As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 14, 2010

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

EXPRESS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   26-2828128

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1 Express Drive

Columbus, Ohio

  43230
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Express, Inc. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan

(Full title of the plan)

 

 

Matthew C. Moellering

Express, Inc.

Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary

1 Express Drive

Columbus, Ohio 43230

(614) 474-4001

(Name and address of agent for service and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

Robert M. Hayward, P.C.

William R. Burke

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

300 North LaSalle

Chicago, Illinois 60654

(312) 862-2000

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   x   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨


 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of

securities to be registered

 

Amount

to be

registered (1)

 

Proposed

maximum

offering price

per share(2)

 

Proposed

maximum

aggregate

offering price (2)

  Amount of
registration fee

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

  1,315,500(3)   $17.00   $22,363,500   $1,595

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

  13,684,500(4)   $15.66   $214,299,270   $15,280

Total

  15,000,000 shares       $236,662,770   $16,875
 
 
(1) Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this registration statement shall also cover any additional shares of common stock which become issuable because of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar transaction effected without the receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the number of the outstanding shares of common stock.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act, as amended. The price per share and aggregate offering price are calculated on the basis of (a) $17.00, the exercise price of the 1,315,500 shares subject to outstanding stock option grants under the Express, Inc. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2010 Plan”) and (b) $15.66, the average of the high and low sale prices of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on July 9, 2010, in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act, as amended, for 12,500 shares subject to outstanding restricted stock units under the 2010 Plan and 13,672,000 shares available for future issuance under the 2010 Plan.
(3) Consists of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options that are currently outstanding under the 2010 Plan.
(4) Consists of 12,500 shares of common stock subject to restricted stock units that are currently outstanding under the 2010 Plan and subject to vesting and 13,672,000 shares of common stock available for future issuance under the 2010 Plan.

 

 

 


PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

 

Item 1. Plan Information.

The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered in accordance with Form S-8 and Rule 428(b) under the Securities Act. Such documents are not required to be, and are not, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. These documents, and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Form S-8, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

 

Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.

The written statement required by Item 2 of Part I is included in documents delivered to participants in the plan covered by this registration statement pursuant to Rule 428(b) of the Securities Act.


PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The following documents, which have been filed by Express, Inc. (the “Company”) with the Commission, are incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference:

(a) The Company’s prospectus filed on May 13, 2010 pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act, which prospectus is a part of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (Registration No. 333-164906);

(b) The Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended May 1, 2010, filed with the Commission on June 16, 2010; and

(c) The description of the Company’s common stock contained in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-34742) filed with the Commission on May 12, 2010, pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such descriptions.

All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than Current Reports on Form 8-K furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K, including any exhibits included with such information, unless otherwise indicated therein) after the date of this Registration Statement, but prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

 

Item 4. Description of Securities.

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

The validity of the common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for the Company by Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Chicago, Illinois. Kirkland & Ellis LLP represents entities affiliated with Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc., which owns shares of the Company’s common stock, in connection with various legal matters. Certain partners of Kirkland & Ellis LLP are members of a limited partnership that is an investor in one or more investment funds affiliated with Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc.

 

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

The Company is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Section 102(b)(7) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) allows a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation will not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached the duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit. The Company’s certificate of incorporation provides for this limitation of liability.

 

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Section 145 of the DGCL (“Section 145”) provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who was, is or is threatened to be made, party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of such corporation or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was illegal. A Delaware corporation may indemnify any persons who are, were or are a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests, provided that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer, director, employee or agent is adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him against the expenses which such officer or director has actually and reasonably incurred.

Section 145 further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent 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 enterprise, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify him under Section 145.

The Company’s certificate of incorporation provides that the Company must indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL and must also pay expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition upon delivery of an undertaking, by or on behalf of an indemnified person, to repay all amounts so advanced if it should be determined ultimately that such person is not entitled to be indemnified under this section or otherwise.

The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its executive officers and directors. The indemnification agreements provide the executive officers and directors with contractual rights to indemnification, expense advancement and reimbursement, to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL. The Company has also entered into an indemnification priority agreement with each of Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. and Limited Brands, Inc. to clarify the priority of advancement of expenses and indemnification obligations among the Company, its subsidiaries and any of the Company’s directors appointed by Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. or its affiliates and Limited Brands, Inc. and its affiliates and other related matters.

The indemnification rights set forth above shall not be exclusive of any other right which an indemnified person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Company’s certificate of incorporation, bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

The Company maintains standard policies of insurance that provide coverage (1) to its directors and officers against loss rising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act and (2) to the Company with respect to indemnification payments that the Company may make to such directors and officers. The Underwriting Agreement filed as Exhibit 1.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-164906) provides for indemnification to our directors and officers by the underwriters party thereto against certain liabilities incurred in connection with the Company’s initial public offering.

 

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Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

 

Item 8. Exhibits.

Reference is made to the attached Exhibit Index, which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 9. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

provided , however , that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Columbus, State of Ohio, on July 14, 2010.

 

EXPRESS, INC.
By:   /s/ Matthew C. Moellering
 

Name:     Matthew C. Moellering

 

Title:       Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby severally constitutes and appoints Matthew C. Moellering and Stefan L. Kaluzny, and each of them individually, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, his or her true and lawful attorney-in fact and agent, with full powers to each of them to sign for us, in our names and in the capacities indicated below, the Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any and all amendments to said Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments), granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as each of them might or could do in person, and hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys, and each of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney. This power of attorney may be executed in counterparts and all capacities to sign any and all amendments.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on July 14, 2010.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ Michael A. Weiss

Michael A. Weiss

   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Matthew C. Moellering

Matthew C. Moellering

   Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary (Principal Accounting and Financial Officer)

/s/ Michael F. Devine, III

Michael F. Devine, III

   Director

 

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/s/ David C. Dominik

David C. Dominik

   Director

/s/ Timothy J. Faber

Timothy J. Faber

   Director

/s/ Stefan L. Kaluzny

Stefan L. Kaluzny

   Director

/s/ Jennie W. Wilson

Jennie W. Wilson

   Director

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  4.1    Certificate of Incorporation of Express, Inc.
  4.2    Bylaws of Express, Inc.
  4.3    Specimen Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-1, as amended, filed with the Commission on April 30, 2010 (File No. 333-164906)).
  5.1    Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
23.1    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
23.2    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.3    Consent of Kirkland & Ellis LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1    Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this registration statement).
99.1    Express, Inc. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.10 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-1, as amended, filed with the Commission on April 30, 2010 (File No. 333-164906)).

Exhibit 4.1

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

EXPRESS, INC.

ARTICLE ONE

The name of the Corporation is Express, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”).

ARTICLE TWO

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company. The registered office and/or registered agent of the Corporation may be changed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE THREE

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

ARTICLE FOUR

The name and mailing address of the sole incorporator are as follows:

 

NAME

  

MAILING ADDRESS

Matthew C. Moellering   

c/o Express, Inc.

One Limited Parkway

Columbus, OH 43230

ARTICLE FIVE

PART A. AUTHORIZED SHARES

The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 510,000,000 shares, consisting of:

1. 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Preferred Stock ”); and


2. 500,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”).

The Preferred Stock and the Common Stock shall have the rights, preferences and limitations set forth below.

PART B. PREFERRED STOCK

The Board of Directors is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by law, to provide by resolution or resolutions for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, to establish the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the voting powers (if any), designations, powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other rights, if any, of the shares of each such series, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. Within the limitations or restrictions stated in any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors fixing the number of shares constituting a series of Preferred Stock, the Board of Directors may increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of any such series of Preferred Stock then outstanding) by resolution the number of shares of any such series of Preferred Stock. In the event that the number of shares of any series of Preferred Stock shall be so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the undesignated status which such shares had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series of Preferred Stock subject to the requirements of applicable law. The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, without the separate vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock as a class irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.

PART C. COMMON STOCK

Section 1. Voting Rights . Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL or this Certificate of Incorporation and subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, all of the voting power of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be vested in the holders of the Common Stock. Each share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote for each share held by such holder on all matters voted upon by the stockholders of the Corporation; provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock).

ARTICLE SIX

The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.

 

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ARTICLE SEVEN

Section 1. Board of Directors . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon them by statute or by this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, 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.

Section 2. Number of Directors . Subject to any rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors which shall constitute the Board of Directors shall be fixed exclusively from time to time by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Whole Board. For purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation, the term “Whole Board” shall mean the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships.

Section 3. Classes of Directors . Beginning immediately following the consummation of the Corporation’s initial public offering of its Common Stock pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “ Initial Public Offering ”) the directors of the Corporation, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock under specified circumstances, shall be divided into three classes, hereby designated Class I, Class II and Class III.

Section 4. Election and Term of Office . The directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote in the election of directors; provided that, whenever the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation are entitled to elect one or more directors pursuant to the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, but not limited to, any duly authorized certificate of designation), such directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of such class or series present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote in the election of such directors. The term of office of the initial Class I directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of stockholders after the Initial Public Offering, the term of office of the initial Class II directors shall expire at the second succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after the Initial Public Offering and the term of office of the initial Class III directors shall expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of the stockholders after the Initial Public Offering. For the purposes hereof, the Board of Directors may assign directors already in office to the initial Class I, Class II and Class III at the time of the Initial Public Offering. At each annual meeting of stockholders after the Initial Public Offering, directors elected to replace those of a Class whose terms expire at such annual meeting shall be elected to hold office until the third succeeding annual meeting after their election and until their respective successors shall have been duly elected and qualified. Prior to the Initial Public Offering, each director shall hold office until such director’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. After the Initial Public Offering, each director shall hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders for the year in which such director’s term expires and a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. Nothing in this Certificate shall preclude a director from serving consecutive terms. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the Corporation shall so provide.

 

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Section 5. Newly-Created Directorships and Vacancies . Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal from office or any other cause may be filled only by the Board of Directors (and not by stockholders), provided that a quorum is then in office and present, or by a majority of the directors then in office, if less than a quorum is then in office, or by the sole remaining director. Prior to the Initial Public Offering, a director chosen to fill a vacancy or a position resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. After the Initial Public Offering, a director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor in office and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. After the Initial Public Offering, a director chosen to fill a position resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the authorized number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

Section 6. Removal of Directors . After the Initial Public Offering, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, a director may be removed from office only for cause, at a meeting called for that purpose, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two thirds percent (66  2 / 3 %) of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

Section 7. Rights of Holders of Preferred Stock . Notwithstanding the provisions of this ARTICLE SEVEN, whenever the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately or together by series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies and other features of such directorship shall be governed by the rights of such Preferred Stock as set forth in the certificate of designation governing such series.

Section 8. Bylaws . In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Corporation’s Bylaws. The affirmative vote of a majority of the Whole Board shall be required to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Corporation’s Bylaws. The Corporation’s Bylaws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders; provided, however, that in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66  2 / 3 %) of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class shall be required to adopt, amend, alter or repeal any provisions of the Bylaws of the Corporation.

 

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Section 9. Advance Notice . Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

ARTICLE EIGHT

Section 1. Limitation of Liability .

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it now 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 rights than permitted prior thereto), no director of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages arising from a breach of fiduciary duty owed to the Corporation or its stockholders.

(b) Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to any act, omission or other matter occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

ARTICLE NINE

After the Initial Public Offering, and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, (i) the stockholders of the Corporation may not take any action by written consent in lieu of a meeting, and must take any actions at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and the power of stockholders to consent in writing without a meeting is specifically denied and (ii) special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of the majority of the Whole Board.

ARTICLE TEN

Section 1. Certain Acknowledgments . In recognition and anticipation that (i) the directors, officers or employees of Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc., Limited Brands, Inc. or their respective Affiliated Companies (as defined below) may serve as directors or officers of the Corporation, (ii) Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. and its Affiliated Companies and Limited Brands, Inc. and its Affiliated Companies engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, and (iii) that the Corporation and its Affiliated Companies may engage in material business transactions with Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. and its Affiliated Companies and Limited Brands, Inc. and its Affiliated Companies, as applicable, and that the Corporation is expected to benefit therefrom, the provisions of this ARTICLE TEN are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation as they may involve Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. and/or its Affiliated

 

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Companies, Limited Brands, Inc. and/or its Affiliated Companies and/or their respective officers and directors, and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its officers, directors and stockholders in connection therewith. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Corporation renounces any interest or expectancy in, or being offered the opportunity to participate in, any corporate opportunity not allocated to it pursuant to this ARTICLE TEN to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Section 2. Competition and Corporate Opportunities . To the fullest extent permitted by law, none of Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. or any of its Affiliated Companies or Limited Brands, Inc. or any of its Affiliated Companies shall have any duty to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies, and none of Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. or any of its Affiliated Companies, Limited Brands, Inc. or any of its Affiliated Companies, or any officer or director thereof (except as provided in Section 3 below) shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for breach of any fiduciary duty solely by reason of any such activities of Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. or any of its Affiliated Companies or Limited Brands, Inc. or any of its Affiliated Companies. To the fullest extent permitted by law, in the event that Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. or any of its Affiliated Companies acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for itself and the Corporation or any of the Corporation’s Affiliated Companies, neither Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. nor any of its Affiliated Companies shall have any duty to communicate or offer such corporate opportunity to the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies and shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for breach of any fiduciary duty as a stockholder of the Corporation solely by reason of the fact that Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. or any of its Affiliated Companies pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, directs such corporate opportunity to another person, or does not communicate information regarding such corporate opportunity to the Corporation. To the fullest extent permitted by law, in the event that Limited Brands, Inc. or any of its Affiliated Companies acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for itself and the Corporation or any of the Corporation’s Affiliated Companies, neither of Limited Brands, Inc. or any of its Affiliated Companies shall have any duty to communicate or offer such corporate opportunity to the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies and shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for breach of any fiduciary duty as a stockholder of the Corporation solely by reason of the fact that Limited Brands, Inc. or any of its Affiliated Companies pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, directs such corporate opportunity to another person, or does not communicate information regarding such corporate opportunity to the Corporation.

Section 3. Allocation of Corporate Opportunities .

(a) In the event that a director or officer of the Corporation who is also a director or officer of Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. or any of its Affiliated Companies acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies and Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. or any of its Affiliated Companies, such director or officer of the Corporation shall have fully satisfied and fulfilled the fiduciary duty of such director or officer to the Corporation and its stockholders with respect to such corporate opportunity, if such director or officer acts in a manner consistent with the following policy:

(i) A corporate opportunity offered to any person who is a director or officer of the Corporation, and who is also a director or officer of Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. or any of its Affiliated Companies, shall belong to the Corporation if such opportunity is expressly offered to such person in writing solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation.

 

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(ii) Otherwise, such corporate opportunity shall belong to Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc.

(b) In the event that a director or officer of the Corporation who is also a director or officer of Limited Brands, Inc. or any of its Affiliated Companies acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies and Limited Brands, Inc. or any of its Affiliated Companies, such director or officer of the Corporation shall have fully satisfied and fulfilled the fiduciary duty of such director or officer to the Corporation and its stockholders with respect to such corporate opportunity, if such director or officer acts in a manner consistent with the following policy:

(i) A corporate opportunity offered to any person who is a director or officer of the Corporation, and who is also a director or officer of Limited Brands, Inc. or any of its Affiliated Companies, shall belong to the Corporation if such opportunity is expressly offered to such person in writing solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation.

(ii) Otherwise, such corporate opportunity shall belong to Limited Brands, Inc.

Section 4. Certain Matters Deemed Not Corporate Opportunities . In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this ARTICLE TEN, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to belong to the Corporation if it is a business opportunity that the Corporation is not permitted to undertake under the terms of ARTICLE THREE or that the Corporation is not financially able or contractually permitted or legally able to undertake, or that is, from its nature, not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to it or that is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.

Section 5. Renouncement of Certain Corporate Opportunities .

(a) Except as provided in Section 3(a)(i) of this ARTICLE TEN above, if a director or officer of the Corporation who is also a director or officer of Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. or any of its Affiliated Companies acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity, the Corporation shall have no interest in such corporate opportunity and no expectancy that such corporate opportunity be offered to it, any such interest or expectancy being hereby renounced, so that such person shall have no duty to present such corporate opportunity to the Corporation and shall have the right to hold and exploit any such corporate opportunity for its (and its officers’, employees’, directors’, agents’, stockholders’,

 

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members’, partners’, affiliates’ or subsidiaries’) own account or to direct, sell, assign or transfer such corporate opportunity to persons other than the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies. Such person shall not breach any fiduciary duty to the Corporation or to its stockholders by reason of the fact that such person does not present such corporate opportunity to the Corporation or pursues, acquires or exploits such corporate opportunity for itself or directs, sells, assigns or transfers such corporate opportunity to another person.

(b) Except as provided in Section 3(b)(i) above of this ARTICLE TEN, if a director or officer of the Corporation who is also a director or officer of Limited Brands, Inc. or any of its Affiliated Companies acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity, the Corporation shall have no interest in such corporate opportunity and no expectancy that such corporate opportunity be offered to it, any such interest or expectancy being hereby renounced, so that such person shall have no duty to present such corporate opportunity to the Corporation and shall have the right to hold and exploit any such corporate opportunity for its (and its officers’, employees’, directors’, agents’, stockholders’, members’, partners’, affiliates’ or subsidiaries’) own account or to direct, sell, assign or transfer such corporate opportunity to persons other than the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies. Such person shall not breach any fiduciary duty to the Corporation or to its stockholders by reason of the fact that such person does not present such corporate opportunity to the Corporation or pursues, acquires or exploits such corporate opportunity for itself or directs, sells, assigns or transfers such corporate opportunity to another person.

Section 6. Certain Definitions . For purposes of this ARTICLE TEN, “Affiliated Company” shall mean (a) in respect of Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc., any company which controls, is controlled by or under common control with Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. and any investment funds managed by Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. (other than the Corporation and any company that is controlled by the Corporation), (b) in respect of Limited Brands, Inc. shall mean any company controlled by Limited Brands, Inc. (other than the Corporation and any company that is controlled by the Corporation) and (c) in respect of the Corporation, shall mean any company controlled by the Corporation.

Section 7. Amendment of this Article . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary elsewhere contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least eighty percent (80%) of the voting power of all shares of Common Stock then outstanding, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this ARTICLE TEN.

Section 8. Deemed Notice . Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this ARTICLE TEN.

Section 9. Severability . To the extent that any provision of this ARTICLE TEN is found to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this ARTICLE TEN.

 

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ARTICLE ELEVEN

Section 1. Section 203 of the DGCL . The Corporation expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.

Section 2. Interested Stockholder Transactions . Notwithstanding any other provision in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, the Corporation shall not engage in any Business Combination (as defined hereinafter) with any Interested Stockholder (as defined hereinafter) for a period of three years following the time that such stockholder became an Interested Stockholder, unless:

 

  (a) prior to such time the Board of Directors approved either the Business Combination or the transaction which resulted in such stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder;

 

  (b) upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in such stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder, such stockholder owned at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the Voting Stock (as defined hereinafter) of the Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the Voting Stock outstanding (but not the outstanding Voting Stock owned by such stockholder) those shares owned (i) by Persons (as defined hereinafter) who are directors and also officers of the Corporation and (ii) employee stock plans of the Corporation in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

  (c)

at or subsequent to such time the Business Combination is approved by the Board of Directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least 66  2 / 3 % of the outstanding Voting Stock which is not owned by such stockholder.

Section 3. Exceptions to Prohibition on Interested Stockholder Transactions . The restrictions contained in this ARTICLE ELEVEN shall not apply if:

 

  (a) a stockholder becomes an Interested Stockholder inadvertently and (i) as soon as practicable divests itself of ownership of sufficient shares so that the stockholder ceases to be an Interested Stockholder; and (ii) would not, at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to a Business Combination between the Corporation and such stockholder, have been an Interested Stockholder but for the inadvertent acquisition of ownership; or

 

  (b)

the Business Combination is proposed prior to the consummation or abandonment of and subsequent to the earlier of the public announcement or the notice required hereunder of a proposed transaction which (i) constitutes one of the transactions described in the second sentence of

 

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  this Section 3(b) of ARTICLE ELEVEN; (ii) is with or by a Person who either was not an Interested Stockholder during the previous three years or who became an Interested Stockholder with the approval of the Board of Directors; and (iii) is approved or not opposed by a majority of the directors then in office (but not less than one) who were directors prior to any Person becoming an Interested Stockholder during the previous three years or were recommended for election or elected to succeed such directors by a majority of such directors. The proposed transactions referred to in the preceding sentence are limited to (x) a merger or consolidation of the Corporation (except for a merger in respect of which, pursuant to § 251(f) of the DGCL, no vote of the stockholders of the Corporation is required); (y) a sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (other than to any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary or to the Corporation) having an aggregate market value equal to fifty percent (50%) or more of either that aggregate market value of all of the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding Stock (as defined hereinafter) of the Corporation; or (z) a proposed tender or exchange offer for fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Corporation. The Corporation shall give not less than 20 days’ notice to all Interested Stockholders prior to the consummation of any of the transactions described in clause (x) or (y) of the second sentence of this Section 3(b) of ARTICLE ELEVEN.

Section 4. Definitions . As used in this ARTICLE ELEVEN only, and unless otherwise provided by the express terms of this ARTICLE ELEVEN, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them as set forth in this Section 4:

 

  (a) “Affiliate” means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another Person;

 

  (b) “Associate,” when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, means: (i) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such Person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of twenty percent (20%) or more of any class of Voting Stock; (ii) any trust or other estate in which such Person has at least a twenty percent (20%) beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (iii) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such Person;

 

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  (c) “Business Combination” means:

 

  (i) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation with (A) the Interested Stockholder, or (B) with any Person if the merger or consolidation is caused by the Interested Stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation Section 2 of this ARTICLE ELEVEN is not applicable to the surviving entity;

 

  (ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the Interested Stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to ten percent (10%) or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding Stock of the Corporation;

 

  (iii) any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any Stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the Interested Stockholder, except: (A) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into Stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the Interested Stockholder became such; (B) pursuant to a merger under § 251(g) or § 253 of the DGCL; (C) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into Stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of Stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the Interested Stockholder became such; (D) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase Stock made on the same terms to all holders of such Stock; or (E) any issuance or transfer of Stock by the Corporation; provided however, that in no case under items (C)-(E) of this Section 4(c)(iii) of ARTICLE ELEVEN shall there be an increase in the Interested Stockholder’s proportionate share of the Stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the Voting Stock of the Corporation;

 

  (iv) any transaction involving the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the Stock of any class or series, or securities convertible into the Stock of any class or series, of the Corporation or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the Interested Stockholder, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares of Stock not caused, directly or indirectly, by the Interested Stockholder; or

 

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  (v) any receipt by the Interested Stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in Sections 4(c)(i)-(iv) of ARTICLE ELEVEN) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation;

 

  (d) “Control,” including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of stock or other equity interests, by contract or otherwise. A Person who is the owner of twenty percent (20%) or more of the outstanding Voting Stock of any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary; notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such Person holds Voting Stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this ARTICLE ELEVEN, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity;

 

  (e)

“Interested Stockholder” means any Person (other than the Corporation and any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Corporation, or (ii) is an Affiliate or Associate of the Corporation and was the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Corporation at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such Person is an Interested Stockholder, and the Affiliates and Associates of such Person. Notwithstanding anything in this ARTICLE ELEVEN to the contrary, the term “Interested Stockholder” shall not include: (x) any investment fund managed by Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc., or Affiliates or Associates of any investment fund managed by Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc.; (y) any Person who would otherwise be an Interested Stockholder because of a transfer, sale, assignment, conveyance, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition of five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Corporation (in one transaction or a series of transactions) by any party specified in the immediately preceding clause (x) to such Person, so long as such transfer, sale, assignment, conveyance, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition occurs from and after the first date that Limited Brands, Inc. and any company controlled by Limited Brands, Inc. (other than the Corporation and any company controlled by the Corporation) owns less

 

12


 

than five percent (5%) of the Corporation’s Common Stock; provided, however, that such Person was not an Interested Stockholder prior to such transfer, sale, assignment, conveyance, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition; or (z) any Person whose ownership of shares in excess of the fifteen percent (15%) limitation set forth herein is the result of action taken solely by the Corporation, provided that, for purposes of this clause (z), such Person shall be an Interested Stockholder if thereafter such Person acquires additional shares of Voting Stock of the Corporation, except as a result of further action by the Corporation not caused, directly or indirectly, by such Person;

 

  (f) “Owner,” including the terms “own” and “owned,” when used with respect to any Stock, means a Person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates beneficially owns such Stock, directly or indirectly; or has (A) the right to acquire such Stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the owner of Stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates until such tendered Stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote such Stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the owner of any Stock because of such Person’s right to vote such Stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such Stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more Persons; or has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in (B) of this Section 4(f) of ARTICLE ELEVEN), or disposing of such Stock with any other Person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such Stock; provided, that, for the purpose of determining whether a Person is an Interested Stockholder, the Voting Stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include Stock deemed to be owned by the Person through application of this definition of “owned” but shall not include any other unissued Stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise;

 

  (g) “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity;

 

  (h) “Stock” means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest; and

 

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  (i) “Voting Stock” means, with respect to any corporation, Stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and, with respect to any entity that is not a corporation, any equity interest entitled to vote generally in the election of the governing body of such entity. Every reference to a percentage of Voting Stock shall refer to such percentage of the votes of such Voting Stock.

ARTICLE TWELVE

The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed herein and by the laws of the State of Delaware, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser percentage or separate class vote may be specified by law or otherwise, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the capital stock required by law or otherwise, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66  2 / 3 %) of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to adopt any provision inconsistent with, to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision of, or to adopt a bylaw inconsistent with, ARTICLES SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, ELEVEN and TWELVE of this Certificate of Incorporation.

*    *    *    *    *

 

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I, THE UNDERSIGNED, being the sole incorporator hereinbefore named, for the purpose of forming a corporation pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, do make this certificate, hereby declaring and certifying that this is my act and deed and the facts stated herein are true, and accordingly have hereunto set my hand on the 12 th day of May, 2010.

 

/s/ Matthew C. Moellering

Matthew C. Moellering
Sole Incorporator

 

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Exhibit 4.2

BYLAWS

OF

EXPRESS, INC.

A Delaware corporation

(Adopted as of May 12, 2010)

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

Section 1. Offices . Express, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”) may have an office or offices other than its registered office at such place or places, either within or outside the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. Place of Meetings . The Board of Directors may designate a place, if any, either within or outside the State of Delaware, as the place of meeting for any annual meeting or for any special meeting.

Section 2. Annual Meeting . An annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held each year at such time as is specified by the Board of Directors. At the annual meeting, stockholders shall elect directors to succeed those whose terms expire and transact such other business as properly may be brought before the annual meeting pursuant to Section 11 of ARTICLE II.

Section 3. Special Meetings . Special meetings of the stockholders may only be called in the manner provided in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation as then in effect (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”). Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.

Section 4. Notice of Meetings . Notice of the place, if any, date, and time of all meetings of the stockholders, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, shall be given, not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law (meaning, here and hereinafter, as required from time to time by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”) or the Certificate of Incorporation).


(a) Form of Notice . All such notices shall be delivered in writing or by a form of electronic transmission if receipt thereof has been consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his, her or its address as the same appears on the records of the Corporation. If given by facsimile telecommunication, such notice shall be deemed given when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice by facsimile. Subject to the limitations of Section 4(c) of this ARTICLE II, if given by electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered: (i) by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (ii) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (x) such posting and (y) the giving of such separate notice; and (iii) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation, the transfer agent of the Corporation or any other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

(b) Waiver of Notice . Whenever notice is required to be given under any provisions of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the stockholder entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person or entity entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation need be specified in any waiver of notice of such meeting. Attendance of a stockholder of the Corporation at a meeting of such stockholders shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the stockholder attends for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

(c) Notice by Electronic Delivery . Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders of the Corporation pursuant to the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any notice to stockholders of the Corporation given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder of the Corporation to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if: (i) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent; and (ii) such inability becomes known to the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent or other person responsible for the giving of notice. However, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action. For purposes of these Bylaws, except as otherwise limited by applicable law, the term “electronic transmission” means any form of communication not directly involving the physical transmission of paper that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such recipient through an automated process.

Section 5. List of Stockholders . The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least 10 days before each meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, provided, however, if the record

 

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date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than 10 days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the 10th day before the meeting date, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in his or her name. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place, if any, of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.

Section 6. Quorum . The holders of a majority of the outstanding voting power of capital stock entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders, except as otherwise provided by the DGCL or by the Certificate of Incorporation. If a quorum is not present, the chairman of the meeting or the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote at the meeting may adjourn the meeting to another time and/or place. When a specified item of business requires a vote by a class or series (if the Corporation shall then have outstanding shares of more than one class or series) voting as a class or series, the holders of a majority of the voting power of such class or series shall constitute a quorum (as to such class or series) for the transaction of such item of business.

Section 7. Adjourned Meetings . When a meeting is adjourned to another time and place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and, except as otherwise required by law, shall not be more than 60 days nor less than 10 days before the date of such adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

Section 8. Vote Required . When a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of the majority of voting power of capital stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders, unless by express provisions of an applicable law, the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed, or the Certificate of Incorporation a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.

 

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Section 9. Voting Rights . Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation, the certificate of designation relating to any outstanding class or series of preferred stock or these Bylaws, every stockholder shall at every meeting of the stockholders be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder.

Section 10. Proxies . Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for him or her by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the Corporation generally.

Section 11. Advance Notice of Stockholder Business and Director Nominations .

(a) Business at Annual Meetings of Stockholders .

(i) Only such business (other than nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors, which must be made in compliance with and is governed exclusively by Section 11(b) of ARTICLE II) shall be conducted at an annual meeting of the stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting (A) as specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (C) by any stockholder of the Corporation who (1) was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in Section 11(a) of ARTICLE II and at the time of the meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (3) complies with the notice procedures set forth in Section 11(a) of ARTICLE II. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clause (C) of this Section 11(a)(i) of ARTICLE II shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose such business (other than business included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”)) before an annual meeting of stockholders.

(ii) For any business (other than nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors, which must be made in compliance with and is governed exclusively by Section 11(b) of ARTICLE II) to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form as described in Section 11(a)(iii) of ARTICLE II to the Secretary; any such proposed business must be a proper matter for stockholder action and the stockholder and the Stockholder Associated Person (as defined in Section 11(e) of ARTICLE II) must have acted in accordance with the representations set forth in the Solicitation Statement (as defined in Section 11(a)(iii) of ARTICLE II) required by these Bylaws. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice for such business must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation in proper written form not less than ninety (90) days and not more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that if and only if the annual meeting is not scheduled to be held within a period that commences thirty

 

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(30) days before such anniversary date and ends thirty (30) days after such anniversary date, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, such stockholder’s notice must be delivered by the later of (A) the tenth day following the day the Public Announcement (as defined in Section 11(e) of ARTICLE II) of the date of the annual meeting is first made or (B) the date which is ninety (90) days prior to the date of the annual meeting. In no event shall any adjournment, deferral or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Notices delivered pursuant to Section 11(a) of ARTICLE II) will be deemed received on any given day if received prior to the close of business on such day.

(iii) To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth as to each matter of business the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting (including the specific text of any resolutions or actions proposed for consideration and if such business includes a proposal to amend the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the specific language of the proposed amendment) and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (B) the name and address of the stockholder proposing such business, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, the residence name and address (if different from the Corporation’s books) of such proposing stockholder, and the name and address of any Stockholder Associated Person covered by clauses (C), (D), (F) and (G) below, (C) the class and number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are directly or indirectly held of record or beneficially owned by such stockholder or by any Stockholder Associated Person, a description of any Derivative Positions (as defined in Section 11(e) of ARTICLE II) directly or indirectly held or beneficially held by the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, and whether and the extent to which a Hedging Transaction (as defined in Section 11(e) of ARTICLE II) has been entered into by or on behalf of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, (D) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person and any other person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder and any material interest of such stockholder, any Stockholder Associated Person or such other person or entity in such business, (E) a representation that such stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such business before the meeting, (F) any other information related to such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies or consents (even if a solicitation is not involved) by such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and (G) a representation as to whether such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person will solicit, directly or indirectly, a proxy from holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve the proposal or otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of the proposal (such representation, a

 

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Solicitation Statement ”). In addition, any stockholder who submits a notice pursuant to Section 11(a) of ARTICLE II is required to update and supplement the information disclosed in such notice, if necessary, in accordance with Section 11(d) of ARTICLE II.

(iv) Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business (other than nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors, which must be made in compliance with and are governed exclusively by Section 11(b) of ARTICLE II) shall be conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 11(a) of ARTICLE II.

(b) Nominations at Annual Meetings of Stockholders .

(i) Only persons who are nominated in accordance and compliance with the procedures set forth in Section 11(b) of ARTICLE II shall be eligible for election to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting of stockholders.

(ii) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (A) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (B) by any stockholder of the Corporation who (1) was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in Section 11(b) of ARTICLE II and at the time of the meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (3) complies with the notice procedures set forth in Section 11(b) of ARTICLE II. For the avoidance of doubt, clause (B) of this Section 11(b)(ii) of ARTICLE II shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting of stockholders. For nominations to be properly brought by a stockholder at an annual meeting of stockholders, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form as described in Section 11(b)(iii) of ARTICLE II to the Secretary and the stockholder and the Stockholder Associated Person must have acted in accordance with the representations set forth in the Nomination Solicitation Statement required by these Bylaws. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice for the nomination of persons for election to the Board of Directors must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation in proper written form not less than ninety (90) days and not more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that if and only if the annual meeting is not scheduled to be held within a period that commences thirty (30) days before such anniversary date and ends thirty (30) days after such anniversary date, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, such stockholder’s notice must be delivered by the later of the tenth day following the day the Public Announcement of the date of the annual meeting is first made and the date which is ninety (90) days prior to the date of the annual meeting. In no event shall any adjournment, deferral or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Notices delivered pursuant to Section 11(b) of ARTICLE II will be deemed received on any given day if received prior to the close of business on such day.

 

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(iii) To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth (A) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director of the Corporation, (1) the name, age, business address and residence address of the person, (2) the principal occupation or employment of the person, (3) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are directly or indirectly owned beneficially or of record by the person, (4) the date such shares were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition and (5) any other information relating to the person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies or consents for a contested election of directors (even if an election contest or proxy solicitation is not involved), or is otherwise required, pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee, if applicable, and to serving if elected), (B) as to the stockholder giving the notice, the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, the residence name and address (if different from the Corporation’s books) of such proposing stockholder, and the name and address of any Stockholder Associated Person covered by clauses (C), (D), (F) and (G) below, (C) the class and number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are directly or indirectly held of record or beneficially owned by such stockholder or by any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to the Corporation’s securities, a description of any Derivative Positions directly or indirectly held or beneficially held by the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, and whether and the extent to which a Hedging Transaction has been entered into by or on behalf of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, (D) a description of all arrangements or understandings (including financial transactions and direct or indirect compensation) between such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person and each proposed nominee and any other person or entity (including their names) pursuant to which the nomination(s) are to be made by such stockholder, (E) a representation that such stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the persons named in its notice, (F) any other information relating to such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies or consents for a contested election of directors (even if an election contest or proxy solicitation is not involved), or otherwise required, pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (G) a representation as to whether such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person will solicit, directly or indirectly, a proxy from the holders of a sufficient number of the Corporation’s outstanding shares reasonably believed by the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, as the case may be, to elect each proposed nominee or otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of the nomination (such representation, a “Nomination Solicitation Statement”). In addition, any stockholder who submits a notice pursuant to this Section 11(b) of ARTICLE II hereof is required to update and supplement the information disclosed in such notice, if necessary, in accordance with Section 11(d) of ARTICLE II hereof and shall comply with Section 11(f) of ARTICLE II.

 

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(iv) Notwithstanding anything in Section 11(b)(ii) of ARTICLE II to the contrary, if the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and there is no Public Announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the Corporation at least 10 days prior to the last day a stockholder may deliver a notice of nomination in accordance with Section 11(b)(ii), a stockholder’s notice required by Section 11(b)(ii) of ARTICLE II shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such Public Announcement is first made by the Corporation.

(c) Special Meetings of Stockholders . Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the notice of meeting. Only persons who are nominated in accordance and compliance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11(c) of ARTICLE II shall be eligible for election to the Board of Directors at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected. 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 notice of meeting only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors are to be elected at such special meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who (A) was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 11(c) of ARTICLE II and at the time of the special meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (C) complies with the notice procedures provided for in this Section 11(c) of ARTICLE II. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clause (ii) of this Section 11(c) of ARTICLE II shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected. For nominations to be properly brought by a stockholder at a special meeting of stockholders, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form as described in this Section 11(c) of ARTICLE II to the Secretary. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice for the nomination of persons for election to the Board of Directors must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which a Public Announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall any adjournment, deferral or postponement of a special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Notices delivered pursuant to Section 11(c) of ARTICLE II will be deemed received on any given day if received prior to the close of business on such day. To be in proper written form, such stockholder’s notice shall set forth all of the information required by, and otherwise be in compliance with, Section 11(b)(iii) of ARTICLE II. In addition, any stockholder who submits a notice pursuant to this Section 11(c) of ARTICLE II is required to update and supplement the information disclosed in such notice, if necessary, in accordance with Section 11(d) of ARTICLE II and shall comply with Section 11(f) of ARTICLE II.

 

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(d) Update and Supplement of Stockholder’s Notice . Any stockholder who submits a notice of proposal for business or nomination for election pursuant to Section 11 of ARTICLE II is required to update and supplement the information disclosed in such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting of stockholders and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to such meeting of the stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the fifth business day after the record date for the meeting of stockholders (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than the close of business on the eighth business day prior to the date for the meeting of stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting of stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof).

(e) Definitions . For purposes of Section 11 of ARTICLE II, the term:

(i) “Derivative Positions” means, with respect to a stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, any derivative positions including, without limitation, any short position, profits interest, option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise and any performance-related fees to which such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person is entitled based, directly or indirectly, on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of capital stock of the Corporation;

(ii) “Hedging Transaction” means, with respect to a stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, any hedging or other transaction (such as borrowed or loaned shares) or series of transactions, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding, the effect or intent of which is to increase or decrease the voting power or economic or pecuniary interest of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to the Corporation’s securities;

(iii) “Public Announcement” means disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or comparable news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and

(iv) “Stockholder Associated Person” of any stockholder means (A) any person controlling, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with, such stockholder, (B) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder or (C) any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Stockholder Associated Person.

 

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(f) Submission of Questionnaire, Representation and Agreement . To be qualified to be a nominee for election or reelection as a director of the Corporation, a person must deliver (in the case of a person nominated by a stockholder in accordance with Sections 11(b) or 2.11(c), in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under such sections) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such person and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request) and a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such person (i) is not and will not become a party to (A) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “ Voting Commitment ”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (ii) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed therein and (iii) would be in compliance, and if elected as a director of the Corporation will comply, with all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation. The Corporation may also require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve either as a director of the Corporation or as an independent director of the Corporation under applicable Securities and Exchange Commission and stock exchange rules and the corporation’s publicly disclosed corporate governance guidelines, or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the qualifications and/or independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.

(g) Authority of Chairman . Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether any nomination or other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or brought in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and, if any nomination or other business is not made or brought in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such nomination or proposal of other business be disregarded and not acted upon.

(h) Compliance with Exchange Act . Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of these Bylaws, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in these Bylaws; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to any nomination or other business to be considered pursuant to Section 11 of ARTICLE II.

 

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(i) Effect on Other Rights . Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights of the stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

Section 12. Fixing a Record Date for Stockholder Meetings . In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix, except as otherwise required by law, in advance, a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than 60 days nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be the close of business on the next day preceding the day on which notice is first given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting; and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 12 at the adjourned meeting.

Section 13. Conduct of Meetings .

(a) Generally . Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by a chairman designated by the Board of Directors, or in his or her absence the Chairman of the Board, if any, or in the Chairman’s absence or disability by the Chief Executive Officer, or in the Chief Executive Officer’s absence or disability, by the President, or in the President’s absence or disability, by a Vice President. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the Secretary’s absence or disability the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

(b) Rules, Regulations and Procedures . The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules, regulations and procedures for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation as it shall deem appropriate including, without limitation, such guidelines and procedures as it may deem appropriate regarding the participation by means of remote communication of stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules, regulations and procedures as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. 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

 

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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 shall be determined; (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. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure. The chairman of the meeting shall announce at the meeting when the polls for each matter to be voted upon at the meeting will be opened and closed. After the polls close, no ballots, proxies or votes or any revocations or changes thereto may be accepted. The chairman shall have the power to adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date and time.

(c) Inspectors of Elections . The Corporation may, and to the extent required by law shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. One or more other persons may be designated 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 chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of such inspector’s duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability. The inspector shall have the duties prescribed by law and shall take charge of the polls and, when the vote is completed, shall make a certificate of the result of the vote taken and of such other facts as may be required by law. Every vote taken by ballots shall be counted by a duly appointed inspector or duly appointed inspectors.

ARTICLE III

DIRECTORS

Section 1. General Powers . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. In addition to such powers as are herein and in the Certificate of Incorporation expressly conferred upon it, the Board of Directors shall have and may exercise all the powers of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the laws of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws.

Section 2. Annual Meetings . The annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held without other notice than this Bylaw immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of stockholders.

Section 3. Regular Meetings and Special Meetings . Regular meetings, other than the annual meeting, of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or upon the written request of at least a majority of the Whole Board. For purposes of the Bylaws, “Whole Board” shall mean the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships.

 

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Section 4. Notice of Meetings . Notice of regular meetings of the Board of Directors need not be given except as otherwise required by law or these Bylaws. Notice of each special meeting of the Board of Directors, and of each regular and annual meeting of the Board of Directors for which notice shall be required, shall be given by the Secretary as hereinafter provided in this Section 4, in which notice shall be stated the time and place of the meeting. Notice of any special meeting, and of any regular or annual meeting for which notice is required, shall be given to each director at least (a) twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting if by telephone or by being personally delivered or sent by telex, telecopy, email or similar means or (b) five (5) days before the meeting if delivered by mail to the director's residence or usual place of business. Such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail so addressed, with postage prepaid, or when transmitted if sent by telex, telecopy, email or similar means. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting. Any director may waive notice of any meeting by a writing signed by the director or by electronic transmission entitled to the notice and filed with the minutes or corporate records.

Section 5. Waiver of Notice and Presumption of Assent . Any member of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof who is present at a meeting shall be conclusively presumed to have waived notice of such meeting except when such member attends for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

Section 6. Chairman of the Board, Quorum, Required Vote and Adjournment . The Board of Directors may elect, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Whole Board, a Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board may be a director or an officer of the Corporation. Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and the direction of the Board of Directors, he or she shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the position of Chairman of the Board or which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors who shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and Board of Directors at which he or she is present and shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. If the Chairman of the Board is not present at a meeting of the stockholders or the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer (if the Chief Executive Officer is a director and is not also the Chairman of the Board) shall preside at such meeting, and, if the Chief Executive Officer is not present at such meeting, a majority of the directors present at such meeting shall elect one of the directors present at the meeting to so preside. A majority of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Unless by express provision of an applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws a different vote is required, the vote of a majority of directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

Section 7. Committees . The Board of Directors (i) may, by resolution passed by a majority of the Whole Board, designate one or more committees, including an executive committee, consisting of one or more of the directors of the Corporation, and (ii) shall during

 

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such period of time as any securities of the Corporation are listed on any exchange, by resolution passed by a majority of the Whole Board, designate all committees required by the rules and regulations of such exchange. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Except to the extent restricted by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, each such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution creating it, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors. Each such committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors or as required by the rules and regulations of such exchange, if applicable. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors upon request.

Section 8. Committee Rules . Each committee of the Board of Directors may fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, the presence of at least a majority of the members of the committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, in the event that a member and that member’s alternate, if alternates are designated by the Board of Directors, of such committee is or are absent or disqualified, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.

Section 9. Action by Written Consent . Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the board or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

Section 10. Compensation . The Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including fees and reimbursement of expenses, of directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity, including participation on any committees.

Section 11. Reliance on Books and Records . A member of the Board of Directors, or a member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors shall, in the performance of such person’s duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other person as to matters the 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.

 

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Section 12. Telephonic and Other Meetings . Unless restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, any one or more members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Section 1. Number . The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Chief Financial Officer and such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed necessary or desirable by the Board of Directors. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. In its discretion, the Board of Directors may choose not to fill any office for any period as it may deem advisable.

Section 2. Election and Term of Office . The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at its first meeting held after each annual meeting of stockholders or as soon thereafter as is convenient. The Chairman of the Board, if any, shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the first meeting of the Board of Directors held after each annual meeting of stockholders or as soon thereafter as is convenient. Vacancies may be filled or new offices created and filled by the Board of Directors. Each officer shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal as hereinafter provided.

Section 3. Removal . Any officer or agent elected by the Board of Directors may be removed by the Board of Directors at its discretion, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.

Section 4. Vacancies . Any vacancy occurring in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise may be filled by the Board of Directors.

Section 5. Compensation . Compensation of all executive officers shall be approved by the Board of Directors, and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by virtue of his or her also being a director of the Corporation.

Section 6. Chief Executive Officer . The Chief Executive Officer shall have the powers and perform the duties incident to that position. The Chief Executive Officer shall, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, or if a Chairman of the Board shall not have been elected, preside at each meeting of (a) the Board of Directors if the Chief Executive Officer is a director or (b) stockholders. Subject to the powers of the Board of Directors and the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall be in general and active charge of the entire business and affairs of the Corporation, and shall be its chief policy making officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of

 

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Directors or provided in these Bylaws. The Chief Executive Officer is authorized to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation. Whenever the President is unable to serve, by reason of sickness, absence or otherwise, the Chief Executive Officer shall perform all the duties and responsibilities and exercise all the powers of the President.

Section 7. The President . The President of the Corporation shall, subject to the powers of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, have general charge of the business, affairs and property of the Corporation, and control over its officers, agents and employees. The President shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. The President is authorized to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation. The President shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors or as may be provided in these Bylaws.

Section 8. Vice Presidents . The Vice President, or if there shall be more than one, the Vice Presidents, in the order determined by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board, shall, in the absence or disability of the President, act with all of the powers and be subject to all the restrictions of the President. The Vice Presidents shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or these Bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe. The Vice Presidents may also be designated as Executive Vice Presidents or Senior Vice Presidents, as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

Section 9. The Secretary and Assistant Secretaries . The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors (other than executive sessions thereof) and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings in a book or books to be kept for that purpose or shall ensure that his or her designee attends each such meeting to act in such capacity. Under the Board of Directors’ supervision, the Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, all notices required to be given by these Bylaws or by law; shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or these Bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe; and shall have custody of the corporate seal of the Corporation. The Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, shall have authority to affix the corporate seal to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by his or her signature or by the signature of such Assistant Secretary. The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing by his or her signature. The Assistant Secretary, or if there be more than one, any of the assistant secretaries, shall in the absence or disability of the Secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, or Secretary may, from time to time, prescribe.

 

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Section 10. The Chief Financial Officer . The Chief Financial Officer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities; shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with applicable law or generally accepted accounting principles; shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Chairman of the Board or the Board of Directors; shall receive, and give receipts for, moneys due and payable to the Corporation from any source whatsoever; shall cause the funds of the Corporation to be disbursed when such disbursements have been duly authorized, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements; and shall render to the Board of Directors, at its regular meeting or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of the Corporation; shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or these Bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe.

Section 11. Other Officers, Assistant Officers and Agents . Officers, assistant officers and agents, if any, other than those whose duties are provided for in these Bylaws, shall have such authority and perform such duties as may from time to time be prescribed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

Section 12. 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.

Section 13. Delegation of Authority . The Board of Directors may by resolution delegate the powers and duties of such officer to any other officer or to any director, or to any other person whom it may select.

ARTICLE V

CERTIFICATES OF STOCK

Section 1. Form . The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares. If shares are represented by certificates, the certificates shall be in such form as required by applicable law and as determined by the Board of Directors. Each certificate shall certify the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation and shall be signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board, or the President or the Vice President and the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation designated by the Board of Directors. Any or all signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer or officers who have signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used on, any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Corporation whether because of death, resignation or otherwise before such certificate or certificates have been issued by the Corporation, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be issued as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Corporation. All certificates for shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified.

 

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The Board of Directors may appoint a bank or trust company organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof to act as its transfer agent or registrar, or both in connection with the transfer of any class or series of securities of the Corporation. The Corporation, or its designated transfer agent or other agent, shall keep a book or set of books to be known as the stock transfer books of the Corporation, containing the name of each holder of record, together with such holder's address and the number and class or series of shares held by such holder and the date of issue. When shares are represented by certificates, the Corporation shall issue and deliver to each holder to whom such shares have been issued or transferred, certificates representing the shares owned by such holder, and shares of stock of the Corporation shall only be transferred on the books of the Corporation by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, upon surrender to the Corporation or its designated transfer agent or other agent of the certificate or certificates for such shares endorsed by the appropriate person or persons, with such evidence of the authenticity of such endorsement, transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps. In that event, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate or certificates and record the transaction on its books. When shares are not represented by certificates, shares of stock of the Corporation shall only be transferred on the books of the Corporation by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, with such evidence of the authenticity of such transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps, and within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of such shares, the Corporation shall send the holder to whom such shares have been issued or transferred a written statement of the information required by applicable law. Unless otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or any other instrument the rights and obligations of shareholders are identical, whether or not their shares are represented by certificates.

Section 2. Lost Certificates . The Corporation may issue or direct a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates previously issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares, the Corporation may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct, sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.

Section 3. Registered Stockholders . The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its records as the owner of shares of stock to receive dividends, to vote, to receive notifications and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of an owner. The Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares of stock 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.

 

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Section 4. Fixing a Record Date for Purposes Other Than Stockholder Meetings . In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment or any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purposes of any other lawful action (other than stockholder meetings which is expressly governed by Section 12 of ARTICLE II hereof), the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

ARTICLE VI

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. Dividends . Subject to the provisions of statutes and the Certificate of Incorporation, dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the Corporation may be declared by the Board of Directors, in accordance with applicable law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions of applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in its absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors may think conducive to the interests of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserves in the manner in which they were created.

Section 2. Checks, Notes, Drafts, Etc . All checks, notes, drafts or other orders for the payment of money of the Corporation shall be signed, endorsed or accepted in the name of the Corporation by such officer, officers, person or persons as from time to time may be designated by the Board of Directors or by an officer or officers authorized by the Board of Directors to make such designation.

Section 3. Contracts . In addition to the powers otherwise granted to officers pursuant to ARTICLE IV hereof, the Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, or any agent or agents, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation to enter into or execute and deliver any and all deeds, bonds, mortgages, contracts and other obligations or instruments, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

Section 4. Loans . Subject to compliance with applicable law (including Section 13(k) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), the Corporation may lend money to, or guarantee any obligation of, or otherwise assist any officer or other employee of the Corporation or of its subsidiaries, including any officer or employee who is a director of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, whenever, in the judgment of the directors, such loan, guaranty or assistance may

 

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reasonably be expected to benefit the Corporation. The loan, guaranty or other assistance may be with or without interest, and may be unsecured, or secured in such manner as the Board of Directors shall approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of shares of stock of the Corporation. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the Corporation at common law or under any statute.

Section 5. Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

Section 6. Corporate Seal . The Board of Directors may provide a corporate seal which shall be in the form of a circle and shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware.” The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no seal shall be required by virtue of this Section.

Section 7. Voting Securities Owned By Corporation . Voting securities in any other Corporation held by the Corporation shall be voted by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Chief Financial Officer, unless the Board of Directors specifically confers authority to vote with respect thereto, which authority may be general or confined to specific instances, upon some other person or officer. Any person authorized to vote securities shall have the power to appoint proxies, with general power of substitution.

Section 8. Inspection of Books and Records . The Board of Directors shall have power from time to time to determine to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions and regulations the accounts and books of the Corporation, or any of them, shall be open to the inspection of the stockholders; and no stockholder shall have any right to inspect any account or book or document of the Corporation, except as conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, unless and until authorized so to do by resolution of the Board of Directors.

Section 9. Section Headings . Section headings in these Bylaws are for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.

Section 10. Inconsistent Provisions . In the event that any provision of these Bylaws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, the DGCL or any other applicable law, the provision of these Bylaws shall not be given any effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full force and effect.

ARTICLE VII

INDEMNIFICATION

Section 1. Right to Indemnification and Advancement . Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved (including involvement, without limitation, as a witness) in any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “ proceeding ”), by reason of the fact that he or she

 

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is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, 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 an employee benefit plan (an “ indemnitee ”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, 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 permitted prior thereto), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees and related disbursements, judgments, fines, excise taxes, penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in this Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII shall be a contract right. In addition to the right to indemnification conferred herein, an indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (an “ advance of expenses ”); provided, however, that if and to the extent that the DGCL requires, an advance of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (an “ undertaking ”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, 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 (a “ final adjudication ”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 1 or otherwise. The Corporation may also, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification and advancement to employees and agents of the Corporation.

Section 2. Procedure for Indemnification . Any indemnification of a director or officer of the Corporation or advance of expenses (including attoneys’ fees, costs and charges) under this Section 2 of this ARTICLE VII shall be made promptly, and in any event within forty-five days (or, in the case of an advance of expenses, twenty days, provided that the director or officer has delivered the undertaking contemplated by Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII if required), upon the written request of the director or officer. If the Corporation denies a written request for indemnification or advance of expenses, in whole or in part, or if payment in full pursuant to such request is not made within forty-five days (or, in the case of an advance of expenses, twenty days, provided that the director or officer has delivered the undertaking contemplated by Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII if required), the right to indemnification or advances as granted by this ARTICLE VII shall be enforceable by the director or officer in any court of competent jurisdiction. Such person’s costs and expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing his or her right to indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such action shall also be

 

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indemnified by the Corporation. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for the advance of expenses where the undertaking required pursuant to Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII, if any, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the DGCL for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of such defense shall be on the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law. 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 of Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

Section 3. Insurance . The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on its own behalf and on behalf of any person who is or was or has agreed to become a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expenses, liability or loss under the DGCL.

Section 4. Service for Subsidiaries . Any person serving as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other enterprise, at least 50% of whose equity interests are owned by the Corporation (a “ subsidiary ” for this ARTICLE VII) shall be conclusively presumed to be serving in such capacity at the request of the Corporation.

Section 5. Reliance . Persons who after the date of the adoption of this provision become or remain directors or officers of the Corporation or who, while a director or officer of the Corporation, become or remain a director, officer, employee or agent of a subsidiary, shall be conclusively presumed to have relied on the rights to indemnity, advance of expenses and other rights contained in this ARTICLE VII in entering into or continuing such service. The rights to indemnification and to the advance of expenses conferred in this ARTICLE VII shall apply to claims made against an indemnitee arising out of acts or omissions which occurred or occur both prior and subsequent to the adoption hereof. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this ARTICLE VII that adversely affects any right of an indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit, eliminate, or impair any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal.

Section 6. Non-Exclusivity of Rights . The rights to indemnification and to the advance of expenses conferred in this ARTICLE VII shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under the Certificate of Incorporation or under any statute, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

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Section 7. Merger or Consolidation . For purposes of this ARTICLE VII, references to the “Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting Corporation, any constituent Corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this ARTICLE VII with respect to the resulting or surviving Corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent Corporation if its separate existence had continued.

Section 8. Savings Clause . If this ARTICLE VII or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify and advance expenses to each person entitled to indemnification under Section 1 as to all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees and related disbursements, judgments, fines, excise taxes, penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred or suffered by such person and for which indemnification and advancement of expenses is available to such person pursuant to this ARTICLE VII to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this ARTICLE VII that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be amended, altered, changed or repealed or new Bylaws adopted only in accordance with Article Seven of the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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Exhibit 5.1

 

 

LOGO

 

 
 

300 North LaSalle

Chicago, Illinois 60654

 

 
  (312) 862-2000  

Facsimile:

(312) 862-2200

 

 

www.kirkland.com

 
 

 

 

July 14, 2010

 

Express, Inc.

1 Express Drive

Columbus, Ohio 43230

Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are providing this letter in our capacity as special counsel to Express, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the filing by the Company of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) covering the offering of up to 15,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the “Plan Shares”), pursuant to the Express, Inc. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2010 Plan”).

For purposes of this letter, we have examined such documents, records, certificates, resolutions and other instruments deemed necessary as a basis for this opinion, and we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies and the authenticity of the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies.

Based upon and subject to the assumptions and limitations stated in this letter, we advise you that that the Plan Shares are duly authorized and, when (i) the Registration Statement related to the Plan Shares becomes effective under the Act and (ii) the Plan Shares have been duly issued pursuant to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the 2010 Plan and the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, the Plan Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

Our opinion expressed above is subject to the qualification that we express no opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with, or effect of any laws except the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

Hong Kong   London   Los Angeles   Munich   New York   Palo Alto   San Francisco   Shanghai   Washington, D.C.


LOGO

 

Express, Inc.

July 14, 2010

Page 2

 

We have relied without independent investigation upon, among other things, an assurance from the Company that the number of shares which the Company is authorized to issue in its Certificate of Incorporation exceeds the number of shares outstanding and the number of shares which the Company is obligated to issue (or had otherwise reserved for issuance) for any purposes other than issuances in connection with 2010 Plan by at least the number of Plan Shares which may be issued in connection with the 2010 Plan and we have assumed that such condition will remain true at all future times relevant to this opinion. We have assumed that the Company will cause certificates, if any, representing the Plan Shares issued in the future to be properly executed and delivered and will take all other actions appropriate for the issuances of such Plan Shares.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

We do not find it necessary for the purposes of this opinion, and accordingly we do not purport to cover herein, the application of the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the various states to the issuance and sale of the Plan Shares.

This opinion is limited to the specific issues addressed herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion should the present laws of the State of Delaware be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise.

This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise relied upon for any other purpose.

Sincerely,

 

 

/s/ KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP

KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated March 25, 2010 relating to the financial statements, which appears in Express, Inc.’s (formerly Express Parent LLC) Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-164906) filed on May 12, 2010.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Columbus, Ohio

July 14, 2010

Exhibit 23.2

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8 ) pertaining to the Express, Inc. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan, of our report dated May 2, 2008, except for Note 1 (as it pertains to segment disclosure and the impact of the recapitalization of the Company) and Notes 7 and 12, as to which the date is February 15, 2010, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Express Parent LLC for the period from July 7, 2007 to February 2, 2008 and the period from February 4, 2007 to July 6, 2007, included in the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration Statement No. 333-164906) and related Prospectus of Express, Inc. dated May 12, 2010, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Columbus, Ohio

July 14, 2010