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): January 28, 2015

 

 

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

Visa Inc. (the “Company”) held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders on January 28, 2015 (the “Annual Meeting”). At the Annual Meeting, upon the recommendation of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Company’s stockholders approved amendments to the Company’s Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Certificate”), to provide the Company the ability to effect a stock split in the future in a manner that would preserve the relative ownership percentages of its stockholders by permitting the Company to effect a split of the Company’s Class A common stock without also effecting a corresponding split of its Class B and Class C common stock, subject to certain adjustments to the conversion rates applicable to the Class B and Class C common stock. The stockholders also approved amendments to the Certificate to remove the supermajority vote requirements in Sections 4.25(b), 4.25(c) and 10.1(b) of the Certificate and replace them with majority vote requirements and to make certain other clarifying modifications to the Certificate. As a result, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate (the “Certificate of Amendment”) incorporating such amendments with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 28, 2015. The Certificate of Amendment became effective upon filing. The Company subsequently filed a restatement of the Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 28, 2015 (the “Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), which became effective upon filing and restates and integrates but does not further amend the Certificate.

In addition, at the Annual Meeting, upon the recommendation of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Company’s stockholders also approved amendments to the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) to remove the supermajority vote requirement in Section 2.5(d) of the Bylaws and replace it with a majority vote requirement.

The foregoing summaries of the amendments to the Certificate and the Bylaws do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Certificate of Amendment, the Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended.

A copy of the Certificate of Amendment and the Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in each case as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 28, 2015, are attached as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

A copy of the Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, is attached as Exhibit 3.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.07        Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

As described in Item 5.03 above, the Company held its Annual Meeting on January 28, 2015. The stockholders voted on six proposals at the Annual Meeting, with one proposal, Proposal 5 (as discussed further below), comprising five separate matters to be voted upon. Holders of the Company’s Class A common stock were entitled to vote on all six proposals. Holders of the Company’s Class B and C common stock were entitled to vote only on Proposal 2 and Proposals 5(a)-(c), as discussed further below. The proposals are described in detail in the Company’s definitive proxy statement dated December 12, 2014.


Proposal 1: The Company’s Class A stockholders elected eleven directors to the Board to serve for a one-year term until the 2016 annual meeting of stockholders. The votes regarding this proposal were as follows:

 

          For               Against             Abstain        

Broker

        Non-Votes        

 

Mary B. Cranston

  327,438,445      34,705,732      796,719      36,433,217   

Francisco Javier
Fernández-Carbajal

  358,364,020      3,763,761      813,115      36,433,217   

Alfred F. Kelly, Jr.

  361,953,249      191,934      795,713      36,433,217   

Robert W. Matschullat

  361,925,252      216,322      799,322      36,433,217   

Cathy E. Minehan

  361,963,367      190,283      787,246      36,433,217   

Suzanne Nora Johnson

  359,834,063      2,316,998      789,835      36,433,217   

David J. Pang

  361,877,892      266,599      796,405      36,433,217   

Charles W. Scharf

  361,895,179      257,179      788,538      36,433,217   

William S. Shanahan

  361,797,028      347,547      796,321      36,433,217   

John A. C. Swainson

  361,920,877      223,522      796,497      36,433,217   

Maynard G. Webb, Jr.

  360,866,209      1,277,259      797,428      36,433,217   

Proposal 2: The Company’s stockholders were asked to approve amendments to the Certificate to facilitate stock splits. Holders of shares of Class A, Class B and Class C common stock voted as separate classes, with the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of each such class required to approve the proposal. The amendments were approved. The votes regarding this proposal were as follows:

 

          For                 Against                 Abstain             Broker Non-Votes    

Class A common stock:

398,034,096 456,590 883,427 0

Class B common stock:

210,841,652   20,329   17,745 0

Class C common stock:

  17,246,755 116,684 587,998 0

Proposal 3: The Company’s Class A stockholders approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers. The votes regarding this proposal were as follows:

 

            For                         Against                         Abstain                 Broker Non-Votes    
349,505,473 12,441,707 993,716 36,433,217

Proposal 4: The Company’s Class A stockholders approved the Visa Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The votes regarding this proposal were as follows:

 

            For                         Against                         Abstain                 Broker Non-Votes    
360,908,488 1,126,861 905,547 36,433,217

Proposal 5: The Company’s stockholders were asked to approve amendments to the Certificate and the Bylaws to remove all supermajority vote requirements and replace them with majority vote requirements. Holders of shares of Class A, Class B and Class C common stock voted together as a single class, with holders of Class B and C common stock voting on an as-converted basis, for Proposals 5(a) and 5(b). Holders of shares of Class A, Class B and Class C common stock voted as separate classes for Proposal 5(c), with the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of each such class required to approve the proposal. Only holders of shares of Class A common stock were entitled to vote on proposals 5(d) and (e). Proposals 5(b), 5(c) and 5(e) were approved. Proposals 5(a) and 5(d) were not approved as the holders of shares of Class A, Class B


and Class C common stock failed to approve Proposal 5(a) and the holders of shares of Class A common stock failed to approve Proposal 5(d). The votes regarding this proposal were as follows:

 

  

          For          

        Against        

      Abstain      

Broker

        Non-Votes         

(a) Exiting Core Payments Business

       

Class A common stock:

    361,329,267        677,528        934,101        36,433,217   

Class B common stock (as converted):

    77,545,861        779,018        8,571,559        0   

Class C common stock (as converted):

    9,442,677        7,121,512        1,387,248        0   

Total:

    448,317,805        8,578,058        10,892,908        36,433,217   

(b) Future Amendments to Sections of the Certificate

       

Class A common stock:

    361,431,228        593,947        915,721        36,433,217   

Class B common stock (as converted):

    77,702,976        627,738        8,565,724        0   

Class C common stock (as converted):

    10,093,457        6,302,005        1,555,975        0   

Total:

    449,227,661        7,523,690        11,037,420        36,433,217   

(c) Approval of Exceptions to Transfer Restrictions

       

Class A common stock:

    360,904,215        1,113,301        923,380        36,433,217   

Class B common stock:

    189,368,267        685,043        20,826,416        0   

Class C common stock:

    14,908,942        1,520,861        1,521,634        0   

(d) Removal of Directors from Office

       

Class A common stock:

    361,585,564        457,531        897,801        36,433,217   

(e) Future Amendments to the Advance Notice Provisions in the Bylaws

       

Class A common stock:

    361,477,077        554,484        909,335        36,433,217   


Proposal 6: The Company’s Class A stockholders ratified the selection of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015. There were no broker non-votes with respect to this proposal. The votes regarding this proposal were as follows:

 

                    For                     

                    Against                     

                    Abstain                     

396,709,468 1,735,931 928,714

Item 9.01        Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

3.1 Certificate of Amendment to the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Visa Inc.
3.2 Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Visa Inc.
3.3 Amended and Restated Bylaws of Visa Inc., as amended.


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: January 29, 2015
By:    

/s/ Charles W. Scharf

Charles W. Scharf
Chief Executive Officer


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

Number        

Description

3.1

Certificate of Amendment to the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Visa Inc.

3.2

Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Visa Inc.

3.3

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Visa Inc., as amended.

Exhibit 3.1

Certificate of Amendment

of the

Fifth Amended and Restated

Certificate of Incorporation

of

Visa Inc.

Visa Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”), hereby certifies that:

1. The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 25, 2007 (the “ Original Certificate of Incorporation ”), and an Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on September 28, 2007 (the “ Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation ,” and together with the Original Certificate of Incorporation, the “ Initial Certificate of Incorporation ”).

2. The Initial Certificate of Incorporation was amended and restated and an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 1, 2007 (the “ First Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation ”), further amended and restated by an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 11, 2008 (the “ Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation ”), further amended and restated by an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 7, 2008 (the “ Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation ”), further amended and restated by an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 14, 2008 (the “ Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation ”), and further amended and restated by an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 16, 2008, as corrected by the Certificate of Correction filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 30, 2009, and the Certificates of Amendment filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 27, 2011 (the “ Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation ”).

3. Pursuant to Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”), this Certificate of Amendment of the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this “ Certificate of Amendment ”) has been duly adopted in accordance therewith, and amends the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as follows:

A. Section 4.9 of Article IV of the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be deleted in its entirety and the following two paragraphs shall be substituted in lieu thereof:

Section 4.9 Dividends and Distributions .

(a) Subject to applicable law and to the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation and to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends or distributions, dividends or distributions may be declared and paid on the Common Stock out of the assets of the Corporation that are by law available therefor at such times and in such amounts as the Board in its discretion shall determine. Other than with respect to dividends or distributions payable in shares of Class A Common Stock, (i) all holders of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock shall be entitled to participate ratably (on an “as converted” basis in the case of the holders of the Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock) in any dividend or distribution paid on the Common Stock (regardless of class or series), and (ii) no dividend or distribution may be declared or paid on any class or series of Common Stock (whether Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock) unless an equivalent dividend or distribution is contemporaneously declared and paid (on an “as converted” basis in the case of the Class B Common Stock and the Class C Common Stock) on each other class and series of Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation. For purposes of this Section 4.9, “as converted” in the case of the holders of the Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock shall mean that each holder of Class B Common Stock and each holder of Class C Common Stock shall be entitled to its ratable portion of any dividend or distribution (other than with respect to any dividend or distribution payable in shares of Class A Common Stock) based upon the number of shares of Class A Common Stock into which the shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as applicable, Beneficially Owned by such holder would be converted, based on

 

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the Applicable Conversion Rate in effect on such record date, without regard to any restrictions on the amount of Class A Common Stock any stockholder may own. Dividends or distributions payable in shares of Class A Common Stock shall be paid on the Class A Common Stock without also paying a corresponding dividend or distribution on each other class or series of Common Stock; provided, that (x) such dividends or distributions shall be paid only in shares of Class A Common Stock on a per share basis, and (y) each of the Applicable Conversion Rate, Class B Number, Loss Funds Cost Per Share and Price Per Share for each share of Class B Common Stock and the Applicable Conversion Rate for each share of Class C Common Stock shall be adjusted as provided in Section 4.14(a).

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 4.9(a), for purposes of this Section 4.9, a share distribution consisting of shares of any class or series of securities of the Corporation or any other Person other than Common Stock (or securities that are convertible into, exchangeable for or evidence the right to purchase shares of Common Stock) may be made, either on the basis of a distribution of identical securities, on an equal per share basis, to holders of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock or on the basis of a distribution of one class or series of securities to holders of Class A Common Stock and another class or series of securities to holders of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock; provided that the securities that are so distributed (and, if applicable, the securities into which the distributed securities are convertible, or for which they are exchangeable, or which the distributed securities evidence the right to purchase) do not differ in any respect other than their relative voting rights and related differences in designation, conversion and share distribution provisions, with holders of shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock receiving the class or series having the higher relative voting rights (without regard to whether such rights differ to a greater or lesser extent than the corresponding differences in voting rights and related difference in designation, conversion and share distribution provisions between Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock); provided that if the securities so distributed constitute capital stock of a subsidiary of the Corporation, such rights shall not differ to a greater extent than the corresponding differences in voting rights, designation, conversion and share distribution provisions between the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, and provided that, in each case, such distribution is otherwise made on an equal per share basis.

B. Section 4.13 of Article IV of the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be deleted in its entirety and the following paragraph shall be substituted in lieu thereof:

Section 4.13 Maintenance of Authorized Capital Stock; Treatment on Recapitalizations; Etc.

The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available, free from any preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued shares of each applicable class or series of Common Stock into which any other class or series of Common Stock is convertible at any time, for the purpose of effecting such conversion, the full number of shares of Common Stock of each applicable class or series issuable upon the conversion of all outstanding shares of each other class or series that is convertible into such class or series of Common Stock. The Corporation shall not reclassify, subdivide, split or combine any class of Common Stock without also reclassifying, subdividing, splitting or combining each other class of Common Stock on an equivalent per share basis, except that the Corporation may reclassify, subdivide, split or combine shares of Class A Common Stock into a greater or lesser number of shares of Class A Common Stock, without also reclassifying, subdividing, splitting or combining each other class of Common Stock pursuant to Section 4.14(a) so long as each of the Applicable Conversion Rate, the Class B Number, Loss Funds Cost Per Share and Price Per Share for each share of Class B Common Stock and the Applicable Conversion Rate for each share of Class C Common Stock shall be adjusted as provided in Section 4.14(a).

C. Section 4.14 of Article IV of the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be deleted in its entirety and the following three paragraphs shall be substituted in lieu thereof:

Section 4.14 Adjustments to the Applicable Conversion Rate, Class B Number, Loss Funds Cost Per Share and Price Per Share .

(a) If the Corporation (i) subdivides, reclassifies or splits the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock into a greater number of shares without also subdividing, reclassifying or splitting the outstanding shares of the Class B Common Stock and/or the Class C Common Stock on an equivalent per share basis; (ii) combines or reclassifies the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock into a smaller number of shares without also combining or reclassifying the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and/or Class C Common Stock on

 

2


an equivalent per share basis; (iii) issues by reclassification of any class of its Common Stock any shares of Class A Common Stock without also issuing shares of Class B Common Stock and/or Class C Common Stock on an equivalent per share basis, or (iv) dividends or distributes shares of Class A Common Stock on the Class A Common Stock without also paying a corresponding equivalent dividend or distribution on each other class or series of Common Stock, then the Applicable Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to such action for each share of Class B Common Stock (not subdivided, reclassified, split, combined or issued in accordance with clauses (i),(ii) or (iii) above or which does not receive a corresponding equivalent dividend or distribution in accordance with clause (iv) above) or Class C Common Stock (not subdivided, reclassified, split, combined or issued in accordance with clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above or which does not receive a corresponding equivalent dividend or distribution in accordance with clause (iv) above) then outstanding shall be adjusted by multiplying the Applicable Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to such action by a fraction (A) the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding immediately after such action (giving pro forma effect to the exercise of all then outstanding convertible securities, other than shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock) and (B) the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of all Class A Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such action on the record date applicable to such action, if any (giving pro forma effect to the exercise of all then outstanding convertible securities, other than shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock) (such fraction, the “Adjustment Factor”); provided, that for purposes of calculating the Applicable Conversion Rate with respect to each share of Class B Common Stock (not subdivided, reclassified, split, combined or issued in accordance with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above or which does not receive a corresponding equivalent dividend or distribution in accordance with clause (iv) above), prior to multiplying the Applicable Conversion Rate by the Adjustment Factor (x) the Class B Number in effect immediately prior to such subdivision, reclassification, split, combination, dividend or distribution shall be adjusted by multiplying the Class B Number by the Adjustment Factor, (y) the Loss Funds Cost Per Share with respect to all Loss Funds that have been deposited into the Escrow Account prior to such subdivision, reclassification, split, combination, dividend or distribution shall be adjusted by dividing the Loss Funds Cost Per Share by the Adjustment Factor, and (z) the Price Per Share immediately prior to such subdivision, reclassification, split, combination, dividend or distribution shall be adjusted by dividing the Price Per Share by the Adjustment Factor. Such adjustments shall become effective immediately after the record date in the case of a dividend or distribution and immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, split, combination or reclassification. In the event that such dividend or distribution is not so paid or made or such subdivision, split, combination or reclassification is not effected, the Applicable Conversion Rate, the Class B Number, the Loss Funds Cost Per Share and the Price Per Share, as applicable, shall again be adjusted to be the Applicable Conversion Rate, the Class B Number, the Loss Funds Cost Per Share and the Price Per Share, as applicable, which would then be in effect if such record date or effective date had not been so fixed.

(b) Whenever the Applicable Conversion Rate, the Class B Number, the Loss Funds Cost Per Share or the Price Per Share are adjusted as described in clause (a) of this Section 4.14, or in connection with the sale of any Loss Shares or the deposit of Loss Funds into the Escrow Account, the Corporation shall (i) promptly make a public announcement to notify holders of record of the Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock (as the case may be) of such adjustment(s) or of the then Applicable Conversion Rate after giving effect to the sale of such Loss Shares or the deposit of such Loss Funds, and (ii) take reasonable efforts to provide notice by mail to such holders at the addresses appearing on the Corporation’s stock register of such adjustment or of the then Applicable Conversion Rate after giving effect to the sale of such Loss Shares or the deposit of such Loss Funds. The Corporation shall keep with its records such notice and a certificate from the Corporation’s Chief Financial Officer briefly stating the facts requiring the adjustment(s), and setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation by which the adjustment(s) have been made. The Corporation shall either include such calculation(s) in the notification provided pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, or if it does not so include them, the Corporation shall promptly furnish them without charge upon written request of a holder of record of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock. The certificate shall be conclusive evidence that the adjustment(s) are correct, absent manifest error.

(c) After an adjustment to the Applicable Conversion Rate, the Class B Number, the Loss Funds Cost Per Share or the Price Per Share, as applicable, for outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock pursuant to this Section 4.14, any subsequent event requiring an adjustment pursuant this Section 4.14 shall cause an adjustment to the Applicable Conversion Rate, the Class B Number, the Loss Funds Cost Per Share or the Price Per Share, as applicable, for outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock as so adjusted.

 

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D. Section 4.23(b) of Article IV of the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be deleted in its entirety and the following paragraph shall be substituted in lieu thereof:

(b) Until the Escrow Termination Date, except as expressly contemplated by the Global Restructuring Agreement, neither the Corporation nor any of its Subsidiaries shall issue any shares of the Corporation’s capital stock to any Person without the prior written consent of a majority of the members of the Litigation Committee (acting pursuant to their contractual rights and obligations pursuant to the Litigation Management Agreement), other than any issuance of: (i) shares of Common Stock (or other applicable equity interests in the case of any Subsidiary of the Corporation) on or prior to the date hereof; (ii) shares of Common Stock (or other applicable equity interests in the case of any Subsidiary of the Corporation) after the date hereof pursuant to the terms of the Global Restructuring Agreement or any other Transaction Document, including any Loss Shares and any securities issued upon the conversion or exchange of any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the terms of this Agreement that are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of any shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock); (iii) shares of Common Stock (or other applicable equity interests in the case of any Subsidiary of the Corporation) issued pursuant to any option plan or other employee incentive plan approved by the Board, including issued upon the direct or indirect conversion of any options or convertible securities; (iv) shares of Common Stock issued to the Stockholders’ Representative in full or partial payment of the Option Exercise Price following an exercise of the Put Option or the Call Option (as such capitalized terms are defined in the Visa Europe Put-Call Option Agreement); (v) shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with any public offering of Class A Common Stock that the Board shall have determined in good faith is desirable in order to reduce the percentage ownership of Common Stock represented by the holders of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, in the aggregate, to less than fifty percent (50%), including, without limitation, the IPO; (vi) shares of Class A Common Stock (whether or not such shares constitute Loss Shares hereunder) sold in a public offering the proceeds of which are to be used, as determined in good faith by the Board, to fund operating losses or other extraordinary losses or liabilities, including, without limitation, losses in connection with any litigation or settlement thereof, or in other exigent circumstances as determined by the Board in good faith; (vii) shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (or other applicable equity interests in the case of any Subsidiary of the Corporation) issued as consideration in any merger or recapitalization of the Corporation or issued as consideration for the acquisition of another Person or any assets of another Person; (viii) shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (or other applicable equity interests in the case of any Subsidiary of the Corporation) issued to any Person (in an aggregate number of shares, with respect to each such Person, not to exceed (immediately after giving effect to such issuance) ten percent (10%) of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Corporation of all classes and series, in each case if such issuance is to a Person as to which the Board has determined that a relationship with such Person would result in a material strategic benefit to the Corporation; (ix) shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (or other applicable equity interests in the case of any Subsidiary of the Corporation), in an aggregate number of shares, not to exceed (immediately after giving effect to such issuance) three percent (3%) of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Corporation of all classes and series, issued as part of any financing transaction approved by the Board, so long as such securities are not a material component of such financing transaction; and (x) shares of Common Stock (or other applicable equity interests in the case of any Subsidiary of the Corporation) issued in connection with any subdivision, reclassification, split or combination of the securities of the Corporation to all holders of such securities on a pro rata basis or shares of Class A Common Stock issued in connection with any subdivision, reclassification, split, combination, dividend or distribution to all holders of Class A Common Stock on a per share basis consistent with the provisions of Section 4.9(a), so long as each of the Applicable Conversion Rate, the Class B Number, Loss Funds Cost Per Share and Price Per Share for each share of Class B Common Stock and the Applicable Conversion Rate for each share of Class C Common Stock shall be adjusted as provided in Section 4.14(a).

E. Sections 4.25(b) and 4.25(c) of Article IV of the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be deleted in their entirety and the following two paragraphs shall be substituted in lieu thereof:

(b) The Board may approve one or more exceptions to the foregoing Transfer restrictions in the case of any proposed Transfer by a holder of Class C Common Stock, in which case such restrictions shall not apply to such Transfer; provided that such exception applies to all holders of Class C Common Stock equally on a ratable basis (or, if such exception does not apply to all holders of Class C Common Stock equally on a ratable basis, if such exception is also approved by at least a majority of the Independent Directors) and (B) at any time after the Escrow Termination Date, the Board may approve one or more exceptions to the foregoing Transfer restrictions in the case of any proposed Transfer by a holder of Class B Common Stock, in which case such restrictions shall not apply to such Transfer; provided that such exception applies to all holders of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock equally on a ratable basis (or, if such exception does not apply to

 

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all holders of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock equally on a ratable basis, if such exception is also approved by at least a majority of the Independent Directors). The provisions of Section 4.24 shall apply to this Section 4.25 mutatis mutandis . Any certificate representing shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock shall bear a legend that the shares represented by such certificates are subject to the restrictions on transferability set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation, which legend shall be removed from such certificate upon release from such restrictions. If any shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock are not represented by a certificate, the Corporation reserves the right to require that an analogous notification be used in order to reflect on the books and records of the Corporation such restrictions with respect to such shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as the case may be.

(c) The Board may, by resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, extend the three (3) year component of the Lock-Up Period (i.e., in the case the Class B Common Stock, not including any period by which the Escrow Termination Date exceeds such three (3) year period) with respect to any portion of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock for a period of not more than one year after the date on which the Lock-Up Period would otherwise terminate pursuant to Section 4.25(a); provided that (i) contemporaneously with any such extension of the Lock-Up Period with respect to any portion of such shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, the Board has approved one or more reductions to the Lock-Up Period with respect to another portion of such shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, such that at all times the weighted average period of the Lock-Up Period with respect to all outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock is not more than three (3) years and (ii) such extension of the Lock-Up Period applies to all holders of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock equally on a ratable basis (or, if such extension does not apply to all holders of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock equally on a ratable basis, if such extension is also approved by at least a majority of the Independent Directors).

F. Section 10.1(b) of Article X of the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be deleted in its entirety and the following paragraph shall be substituted in lieu thereof:

(b) In addition to any votes required by applicable law, no provision of Sections 4.7, 4.8 and 4.18 and, until the third anniversary of March 25, 2008, Sections 5.1 and 5.2 of this Certificate of Incorporation (or in each case, any related term defined in Section 11.2) may be amended, altered, repealed or otherwise modified, and no provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with any such provisions may be adopted, whether by means of formal amendment thereto or by means of any merger, consolidation, amalgamation, other business combination or otherwise, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the

 

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outstanding shares of each of the Class A Common Stock, the Class B Common Stock and the Class C Common Stock, each voting separately as a class (and together with no other class), as applicable, if such amendment, alteration, repeal or other modification would adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of such class of Common Stock. No provision of Sections 4.24, 4.26, 4.27 or 10.1 (and in each case any related term defined in Section 11.2) of this Certificate of Incorporation may be amended, altered, repealed or otherwise modified, and no provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with any such provisions may be adopted, whether by means of formal amendment thereto or by means of any merger consolidation, amalgamation, other business combination or otherwise, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of each of the Class A Common Stock, the Class B Common Stock and the Class C Common Stock, each voting together as a single class of Common Stock. Neither the terms of the Class B Common Stock nor the terms of the Class C Common Stock shall be amended without, in either such case, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Class B Common Stock, voting separately (and together with no other class or series) as a class, and the affirmative votes of a majority of the Class C Common Stock, voting separately (and together with no other class or series) as a class. Without limiting the foregoing, any amendment of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation that requires the treatment of holders of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock ratably on an “as converted” basis shall not be effective unless such amendment is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of each adversely affected class of Common Stock.

G. The following defined terms set forth in Section 11.2 of Article X of the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be deleted in their entirety and the following defined terms shall be substituted in lieu thereof:

Class B Number ” shall mean 245,513,385, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.14(a).

Loss Funds Cost Per Share ” shall mean, as of any date on which Loss Funds are deposited into the Escrow Account in accordance with Section 4.28 of this Certificate of Incorporation, the weighted average of the Daily VWAP of Class A Common Stock during the Pricing Reference Period applicable to such deposit of Loss Funds (where each Daily VWAP is weighted by the trading volume for that day as a percentage of the total trading volume over the Pricing Reference Period); provided, however, that with respect to any deposit of Loss Funds in calendar year 2008, the Loss Funds Cost Per Share shall be the weighted average of the Daily VWAP during the 15 Trading Days most closely preceding and including December 19, 2008 (where each Daily VWAP is weighted by the trading volume for that day as a percentage of the total volume over such fifteen (15) Trading Days), in each case, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.14(a). For the avoidance of doubt, if the ex-date of a subdivision, reclassification, split, combination, dividend or distribution occurs during the Pricing Reference Period, the adjustment provided in Section 4.14(a) shall apply in a manner to only adjust the Daily VWAP of Class A Common Stock for those days in the Pricing Reference Period occurring prior to such ex-date (and to inversely adjust the trading volume for such days).

Price Per Share ” shall mean the greater of (i) the volume-weighted average price per share of Class A Common Stock during the ninety (90) Trading Day period or the total number of Trading Days if the Class A Common Stock has been listed for trading for less than ninety (90) days at the relevant time of determination ending on the third Trading Day immediately preceding the Escrow Termination Date, as reported by the principal exchange or market on which shares of Class A Common Stock are traded and (ii) $0.01, in each case, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.14(a). For the avoidance of doubt, if the ex-date of a subdivision, reclassification, split, combination, dividend or distribution occurs during such ninety (90) Trading Day period, the adjustment provided in Section 4.14(a) shall apply in a manner to adjust only the volume-weighted price per share of Class A Common Stock for those days in the ninety (90) Trading Day period occurring prior to such ex-date.

* * * * *

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Amendment has been signed by a duly authorized officer of the Corporation this 28th day of January, 2015.

 

VISA INC.
By:

/s/ Kelly Mahon Tullier

Name: Kelly Mahon Tullier
Title:

Corporate Secretary

 

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Exhibit 3.2

Sixth Amended and Restated

Certificate of Incorporation

of

Visa Inc.

Visa Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”), hereby certifies that:

1.         The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 25, 2007 (the “ Original Certificate of Incorporation ”) and an Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on September 28, 2007 (the “ Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation ,” and together with the Original Certificate of Incorporation, the “ Initial Certificate of Incorporation ”).

2.         The Initial Certificate of Incorporation was amended and restated and an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 1, 2007 (the “ First Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation ”), further amended and restated by an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 11, 2008 (the “ Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation ”), further amended and restated by an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 7, 2008 (the “ Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation ”), further amended and restated by an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 14, 2008 (the “ Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation ”) and further amended and restated by an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 16, 2008, as corrected by the Certificate of Correction filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 30, 2009, the Certificates of Amendment filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 27, 2011 and the Certificate of Amendment filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 28, 2015 (the “ Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation ”).

3.         Pursuant to Section 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”), this Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this “ Certificate of Incorporation ”) has been duly adopted in accordance therewith, and only restates and integrates and does not further amend the provisions of the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as theretofore amended or supplemented, and there is no discrepancy between those provisions and the provisions of this Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

4.         The text of the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is restated by this Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to read in its entirety as follows:

 

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Article I

Section 1.1     Name .

The name of the corporation is “Visa Inc.” (the “Corporation”).

Article II

Section 2.1     Address .

The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is c/o The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801. The name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

Article III

Section 3.1     Purpose .

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL.

Article IV

Section 4.1     Authorized Capital Stock .

(a)         The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is 2,003,366,656,020 shares, consisting of: (i) 25,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“ Preferred Stock ”), (ii) 2,001,622,245,209 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“ Class A Common Stock ”), (iii) 622,245,209 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“ Class B Common Stock ”) and (iv) 1,097,165,602 shares of Class C Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“ Class C Common Stock ” and collectively with Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, “ Common Stock ”). There being shares of only a single series of Class C Common Stock (Class C (Series I) Common Stock) issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the adoption of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, such shares are hereafter designated Class C Common Stock with no series designation.

Section 4.2     Increase or Decrease in Authorized Capital Stock .

The number of authorized shares of any Preferred Stock, Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto), and no vote of the holders of any of the Preferred Stock, Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, voting separately as a class, shall be required therefor.

Section 4.3     [Reserved].

 

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Section 4.4     Preferred Stock .

(a)         Subject to the other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”) is hereby expressly authorized to provide by resolution or resolutions from time to time out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock for the issuance of one or more series of Preferred Stock, without further stockholder approval, by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware (hereinafter referred to as a “ Preferred Stock Designation ”), setting forth such resolution and, with respect to each such series, establishing the number of shares to be included in such series, and fixing the voting powers, full or limited, or no voting power of the shares of such series, and the designation, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, of the shares of each such series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof.

(b)         The authority of the Board with respect to each series of Preferred Stock shall include, but not be limited to, the determination of the following: (1) the designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title; (2) the number of shares of the series, which number the Board may thereafter (except where otherwise provided in the Preferred Stock Designation) increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding); (3) the amounts or rates at which dividends will be payable on, and the preferences, if any, of shares of the series in respect of dividends, and whether such dividends, if any, shall be cumulative or noncumulative; (4) the dates on which dividends, if any, shall be payable; (5) the redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series; (6) the terms and amount of any sinking fund, if any, provided for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series; (7) the amounts payable on, and the preferences, if any, of shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation; (8) whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into, or exchangeable or redeemable for, shares of any other class or series, or any other security, of the Corporation or any other corporation, and, if so, the specification of such other class or series or such other security, the conversion or exchange price or prices or rate or rates, any adjustments thereof, the date or dates at which such shares shall be convertible or exchangeable and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange may be made; (9) restrictions on the issuance of shares of the same series or any other class or series; (10) the voting rights, if any, of the holders of shares of the series generally or upon specified events; and (11) any other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and any qualifications or limitations of, or restrictions on, such shares as are permitted by law; provided , however , that the Board shall not have authority to provide for the issuance of any shares of Preferred Stock that are convertible into shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock.

(c)         No series of Preferred Stock shall be issued which adversely and disproportionately affects the rights or privileges of any class or series of Common Stock in relation to any other class or series of Common Stock, assuming, for purposes of calculating the relative economic and voting rights of any such class or series of Common Stock that is directly or indirectly convertible into Class A Common Stock, that such class or series of Common Stock has been converted into Class A Common Stock; provided that , subject to Section 4.23, the foregoing shall not be construed as a limitation on the ability of the Corporation to issue Preferred Stock that affects holders of all classes and series of Common Stock on an equal and ratable basis.

Section 4.5     [Reserved].

Section 4.6     [Reserved].

 

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Section 4.7     Voting Rights . Subject to other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation:

(a)         each holder of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Class A Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote; and

(b)         except as otherwise expressly provided herein or as required by applicable law, each holder of Class B Common Stock and each holder of Class C Common Stock shall have no voting power in respect of and shall not be entitled to any votes with respect to the shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock (as applicable) held of record by such holder on any matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote; provided , however , that, in addition to any other vote required by law, for so long as any shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock remain issued and outstanding: (i) the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, voting together as a single class (in which vote the Class A Common Stock shall not participate) separate from all other classes or series of capital stock of the Corporation, on an “as converted basis” as described in Section 4.8 hereof, shall be required for the approval of any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which shares of Class A Common Stock are exchanged for, converted into or changed into other stock or securities, or the right to receive cash or other property, unless the shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock shall be exchanged for or changed into the same per share amount of stock, securities, cash or any other property, as the case may be, for which or in which each share of Class A Common Stock is exchanged, converted or changed; and (ii) the affirmative vote of the holders of at least eighty percent (80%) of the voting power of the Common Stock of all classes and series, voting together as a single class separate from all other classes or series of capital stock of the Corporation, shall be required to authorize the Corporation to exit its core payments business (i.e., to no longer operate a consumer debit/credit payments business).

Section 4.8     Voting on an As Converted Basis .

(a)         With respect to each matter upon which holders of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock are entitled to vote pursuant to Section 4.7 or applicable law, each such holder shall be entitled, with respect to each share of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as applicable, owned of record by such holder, to a number of votes equal to the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock into which each share of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock owned by such holder, as applicable, would be converted, assuming the conversion, on the record date for such vote, of all outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock into Class A Common Stock, based on the Applicable Conversion Rate in effect on such record date.

(b)         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, and to the fullest extent permitted by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall have no voting power with respect to, and shall not be entitled to vote on, any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or pursuant to the DGCL.

 

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Section 4.9     Dividends and Distributions .

(a)         Subject to applicable law and to the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation and to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends or distributions, dividends or distributions may be declared and paid on the Common Stock out of the assets of the Corporation that are by law available therefor at such times and in such amounts as the Board in its discretion shall determine. Other than with respect to dividends or distributions payable in shares of Class A Common Stock, (i) all holders of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock shall be entitled to participate ratably (on an “as converted” basis in the case of the holders of the Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock) in any dividend or distribution paid on the Common Stock (regardless of class or series), and (ii) no dividend or distribution may be declared or paid on any class or series of Common Stock (whether Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock) unless an equivalent dividend or distribution is contemporaneously declared and paid (on an “as converted” basis in the case of the Class B Common Stock and the Class C Common Stock) on each other class and series of Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation. For purposes of this Section 4.9, “as converted” in the case of the holders of the Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock shall mean that each holder of Class B Common Stock and each holder of Class C Common Stock shall be entitled to its ratable portion of any dividend or distribution (other than with respect to any dividend or distribution payable in shares of Class A Common Stock) based upon the number of shares of Class A Common Stock into which the shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as applicable, Beneficially Owned by such holder would be converted, based on the Applicable Conversion Rate in effect on such record date, without regard to any restrictions on the amount of Class A Common Stock any stockholder may own. Dividends or distributions payable in shares of Class A Common Stock shall be paid on the Class A Common Stock without also paying a corresponding dividend or distribution on each other class or series of Common Stock; provided, that (x) such dividends or distributions shall be paid only in shares of Class A Common Stock on a per share basis, and (y) each of the Applicable Conversion Rate, Class B Number, Loss Funds Cost Per Share and Price Per Share for each share of Class B Common Stock and the Applicable Conversion Rate for each share of Class C Common Stock shall be adjusted as provided in Section 4.14(a).

(b)         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 4.9(a), for purposes of this Section 4.9, a share distribution consisting of shares of any class or series of securities of the Corporation or any other Person other than Common Stock (or securities that are convertible into, exchangeable for or evidence the right to purchase shares of Common Stock) may be made, either on the basis of a distribution of identical securities, on an equal per share basis, to holders of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock or on the basis of a distribution of one class or series of securities to holders of Class A Common Stock and another class or series of securities to holders of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock; provided that the securities that are so distributed (and, if applicable, the securities into which the distributed securities are convertible, or for which they are exchangeable, or which the distributed securities evidence the right to purchase) do not differ in any respect other than their relative voting rights and related differences in designation, conversion and share distribution provisions, with holders of shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock receiving the class or series having the higher relative voting rights (without regard to whether such rights differ to a greater or lesser extent than the corresponding differences in voting rights and related difference in designation, conversion and share

 

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distribution provisions between Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock); provided that if the securities so distributed constitute capital stock of a subsidiary of the Corporation, such rights shall not differ to a greater extent than the corresponding differences in voting rights, designation, conversion and share distribution provisions between the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, and provided that , in each case, such distribution is otherwise made on an equal per share basis.

Section 4.10   Conversion of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock into Class A Common Stock .

In the event that any outstanding share of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock shall be Transferred to a Person that is not a Visa Member or an Affiliate of a Visa Member in accordance with Section 4.25 hereof, such share shall, automatically and without further action on the part of the Corporation or any holder of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as applicable, immediately prior to the Transfer, be converted into shares of Class A Common Stock based upon the Applicable Conversion Rate in effect on the date of such Transfer; provided , however , that in no event shall any share of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as applicable, be converted into any shares of Class A Common Stock except in connection with (i) a sale of such shares on a securities exchange on which shares of Class A Common Stock are listed by means of a “brokers’ transaction” within the meaning of paragraph (g) of Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933 or (ii) a private placement of such shares to a Person who is not a Visa Member or an Affiliate of a Visa Member; and provided , further , that no such conversion shall be effected until the expiration of all applicable restrictions on Transfer of such shares set forth in Section 4.25. Shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock so converted shall cease to be outstanding and shall no longer be issuable by the Corporation hereunder. For the avoidance of doubt shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock shall only be convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with a Transfer described in this Section 4.10, and no holder of any shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock shall have the right to convert, or to require the Corporation to convert, such shares into shares of Class A Common Stock at any time.

Section 4.11   Conversion of Class A Common Stock into Class C Common Stock .

In the event that, at any time after March 25, 2008, any Visa Member or Similar Person shall acquire any shares of Class A Common Stock, each such share shall, automatically and without further action on the part of the Corporation or any holder of Class A Common Stock, be converted into one share of Class C Common Stock; provided , however , that the provisions of this Section 4.11 and such automatic conversion shall not apply with respect to any shares of Class A Common Stock acquired by a Visa Member other than shares of Class A Common Stock acquired by such Visa Member for its own account as a principal investor or for the account of an Affiliate of such Visa Member that is acting as a principal investor. Without limiting the foregoing, such automatic conversion shall not apply to any shares of Class A Common Stock acquired or held by a Visa Member, a Similar Person or any of their respective Affiliates in connection with its brokerage, market making, custody, investment management or similar operations or acquired by any investment fund managed by a Visa Member, a Similar Person or any of their respective Affiliates. All Class A Common Stock converted pursuant to this Section 4.11 shall cease to be outstanding and shall no longer be issuable by the Corporation hereunder.

 

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Section 4.12   No Fractional Shares .

No fractional shares of any class of Common Stock will be issued upon conversion of any shares of any other class of Common Stock into shares of such class or upon redemption of any shares of Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares, the Corporation shall pay cash equal to such fractional amount multiplied by the fair market value (as determined by or in accordance with procedures established by the Board in good faith and in its sole discretion) per share of the applicable class of Common Stock into which such shares are being converted, as of the conversion date or the applicable class of Common Stock from which such shares are being redeemed on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be. If more than one share of any class of Common Stock is being converted at one time by, or redeemed at one time from, the same holder, then the number of full shares issuable upon conversion will be calculated on the basis of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock converted or redeemed, as applicable, by such holder at such time. For purposes of determining the fair market value of any share of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock in any redemption governed by this Section 4.12 (and solely for such purpose), each share of Class B Common Stock and each share of Class C Common Stock shall be deemed to have been converted into shares of Class A Common Stock based on the Applicable Conversion Rate immediately prior to the applicable redemption.

Section 4.13   Maintenance of Authorized Capital Stock; Treatment on Recapitalizations; Etc .

The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available, free from any preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued shares of each applicable class or series of Common Stock into which any other class or series of Common Stock is convertible at any time, for the purpose of effecting such conversion, the full number of shares of Common Stock of each applicable class or series issuable upon the conversion of all outstanding shares of each other class or series that is convertible into such class or series of Common Stock. The Corporation shall not reclassify, subdivide, split or combine any class of Common Stock without also reclassifying, subdividing, splitting or combining each other class of Common Stock on an equivalent per share basis, except that the Corporation may reclassify, subdivide, split or combine shares of Class A Common Stock into a greater or lesser number of shares of Class A Common Stock, without also reclassifying, subdividing, splitting or combining each other class of Common Stock pursuant to Section 4.14(a) so long as each of the Applicable Conversion Rate, the Class B Number, Loss Funds Cost Per Share and Price Per Share for each share of Class B Common Stock and the Applicable Conversion Rate for each share of Class C Common Stock shall be adjusted as provided in Section 4.14(a).

Section 4.14   Adjustments to the Applicable Conversion Rate, Class B Number, Loss Funds Cost Per Share and Price Per Share .

(a)         If the Corporation (i) subdivides, reclassifies or splits the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock into a greater number of shares without also subdividing, reclassifying or splitting the outstanding shares of the Class B Common Stock and/or the Class C Common Stock on an equivalent per share basis; (ii) combines or reclassifies the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock into a smaller number of shares without also combining or reclassifying the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and/or Class C Common Stock on an equivalent per share basis; (iii) issues by reclassification of any class of its Common Stock any shares of Class A Common Stock without also issuing shares of Class B Common Stock and/or Class C Common Stock on an equivalent per share basis, or (iv) dividends or

 

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distributes shares of Class A Common Stock on the Class A Common Stock without also paying a corresponding equivalent dividend or distribution on each other class or series of Common Stock, then the Applicable Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to such action for each share of Class B Common Stock (not subdivided, reclassified, split, combined or issued in accordance with clauses (i),(ii) or (iii) above or which does not receive a corresponding equivalent dividend or distribution in accordance with clause (iv) above) or Class C Common Stock (not subdivided, reclassified, split, combined or issued in accordance with clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above or which does not receive a corresponding equivalent dividend or distribution in accordance with clause (iv) above) then outstanding shall be adjusted by multiplying the Applicable Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to such action by a fraction (A) the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding immediately after such action (giving pro forma effect to the exercise of all then outstanding convertible securities, other than shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock) and (B) the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of all Class A Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such action on the record date applicable to such action, if any (giving pro forma effect to the exercise of all then outstanding convertible securities, other than shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock) (such fraction, the “ Adjustment Factor ”); provided, that for purposes of calculating the Applicable Conversion Rate with respect to each share of Class B Common Stock (not subdivided, reclassified, split, combined or issued in accordance with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above or which does not receive a corresponding equivalent dividend or distribution in accordance with clause (iv) above), prior to multiplying the Applicable Conversion Rate by the Adjustment Factor (x) the Class B Number in effect immediately prior to such subdivision, reclassification, split, combination, dividend or distribution shall be adjusted by multiplying the Class B Number by the Adjustment Factor, (y) the Loss Funds Cost Per Share with respect to all Loss Funds that have been deposited into the Escrow Account prior to such subdivision, reclassification, split, combination, dividend or distribution shall be adjusted by dividing the Loss Funds Cost Per Share by the Adjustment Factor, and (z) the Price Per Share immediately prior to such subdivision, reclassification, split, combination, dividend or distribution shall be adjusted by dividing the Price Per Share by the Adjustment Factor. Such adjustments shall become effective immediately after the record date in the case of a dividend or distribution and immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, split, combination or reclassification. In the event that such dividend or distribution is not so paid or made or such subdivision, split, combination or reclassification is not effected, the Applicable Conversion Rate, the Class B Number, the Loss Funds Cost Per Share and the Price Per Share, as applicable, shall again be adjusted to be the Applicable Conversion Rate, the Class B Number, the Loss Funds Cost Per Share and the Price Per Share, as applicable, which would then be in effect if such record date or effective date had not been so fixed.

(b)         Whenever the Applicable Conversion Rate, the Class B Number, the Loss Funds Cost Per Share or the Price Per Share are adjusted as described in clause (a) of this Section 4.14, or in connection with the sale of any Loss Shares or the deposit of Loss Funds into the Escrow Account, the Corporation shall (i) promptly make a public announcement to notify holders of record of the Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock (as the case may be) of such adjustment(s) or of the then Applicable Conversion Rate after giving effect to the sale of such Loss Shares or the deposit of such Loss Funds, and (ii) take reasonable efforts to provide notice by mail to such holders at the addresses appearing on the Corporation’s stock register of such adjustment or of the then Applicable Conversion Rate after giving effect to the sale of such Loss Shares or the deposit of such Loss Funds. The Corporation shall keep with its records such notice and a certificate from the Corporation’s Chief Financial Officer briefly stating the facts requiring the adjustment(s), and setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation by which the adjustment(s) have been made. The Corporation

 

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shall either include such calculation(s) in the notification provided pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, or if it does not so include them, the Corporation shall promptly furnish them without charge upon written request of a holder of record of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock. The certificate shall be conclusive evidence that the adjustment(s) are correct, absent manifest error.

(c)         After an adjustment to the Applicable Conversion Rate, the Class B Number, the Loss Funds Cost Per Share or the Price Per Share, as applicable, for outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock pursuant to this Section 4.14, any subsequent event requiring an adjustment pursuant this Section 4.14 shall cause an adjustment to the Applicable Conversion Rate, the Class B Number, the Loss Funds Cost Per Share or the Price Per Share, as applicable, for outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock as so adjusted.

Section 4.15   [Reserved].

Section 4.16   [Reserved].

Section 4.17   [Reserved].

Section 4.18   Class B Holders; Escrow Account .

The Corporation has caused the Escrow Amount to be deposited into the Escrow Account, subject to the terms and conditions of the Escrow Agreement and of the rights of the holders of Class B Common Stock as set forth herein. No funds of the Corporation shall be held in the Escrow Account or otherwise co-mingled with the funds in the Escrow Account other than (i) the Escrow Amount, (ii) any funds deposited into the Escrow Account from the proceeds of any sale of any Loss Shares in accordance with Section 4.26 of this Certificate of Incorporation, and (iii) any Loss Funds deposited into the Escrow Account in accordance with Section 4.28 of this Certificate of Incorporation. Prior to the Escrow Termination Date, no disbursements shall be made from the Escrow Account except in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Escrow Agreement. From and after the Escrow Termination Date, any and all funds remaining on deposit in the Escrow Account shall be disbursed to and retained by the Corporation.

Section 4.19   [Reserved].

Section 4.20   [Reserved].

Section 4.21   Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up .

In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and of the preferential and other amounts, if any, to which the holders of Preferred Stock, if any, shall be entitled, the holders of all outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by each such stockholder on an “as converted” basis. For purposes of this paragraph “as converted” shall mean that each holder of Class B Common Stock and each holder of Class C Common Stock shall be entitled to its ratable portion of any assets available for distribution based upon the number of shares of Class A Common Stock into which the shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as applicable, Beneficially Owned by such holder would be converted, assuming,

 

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immediately prior to the liquidation, dissolution or winding up, as applicable, the conversion of all outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock into Class A Common Stock, based on the Applicable Conversion Rate then in effect. For the purposes of this Section 4.21, neither the voluntary sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all the property or assets of the Corporation nor the consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into one or more other corporations shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, voluntary or involuntary, unless such voluntary sale, conveyance, exchange, transfer, merger or consolidation shall be in connection with a dissolution or winding-up of the business of the Corporation.

Section 4.22   Mergers, Consolidation, Etc .

In the event that the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which shares of Common Stock are exchanged for, converted into, or otherwise changed into other stock or securities, or the right to receive cash or any other property, such shares of Common Stock shall be exchanged for or changed into the same per share amount of stock, securities, cash or any other property, as the case may be, into which or for which each share of any other class of Common Stock is exchanged or changed, on an “as converted” basis. For purposes of this paragraph “as converted” shall mean that each holder of Class B Common Stock and each holder of Class C Common Stock shall be entitled to its ratable portion of any stock, securities, cash or other consideration in such consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction, as the case may be, based upon the number of shares of Class A Common Stock into which the shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as applicable, Beneficially Owned by such holder would be converted, assuming, immediately prior to the consummation of such consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction, as applicable, the conversion of all outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock into Class A Common Stock, based on the Applicable Conversion Rate then in effect. For the purposes of this Section 4.22, neither the voluntary sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all the property or assets of the Corporation nor the consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into one or more other corporations shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, voluntary or involuntary, unless such voluntary sale, conveyance, exchange, transfer, merger or consolidation shall be in connection with a dissolution or winding-up of the business of the Corporation.

Section 4.23   No Preemptive Rights .

(a)         The holders of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, Class C Common Stock or any series of Preferred Stock shall have no preemptive rights, as such, to subscribe for any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation whether now or hereafter authorized, except as expressly set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation, any Preferred Stock Designation, any resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of a series of stock adopted by the Board, or any agreement between the Corporation and its stockholders.

(b)         Until the Escrow Termination Date, except as expressly contemplated by the Global Restructuring Agreement, neither the Corporation nor any of its Subsidiaries shall issue any shares of the Corporation’s capital stock to any Person without the prior written consent of a majority of the members of the Litigation Committee (acting pursuant to their contractual rights and obligations pursuant to the Litigation Management Agreement), other than

 

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any issuance of: (i) shares of Common Stock (or other applicable equity interests in the case of any Subsidiary of the Corporation) on or prior to the date hereof; (ii) shares of Common Stock (or other applicable equity interests in the case of any Subsidiary of the Corporation) after the date hereof pursuant to the terms of the Global Restructuring Agreement or any other Transaction Document, including any Loss Shares and any securities issued upon the conversion or exchange of any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the terms of this Agreement that are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of any shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock); (iii) shares of Common Stock (or other applicable equity interests in the case of any Subsidiary of the Corporation) issued pursuant to any option plan or other employee incentive plan approved by the Board, including issued upon the direct or indirect conversion of any options or convertible securities; (iv) shares of Common Stock issued to the Stockholders’ Representative in full or partial payment of the Option Exercise Price following an exercise of the Put Option or the Call Option (as such capitalized terms are defined in the Visa Europe Put-Call Option Agreement); (v) shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with any public offering of Class A Common Stock that the Board shall have determined in good faith is desirable in order to reduce the percentage ownership of Common Stock represented by the holders of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, in the aggregate, to less than fifty percent (50%), including, without limitation, the IPO; (vi) shares of Class A Common Stock (whether or not such shares constitute Loss Shares hereunder) sold in a public offering the proceeds of which are to be used, as determined in good faith by the Board, to fund operating losses or other extraordinary losses or liabilities, including, without limitation, losses in connection with any litigation or settlement thereof, or in other exigent circumstances as determined by the Board in good faith; (vii) shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (or other applicable equity interests in the case of any Subsidiary of the Corporation) issued as consideration in any merger or recapitalization of the Corporation or issued as consideration for the acquisition of another Person or any assets of another Person; (viii) shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (or other applicable equity interests in the case of any Subsidiary of the Corporation) issued to any Person (in an aggregate number of shares, with respect to each such Person, not to exceed (immediately after giving effect to such issuance) ten percent (10%) of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Corporation of all classes and series, in each case if such issuance is to a Person as to which the Board has determined that a relationship with such Person would result in a material strategic benefit to the Corporation; (ix) shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (or other applicable equity interests in the case of any Subsidiary of the Corporation), in an aggregate number of shares, not to exceed (immediately after giving effect to such issuance) three percent (3%) of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Corporation of all classes and series, issued as part of any financing transaction approved by the Board, so long as such securities are not a material component of such financing transaction; and (x) shares of Common Stock (or other applicable equity interests in the case of any Subsidiary of the Corporation) issued in connection with any subdivision, reclassification, split or combination of the securities of the Corporation to all holders of such securities on a pro rata basis or shares of Class A Common Stock issued in connection with any subdivision, reclassification, split, combination, dividend or distribution to all holders of Class A Common Stock on a per share basis consistent with the provisions of Section 4.9(a), so long as each of the Applicable Conversion Rate, the Class B Number, Loss Funds Cost Per Share and Price Per Share for each share of Class B Common Stock and the Applicable Conversion Rate for each share of Class C Common Stock shall be adjusted as provided in Section 4.14(a).

 

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Section 4.24   Limitations on Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock .

(a)         No Similar Person shall Beneficially Own more than five percent (5%) of the aggregate outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, assuming the conversion of all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (such Common Stock other than the Class A Common Stock, “Other Common Stock”) into shares of Class A Common Stock. Any Beneficial Ownership in violation of this Section 4.24(a) (including any Beneficial Ownership of a Person that shall thereafter become a Similar Person) shall be subject to the provisions set forth in Sections 4.24(e) through (k).

(b)         No Person shall Beneficially Own (i) shares of Class A Common Stock representing more than fifteen percent (15%) of the aggregate outstanding shares or voting power of Class A Common Stock; or (ii) shares of Class A Common Stock and Other Common Stock representing, together and on an as-converted basis, more than fifteen percent (15%) of the Class A Common Stock outstanding, assuming the conversion of all Other Common Stock then outstanding unless, in each case, the Board shall have approved in advance the acquisition by such Person of such Beneficial Ownership of such shares of Class A Common Stock or such Other Common Stock. Any Beneficial Ownership in violation of this Section 4.24(b) shall be subject to the provisions set forth in Sections 4.24(e) through (k).

(c)         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 4.24 (a) or (b) above, (i) no Visa Member shall be deemed in violation of the limitations contained in such Sections as a result of owning the number of shares of any applicable Regional Class of Common Stock owned by such Visa Member as of immediately after October 1, 2007 (or any number of shares of any other Common Stock into which such shares may subsequently be converted pursuant to the terms hereof or any other shares of Common Stock issuable to such Visa Member pursuant to the terms of the Global Restructuring Agreement or any other Transaction Document), (ii) no Initial VE Transferee (as defined in Section 4.25 below) shall be deemed in violation of the limitations contained in such Sections as a result of owning the number of shares of Class C Common Stock owned by it immediately after the first Transfer of any shares of Class C Common Stock by Visa Europe to such Initial VE Transferee and (iii) no Visa Member shall be deemed in violation of the limitations contained in such Sections by virtue of a repurchase of Common Stock or other actions by the Corporation. Notwithstanding Sections 4.24(a) and (b), any underwriter that participates in a public offering or as principal or initial purchaser in a placement of Class A Common Stock or Other Common Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock or Other Common Stock) may Beneficially Own shares of Class A Common Stock or Other Common Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock or Other Common Stock) in excess of the limitations on Beneficial Ownership set forth in Sections 4.24(a) and (b), but only to the extent necessary (in the sole judgment of the Board) to facilitate such public offering or placement.

(d)         A Person (including, without limitation, a Visa Member or Similar Person) shall not be deemed to Beneficially Own shares of Class A Common Stock or Other Common Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock or Other Common Stock) for purposes of Section 4.24(a) or (b), as applicable, if such shares of Class A Common Stock or Other Common Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock or Other Common Stock) are held for the benefit of third parties or in customer or fiduciary accounts in the ordinary course of such Person’s business.

 

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(e)         If any Transfer is purportedly effected which, if effective, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning shares of Class A Common Stock or Other Common Stock in violation of Section 4.24(a) or (b), then the intended Transferee shall acquire no rights in respect of the shares in excess of the amount permitted by Section 4.24(a) or (b), as applicable (“ Excess Shares ”), including, without limitation, voting rights or rights to dividends or other distributions with respect to such Excess Shares and, subject to Section 4.24(h) hereof, the Transfer of that number of shares of Class A Common Stock or Other Common Stock that otherwise would cause any Person to violate Section 4.24(a) or (b) shall be null and void ab initio .

(f)         If the Board shall at any time determine in good faith that a Transfer or other event has purportedly taken place that, if effected would result in a violation of Section 4.24(a) or (b) or that a Person intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire Beneficial Ownership of any shares of Class A Common Stock or Other Common Stock in violation of Section 4.24(a) or (b) (whether or not such violation is intended), such shares of Class A Common Stock or Other Common Stock shall be redeemable for cash or property or exchangeable for other shares of capital stock of the Corporation, in each case, at the option of, and for the amount determined by, the Board in good faith and in its sole discretion, and the Board shall take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such Transfer or other event, including, without limitation, causing the Corporation to redeem shares, refusing to give effect to such Transfer on the books of the Corporation or instituting proceedings to enjoin such Transfer or other event; provided , however , that any Transfer or attempted Transfer or other event in violation of Section 4.24(a) or (b) shall be null and void ab initio irrespective of any action (or non-action) by the Board.

(g)         A Person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire Beneficial Ownership of shares of Class A Common Stock or Other Common Stock that will or may violate Section 4.24(a) or (b) shall immediately give written notice to the Corporation of such event, or in the case of such a proposed or attempted transaction, give at least fifteen (15) days prior written notice, and shall provide to the Corporation such other information as the Corporation may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Transfer on the Corporation.

(h)         Nothing in this Section 4.24 shall preclude the settlement of any transaction entered into through the facilities of the New York Stock Exchange or any other securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system. The fact that the settlement of any transaction occurs shall not negate the effect of any other provision of this Section 4.24 and any transferee in such a transaction shall be subject to all of the provisions and limitations set forth in this Section 4.24.

(i)         In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this Section 4.24, the Board shall have the power to determine, in good faith and in its sole discretion, the application of the provisions of this Section 4.24, to any situation based on the facts known to it. In the event Section 4.24(f) requires an action by the Board and this Certificate of Incorporation fails to provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the Board shall have the power to determine the action to be taken so long as such action is not contrary to the provisions of this Section 4.24. Absent a decision to the contrary by the Board (which the Board may make in its sole and absolute discretion), if a Person would have (but for provisions of Section 4.24(f)) acquired Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock or Other Common Stock in violation of Section 4.24(a) or (b), such provisions (as applicable) shall apply first, to the shares of Class A Common Stock or Other Common Stock which, but for such provisions, would have been owned directly by such Person, second, to the shares which, but

 

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for such provisions, would have been wholly Beneficially Owned (but not owned directly) by such Person, and thereafter, to the shares which, but for such remedies, would have been Beneficially Owned by such Person, pro rata among the Persons who directly own such shares of Class A Common Stock or Other Common Stock based upon the relative number of the shares of Class A Common Stock and/or Other Common Stock held by each such Person.

(j)         The Corporation is authorized specifically to seek equitable relief, including injunctive and necessary relief, to enforce the provisions of this Section 4.24.

(k)         No delay or failure on the part of the Corporation or the Board in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any right of the Corporation or the Board, as the case may be, except to the extent specifically waived in writing as authorized by the Board.

(l)         Any certificate representing shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock shall bear a legend that the shares represented by such certificates are subject to the restrictions on transferability set forth in this Section 4.24, which legend shall be removed from such certificate upon release from such restrictions.

Section 4.25   Limitations on Transfer .

(a)         Until (x) in the case of the Class B Common Stock, the later of the third anniversary of March 25, 2008 and the Escrow Termination Date and (y) in the case of the Class C Common Stock, the third anniversary of March 25, 2008 (such period, as applicable, and as such period may be modified by the Board pursuant to Section 4.25(b) or (c) hereof the “ Lock-Up Period ”), no shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock shall be Transferable, except for:

(i)         any Transfer by the Corporation to the initial holders of any Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock;

(ii)         [Reserved];

(iii)         any Transfer by the Corporation to any Person or by the holder thereof to the Corporation;

(iv)         any Transfer of any shares of Class B Common Stock to any other holder of Class B Common Stock or to any Affiliate thereof and any Transfer of any shares of Class C Common Stock of any applicable series thereof to any other holder of Class C Common Stock of the same series thereof or to any Affiliate thereof;

(v)         any Transfer of any shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock to an Affiliate of such holder;

(vi)         any Transfer of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the Loss Sharing Agreement;

 

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(vii)         any Transfer by Visa Europe of any shares of Class C Common Stock to its members, stockholders or other holders of equity interest in Visa Europe at the time of such Transfer (each an “ Initial VE Transferee ”); provided that such Transfer is made in accordance with applicable securities Laws and is made to each Initial VE Transferee ratably in accordance with their respective entitlements to dividends or other distributions from Visa Europe, in accordance with the applicable constituent documents of Visa Europe;

(viii)         any Transfer of any shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock by any Person that is a Group Member (as such term is defined in the Second Restated Visa International By-Laws) of Visa International to any Person that is a stockholder, member, or other equity holder of such Group Member (each, an “ Initial Group Member Transferee ”); provided that such Transfer is made in accordance with applicable securities Laws and is made to each Initial Group Member Transferee ratably in accordance with their respective entitlements to dividends or other distributions from such Group Member, in accordance with the applicable constituent documents of such Group Member;

(ix)         any Transfer by a holder of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock to any Person who succeeds to all or substantially all of the assets of such holder, whether by merger, consolidation, amalgamation, sale of substantially all assets or other similar transaction or to an Affiliate of such Person;

(x)         any Transfer by a holder of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock to any Person who acquires from such holder all or substantially all of the Visa branded payments products portfolio of such holder;

(xi)         [Reserved]; and

(xii)         any Transfer of any shares of Common Stock by any Non-Equity Member (as such term is defined in the Second Restated Visa International By-Laws) of Visa International in the Principal category of membership to any Non-Equity Member of Visa International whose membership in Visa International is sponsored by such Principal Non-Equity Member; and any Transfer of any shares of Common Stock by any Non-Equity Member of Visa International in the Principal category of membership to any Person who participates in the Visa Payment System as an issuer and which Person is sponsored by such Non-Equity Member, by an associate member of Visa International sponsored by such Non-Equity Member or (if such Non-Equity Member is a Group Member) by a constituent member of such Non-Equity Member.

(b)         The Board may approve one or more exceptions to the foregoing Transfer restrictions in the case of any proposed Transfer by a holder of Class C Common Stock, in which case such restrictions shall not apply to such Transfer; provided that such exception applies to all holders of Class C Common Stock equally on a ratable basis (or, if such exception does not apply to all holders of Class C Common Stock equally on a ratable basis, if such exception is also approved by at least a majority of the Independent Directors) and (B) at any time after the Escrow Termination Date, the Board may approve one or more exceptions to the foregoing Transfer restrictions in the case of any proposed Transfer by a holder of Class B Common Stock, in which case such restrictions shall not apply to such Transfer; provided that such exception applies to all holders of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock equally on a ratable basis (or, if such exception does not apply to all holders of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock equally on a ratable basis, if

 

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such exception is also approved by at least a majority of the Independent Directors). The provisions of Section 4.24 shall apply to this Section 4.25 mutatis mutandis . Any certificate representing shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock shall bear a legend that the shares represented by such certificates are subject to the restrictions on transferability set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation, which legend shall be removed from such certificate upon release from such restrictions. If any shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock are not represented by a certificate, the Corporation reserves the right to require that an analogous notification be used in order to reflect on the books and records of the Corporation such restrictions with respect to such shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as the case may be.

(c)         The Board may, by resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, extend the three (3) year component of the Lock-Up Period (i.e., in the case the Class B Common Stock, not including any period by which the Escrow Termination Date exceeds such three (3) year period) with respect to any portion of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock for a period of not more than one year after the date on which the Lock-Up Period would otherwise terminate pursuant to Section 4.25(a); provided that (i) contemporaneously with any such extension of the Lock-Up Period with respect to any portion of such shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, the Board has approved one or more reductions to the Lock-Up Period with respect to another portion of such shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, such that at all times the weighted average period of the Lock-Up Period with respect to all outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock is not more than three (3) years and (ii) such extension of the Lock-Up Period applies to all holders of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock equally on a ratable basis (or, if such extension does not apply to all holders of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock equally on a ratable basis, if such extension is also approved by at least a majority of the Independent Directors).

Section 4.26   Sale of Loss Shares .

(a)         Sale at Election of the Corporation . Except as the Corporation may otherwise agree pursuant to contract, the Corporation shall be entitled to sell Loss Shares at any time and for any reason, and on such terms as the Board may determine in its sole discretion; provided that the proceeds of any such sale, net of any underwriting discounts and commissions, shall be deposited in the Escrow Account in accordance with the provisions of the Escrow Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not sell Loss Shares or designate Loss Funds, in each case, in an amount which, taken cumulatively with all other Loss Shares issued and Loss Funds designated, will reduce the Applicable Conversion Rate to a number that is less than zero (0).

(b)         Sale at the Direction of the Litigation Committee . The Corporation shall, at the request of the Litigation Committee, use all commercially reasonable efforts to sell in an underwritten public offering pursuant to the terms of the Loss Sharing Agreement, additional shares of Class A Common Stock which shall constitute Loss Shares in an amount not to exceed the number of shares of Class A Common Stock into which the issued and outstanding Class B Common Stock is then convertible immediately prior to the sale of such Loss Shares; provided , however , that the Litigation Committee shall not be entitled to make any such request (x) more frequently than twice in any twelve (12) month period or (y) with respect to any requested offering that is not reasonably expected to yield net proceeds of at least $100,000,000, in either such case, unless the Corporation or any of its Affiliates shall have actually incurred a Liability in respect of any Visa Litigation Obligation at the time of such request and there shall be no funds on deposit in the Escrow Account at such time); and provided , further , that the net proceeds of the sale of such Loss Shares shall be deposited into

 

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the Escrow Account in accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation may delay the filing or effectiveness of a registration statement with respect to such Loss Shares for a period of time not to exceed an aggregate of one hundred twenty (120) days in any twelve (12) month period if (i) the Board determines, in good faith, that the disclosure of an event, occurrence or other item at such time could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, operations, condition (financial or otherwise), performance, property or prospects of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) such disclosure otherwise relates to a material business transaction or potential business transaction which has not been publicly disclosed and the Board determines, in good faith, that any such disclosure could jeopardize the consummation or success of such transaction or that disclosure of the transaction is prohibited pursuant to the terms thereof.

(c)         Any shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued as Loss Shares pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 4.26 shall be so designated by resolution of the Board.

Section 4.27   [Reserved].

Section 4.28   Alternatives to Issuance of Loss Shares; Limitation of Issuance of Loss Shares or Designation of Loss Funds .

In any circumstance under which the Corporation is required or permitted to issue Loss Shares, the Corporation may, upon the approval of the Board (or any duly authorized committee of the Board), and with the prior written consent of a majority of the members of the Litigation Committee (acting pursuant to their contractual rights and obligations pursuant to the Litigation Management Agreement), in lieu of issuing Loss Shares, deposit Loss Funds into the Escrow Account in accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement. If the Corporation determines to deposit Loss Funds into the Escrow Account in accordance with the foregoing, the date on which the Board (or committee as the case may be) so approves shall be referred to as the “ Funding Decision Date .” On the Funding Decision Date applicable to any anticipated deposit of Loss Funds, the Corporation shall calculate a Pricing Reference Period for such deposit of Loss Funds. Subject to any conditions approved by the Board (or committee as the case may be), the Corporation shall deposit such Loss Funds into the Escrow Account on the first Business Day after the end of the applicable Pricing Reference Period. Notwithstanding anything in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, no Pricing Reference Period shall be calculated in respect of any deposit of Loss Funds to be made prior to January 1, 2009 and the Corporation shall not make any deposits of Loss Funds prior to January 1, 2009 unless (x) the Funding Decision Date for such deposit of Loss Funds is December 16, 2008 and (y) the date of such deposit of Loss Funds is December 19, 2008 or the Corporation makes commercially reasonable efforts to initiate and complete the deposit on December 19, 2008 and in fact completes the deposit at the latest by December 22, 2008.

Article V

Section 5.1     Composition of the Board .

(a)         The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the members of the Board, with the number of directors comprising the full Board to be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by affirmative vote of a majority of the Board.

 

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(b)         [Reserved].

(c)         From March 25, 2008 until the day of the annual meeting of the Corporation held in the calendar year 2011, the Board shall consist, subject to this Certificate of Incorporation and the By-Laws of the Corporation (as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ By-Laws ”) of seventeen (17) directors, having the following composition (subject to Section 5.2 hereof): (i) a number of directors equal to not less than fifty-eight percent (58%) of the total number of directors comprising the full Board shall be Independent Directors; (ii) two directors shall be USA Directors; (iii) one director shall be a Canada Director; (iv) one director shall be an AP Director; (v) one director shall be an LAC Director; (vi) one director shall be a CEMEA Director; and (vii) the Executive Director. All directors other than the Executive Director and the Regional Directors shall be Independent Directors.

(d)         From and after the day of the annual meeting of the Corporation occurring in the calendar year 2011, the Board shall consist, subject to this Certificate of Incorporation and the By-Laws, of such number of directors as shall from time to time be fixed exclusively by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of the majority of the Board; provided , however , that at least fifty-eight percent (58%) of the Board shall at all times be comprised of Independent Directors.

(e)         Each director shall be elected at each annual meeting of stockholders for a term expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders and each director shall remain in office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. If the number of directors is increased at or following the 2011 annual meeting of stockholders, any additional director elected to fill a newly created directorship shall hold office for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders. In no case shall a decrease in the number of directors remove or shorten the term of any incumbent director.

(f)         A majority of the total number of directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but shall be no less than one-third (1/3) of the total authorized number of directors. Except as otherwise provided by law, this Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws, 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.

(g)         Directors need not be elected by written ballot unless the By-Laws shall so provide.

Section 5.2     Vacancies; Newly-Created Directorships; Qualification .

(a)         In the event of a vacancy on the Board resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of any Regional Director after April 30, 2009, and prior to the date of the annual meeting of the Corporation occurring in the calendar year 2011, the Board shall request that a representative sample of the financial institutions participating in the payments system operated by the Corporation and its Subsidiaries and which are organized under the laws of countries (or their respective states, provinces, territories or dominions) falling within the geographic region to which such Regional Director pertains, as the Board may determine, in its sole discretion, (such stockholder(s) or any individuals designated by such stockholder(s), a “ Regional Nominating Committee ”), nominate an individual for the Board’s consideration in filling such vacancy; provided , however , that such nominee must be an

 

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individual who qualifies (as set forth in Section 5.2(c)) as a Regional Director of the region in which the Regional Director vacancy exists. Following any such nomination, the Board shall, at the next scheduled meeting of the Board or any special meeting called for such purpose, vote upon any nominee submitted by the Regional Nominating Committee. If such nominee is elected by a majority of the full Board present at a meeting at which there is a quorum, such nominee shall be elected as a member of the Board. If such nominee fails to be elected at such meeting, then the Board shall call a special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation for the purpose of voting to elect a director to fill such vacancy. Any person elected to the Board in the manner provided in this Section 5.2 shall be a Regional Director for purposes of Section 5.1 hereof. For clarity, no period of vacancy contemplated by this Section 5.2(a) shall be deemed to give rise to any conflict with the terms of Section 5.1(c).

(b)         Except as provided in Section 5.2(a), and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding and to the By-Laws, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation or other cause shall be filled only by a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, and each director so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other reason. For clarity, no period of vacancy contemplated by this Section 5.2(b) shall be deemed to give rise to any conflict with the terms of Sections 5.1(c) or 5.1(d).

(c)         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Certificate of Incorporation, no candidate shall be nominated to stand for election as a Class I director of the Corporation at any annual meeting of the Corporation (or any special meeting of the Corporation held for the purpose of electing Class I directors) held on or after January 1, 2008 and on or before April 30, 2009, unless such candidate shall meet the following qualifications: (i) such candidate shall be a senior executive or former senior executive of a Visa Member (or shall be a serving director of the Corporation who has been nominated for re-election upon the expiration of his or her term); and (ii) such candidate shall have been approved by the then-serving Regional Directors. This Section 5.2(c) shall have no further effect from and after May 1, 2009.

Section 5.3     Removal of Directors .

Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, unless otherwise restricted by this Certificate of Incorporation, any director may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, only by the affirmative vote of at least eighty percent (80%) in voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors, voting together as a single class.

Section 5.4     Election of Directors by Preferred Stock Holders .

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 directors 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 Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) applicable thereto.

 

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Section 5.5     Delegations of Authority .

The Board is expressly authorized to establish, through the adoption of any provision of the By-Laws or any resolution of the Board, one or more regional advisory councils and may, to the extent permitted by the DGCL, by this Certificate of Incorporation and by the By-Laws, delegate authority to such regional advisory councils.

Article VI

Section 6.1     Meetings of Stockholders .

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. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by or at the direction of the Board, the Chairman of the Board (or any Co-Chairman, if applicable) or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation.

Article VII

Section 7.1     Limited Liability of Directors .

No director of the Corporation will have any personal liability to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or hereafter may be amended. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article VII shall eliminate or reduce the effect thereof in respect of any matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article VII would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal.

Article VIII

Section 8.1     Indemnification .

The Corporation shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as now or hereafter in effect, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternative dispute resolution mechanism, inquiry, administrative or legal hearing or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “ Proceeding ”) by reason of the fact that such person (or the legal representative of such person) is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or any predecessor of the Corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer, employee, trustee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such Proceeding.

 

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Section 8.2     Expenses Payable in Advance .

To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as now or hereafter in effect, and not prohibited by any other applicable law, expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred by a person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or a member of the Litigation Committee in connection with any Proceeding shall be paid promptly by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding; provided , however , that if the DGCL requires, an advance of expenses incurred by any director or officer of the Corporation or a member of the Litigation Committee in his or her capacity as such (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by the indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses by the Corporation as authorized in this Article VIII.

Section 8.3     Non-Exclusivity of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses .

The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to this Article VIII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under this Certificate of Incorporation, the By-Laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, it being the policy of the Corporation that indemnification of the persons specified in Section 8.1 of this Article VIII shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by Law. The provisions of this Article VIII shall not be deemed to preclude the indemnification of any person who is not specified in Section 8.1 of this Article VIII but whom the Corporation has the power or obligation to indemnify under the provisions of the DGCL, or otherwise. The Corporation is specifically authorized to enter into individual contracts with any or all of its directors, officers, employees or agents respecting indemnification and advances, to the fullest extent not prohibited by the DGCL, or by any other applicable Law.

Section 8.4     Insurance .

To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL or any other applicable Law, 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 a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article VIII.

Section 8.5     Certain Definitions .

For purposes of this Article VIII, references to “ the Corporation ” shall include, in addition to this corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors or officers, so that any person who is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation, or is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article VIII with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued. For purposes of this Article VIII, references to “ fines ” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a

 

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person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “ serving at the request of the Corporation ” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director or officer with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries.

Section 8.6     Survival of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses .

The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this Article VIII shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, administrators and other personal and legal representatives of such a person.

Section 8.7     Limitation on Indemnification .

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article VIII to the contrary, the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any director or officer in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless (i) such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board or (ii) such director or officer has been successful on the merits in any such proceeding (or part thereof).

Section 8.8     Indemnification of Employees and Agents .

The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by or pursuant to action by the Board, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Corporation similar to those conferred in this Article VIII to directors and officers of the Corporation.

Section 8.9     Effect of Amendment or Repeal .

Neither any amendment or repeal of any Section of this Article VIII, nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws inconsistent with this Article VIII, shall adversely affect any right or protection of any director, officer, employee or other agent established pursuant to this Article VIII existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision, including without limitation by eliminating or reducing the effect of this Article VIII, for or in respect of any act, omission or other matter occurring, or any action or proceeding accruing or arising (or that, but for this Article VIII, would accrue or arise), prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision.

Section 8.10   Subrogation .

In the event of payment under this Article VIII, the Corporation shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and shall do everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the Corporation effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

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Article IX

Section 9.1     Effect of Other Business Interests .

Without limiting Section 9.3 hereof, each holder of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, and its respective Affiliates and Related Parties (other than a Related Party that is employed by, or seconded to, the Corporation, it being understood that for this purpose a director of the Corporation shall not be deemed to be employed by, or seconded to, the Corporation) (collectively, the “ Permitted Persons ”), may have any other business interests and may engage in any other business or trade, profession or employment whatsoever, on its own account, or in partnership with, or as an employee, officer, director or stockholder of any other Person, and no Permitted Person shall be required to devote its or his entire time to the business of the Corporation. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Permitted Person may (i) engage in the same or similar activities or lines of business as the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or develop or market any products or services that compete, directly or indirectly, with those of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) do business with any client or customer of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries; and (iii) hold Beneficial Ownership of securities of, or develop a business relationship with, any Person engaged in the same or similar activities or lines of business as, or otherwise in competition with, the Corporation or any of its Controlled Affiliates (collectively, the interests, activities and relationships described in this Section 9.1 are referred to as “ Permitted Activities ”).

Section 9.2     No Obligation to Present Permitted Activities to the Corporation .

Without limiting Section 9.3 hereof, neither the Corporation nor any holder of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock nor any Controlled Affiliate thereof by virtue of this Certificate of Incorporation shall have any rights in or to any Permitted Activity or the income or profits derived therefrom, regardless of whether or not such Permitted Activity was presented to a Permitted Person as a direct or indirect result of its or his connection with the Corporation. Without limiting Section 9.3 hereof, no Permitted Person shall have any obligation to present any Permitted Activity to the Corporation, even if the Permitted Activity is one that the Corporation might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so and no Permitted Person shall be liable to the Corporation or any holder of Class B Common Stock, Class C Common Stock or any Regional Class of Common Stock (or any Controlled Affiliate or Related Party thereof) for breach of any fiduciary or other duty by reason of the fact that a Permitted Person pursues or acquires such business opportunity, directs such business opportunity to another Person or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business opportunity, to the Corporation.

Section 9.3     Waiver of Corporate Opportunity Claim .

Without limiting the foregoing Sections 9.1 and 9.2 hereof, in the event that a director or officer of the Corporation who also is, or is a director, officer or employee of, a Permitted Person, acquires knowledge of a Permitted Activity which may be a corporate opportunity for both the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries and such Permitted Person or his or its Affiliates, such director or officer shall have fully satisfied and fulfilled his fiduciary duty with respect to such corporate opportunity, and the Corporation hereby renounces its interest in such business opportunity and waives any claim that such business opportunity constituted a corporate opportunity that should have been presented to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, if such director or officer acts in a manner consistent with the following policy: a corporate opportunity offered to any person who is an officer or director of the Corporation, and who also is, or is an officer, director or employee of, a Permitted Person, shall belong to such Permitted Person, unless such opportunity was offered to such Person expressly and solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation. Any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of the capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to this Article IX.

 

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Section 9.4     Confidential or Proprietary Information .

Nothing in this Article IX shall prevent or otherwise restrict the Corporation from promulgating policies regarding the safeguarding and handling of Confidential or Proprietary Information by the officers, directors and employees of the Corporation. Without limiting the foregoing, the Corporation, acting through its Board may, in its reasonable discretion, require directors and officers of the Corporation who are also directors, officers or employees of Competing Person to recuse themselves from considering (or otherwise exclude such directors and officers from participation in the consideration of) matters which relate to such Competing Person or to the Corporation’s strategy or activities to the extent that they may be of significant competitive interest to such Competing Person.

Section 9.5     Sunset .

The provisions contained in this Article IX shall, automatically and without any further action to be taken by or on behalf of the Corporation, become null and void on the fourth anniversary of March 25, 2008.

Article X

Section 10.1   Amendment .

(a)         In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the DGCL, the Board is expressly authorized to make, amend, alter, change, add to or repeal the By-Laws without the assent or vote of the stockholders in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or this Certificate of Incorporation; provided , however , that any amendment, alteration, change or repeal by the Board of any provision of the By-Laws that was adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not be effective earlier than the date that is 365 days after the date on which such provision of the By-Laws was adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation.

(b)         In addition to any votes required by applicable law, no provision of Sections 4.7, 4.8 and 4.18 and, until the third anniversary of March 25, 2008, Sections 5.1 and 5.2 of this Certificate of Incorporation (or in each case, any related term defined in Section 11.2) may be amended, altered, repealed or otherwise modified, and no provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with any such provisions may be adopted, whether by means of formal amendment thereto or by means of any merger, consolidation, amalgamation, other business combination or otherwise, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of each of the Class A Common Stock, the Class B Common Stock and the Class C Common Stock, each voting separately as a class (and together with no other class), as applicable, if such amendment, alteration, repeal or other modification would adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of such class of Common Stock. No provision of Sections 4.24, 4.26, 4.27 or 10.1 (and in each case any related term defined in Section 11.2) of this Certificate of Incorporation may be amended, altered, repealed or otherwise modified, and no provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with any such provisions may be adopted, whether by means of formal amendment thereto or by means of any merger consolidation, amalgamation, other business combination or otherwise, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the

 

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outstanding shares of each of the Class A Common Stock, the Class B Common Stock and the Class C Common Stock, each voting together as a single class of Common Stock. Neither the terms of the Class B Common Stock nor the terms of the Class C Common Stock shall be amended without, in either such case, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Class B Common Stock, voting separately (and together with no other class or series) as a class, and the affirmative votes of a majority of the Class C Common Stock, voting separately (and together with no other class or series) as a class. Without limiting the foregoing, any amendment of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation that requires the treatment of holders of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock ratably on an “as converted” basis shall not be effective unless such amendment is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of each adversely affected class of Common Stock.

Article XI

Section 11.1   Severability .

If any provision or provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service to or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Law.

Section 11.2   Defined Terms .

Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined in this Certificate of Incorporation shall have their respective meanings as defined below or, if not defined below, as defined in Annex I to the Global Restructuring Agreement:

Affiliate ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

AP Director ” shall mean a Class I director of the Corporation who is a senior executive or retired senior executive of a financial institution participating in the payments system operated by the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, which financial institution is organized under the laws of a country within the Corporation’s Asia-Pacific region (or any state, province or other political subdivision of such a country).

Applicable Conversion Rate ” shall mean: (i) with respect to each share of Class C Common Stock, 1.00 share of Class A Common Stock, as adjusted from time to time as provided herein; and (ii) with respect to each share of Class B Common Stock, (x) during the period from March 25, 2008 to the Escrow Termination Date, a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to 1.00 x (A – B – D), and (y) during the period after the Escrow Termination Date and March 25, 2008, a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to 1.00 x (A - B – D + C), in each case, as applicable, where:

 

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(A) = 0.7142888829;

(B) = a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of any Loss Shares issued from time to time and the denominator of which is the Class B Number;

(C) = a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the quotient obtained by dividing (I) the aggregate portion of any funds disbursed to the Corporation from the Escrow Account pursuant to Section 4.9 of the Global Restructuring Agreement or to the Escrow Agreement other than any Disregarded Escrow Distribution amount by (II) the Price Per Share and the denominator of which shall be the Class B Number; and

(D) = a fraction, the numerator of which is (x) the Loss Funds Share Equivalent for all Loss Funds deposited into the Escrow Account from time to time, and the denominator of which is the Class B Number.

Beneficial Owner ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rules), except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular Person, for purposes solely of this Certificate of Incorporation, and not for purposes of such rules, (a) such Person will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such Person has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition and (b) such Person will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of any shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any shares of Class B Common Stock and/or Class C Common Stock beneficially owned by such Person only for purposes of Section 4.24(b)(ii) hereof and not for purposes of any other section hereof. The terms “ Beneficially Owns ,” “ Beneficial Ownership ” and “ Beneficially Owned ” have a corresponding meaning.

Business Day ” shall mean any day except a Saturday, a Sunday and any day which in New York, New York, United States shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or other government action to close.

Canada Director ” shall mean a Class I director of the Corporation who is a senior executive or retired senior executive of a financial institution participating in the payment system operated by the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, which financial institution is organized under the laws of Canada or any of its provinces or territories.

CEMEA Director ” shall mean a Class I director of the Corporation who is a senior executive or retired senior executive of a financial institution participating in the payment system operated by the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, which financial institution is organized under the laws of a country within the Corporation’s Central Europe, Middle East and Africa region (or any state, province or other political subdivision of such a country).

Class B Number ” shall mean 245,513,385, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.14(a).

 

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Competing Person ” means any Person whom the Board reasonably determines is a significant direct competitor of the Corporation in the sense that a substantial activity of such Person is in direct competition with a significant business interest of the Corporation.

Confidential or Proprietary Information ” shall mean (i) all information or material which the Board, in its reasonable discretion designates confidential, proprietary or competitively sensitive and (ii) any trade secrets of the Corporation or its Subsidiaries.

Control ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

Covered Litigation ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term on Schedule A to the Loss Sharing Agreement.

Daily Trading Limit ” shall mean fifteen percent (15%) of the average daily trading volume of the Company’s Class A Common Stock over the four (4) calendar weeks prior to the week of the Funding Decision Date; provided , however , that the Board or a committee of the Board, if constituted in the discretion of the Board, may set the Daily Trading Limit to an alternate limit so long as (a) the alternate limit does not exceed the result obtained from the formula set forth above, and (b) the Board or committee, as the case may be, obtains the consent of a majority of the members of the Litigation Committee for such alternate limit.

Daily VWAP ” means the volume-weighted average price per share for any given Trading Day, as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page V <equity> VWAP (or any equivalent successor page) in respect of the period from 9:30 am EST to 4:00 pm EST, or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, Reuters volume-weighted average price shall be used as displayed under their “Time Series Data” for Visa (/V.N) using the “Vol x Prc1” field; or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the market value per share of the Class A Common Stock on such Trading Day as calculated by Visa using a volume weighted average that uses the price and volume of each trade of Visa Class A Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange from 9:30 am EST to 4:00 pm EST for that Trading Day.

DGCL ” shall mean the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time.

Disregarded Escrow Distribution ” shall mean any amount at any time disbursed to the Corporation from the Escrow Account in respect of (i) a Tax Distribution (as such term is defined in Section 4(d) of the Escrow Agreement) or (ii) a reimbursement of any Covered Payment (as such term is defined in 3(b)(vii) of the Loss Sharing Agreement).

Escrow Account ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Escrow Agreement.

Escrow Agreement ” shall mean the Escrow Agreement, dated as of September 28, 2007, among the Corporation, Visa U.S.A., Inc., a Delaware corporation and U.S. National Bank National Association, as escrow agent, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Escrow Amount ” shall mean Three Billion Dollars ($3,000,000,000).

 

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Escrow Termination Date ” shall mean the date on which all of the Covered Litigation has been finally resolved, whether by means of a dismissal thereof by a court of competent jurisdiction from which there is no further right of appeal, or the issuance of a Governmental Order by a court of competent jurisdiction or other applicable Governmental Authority either approving a settlement thereof or entering a final judgment with respect thereto from which there is no further right of appeal. The Corporation shall deliver written notice to the Litigation Committee, to each holder of any shares of Class B Common Stock and to the Escrow Agent promptly after the occurrence of the Escrow Termination Date.

E.U. ” shall mean the European Union.

Exchange Act ” shall mean the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (or any successor legislation).

Global Restructuring Agreement ” shall mean that certain Amended and Restated Global Restructuring Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2007, among the Corporation and the other parties thereto, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Governmental Authority ” shall mean any United States, E.U., national, federal, state, provincial, county, municipal or other local government or governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, or any court, in each case whether of the United States of America or any other country applicable to a specified Person.

Independent Director ” shall mean a natural person who, at the time he or she stands for election to the Board meets all of the requirements of the definition of an “independent director” under Section 303A.02 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, as amended (or any successor provision or listing requirement applicable to the Corporation); provided , however , that no person shall be deemed to qualify as an “ Independent Director ” unless the Board shall have affirmatively determined, prior to the election of such person to the Board, that such person has no material relationship with the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries (either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of any Person that has a relationship with the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries).

IPO ” shall mean the initial public offering of the Class A Common Stock of the Corporation consummated on March 25, 2008.

IPO Price ” shall mean the price per share of Class A Common Stock received by the Corporation in the IPO, net of any underwriting discounts and commissions.

LAC Director ” shall mean a Class I director of the Corporation who is a senior executive or retired senior executive of a financial institution participating in the payment system operated by the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, which financial institution is organized under the laws of a country within the Corporation’s Latin America and Caribbean region (or any state, province or other political subdivision of such a country).

Law ” shall mean any statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority.

 

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LIBOR ” shall mean, on any date of determination, the London interbank offered rate for U.S. Dollar deposits for three (3) months that appears on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (on the Reuters Service, or such other page as may replace that page on that service for the purpose of displaying comparable rates or prices) as it related to Dollars as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on such date. If, on any date of determination, such rate does not appear on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page, “ LIBOR ” shall mean the arithmetic mean of rates quoted by three (3) major banks in The City of New York at approximately 11:00 a.m., E.S.T., on such date for loans denominated in U.S. Dollars to leading European banks, for a period of three (3) months, commencing on the first day of such period, and in a principal amount equal to an amount of not less than $250,000 that is representative of a single transaction in such market at such time.

Litigation Committee ” shall mean the Litigation Committee of Visa USA established by the Litigation Committee Resolution and maintained pursuant to the Litigation Management Agreement.

Litigation Committee Resolution ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Second Restated Visa USA Certificate of Incorporation.

Litigation Management Agreement ” shall mean the Litigation Management Agreement dated as of August 10, 2007, by and among the Corporation, Visa International Service Association, Visa U.S.A., Inc. and members of the Litigation Committee, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Loss Funds ” shall mean, cash deposited into the Escrow Account in accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement and Section 4.28 of this Certificate of Incorporation. The Board shall designate such cash deposited into the Escrow Account as “Loss Funds” for purposes of calculating the Applicable Conversion Rate from and after the date of such deposit until any subsequent calculation or adjustment of the Applicable Conversion Rate.

Loss Funds Cost Per Share ” shall mean, as of any date on which Loss Funds are deposited into the Escrow Account in accordance with Section 4.28 of this Certificate of Incorporation, the weighted average of the Daily VWAP of Class A Common Stock during the Pricing Reference Period applicable to such deposit of Loss Funds (where each Daily VWAP is weighted by the trading volume for that day as a percentage of the total trading volume over the Pricing Reference Period); provided , however , that with respect to any deposit of Loss Funds in calendar year 2008, the Loss Funds Cost Per Share shall be the weighted average of the Daily VWAP during the 15 Trading Days most closely preceding and including December 19, 2008 (where each Daily VWAP is weighted by the trading volume for that day as a percentage of the total volume over such fifteen (15) Trading Days), in each case, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.14(a). For the avoidance of doubt, if the ex-date of a subdivision, reclassification, split, combination, dividend or distribution occurs during the Pricing Reference Period, the adjustment provided in Section 4.14(a) shall apply in a manner to only adjust the Daily VWAP of Class A Common Stock for those days in the Pricing Reference Period occurring prior to such ex-date (and to inversely adjust the trading volume for such days).

Loss Funds Share Equivalent ” shall mean, in respect of any deposit of Loss Funds into the Escrow Account, the amount of such Loss Funds deposited divided by the Loss Funds Cost Per Share as of the date of such deposit.

 

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Loss Shares ” shall mean any shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the Corporation in a primary offering (other than an IPO) in accordance with the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation and the proceeds of which are intended to be used to satisfy any liabilities in respect of any of the Covered Litigation and which are designated by the Board of Directors as “ Loss Shares ”.

Loss Sharing Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Annex I to the Global Restructuring Agreement.

Person ” shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, estate, trust, common or collective fund, association, private foundation, joint stock company or other entity and includes a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

Price Per Share ” shall mean the greater of (i) the volume-weighted average price per share of Class A Common Stock during the ninety (90) Trading Day period or the total number of Trading Days if the Class A Common Stock has been listed for trading for less than ninety (90) days at the relevant time of determination ending on the third Trading Day immediately preceding the Escrow Termination Date, as reported by the principal exchange or market on which shares of Class A Common Stock are traded and (ii) $0.01, in each case, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.14(a). For the avoidance of doubt, if the ex-date of a subdivision, reclassification, split, combination, dividend or distribution occurs during such ninety (90) Trading Day period, the adjustment provided in Section 4.14(a) shall apply in a manner to adjust only the volume-weighted price per share of Class A Common Stock for those days in the ninety (90) Trading Day period occurring prior to such ex-date.

Pricing Reference Period ” shall mean, with respect to any deposit of Loss Funds, a period commencing on the applicable Funding Decision Date and lasting for a number of Trading Days equal to: (A) the amount of such Loss Funds divided by the volume weighted average of the Daily VWAP of Class A Common Stock over the five (5) Trading Days immediately prior to the Funding Decision Date (where each Daily VWAP is weighed by the trading volume for that day as a percentage of the total trading volume over the five (5) day period), divided by (B) the Daily Trading Limit. To the extent the foregoing formula does not result in a whole number, it shall be rounded to the next highest whole number.

Quarter ” means a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the first Quarter Date after such date, and each three-month period thereafter ending on the next subsequent Quarter Date.

Quarter Date ” means 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December in each calendar year.

Regional Class of Common Stock ” shall mean any of the following former classes of the Corporation’s common stock: Class AP Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, the Class Canada Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, the Class CEMEA Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, any series of the Class EU Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, the Class LAC Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, or the Class USA Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share formerly issued by this Corporation.

Regional Director ” shall mean any AP Director, Canada Director, CEMEA Director, LAC Director or USA Director.

 

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Related Party ” shall mean, with respect to any Person who is not an individual, (i) a director, officer, employee of such Person, including with respect to a director, any individual who is elected a director by such holder of Class B Common Stock or any Regional Class of Common Stock, or (ii) a partner, member or stockholder of such person, which partner, member or stockholder holds at least ten percent (10%) of the equity securities of such Person.

Review Committee ” shall mean a committee of the Board of Directors, if constituted in the discretion of the Board of Directors, consisting of the Regional Directors.

Similar Person ” means (a) any Person that is an operator of any general purpose payment card system that competes with the Corporation and, except in the context of Section 4.11 or Section 4.24(a), a member or licensee of such person, or (b) any Affiliate of such a Person described in clause (a).

Subsidiary ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, (a) any corporation more than fifty percent (50%) of whose stock of any class or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is owned by such Person directly or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries of such Person and (b) any partnership, association, joint venture or other entity in which such Person directly or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries of such Person has more than a fifty percent (50%) equity interest.

Trading Day ” shall mean a day on which the primary market for the Class A Common Stock is open for trading, and the Class A Common Stock is not subject to a market disruption event, such as a suspension, absence, or material limitation of trading for more than two (2) hours of trading or during the one-half hour period preceding the close of the scheduled trading session in that market, or a material breakdown or failure in the price and trade reporting systems of the primary market for the Class A Common Stock.

Transfer ” means any issuance, sale, transfer, gift, assignment, distribution devise or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by operation of law or otherwise, as well as any other event that causes any Person to acquire Beneficial Ownership, or any agreement to take any such actions or cause any such events, of Class A Common Stock or Other Common Stock or the right to vote Class A Common Stock or Other Common Stock, including (a) the granting or exercise of any option (or any disposition of any option), (b) any disposition of any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock or Other Common Stock or any interest in Class A Common Stock or Other Common Stock or any exercise of any such conversion or exchange right and (c) Transfers of interests in other entities that result in changes in Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock or Other Common Stock, in each case, whether voluntary or involuntary, whether owned of record, or Beneficially Owned and whether by merger, operation of law or otherwise; provided , however , that the mere change of Control of any Person, the equity securities of which are publicly traded, shall not, in and of itself, constitute a Transfer unless a purpose of such change of Control is to acquire ownership of Class A Common Stock or Other Common Stock in excess of the ownership restrictions set forth in Section 4.24 hereof. The terms “ Transferring ,” “ Transferred ,” “ Transferee ” and “ Transferor ” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

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USA Director ” shall mean a Class I director of the Corporation who is a senior executive or retired senior executive of a financial institution participating in the payment system operated by the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, which financial institution is organized under the federal laws of the United States or of any of its states, dominions or territories.

Visa Canada ” means Visa Canada Association and its successors in interest (including, without limitation, any entity formed by the amalgamation of Visa Canada Association or any of its successors with any other entity).

Visa Europe ” means Visa Europe Limited, a limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales and/or Visa Europe, Services Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware.

Visa Litigation Obligation ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Loss Sharing Agreement.

Visa Member ” means any Person that, immediately after October 3, 2007, is or was (i) the Beneficial Owner of any shares of any Regional Class of Common Stock, (ii) a member of Visa USA, Visa Europe or Visa Canada or (iii) an Affiliate of any of the foregoing.

Visa Litigation Obligation ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Loss Sharing Agreement.

***

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been signed by a duly authorized officer of the Corporation this 28th day of January, 2015.

 

VISA INC.
By: /s/ Kelly Mahon Tullier
Name: Kelly Mahon Tullier
Title: Corporate Secretary

Exhibit 3.3

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 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

 

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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.

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.

 

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(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 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;

 

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(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 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 a majority 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.

 

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(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 .

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.

 

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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 .

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

 

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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.

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.

 

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(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 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.

 

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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 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.

 

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(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 .

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

 

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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 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 .

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

 

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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.

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.

 

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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.

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.

 

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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 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.

 

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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 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

 

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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.

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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