UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 23, 2012

 

 

VISA INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-33977   26-0267673

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)  

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

P.O. Box 8999

San Francisco, California

  94128-8999
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (650) 432-3200

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

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

 

¨

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

 

¨

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

 

¨

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

 

¨

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


Item 1.01

Entry into Material Definitive Agreement.

On October 24, 2012, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Visa Inc. (the “Company”) authorized a revised form of indemnification agreement to be entered into with the directors and officers of the Company. The new form of indemnification agreement modifies certain terms of the indemnification agreements previously entered into between the Company and the directors and officers of the Company, including: (i) by extending certain indemnification coverage to the spouse or domestic partner of a covered director or officer of the Company; (ii) by deleting a provision that previously allowed the Company (on a permissive basis) to provide indemnification for any claim relating to foreign corrupt practices or acts of commercial bribery regardless of circumstances, such that now the Company will be required to provide indemnification when the indemnitee acted in good faith and otherwise in accordance with the terms of the indemnification agreement; and (iii) by clarifying that the Company shall not be obligated to indemnify officers or directors for certain incentive compensation “clawbacks” as required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

The foregoing is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Indemnification Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.03

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

On October 23, 2012, the board of directors made certain amendments to the Company’s Bylaws, including clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the position of the Company’s Lead Director in connection with the separation of the roles of Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer. The amendments also clarify the role and responsibilities of the Company’s President.

The foregoing is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended and Restated Bylaws, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)

Exhibits

 

3.1

  

Amended and Restated Bylaws.

10.1

  

Form of Indemnification Agreement.


SIGNATURES

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

 

   

VISA INC.

Date: October 25, 2012

   
   

By:

 

/s/ Byron H. Pollitt

     

Byron H. Pollitt

Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 3.1

Amended and Restated Bylaws

of

Visa Inc.

Article I

Corporate Offices

Section 1.1      Registered Office .

The registered office of Visa Inc. (the “ Corporation ”) shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware.

The name of the registered agent of the Corporation at such location is The Corporation Trust Company.

Section 1.2      Other Offices .

The Corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”) may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

Article II

Meetings of the Stockholders

Section 2.1      Location of Meetings .

Meetings of stockholders shall be held at any place within or outside the State of Delaware, designated by the Board. In the absence of any such designation, stockholders’ meetings shall be held at the corporate headquarters of the Corporation.

Section 2.2      Notice of Stockholders’ Meetings .

(a)        Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall be given, which notice shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise required by law, the written notice of any meeting shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) calendar days before the date of the meeting.

(b)        Notices shall be deemed given (i) if by mail, when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address as it appears on the record of stockholders of the Corporation; (ii) if by facsimile, when faxed to a number where the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (iii) if by electronic mail, when mailed electronically to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder consented to receive such notice; (iv) if by posting on an electronic network (such as a website or chatroom) together with

 

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a separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later to occur of (A) such posting or (B) the giving of the separate notice of such posting; or (v) if by any other form of electronic communication, when directed to the stockholder in the manner consented to by the stockholder. For notice given by electronic transmission to a stockholder to be effective, such stockholder must consent to the Corporation’s giving notice by that particular form of electronic transmission. A stockholder may revoke consent to receive notice by electronic transmission by written notice to the Corporation. A stockholder’s consent to notice by electronic transmission is automatically revoked if the Corporation is unable to deliver two consecutive electronic transmission notices and such inability becomes known to the Secretary or the Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, the transfer agent or other person responsible for giving notice.

Section 2.3     Annual Meetings .

(a)        Annual meetings of stockholders shall be held at such date and time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board and stated in the notice of the meeting. At each annual meeting, the stockholders shall elect directors and shall transact only such other business as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business (including the nominations of persons for election to the Board and any other business to be considered by the stockholders) must be (i) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board, (ii) otherwise brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by any stockholder of record of the Corporation, who is entitled to vote at a meeting, in accordance with this Section 2.3 , Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 .

(b)        For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a) of this Section 2.3 , the stockholder must have given timely notice of such nominations or other business in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action in accordance with Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 hereof. In no event shall (i) the fact that the Board has specified the consideration of nominees for directors in its notice of meeting be sufficient to give notice of any nomination or comply with the notice requirements of these By-Laws relating to stockholder notice with respect to any stockholder nominee, unless such nominee is specifically named in the notice of meeting circulated by the Corporation, or (ii) the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commences a new time period (or extends any time period) for the giving of a stockholder notice.

(c)        For purposes of this Section 2.3 , Section 2.4 and Section 2.5 , “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service 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, by posting on the Corporation’s website, or by other means designed to result in broad public distribution of information.

(d)        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, any stockholder seeking to bring any nomination for election as a director or other business before any annual meeting must comply with the requirements of Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 whether or not such stockholder intends to request inclusion of such proposal in any proxy materials to be distributed by the Corporation.

 

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Section 2.4     Special Meetings of Stockholders .

(a)        Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation, for any purpose or purposes, may be called only by or at the direction of the Board, the Chairperson of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.

(b)        Unless otherwise required by law, written notice of a special meeting stating the place, date and hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given not fewer than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) calendar days before the date of the meeting, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting.

(c)        Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected (i) by or at the direction of the Board or (ii)  provided that the Board has specified in its notice of meeting that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who provides a timely stockholder notice to the Secretary of the Corporation that complies with the notice procedures set forth in Section 2.5 . In no event shall (i) the fact that the Board has specified the consideration of nominees for directors in its notice of meeting be sufficient to give notice of any nomination or comply with the notice requirements of these By-Laws relating to stockholder notice with respect to any stockholder nominee, unless such nominee is specifically named in the notice of meeting circulated by the Corporation, or (ii) the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commences a new time period (or extends any time period) for the giving of a stockholder notice as described in Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 .

(d)        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, any stockholder seeking to bring any nomination for election as a director or other business before any special meeting must comply with the requirements of Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 whether or not such stockholder intends to request inclusion of such proposal in any proxy materials to be distributed by the Corporation.

Section 2.5     Stockholder Notice Requirements .

(a)        At any annual or special meeting of the stockholders, (i) nominations for the election of directors and (ii) business to be brought before any such stockholders’ meeting may only be made or proposed (a) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting, (b) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (c) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of the notice provided for in this By-Law, who shall be entitled to vote at such meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in these By-Laws of the Corporation (the “ By-Laws ”).

(b)        Any stockholder may nominate one or more persons for election as directors at a stockholders’ meeting or propose business to be brought before a stockholders’ meeting, or both, pursuant to Section 2.5(a) of these By-Laws, only if the stockholder has given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the stockholders’ meeting; provided, however, that if less than one hundred (100) days’ notice or other prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to the

 

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stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be received no later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the earlier of the day on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or other public disclosure was made. To be in proper written form a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting:

(i)            a brief description of the business proposed and/or persons nominated, as applicable, and the reasons for proposing such business or making such nomination;

(ii)            the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of the stockholder proposing such business or making such nomination, and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made;

(iii)           the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder of record and by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made;

(iv)          with respect to any nomination, (A) a description of all arrangements and understandings (whether or not in writing) between the stockholder and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made, (B) the name, age, business address and residence address of such nominee, (C) the class, series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation owned beneficially and of record by such nominee and (D) the written consent of the proposed nominee to being named in the solicitation material and to serving as a director if elected;

(v)           a description of any negotiations, transactions or contacts during the past two years between the stockholder or its affiliates and any other person (including the identity of such other person) concerning any take-over bid, tender offer, exchange offer, merger, consolidation, business combination, recapitalization, restructuring, liquidation, dissolution, distribution, stock purchase or other extraordinary transaction involving the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or the assets or securities of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries;

(vi)          a description of any negotiations, transactions or contacts during the past two years between the stockholder or its affiliates and any other person (including the identity of such other person) concerning any solicitation of proxies or consents from stockholders, any stockholder proposal, the election, removal or appointment of directors or executive officers of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or the policies, affairs or strategy of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries; and

(vii)         such other information regarding each nominee or matter of business to be proposed as would be required to be included in solicitations of proxies, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(c)        Notwithstanding anything in these By-Laws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at any stockholders’ meeting and no stockholder may nominate any person for election at any stockholders’ meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.5 . The Chairperson of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that any proposed business and/or any proposed nomination for election as director

 

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was not properly brought or made before the meeting or made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by these By-Laws, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and any such proposed business or proposed nomination for election as director not properly brought before the meeting or made shall not be transacted or considered.

(d)        The provisions set forth in this Section 2.5 may not be repealed or amended in any respect or in any manner, including by any merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other corporation, unless the surviving corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws contains a provision to the same effect as this Section 2.5 , except by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 66-2/3% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, subject to the provisions of any series of preferred stock that may at the time be outstanding.

(e)        The provisions of this Section 2.5 shall not be applicable to the nomination or election of any Regional Director (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) the nomination and election of which shall be determined as provided in Article V of the Certificate of Incorporation.

Section 2.6      Information Regarding Derivative Positions and Other Interests .

Any stockholder nominating one or more persons for election as directors or proposing business to be brought before a stockholders’ meeting, or both, and any beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, must upon the Corporation’s request provide in writing to the Secretary the following information with respect to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any: any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise (a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation; any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Company; any short interest in any security of the Corporation (for purposes of this By-law a person shall be deemed to have a short interest in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security); any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner; and any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, may be entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, including without limitation any such interests held by members of such stockholder’s or beneficial owner’s, if any, immediate family sharing the same household.

Section 2.7          Compliance with Exchange Act .

 

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Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 2.3 , Section 2.4 , Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 , a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in Sections 2.3 , Section 2.4 , Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 . Nothing in this Section 2.7 shall be deemed to affect any rights (i) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (ii) of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, in a resolution for the issuance of shares of preferred stock in one or more series and by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware or by other applicable law.

Section 2.8      Quorum, Adjournment .

The holders of a majority in voting power of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business, except as otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation; but if at any meeting of stockholders there shall be less than a quorum present, the chairperson of the meeting or the stockholders present may, to the extent permitted by law, adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice other than announcement at the meeting of the date, time and place, if any, of the adjourned meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) calendar days, or if, after the adjournment, a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, where a separate vote by a class or series is required, holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class or series, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter.

Section 2.9      Voting Procedures and Proxies .

Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for him by (i) a written proxy, signed by the stockholder and filed with the Secretary of the Corporation, or (ii) transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a message by email or other electronic means to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission in accordance with the provisions of Section 212(c)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”). No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be deemed signed if the stockholder’s name is placed on the proxy (whether by manual signature, typewriting, email or other electronic transmission or otherwise) by the stockholder or the stockholder’s attorney-in-fact. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section 212(c) of the DGCL. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder shall have one vote for each share of stock having voting power, registered in his name on the books of the Corporation on the record date set by the Board as provided in Section 2.11 hereof.

Section 2.10      Required Vote .

 

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When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock having voting power present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-Laws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation or applicable law or regulation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, where a separate vote by class or series is required and a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the stock of such class or series entitled to vote shall be the act of such class or series, unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-Laws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation or applicable law or regulation.

Section 2.11     Record Date .

In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders (a) entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, (b) entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or (c) entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action (other than determining the stockholders entitled to act by written consent, which is governed by Section 2.12 hereof), the Board 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 (i) in the case of clause (a) above, shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) calendar days before the date of such meeting and (ii) in the case of clause (b) and (c) above, shall not be more than sixty (60) calendar days prior to such action. If for any reason the Board shall not have fixed a record date for any such purpose, the record date for such purpose shall be determined as provided by law. Only those stockholders of record on the date so fixed or determined shall be entitled to any of the foregoing rights, notwithstanding the transfer of any such stock on the books of the Corporation after any such record date so fixed or determined.

Section 2.12     Stockholder Action by Written Consent .

Any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of Common Stock must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such holders and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such holders.

Section 2.13     List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote .

The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make available, at least ten (10) calendar days before every meeting, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least ten (10) calendar days prior to the meeting in the manner provided by law (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network; provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of meeting or (b) during regular business hours at the Corporation’s principal place of business. The list must also be open to examination at the meeting as required by applicable law. Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section or to vote in person or in proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

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Section 2.14     Chairperson of the Meeting .

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, one of the following shall act as chairperson of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence: (a) the Chairperson of the Board (if any); (b) the Chief Executive Officer; (c) the Lead Director, (d) the President; or (e) any member of the Board or officer of the Corporation present at such meeting designated to act as chairperson of such meeting and preside thereat by the Chief Executive Officer (or if no such designation has been made, by the members of the Board present at such meeting).

Section 2.15     Secretary of the Meeting .

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, at each meeting of the stockholders, the Secretary of the Corporation or his or her designee shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof. In the absence of the Secretary (and any designee of the Secretary) or if such office shall be vacant, the chairperson of the meeting shall appoint a person to act as secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

Section 2.16     Inspectors of Elections .

(a)        Preceding any meeting of the stockholders, the Corporation shall appoint one or more persons to act as inspectors at the meeting or its adjournment and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. In the event no inspector or alternate inspector is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chairperson of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation. Inspectors need not be stockholders. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of inspector, 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.

(b)        In addition to the duties prescribed by applicable law, the inspectors shall (i) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, (ii) determine the shares represented at a meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors and (v) certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting, and their count of all votes and ballots. The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance of the duties of inspector.

(c)        In determining the shares represented and the validity and counting of proxies and ballots, each inspector shall be limited to an examination of the proxies, any envelopes submitted with those proxies, any information provided in accordance with Section 211(e) or Section 212(c)(2) of the DGCL, any information provided pursuant to Section 211(a)(2) of the DGCL, ballots, and the regular books and records of the Corporation, except that each inspector may consider other reliable information for the limited purpose of reconciling proxies and ballots submitted by or on behalf of banks, brokers or their nominees or similar persons which represent more votes than the holder of a proxy is authorized by the record owner to cast or more votes than the stockholder holds of record. If any inspector considers other reliable information for the limited purpose permitted by this paragraph, such inspector, at the time of the making of his or her certification referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section 2.16 , shall

 

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specify the precise information considered, the person or persons from whom the information was obtained, when this information was obtained, the means by which the information was obtained, and the basis for such inspector’s belief that such information is accurate and reliable.

(d)        The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the person presiding over the meeting. The Board may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the person presiding over any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and to adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairperson, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the presiding officer of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (1) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (2) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (3) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairperson of the meeting shall determine; (4) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (5) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants.

Article III

Directors

Section 3.1      General Powers .

The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of its Board. In addition to the powers and authorities expressly conferred upon it by these By-Laws, the Board may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-Laws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders. Except as otherwise provided by law, these By-Laws or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board. Directors need not be stockholders.

Section 3.2      Number .

The number of Directors comprising the full Board shall, subject to applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, be determined exclusively by the Board from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board.

Section 3.3      Election .

Except as hereinafter provided with respect to Contested Elections and except as hereinafter provided for the filling of vacancies and newly created directorships, each nominee shall be elected by a vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to the director at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present. At any Contested Election, the directors shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of the votes cast by the holders

 

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of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. For purposes of this Section, a majority of the votes cast means that the number of shares voted “for” a director must exceed the number of votes cast against that director. For purposes of these By-Laws, an election shall be deemed a “Contested Election” if the Secretary of the Corporation has received one or more notices that a stockholder or stockholders intend to nominate a person or persons for election to the Board, which notice(s) purport to be in compliance with Section 2.5 of these By-Laws and less than all such nominations have been withdrawn by the proposing stockholder(s) on or prior to the fourteenth day preceding the date the Corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to its stockholders (regardless of whether all such nominations are subsequently withdrawn and regardless of whether the Board determines that any such notice is not in compliance with Section 2.5 of these By-Laws.)

Section 3.4      Vacancies .

Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation and these By-Laws, unless otherwise required by law, any newly created directorship on the Board that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancy occurring in the Board shall be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director; and the directors so chosen shall hold office for a term as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. Any director elected to fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall have the same remaining term as that of his or her predecessor.

Section 3.5      Committees .

(a)        The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one or more directors of the Corporation as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee.

(b)        In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he/she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.

(c)        Any such committee, to the extent permitted by law and provided in the resolution of the Board or in these By-Laws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it; provided, however, that no such committee shall have the power and authority (i) to approve or adopt, or recommend to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than, with respect to the power and authority to recommend, the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, or (ii) adopt, amend or repeal any By-Laws of the Corporation. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board.

(d)        Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required.

Section 3.6      Reliance on Records .

 

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A member of the Board, or a member of any committee designated by the Board, shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board, or by any other person as to matters the director 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, including, but not limited to, such records, information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of assets, liabilities and/or net profits of the Corporation, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of surplus or other funds from which dividends might properly be declared and paid, or with which the Corporation’s capital stock might properly be purchased or redeemed.

Section 3.7      Compensation .

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors. The directors may be reimbursed for their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board or each meeting of a committee of the Board, and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board or a stated salary as director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for attending committee meetings.

Section 3.8      Lead Director .

(a)        If the Chairperson of the Board is not an Independent Director, the Board shall elect one of the Independent Directors to serve as the lead director (the “ Lead Director ”) having the duties and responsibilities set forth in this Section 3.8 and as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors from time to time. The Lead Director shall be elected to a term commencing upon his or her election by the Board and ending on the date that is one year after such election, or upon his or her earlier death, resignation, removal or disqualification as an Independent Director.

(b)        In addition to his or her responsibilities as a director, the Lead Director shall be responsible for: (i) calling, setting the agenda for, and chairing periodic executive sessions and meetings of non-management directors and, as appropriate, providing prompt feedback to the Chairperson of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, (ii) calling, setting the agenda for and chairing periodic executive sessions and meetings of the Independent Directors and reporting accordingly to the full Board, (iii) chairing Board meetings in the absence of the Chairperson of the Board or when it is deemed appropriate arising from the Chairperson’s management role or non-independence, (iv) providing feedback to the Chairperson and the Chief Executive Officer on corporate and Board policies and strategies and, when requested by the Board, acting as a liaison between the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, (v) facilitating one-on-one communication between directors and committee chairs and the Chairperson, the Chief Executive Officer, and other senior managers to keep abreast of their perspectives, (vi) in concert with the Chairperson and the Chief Executive Officer, advising on the agenda and schedule for Board meetings and strategic planning sessions based on input from directors, (vii) providing advance feedback on background materials and resources necessary or desirable to assist directors in carrying out their responsibilities, and reviewing board materials and background papers in advance of Board meetings, (viii) interviewing potential candidates for election to the Board, (ix) holding one-on-one discussions with individual directors when the

 

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Board so requests, (x) in concert with the Board’s committees, overseeing the evaluation of individual members of the Board and of the Chief Executive Officer, and (xi) carrying out such other duties as are requested by the Board or any of its committees from time to time. If the Chairperson of the Board is an Independent Director and no Lead Director is then serving, the Chairperson shall be responsible for performing the foregoing duties to the extent applicable.

Article IV

Meetings of the Board of Directors

Section 4.1      General .

The Board may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware. Meetings of the Board shall be presided over by a Chairperson, who shall at all times not be one of the directors representing regional financial institution interests as set forth in Article 5.1(b) of the Certificate of Incorporation.

Section 4.2      Regular Meetings .

Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board.

Section 4.3      Special Meetings .

Special meetings of the Board for any purpose or purposes may be called by the Chairperson of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or the President on twenty-four (24) hours’ notice to each director either personally or by telephone, telegram, facsimile or electronic mail; special meetings shall be called by the Chief Executive Officer or the President or Secretary in like manner and on like notice on the written request of a majority of the Board.

Section 4.4      Waiver of Notice .

Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver thereof by electronic transmission by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the directors, or members of a committee of directors, need be specified in any written waiver of notice unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws.

Section 4.5      Quorum .

 

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At all meetings of the Board, a majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

Section 4.6      Board Action by Written Consent without a Meeting .

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board or 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 such committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

Section 4.7      Telephonic Meetings .

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, members of the Board, or any committee designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board, or any committee, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

Article V

Officers

Section 5.1      Officers .

The officers of the Corporation shall include a Chief Executive Officer, a Treasurer and a Secretary, and may include a President, a Chief Operating Officer, a Chief Financial Officer and such other officers appointed from time to time by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or President in accordance with Section 5.2 . Any number of offices may be held by the same person, unless the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws otherwise provide. Such officers shall be elected or appointed from time to time as provided in Section 5.2 of these By-Laws, to hold office until their respective successors shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal.

Section 5.2      Other Officers .

The Board may from time to time elect or appoint, or empower the Chief Executive Officer or the President to appoint, such officers and agents as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the Corporation. In addition to any duties specified in these By-laws, such officers and agents shall have such duties and shall hold their offices for such terms as shall be prescribed by the Board or the appointing officer in connection with their appointment.

 

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Section 5.3      Removal and Resignation of Officers; Filling Vacancies .

(a)         Any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by an affirmative vote of the majority of the Board at any regular or special meeting of the Board or by the Chief Executive Officer or any superior officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

(b)         Any officer may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation. Any resignation shall take effect on the date of delivery of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice; and, unless otherwise specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.

Section 5.4      Vacancies in Offices .

Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board or, except in the case of an officer chosen by the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President of the Corporation.

Section 5.5      Compensation .

The compensation of all officers of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board or any committee established by the Board for such purpose. The compensation of agents of the Corporation shall, unless fixed by the Board, be fixed by the Chief Executive Officer or his delegate.

Section 5.6      Security .

The Board may require any officer, agent or employee of the Corporation to provide security for the faithful performance of such officer’s, agent’s or employee’s duties, in such amount and of such character as may be determined from time to time by the Board.

Section 5.7      Chairperson of the Board .

The Board shall select a Chairperson of the Board who shall be subject to the control of the Board and shall preside at all meetings of the Board. The Chairperson of the Board shall have and perform such other duties, and exercise such powers, as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board or these By-Laws.

Section 5.8      Chief Executive Officer .

The Board shall select a Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation who shall be subject to the supervision of the Board. The Chief Executive Officer shall (i) be primarily responsible for the entire business and affairs of the Corporation and for implementing the policies and directives of the Board, (ii) preside at all meetings of the Board during the absence or disability of the Chairperson of the Board, except as provided in Section 3.8 of these By-Laws, (iii) have authority to make contracts on behalf of the Corporation in the ordinary course of the Corporation’s business, and (iv) perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the Board.

 

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Section 5.9      President .

The President shall (i) be primarily responsible for the general management of the business of the Corporation and for implementing the policies and directives of the Board during the absence or disability of the Chief Executive Officer, (ii) have authority to make contracts on behalf of the Corporation in the ordinary course of the Corporation’s business, and (iii) perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board.

Section 5.10     Chief Operating Officer .

The Chief Operating Officer shall perform such duties and shall have such powers as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. In addition, subject to the powers and authority of the Board or any duly authorized committee thereof, the Chief Operating Officer shall perform such duties and have such powers as are incident to the office of chief operating officer, including without limitation, the duty and power to execute strategies developed by the management of the Corporation on a day-to-day basis, to set forth the Corporation’s objectives and long term goals and work with the Chief Executive Officer and management to advance the Corporation in its industry.

Section 5.11     Secretary .

The Secretary or his or her designee shall attend all meetings of the Board and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings of the Corporation and of the Board and shall cause such records to be kept in a book kept for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when required. He or she shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board. He or she shall have custody of the corporate seal of the Corporation and he or she, or an Assistant Secretary, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by his/her signature or by the signature of such Assistant Secretary. The Board may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing by his/her signature. The Secretary shall perform, in general, all duties incident to the office of secretary and such other duties as may be specified in these By-Laws or as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

Section 5.12     Assistant Secretary .

The Assistant Secretary, or if there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their election) shall, in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of his/her inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board or these By-Laws may from time to time prescribe.

Section 5.13     Chief Financial Officer .

The Chief Financial Officer shall perform such duties and shall have such powers as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. In addition, subject to the powers and authority of the Board or any duly

 

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authorized committee thereof, the Chief Financial Officer shall perform such duties and have such powers as are incident to the office of chief financial officer, including without limitation, the duty and power to keep and be responsible for all funds and securities of the Corporation, to maintain the financial and accounting records of the Corporation, to deposit funds of the Corporation in depositories as authorized, to disburse such funds as authorized, to make proper accounts of such funds, and to render as required by the Board accounts of all such transactions and of the financial condition of the Corporation.

Section 5.14     Treasurer .

The Treasurer shall perform such duties and shall have such powers as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. In addition, subject to the powers and authority of the Board or any duly authorized committee thereof, the Treasurer shall perform such duties and have such powers as are incident to the office of treasurer, including without limitation, the duty and power to keep and be responsible for all funds and securities of the Corporation, to maintain the financial records of the Corporation, to deposit funds of the Corporation in depositories as authorized, to disburse such funds as authorized, to make proper accounts of such funds, and to render as required by the Board accounts of all such transactions and of the financial condition of the Corporation.

Section 5.15     Execution of Bonds, Mortgages and other Contracts .

The Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Secretary or any other officer so authorized by the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President shall 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 to some other officer or agent of the Corporation.

Article VI

Certificates of Stock

Section 6.1      Certificates of Stock .

(a)         The shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates; provided that the Board may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Every holder of record of stock in the Corporation that is represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate, signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, the Chairperson of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Operating Officer or Chief Financial Officer and the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by him or her in the Corporation.

(b)         Any of or all the signatures on the certificate may be by facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such

 

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certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

Section 6.2      Lost Certificates .

The Board may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon delivery to the Board of an affidavit of owner or owners of such certificate, setting forth such allegation. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the Board 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 advertise the same in such manner as it shall require and/or to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

Section 6.3      Transfer of Stock .

Upon surrender to the Corporation or the transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate representing shares of stock duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books. Within a reasonable time after the transfer of uncertified stock, the Corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth or stated on the certificate pursuant to Sections 151, 156, 202(a) or 218(a) of the DGCL. Subject to provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and these By-Laws, the Board may prescribe such additional rules and regulations as it may deem appropriate relating to the issue, transfer and registration of shares of the Corporation. For so long as required by the rules of any exchange upon which the securities of the Corporation may be listed or traded, the Corporation shall not close, and shall not permit to be closed, the transfer books on which transfers of such securities are recorded.

Section 6.4      Registered Stockholders .

To the fullest extent permitted by law, prior to due surrender of a certificate for registration of transfer, the Corporation may treat the registered owner as the person exclusively entitled to receive dividends and other distributions, to vote, to receive notice and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of the owners of the shares represented by such certificate, and the Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or legal claim to or interest in such shares on the part of any other person, whether or not the Corporation shall have notice of such claim or interests, except as expressly provided by applicable law. Whenever any transfer of shares of capital stock shall be made for collateral security, and not absolutely, it shall be so expressed in the entry of the transfer if, when the certificates are presented to the Corporation for transfer or uncertified shares are requested to be transferred, both the transferor and transferee request the Corporation do so.

 

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Article VII

General Provisions

Section 7.1      Dividends .

(a)        Subject to any applicable provisions of law and the Certificate of Incorporation or any resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board pursuant to authority expressly vested in it by the Certificate of Incorporation and Section 151 of the DGCL, the Board may, at any regular or special meeting of the Board, out of funds legally available therefor, declare dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, and any such dividend may be paid in cash, property, or shares of the Corporation’s stock.

(b)        Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for such other purposes as the directors shall think conducive to the interest of the Corporation, and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

Section 7.2      Corporate Books .

The books of the Corporation may be kept inside or outside of the State of Delaware at such place or places as the Board may from time to time determine.

Section 7.3      Checks .

Except as otherwise provided herein, the Board shall determine by resolution which person or persons may sign or endorse all checks, drafts, other orders for payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness that are issued in the name of or payable to the Corporation, and only the persons so authorized shall sign or endorse those instruments.

Section 7.4      Fiscal Year .

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board.

Section 7.5      Corporate Seal .

The Board may adopt a corporate seal having inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware.” The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.

Section 7.6      Section Headings .

Section headings in these By-Laws are for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in limiting or construing any provision herein.

 

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Section 7.7      Inconsistent Provisions .

In the event that any provision of these By-Laws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, the DGCL or any other applicable law, the provisions of these By-Laws shall not be given any effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full force and effect.

Section 7.8      Defined Terms .

Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined in these By-Laws shall have their respective meanings as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation.

Article VIII

Amendments

Section 8.1      Amendment of By-Laws .

In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the DGCL and subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and Section 2.5(d) , the Board is expressly authorized to make, adopt, amend, supplement and repeal these By-Laws, without the assent or vote of the stockholders, in any manner not inconsistent with the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation. The stockholders shall also have the power to adopt, amend, supplement or repeal these By-Laws.

 

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Exhibit 10.1

INDEMNITY AGREEMENT

This Indemnity Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of                          , by and between Visa Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [FULL NAME] (“Indemnitee”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve as directors, officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance and adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation.

WHEREAS, Article VIII of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the company (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) provides for indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Officers and directors may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”). The indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the board of directors, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification.

WHEREAS, increased difficulty in attracting and retaining highly competent persons to serve as directors and officers would be detrimental to the best interests of the Company’s members.

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as a supplement to and in furtherance of Article VIII of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified.

WHEREAS, Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified hereunder.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

1.         Services to the Company. Indemnitee will serve or continue to serve as a director or officer of the Company for so long as Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed or until Indemnitee tenders Indemnitee’s resignation or is no longer serving in such capacity. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries (as defined below) or any Enterprise (as defined below)) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries or any Enterprise), if any, is at will, and the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise

 

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provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries or any Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Company, by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the Company’s By-laws, and the DGCL.

2.         Definitions. As used in this Agreement:

(a)        “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise, which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

(b)        “Delaware Court” shall mean the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware.

(c)        “Disinterested Director” shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding (as defined below) in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

(d)        “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries) is a party, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent.

(e)        “Expenses” shall include all expenses, including attorneys’ fees and costs, actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

(f)        “Independent Counsel” shall mean a law firm or a member of a law firm that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements); or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

(g)        References to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed on Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company that imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner

 

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Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

(h)        The term “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative or investigative nature, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party or otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any action (or failure to act) taken by Indemnitee or of any action (or failure to act) on Indemnitee’s part while acting as a director or officer of the Company, or by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement.

(i)        The term “Subsidiary,” with respect to any person, shall mean any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the voting power or the voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by that person.

3.         Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness or otherwise) in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

4.         Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness or otherwise) in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. No indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been

 

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finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that any court in which the Proceeding was brought or the Delaware Court shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

5.         Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. If the Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding, the Company also shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against all Expenses reasonably incurred in connection with a claim, issue or matter related to any claim, issue, or matter on which the Indemnitee was successful. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

6.         Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be indemnified and held harmless against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

7.         Additional Indemnification.

(a)        Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding.

(b)        For purposes of Section 7(a), the meaning of the phrase “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to:

 

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i.        to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL, and

ii.        to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

(c)        If a Proceeding for which Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified hereunder asserts a claim against (i) the lawful spouse or legally recognized domestic partner of Indemnitee or (ii) a property interest of such spouse or domestic partner, then indemnification shall be extended to such spouse or domestic partner or for the protection of the property of such spouse or domestic partner to the extent that the Proceeding does not arise from any actual or alleged act, error or omission of such spouse or domestic partner.

8.         Contribution in the Event of Joint Liability.

(a)        To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification and hold harmless rights provided for in this Agreement are unavailable to Indemnitee in whole or in part for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying and holding harmless Indemnitee, shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any Proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have at any time against Indemnitee.

(b)        The Company shall not enter into any settlement of any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee.

(c)        The Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee from any claims for contribution which may be brought by officers, directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee.

9.         Exclusions. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:

(a)        for which payment has actually been received by or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount actually received under any insurance policy, contract, agreement, other indemnity provision or otherwise;

(b)        except as otherwise provided in Section 14(e) hereof, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any

 

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Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law; or

(c)        in respect of any claim for (i) an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time (the “Exchange Act”), or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law, or (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) or Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act).

10.         Advances of Expenses; Defense of Claim.

(a)        Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, and to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Company shall advance the Expenses reasonably incurred by Indemnitee (or reasonably expected by Indemnitee to be incurred by Indemnitee within three months) in connection with any Proceeding within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing a Proceeding to enforce this right of advancement. The Indemnitee shall qualify for Advances, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, solely upon the execution and delivery to the Company of an undertaking providing that the Indemnitee undertakes to repay the advance to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company under the provisions of this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws of the Company, applicable law or otherwise. This Section 10(a) shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 9 (a) or (b).

(b)        The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

(c)        The Company shall not settle any action, claim or Proceeding (in whole or in part) that would impose any Expense, judgment, fine, penalty or limitation on the Indemnitee without the Indemnitee’s prior written consent.

 

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11.         Procedure for Notification and Application for Indemnification.

(a)        Indemnitee shall notify promptly the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter that may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation that it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or otherwise.

(b)        Indemnitee may deliver to the Company a written application to indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee in accordance with this Agreement. Such application(s) may be delivered from time to time and at such time(s) as Indemnitee deems appropriate in Indemnitee’s sole discretion. Following such a written application for indemnification by Indemnitee, the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be determined according to Section 12(a) of this Agreement.

12.         Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.

(a)        A determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be made in the specific case by one of the following methods: (i) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board or (ii) if so determined by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee. The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied. If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall reasonably cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or Expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

(b)        In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b). The Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. If the Independent Counsel is selected by the Board, the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising Indemnitee of the identity of the Independent Counsel

 

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so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been received, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided , however , that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(b) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the Delaware Court, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) hereof. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

(c)        The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel and to fully indemnify and hold harmless such Independent Counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

13.         Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

(a)        In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(b) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

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(b)        If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a final judicial determination that any or all such indemnification is expressly prohibited under applicable law; provided , however , that such 30-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional fifteen (15) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto.

(c)        The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

(d)        For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected by the Enterprise. The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed or found to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

(e)        The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

14.         Remedies of Indemnitee.

(a)        In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6, 7 or the last sentence of

 

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Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) a contribution payment is not made in a timely manner pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement, or (vi) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by the Delaware Court to such indemnification, contribution or advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Except as set forth herein, the provisions of Delaware law (without regard to its conflict of laws rules) shall apply to any such arbitration. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

(b)        In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be, and the Company may not refer to or introduce into evidence any determination pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement adverse to Indemnitee for any purpose. If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances pursuant to Section 10 until a final determination is made with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted or lapsed).

(c)        If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

(d)        The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.

(e)        The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law against all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after the Company’s receipt of such written request) advance to Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, such Expenses that are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any judicial proceeding or arbitration brought by

 

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Indemnitee (i) to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement or any other indemnification, advancement or contribution agreement or provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, or the Company’s By-laws now or hereafter in effect; or (ii) for recovery or advances under any insurance policy maintained by any person for the benefit of Indemnitee, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advance, contribution or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

(f)        Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

15.         Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.

(a)        The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Company’s By-laws, any agreement, a vote of members or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in applicable law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under Article VIII of the Certificate of Incorporation or this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

(b)        The DGCL and Article VIII of the Certificate of Incorporation permit the Company to purchase and maintain insurance or furnish similar protection or make other arrangements (“Indemnification Arrangements”) on behalf of Indemnitee against any liability asserted against Indemnitee or incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee or in such capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or arising out of Indemnitee’s status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify Indemnitee against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement or under the DGCL, as it may then be in effect. The purchase, establishment, and maintenance of any such Indemnification Arrangement shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or of the Indemnitee under this Agreement except as expressly provided herein, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the Indemnitee shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or the other party or parties thereto under any such Indemnification Arrangement.

 

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(c)        To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, trustees, partners, managing members, fiduciaries, employees, or agents of the Company or of any other Enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent under such policy or policies. If, at the time the Company receives notice from any source of a Proceeding as to which Indemnitee is a party or a participant (as a witness or otherwise), the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

(d)        In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

(e)        The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such Enterprise.

16.         Duration of Agreement. All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee serves as a director or officer of the Company or as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other Enterprise which Indemnitee serves at the request of the Company and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible Proceeding (including any rights of appeal thereto and any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement) by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, whether or not Indemnitee is acting in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement.

17.         Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible,

 

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the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

18.         Enforcement and Binding Effect.

(a)        The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director or officer of the Company.

(b)        Without limiting any of the rights of Indemnitee under the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company as they may be amended from time to time, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

(c)        The indemnification and advancement of Expenses provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise at the Company’s request, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, legally recognized domestic partner, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.

(d)        The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

(e)        The Company and Indemnitee agree herein that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement, at some later date, may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult of proof, and further agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that Indemnitee may enforce this Agreement by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which Indemnitee may be entitled. The Company and Indemnitee further agree that Indemnitee shall be entitled to such specific performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or other undertaking in connection therewith. The

 

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Company acknowledges that in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by the Court, and the Company hereby waives any such requirement of such a bond or undertaking.

19.         Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

20.         Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) if delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, or (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third (3rd) business day after the date on which it is so mailed:

(a)        If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide in writing to the Company.

(b)        If to the Company, to:

Visa Inc.

P.O. Box 8999

San Francisco, CA 94128-8999

Attention: General Counsel

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee in writing by the Company.

21.         Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement and the legal relations between the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally: (a) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Delaware Court and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country; (b) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement; (c) appoint irrevocably, to the extent such party is not a resident of the State of Delaware, The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 as its agent in the State of Delaware as such party’s agent for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding against such party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware; (d) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court; and (e) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum, or is subject (in whole or in part) to a jury trial.

 

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22.         Identical Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

23.         Miscellaneous. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

VISA INC.

   

INDEMNITEE

By:

       

By:

   

Name:

   

Name:

Title:

   

Address:

 

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