANNOUNCES

FORMATION OF NEW HOLDING COMPANY TO CREATE MORE EFFICIENT CORPORATE STRUCTURE

TOANO, VA, January 4, 2010 – Lumber Liquidators (NYSE: LL) announced that effective December 31, 2009, it has reorganized by creating a new holding company structure. The primary purpose of the reorganization was to create a more efficient corporate structure that provides flexibility, risk mitigation, enhanced compensation and benefit structuring, and other benefits. The business operations of the company and its subsidiaries will not change as a result of the reorganization.

As part of the holding company reorganization, a new parent company named Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. was formed. Outstanding shares of the capital stock of the former parent company, which was named Lumber Liquidators, Inc., were automatically converted, on a share for share basis, into identical shares of common stock of the new holding company. Lumber Liquidators intends to mail instructions to stockholders regarding the process for exchanging their old stock certificates.

The certificate of incorporation, the bylaws, the executive officers and the board of directors of the new holding company are the same as those of the former Lumber Liquidators, Inc. in effect immediately prior to the reorganization. The common stock of the new holding company will continue to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “LL.” The rights, privileges and interests of the company’s stockholders will remain the same with respect to the new holding company.

Additional information can be found in the Form 8-K which will be filed today with the Securities Exchange Commission.

About Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.

Lumber Liquidators is the largest specialty retailer of hardwood flooring in the United States. With more than 185 stores and 150 varieties of flooring, including solid and engineered hardwood, bamboo, cork and laminate, and featuring premier brands such as Bellawood (which features a 50-year warranty), Dream Home, Schön, Virginia Mill Works, and Morning Star, Lumber Liquidators has one of the most extensive selections of prefinished and unfinished hardwood flooring in the industry. Its hardwood line is made up of more than 25 domestic and exotic wood species in both prefinished and unfinished brands of various lengths and widths.

While keeping costs down is part of its philosophy, Lumber Liquidators is also committed to offering high-quality, name-brand products that it stands behind with confidence.


Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and accompanying financial tables may contain “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. These statements are based on currently available information as of the date of such statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. Lumber Liquidators specifically disclaims any obligation to update these statements which speak only as of their respective dates, except as may be required under the federal securities laws. Information regarding these additional risks and uncertainties is contained in Lumber Liquidators’s most recent periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For further information contact:

 

Lumber Liquidators    FD
Daniel Terrell/Ashleigh McDermott    Leigh Parrish/Jessica Greenberger
Tel: 757.566.7512    Tel. 212.850.5600