UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): June 4, 2013
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware | 0-24429 | 13-3728359 | ||
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
Glenpointe Centre West 500 Frank W. Burr Blvd. Teaneck, New Jersey |
07666 | |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
(201) 801-0233
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Not applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425). |
¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12). |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)). |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)). |
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On April 1, 2013, the Board of Directors (the Board) of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (the Company) adopted, subject to stockholder approval, an amendment and restatement of the 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (as amended and restated, the ESPP). On June 4, 2013, the Company held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the Annual Meeting) at which its stockholders approved the ESPP. The amendment to the ESPP increased the total number of shares of the Companys Class A Common Stock authorized for issuance under the ESPP by 5,000,000 shares, from 9,000,000 shares to 14,000,000 shares, and did not make any other changes to the ESPP.
The ESPP is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The ESPP permits eligible employees to purchase shares of the Companys Class A Common Stock at the end of pre-established offering periods at a purchase price equal to the lesser of (1) 90% of the stocks fair market value on the first day of the offering period or (2) 90% of the stocks fair market value on the last day of the offering period. Purchases are funded through employee payroll deductions. The ESPP is intended to comply with Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code.
The foregoing summary of the ESPP, and the summary of the ESPP set forth in our Definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 19, 2013, are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the ESPP, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
On June 4, 2013, the Board adopted Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (the Bylaws), replacing the former Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company in their entirety. The Bylaws became effective immediately upon their adoption by the Board.
The Bylaws are substantially the same as the prior bylaws, with the following substantive changes. The Bylaws provide broader indemnification rights to officers, directors and other persons than the prior bylaws and related conditions and procedures with respect thereto, including the advancement of expenses incurred by such persons in connection with certain claims.
The above description of the Bylaws does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Bylaws, which is filed as Exhibit 3.2 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
The Company held its Annual Meeting at the Companys headquarters on Tuesday, June 4, 2013. At the close of business on April 8, 2013, the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, there were 302,486,794 shares of the Companys Class A Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
The following are the voting results on the six proposals considered and voted upon at the meeting, all of which were described in the Companys Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 19, 2013.
At the Annual Meeting, all of the Class I directors were reelected and all other proposals submitted to stockholders were approved, except for Proposal 6 (the stockholder proposal regarding stockholder action by written consent), which was not approved by the stockholders.
Proposal 1. Election of Directors
The vote with respect to the election of the Class I directors was as follows:
FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN |
BROKER
NON-VOTES |
|||||||||||||
Maureen Breakiron-Evans |
245,058,053 | 1,234,964 | 282,949 | 16,459,116 | ||||||||||||
John E. Klein |
243,248,030 | 3,027,988 | 299,948 | 16,459,116 | ||||||||||||
Lakshmi Narayanan |
244,143,823 | 2,156,686 | 275,457 | 16,459,116 |
Proposal 2. Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation (Say-on-Pay)
The vote with respect to the advisory vote on the compensation of the Companys named executive officers was as follows:
FOR |
AGAINST |
ABSTAIN |
BROKER NON-VOTES |
|||
242,740,553 |
3,345,584 | 489,829 | 16,459,116 |
Proposal 3. Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to Declassify the Board and Provide for the Annual Election of Directors
The vote with respect to the amendment to the Companys Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to provide that all directors elected at or after the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders be elected on an annual basis, was as follows:
FOR |
AGAINST |
ABSTAIN |
BROKER NON-VOTES |
|||
246,141,672 |
157,822 | 276,472 | 16,459,116 |
Proposal 4. Approve of the Amendment and Restatement of the 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The vote with respect to the amendment and restatement of the 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan was as follows:
FOR |
AGAINST |
ABSTAIN |
BROKER NON-VOTES |
|||
243,978,555 |
1,209,992 | 1,387,419 | 16,459,116 |
Proposal 5. Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The vote with respect to the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2013 was as follows:
FOR |
AGAINST |
ABSTAIN |
BROKER NON-VOTES |
|||
260,222,770 |
2,516,498 | 295,814 | |
Proposal 6. Stockholder Proposal Regarding Stockholder Action by Written Consent
The vote with respect to the stockholder proposal requesting that the Board of Directors take the steps necessary to permit stockholder action by written consent was as follows:
FOR |
AGAINST |
ABSTAIN |
BROKER NON-VOTES |
|||
99,860,944 |
146,228,035 | 486,987 | 16,459,116 |
Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) | Exhibits. |
Exhibit
No. |
Description | |
3.1 | Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, dated June 4, 2013. | |
3.2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as adopted on June 4, 2013. | |
10.1 | 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (as amended and restated effective as of April 1, 2013) |
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.
By: |
/s/ Steven Schwartz |
|
Name: | Steven Schwartz | |
Title: | Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
Date: June 4, 2013
Exhibit 3.1
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
TO
RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
The undersigned, for purposes of amending the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the Certificate) of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, does hereby certify as follows:
FIRST : The name of the Corporation is Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (the Corporation).
SECOND : The Certificate was filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 7, 2003 and was amended on May 26, 2004, June 13, 2006, June 2, 2011 and June 5, 2012.
THIRD: That Article VIII of the Certificate is hereby amended and restated to read, in its entirety, as follows:
(1) The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than three directors, the exact number of directors to be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors. The directors, other than directors elected separately as a class by the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock, shall be and are divided into classes, with the terms of the classes elected at the annual meetings of stockholders held in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively, expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders held after the election of such class of directors; provided that such division shall terminate at the third annual meeting of stockholders held after the 2013 annual meeting of stockholders. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, but subject to the rights of the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors separately as a class, each director elected by the stockholders after the 2013 annual meeting of stockholders shall serve for a term expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders held after such directors election, subject, however, to prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office.
(2) Any newly created directorship on the Board of Directors that results from an increase in the number of directors or any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors shall be filled only by a majority vote of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Directors so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders at which the term of the class to which they have been elected expires or, following the termination of the division of directors into three classes, directors so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders held after their election as directors.
(3) Subject to the rights of the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specific circumstances, (i) a director serving in a class of directors elected for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the election of such class shall be removable only for cause, and all other directors shall be removable either with or without cause, and (ii) the removal of any director, whether with or without cause, shall require the affirmative votes of the holders of at least 66 2 / 3 percent in voting power of all outstanding shares of the corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting as a single class.
(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock issued by the corporation shall have the right, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more such other series, to elect director at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, removal, filling of vacancies and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of preferred stock) applicable thereto, and such directors so elected shall not be divided into classes pursuant to this Article VIII unless expressly provided by such terms.
FOURTH: Except as expressly amended herein, all other provisions of the Certificate shall remain in full force and effect.
FIFTH : That the foregoing amendments were duly adopted by the Board of Directors and by the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
* * * * * * *
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned, being a duly authorized officer of the Corporation, does hereby execute this Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation this 4th day of June, 2013.
By: |
/s/ Francisco DSouza |
|
Name: | Francisco DSouza | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 3.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
OF
COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
(AS AMENDED AND RESTATED ON JUNE 4, 2013)
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 1. The annual meeting of the stockholders of the corporation for the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting shall be held on the third Wednesday in April of each year, if not a legal holiday, and if a legal holiday, then on the next secular day following, within or without the State of Delaware, or at such time and place as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2. (A) Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of stockholders of the corporation may be called only by (i) the Chief Executive Officer of the corporation, (ii) the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by the Board of Directors (each of (i) and (ii), a Special Meeting Request), or (iii) the Secretary upon the written request of stockholders having an aggregate net long position of not less than twenty-five percent (25%) (the Requisite Percent) of the outstanding shares of the corporation, which are entitled to vote at the meeting, prior to the Request Receipt Date (as defined in Section 2(B) of this Article I), and having held such net long position continuously for at least one year, as of the date of such request, subject to Section 2(B) of this Article I (a Stockholder Requested Special Meeting). Net long position shall be determined with respect to each requesting holder in accordance with the definition thereof set forth in Rule 14e-4 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), provided that (x) for purposes of such definition, in determining such holders short position, the reference in such Rule to the date the tender offer is first publicly announced or otherwise made known by the bidder to the holders of the security to be acquired shall be the date of the relevant Stockholder Special Meeting Request (as defined in Section 2(B) of this Article I) and the reference to the highest tender offer price or stated amount of the consideration offered for the subject security shall refer to the closing sales price of the corporations Class A common stock on the NASDAQ Stock Market (or such other primary stock exchange on which the corporations Class A common stock then trades) on such date (or, if such date is not a trading day, the next succeeding trading day) and (y) the net long position of such holder shall be reduced by the number of shares as to which such holder does not, or will not, have the right to vote or direct the vote on the matter or matters brought at the Stockholder Requested Special Meeting or as to which such holder has entered into any derivative or other agreement, arrangement or understanding that hedges or transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, any of the economic consequences of ownership of such shares. Whether the requesting holders have complied with the requirements of this Section 2 and related provisions of the By-laws shall be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, which determination shall be conclusive and binding on the corporation and the stockholders.
(B) In order for a Stockholder Requested Special Meeting to be called, one or more special meeting requests (each a Stockholder Special Meeting Request, and together, the Stockholder Special Meeting Requests) must be signed by the Requisite Percent of record holders (or their duly authorized agents) and must be delivered to the Secretary of the corporation. The Stockholder Special Meeting Request(s) shall be delivered to the Secretary of the corporation at the principal executive offices of the corporation by registered mail, return receipt requested. The first date on which unrevoked valid Stockholder Special Meeting Request or Stockholder Special Meeting Requests made by holders of record having shares of Class A common stock representing in the aggregate not less than the Requisite Percent and delivered to the Secretary of the corporation in accordance with the provisions of the first two sentences of this Section 2(B) shall be the Request Receipt Date. Each Stockholder Special Meeting Request shall (i) set forth a statement of the specific purpose(s) of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it; (ii) bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or duly authorized agent) signing the Stockholder Special Meeting Request; (iii) set forth (A) the name and address, as they appear in the corporations stock ledger, of each stockholder signing such request (or on whose behalf the Stockholder Special Meeting Request is signed), (B) the class, if applicable, and the number of shares of common stock of the corporation that are owned of record and beneficially by each such stockholder and (C) include documentary evidence of such stockholders record and beneficial ownership of such stock; (iv) include a detailed description of (A) any transaction in, or arrangement, agreement, understanding or relationship with respect to, any option, warrant, convertible or exchangeable security, stock appreciation right or right similar to any of the foregoing, hedging transactions or borrowed or loaned shares, with an exercise, conversion or exchange privilege, or settlement payment or mechanism related to, any security of the corporation, or similar instrument with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of a security of the corporation, in any such case whether or not it is subject to settlement in a security of the corporation or otherwise, (B) any transaction, arrangement, agreement, proxy, understanding or relationship which included or includes an opportunity for such person, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of any security of the corporation, to receive or share in the receipt of dividends payable on any securities of the corporation separate or separable from the underlying shares, to mitigate any loss or manage any risk associated with any increase or decrease in the value of any security of the corporation or to increase or decrease the number of securities of the corporation which such person was, is or will be entitled to vote, in any case whether or not it is subject to settlement in a security of the corporation or otherwise, in each case under clauses (A) and (B) including, without limitation, any put or call arrangement, short position, borrowed shares or swap or similar arrangement and (C) any transaction, arrangement, agreement, understanding or relationship with respect to the borrowing or lending of securities of the corporation or any interest therein (in each case by, of or on behalf of such stockholder); (v) set forth all information relating to each such stockholder that must be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or is otherwise required, in each case, pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, (vi) contain the information required by Section 9 of this Article I, (vii) in the case of any nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at such Stockholder Requested Special Meeting, the information required by Section 9(A)(2) of this Article I for a stockholder notice of a nomination at an annual meeting, (viii) in the case of any business, other than the election of a director or directors, proposed to be conducted at such Stockholder Requested Special Meeting, the information required by Section 9(A)(2) of this Article I for a stockholder notice of proposed business at an annual meeting, (ix) an agreement by the requesting
stockholder(s) to notify the corporation immediately in the case of any disposition on or prior to the date of such Stockholder Requested Special Meeting of shares of common stock of the corporation held by such stockholder(s) and (x) an acknowledgement by the requesting stockholder(s) and the beneficial owner(s), if any, on whose behalf the Stockholder Special Meeting Request is being made, that any reduction in the number of shares held by such stockholder(s) below the Requisite Percent following delivery of the Stockholder Special Meeting Request shall be deemed a revocation of such Stockholder Special Meeting Request. Any requesting stockholder may revoke his, her or its request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation, and if, following such revocation, there are un-revoked requests from stockholders holding in the aggregate less than the Requisite Percent, the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may cancel the special meeting.
(C) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Secretary of the corporation shall not be required to call a special meeting of stockholders if (i) the Board of Directors calls an annual or special meeting of stockholders to be held not later than sixty (60) days after the Request Receipt Date; or (ii) the Stockholder Special Meeting Request(s) (A) is received by the Secretary of the corporation during the period commencing ninety (90) days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the immediately preceding annual meeting and ending on the date of the next annual meeting; (B) contains an identical or substantially similar item (a Similar Item) to an item that was presented at any meeting of stockholders held within the twelve months prior to the Request Receipt Date (and, for purposes of this clause (B) the election of directors shall be deemed a Similar Item with respect to all items of business involving the election or removal of directors); (C) relates to an item of business that is not a proper subject for action by the party requesting the special meeting under applicable law; (D) was made in a manner that involved a violation of Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act or other applicable law; or (E) does not comply with the provisions of this Section 2.
(D) Except as provided in the next sentence, any special meeting shall be held at such date and time as may be fixed by the Board of Directors in accordance with these By-laws and the laws of the State of Delaware. In the case of a Stockholder Requested Special Meeting, such meeting shall be held at such date and time as may be fixed by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the date of any Stockholder Requested Special Meeting shall be not more than sixty (60) days after the record date for such meeting , which shall be fixed in accordance with Section 8 of this Article I. In fixing a date and time for any Stockholder Requested Special Meeting, the Board of Directors may consider such factors as it deems relevant within the good faith exercise of business judgment, including, without limitation, the nature of the matters to be considered, the facts and circumstances surrounding any request for meeting and any plan of the Board of Directors to call an annual meeting or a special meeting.
(E) Business to be transacted at a special meeting, including a special meeting called by a Special Meeting Request or a Stockholder Requested Special Meeting, may only be brought before the meeting pursuant to the corporations notice of meeting. Business transacted at any Stockholder Requested Special Meeting shall be limited to the purpose(s) stated in the Stockholder Special Meeting Request(s); provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit the Board of Directors from submitting matters not included in the Stockholder Special Meeting Request(s) to the stockholders at any Stockholder Requested Special Meeting.
SECTION 3. Except as otherwise provided by law, notice of the time, place and purpose or purposes of every meeting of stockholders shall be given not earlier than sixty, nor less than ten, days previous thereto to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. Notice of any meeting of stockholders need not be given to any stockholders who shall waive notice thereof, before or after such meeting, in writing or by electronic transmission, or to any stockholder who shall attend such meeting, except when the stockholder 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.
SECTION 4. The holders of record of a majority in voting power of the issued and outstanding shares of the corporation, which are entitled to vote at the meeting, shall, except as otherwise provided by law, constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders. If there be no such quorum present in person or by proxy, the holders of a majority in voting power of such shares so present or represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time.
SECTION 5. (A) Meetings of the stockholders shall be presided over by the Chief Executive Officer or Chairman, or, if neither is present, by a Vice President or, if no such officer is present, by a chairman to be chosen at the meeting. The Secretary of the corporation or, in his absence, an Assistant Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting. If neither the Secretary nor an Assistant Secretary is present, the chairman shall appoint a secretary.
(B) 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 of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the 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 presiding person, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the presiding person of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the presiding person of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The presiding person at any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such presiding person should so determine, such presiding person shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
SECTION 6. Each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting may vote in person or by proxy for each share of stock held by him which has voting power upon the matter in question at the time; but no proxy shall be voted on after three years from its date, unless such proxy provides for a longer period.
SECTION 7. At all elections of directors the voting shall be by ballot, and a nominee for director shall be elected to the Board of Directors if the votes cast for such nominees election exceed the votes cast against such nominees election; provided, however, that directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at any meeting of stockholders for which (i) the Secretary of the corporation receives a notice that a stockholder has nominated a person for election to the Board of Directors in compliance with the advance notice requirements for stockholder nominees for director set forth in Article I, Section 9(A)(2) of these By-laws and (ii) such nomination has not been withdrawn by such stockholder on or prior to the day next preceding the date the corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to the stockholders. If directors are to be elected by a plurality of the votes cast, stockholders shall not be permitted to vote against a nominee. Except as 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, all other questions to stockholders shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast on such questions.
SECTION 8. In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date: (1) in the case of determination of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders or adjournment thereof, shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting; (2) in the case of determination of stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, shall not be more than ten (10) days from the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors; and (3) in the case of any other action, shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such other action. If no record date is fixed: (1) the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held; (2) the record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action of the Board of Directors is required by law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the corporation in accordance with applicable law, or, if prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action; and (3) the record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
SECTION 9. (A) Annual Meetings of Stockholders . (1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the corporation and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (a) pursuant to the corporations notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (b) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (c) by any stockholder of the corporation who was a stockholder of record of the corporation at the time the notice provided for in this Section 9 is delivered to the Secretary of the corporation, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 9.
(2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (c) of paragraph (A)(1) of this Section 9, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the corporation and any such proposed business other than the nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholders notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting (provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty days before or more than seventy days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the corporation). In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholders notice as described above. Such stockholders notice shall set forth: (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of each nominee proposed in such notice, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of each such nominee, (iii) the number of shares of capital stock of the corporation that are beneficially owned by each such nominee, (iv) a statement whether each such nominee, if elected, intends to tender, promptly following such persons failure to receive the required vote for election or re-election at the next meeting at which such person would face election or reelection, an irrevocable resignation effective upon acceptance of such resignation by the Board of Directors, in accordance with the corporations Corporate Governance Guidelines, (v) such other information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act and (vi) such persons written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; (b) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the By-laws of the corporation, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the corporations books, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the
class and number of shares of capital stock of the corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (iii) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination, and (iv) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends (a) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the corporations outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (b) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination. The foregoing notice requirements shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the corporation of his or her intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholders proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. The corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the corporation.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 9 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the corporation at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least one hundred days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting, a stockholders notice required by this Section 9 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the corporation.
(B) Special Meetings of Stockholders . (1) Business transacted at any special meeting shall be limited to the purposes stated in the corporations notice of meeting; provided, however, that business transacted at any Stockholder Requested Special Meeting shall be limited to (i) the purpose(s) stated in the unrevoked valid Stockholder Special Meeting Request received from stockholder(s) of record holding shares representing in the aggregate at least the Requisite Percent and (ii) any additional matters that the Board of Directors determines to include in the corporations notice of the meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors made by a stockholder or stockholders at any special meeting shall be made only in accordance with the notice procedures and requirements set forth in Section 2 of this Article I, in the case of a Stockholder Requested Special Meeting, and Section 9(B)(2) of this Article I, in the case of any other special meeting. Proposals made by a stockholder or stockholders of other business to be conducted at a special meeting may be made only in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2 of this Article I. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2 of this Article I or this Section 9, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to the matters set forth in Section 2 of this Article I. Any references to the Exchange Act are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to stockholder-proposed business to be considered pursuant to Section 2 of this Article I.
(2) In the event the corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the corporations notice of meeting, if the stockholders notice required by paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 9 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholders notice as described above.
(C) General . (1) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 9 shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the corporation to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 9. Except as otherwise provided by law, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty (a) to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 9 (including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies in support of such stockholders nominee or proposal in compliance with such stockholders representation as required by clause (A)(2)(c)(iv) of this Section 9) and (b) if any proposed nomination or business was not made or proposed in compliance with this Section 9, to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 9, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the corporation to present a nomination or business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the corporation.
(2) For purposes of this Section 9, public announcement shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 9, 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 this Section 9. Nothing in this Section 9 shall be deemed to affect any rights (a) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the corporations proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (b) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.
ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. The Board of Directors of the corporation shall consist of such number of directors, not less than three, as shall from time to time be fixed by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors. A majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Directors need not be stockholders.
SECTION 2. Vacancies in the Board of Directors and newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall be filled as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.
SECTION 3. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place within or without the State of Delaware as may from time to time be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors or as may be specified in the notice of call of any meeting. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times as may from time to time be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors and special meetings may be held at any time upon the call of the Chief Executive Officer or Chairman, by oral, telegraphic, facsimile or written notice or notice by means of electronic transmission, duly served on or sent, given or mailed to each director not less than one day before the meeting. The notice of any meeting need not specify the purposes thereof. A meeting of the Board of Directors may be held without notice immediately after the meeting of stockholders at the same place at which such meeting is held. Notice need not be given of regular meetings of the Board of Directors held at times fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors. Notice of any meeting need not be given to any director who shall attend such meeting in person or who shall waive notice thereof, before or after such meeting, in writing or by electronic transmission. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all the members of the Board of Directors 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 of Directors or committee.
SECTION 4. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the corporation, which to the extent permitted by law and provided in said resolution or resolutions, shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation, and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. A majority of the members of a committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of its business. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee. In the absence or disqualification of any member of any such committee or committees, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors, to act at the meeting for all purposes in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
SECTION 1. Within a reasonable amount of time after the Board of Directors election is held in each year, the Board of Directors shall elect officers of the corporation, including a Chief Executive Officer, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board of Directors may also from time to time appoint such other officers (including a Chairman who shall be a member of the Board of Directors, one or more Vice Chairmen, one or more Assistant Secretaries and one or more Assistant Treasurers) as it may deem proper or may delegate to any elected officer of the corporation the power so to appoint and remove any such other officers and to prescribe their respective terms of office, authorities and duties. Any Vice President may be designated Executive, Senior, or Regional, or may be given such other designation or combination of designations.
SECTION 2. All officers of the corporation elected or appointed by the Board of Directors shall hold office until their respective successors are chosen and qualified. Any officer may be removed from office at any time either with or without cause by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors then in office, or, in the case of appointed officers, by any elected officer upon whom such power of removal shall have been conferred by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 3. Each of the officers of the corporation elected or appointed by the Board of Directors shall have the powers and duties prescribed by law, by the By-laws or by the Board of Directors and, unless otherwise prescribed by the By-laws or by the Board of Directors, shall have such further powers and duties as ordinarily pertain to his office. The Chief Executive Officer shall be the Principal Executive Officer and shall have the general direction of the affairs of the corporation. Any officer, agent, or employee of the corporation may be required to give bond for the faithful discharge of his duties in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
ARTICLE IV
CERTIFICATES OF STOCK
SECTION 1. Except as otherwise determined by resolution of the Board of Directors in respect of any uncertificated shares, the interest of each stockholder of the corporation shall be evidenced by a certificate or certificates for shares of stock in such form as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. Subject to any applicable restrictions on transfer, the shares of the stock of the corporation shall be transferable on the books of the corporation by the holder thereof in person or by his attorney, upon surrender for cancellation of a certificate or certificates for the same number of shares, with an assignment and power of transfer endorsed thereon or attached thereto, duly executed, and with such proof of the authenticity of the signature as the corporation or its agents may reasonably require.
SECTION 2. The certificates of stock shall be signed by such officer or officers as may be permitted by law to sign (except that where any such certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent other than the corporation or its employee, or by a registrar other than the corporation or its employee, the signatures of any such officer or officers may be facsimiles), and shall be
countersigned and registered in such manner, all as the Board of Directors may by resolution prescribe. In case any officer or officers who shall have signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used on any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the corporation, whether because of death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall have been issued by the corporation, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates, or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the corporation.
SECTION 3. No certificate for shares of stock in the corporation shall be issued in place of any certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, except upon production of such evidence of such loss, theft or destruction and upon delivery to the corporation of a bond of indemnity in such amount, upon such terms and secured by such surety, as the Board of Directors in its discretion may require.
ARTICLE V
CORPORATE BOOKS
The books of the corporation may be kept outside of the State of Delaware at such place or places as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
ARTICLE VI
CHECKS, NOTES, PROXIES, ETC.
All checks and drafts on the corporations bank accounts and all bills of exchange and promissory notes, and all acceptances, obligations and other instruments for the payment of money, shall be signed by such officer or officers or agent or agents as shall be thereunto authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors. Proxies to vote and consents with respect to securities of other corporations or entities owned by or standing in the name of the corporation may be executed and delivered from time to time on behalf of the corporation by the Chief Executive Officer, or by such officers as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
ARTICLE VII
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the corporation shall begin on the first day of January in each year and shall end on the thirty-first day of December following.
ARTICLE VIII
CORPORATE SEAL
The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the corporation and the words Corporate Seal state and date of incorporation. In lieu of the corporate seal, when so authorized by the Board of Directors or a duly empowered committee thereof, a facsimile thereof may be impressed or affixed or reproduced.
ARTICLE IX
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 1. The corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any director or officer of the corporation who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a Proceeding) by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the corporation or, while a director or officer of the corporation, is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys fees) reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any such Proceeding. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 4 below, the corporation shall be required to indemnify a person in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such person only if the Proceeding was authorized in the specific case by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2. The corporation shall have the power to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any employee or agent of the corporation who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was an employee or agent of the corporation or, while an employee or agent of the corporation, is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any such Proceeding.
SECTION 3. The corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by any officer or director of the corporation, and may pay the expenses incurred by any employee or agent of the corporation, in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article IX or otherwise. The right to advancement of expenses provided herein pertains to expenses incurred in connection with the Proceeding for which indemnification is provided.
SECTION 4. If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such Proceeding) under this Article IX is not paid in full within ninety (90) days after a written claim therefor has been received by the corporation or if a claim for advancement of expenses under this Article IX is not paid in full within thirty (30) days after the corporation has received a statement or
statements requesting such amounts to be advanced, the claimant shall thereupon (but not before) be entitled to file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by law. In any such action the corporation shall have the burden of proving that the claimant was not entitled to the requested indemnification or payment of expenses under applicable law. Notwithstanding anything in these By-laws to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement to indemnification shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of a Proceeding.
SECTION 5. The rights conferred on any person by this Article IX shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the certificate of incorporation, these By-laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
SECTION 6. The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust enterprise or non-profit entity against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of the DGCL.
SECTION 7. The corporations obligation, if any, to indemnify or advance expenses to any person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit enterprise.
SECTION 8. The rights to indemnification and to advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article IX shall continue notwithstanding that the person has ceased to be a director or officer of the corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors, administrators, legatees and distributees of such person.
SECTION 9. The provisions of this Article IX shall constitute a contract between the corporation, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, each individual who serves or has served as a director or officer of the corporation (whether before or after the adoption of these By-laws), in consideration of such persons performance of such services, and pursuant to this Article IX the corporation intends to be legally bound to each such current or former director or officer of the corporation. With respect to current and former directors and officers of the corporation, the rights conferred under this Article IX are present contractual rights and such rights are fully vested, and shall be deemed to have vested fully, immediately upon adoption of these By-laws. With respect to any directors or officers of the corporation who commence service following adoption of these By-laws, the rights conferred under this provision shall be present contractual rights and such rights shall fully vest, and be deemed to have vested fully, immediately upon such director or officer commencing service as a director or officer of the corporation. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article IX shall not adversely affect any right or protection (i) hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification or (ii) under any agreement providing for indemnification or advancement of expenses to an officer or director of the corporation in effect prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE X
OFFICES
The corporation and the stockholders and the directors may have offices outside of the State of Delaware at such places as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS
The Board of Directors shall be authorized to make, amend, alter, change, add to or repeal the By-laws of the corporation in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware. The affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2 / 3 percent in voting power of all the outstanding shares of the corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders to make, amend, alter, change, add to or repeal any provision of the By-laws of the corporation.
Exhibit 10.1
COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
2004 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
(AS AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE AS OF APRIL 1, 2013)
I. DEFINITIONS
ACCOUNT means the book account established for a Participant under Section IX hereunder.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
CODE shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
COMMITTEE shall mean the Compensation Committee appointed and acting in accordance with the terms of the Plan.
COMMON STOCK shall mean shares of the Companys Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share.
COMPANY shall mean Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, a Delaware corporation. When used in the Plan with reference to employment, Company shall include Designated Subsidiaries.
COMPENSATION shall mean the total cash compensation paid to an Eligible Employee by the Company, as reportable on IRS Form W-2. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Compensation shall exclude severance pay, stay-on bonuses, long term bonuses, retirement income, change-in-control payments, contingent payments, income derived from stock options, stock appreciation rights and other equity-based compensation and other forms of special remuneration.
EFFECTIVE DATE shall mean April 1, 2004.
ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES shall mean only those persons who, as of the first day of a Purchase Period, are Employees of the Company or any Subsidiary authorized by the Committee from time to time to extend the benefits of the Plan to that Subsidiarys Employees (a Designated Subsidiary) and who are not, as of the day preceding the first day of the Purchase Period, deemed for purposes of Section 423(b) (3) of the Code to own stock possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company.
EMPLOYEES shall mean all persons who are employed by the Company as common-law employees, excluding persons (i) whose customary employment is 20 hours or less per week, or (ii) whose customary employment is for not more than five months in a calendar year.
EXCHANGE ACT shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
EXERCISE DATE shall mean the last day of a Purchase Period.
FAIR MARKET VALUE per share of Common Stock on any relevant date shall be the closing price per share of Common Stock at the close of regular hours trading (i.e., before after-hours trading begins) on date on question on the Stock Exchange serving as the primary market for the Common Stock, as such price is reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers (if primarily traded on the Nasdaq Select or Global Select Market) or as officially quoted in the composite tape of transactions on any other Stock Exchange on which the Common Stock is then primarily traded. If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.
PARTICIPANT shall mean an Eligible Employee who elects to participate in the Plan under Section VII hereunder.
PLAN shall mean the Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as set forth herein and as amended from time to time.
PURCHASE PERIOD shall mean quarterly purchase periods that begin on the first business day of, and end on the last business day of, each calendar period, unless modified by the Committee not less than 60 days in advance of the commencement of such modified period. The last Purchase Period under the Plan shall terminate on or before the date of termination of the Plan provided in Section XXIV.
STOCK EXCHANGE shall mean the American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global or Global Select Market or the New York Stock Exchange.
SUBSIDIARY shall mean any corporation which is a subsidiary of the Company within the meaning of Section 425(f) of the Code.
TERMINATION OF SERVICE shall mean the earliest of the following events with respect to a Participant: his retirement, death, resignation, discharge or permanent separation from service with the Company.
The masculine gender includes the feminine, the singular number includes the plural and the plural number includes the singular unless the context otherwise requires.
II. PURPOSE
It is the purpose of this Plan to provide a means whereby Eligible Employees may purchase Common Stock through payroll deductions. It is intended to provide a further incentive for Employees to promote the best interests of the Company and to encourage stock ownership by Employees in order to participate in the Companys economic progress.
It is the intention of the Company to have the Plan qualify as an employee stock purchase plan within the meaning of Section 423 of the Code and the provisions of the Plan shall be construed in a manner consistent with the Code.
III. ADMINISTRATION
The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The Committee shall have authority to make rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan, and its interpretations and decisions with regard thereto shall be final and conclusive. The Committee shall have all necessary authority to communicate, from time to time, with Eligible Employees and Participants for purposes of administering the Plan, and shall notify Eligible Employees promptly of its election of the term of each forthcoming Purchase Period, if other than quarterly.
IV. SHARES
There shall be 14,000,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance to and purchase by Participants under the Plan. Such share reserve includes (i) the 9,000,000 shares of Common Stock previously reserved for issuance under the Plan, plus (ii) an increase of 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock approved by the Board of Directors on April 1, 2013, subject to stockholder approval at the 2012 Annual Meeting. The shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan shall be either shares of authorized but unissued Common Stock or shares of Common Stock reacquired by the Company. Shares of Common Stock subject to any unexercised portion of any terminated option may again be granted under the Plan.
V. PURCHASE PRICE
The purchase price per share of Common Stock sold under this Plan for any Purchase Period shall be equal to the lesser of (a) 90% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the first day of such Purchase Period, or (b) 90% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Exercise Date of such Purchase Period.
VI. GRANT OF OPTION TO PURCHASE SHARES AND ACCRUAL LIMITATIONS
Each Eligible Employee shall be granted an option effective on the first day of each Purchase Period to purchase a number of full shares of Common Stock. Unless the Compensation Committee determines otherwise prior to the start date of the applicable Purchase Period and subject to the limitations set forth in this Section VI, each option granted for a Purchase Period beginning on or after January 1, 2010 shall provide the Participant with the right to purchase shares of Common Stock under this Plan with an aggregate Fair Market Value of up to $25,000 (as determined on the first day of the Purchase Period) on the related Exercise Date.
No Eligible Employee shall be permitted to purchase shares under this Plan (or under any other employee stock purchase plan within the meaning of Section 423(b) of the Code, of the Company) with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined as of the first day of the Purchase Period) in excess of $25,000 for any one calendar year within the meaning of Section 423(b)(8) of the Code.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if, as of the first day of a Purchase Period, any Eligible Employee entitled to purchase shares hereunder would be deemed for the purposes of Section 423(b) (3) of the Code to own stock (including any number of shares which such person would be entitled to purchase hereunder) possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company, the maximum number of shares which such person shall be entitled to purchase pursuant to the Plan shall be reduced to that number which when added to the number of shares of stock of the Company which such person is so deemed to own (excluding any number of shares which such person would be entitled to purchase hereunder), is one less than such 5%.
The Compensation Committee shall have the discretionary authority, exercisable prior to the start of any Purchase Period under the Plan, to increase or decrease the limitations to be in effect for the number of shares purchasable per Participant and in total by all Participants on each Exercise Date.
VII. ELECTION TO PARTICIPATE
An Eligible Employee may elect to become a Participant in this Plan by completing a Stock Purchase Agreement form or otherwise indicating an election via electronic enrollment prior to the first day of the Purchase Period. In the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Eligible Employee shall authorize regular payroll deductions from his Compensation subject to the limitations in Section VIII below. Options granted to Eligible Employees who fail to authorize payroll deductions will automatically lapse. If a Participants payroll deductions allow him to purchase fewer than the maximum number of shares of Common Stock to which his option entitles him, the option with respect to the shares which he does not purchase will lapse as of the last day of the Purchase Period.
The execution and delivery of the Stock Purchase Agreement as between the Participant and the Company shall be conditioned upon the compliance by the Company at such time with Federal (and any applicable state) securities laws.
VIII. PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS
An Eligible Employee may authorize payroll deductions from his Compensation for each payroll period of a specified percentage of such Compensation, not less than 1% and not more than 15%, in multiples of 1%.
The amount of payroll deduction shall be established prior to the beginning of a Purchase Period and may not be altered, except for complete discontinuance under Section XI, XIII or XIV hereunder.
For a given Purchase Period, payroll deductions shall commence on the first day of the Purchase Period and shall end on the related Exercise Date, unless sooner altered or terminated as provided in the Plan.
IX. EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE ACCOUNT
An Account will be established for each Participant in the Plan. Payroll deductions made under Section VIII will be credited to the individual Accounts and no interest or other earnings will be credited to a Participants Account. The amounts collected from the Participant shall not be required to be held in any segregated account or trust fund and may be commingled with the general assets of the Company and used for general corporate purposes.
X. PURCHASE OF SHARES
If, as of any Exercise Date, there is credited to the Account of a Participant an amount at least equal to the purchase price of one share of Common Stock for the current Purchase Period, as determined in Section V, the Participant shall buy and the Company shall sell at such price the largest number of whole shares of Common Stock which can be purchased with the amount in his Account, subject to the limitations set forth in Section VII.
Any balance remaining in a Participants Account at the end of a Purchase Period will be carried forward into the Participants Account for the following Purchase Period. However, in no event will the balance carried forward be equal to or exceed the purchase price of one share of Common Stock as determined in Section V above. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, if as of any Exercise Date the provisions of Section XV are applicable to the Purchase Period ending on such Exercise Date, and the Committee reduces the number of shares which would otherwise be purchased by Participants on such Exercise Date, the entire balance remaining credited to the Account of each Participant after the purchase of the applicable number of shares of Common Stock on such Exercise Date shall be refunded to each such Participant. No refund of an Account balance made pursuant to the Plan shall include any amount in respect of interest or other imputed earnings.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no Participant may, in any calendar year, purchase a number of shares of Common Stock under this Plan which, together with all other shares of stock of the Company and its Subsidiaries which he may be entitled to purchase in such year under all other employee stock purchase plans of the Company and its subsidiaries which meet the requirements of Section 423(b) of the Code, have an aggregate Fair Market Value (measured as of the first day of each applicable Purchase Period) in excess of $25,000. The limitation described in the preceding sentence shall be applied in a manner consistent with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code.
XI. WITHDRAWAL
A Participant may withdraw from the Plan at any time prior to the Exercise Date of a Purchase Period by filing a notice of withdrawal. Upon a Participants withdrawal, the payroll deductions shall cease for the next payroll period and the entire amount credited to his Account shall be refunded to him. Any Participant who withdraws from the Plan may again become a Participant hereunder at the start of the next Purchase Period in accordance with Section VII.
XII. ISSUANCE OF STOCK CERTIFICATES
The shares of Common Stock purchased by a Participant shall, for all purposes, be deemed to have been issued and sold at the close of business on the Exercise Date. Prior to that date, none of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company shall exist with respect to such shares. Stock certificates shall be registered either in the Participants name or jointly in the names of the Participant and his spouse, as the Participant shall designate in his Stock Purchase Agreement. Such designation may be changed at any time by filing notice thereof. Certificates representing shares of purchased Common Stock shall be delivered promptly to the Participant following issuance.
XIII. TERMINATION OF SERVICE
(a) Upon a Participants Termination of Service for any reason other than death or voluntary termination of employment on or after attaining age 55 (Retirement), no payroll deduction may be made from any Compensation due him as of the date of his Termination of Service and the entire balance credited to his Account shall be automatically refunded to him.
(b) Upon a Participants Retirement, no payroll deduction shall be made from any Compensation due him as of the date of his Retirement. Such a Participant may, prior to Retirement, elect:
(1) to have the entire amount credited to his Account as of the date of his Retirement refunded to him, or
(2) to have the entire amount credited to his Account held therein and utilized to purchase shares on the Exercise Date as provided in Section X.
(c) Upon the death of a Participant, no payroll deduction shall be made from any Compensation due him at time of death, and the entire balance in the deceased Participants Account shall be paid to the Participants designated beneficiary, or otherwise to his estate.
XIV. AUTHORIZED LEAVE OF ABSENCE, DISABILITY
Payroll deductions shall cease during a period of absence without pay from work due to a Participants authorized leave of absence, disability or for any other reason. If such Participant shall return to active service prior to the Exercise Date for the current Purchase Period, payroll deductions shall be resumed in accordance with his prior authorization.
If the Participant shall not return to active service prior to the Exercise Date for the current Purchase Period, the balance of his Stock Purchase Account will be used to purchase shares on the Exercise Date as provided in Section X, unless the Participant elects to withdraw from the Plan in accordance with Section XI.
XV. PROCEDURE IF INSUFFICIENT SHARES AVAILABLE
In the event that on any Exercise Date the aggregate funds available for the purchase of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section X hereof would result in purchases of shares in excess of the number of shares of Common Stock then available for purchase under the Plan, the Committee shall proportionately reduce the number of shares which would otherwise be purchased by each Participant on the Exercise Date in order to eliminate such excess, and the provisions of the second paragraph of Section X shall apply.
XVI. RIGHTS NOT TRANSFERABLE
The right to purchase shares of Common Stock under this Plan is exercisable only by the Participant during his lifetime and is not transferable by him. If a Participant attempts to transfer his right to purchase shares under the Plan, he shall be deemed to have requested withdrawal from the Plan and the provisions of Section XI hereof shall apply with respect to such Participant.
XVII. NO OBLIGATION TO EXERCISE OPTION
Granting of an option under this Plan shall impose no obligation on an Eligible Employee to exercise such option.
XVIII. NO GUARANTEE OF CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT
Granting of an option under this Plan shall imply no right of continued employment with the Company for any Eligible Employee.
XIX. NOTICE
Any notice which an Eligible Employee or Participant files pursuant to this Plan shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally or by mail addressed to the Committee, c/o Chief Executive Officer at Glenpointe Center West, 500 Frank W. Burr Blvd., Teaneck, NJ 07666, or such other person or location as may be specified by the Committee.
XX. REPURCHASE OF STOCK
The Company shall not be required to repurchase from any Participant shares of Common Stock acquired under this Plan.
XXI. ADJUSTMENT FOR RECAPITALIZATION, MERGER, ETC.
Should any change be made to the Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares, spin-off transaction or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Companys receipt of consideration or should the value of outstanding shares of Common Stock be substantially reduced as a result of a spin-off transaction or an extraordinary dividend or distribution, then equitable adjustments shall be made by the Compensation Committee to (i) the maximum number and class of securities issuable under the Plan, (ii) the maximum number and class of securities purchasable per Participant on any one Exercise Date, (iii) the maximum number and class of securities purchasable in total by all Participants under the Plan on any one Exercise Date and (iv) the number and class of securities and the price per share in effect under each outstanding option. The adjustments shall be made in such manner as the Compensation Committee deems appropriate and such adjustments shall be final, binding and conclusive.
Subject to any required action by the stockholders, if the Company shall be the surviving corporation in any merger, reorganization or other business combination, any option granted hereunder shall cover the securities or other property to which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the merger. A dissolution or liquidation of the Company or a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity shall cause every option outstanding hereunder to terminate.
The foregoing adjustments and the manner of application of the foregoing provisions shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. Any such adjustment shall provide for the elimination of any fractional share which might otherwise become subject to an option.
XXII. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN
The Board of Directors may, without the consent of the Participants, amend the Plan at any time, provided that no such action shall adversely affect options theretofore granted hereunder, and provided that no such action by the Board of Directors, without approval of the Companys stockholders, may:
(a) increase the total number of shares of Common Stock which may be purchased by all Participants, except as contemplated in Section XXI;
(b) change the class of Employees eligible to receive options under the Plan;
(c) decrease the minimum purchase price under Section V;
(d) extend a Purchase Period hereunder; or
(e) extend the term of the Plan.
XXIII. INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS
With respect to Eligible Employees who reside or work outside the United States of America, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, amend the terms of the Plan with respect to such Eligible Employees in order to conform such terms with the requirements of local law.
XXIV. TERM OF THE PLAN
This Plan became effective as of the Effective Date, and was approved by the stockholders on May 26, 2004. The Plan, as amended and restated effective April 1, 2013 became effective upon its adoption by the Board of Directors on such date, provided, however, that the increase in the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan from 9,000,000 shares to 14,000,000 shares shall become effective only if it is approved at the Companys 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Plan shall continue in effect until all shares reserved for issuance pursuant to Article IV have been granted to Participants, unless terminated prior thereto pursuant to Section XV or XXI hereof, or pursuant to the next succeeding sentence. The Board of Directors shall have the right to terminate the Plan at any time, effective as of the next succeeding Exercise Date. In the event of the termination of the Plan, outstanding options shall not be affected, except to the extent provided in Section XV and any remaining balance credited to the Account of each Participant as of the applicable Exercise Date shall be refunded to each such Participant.