UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 5, 2018 (June 4, 2018)

 

 

 

LOGO

CVS HEALTH CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

    Delaware    
   

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

   
001-01011       05-0494040

(Commission

File Number)

     

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

One CVS Drive

Woonsocket, Rhode Island

      02895
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)       (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (401) 765-1500

 

 

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 Instruction 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))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 

 


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

(a) On June 4, 2018, CVS Health Corporation (the “Company”) held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). Following the receipt of stockholder approval at the Annual Meeting as described in Item 5.07 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation reducing the ownership threshold for stockholders to call special meetings from 25% to 15% of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding capital stock, subject to certain requirements (the “Certificate of Amendment”). In addition, the Company filed (i) a Certificate of Retirement with respect to the Company’s Series I ESOP Convertible Preference Stock (of which no shares are currently issued and outstanding) (the “Certificate of Retirement”) pursuant to Section 242(a)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law and (ii) a Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, integrating all amendments to date to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation pursuant to Section 245 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. The foregoing certificates were filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 4, 2018 and were effective as of such date.

In addition, the Company had previously resolved to amend and restate the By-laws of the Company, contingent upon receipt of stockholder approval of the Certificate of Amendment described above, reflecting the same reduction in the ownership threshold required for stockholders to call special meetings of stockholders that is in the Certificate of Amendment, as well as making certain minor clarifications and conforming changes.

The foregoing descriptions of the Certificate of Amendment, Certificate of Retirement, Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and By-laws of the Company do not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the exhibits attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

 

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

The following are the voting results on each matter submitted to the stockholders of the Company at the Annual Meeting. The proposals below are described in detail in the proxy statement filed by the Company on April 24, 2018 (the “Proxy Statement”). At the Annual Meeting, the 12 nominees for director were elected to the Company’s Board of Directors for a term of one year (Proposal 1). In addition, management proposals regarding the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2018 (Proposal 2), a non-binding resolution regarding approval of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in the Proxy Statement (Proposal 3), and an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation as described above (Proposal 4), were approved. In addition, a stockholder proposal requesting a by-law regarding confidential voting on executive pay matters (Proposal 5) was rejected.

 

     For      Against      Abstained      Broker Non-Votes  

1.  The election, for one-year terms, of persons nominated for directors, all as set forth in the Company’s Proxy Statement, was approved by the following votes:

           

Richard M. Bracken

     774,560,830        3,155,955        1,440,047        105,740,384  

C. David Brown II

     759,035,621        18,620,357        1,500,854        105,740,384  

Alecia A. DeCoudreaux

     775,242,048        2,539,395        1,375,389        105,740,384  

Nancy-Ann M. DeParle

     775,424,784        2,347,382        1,384,666        105,740,384  

David W. Dorman

     755,980,617        21,716,488        1,459,727        105,740,384  

Anne M. Finucane

     765,724,340        12,036,410        1,396,082        105,740,384  

Larry J. Merlo

     772,932,498        4,765,259        1,459,075        105,740,384  

Jean-Pierre Millon

     764,566,575        13,135,116        1,455,141        105,740,384  

Mary L. Schapiro

     775,205,892        2,584,442        1,366,498        105,740,384  


Richard J. Swift

    653,558,284       124,125,322       1,473,226       105,740,384  

William C. Weldon

    765,577,076       12,138,660       1,441,096       105,740,384  

Tony L. White

    766,544,621       11,240,477       1,371,734       105,740,384  

2.  Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2018, as set forth in the Company’s Proxy Statement, was approved by the following vote:

    864,664,074       18,847,601       1,385,541       —    

3.  Company proposal to approve, by a non-binding vote, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as set forth in the Company’s Proxy Statement, was approved by the following vote:

    708,755,845       67,720,755       2,680,232       105,740,384  

4.  Company proposal to approve an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to reduce the ownership threshold required for stockholders to call a special meeting, as set forth in the Company’s Proxy Statement, was approved by the following vote:

    768,380,907       9,354,521       1,421,404       105,740,384  

5.  Stockholder proposal requesting a by-law regarding confidential voting on executive pay matters was rejected by the following vote:

    32,520,988       740,930,059       5,705,785       105,740,384  

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

  (d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.   Document
3.1A   Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of CVS Health Corporation
3.1B   Certificate of Retirement of Series One ESOP Convertible Preference Stock of CVS Health Corporation
3.1C   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of CVS Health Corporation
3.2   By-laws of CVS Health Corporation


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.

 

CVS HEALTH CORPORATION

By:   /s/: Colleen M. McIntosh
 

Colleen M. McIntosh

Senior Vice President, Corporate Secretary

and Assistant General Counsel

 

Dated: June 5, 2018

Exhibit 3.1A

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

OF

THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

CVS HEALTH CORPORATION

Pursuant to Section 242 of the

General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware

A. The name of the corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “ Corporation ”) is CVS HEALTH CORPORATION. The date of filing of its original Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of the State of Delaware is August 22, 1996.

B. At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Corporation on January 25, 2018, resolutions were duly adopted approving the following proposed amendment of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”) of the Corporation and declaring said amendment to be advisable. The proposed amendment was as follows:

Article NINTH of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended to read in its entirety as set forth below:

NINTH: Special meetings of the stockholders may be called (i) by the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or (ii) upon written request from holders of record of at least fifteen percent (15%) of the voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote on the matter or matters to be brought before the proposed special meeting, filed with the Secretary of the Corporation and otherwise in accordance with the By-laws, and may not be called by any other person or persons. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a class or series, to elect directors, such holders may call, to the extent provided in Article FOURTH (or pursuant to the terms of the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to ARTICLE FOURTH hereof), special meetings of holders of such Preferred Stock or Preference Stock.

C. Thereafter, pursuant to a resolution of its Board of Directors, a meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation was duly called and held on June 4, 2018, upon notice in accordance with Section 222 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, at which meeting the necessary number of shares as required by statute were voted in favor of the amendment.

D. The foregoing amendment was duly adopted in accordance with Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.


E. The effective date of the amendment shall be June 4, 2018.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate to be duly executed in its corporate name this 4th day of June, 2018.

 

CVS HEALTH CORPORATION

By:   /s/ Colleen M. McIntosh
 

Name: Colleen M. McIntosh

Title: Senior Vice President, Secretary and

Assistant General Counsel

 

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Exhibit 3.1B

CERTIFICATE OF RETIREMENT OF SERIES ONE ESOP

CONVERTIBLE PREFERENCE STOCK

OF

CVS HEALTH CORPORATION

Pursuant to Section 243(b)

of the General Corporation Law

of the State of Delaware

CVS Health Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), HEREBY CERTIFIES as follows:

1. As of December 31, 2009, all 6,688,494 shares of the Series One ESOP Convertible Preference Stock, par value $1 per share, of the Corporation (the “Series One Preference Stock”), which had previously been issued and outstanding, had been converted into shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, pursuant to the provisions of the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended.

2. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, provides that any shares of Series One Preference Stock acquired by the Corporation by reason of their conversion shall be retired as shares of Series One Preference Stock and shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preference Stock of the Corporation, undesignated as to series, and may thereafter be reissued as part of a new Series of such Preference Stock as permitted by law.

3. Accordingly, pursuant to the provisions of Section 243(b), upon the effective date of the filing of this Certificate of Retirement, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation shall be amended so as to eliminate therefrom all reference to the Series One Preference Stock.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Retirement to be signed by Colleen M. McIntosh, its duly authorized officer, this 4th day of June, 2018.

 

CVS Health Corporation
By:   /s/ Colleen M. McIntosh
  Name: Colleen M. McIntosh
  Title: Senior Vice President, Secretary and
  Asst. General Counsel

Exhibit 3.1C

RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

CVS HEALTH CORPORATION

CVS Health Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies as follows:

1. The name of the Corporation is “CVS Health Corporation” and the name under which the Corporation was originally formed is “CVS Corporation.” The original Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 22, 1996.

2. This Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this “Restated Certificate”) has been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

3. Pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, this Restated Certificate of Incorporation restates and integrates and does not further amend the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation and there is no discrepancy between the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation as heretofore amended and supplemented and the provisions of this Restated Certificate.

4. The text of the Certificate of Incorporation as heretofore amended is hereby integrated and restated to read in its entirety as hereinafter set forth:

FIRST : The name of the Corporation is “CVS Health Corporation”.

SECOND : The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

THIRD : The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (“Delaware Law”).

FOURTH : The authorized capital stock of the Corporation consists of 3,200,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), (ii) 120,619 shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”), and (iii) 50,000,000 shares of Preference Stock, par value $1 per share (“Preference Stock”).


All the designations, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the shares of each class, and the restrictions or qualifications thereof, shall be as follows:

I. Provisions Generally Applicable To Capital Stock

I.A. Voting Rights of Common Stock

Each holder of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share thereof held of record by such holder.

I.B. Ranking of Capital Stock

The Preferred Stock shall be senior to the Preference Stock and the Common Stock, and the Preference Stock and the Common Stock shall be subject to all the rights and preferences of the Preferred Stock as hereafter set forth. The Preference Stock shall be senior to the Common Stock, and the Common Stock shall be subject to all the rights and preferences of the Preference Stock as hereafter set forth.

I.C. No Preemptive Rights

No stockholder of the Corporation shall be entitled as such, as a matter of right, to subscribe for or purchase any part of any new or additional issue of stock of any class or series whatsoever, any rights or options to purchase stock of any class or series whatsoever, whether now or hereafter authorized and whether issued for cash or other consideration or by way of dividend.

I.D. Fractional Interests

In case any person shall become entitled to a fractional interest in a share of Preferred Stock, of Preference Stock or of Common Stock, the Corporation may deliver a scrip certificate representing such fractional interest, which together with other similar scrip certificates aggregating a whole share, may be surrendered in exchange for a stock certificate representing one full share of Preferred Stock, Preference Stock or Common Stock, as the case may be; provided, however, that the rights of the holders of such scrip certificates shall be subject to any conditions and limitations prescribed by the Board of Directors, which may include a provision that after a specified date the scrip certificate shall become absolutely void.

II. Preferred Stock

II.A. Provisions Generally Applicable to Preferred Stock

II.A.(i) The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, the shares of each series to have such designations, preferences, privileges, and voting powers, and the restrictions or qualifications thereof, as are stated and expressed herein or in a resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series adopted by the Board of Directors as hereafter provided.

II.A.(ii) Authority is hereby expressly granted to the Board of Directors, subject to the provisions of this Restated Certificate and Delaware Law, to authorize the issue of one or more series of Preferred Stock and with respect to each such series to fix by resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series:

(1) The number of shares of Preferred Stock which shall comprise such series and the distinctive designation thereof;

 

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(2) The dividend rate on the shares of such series (not exceeding $6 a share per annum) and the date or dates from which dividends shall accumulate;

(3) Whether or not the shares of such series shall be subject to purchase and to redemption and the amount of premium, if any (not exceeding $7 a share), which the holders of shares of such series shall be entitled to receive over and above $100 a share and any accrued dividends thereon upon the redemption thereof or upon the voluntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation;

(4) Whether or not the shares of such series shall be subject to the operation of a sinking fund to be applied to the purchase or redemption of the shares of such series for retirement and, if such sinking fund be established, the terms and provisions relative to the operation thereof;

(5) Whether or not the shares of such series shall be made convertible into or exchangeable for any other class or classes or for any other series of the same class of stock of the Corporation and, if made so convertible or exchangeable, the conversion price or prices or rates of exchange at which such conversion or exchange may be made and the method, if any, of adjusting the same;

(6) The restrictions, if any, on the payment of dividends upon, and the making of distributions to, any class of stock ranking junior to the shares of Preferred Stock, and the restrictions, if any, on the purchase or redemption of the shares of any such junior class; and

(7) The voting rights, if any, of the shares of such series other than those voting rights provided for in Section II.A.(viii) of this Article FOURTH.

II.A.(iii) All shares of any one series of Preferred Stock shall be identical with each other in all respects except that shares of any one series issued at different times may differ as to the dates from which dividends thereon shall accumulate; and all series shall rank equally and be identical in all respects except as permitted in the foregoing provisions of Section II.A.(ii) of this Article FOURTH.

II.A.(iv) The holders of shares of Preferred Stock of each series shall be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board of Directors, dividends payable in cash in, but not exceeding, the amount fixed for such series. Such dividends shall be cumulative, so that if dividends on all outstanding Preferred Stock of each series in the amount fixed therefor shall not have been paid or declared and set apart for payment for all past dividend periods, and for the dividend period current at the time, the deficiency shall be fully paid, or dividends equal thereto declared and set apart for payment, but without interest thereon, before any dividends on any class of stock of the Corporation junior to the Preferred Stock shall be paid or declared and set apart for payment.

Dividends shall not be declared or paid on the Preferred Stock of any one series for any dividend period unless dividends have been or are contemporaneously paid or declared and set apart for payment on the Preferred Stock of all series for the dividend periods terminating on the same and all earlier dates.

 

3


Any dividend paid in an amount less than full cumulative dividends accrued or in arrears on all Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be divided between the outstanding Preferred Stock in proportion to the amounts which would be distributable per share to the Preferred Stock if full cumulative dividends were declared and paid thereon.

After full cumulative dividends as aforesaid upon the Preferred Stock of all series then outstanding shall have been paid for all past dividend periods, and full dividends on the Preferred Stock then outstanding for the current dividend period shall have been declared and paid or set apart for payment, and after complying with all the provisions with respect to any sinking fund or funds for any one or more series of Preferred Stock, then, and not otherwise, dividends may be declared and paid upon any class of stock of the Corporation junior to the Preferred Stock.

II.A.(v) In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation the Preferred Stock shall be preferred as to assets as well as dividends and upon any such dissolution, liquidation or winding up, the holders of the Preferred Stock of each series shall be entitled to receive and be paid for each share thereof out of the assets of the Corporation (whether capital or surplus) $100, together with an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid dividends thereon computed to the date of payment, plus a premium of such additional amount per share as shall have been fixed for such series in the event the dissolution, liquidation or winding up is voluntary, before any distribution of the assets shall be made to the holders of any class of stock of the Corporation junior to the Preferred Stock. All assets remaining after such distribution to the Preferred Stock shall then be distributed exclusively among the holders of any class or classes of stock of the Corporation junior to the Preferred Stock. If, upon any such dissolution, liquidation or winding up, the assets of the Corporation distributable among the holders of Preferred Stock shall be insufficient to pay in full the preferential amount aforesaid, then such assets or the proceeds thereof shall be distributed ratably among the holders of Preferred Stock then outstanding until there shall have been paid in full and in order, first, the sum of $100 in respect of each share; second, an amount ratably in proportion to the amounts to which they are respectively entitled by reason of accrued and unpaid dividends computed to the date of distribution; and third, the balance ratably in proportion to the amounts to which they are respectively entitled by way of premium.

II.A.(vi) The Corporation, at its option to be exercised by its Board of Directors, may redeem the whole or any part of any series of Preferred Stock which by its terms is subject to redemption, at the time or times provided in the terms of such series, at a redemption price per share for each series thereof, equal to: $100 plus a premium, if any, of such additional amount as shall have been fixed as payable in case of redemption in respect of each share of such series and an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon computed to the date of redemption. If at any time less than all of the Preferred Stock then outstanding and subject to redemption shall be called for redemption, the Board of Directors may select the series of such Preferred Stock to be redeemed and if less than all the Preferred Stock of any series is to be called for redemption, the shares to be redeemed may be selected by lot or by such other equitable method as the Board of Directors in its discretion may determine. Notice of every such redemption, stating the redemption date, the redemption price, and the place of payment thereof, shall be given by mailing a copy of such notice at least thirty (30) days and not more than sixty (60) days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the holders of record of the Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective addresses as the same appear on the books of the Corporation. A similar notice shall be published at least once in a daily newspaper printed in the English language and published and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York.

 

4


At any time after notice of redemption has been given in the manner prescribed by the Board of Directors to the holders of stock so to be redeemed the Corporation may deposit with a bank or trust company having capital, surplus and undivided profits of at least $5,000,000 named in such notice, the redemption price, in trust, for payment on or before the date fixed for redemption, as aforesaid, to the respective orders of the holders of the shares so to be redeemed, on such endorsement to the Corporation or its nominee or otherwise, as may be required, and upon surrender of the certificates for such shares. Upon the deposit of the said redemption price as aforesaid, or, if no such deposit is made, upon the said redemption date (unless the Corporation shall default in making payment of the redemption price as set forth in such notice), such holders shall cease to be stockholders with respect to the said shares, and from and after the making of the said deposit, or, if no such deposit is made, after the redemption date (the Corporation not having defaulted in making payment of the redemption price as set forth in such notice), the said shares shall no longer be transferable on the books of the Corporation, and the said holders shall have no interest in or claim against the Corporation with respect to the said shares but shall be entitled only to such conversion rights (if any) on or before the date fixed for redemption as may be provided with respect to such shares or to receive payment of the redemption price without interest thereon, upon endorsement; provided, that any funds so deposited by the Corporation and unclaimed at the end of one year from the date fixed for such redemption shall be repaid to the Corporation upon its request, after which repayment the holders of such shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Corporation for the payment of the redemption price thereof. Any funds so deposited, which shall not be required for such redemption because of the exercise of any right of conversion or otherwise subsequently to the date of such deposit, shall be returned to the Corporation forthwith. Any interest accrued on any funds so deposited shall belong to the Corporation and shall be paid to it from time to time.

In order to facilitate the redemption of any shares of Preferred Stock, the Board of Directors is authorized to cause the transfer books of the Corporation to be closed as to the shares to be redeemed.

The Corporation shall have the right, provided full cumulative dividends on the Preferred Stock shall have been paid for past dividend periods and the Corporation shall not then be in default as to any payment required for any sinking fund created with respect to any series of Preferred Stock, to purchase Preferred Stock of any series which is subject to purchase by the terms of such series, at prices not in excess of the then redemption price thereof, either for the purpose of redemption or retirement or to be held, used and disposed of as treasury shares.

II.A.(vii) If at any time the Corporation shall have failed to pay dividends in full on the Preferred Stock, thereafter and until dividends in full, including all accrued and unpaid dividends, on Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid, or declared and set aside for payment, the Corporation shall not redeem any Preferred Stock except as a whole and shall not purchase any Preferred Stock except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of the Preferred Stock upon the same terms as to any series, and shall not purchase or redeem any other shares of any class ranking on a parity with or junior to the Preferred Stock as to dividends or as to assets.

 

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II.A.(viii) Special Voting Rights of Preferred Stock

(1) The Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote at a meeting, or the written consent with or without a meeting, of the holders of at least two-thirds of the then outstanding Preferred Stock of all series:

(a) Change the express terms and provisions applicable to all series of the Preferred Stock in any material respect prejudicial to the holders thereof; or

(b) Create any class of stock which shall be preferred as to dividends or as to assets over the Preferred Stock.

(2) The Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote at a meeting, or the written consent with or without a meeting, of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding Preferred Stock of any particular series, change the express terms of the special provisions for such series as provided in this Restated Certificate or in the resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors providing for the issue of such series in any material respect prejudicial to the holders of shares of such series.

(3) The Corporation shall not without the affirmative vote at a meeting, or the written consent with or without a meeting, of the holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding Preferred Stock of all series, increase the authorized number of shares of Preferred Stock or create any class of stock which shall rank on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividends or as to assets.

(4) If the Corporation shall have failed to pay dividends upon the Preferred Stock in an aggregate amount equal to four full quarterly dividends on any series of the Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the holders of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a class at the annual meeting of stockholders, to elect one-third (or the nearest number thereto) of the members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation until such time as all dividends accumulated on the Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full; and upon such payment in full of all dividends accumulated on the Preferred Stock, such special voting rights of holders thereof shall cease, subject to re-vesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character above mentioned.

III. Preference Stock

III.A. Provisions Generally Applicable to Preference Stock

III.A.(i) The Preference Stock may be issued from time to time by the Board of Directors as shares of one or more series. Subject to the provisions hereof and the limitations prescribed by law, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized, prior to issuance, by adopting resolutions providing for the issuance of shares of any particular series and, if and to the extent from time to time required by law, by filing a certificate pursuant to the Delaware Law (or other laws hereafter in effect relating to the same or substantially similar subject matter), to establish the number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix the designations, relative rights, preferences and limitations of the shares of each such series. The authority of the Board of Directors with respect to each series shall include, but not be limited to, determination of the following:

(1) the distinctive serial designation of such series and the number of shares constituting such series (provided that the aggregate number of shares constituting all series of Preference Stock shall not exceed 50,000,000);

(2) the dividend rate, or basis for determining such rate, if any, on shares of such series, whether dividends shall be cumulative and, if so, from which date or dates;

 

6


(3) whether the shares of each series shall be redeemable and, if so, the terms and conditions of such redemption, including the date or dates upon and after which such shares shall be redeemable, and the amount per share payable in case of redemption, which amount may vary under different conditions and at different redemption dates;

(4) the obligation, if any, of the Corporation to retire shares of such series pursuant to a sinking fund;

(5) whether shares of such series shall be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of stock of any other class or classes or any other series of the same class of stock and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange, including the price or prices or the rate or rates of conversion or exchange and the terms of adjustment, if any;

(6) whether the shares of such series shall have voting rights, in addition to the voting rights provided by law, and, if so, the terms of such voting rights;

(7) the rights of the shares of such series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation;

(8) the restrictions, if any, on the payment of dividends upon, and the making of distributions to, any class of stock ranking junior to the shares of Preference Stock, and the restrictions, if any, on the purchase or redemption of the shares of any such junior class; and

(9) any other designations, relative rights, preferences and limitations of such series.

FIFTH : (i) In addition to any affirmative vote required by law or otherwise, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, held by stockholders other than a Related Person shall be required for the approval, authorization or effectuation directly or indirectly, of any Business Combination with such Related Person (such affirmative vote being required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required or that a lesser percentage may be specified by law, this Restated Certificate, any resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to this Restated Certificate, any agreement with any national securities exchange or otherwise); provided, however, that such voting requirement shall not be applicable if:

(1) The Continuing Directors, by at least a majority vote of such Continuing Directors, have expressly approved such Business Combination either in advance of or subsequent to such Related Person’s having become a Related Person; or

(2) All of the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

(a) The Fair Market Value as of the date of consummation of the Business Combination of the consideration to be received per share by holders of shares of each class or series of Capital Stock (regardless of whether or not such Related Person is the Beneficial Owner of shares of any such class or series of Capital Stock) in the Business Combination is not less than the Highest Per Share Price;

(b) The form of consideration to be received by holders of shares of each class or series of Capital Stock in the Business Combination shall be United States currency or the form of consideration used by such Related Person in acquiring the largest aggregate number of shares of the Capital Stock which such Related Person has previously acquired;

 

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(c) After such Related Person shall have first become a Related Person and prior to the consummation of such Business Combination:

(x) Except as approved by at least a majority of the Continuing Directors, there shall not have been any failure to declare and pay at the regular dates therefor the full amount of all dividends (whether or not cumulative) payable on the Preferred Stock, the Preference Stock or any other class or series of stock having a preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation;

(y) There shall not have been (A) any reduction in the annual rate of dividends paid on the Common Stock (except as necessary to reflect any subdivision of the Common Stock) except as approved by at least a majority of the Continuing Directors or (B) any failure to increase such annual rate of dividends, to the extent necessary to prevent any such reduction, in the event of any reclassification (including any reverse stock split), recapitalization, reorganization or any similar transaction that has the effect of reducing the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, unless the failure so to increase such annual rate shall have been approved by at least a majority of the Continuing Directors; and

(z) Such Related Person shall not have become the Beneficial Owner of additional shares of Voting Stock, except as part of the transaction that results in such Related Person becoming a Related Person and except in a transaction that, giving effect thereto, would not result in any increase in the percentage of Voting Stock of which such Related Person is the Beneficial Owner; and

(d) A proxy statement describing the proposed Business Combination and complying with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations thereunder, or any acts, rules or regulations that at least a majority of the Continuing Directors determine are successors thereof, shall (whether or not such a proxy statement is required to be mailed pursuant to such acts, rules or regulations) have been mailed to all holders of Voting Stock at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the meeting called to consider such Business Combination and such statement shall have contained, at the front thereof, in a prominent place such recommendations and other information concerning the Business Combination as at least a majority of the Continuing Directors may determine so to include.

(ii) For purposes of this Article FIFTH:

(1) The terms “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the same meaning as in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this Restated Certificate (the term “registrant” in said Rule 12b-2 meaning in this case the Corporation), and shall include any Person that, giving effect to a Business Combination, would become such an Affiliate or Associate.

 

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(2) The term “Beneficial Owner” shall mean any Person which beneficially owns any Capital Stock within the meaning ascribed in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this Restated Certificate, or who has the right to acquire any such beneficial ownership (whether or not such right is exercisable immediately, with the passage of time or subject to any condition) pursuant to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of any conversion, exchange or other right, warrant or option, or otherwise. A Person shall be deemed the Beneficial Owner of all Capital Stock of which any Affiliate or Associate of such Person is the Beneficial Owner.

(3) The term “Business Combination” shall mean (a) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or a Subsidiary with or into a Related Person, (b) any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition, including without limitation by way of a mortgage or any other security device, of any Substantial Amount of the assets of the Corporation, one or more Subsidiaries or the Corporation and one or more Subsidiaries to a Related Person, (c) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation proposed by or on behalf of any Related Person, (d) any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition, including without limitation by way of a mortgage or any other security device, of any Substantial Amount of the assets of a Related Person to the Corporation, one or more Subsidiaries, or the Corporation and one or more Subsidiaries, (e) the issuance of any securities of the Corporation, one or more Subsidiaries or the Corporation and one or more Subsidiaries to a Related Person or to a Person that giving effect thereto, would be a Related Person other than the issuance on a pro rata basis to all holders of stock of the same class pursuant to a stock split or stock dividend, (f) any reclassification of securities, recapitalization of the Corporation, or any merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into one or more Subsidiaries or any other transaction that would have the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the voting power or other equity interest of a Related Person in the Corporation, (g) any loan, advance, guaranty, pledge or other financial assistance by the Corporation, one or more Subsidiaries or the Corporation and one or more Subsidiaries to or for the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder), of a Related Person, (h) any agreement, contract or other arrangement providing for any Business Combination and (i) any series of transactions that a majority of Continuing Directors determines are related and that, taken together, would constitute a Business Combination.

(4) For the purposes of Section (i)(2) of this Article FIFTH, the term “consideration to be received” shall include, without limitation, Capital Stock of the Corporation retained by its existing stockholders other than Related Persons in the event of a Business Combination that is a merger and in which the Corporation is the surviving corporation.

(5) The term “Continuing Director” shall mean a Director of the Corporation who is not the Related Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of the Related Person (or a representative or nominee of the Related Person or such Affiliate or Associate), that is involved in the relevant Business Combination and (a) who was a member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation immediately prior to the time that such Related Person became a Related Person or (b) whose initial election as a Director of the Corporation was recommended by the affirmative vote of a least a majority of the Continuing Directors then in office, provided that, in either such case, such Continuing Director has continued in office after becoming a Continuing Director.

(6) The term “Fair Market Value” shall mean (a) in the case of United States currency, the amount thereof, (b) in the case of stock, (x) the closing sale price per share thereof on the last trading day preceding the date as of which the determination thereof is to be made, or the

 

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highest closing sale price per share thereof during the specified period, on the Composite Tape for New York Stock Exchange-Listed Stocks or, if such stock is not quoted on the Composite Tape, on the New York Stock Exchange, or if such stock is not listed on such exchange, on the United States securities exchange registered as a national securities exchange under the Exchange Act on which such stock is listed or principally traded, (y) if such stock is not so listed, the closing bid quotation per share thereof on the last trading day preceding the date as of which the determination thereof is to be made, or the highest closing bid quotation per share thereof during the specified period, on the National Association of Securities Dealers Inc. Automated Quotation System, or any system then in use or (z) if no such quotations are then available, the fair market value thereof, as of the date of which the determination thereof is to be made, as determined by at least a majority of the Continuing Directors and (c) in the case of securities, property or assets other than such currency or stock, the fair market value thereof, as of the date of which the determination thereof is to be made, as determined by at least a majority of the Continuing Directors.

(7) The term “Highest Per Share Price” shall mean with respect to any class or series of Capital Stock the highest of (a) the highest price per share that can be determined to have been paid at any time by the Related Person involved in the relevant Business Combination for any share or shares of such class or series of Capital Stock, or if such Related Person has not acquired any Capital Stock of such class or series, the highest equivalent, as determined by at least a majority of the Continuing Directors for a share of such class or series of such highest price for any other class or series of Capital Stock, (b) the highest preferential amount, if any, per share payable with respect to shares of such class or series of Capital Stock in the event of a voluntary or involuntary liquidation of the Corporation, or the highest redemption price, if any, to which the holders of shares of such class or series of Capital Stock would be entitled, whichever is higher, and (c) the Fair Market Value per share of such Capital Stock during the period of twenty (20) trading days immediately preceding the time the relevant Business Combination is first publicly announced, or during the period of twenty (20) trading days immediately preceding the time at which the Related Person became a Related Person, whichever is higher. In determining the Highest Per Share Price, (x) all purchases by the Related Person shall be taken into account regardless of whether the shares were purchased before or after the Related Person became a Related Person and (y) the Highest Per Share Price shall include any brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers’ fees or other value paid in connection with such purchases.

A Related Person shall be deemed to have acquired a share of Capital Stock at the time when such Related Person became the Beneficial Owner thereof. The price deemed to have been paid by a Related Person for Capital Stock of which an Affiliate or Associate is the Beneficial Owner shall be the price that is the highest of (a) the price paid upon the acquisition thereof by the relevant Affiliate or Associate (if any, and whether or not such Affiliate or Associate was an Affiliate or Associate at the time of such acquisition), and (b) the Fair Market Value per share of such Capital Stock during the period of twenty (20) trading days immediately preceding the time when the Related Person became the Beneficial Owner thereof.

In any determination of the price or prices paid or deemed to have been paid by any Person, and in any determination of the Highest Per Share Price or Fair Market Value, appropriate adjustment shall be made to reflect the relevant effect of any stock dividends, splits and distributions and any combination or reclassification of Capital Stock.

 

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(8) The Term “Related Person” shall mean (a) any Person (other than the Corporation or any wholly owned Subsidiary) that, alone or together with any Affiliates and Associates, is or becomes the Beneficial Owner of an aggregate of 10% or more of the outstanding Voting Stock, and (b) any Affiliate or Associate of any such Person, provided, however, that the term “Related Person” shall not include (x) a Person whose acquisition of such aggregate percentage of Voting Stock was approved in advance by at least a majority of the Continuing Directors or (y) any pension, profit sharing, employee stock ownership or other employee benefit plan of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, all of the capital stock of or equity interest in which Subsidiary is owned by the Corporation, one or more Subsidiaries or the Corporation and one or more Subsidiaries, or any trustee or fiduciary when acting in such capacity with respect to any such plan. The term “Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership or other entity, including, any group comprised of any person and any other Person, or any Affiliate or Associate thereof, with whom such Person, or any Affiliate or Associate thereof, has any agreement, arrangement or understanding, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of Voting Stock and each Person, and any Affiliate or Associate thereof, that is a member of such group.

(9) The term “Subsidiary” shall mean any Person a majority of the capital stock of or other equity interest in which is owned by the Corporation, one or more Subsidiaries or the Corporation and one or more Subsidiaries.

(10) The term “Substantial Amount” shall mean an amount of stock, securities or other property having a Fair Market Value equal to ten percent (10%) or more of the Fair Market Value of the total consolidated assets of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, as of the end of the Corporation’s most recent fiscal year ended prior to the time as of which the determination is being made.

(11) The term “Voting Stock” shall mean all outstanding Common Stock and all other outstanding Capital Stock of the Corporation, if any, entitled to vote on each matter on which the holders of record of Common Stock shall be entitled to vote, and each reference to a proportion of shares of Voting Stock shall refer to such proportion of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of such Common Stock and other Capital Stock, if any, and the term “Capital Stock” shall mean all outstanding capital stock of the Corporation issued pursuant to this Restated Certificate or any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Corporation adopted pursuant to this Restated Certificate.

(12) The Continuing Directors by at least a majority vote, shall have the power to make any and all determinations provided for in this Article FIFTH and to interpret the provisions and definitions in this Article FIFTH, which determinations and interpretations shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be conclusive.

(iii) In addition to the requirements of law and any other provisions of this Restated Certificate or any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors adopted pursuant to this Restated Certificate (and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser percentage may be specified by law, this Restated Certificate, any such resolution or resolutions or otherwise), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock held by stockholders other than any Related Person shall be required to amend, alter or repeal, or adopt any provision inconsistent with the provisions of this Article FIFTH.

 

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SIXTH : The number of directors of the Corporation shall not be less than three nor more than eighteen, as determined by action of the Board of Directors.

SEVENTH : (i) A director of the Corporation shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware Law.

(ii)(1) Each person (and the heirs, executors or administrators of such person) who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or is involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware Law. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article SEVENTH shall also include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in connection with any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware Law. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article SEVENTH shall be a contract right.

(2) The Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification to such of the employees and agents of the Corporation to such extent and to such effect as the Board of Directors shall determine to be appropriate and authorized by Delaware Law.

(iii) The Corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss incurred by such person in any such capacity or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under Delaware Law.

(iv) The rights and authority conferred in this Article SEVENTH shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may otherwise have or hereafter acquire.

(v) Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article SEVENTH, nor the adoption of any provision of this Restated Certificate or the by-laws of the Corporation, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware Law, any modification of law, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article SEVENTH in respect of any acts or omissions occurring prior to such amendment, repeal, adoption or modification.

EIGHTH : (a)  Action by Written Consent . Except as provided in the certificate of designation for any series of preferred stock, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting by the written consent of the stockholders of the Corporation, but only if such action is taken in accordance with the provisions of this Article Eighth and the Corporation’s by-laws.

(b) Request for Record Date . The record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be as fixed by the Board of Directors or as otherwise established under this Article. Any person other than the Corporation seeking to have the stockholders authorize or take corporate action by written consent without a

 

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meeting shall, by written notice addressed to the secretary of the Corporation and delivered to the Corporation and signed by holders of record of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to express consent on the relevant action, request that a record date be fixed for such purpose. The written notice must contain the information required by Section 1.07 of the by-laws. Following receipt of the notice, the Board of Directors shall promptly, but in all events within ten (10) business days after the date the notice is received, determine the validity of the request and whether the request relates to an action that may be taken by written consent pursuant to this Article and, if appropriate, adopt a resolution fixing the record date for such purpose. The record date for such purpose shall be no more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and shall not precede the date such resolution is adopted. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors within ten (10) business days following the Corporation’s receipt of the notice to fix a record date for such purpose, the record date shall be the day on which the first signed written consent is delivered to the Corporation in the manner described in paragraph (f) of this Article; except that, if prior action by the Board of Directors is required under the provisions of Delaware law and the Board determines to take such prior action, the record date shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action, and except that no record date shall be set for any action that is not a proper subject for action by written consent pursuant to paragraph (c) or for which consents are not to be solicited as provided in paragraph (d).

(c) Actions Which May Be Taken by Written Consent . The Board of Directors shall not be obligated to set a record date for an action by written consent if (i) the record date request does not comply with this Article Eighth and the Corporation’s by-laws, (ii) such action is not a proper subject for stockholder action under applicable law, (iii) the request for a record date for such action is received by the Corporation during the period commencing ninety (90) days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the immediately preceding annual meeting and ending on the date of the next annual meeting, (iv) an annual or special meeting of stockholders that included an item of business substantially the same as or substantially similar to such action (“Similar Item”) was held not more than one hundred twenty (120) days before such request for a record date was received by the secretary of the Corporation, (v) a Similar Item is to be included in the Corporation’s notice as an item of business to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders that is to be called within forty (40) days after the request for a record date is received and held as soon as practicable thereafter, or (vi) such record date request or any solicitation of consents to such action was made in a manner that involved a violation of Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act or other applicable law. For purposes of this paragraph, the nomination, election or removal of directors shall be deemed to be a Similar Item with respect to all actions involving the nomination, election or removal of directors, changing the size of the Board of Directors and filling of vacancies and/or newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors. The Board of Directors shall determine in good faith whether a record date is required to be set under the provisions of this Article Eighth.

(d) Manner of Consent Solicitation . Stockholders may take action by written consent only if consents are solicited pursuant to a consent solicitation conducted pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, without reliance upon the exemption contained in Rule 14a-2(b)(2) of the Exchange Act.

(e) Date of Consent . Every written consent purporting to take or authorize the taking of corporate action (each such written consent is referred to in this paragraph and in paragraph (f) as a “Consent”) must bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the Consent, and no

 

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Consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within sixty (60) days of the earliest dated Consent delivered in the manner required by paragraph (f) of this Article and not later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the record date, Consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders to take such action are so delivered to the Corporation.

(f) Delivery of Consents . No Consents may be delivered to the Corporation or its registered office in the State of Delaware until fifty (50) days after the record date. Consents must be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware or its principal place of business. Delivery must be made by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.

NINTH : Special meetings of the stockholders may be called (i) by the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or (ii) upon written request from holders of record of at least fifteen percent (15%) of the voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote on the matter or matters to be brought before the proposed special meeting, filed with the Secretary of the Corporation and otherwise in accordance with the By-laws, and may not be called by any other person or persons. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a class or series, to elect directors, such holders may call, to the extent provided in Article FOURTH (or pursuant to the terms of the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to Article FOURTH hereof), special meetings of holders of such Preferred Stock or Preference Stock.

TENTH : The Corporation’s by-laws or any of them, may be altered, amended or repealed, or new by-laws may be made, by the stockholders entitled to vote thereon at any annual or special meeting thereof or by the Board of Directors.

ELEVENTH : The Corporation reserves the right to amend this Restated Certificate in any manner permitted by Delaware Law and, with the sole exception of those rights and powers conferred under the above Article SEVENTH, all rights and powers conferred herein on stockholders, directors and officers, if any, are subject to this reserved power.

[ Remainder of this page intentionally left blank. ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be executed by its President and Chief Executive Officer and attested by its Senior Vice President, Secretary and Assistant General Counsel on this 4th day of June, 2018.

 

CVS HEALTH CORPORATION
By:   /s/ Larry J. Merlo
Name:   Larry J. Merlo
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Attest:   /s/ Colleen M. McIntosh
Name:   Colleen M. McIntosh
Title:  

Senior Vice President, Secretary and

Assistant General Counsel

 

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Exhibit 3.2

BY-LAWS

OF

CVS HEALTH CORPORATION

(as amended and restated June 4, 2018)

 

 

ARTICLE 1

STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1.01 ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the stockholders of the corporation for the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of such other business as may be brought before the meeting, shall be held at the principal office of the corporation, or at such other place within or without the State of Delaware stated in the notice of the meeting as the Board of Directors may determine, on such day and at such time, as the Board of Directors may determine.

Section 1.02 SPECIAL MEETINGS.

(i) Special meetings of stockholders may be called by the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

(ii) A special meeting of stockholders shall be called by the Secretary at the written request or requests (each, a “Special Meeting Request” and, collectively, the “Special Meeting Requests”) of holders of record of at least fifteen percent (15%) of the voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote on the matter or matters to be brought before the proposed special meeting (the “Special Meeting Requisite Percentage”). A Special Meeting Request to the Secretary shall be signed and dated by each stockholder of record (or a duly authorized agent of such stockholder) requesting the special meeting (each, a “Requesting Stockholder”), shall comply with Sections 1.02 and 1.10, and shall include (a) a statement of the specific purpose or purposes of the special meeting, (b) the information required by Section 1.10(i)(c), (c) an acknowledgement by the Requesting Stockholders and the beneficial owners, if any, on whose behalf the Special Meeting Request are being made that a disposition of shares of the corporation’s capital stock owned of record or beneficially as of the date on which the Special Meeting Request in respect of such shares is delivered to the Secretary that is made at any time prior to the special meeting shall constitute a revocation of such Special Meeting Request with respect to such disposed shares, and (d) documentary evidence that the Requesting Stockholders own the Special Meeting Requisite Percentage as of the date of such written request to the Secretary; provided , however , that if the Requesting Stockholders are not the beneficial owners of the shares representing the Special Meeting Requisite Percentage, then to be valid, the Special Meeting Request must also include documentary evidence (or, if not simultaneously provided with the Special Meeting Request, such documentary evidence must be delivered to the Secretary within ten (10) business days after the date on which the Special Meeting Request are delivered to the Secretary) that the beneficial owners on whose behalf the Special Meeting Request are made beneficially own the Special Meeting Requisite Percentage as of the date on which such Special Meeting Request are delivered to the Secretary. In addition, the Requesting Stockholders and the beneficial owners, if any, on whose behalf the Special Meeting Request are being made shall promptly provide any other information reasonably requested by the corporation.

(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.02, a special meeting requested by stockholders shall not be held if (a) the Special Meeting Request does not comply with this Section 1.02, (b) the Special Meeting Request relates to an item of business that is not a


proper subject for stockholder action under applicable law, (c) the Special Meeting Request is received by the corporation during the period commencing ninety (90) days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the immediately preceding annual meeting and ending on the date of the next annual meeting, (d) an annual or special meeting of stockholders that included an identical or substantially similar item of business (“Similar Business”) was held not more than one hundred twenty (120) days before the Special Meeting Request was received by the Secretary, (e) the Board of Directors has called or calls for an annual or special meeting of stockholders to be held within ninety (90) days after the Special Meeting Request is received by the Secretary and the business to be conducted at such meeting includes the Similar Business, or (f) the Special Meeting Request was made in a manner that involved a violation of Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended from time to time, the “Exchange Act”) or other applicable law. For purposes of this Section 1.02(iii), the nomination, election or removal of directors shall be deemed to be Similar Business with respect to all items of business involving the nomination, election or removal of directors, changing the size of the Board of Directors and filling of vacancies and/or newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors. The Board of Directors shall determine in good faith whether the requirements set forth in this Section 1.02(iii) have been satisfied.

(iv) In determining whether a special meeting of stockholders has been requested by the record holders of shares representing in the aggregate at least the Special Meeting Requisite Percentage, multiple Special Meeting Requests delivered to the Secretary will be considered together only if (a) each Special Meeting Request identifies substantially the same purpose or purposes of the special meeting and substantially the same matters proposed to be acted on at the special meeting (in each case as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors), and (b) such Special Meeting Requests have been dated and delivered to the Secretary within sixty (60) days of the earliest dated Special Meeting Request. A Requesting Stockholder may revoke a Special Meeting Request at any time by written revocation delivered to the Secretary and if, following such revocation, there are outstanding un-revoked requests from Requesting Stockholders holding less than the Special Meeting Requisite Percentage, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, cancel the special meeting. If none of the Requesting Stockholders appears or sends a duly authorized agent to present the business to be presented for consideration that was specified in the Special Meeting Request, the corporation need not present such business for a vote at such special meeting.

(v) Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the corporation’s notice of meeting pursuant to Section 1.03. Nothing contained herein shall prohibit the Board of Directors from submitting matters to the stockholders at any special meeting requested by stockholders.

(vi) Special meetings shall be held at such date and time as may be fixed by the Board of Directors in accordance with these by-laws; provided , however , that in the case of a special meeting requested by stockholders, the date of any such special meeting shall not be more than ninety (90) days after a Special Meeting Request that satisfies the requirements of this Section 1.02 is received by the Secretary. Special meetings shall be held at such place within or without the State of Delaware as is specified in the notice of meeting.

Section 1.03 NOTICE OF MEETING; WAIVER. Unless otherwise required by statute, the notice of every meeting of the stockholders shall be in writing and signed by the Chair of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer (or the President or a Vice President or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, in each case acting at the direction of the Chair of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer) and shall state the date and time when and the place where it is to be held, and a copy thereof shall be served, either personally or by mail, upon each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the meeting. If the meeting to be held is other than the annual meeting of stockholders, the notice shall also state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called

 

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and shall indicate that it is being issued by or at the direction of the person or persons calling the meeting. If, at any meeting, action is proposed to be taken which would, if taken, entitle stockholders to receive payment for their shares pursuant to Section 262 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), the notice of such meeting shall include a statement of that purpose and to that effect. If the notice is mailed, it shall be directed to a stockholder at the stockholder’s address as it appears on the record of stockholders unless the stockholder shall have filed with the Secretary a written request that notices intended for the stockholder be mailed to some other address, in which case it shall be mailed to the address designated in such request.

Notice of a meeting need not be given to any stockholder who submits a signed waiver of notice, in person or by proxy, whether before or after the meeting. The attendance of a stockholder at a meeting, in person or by proxy, without protesting prior to the conclusion of the meeting the lack of notice of such meeting, shall constitute a waiver of notice by the stockholder.

Section 1.04 QUORUM. At any meeting of the stockholders the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote and being present in person or represented by proxy shall constitute a quorum for all purposes, unless the representation of a different number shall be required by law or by another provision of these by-laws, and in that case the representation of the number so required shall constitute a quorum.

If the holders of the amount of shares necessary to constitute a quorum shall fail to attend in person or by proxy, the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting, or the chair of the meeting, may adjourn from time to time without further notice of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting in which the adjournment is taken.

Furthermore, after the meeting has been duly organized, the chair of the meeting may adjourn any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, from time to time, to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At any such adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) 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. Any previously scheduled meeting of stockholders may be postponed by the Board of Directors prior to the date previously scheduled for such meeting and the corporation shall publicly announce such postponement.

Section 1.05 ORGANIZATION. The Chair of the Board or, in his or her absence, the Chief Executive Officer or, in his or her absence, the President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President in the order of their seniority or in such other order as may be designated by the Board of Directors, shall call meetings of the stockholders to order and shall act as chair of such meetings. The Board of Directors or the Executive Committee may appoint any stockholder to act as chair of any meeting in the absence of any of such officers and in the event of such absence and the failure of such board or committee to appoint a chair, the stockholders present at such meeting may nominate and appoint any stockholder to act as chair.

The Secretary, or, in his or her absence, an Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of all meetings of stockholders, but, in the absence of said officers, the chair of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

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 such meeting by the person presiding over the meeting. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chair of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the

 

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judgment of such chair, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chair of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting, to stockholders of record of the corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chair shall permit; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chair of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with rules of parliamentary procedure.

Section 1.06 VOTING. At each meeting of the stockholders every stockholder of record having the right to vote shall be entitled to vote either in person or by proxy. Unless a greater number of affirmative votes is required by the certificate of incorporation of the corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), these by-laws, the rules or regulations of the principal U.S. exchange upon which the shares of the corporation are listed, or as otherwise required by law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the corporation, if a quorum exists at any meeting of stockholders, stockholders shall have approved any matter, other than the election of directors pursuant to Section 2.03, if the matter receives the vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to that matter. For purposes of this Section 1.06, a majority of votes cast means that the number of votes “for” a matter must exceed fifty percent (50%) of the votes cast with respect to that matter.

Section 1.07 ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT.

(i) Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such holders or may be effected by a consent in writing by stockholders as provided by, and subject to the limitations in, the Certificate of Incorporation and this Section 1.07.

(ii) A request by a stockholder for a record date in accordance with Article Eighth of the Certificate of Incorporation must be delivered by the holders of record of at least twenty five percent (25%) of the voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the corporation entitled to express consent on the relevant action (the “Consent Requisite Percentage”), must describe the action that the stockholder proposes to take by consent (the “Action”) and must contain (a) the text of the proposal (including the text of any resolutions to be effected by consent), (b) the information required by Section 1.10(i)(c) of these by-laws, to the extent applicable, as though the stockholders making the request were making a Special Meeting Request in furtherance of the Action, (c) an acknowledgment by the stockholders making the request and the beneficial owners, if any, on whose behalf the request is being made that a disposition of shares of the corporation’s capital stock, owned of record or beneficially as of the date on which the request in respect of such shares is delivered to the Secretary, that is made at any time prior to the delivery of the first written consent with respect to the Action shall constitute a revocation of such request with respect to such disposed shares, (d) a statement that the stockholder intends to solicit consents in accordance with Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, without reliance on the exemption contained in Rule 14a-2(b)(2) of the Exchange Act, and (e) documentary evidence that the stockholders making the request own the Consent Requisite Percentage as of the date that the request is delivered to the Secretary; provided, however , that if the stockholders making the request are not the beneficial owners of the shares representing the Consent Requisite Percentage, then to be valid, the request must also include documentary evidence (or, if not simultaneously provided with the request, such documentary evidence must be delivered to the Secretary within ten (10) business days after the date on which the request is delivered to the Secretary) that the beneficial owners on whose behalf the request is made beneficially own the Consent Requisite Percentage as of the date on which such request is delivered to the Secretary. In addition, the requesting stockholders and the beneficial owners, if any, on whose behalf the request is being made shall promptly provide any other information reasonably requested by the corporation.

 

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(iii) In determining whether a record date has been requested by stockholders of record representing in the aggregate at least the Consent Requisite Percentage, multiple requests delivered to the Secretary will be considered together only if (a) each identifies substantially the same proposed action and includes substantially the same text of the proposal (in each case as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors), and (b) such requests have been dated and delivered to the Secretary within sixty (60) days of the earliest dated request. Any stockholder may revoke a request with respect to his or her shares at any time by written revocation delivered to the Secretary.

Section 1.08 INSPECTORS OF ELECTION.

(i) The Board of Directors, in advance of any stockholders’ meeting, shall appoint one or more inspectors of election (each, an “Inspector” or “Inspector of Election” and, collectively, “Inspectors” or “Inspectors of Election”) to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If Inspectors are not so appointed, the person presiding at a stockholders’ meeting shall appoint one or more Inspectors. In case any person appointed fails to appear or act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the Board of Directors in advance of the meeting or at the meeting by the person presiding thereat. Inspectors shall be sworn.

(ii) In the event of the delivery, in the manner provided by Section 1.07 and applicable law, to the corporation of written consent or written consents to take corporate action and/or any related revocation or revocations, the corporation shall appoint one or more Inspectors of Election for the purpose of performing promptly a ministerial review of the validity of the consents and revocations. For the purpose of permitting the Inspectors to perform such review, no action by written consent and without a meeting shall be effective until such Inspectors have completed their review, determined that the requisite number of valid and unrevoked consents delivered to the corporation in accordance with Section 1.07 and applicable law have been obtained to authorize or take the action specified in the consents, and certified such determination for entry in the records of the corporation kept for the purpose of recording the proceedings of meetings of stockholders. Nothing contained herein shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the Board of Directors or any stockholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any consent or revocation thereof, whether before or after such certification by the Inspectors, or to take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive relief in such litigation).

Section 1.09 CONDUCT OF ELECTION. At each meeting of the stockholders, votes, proxies, consents and ballots shall be received, and all questions touching the qualification of voters, the validity of proxies and the acceptance or rejection of votes, shall be decided by the Inspectors of Election.

Section 1.10 NOTICE OF NOMINATIONS AND STOCKHOLDER BUSINESS.

(i) Annual Meetings of Stockholders .

(a) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors or the proposal of other business to be transacted by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (1) pursuant to the corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (2) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, (3) by any stockholder of the corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 1.10(i), who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.10(i), or (4) pursuant to Section 1.11.

 

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(b) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting of stockholders by a stockholder pursuant to clause (3) of paragraph (i)(a) of this Section 1.10, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary, and any such proposed business (other than the nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors) must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal office of the corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day nor later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however , that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than thirty (30) days prior to such anniversary date or delayed more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, then to be timely such notice must be received by the corporation no earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and no later than close of business on the later of (x) the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or (y) the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the corporation. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting of stockholders commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(c) A stockholder’s notice to the Secretary under this Section 1.10 shall set forth (1) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected), (2) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these by-laws, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made and (3) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made:

(A) the name and address, as they appear on the corporation’s books, of such stockholder and any such beneficial owner;

(B) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the corporation which are held of record or are beneficially owned by such stockholder and by any such beneficial owner;

(C) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between or among such stockholder and any such beneficial owner, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such nomination or other business;

(D) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into by or on behalf of, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding that has been made, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder or any such beneficial owner (including any affiliate of such stockholder or any such beneficial owner) or any such nominee with respect to the corporation’s securities;

 

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(E) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to bring such nomination or other business before the meeting; and

(F) a representation as to whether such stockholder or any such beneficial owner intends or is part of a group that intends to (I) deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the voting power of the corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or to elect each such nominee and/or (II) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination. If requested by the corporation, the information required under clauses (i)(c)(B), (C) and (D) of this Section 1.10 shall be supplemented by such stockholder and any such beneficial owner not later than five (5) business days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such information as of the record date.

(ii) Special Meetings of Stockholders . Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the corporation at a special meeting of stockholders may be made by stockholders only (a) in accordance with Section 1.02 or (b) if the election of directors is included as business to be brought before a special meeting in the corporation’s notice of meeting, then by any stockholder who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 1.10(ii), who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.10(ii). The proposal by stockholders of other business to be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders may be made only in accordance with Section 1.02. For nominations to be properly brought by a stockholder before a special meeting of stockholders pursuant to Section 1.10(ii)(b), the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal office of the corporation (1) not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the date of the special meeting nor (2) later than the close of business on the later of (x) the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the date of the special meeting or (y) the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the special meeting was first made. A stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall comply with the notice requirements of Section 1.10(i)(c).

(iii) General .

(a) At the request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated by the Board of Directors for election as a director shall furnish to the Secretary the information that is required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice of nomination under this Section 1.10 that pertains to the nominee. No person shall be eligible to be nominated by a stockholder to serve as a director of the corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.10, Section 1.11 (in the case of an annual meeting), and in Section 1.02 (in the case of a special meeting) or Section 1.07 (in the case of a written consent). No business shall be conducted except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.10 and in Section 1.02 (in the case of a special meeting) or Section 1.07 (in the case of a written consent). The chair of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by this Section 1.10 or that business was not properly brought before the meeting, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded or such business shall not be transacted, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.10, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the corporation to present a nomination or other proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded or such proposed business shall not be transacted, as the case may be, and no vote shall be taken with respect to such nomination or proposed business, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been

 

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received by the corporation. For purposes of this Section 1.10, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

(b) Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.10, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 1.10; provided , however , that any references in these by-laws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to this Section 1.10, and compliance with paragraphs (i)(a)(3) and (ii) of this Section 1.10 or with Section 1.11 of these by-laws, shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than as provided in the last sentence of this paragraph (iii)(b)). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the notice requirements set forth herein with respect to the proposal of any business pursuant to this Section 1.10 other than a nomination shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder if such stockholder has submitted a proposal to the corporation in compliance with Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act, and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the corporation to solicit proxies for the meeting of stockholders.

Section 1.11 PROXY ACCESS.

(i) Proxy Access Right .

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of these by-laws, the corporation shall include in its proxy materials for an annual meeting of stockholders the name of, and the other Required Information (as defined in clause (b) of this Section 1.11(i)) with respect to, any Stockholder Nominee (as defined in Section 1.11(iv)(a) below) nominated by an Eligible Stockholder (as defined in Section 1.11(ii)(a) below) for election or reelection to the Board of Directors at such annual meeting of stockholders in accordance with this Section 1.11.

(b) “Required Information” means (1) the information set forth in the Schedule 14N provided with the Stockholder Notice (as defined in Section 1.11(v)(a) below) concerning each Stockholder Nominee that the corporation determines is required to be disclosed in the corporation’s proxy materials by the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and (2) if the Eligible Stockholder so elects, a written statement (the “Statement”) of the Eligible Stockholder, not to exceed 500 words, in support of each Stockholder Nominee, which must be provided at the same time as the Stockholder Notice for inclusion in the corporation’s proxy materials for the annual meeting of stockholders.

(c) This Section 1.11 shall be the exclusive method for stockholders to include nominees for director election in the corporation’s proxy materials.

(ii) Eligible Stockholders .

(a) “Eligible Stockholder” means one or more stockholders or beneficial owners that (1) expressly elect at the time of the delivery of the Stockholder Notice to have a Stockholder Nominee included in the corporation’s proxy materials, (2) Own and have Owned (as defined in Section 1.11(iii) below) continuously for at least three (3) years as of the date of the Stockholder Notice, a number of shares that represents at least three percent (3%) of the outstanding shares entitled to vote as of the date of the Stockholder Notice (the “Required Shares”), and (3) satisfy such additional requirements as are set forth in these by-laws, including subsections (b) and (c) below.

 

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(b) For purposes of determining qualification as an Eligible Stockholder, the outstanding shares Owned by one or more stockholders and beneficial owners that each stockholder and/or beneficial owner has Owned continuously for at least three (3) years as of the date of the Stockholder Notice may be aggregated; provided that the number of stockholders and beneficial owners whose Ownership of shares is aggregated for such purpose shall not exceed twenty (20) and that any and all requirements and obligations for an Eligible Stockholder set forth in this Section 1.11 are satisfied by each such stockholder and beneficial owner (except as noted with respect to aggregation) or as otherwise provided in this Section 1.11.

(c) For purposes of determining qualification as an Eligible Stockholder, two or more funds that are (1) under common management and investment control, (2) under common management and funded primarily by a single employer, or (3) a “group of investment companies,” as such term is defined in Section 12(d)(1)(G)(ii) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, shall be treated as one (1) stockholder or beneficial owner.

(d) No shares may be attributed to more than one (1) group constituting an Eligible Stockholder (and no stockholder or beneficial owner, alone or together with any of its affiliates, may be a member of more than one (1) group constituting an Eligible Stockholder) under this Section 1.11.

(iii) Ownership Requirements .

(a) A stockholder or beneficial owner shall be deemed to “Own” only those outstanding shares as to which such person possesses both (1) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares and (2) the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit and risk of loss on) such shares; provided that the number of shares calculated in accordance with clauses (1) and (2) above shall not include any shares (A) sold by such person or any of its affiliates in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, including any short sale, (B) borrowed by such person or any of its affiliates for any purposes or purchased by such person or any of its affiliates pursuant to an agreement to resell, or (C) subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale, or other derivative or similar agreement entered into by such person or any of its affiliates, whether any such instrument or agreement is to be settled with shares or with cash based on the notional amount or value of outstanding shares, in any such case which instrument or agreement has, or is intended to have, or if exercised would have, the purpose or effect of (x) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such person’s or its affiliates’ full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares, and/or (y) hedging, offsetting, or altering to any degree any gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of such shares by such person or its affiliate.

(b) A stockholder or beneficial owner shall be deemed to “Own” shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the person retains the right to instruct how the shares are voted with respect to the election of directors and possesses the full economic interest in the shares.

(c) A stockholder or beneficial owner’s Ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the person has delegated any voting power by means of a proxy, power of attorney, or other instrument or arrangement.

 

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(d) A stockholder or beneficial owner’s Ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the person has loaned such shares provided that the person has the power to recall such loaned shares on five (5) business days’ notice, the person promptly recalls the loaned shares upon being notified that its Stockholder Nominee will be included in the corporation’s proxy materials for the relevant annual meeting of stockholders, and the person holds the recalled shares through such annual meeting.

(e) The terms “Owned,” “Owning,” “Ownership” and other variations of the word “Own,” when used with respect to a stockholder or beneficial owner, shall have correlative meanings.

(iv) Stockholder Nominees .

(a) “Stockholder Nominee” means any nominee for election or reelection to the Board of Directors who satisfies the eligibility requirements in this Section 1.11, and who is identified in a timely and proper Stockholder Notice.

(b) The maximum number of Stockholder Nominees that may be included in the corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 1.11 shall not exceed the greater of two (2) or twenty percent (20%) of the number of directors in office as of the last day on which a Stockholder Notice may be delivered pursuant to this Section 1.11 with respect to the annual meeting of stockholders, or if such calculation does not result in a whole number, the closest whole number below twenty percent (20%); provided, however, that this maximum number shall be reduced by (1) any Stockholder Nominee whose name was submitted for inclusion in the corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 1.11 but either is subsequently withdrawn or that the Board of Directors decides to nominate as a Board nominee, (2) any director candidate who had been a Stockholder Nominee at any of the preceding two (2) annual meetings of stockholders and whose reelection at the upcoming annual meeting of stockholders is being recommended by the Board of Directors, (3) any director candidate for which the Corporation shall have received one or more valid shareholder notices (whether or not subsequently withdrawn) nominating director candidates pursuant to Section 1.10, other than any such director referred to in this clause (3) who at the time of such annual meeting will have served as director continuously, as a nominee of the Board of Directors, for at least two (2) annual terms, but only to the extent the maximum number after such reduction with respect to this clause (3) equals or exceeds one (1), and (4) any director candidate who will be included in the corporation’s proxy materials with respect to such annual meeting as an unopposed (by the corporation) nominee pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or other understanding with any stockholder or group of stockholders (other than any such agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into in connection with an acquisition of shares of capital stock of the corporation, by such stockholder or group of stockholders, from the corporation), other than any such director referred to in this clause (4) who at the time of such annual meeting will have served as a director continuously, as a nominee of the Board of Directors, for at least (2) annual terms, but only to the extent the maximum number after such reduction with respect to this clause (4) equals or exceeds one (1).

(c) In the event that one or more vacancies for any reason occurs after the deadline in Section 1.11(vi) for delivery of the Stockholder Notice but before the annual meeting of stockholders and the Board of Directors resolves to reduce the size of the Board of Directors in connection therewith, the maximum number of Stockholder Nominees shall be calculated based on the number of directors in office as so reduced.

(d) In the event that the number of Stockholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Stockholders pursuant to this Section 1.11 exceeds this maximum number, the corporation shall determine which Stockholder Nominees shall be included in the corporation’s proxy materials in accordance with the following provisions: each Eligible Stockholder (or in the case of a group, each group constituting an Eligible Stockholder) will select one (1) Stockholder Nominee for inclusion in the corporation’s proxy materials until the maximum

 

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number is reached, going in order of the amount (largest to smallest) of shares of the corporation each Eligible Stockholder disclosed as Owned in its respective Stockholder Notice submitted to the corporation. If the maximum number is not reached after each Eligible Stockholder (or in the case of a group, each group constituting an Eligible Stockholder) has selected one (1) Stockholder Nominee, this selection process will continue as many times as necessary, following the same order each time, until the maximum number is reached.

(e) Following the determination of which Stockholder Nominees shall be included in the corporation’s proxy materials, if any Stockholder Nominee who satisfies the eligibility requirements in this Section 1.11 is thereafter nominated by the Board of Directors, thereafter is not included in the corporation’s proxy materials or thereafter is not submitted for director election for any reason (including the Eligible Stockholder’s or Stockholder Nominee’s failure to comply with this Section 1.11), no other nominee or nominees shall be included in the corporation’s proxy materials or otherwise submitted for director election in substitution thereof.

(f) Any Stockholder Nominee who is included in the corporation’s proxy materials for a particular annual meeting of stockholders will be ineligible to be a Stockholder Nominee pursuant to this Section 1.11 for the next two (2) annual meetings of stockholders if such Stockholder Nominee either (1) withdraws from or becomes ineligible or unavailable for election at the annual meeting of stockholders for any reason, including for the failure to comply with any provision of these by-laws, provided that in no event shall any such withdrawal, ineligibility or unavailability commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Stockholder Notice or (2) does not receive a number of votes cast in favor of his or her election at least equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote in the election of directors.

(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 1.11, the corporation may disregard the nomination of a Stockholder Nominee (and may, if the determination is made prior to the mailing of the proxy materials, omit from its proxy materials such Stockholder Nominee), and no vote on such Stockholder Nominee will occur, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the corporation or that such Stockholder Nominee may have been included in the proxy materials, up to and until the certification of the voting results of that annual meeting of stockholders, if:

(1) the Eligible Stockholder (or any member of any group of stockholders that together is such Eligible Stockholder) or Stockholder Nominee breaches any of its respective agreements, representations, or warranties set forth in the Stockholder Notice (or otherwise submitted pursuant to this Section 1.11), any of the information in the Stockholder Notice (or otherwise submitted pursuant to this Section 1.11) was not, when provided, true, correct and complete, or the requirements of this Section 1.11 have otherwise not been met;

(2) the Stockholder Nominee (A) is not independent for purposes of membership on the Board of Directors, the audit committee, management planning and development committee and nominating and corporate governance committee of the Board of Directors under the listing standards of the principal U.S. exchange upon which the shares of the corporation are listed, any applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in determining and disclosing the independence of the corporation’s directors, (B) does not qualify as a “non-employee director” under Exchange Act Rule 16b-3, or as an “outside director” for the purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (or

 

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any successor provision), (C) is or has been, within the past three (3) years, an officer or director of a competitor, as defined in Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, as amended, (D) is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses) or has been convicted in a criminal proceeding within the past ten (10) years, (E) is subject to any order of the type specified in Rule 506(d) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; or

(3) the election of the Stockholder Nominee to the Board of Directors would cause the corporation to be in violation of the Certificate of Incorporation, these by-laws, or any applicable state or federal law, rule, regulation or listing standard.

(v) Stockholder Notice Requirements .

(a) “Stockholder Notice” means a notice given by or on behalf of an Eligible Stockholder that specifies the name of the Stockholder Nominee(s) nominated for election or reelection to the Board of Directors in accordance with this Section 1.11.

(b) A Stockholder Notice shall include:

(1) the written consent of each Stockholder Nominee to being named in the corporation’s proxy materials as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected;

(2) a copy of the Schedule 14N that has been or concurrently is filed with the SEC under Exchange Act Rule 14a-18;

(3) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among the Eligible Stockholder and its affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each Stockholder Nominee, and each Stockholder Nominee’s respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K if the Eligible Stockholder making the nomination or on whose behalf the nomination is made, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for the purposes of Item 404 and the Stockholder Nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant;

(4) the information specified under Section 1.10(i)(c); and

(5) the written agreement of the Eligible Stockholder (or in the case of a group, each stockholder or beneficial owner whose shares are aggregated for purposes of constituting an Eligible Stockholder) addressed to the corporation, which written agreement will include the Eligible Stockholder’s:

(A) disclosure of, and certification as to, the number of shares it Owns and has Owned continuously for at least three (3) years as of the date of the Stockholder Notice and agreement to continue to Own such shares through the annual meeting of stockholders, which information shall also be included in the Schedule 14N filed by the Eligible Stockholder with the SEC;

(B) agreement to provide within (5) business days of the record date of the annual meeting of stockholders, (I) the information specified under Section 1.10(i)(c) and (II) written statements from the record holder and intermediaries as required under Section 1.11(vii)(a)(1) verifying the Eligible Stockholder’s continuous Ownership of the Required Shares, in each case, through and as of the record date;

 

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(C) representation and warranty that it (I) acquired the Required Shares in the ordinary course of business and not with the intent to change or influence control at the corporation, and does not presently have any such intent, (II) has not nominated and will not nominate for election to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting of stockholders any person other than the Stockholder Nominee(s) being nominated pursuant to this Section 1.11, (III) has not engaged and will not engage in, and has not been and will not be a participant (as defined in Item 4 of Exchange Act Schedule 14A) in, a solicitation within the meaning of Exchange Act Rule 14a-1(l), in support of the election of any individual as a director at the annual meeting of stockholders other than its Stockholder Nominee(s) or a nominee of the Board of Directors, and (IV) will not distribute any form of proxy for the annual meeting of stockholders other than the form distributed by the corporation;

(D) agreement to (I) assume all liability stemming from any legal or regulatory violation arising out of the Eligible Stockholder’s communications with the stockholders of the corporation or out of the information that the Eligible Stockholder provided to the corporation, (II) indemnify and hold harmless (jointly with all other group members, in the case of a group member) the corporation and each of its directors, officers and employees individually against any liability, loss, damages, expenses or other costs (including attorney’s fees) in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether legal, administrative or investigative, against the corporation or any of its directors, officers or employees arising out of any nomination submitted by the Eligible Stockholder pursuant to this Section 1.11, (III) comply with all laws, rules, regulations and listing standards applicable to any solicitation in connection with the annual meeting of stockholders, (IV) file all materials described below in Section 1.11(vii)(a)(3) with the SEC, regardless of whether any such filing is required under Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act, or whether any exemption from filing is available for such materials thereunder, (V) provide to the corporation prior to the annual meeting of stockholders such additional information as necessary or reasonably requested by the corporation, and (VI) provide a statement of whether or not the Eligible Stockholder intends to maintain Ownership of the Required Shares for at least one (1) year following the annual meeting, which statement shall also be included in the Schedule 14N filed with the SEC;

(E) in the case of a nomination by a group of stockholders or beneficial owners that together is an Eligible Stockholder, the written agreement described in clause (4) of this Section 1.11(v)(b) (or another agreement or instrument) shall include a designation by all group members of one (1) group member that is authorized to act on behalf of all such members with respect to the nomination and matters related thereto, including withdrawal of the nomination; and

(F) agreement to immediately notify the corporation if the Eligible Stockholder ceases to own any of the Required Shares prior to the date of the applicable annual meeting of stockholders.

(vi) Delivery of Stockholder Notice .

(a) To be timely under this Section 1.11, the Stockholder Notice shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal office of the corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred fiftieth (150th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the

 

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date (as stated in the corporation’s proxy statement) the definitive proxy statement was first sent to stockholders in connection with the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than thirty (30) days prior to the anniversary date of the preceding year’s annual meeting or delayed more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, then to be timely the Stockholder Notice must be received by the corporation no earlier than the close of business on the one hundred fiftieth (150th) day prior to such annual meeting and no later than the close of business on the later of (x) the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and (y) the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the corporation.

(b) In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting of stockholders commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Stockholder Notice in accordance with this Section 1.11.

(vii) Agreements of the Eligible Stockholder .

(a) An Eligible Stockholder must:

(1) within five (5) business days after the date of the Stockholder Notice, provide one or more written statements from the record holder(s) of the Required Shares and from each intermediary through which the Required Shares are or have been held, in each case during the requisite three-year holding period, specifying the number of shares that the Eligible Stockholder Owns, and has Owned continuously, in compliance with this Section 1.11;

(2) include in the Schedule 14N filed with the SEC a statement certifying that it Owns and has Owned the Required Shares in compliance with this Section 1.11;

(3) file with the SEC any solicitation or other communication by or on behalf of the Eligible Stockholder relating to the corporation’s annual meeting of stockholders, one or more of the corporation’s directors or director nominees or any Stockholder Nominee, regardless of whether any such filing is required under Exchange Act Regulation 14A or whether any exemption from filing is available for such solicitation or other communication under Exchange Act Regulation 14A; and

(4) as to any group of funds whose shares are aggregated for purposes of constituting an Eligible Stockholder, within five (5) business days after the date of the Stockholder Notice, provide documentation reasonably satisfactory to the corporation that demonstrates that the funds satisfy Section 1.11(ii)(c).

(b) The information provided pursuant to this Section 1.11(vii) shall be deemed part of the Stockholder Notice for purposes of this Section 1.11.

(viii) Agreements of the Stockholder Nominee .

(a) Within the time period prescribed in Section 1.11(vi) for delivery of the Stockholder Notice, the Eligible Stockholder must also deliver to the Secretary a written representation and agreement (which shall be deemed part of the Stockholder Notice for purposes of this Section 1.11) signed by each Stockholder Nominee and representing and agreeing that such Stockholder Nominee:

(1) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such Stockholder Nominee, if elected as a director, will act or vote on any issue or question, which such agreement, arrangement, or understanding has not been disclosed to the corporation;

 

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(2) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding with any person with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement, or indemnification in connection with service or action as a Stockholder Nominee or as a director, in each case, that has not been disclosed to the corporation; and

(3) if elected as a director, will comply with all of the corporation’s corporate governance, business conduct, conflict of interest, confidentiality, insider trading and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines, and any other corporation policies and guidelines applicable to directors.

(b) At the request of the corporation, the Stockholder Nominee must promptly, but in any event within five (5) business days after such request, submit all completed and signed questionnaires required of the corporation’s directors and provide to the corporation such other information as it may reasonably request. The corporation may request such additional information as necessary to permit the corporation to determine if each Stockholder Nominee satisfies this Section 1.11.

(ix) Additional Provisions .

(a) The Board of Directors (and any other person or body authorized by the Board of Directors) shall have the power and authority to interpret this Section 1.11 and to make any and all determinations necessary or advisable to apply this Section 1.11 to any persons, facts or circumstances, including the power to determine (1) whether one or more stockholders or beneficial owners qualifies as an Eligible Stockholder, (2) whether a Stockholder Notice complies with this Section 1.11 and has otherwise met the requirements of this Section 1.11, (3) whether a Stockholder Nominee satisfies the qualifications and requirements in this Section 1.11, and (4) whether any and all requirements of this Section 1.11 (or any applicable requirements of Section 1.10) have been satisfied. Any such interpretation or determination adopted in good faith by the Board of Directors (or any other person or body authorized by the Board of Directors) shall be binding on all persons, including the corporation and its stockholders (including any beneficial owners).

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.11, unless otherwise required by law or otherwise determined by the chair of the meeting or the Board of Directors, if (1) the Eligible Stockholder, or (2) a qualified representative of the Eligible Stockholder does not appear at the annual meeting of stockholders of the corporation to present its Stockholder Nominee(s), such nomination or nominations shall be disregarded and no vote shall be taken with respect to such Stockholder Nominee(s), notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the corporation. For purposes of this Section 1.11, to be considered a qualified representative of the Eligible Stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such Eligible Stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such Eligible Stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such Eligible Stockholder to act for such Eligible Stockholder as proxy at the annual meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the annual meeting of stockholders.

(c) In the event that any information or communications provided by the Eligible Stockholder or any Stockholder Nominees to the corporation or its stockholders is not, when provided, or thereafter ceases to be, true, correct and complete in all material respects (including omitting a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading), each Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the Secretary and provide the information that is required to make such information or communication true, correct, complete and not misleading; it being understood that providing any such notification shall not be deemed to cure any such defect or limit the corporation’s right to omit a Stockholder Nominee from its proxy materials pursuant to this Section 1.11.

 

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(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 1.11, the corporation may omit from its proxy materials any information or Statement (or portion thereof) that it, in good faith, believes would violate any applicable law, rule, regulation or listing standard. Nothing in this Section 1.11 shall limit the ability of the corporation to solicit proxies against any Stockholder Nominee or to include in its proxy materials its own statements or any other additional information relating to any Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee.

ARTICLE 2

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 2.01 NUMBER OF DIRECTORS. The number of directors of the corporation shall be not less than three (3) nor more than eighteen (18), as determined by action of the Board of Directors.

Section 2.02 TERM AND VACANCIES. Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders to hold office until the next annual meeting and until their respective successors have been duly elected and have qualified.

Vacancies in the Board of Directors, from any cause whatsoever, including vacancies created by an increase in the number of directors, shall be filled by the vote of a majority of the remaining directors, though less than a quorum.

Directors need not be stockholders.

Section 2.03 MAJORITY VOTING. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.04, each director shall be elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to that director’s election at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present. For purposes of this Section 2.03, a majority of votes cast means that the number of votes “for” a director’s election must exceed fifty percent (50%) of the votes cast with respect to that director’s election. Votes “against” a director’s election will count as votes cast, but “abstentions” and “broker non-votes” will not count as votes cast with respect to that director’s election.

Section 2.04 CONTESTED ELECTIONS. If, as of the record date for a meeting of stockholders for which directors are to be elected, the number of nominees for election of directors exceeds the number of directors to be elected (a “Contested Election”), the nominees receiving a plurality of the votes cast by holders of shares entitled to vote in the election at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be elected.

Section 2.05 RESIGNATION AND REPLACEMENT OF UNSUCCESSFUL INCUMBENT DIRECTOR.

(i) In order for any incumbent director to become a nominee of the Board of Directors for further service on the Board of Directors, such person must submit an irrevocable resignation, which resignation shall become effective upon (a) that person not receiving a majority of the votes cast in an election that is not a Contested Election, and (b) acceptance by the Board of Directors of that resignation in accordance with the policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors for such purpose.

(ii) The Board of Directors, acting on the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, shall no later than at its first regularly scheduled meeting following certification of the shareholder vote, determine whether to accept the resignation of the unsuccessful incumbent. Absent a determination by the Board of Directors that a compelling reason exists for concluding that it is in the best interests of the corporation for an unsuccessful incumbent to remain as a director, no such person shall be elected by the Board of Directors to serve as a director, and the Board of Directors shall accept that person’s resignation.

 

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(iii) The Board of Directors shall promptly consider and act upon the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, in making this recommendation and the Board of Directors, in acting on such recommendation, may consider any factors or other information that they determine appropriate and relevant.

(iv) If the Board of Directors determines to accept the resignation of an unsuccessful incumbent, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall recommend a candidate to the Board of Directors to fill the office formerly held by the unsuccessful incumbent, unless the Board of Directors decides to decrease the size of the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 2.01.

(v) The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board of Directors shall take the actions required under this Section 2.05 without the participation of any unsuccessful incumbent except that:

(a) If every member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is an unsuccessful incumbent, then a majority of the Board of Directors shall appoint a Board committee (the “Special Nominating Committee”) of independent directors (as defined below) for the purpose of considering the tendered resignations and making a recommendation to the Board of Directors whether to accept or reject them; and

(b) If the number of independent directors who are not unsuccessful incumbents is three or fewer, all directors may participate in the decisions under this Section 2.05.

As used above, the term “independent director” shall mean a director who complies with the “independent director” requirements under the rules of the principal U.S. exchange upon which the shares of the corporation are listed, under law or under any rule or regulation of any other regulatory body or self-regulatory body applicable to the corporation.

(vi) If the Board of Directors accepts the resignation of a director who is an unsuccessful incumbent pursuant to this by-law, or if a nominee for director who is not an incumbent director does not receive more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes cast with respect to that director’s election, then the Board of Directors may fill the resulting vacancy pursuant to Section 2.02, or may decrease the size of the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 2.01.

Section 2.06 RESIGNATION. Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chair of the Board or to the Secretary. A resignation is effective when the resignation is delivered unless the resignation specifies (i) a later effective date or (ii) an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events (including but not limited to a failure to receive more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes cast in an election and the Board of Directors’ acceptance of the resignation).

Section 2.07 GENERAL POWERS OF DIRECTORS. The business of the corporation shall be managed under the direction of its Board of Directors subject to the restrictions imposed by law and by the Certificate of Incorporation.

Section 2.08 MEETINGS OF DIRECTORS. The directors may hold their meetings and may keep an office and maintain the books of the corporation, except as otherwise provided by statute, in such place or places in the State of Delaware or outside the State of Delaware as the Board may, from time to time, determine.

 

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Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if all of the directors consent in writing to the adoption of a resolution authorizing the action, and in such event the resolution and the written consent of all directors thereto shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors.

Any one or more directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time, and participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.

Section 2.09 REGULAR MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at the principal office of the corporation in the County of Providence, City of Woonsocket, State of Rhode Island, or at such other place within or without the State of Delaware as shall be designated in the notice of the meeting as follows: one (1) meeting shall be held immediately following the annual meeting of stockholders and further meetings shall be held at such intervals or on such dates as may from time to time be fixed by the Board of Directors, all of which meetings shall be held upon not less than four (4) days’ notice served upon each director by mailing or emailing such notice to the director at the director’s address as the same appears upon the records of the corporation, except the meeting which shall be held immediately following the annual meeting of stockholders which meeting shall be held without notice.

Section 2.10 SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held whenever called by the direction of the Chair of the Board, or of the Chief Executive Officer, or of one-third (1/3) of the directors at the time in office. The Secretary shall give notice of each special meeting by mailing such notice not less than four (4) days, or by telegraphing, telecopying or emailing such notice not less than two (2) days, before the date set for a special meeting, to each director.

Section 2.11 WAIVER. Notice of a meeting need not be given to any director who submits a signed waiver of notice whether before or after the meeting, or who attends the meeting without protesting, prior thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice to him or her.

Section 2.12 QUORUM. At a meeting, a majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but if at any meeting of the Board of Directors there is less than a quorum present, the majority of those present may adjourn the meeting from time to time.

Section 2.13 ORDER OF BUSINESS. At meetings of the Board of Directors business shall be transacted in such order as the Board of Directors may fix and determine.

Section 2.14 ELECTION OF CHAIR, OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES. At the first regular meeting of the Board of Directors in each year, at which a quorum shall be present, held next after the annual meeting of the stockholders, the Board of Directors shall proceed to the election of the Chair of the Board (who may be an executive officer of the corporation), of the executive officers of the corporation, and of the Executive Committee, if the Board of Directors shall provide for such committee under the provisions of Article 3 hereof.

Except as otherwise provided herein, the Board of Directors from time to time may fill any vacancies among the Chair of the Board, the executive officers, members of the Executive Committee and members of other committees, and may appoint additional executive officers and additional members of such Executive Committee or other committees.

Section 2.15 COMPENSATION. Directors who are not officers or employees of the corporation or any of its subsidiaries may receive such remuneration as the Board of Directors may fix, in addition to a fixed sum for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors or a Committee of the Board of Directors; provided, however , that nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other capacity or receiving compensation therefor. In addition, each director shall be entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred in attending any meeting of the Board of Directors or Committee thereof.

 

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ARTICLE 3

COMMITTEES

Section 3.01 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Board of Directors by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board of Directors may designate an Executive Committee consisting of three (3) directors or more, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. At all times when the Board of Directors is not in session, the Executive Committee so designated shall have and exercise the powers of the Board of Directors, except that such committee shall have no authority as to the matters set out in Section 3.03.

Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be called by any member of the same, on three (3) days’ mailed notice, or one (1) day’s telegraphed, telecopied or emailed notice to each of the other members, stating therein the purpose for which such meeting is to be held. Notice of meeting may be waived in writing by any member of the Executive Committee.

All action by the Executive Committee shall be recorded in its minutes and reported from time to time to the Board of Directors.

The Executive Committee shall fix its own rules of procedure and shall meet where and as provided by such rules or by resolution of the Board of Directors.

Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Executive Committee may be taken without a meeting if all of the members of the Executive Committee consent in writing to the adoption of a resolution authorizing the action, and in such event the resolution and the written consent of all members of the Executive Committee thereto shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Executive Committee.

Any one or more members of the Executive Committee may participate in a meeting of the Executive Committee by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time, and participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.

Section 3.02 OTHER COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors may appoint such other committees as the Board shall, from time to time, deem advisable, which committees shall have and may exercise such powers as shall be prescribed, from time to time, by resolution of the Board of Directors, except that such committees shall have no authority as to the matters set out in Section 3.03. Each such committee may be comprised of any number of members as is permitted by the DGCL; provided, however , that each of the principal standing committees of the Board shall be comprised of three (3) or more members.

Actions and recommendations by each committee which shall be appointed pursuant to this Section 3.02 shall be recorded and reported, from time to time, to the Board of Directors.

Each such committee shall fix its own rules of procedure and shall meet where and as provided by such rules or by resolution of the Board of Directors.

Any action required or permitted to be taken by any such committee may be taken without a meeting if all of the members of such committee consent in writing to the adoption of a resolution authorizing the action, and in such event the resolution and the written consent of all members of such committee thereto shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of such committee.

Any one or more members of any such committee may participate in a meeting of such committee by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time, and participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.

 

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Section 3.03 LIMITATIONS. No committee shall have authority as to the following matters:

(i) The approval, adoption, or recommendation to the stockholders of any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) that is required by law to be submitted to stockholders for approval.

(ii) The adoption, amendment, or repeal of any by-law of the corporation.

Section 3.04 ALTERNATES. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any such committees, who may replace any absent member or members at any meeting of such committees.

Section 3.05 COMPENSATION. Members of special or standing committees may receive such salary for their services as the Board of Directors may determine; provided, however , that nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any member of any such committee from serving the corporation in any other capacity or receiving compensation therefor.

ARTICLE 4

OFFICERS AND CHAIR

Section 4.01 TITLES AND TERMS OF OFFICE. The executive officers of the corporation shall be a Chief Executive Officer, who shall be a member of the Board of Directors, a President, such number of Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents as the Board of Directors shall determine, and a Controller, a Treasurer and a Secretary, all of whom shall be approved by the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors may also appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries and one or more Assistant Treasurers, and such other junior officers as it shall deem necessary, who shall have such authority and shall perform such duties as, from time to time, may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

Any two (2) or more offices except President and Vice President may be held by the same person.

The officers of the corporation shall each hold office for one (1) year and until their successors are chosen and qualified, and, except as set forth herein, shall be subject to removal at any time by the affirmative vote of the majority of the Board of Directors.

Section 4.02 CHAIR OF THE BOARD. The Board of Directors shall designate a Chair of the Board (or one or more Co-Chairs of the Board), who may be an executive officer of the corporation. The Chair of the Board shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders at which he or she will be present. If there are more than one, the Co-Chairs designated by the Board of Directors will perform such duties. The Chair or Chairs of the Board shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him, her or them by the Board of Directors.

Section 4.03 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general management and control over the policy, business and affairs of the corporation and shall have such other authority and perform such other duties as usually appertain to a chief executive officer of a business corporation. He or she shall exercise the powers of the Chair of the Board during the Chair’s absence or inability to act.

Section 4.04 PRESIDENT. The President, if any, shall have such authority and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time determine.

Section 4.05 EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENTS, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENTS AND VICE PRESIDENTS. The Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents, if any, shall be designated and shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. They shall, in order of their seniority or in such other order as may be designated by the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, exercise the powers of the Chief Executive Officer during the absence or inability to act of the Chief Executive Officer and the President.

 

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Section 4.06 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. A Chief Financial Officer or other officer designated by the Board of Directors shall be the principal financial officer of the corporation. He or she shall perform such duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chief Executive Officer or the President.

Section 4.07 CONTROLLER. A Controller or other officer designated by the Board of Directors shall be the principal accounting officer of the corporation and, subject to the direction of the Chief Financial Officer, he or she shall have supervision over all the accounts and account books of the corporation. He or she shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Chief Financial Officer, and shall exercise the powers of the Chief Financial Officer during his or her absence or inability to act.

Section 4.08 TREASURER. The Treasurer shall have custody of the corporation’s funds and securities. He or she shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by these by-laws or as may be assigned to him or her by the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Board of Directors, and, except as otherwise prescribed by the Board of Directors, he or she shall have such powers and duties incident to the office of Treasurer. He or she shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Chief Financial Officer.

Section 4.09 ASSISTANT TREASURER. Each Assistant Treasurer shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be delegated to him or her, and the Assistant Treasurers shall, in the order of their seniority, or in such other order as may be designated by the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Chief Financial Officer, exercise the powers of the Treasurer during his or her absence or inability to act.

Section 4.10 SECRETARY. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors and the minutes of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Executive Committee, in books provided for that purpose; he or she shall attend to the giving and serving of all notices of the corporation; and he or she shall have charge of the certificate books, transfer books and records of stockholders and such other books and records as the Board of Directors or Executive Committee may direct. He or she shall in general perform all of the duties incident to the office of Secretary, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer and the President.

Section 4.11 ASSISTANT SECRETARIES. Each Assistant Secretary shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be delegated to him or her, and the Assistant Secretaries shall, in the order of their seniority, or in such other order as may be designated by the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, exercise the powers of the Secretary during his or her absence or inability to act.

Section 4.12 VOTING UPON STOCKS. Unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors or by the Executive Committee, the Chief Executive Officer, or a person designated in a proxy executed by him or her, and in the absence of either, the President, or a person designated in a proxy executed by him or her, and in the absence of all such, the Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents or the Vice Presidents of the corporation, in the order of their seniority, shall have full power and authority on behalf of the corporation to attend, act, and vote at meetings of stockholders of any corporation in which this corporation may hold stock, and each such officer of the corporation shall have power to sign a proxy deputizing others to vote the same; and all such who shall be so authorized to vote shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership of such stock and which, as the owner thereof, the corporation might have possessed and exercised, if present.

 

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The Board of Directors or the Executive Committee may, by resolution from time to time, confer like powers on any other person or persons, which shall supersede the powers of those designated in the foregoing paragraph.

Section 4.13 EXECUTION OF CHECKS, ETC. All checks, notes, drafts or other instruments for the payment of money shall be signed on behalf of this corporation by such person or persons and in such manner as the Board of Directors or Executive Committee may prescribe by resolution from time to time.

ARTICLE 5

CERTAIN OTHER GOVERNANCE MATTERS

Section 5.01 NAME OF THE CORPORATION. Any change to the name of the corporation shall require the approval of three-quarters (3/4) of the members of the Board of Directors.

Section 5.02 AMENDMENTS. Any amendment by the Board of Directors of this Article 5, or any other provision contained in these by-laws requiring approval for an action by at least three-quarters (3/4) of the members of the Board of Directors, shall require the approval of three-quarters (3/4) of the members of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE 6

STOCK; RECORD DATE

Section 6.01 CERTIFICATES FOR STOCK; UNCERTIFICATED SHARES. The certificates for shares of the stock of the corporation shall be in such form as shall be proper or approved by the Board of Directors; provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of stock of the corporation shall be uncertificated shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing or the adoption of such a resolution or resolutions by the Board of Directors, each holder of uncertificated shares shall be entitled, upon request, to a certificate representing such shares, to be in such form as the Board shall have approved. Any such resolution shall not apply to any share represented by a certificate theretofore issued until such certificate is surrendered to the corporation. Each certificate shall state (i) that the corporation is formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, (ii) the name of the person or persons to whom issued, (iii) the number and class of shares and the designation of the series, if any, which such certificate represents and (iv) the par value, if any, of each share represented by such certificate. Each certificate shall be signed by the Chair of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, the President, an Executive Vice President or a Vice President, and also by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary and sealed with the corporation’s seal; provided, however, that if such certificates are signed by a transfer agent or transfer clerk and by a registrar the signature of the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Executive Vice President, Vice President, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary and Assistant Secretary and the seal of the corporation upon such certificates may be facsimiles, engraved or printed. Except as otherwise provided by law, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated shares and the rights and obligations of the holders of shares represented by certificates of the same class and series shall be identical.

Section 6.02 TRANSFER OF SHARES. Shares of the stock of the corporation may be transferred on the record of stockholders of the corporation by the holder thereof in person or by his or her duly authorized attorney upon surrender of a certificate therefor properly endorsed or upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the holder of uncertificated shares.

Section 6.03 AUTHORITY FOR ADDITIONAL RULES REGARDING TRANSFER. The Board of Directors and the Executive Committee shall have power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as respectively they may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificated or uncertificated shares of the stock of the corporation, as well as for the issuance of new

 

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certificates in lieu of those which may be lost or destroyed, and may require of any stockholder requesting replacement of lost or destroyed certificates, bond in such amount and in such form as they may deem expedient to indemnify the corporation, the transfer agents, and/or the registrars of its stock against any claims arising in connection therewith.

Section 6.04 TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS. The Board of Directors or Executive Committee may appoint one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars of transfer and may require all stock certificates to be countersigned by such transfer agent and registered by such registrar of transfers. One (1) person or organization may serve as both transfer agent and registrar.

Section 6.05 RECORD DATE. For the purpose of determining the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to or dissent from any proposal without a meeting, or for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any rights, or for the purpose of any other action, the Board of Directors shall fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of stockholders. Such date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action.

Section 6.06 LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS AS OF RECORD DATE. The Secretary or the transfer agent of its stock shall make and certify a list of the stockholders as of the record date and number of shares of each class of stock of record in the name of each stockholder and such list shall be present at every meeting of stockholders. If the right to vote at any meeting is challenged, the Inspectors of Elections, or person presiding thereat, shall require such list of stockholders to be produced as evidence of the right of the persons challenged to vote at such meeting, and all persons who appear from such list to be stockholders entitled to vote thereat, may vote at such meeting.

Section 6.07 DIVIDENDS. Dividends may be declared and paid out as often and at such times and to such extent as the Board of Directors may determine, consistent with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and the DGCL.

Section 6.08 STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLANS.

(i) Notwithstanding anything in these by-laws to the contrary, the amendment of any Stockholder Rights Plan (as defined below) which has the effect of extending the term of the Stockholder Rights Plan or any rights or options provided thereunder shall require the approval of at least three-quarters (3/4) of the Board of Directors, and any Stockholder Rights Plan shall expire if not so amended no later than one (1) year following the later of the date of its adoption and the date of its last such amendment.

(ii) Paragraph (i) of this Section 6.08 shall not apply to any Stockholder Rights Plan ratified by the stockholders.

(iii) “Stockholder Rights Plan” refers in this Section 6.08 to any stockholder rights plan, rights agreement or any other form of “poison pill” anti-takeover device or plan which is designed to or has the effect of making an acquisition of large holdings of the corporation’s shares of stock more difficult or expensive (but for avoidance of doubt, excluding any issuance or sale of securities or rights in connection with a bona fide financing transaction).

(iv) Nothing in this Section 6.08 should be construed to permit or validate any decision by the Board of Directors to adopt or amend a Stockholder Rights Plan that would otherwise be prohibited or invalid under applicable Delaware law.

 

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ARTICLE 7

CORPORATE SEAL

The Board of Directors shall provide a suitable seal containing the name of the corporation and of the state under the laws of which the corporation was incorporated; and the Secretary shall have the custody thereof.

ARTICLE 8

AMENDMENTS

Subject to Article 5, Section 5.02, these by-laws may be altered, amended or repealed, or new by-laws may be made, by the stockholders entitled to vote thereon at any annual or special meeting thereof or by the Board of Directors.

 

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