As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2019
Registration No. 333-220352
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-220352
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
DOW INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 30-1128146 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 38-1285128 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
2211 H.H. Dow Way
Midland, MI 48674
(989) 636-1000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrants principal executive offices)
The Dow Chemical Company Elective Deferral Plan
(Full Title of the Plan)
Amy E. Wilson, Esq.
Dow Inc.
2211 H.H. Dow Way
Midland, MI 48674
(989) 636-1000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agents for service)
Copies to:
Michael J. Aiello, Esq.
Sachin Kohli, Esq.
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10153
(212) 310-8000
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, smaller reporting company and emerging growth company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Dow Inc.
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||
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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
The Dow Chemical Company
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||
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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
|
||||||||
Title of Securities to be Registered |
Amount to be Registered |
Proposed
Maximum
|
Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price |
Amount of
Registration Fee |
||||
Deferred Compensation and Matching Contributions |
N/A (1) | N/A | N/A | N/A(2) | ||||
|
||||||||
|
(1) |
This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 (the Post-Effective Amendment) to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-220352) originally filed by The Dow Chemical Company (TDCC) to register $100,000,000 in deferred compensation obligations of TDCC under The Dow Chemical Company Elective Deferral Plan (the Plan) is being filed to add Dow Inc. (Dow), the parent company of TDCC, as a registrant based on Dow becoming a joint obligor with TDCC with respect to such obligations. This Post-Effective Amendment does not register any additional amount of deferred compensation obligations. |
(2) |
The registration fee in respect of the deferred compensation obligations was previously paid by TDCC at the time of filing the original Registration Statement on Form S-8. |
EXPLANATORY NOTE
On April 1, 2019, DowDuPont Inc. completed the spin-off of its materials science business by way of a pro-rata distribution of all of the then-issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Dow Inc., a Delaware corporation (Dow). In connection with the spin-off, Dow became the direct parent company of The Dow Chemical Company, a Delaware corporation (TDCC and, together with Dow, each a Registrant and, collectively, the Registrants) and is the successor issuer to TDCC pursuant to Rule 15d-5 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act).
On September 5, 2017, TDCC filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) a registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-220352) (as amended from time to time, the Registration Statement), to register an aggregate principal of $100,000,000 of unsecured obligations of TDCC to pay deferred compensation and accumulated tax-deferred earnings thereon to designated employees of TDCC and certain of its affiliates and subsidiaries in accordance with the terms of The Dow Chemical Company Elective Deferral Plan. In connection with the spin-off, TDCC amended and restated The Dow Chemical Company Elective Deferral Plan (as so amended and restated, the Elective Deferral Plan), and the obligation to make such payments became a joint obligation of TDCC and Dow. The Registrants are filing this post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement (the Post-Effective Amendment) to add Dow as a registrant based on its obligation to make such deferred payments under the Elective Deferral Plan and to include the Elective Deferral Plan (as amended and restated) as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
The document(s) containing the employee benefit plan information required by Item 1 of Form S-8 and the statement of availability of registrant information and any other information required by Item 2 of Form S-8 will be sent or given to Participants (as defined below) as specified by Rule 428 under the Securities Act. In accordance with Rule 428 and the requirements of Part I of Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. The Registrant will maintain a file of such documents in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428. Upon request, the Registrant will furnish to the Commission or its staff a copy of any or all of the documents included in such file.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. |
Incorporation of Documents by Reference. |
The following documents previously filed with the Commission by the Registrants pursuant to the Exchange Act are hereby incorporated in this Post-Effective Amendment by reference and shall be deemed to be a part hereof (except for any portions of Current Reports on Form 8-K furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 thereof and any corresponding exhibits thereto not filed with the Commission):
a) |
Dows registration statement on Form 10 (File No. 001-38646), as initially filed on September 7, 2018, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on October 19, 2018, Amendment No. 2 on November 19, 2018, Amendment No. 3 on February 12, 2019, and Amendment No. 4 on March 8, 2019 (as amended, the Form 10). |
b) |
Dows Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on March 13, 2019 and April 1, 2019. |
c) |
TDCCs annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018, filed on February 11, 2019. |
d) |
TDCCs Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 13, 2019. |
In addition to the foregoing, all documents subsequently filed by the Registrants pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Post-Effective Amendment, and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered hereunder have been sold or which de-registers all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and to be a part of the Registration Statement from the date of filing of such documents (unless expressly incorporated into the Registration Statement, any portions of a Registrants Current Reports on Form 8-K furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 thereof and any corresponding exhibits thereto not filed with the Commission subsequent to the date hereof shall not be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement).
Any statement contained in a document which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement will be deemed modified or superseded for purposes of the Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained in the Registration Statement or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or in any document that a Registrant files after the date of this Post-Effective Amendment that also is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement modifies or supersedes the prior statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of the Registration Statement.
Subject to the foregoing, all information appearing in the Registration Statement is qualified in its entirety by the information appearing in the documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
Item 4. |
Description of Securities. |
The Elective Deferral Plan provides designated employees (each, a Participant) of TDCC and certain of its affiliates and subsidiaries, including Dow (each, a Participating Company), with an opportunity to defer a portion of their compensation and accumulate tax-deferred earnings thereon (the deferred compensation). A brief description of the deferred compensation under the Elective Deferral Plan and the Registrants obligations with respect thereto follows. The following description is qualified by reference to the text of the Elective Deferral Plan, which is attached as Exhibit 4.1 hereto, is incorporated herein by reference and is controlling in the event of any discrepancy:
The Elective Deferral Plan allows a Participant to elect to defer a specified portion of his or her base salary and performance awards (i.e., amounts paid in cash as annual incentive bonuses). Each Participants deferred compensation will be mingled with the general funds of TDCC, but will be credited to a notional bookkeeping account(s) in the Participants name. Earnings, gains and losses will accrue on a Participants deferred compensation on a tax-deferred basis based on the investment benchmarks selected by the Participant for the measurement of returns from the benchmark methods available under the Elective Deferral Plan. There is no trading market for the Registrants deferred compensation obligations.
The Elective Deferral Plan is an unfunded plan and each Participant is an unsecured general creditor of TDCC with respect to his or her deferred compensation and benefits under the Elective Deferral Plan. All deferred compensation obligations are payable from the general assets of the Participating Companies. The deferred compensation obligations are subject to the risk of TDCCs corporate insolvency as well as any liens, security interests or claims of the Registrants respective creditors (provided, that, to the extent an affiliate or subsidiary of TDCC was required under the terms of the Elective Deferral Plan to make payments or contributions with respect to a Participants account balance, that affiliate or subsidiary will be secondarily liable for the payment of any deferred compensation to a Participant). In the event TDCC (and any other affiliate or subsidiary that made payments or contributions under the Elective Deferral Plan) is unable to make such payments, Dow will be liable for such obligations out of the assets of Dow and its consolidated subsidiaries, taken as a whole. There is no limitation under the Elective Deferral Plan on the Registrants rights to issue senior debt or other securities.
Participants may elect to receive distributions of their deferred compensation under the Elective Deferral Plan while the Participant is employed at a Participating Company (either as a lump sum in a specific future year or in annual or monthly installment payments over a period of 2 to 15 years beginning in a specific future year) or at separation from service (either in a lump sum upon separation from service or the first anniversary thereof or in annual or monthly payments over a period of 2 to 15 years beginning at separation from service or the first anniversary thereof). Upon death or long-term disability, any deferred compensation not previously paid out will be paid in a lump sum to a Participants designated beneficiary or to the Participant, respectively. Participants may also elect to receive a lump sum payment of their deferred compensation in connection with a change of control under the terms of the Elective Deferral Plan. Distributions triggered by separations from service to Participants who are specified employees under section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code cannot commence until at least 6 months after separation from service.
Subject to certain limitations, amounts deferred by Participants under the Elective Deferral Plan are also eligible for matching contributions by TDCC. The matching contributions will be deemed to be invested in the investment benchmarks in the same proportion as the Participants deferred compensation and distributed at the same time and in the same form as the Participants other deferred compensation.
Other than to a beneficiary in the event of death or to an alternate payee under a domestic relations order, Participants may not commute, sell, assign, pledge, anticipate, mortgage or otherwise encumber, transfer, hypothecate or convey the deferred compensation in advance of the receipt of the payment thereof, and such deferred compensation is unassignable and non-transferable.
The board of directors of Dow has the right to amend, modify or partially or completely terminate the Elective Deferral Plan at any time, provided that such amendment or termination does not result in any retroactive reduction of a Participants deferred compensation account balance, including previous earnings or losses, as of the date of such amendment or termination. The board of directors of Dow is authorized to delegate certain of these responsibilities.
As the plan sponsor, Dow has the authority to designate the administrators of the Elective Deferral Plan. The Vice President of Human Resources or Global Benefits Director of Dow or TDCC also may appoint persons to assist in administering the Elective Deferral Plan. As described in the Elective Deferral Plan, these administrators have the sole and absolute discretion to interpret the Elective Deferral Plan and determine all other matters that might arise under the terms of the Elective Deferral Plan. The administrators decisions are final and binding on all Participants. The deferred compensation benefits are not convertible into any other security of the Registrants. No trustee has been appointed to take action with respect to the deferred compensation and each Participant will be responsible for enforcing his or her own rights with respect to the deferred compensation, such rights being no greater than other unsecured general creditors of the Registrants.
Item 5. |
Interest of Named Experts and Counsel. |
Amy E. Wilson, the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Dow and TDCC, whose legal opinion is filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto, does not participate in the Elective Deferral Plan and owns less than 0.1% of the common stock of Dow.
Item 6. |
Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (DGCL) empowers a Delaware corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided that such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such persons conduct was unlawful. A Delaware corporation may indemnify directors, officers, employees and other agents of such corporation in an action by or in the right of the corporation under the same conditions, except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the person to be indemnified has been adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to above or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the corporation must indemnify such person against the expenses (including attorneys fees) which he or she actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith.
Dows Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference, and Amended and Restated Bylaws, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference, as well as TDCCs Amended and Restated Bylaws, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.4 hereto and incorporated herein by reference, contain provisions that provide for the indemnification of officers and directors to the fullest extent as is permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware, as may be amended from time to time.
As permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, Dows Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and TDCCs Seventh Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.3 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference, contain a provision eliminating the personal liability of their respective directors to the corporation or any stockholder of the corporation for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as may be amended from time to time.
Dow maintains liability insurance for itself and its directors and officers to provide protection for claims based on alleged breaches of fiduciary duty or other wrongful acts committed or allegedly committed by Dows directors and/or officers, whether or not Dow has the power to indemnify the person under the DGCL.
Item 7. |
Exemption from Registration Claimed. |
Not applicable.
Item 8. |
Exhibits. |
For the list of exhibits, see the Exhibit Index to this Post-Effective Amendment, which is incorporated in this item by reference.
Item 9. |
Undertakings. |
(a) Each of the undersigned Registrants hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement:
(i) to include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of a prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective Registration Statement; and
(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;
provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) Each of the undersigned Registrants hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrants annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plans annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
EXHIBIT INDEX
* |
Filed herewith. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, each Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Midland, Michigan, on April 1, 2019.
DOW INC. | ||||
By: |
/s/ Ronald C. Edmonds |
|||
Name: | Ronald C. Edmonds | |||
Title: | Controller and Vice President of Controllers and Tax | |||
THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY | ||||
By: |
/s/ Ronald C. Edmonds |
|||
Name: | Ronald C. Edmonds | |||
Title: | Controller and Vice President of Controllers and Tax |
BE IT KNOWN BY THESE PRESENTS: That each person whose name is signed hereto has made, constituted and appointed, and does hereby make, constitute and appoint James R. Fitterling, Howard I. Ungerleider, Ronald C. Edmonds and Amy E. Wilson his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, each acting alone, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her and his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and the other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, each acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as they might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact or his substitutes, each acting alone, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature |
Title |
Date |
||
/s/ James R. Fitterling |
Chief Executive Officer and Director of Dow Inc. | April 1, 2019 | ||
James R. Fitterling | (Principal Executive Officer of Dow Inc.) | |||
/s/ Howard I. Ungerleider |
President and Chief Financial Officer of Dow Inc. | April 1, 2019 | ||
Howard I. Ungerleider | (Principal Financial Officer of Dow Inc.) | |||
/s/ Ronald C. Edmonds |
Controller and Vice President of Controllers and Tax of Dow Inc. | April 1, 2019 | ||
Ronald C. Edmonds | (Principal Accounting Officer of Dow Inc.) | |||
/s/ Jeff M. Fettig |
Non-Executive Chairman of the | April 1, 2019 | ||
Jeff M. Fettig | Board of Directors of Dow Inc. | |||
/s/ Ajay Banga |
Director of Dow Inc. | April 1, 2019 | ||
Ajay Banga | ||||
/s/ Jacqueline K. Barton |
Director of Dow Inc. | April 1, 2019 | ||
Jacqueline K. Barton | ||||
/s/ James A. Bell |
Director of Dow Inc. | April 1, 2019 | ||
James A. Bell | ||||
/s/ Wesley G. Bush |
Director of Dow Inc. | April 1, 2019 | ||
Wesley G. Bush | ||||
/s/ Richard K. Davis |
Director of Dow Inc. | April 1, 2019 | ||
Richard K. Davis | ||||
/s/ Jacqueline C. Hinman |
Director of Dow Inc. | April 1, 2019 | ||
Jacqueline C. Hinman | ||||
/s/ Ruth G. Shaw |
Director of Dow Inc. | April 1, 2019 | ||
Ruth G. Shaw | ||||
/s/ Daniel W. Yohannes |
Director of Dow Inc. | April 1, 2019 | ||
Daniel W. Yohannes |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
BE IT KNOWN BY THESE PRESENTS: That each person whose name is signed hereto has made, constituted and appointed, and does hereby make, constitute and appoint James R. Fitterling, Howard I. Ungerleider, Ronald C. Edmonds and Amy E. Wilson his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, each acting alone, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her and his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and the other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, each acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as they might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact or his substitutes, each acting alone, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature |
Title |
Date |
||
/s/ James R. Fitterling |
Chief Executive Officer and Director of The Dow Chemical Company | April 1, 2019 | ||
James R. Fitterling | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
/s/ Howard I. Ungerleider |
President, Chief Financial Officer and Director of The Dow Chemical Company | April 1, 2019 | ||
Howard I. Ungerleider | (Principal Financial Officer) | |||
/s/ Ronald C. Edmonds |
Controller and Vice President of Controllers and Tax of The Dow Chemical Company | April 1, 2019 | ||
Ronald C. Edmonds | (Principal Accounting Officer) |
Exhibit 3.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
DOW INC.
Dow Inc. (hereinafter called the Company), a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of Delaware (the DGCL), does hereby certify as follows:
FIRST: The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Company was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 30, 2018 under the name Dow Holdings Inc. A Certificate of Amendment to the original Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 4, 2019 to change the name of the Company to Dow Inc.
SECOND: This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted by the Company in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and has been approved by the requisite vote of the stockholders of the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
THIRD: This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation amends, restates and integrates the provisions of the Companys Certificate of Incorporation.
FOURTH: The text of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the Company is Dow Inc.
ARTICLE II
REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT
The address of the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle 19801. The name of its registered agent at that address is The Corporation Trust Company.
ARTICLE III
PURPOSE AND POWERS
The purpose of the Company is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may now or hereafter be organized under the DGCL. The Company shall have all powers that may now or hereafter be lawful for a corporation to exercise under the DGCL.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL STOCK
Section 4.1 Classes of Stock. The total number of shares of stock of all classes of capital stock that the Company is authorized to issue is 5,250,000,000 shares. The authorized capital stock is divided into 250,000,000 shares of preferred stock having a par value of $0.01 per share (the Preferred Stock), and 5,000,000,000 shares of common stock having a par value of $0.01 per share (the Common Stock).
Section 4.2 Preferred Stock.
(a) |
Shares of Preferred Stock of the Company may be issued from time to time in one or more series, the shares of each series to have such voting powers, full or limited, if any, and such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and |
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as are stated and expressed herein or in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series, adopted by the Board of Directors as hereinafter provided. |
(b) |
Authority is hereby expressly granted to the Board of Directors of the Company, subject to the provisions of this Article IV and to the limitations prescribed by the DGCL, to authorize by resolution or resolutions from time to time the issuance of one or more series of Preferred Stock out of the authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and with respect to each such series to fix, by filing a certificate of designation pursuant to the DGCL setting forth such resolution or resolutions and providing for the issuance of such series, the voting powers, full or limited, if any, of the shares of such series and the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. The authority of the Board of Directors with respect to each series shall include, but not be limited to, the determination or fixing of the following: |
(i) |
the designation of such series; |
(ii) |
the number of shares of such series, which number the Board of Directors may thereafter (except where otherwise provided in the certificate of designation for such series) increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding); |
(iii) |
the dividend rate, if any, payable to holders of shares of such series, any conditions and dates upon which such dividends shall be payable, the relation which such dividends shall bear to the dividends payable on any other class or classes of stock or any other series of any class of stock of the Company, and whether such dividends shall be cumulative or non-cumulative; |
(iv) |
whether the shares of such series shall be subject to redemption by the Company, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company or of the holder thereof, and, if made subject to such redemption, the times, prices, form of payment and other terms and conditions of such redemption; |
(v) |
the terms and amount of any sinking fund provided for the purchase or redemption of the shares of such series; |
(vi) |
whether or not the shares of such series shall be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of any other class or classes of any stock or any other series of any class of stock of the Company or any other security, and, if provision is made for conversion or exchange, the times, prices, rates, adjustments, and other terms and conditions of such conversion or exchanges; |
(vii) |
the extent, if any, to which the holders of shares of such series shall be entitled to vote generally, with respect to the election of directors, upon specified events or otherwise; |
(viii) |
the restrictions, if any, on the issue or reissue of any additional Preferred Stock; and |
(ix) |
the rights and preferences of the holders of the shares of such series upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of, or upon the distribution of assets of, the Company. |
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the resolutions providing for issuance of any series of Preferred Stock may provide that such series shall be superior to, rank equally with or be junior to any other series of Preferred Stock to the extent permitted by law and the terms of any other series of Preferred Stock.
2
Section 4.3 Common Stock.
(a) |
All shares of Common Stock of the Company shall be of one and the same class, shall be identical in all respects and shall have equal rights, powers and privileges. Except as otherwise provided for by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors pursuant to this Article IV with respect to the issuance of any series of Preferred Stock or by the DGCL, the holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote on all matters requiring stockholder action. On each matter on which holders of Common Stock are entitled to vote, each outstanding share of such Common Stock will be entitled to one vote. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of outstanding Preferred Stock, holders of shares of Common Stock shall have equal rights of participation in the dividends and other distributions in cash, stock or property of the Company when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors from time to time out of assets or funds of the Company legally available therefor and shall have equal rights to receive the assets and funds of the Company available for distribution to stockholders in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary. |
(b) |
Upon this Certificate of Incorporation of the Company becoming effective upon filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, pursuant to the DGCL (the Effective Time), the 100 shares of the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall thereafter constitute 748,771,240 shares of Common Stock. |
ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 5.1 Power of the Board of Directors. The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. In furtherance, and not in limitation, of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors shall be expressly authorized to:
(a) |
determine the rights, powers, duties, rules and procedures that affect the power of the Board of Directors to manage and direct the business and affairs of the Company; |
(b) |
establish one or more committees of the Board of Directors, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors, to which may be delegated any or all of the powers and duties of the Board of Directors to the fullest extent permitted by law; and |
(c) |
exercise all such powers and do all such acts as may be exercised by the Company, subject to the provisions of the laws of the State of Delaware, this Certificate of Incorporation, and the Bylaws of the Company (as may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the Bylaws). |
Section 5.2 Number of Directors. The number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by a vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors in the manner provided in the Bylaws. As used in this Certificate of Incorporation, the term entire Board of Directors means the total authorized number of directors that the Company would have if there were no vacancies.
Section 5.3 Vacancies. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, any vacancies on the Board of Directors for any reason, including from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director, and any newly created directorships resulting by reason of any increase in the number of directors shall be filled exclusively by the Board of Directors, acting by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by stockholders. Any directors elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
Section 5.4 Removal of Directors. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, any director, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Company then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting as a single class.
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ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
Section 6.1 Limitation of Liability of Directors. A Director of the Company shall not be personally liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a Director to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as the same now exists or hereafter may be amended. No repeal or modification of this Article VI shall apply or have any adverse effect on any right or protection of, or any limitation of the liability of, any person entitled to any right or protection under this Article VI existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.
Section 6.2 Indemnification. Directors, officers, employees and agents of the Company may be indemnified by the Company to the fullest extent as is permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended and as the Bylaws may from time to time provide.
ARTICLE VII
STOCKHOLDER ACTION
Section 7.1. Action by Written Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Company must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Company and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders; provided, however, that any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more other such series, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, to the extent expressly so provided by the applicable certificate of designation for such series of Preferred Stock.
Section 7.2. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of stockholders of the Company: (a) may be called by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board of Directors, upon motion of a director, and (b) shall be called by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the Secretary of the Company upon a written request from stockholders of the Company holding at least twenty-five percent of the voting power of all the shares of capital stock of the Company then entitled to vote on the matter or matters to be brought before the proposed special meeting that complies with such procedures for calling a special meeting of stockholders as may be set forth in the Bylaws.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
Section 8.1. Amendment by the Board of Directors. In furtherance, and not in limitation, of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized and empowered to amend, alter, change, adopt or repeal the Bylaws of the Company; provided, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted shall invalidate any prior act of the directors that would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.
Section 8.2. Amendment by Stockholders. In addition to any requirements of the DGCL (and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser percentage may be specified by the DGCL), unless otherwise specified in the Bylaws, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of all of the shares of capital stock of the Company then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders of the Company to amend, alter, change, adopt or repeal any Bylaws of the Company.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
The Company hereby reserves the right at any time and from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, and any other provisions authorized by the DGCL may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the DGCL
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and all rights, preferences and privileges of whatsoever nature conferred on stockholders, directors or any other persons whomsoever therein granted are subject to this reservation.
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Executed on this 29th day of March, 2019.
DOW INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Amy E. Wilson |
|
Name: Amy E. Wilson | ||
Title: Secretary |
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Exhibit 3.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS
OF
DOW INC.
Incorporated Under The Laws of Delaware
Effective as of 5:00 PM Eastern Time on April 1, 2019
SECTION ICAPITAL STOCK
1.1. Certificates. Shares of the capital stock of Dow Inc. (the Company), may be certificated or uncertificated in accordance with the General Corporation Law of Delaware (the DGCL); provided that, the shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company shall be uncertificated, as provided by resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board). To the extent any certificates are ever issued with respect to any class or series of a class of capital stock of the Company, every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate, in such form as may be prescribed by law and the Board, signed in the name of the Company by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, representing the number of shares registered in certificate form held by such holder. Any or all the signatures on a certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Company with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
1.2. Record Ownership. A record of the name and address of each holder of shares of capital stock of the Company, the number of shares held thereby and the date of issue thereof shall be made on the Companys books, together with the number of any certificate(s) issued with respect thereto. The Company shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share of stock as the holder in fact thereof, and accordingly shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in any share on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as required by the Delaware law. If certificated, the certificates of each class or series of a class of stock shall be numbered consecutively.
1.3. Transfer of Record Ownership. Subject to applicable laws, transfers of shares of stock of the Company shall be made on the books of the Company only by direction of the registered holder thereof or such persons attorney, lawfully constituted in writing, and, if such shares are represented by a certificate, only upon the surrender to the Company or its transfer agent or other designated agent of the certificate representing such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a properly executed written assignment of the shares evidenced thereby, which certificate shall be canceled before a new certificate or uncertificated shares are issued.
1.4. Lost Certificates. Any person claiming a stock certificate in lieu of one lost, stolen or destroyed shall give the Company an affidavit as to such persons ownership of the certificate and of the facts which go to prove its loss, theft or destruction. Such person shall also, if required by policies adopted by the Board, give the Company a bond, in such form as may be approved by the General Counsel or his or her staff, sufficient to indemnify the Company against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss of the certificate or the issuance of a new certificate or of uncertificated shares.
1.5. Transfer Agents; Registrars; Rules Respecting Certificates. The Board may appoint, or authorize any officer or officers to appoint, one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars. The Board may make such further rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of shares of stock of the Company.
1.6. Record Date. The Board may fix in advance a date, not more than sixty days or less than ten days preceding the date of an annual or special meeting of stockholders and not more than sixty days preceding the date of payment of a dividend or other distribution, allotment of rights or the date when any change, conversion or exchange of capital stock shall go into effect or for the purpose of any other lawful action, as the record date for determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any such meeting and any adjournment thereof, or to receive any such dividend or other distribution or allotment of rights, or to exercise the rights in respect of any such change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, or to participate in any such other lawful action. Such stockholders and only such stockholders as shall be stockholders of record on the date so fixed shall be entitled to such notice of and to vote at such meeting and any adjournment thereof, or to receive such dividend or other distribution or allotment of rights, or to exercise such rights, or to participate in any such other lawful action, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any stock on the books of the Company after any such record date fixed as aforesaid.
SECTION IIMEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
2.1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders for the election of Directors and the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting shall be held annually on a date and at a time and place, within or without Delaware, as determined by the Board. The Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer each may postpone, reschedule or adjourn any previously scheduled annual meeting of the stockholders.
2.2. Special Meetings.
(a) Purpose . Special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes (i) may be called by the Board, pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board upon motion of a Director, and (ii) shall be called by the Chairman of the Board or the Secretary of the Company upon a written request from stockholders satisfying the ownership requirements as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation that complies with the procedures for calling a special meeting of stockholders as set forth in these Bylaws. Any such request by stockholders shall (A) be delivered to, or mailed to and received by, the Secretary of the Company at the Companys principal executive offices, (B) be signed by each stockholder, or a duly authorized agent of such stockholder, requesting the special meeting, (C) set forth the purpose or purposes of the meeting and (D) include the information required by Section 2.9 as applicable, and a representation by the stockholder(s) that within five business days after the record date for any such special meeting it will provide such information as of the record date for such special meeting to the extent not previously provided.
(b) Date, Time and Place . A special meeting, whether called by the Board or called at the request of stockholders shall be held at such date, time and place, within or without Delaware, as determined by the Board; provided, however, that the date of any such special meeting shall be not more than ninety days after the request to call the special meeting by one or more stockholders who satisfy the requirements of this Section 2.2 is delivered to or received by the Secretary unless a later date is required in order to allow the Company to file the information required under Item 8 (or any comparable or successor provision) of Schedule 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), if applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a special meeting requested by stockholders shall not be held if: (i) the stated business to be brought before the special meeting is not a proper subject for stockholder action under applicable law, or (ii) the Board has called or calls for an annual meeting of stockholders to be held within ninety days after the request for the special meeting is delivered to or received by the Secretary and the Board determines in good faith that the business of such annual meeting includes (among any other matters properly brought before the annual meeting) the business specified in the stockholders request. A stockholder may revoke a request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to, or mailed to and received by, the Secretary. If, at any time after receipt by the Secretary of the Company of a proper request for a special meeting of stockholders, there are no longer valid requests from stockholders holding in the aggregate at least the requisite number of shares entitling the stockholders to request the calling of a special meeting, whether because of revoked requests or otherwise, the Board, in its discretion, may cancel the special meeting (or, if the special meeting has not yet been called, may direct the Chairman of the Board or the Secretary of the Company not to call such a meeting).
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(c) Conduct of Meeting . At any such special meeting, only such business may be transacted as is set forth in the notice of special meeting. Business transacted at a special meeting requested by stockholders shall be limited to the matters described in the special meeting request; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit the Board from submitting matters to the stockholders at any special meeting requested by stockholders. If none of the stockholders who submitted the request for a special meeting appears or sends a qualified representative to present the nominations proposed to be presented or other business proposed to be conducted at the special meeting, the Company need not present such nominations or other business for a vote at such meeting. The chairman of a special meeting shall determine all matters relating to the conduct of the meeting, including, but not limited to, determining whether any nomination or other item of business has been properly brought before the meeting in accordance with these Bylaws, and if the chairman of the meeting should so determine and declare that any nomination or other item of business has not been properly brought before the special meeting, then such business shall not be transacted at such meeting.
2.3. Notice. Notice (either written or as otherwise permitted by the DGCL) of each meeting of stockholders, whether annual or special, stating the date, time, place and, with respect to a special meeting, purpose thereof, shall be distributed (either by the U.S. Postal Service or as otherwise permitted by the DGCL) by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary not less than ten days nor more than sixty days before the date of such meeting to every stockholder entitled to vote thereat.
2.4. List of Stockholders. A complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder, shall be prepared by the Secretary at least ten days before every meeting of stockholders and shall be open to the examination of any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least ten days before the meeting during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Company. A list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall be produced and kept at the place of the meeting during the whole time of the meeting and may be examined by any stockholder who is present.
2.5. Quorum. The holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Company then entitled to vote with respect to any one of the purposes for which the meeting is called, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum, except as otherwise required by the DGCL. In the event of a lack of quorum at a meeting, the chairman of the meeting or a majority in interest of the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy may adjourn the meeting from time to time without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be obtained. At any such adjourned meeting at which there is a quorum, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting originally called.
2.6. Organization. The Chairman of the Board, or, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or, in the absence of both, the Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel or any member of the Board selected by the members of the Board present, shall preside at meetings of stockholders as chairman of the meeting and shall determine the order of business for such meeting. The Secretary of the Company shall act as secretary at all meetings of stockholders, but in the absence of the Secretary, the chairman of the meeting may appoint a secretary of the meeting. Rules governing the procedures and conduct of meetings of stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of the meeting.
2.7. Voting. Subject to all of the rights of the preferred stock provided for by resolution or resolutions of the Board pursuant to Article IV of the Certificate of Incorporation or by the DGCL, each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting shall be entitled to one vote, in person or by proxy (either written or as otherwise permitted by the DGCL), for each voting share held of record by such stockholder. The votes for the election of Directors and, upon the demand of any stockholder the vote upon any matter before the meeting, shall be by written ballot. Except as otherwise required by the DGCL or as specifically provided for in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, in any question or matter brought before any meeting of stockholders (other than the election of Directors), the affirmative vote of the holders of voting shares present in person or by proxy representing a majority of the votes actually cast on any such question or matter at a meeting where there is a quorum shall be the act of the stockholders. Directors shall be elected by the vote of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting where there is a quorum; except that, notwithstanding the foregoing, Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting where there is a quorum if as of the record date for such meeting the number of nominees exceeds the number of Directors to be elected. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, a majority of the votes cast means that the number of shares voted for a Director nominee must exceed the number of shares voted against that Director nominee.
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2.8. Inspectors of Election. In advance of any meeting of stockholders, the Board or the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The chairman of the meeting may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails or is unable to act. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. At each meeting of stockholders, the inspector(s) shall ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, determine the shares represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, count all votes and ballots, determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspector(s), and certify the inspectors determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and the count of all votes and ballots. The inspector(s) may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspector(s) in the performance of the duties of the inspector(s). Any report or certificate made by the inspector(s) shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
2.9. Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Other Business.
(a) Annual Meeting .
(i) Nominations of persons for election to the Board and the proposal of business other than nominations to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (A) by or at the direction of the Board, (B) by any stockholder of the Company who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 2.9 is delivered to, or mailed to and received by, the Secretary of the Company, who is entitled to vote at such annual meeting and who complies with the notice procedures and disclosure requirements set forth in this Section 2.9, or (C) in the case of stockholder nominations to be included in the Companys proxy statement for an annual meeting of stockholders, by an Eligible Stockholder (as defined below) who satisfies the notice, ownership and other requirements of Section 2.10 of these Bylaws.
(ii) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (B) of Section 2.9(a)(i), such stockholder must have given timely written notice thereof in proper form to the Secretary of the Company and such proposed business must be a proper subject for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholders notice must be delivered to, or mailed to and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the ninetieth day or earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day prior to the anniversary date on which the Company first distributed its proxy materials for the prior years annual meeting of stockholders of the Company; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within thirty days before or after the first anniversary of the prior years annual meeting, notice by the stockholder in order to be timely must be so delivered, or so mailed and received, not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (A) the ninetieth day prior to such annual meeting and (B) the tenth day following the date on which public disclosure (as defined below) of the date of the annual meeting is first made by the Company. In no event shall the public disclosure of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any notice time period) for the giving of a stockholders notice as described above. Such stockholders notice shall set forth:
(A) as to each person, if any, whom such stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a Director: (1) all information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of such nominee as a Director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved) or that is otherwise required to be disclosed under Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (2) the written consent of the nominee to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a Director if elected and a representation by the nominee to the effect that, if elected, the nominee will agree to and abide by all policies of the Board as may be in place at any time and from time to time, and (3) any information that such person would be required to disclose pursuant to paragraph (ii)(D) of this Section 2.9, if such person were a stockholder purporting to make a nomination or propose business pursuant thereto;
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(B) as to any other business that such stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting: (1) a brief description of the proposed business desired to be brought before the meeting, (2) the text of the proposal or proposed business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws of the Company, the language of the proposed amendment), (3) the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, (4) any substantial interest (within the meaning of Item 5 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), if any, on whose behalf the business is being proposed, (5) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is being made, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the proposal and pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (6) a description of all agreements, arrangements, or understandings between or among such stockholder, or any affiliates or associates of such stockholder, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business and any material interest of such stockholder or any affiliates or associates of such stockholder, in such business, including any anticipated benefit therefrom to such stockholder, or any affiliates or associates of such stockholder and (7) the information required by Section 2.9(a)(ii)(A) above;
(C) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made or the other business is proposed: (1) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Companys books, and the name and address of such beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, (2) the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Company which are owned (beneficially and of record) by such stockholder and owned by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made, as of the date of such stockholders notice, and such beneficial owner as of the date of the notice, (3) a written representation that such stockholder is the holder of record of shares of the Company entitled to vote at the meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such nomination or other business, (4) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of such stockholders notice by, or on behalf of, such stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates, 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 of its affiliates or associates with respect to shares of stock of the Company, (5) a representation that such stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the Company entitled to vote at the meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice, (6) a representation whether such stockholder intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Companys outstanding capital stock required to approve the election of the nominee and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such election and (7) and, with respect to (2), (4) and (5) above, a representation that such stockholder will promptly notify the Company in writing of the same as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed;
(D) as to the stockholder giving the notice or, if the notice is given on behalf of a beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made or the other business is proposed, as to such beneficial owner: (1) the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Company which are beneficially owned (as defined below) by such stockholder or beneficial owner as of the date of the notice, and a representation that such stockholder shall notify the Company in writing within five business days after the record date for such meeting of the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Company beneficially owned by such stockholder or beneficial owner as of the record date for the meeting, (2) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or other business between or among such stockholder or beneficial owner and any other person, including without limitation any agreements that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 5 or Item 6 of Exchange Act Schedule 13D (regardless of whether the requirement to file a Schedule 13D is applicable to the stockholder or beneficial owner) and a representation that the stockholder shall notify the Company in writing within five business days after the record date for such meeting of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting, and (3) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the stockholders notice by, or on behalf of, such stockholder or beneficial owner, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss, manage risk or benefit from changes in the share price of any class of the Companys capital stock, or maintain, increase or decrease the voting power of the stockholder or beneficial owner with respect to shares of stock of the Company, and a representation that the stockholder shall notify the Company in writing within five business days after the record date for such meeting of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting.
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(iii) The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Company to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a Director of the Company, including information relevant to a determination whether such proposed nominee can be considered an independent Director or that could be material to a reasonable stockholders understanding of the independence, or lack thereof.
(iv) This Section 2.9(a) shall not apply to a proposal proposed to be made by a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Company of his or her intention to present the proposal at an annual or special meeting only pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and such proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Company to solicit proxies for such meeting.
(b) Special Meeting . Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Companys notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders called by the Board at which Directors are to be elected pursuant to the Companys notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board or (ii) provided that the Board has determined that Directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Company who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 2.9(b) is delivered to, or mailed to and received by, the Secretary of the Company and at the time of the special meeting, who is entitled to vote at the special meeting and upon such election and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.9 as to such nomination. In the event the Board calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more Directors to the Board, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of Directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Companys notice of meeting, if the notice required by Section 2.9(a)(ii) shall be delivered to, or mailed to and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board to be elected at such meeting is first made by the Company. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholders notice as described above.
(c) General .
(i) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.9 or Section 2.10 shall be eligible to be elected at any meeting of stockholders of the Company to serve as Directors and only such other business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.9 or Section 2.10, as applicable. The chairman of the special meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.9. If any proposed nomination or other business was not made or proposed in compliance with this Section 2.9 or Section 2.10, as applicable, then except as otherwise provided by law, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed other business shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.9, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder does not provide the information required under clause (2) of Section 2.9(a)(ii)(C) and clauses (1)-(3) of Section 2.9(a)(ii)(D) to the Company within five business days following the record date for an annual or special meeting of stockholders, or if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Company to present a nomination or proposed other business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed other business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Company. For purposes of this Section 2.9, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder (or a reliable reproduction or electronic transmission of the writing) delivered to the Company prior to the making of such nomination or proposal at such meeting by such stockholder stating that such person is authorized to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders.
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(ii) For purposes of this Section 2.9, public disclosure shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, or comparable national news service or any document publicly filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. For purposes of clause (1) of Section 2.9(a)(ii)(D), shares shall be treated as beneficially owned by a person if the person beneficially owns such shares, directly or indirectly, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Regulations 13D and 13G thereunder or has or shares pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing): (A) the right to acquire such shares (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the fulfillment of a condition or both), (B) the right to vote such shares, alone or in concert with others and/or (C) investment power with respect to such shares, including the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such shares.
2.10. Proxy Access for Director Nominations.
(a) Eligibility . Subject to the terms and conditions of these Bylaws, in connection with an annual meeting of stockholders at which Directors are to be elected, the Company (a) shall include in its proxy statement and on its form of proxy the names of, and (b) shall include in its proxy statement the Additional Information (as defined below) relating to, a number of nominees specified pursuant to Section 2.10(b)(i) (the Authorized Number) for election to the Board submitted pursuant to this Section 2.10 (each, a Stockholder Nominee), if:
(i) the Stockholder Nominee satisfies the eligibility requirements in this Section 2.10;
(ii) the Stockholder Nominee is identified in a timely notice (the Stockholder Notice) that satisfies this Section 2.10 and is delivered by a stockholder that qualifies as, or is acting on behalf of, an Eligible Stockholder (as defined below);
(iii) the Eligible Stockholder satisfies the requirements in this Section 2.10 and expressly elects at the time of the delivery of the Stockholder Notice to have the Stockholder Nominee included in the Companys proxy materials; and
(iv) the additional requirements of these Bylaws are met.
(b) Definitions .
(i) The maximum number of Stockholder Nominees appearing in the Companys proxy materials with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders (the Authorized Number) shall not exceed the greater of (x) two or (y) 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 2.10 with respect to the annual meeting, or if such amount is not a whole number, the closest whole number (rounding down) below twenty percent (20%); provided that the Authorized Number shall be reduced by any nominees who were previously elected to the Board as Stockholder Nominees at any of the preceding two annual meetings and who are nominated for election at the annual meeting by the Board as a Board nominee. In the event that one or more vacancies for any reason occurs after the date of the Stockholder Notice but before the annual meeting and the Board resolves to reduce the size of the Board in connection therewith, the Authorized Number shall be calculated based on the number of Directors in office as so reduced.
(ii) To qualify as an Eligible Stockholder, a stockholder or a group as described in this Section 2.10 must:
(A) Own and have Owned (as defined below), continuously for at least three years as of the date of the Stockholder Notice, a number of shares (as adjusted to account for any stock dividend, stock split, subdivision, combination, reclassification or recapitalization of shares of the Company that are entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors) that represents at least three percent (3%) of the outstanding shares of the Company that are entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors as of the date of the Stockholder Notice (the Required Shares); and
(B) thereafter continue to Own the Required Shares through such annual meeting of stockholders.
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For purposes of satisfying the ownership requirements of this Section 2.10(b)(ii), a group of not more than twenty stockholders and/or beneficial owners may aggregate the number of shares of the Company that are entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors that each group member has individually Owned continuously for at least three years as of the date of the Stockholder Notice if all other requirements and obligations for an Eligible Stockholder set forth in this Section 2.10 are satisfied by and as to each stockholder or beneficial owner comprising the group whose shares are aggregated. No shares may be attributed to more than one Eligible Stockholder, and no stockholder or beneficial owner, alone or together with any of its affiliates, may individually or as a member of a group qualify as or constitute more than one Eligible Stockholder under this Section 2.10. A group of any two or more funds shall be treated as only one stockholder or beneficial owner for this purpose if they are (A) under common management and investment control OR (B) under common management and funded primarily by a single employer OR (C) part of a family of funds, meaning a group of publicly offered investment companies (whether organized in the U.S. or outside the U.S.) that hold themselves out to investors as related companies for purposes of investment and investor services. For purposes of this Section 2.10, the term affiliate or affiliates shall have the meanings ascribed thereto under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act.
(iii) For purposes of this Section 2.10:
(A) A stockholder or beneficial owner is deemed to Own only those outstanding shares of the Company that are entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors as to which the 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, except that the number of shares calculated in accordance with clauses (1) and (2) shall not include any shares (a) sold by such person in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, (b) borrowed by the person for any purposes or purchased by the person 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 the person, whether the instrument or agreement is to be settled with shares or with cash based on the notional amount or value of outstanding shares of the Company that are entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors, if the 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, the persons full right to vote or direct the voting of the shares, and/or (y) hedging, offsetting or altering to any degree any gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of the shares by the person. The terms Owned, Owning and other variations of the word Own, when used with respect to a stockholder or beneficial owner, have correlative meanings. For purposes of clauses (a) through (c), the term person includes its affiliates.
(B) A stockholder or beneficial owner Owns shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the person retains both (1) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares and (2) the full economic interest in the shares. The persons Ownership of shares is 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 that is revocable at any time by the stockholder.
(C) A stockholder or beneficial owners Ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the person has loaned the shares if the person has the power to recall the loaned shares on not more than five business days notice.
(iv) For purposes of this Section 2.10, the Additional Information referred to in Section 2.10(a) that the Company will include in its proxy statement is:
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(A) the information set forth in the Schedule 14N provided with the Stockholder Notice concerning each Stockholder Nominee and the Eligible Stockholder that is required to be disclosed in the Companys proxy statement by the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; and
(B) if the Eligible Stockholder so elects, a written statement of the Eligible Stockholder (or, in the case of a group, a written statement of the group), not to exceed five hundred words, in support of its Stockholder Nominee(s), which must be provided at the same time as the Stockholder Notice for inclusion in the Companys proxy statement for the annual meeting (the Statement).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.10, the Company may omit from its proxy materials any information or Statement that it, in good faith, believes is untrue in any material respect (or omits a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading) or would violate any applicable law, rule, regulation or listing standard. Nothing in this Section 2.10 shall limit the Companys ability to solicit against and include in its proxy materials its own statements relating to any Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee.
(c) Stockholder Notice and Other Informational Requirements .
(i) The Stockholder Notice shall set forth all information, representations and agreements required under Section 2.9(a)(ii) above, including the information required with respect to (i) any nominee for election as a Director, (ii) any stockholder giving notice of an intent to nominate a candidate for election, and (iii) any stockholder, beneficial owner or other person on whose behalf the nomination is made under this Section 2.10. In addition, such Stockholder Notice shall include:
(A) a copy of the Schedule 14N that has been or concurrently is filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act;
(B) a written statement of the Eligible Stockholder (and in the case of a group, the written statement of each stockholder or beneficial owner whose shares are aggregated for purposes of constituting an Eligible Stockholder), which statement(s) shall also be included in the Schedule 14N filed with the SEC, setting forth and certifying to the number of shares of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors that the Eligible Stockholder Owns and has Owned (as defined in Section 2.10(b)(iii) of these Bylaws) continuously for at least three years as of the date of the Stockholder Notice, and agreeing to continue to Own such shares through the annual meeting;
(C) the written agreement of the Eligible Stockholder (and in the case of a group, the written agreement of each stockholder or beneficial owner whose shares are aggregated for purposes of constituting an Eligible Stockholder) addressed to the Company, setting forth the following additional agreements, representations and warranties:
(1) it shall provide (a) within five business days after the date of the Stockholder Notice, 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 2.10, (b) within five business days after the record date for the annual meeting both the information required under Section 2.9(a)(ii)(C) and Section 2.9(a)(ii)(D) and notification in writing verifying the Eligible Stockholders continuous Ownership of the Required Shares, in each case, as of such date, and (c) immediate notice to the Company if the Eligible Stockholder ceases to own any of the Required Shares prior to the annual meeting;
(2) it (a) acquired the Required Shares in the ordinary course of business and not with the intent to change or influence control at the Company, and does not presently have this intent, (b) has not nominated and shall not nominate for election to the Board at the annual meeting any person other than the Stockholder Nominee(s) being nominated pursuant to this Section 2.10, (c) has not engaged and shall not engage in, and has not been and shall 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 other than its Stockholder Nominee(s) or any nominee(s) of the Board, and (d) shall not distribute to any stockholder any form of proxy for the annual meeting other than the form distributed by the Company; and
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(3) it will (a) assume all liability stemming from any legal or regulatory violation arising out of the Eligible Stockholders communications with the stockholders of the Company or out of the information that the Eligible Stockholder provided to the Company, (b) indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each of its Directors, officers and employees individually against any liability, loss or damages in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether legal, administrative or investigative, against the Company or any of its Directors, officers or employees arising out of the Eligible Stockholders communications with the stockholders of the Company or out of the information that the Eligible Stockholder provided to the Company, (c) comply with all laws, rules, regulations and listing standards applicable to its nomination or any solicitation in connection with the annual meeting, (d) file with the Commission any solicitation or other communication by or on behalf of the Eligible Stockholder relating to the Companys annual meeting of stockholders, one or more of the Companys Directors or Director nominees or any Stockholder Nominee, regardless of whether the filing is required under Exchange Act Regulation 14A, or whether any exemption from filing is available for the materials under Exchange Act Regulation 14A, and (e) at the request of the Company, promptly, but in any event within five business days after such request (or by the day prior to the day of the annual meeting, if earlier), provide to the Company such additional information as reasonably requested by the Company; and
(D) in the case of a nomination by a group, the designation by all group members of one group member that is authorized to act on behalf of all members of the group with respect to the nomination and matters related thereto, including withdrawal of the nomination, and the written agreement, representation, and warranty of the Eligible Stockholder that it shall provide, within five business days after the date of the Stockholder Notice, documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Company demonstrating that the number of stockholders and/or beneficial owners within such group does not exceed twenty, including whether a group of funds qualifies as one stockholder or beneficial owner within the meaning of Section 2.10(b)(ii).
All information provided pursuant to this Section 2.10(c)(i) shall be deemed part of the Stockholder Notice for purposes of this Section 2.10.
(ii) To be timely under this Section 2.10, the Stockholder Notice must be delivered to, or mailed to and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day or earlier than the close of business on the one hundred fiftieth day prior to the anniversary date on which the Company first distributed its definitive proxy materials for the prior years annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within thirty days before or after the first anniversary of the prior years annual meeting, notice by the stockholder in order to be timely, must be so delivered, or so mailed and received, not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred fiftieth day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the one hundred twentieth day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the date on which public disclosure (as defined in Section 2.9(c)(ii) above) of the date of the annual meeting is first made by the Company. In no event shall the public disclosure of an adjournment or a postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of the Stockholder Notice as described above.
(iii) Within the time period for delivery of the Stockholder Notice, a written representation and agreement of each Stockholder Nominee shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Company at the principal executive offices of the Company, which shall be signed by each Stockholder Nominee and shall represent and agree (A) as to the matters set forth in Section 2.9(a)(ii)(A), and (B) that such Stockholder Nominee consents to being named in the Companys proxy statement and form of proxy as a nominee and to serving as a Director if elected. At the request of the Company, the Stockholder Nominee must promptly, but in any event within five business days after such request, submit all completed and signed questionnaires required of the Companys nominees and provide to the Company such other information as it may reasonably request. The Company may request such additional information as necessary to permit the Board to determine if each Stockholder Nominee satisfies the requirements of this Section 2.10.
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(iv) In the event that any information or communications provided by the Eligible Stockholder or any Stockholder Nominees to the Company 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), such 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 defect or limit the Companys right to omit a Stockholder Nominee from its proxy materials as provided in this Section 2.10.
(d) Proxy Access Procedures .
(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.10, the Company may omit from its proxy materials any Stockholder Nominee, and such nomination shall be disregarded and no vote on such Stockholder Nominee shall occur, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Company, if:
(A) the Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee breaches any of its agreements, representations or warranties set forth in the Stockholder Notice or otherwise submitted pursuant to this Section 2.10, any of the information in the Stockholder Notice or otherwise submitted pursuant to this Section 2.10 was not, when provided, true, correct and complete, or the Eligible Stockholder or applicable Stockholder Nominee otherwise fails to comply with its obligations pursuant to these Bylaws, including, but not limited to, its obligations under this Section 2.10;
(B) the Stockholder Nominee (1) is not independent under any applicable listing standards, any applicable rules of the Commission and any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board in determining and disclosing the independence of the Companys Directors, (2) is or has been, within the past three years, an officer or Director of a competitor, as defined in Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, as amended, (3) is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses) or has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses) within the past ten years or (4) 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 (the Securities Act);
(C) the Company has received a notice (whether or not subsequently withdrawn) that a stockholder intends to nominate any candidate for election to the Board pursuant to the advance notice requirements for stockholder nominees for Director in Section 2.9(a); or
(D) the election of the Stockholder Nominee to the Board would cause the Company to violate the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, these Bylaws, or any applicable law, rule, regulation or listing standard.
(ii) An Eligible Stockholder submitting more than one Stockholder Nominee for inclusion in the Companys proxy materials pursuant to this Section 2.10 shall rank such Stockholder Nominees based on the order that the Eligible Stockholder desires such Stockholder Nominees to be selected for inclusion in the Companys proxy materials and include such assigned rank in its Stockholder Notice submitted to the Company. In the event that the number of Stockholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Stockholders pursuant to this Section 2.10 exceeds the Authorized Number, the Stockholder Nominees to be included in the Companys proxy materials shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions: one Stockholder Nominee who satisfies the eligibility requirements in this Section 2.10 shall be selected from each Eligible Stockholder for inclusion in the Companys proxy materials until the Authorized Number is reached, going in order of the amount (largest to smallest) of shares of the Company each Eligible Stockholder disclosed as Owned in its Stockholder Notice submitted to the Company and going in the order of the rank (highest to lowest) assigned to each Stockholder Nominee by such Eligible Stockholder. If the Authorized Number is not reached after one Stockholder Nominee who satisfies the eligibility requirements in this Section 2.10 has been selected from each Eligible Stockholder, this selection process shall continue as many times as necessary, following the same order each time, until the Authorized Number is reached. Following such determination, if any Stockholder Nominee who satisfies the eligibility requirements in this Section 2.10 thereafter is nominated by the Board, thereafter is not included in the Companys proxy materials or thereafter is not submitted for Director election for
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any reason (including the Eligible Stockholders or Stockholder Nominees failure to comply with this Section 2.10), no other nominee or nominees shall be included in the Companys proxy materials or otherwise submitted for election as a Director at the applicable annual meeting in substitution for such Stockholder Nominee.
(iii) Any Stockholder Nominee who is included in the Companys proxy materials for a particular annual meeting of stockholders but withdraws from or becomes ineligible or unavailable for election at the annual meeting for any reason, including for the failure to comply with any provision of these Bylaws (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) shall be ineligible to be a Stockholder Nominee pursuant to this Section 2.10 for the next two annual meetings.
(iv) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.10, unless otherwise required by law or otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting or the Board, if the stockholder delivering the Stockholder Notice (or a qualified representative of the stockholder, as defined in Section 2.9(c)(i)) does not appear at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company to present its Stockholder Nominee or Stockholder Nominees, such nomination or nominations shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of the election of the Stockholder Nominee or Stockholder Nominees may have been received by the Company.
(v) The Board (and any other person or body authorized by the Board) shall have the power and authority to interpret this Section 2.10 and to make any and all determinations necessary or advisable to apply this Section 2.10 to any persons, facts or circumstances, including, without limitation, 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 2.10 and has otherwise met the requirements of this Section 2.10, (3) whether a Stockholder Nominee satisfies the qualifications and requirements in this Section 2.10, and (4) whether any and all requirements of this Section 2.10 (or any applicable requirements of Section 2.9) have been satisfied. Any such interpretation or determination adopted in good faith by the Board (or any other person or body authorized by the Board) shall be binding on all persons, including, without limitation, the Company and its stockholders (including, without limitation, any beneficial owners).
(vi) This Section 2.10 shall be the exclusive method for stockholders to include Director nominees for election in the Companys proxy materials.
SECTION III BOARD
3.1. Number and Qualifications. The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of its Board. The number of Directors constituting the entire Board shall be not less than six nor more than twenty-one, as fixed from time to time exclusively by a resolution of a majority of the entire Board. As used in these Bylaws, the term entire Board means the total authorized number of Directors that the Company would have if there were no vacancies.
3.2. Term. Subject to any rights of holders of preferred stock to elect directors, each director shall hold office until the next annual meeting for the election of directors and until the directors successor is duly elected and qualified.
3.3. Resignation. A Director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chairman of the Board, to the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary. Unless otherwise stated in such notice of resignation, the acceptance thereof shall not be necessary to make it effective; and such resignation shall take effect at the time or upon the happening of an event specified therein or, in the absence of such specification, it shall take effect upon the receipt thereof.
3.4. Vacancies. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock to elect directors, any vacancies on the Board for any reason, including from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director, and any newly created directorships resulting by reason of any increase in the number of directors shall be filled exclusively by the Board, acting by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by stockholders. Any directors elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
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3.5. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board may be held without further notice on such date and at such time and place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board. A meeting of the Board for the election of officers and the transaction of such other business as may come before it may be held without notice immediately following the annual meeting of stockholders.
3.6. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or at the request in writing or by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors then in office.
3.7. Notice of Special Meetings. Notice of the time and place of each special meeting shall be mailed to each Director at least two days before the meeting at his or her residence or usual place of business, or telegraphed, telecopied or electronically transmitted or delivered personally or by telephone to such Director at least one day before the meeting but such notice may be waived by such Director. The notice need not state the purposes of the special meeting and, unless indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.
3.8. Place of Meetings. The Directors may hold their meetings and have an office or offices within or outside of Delaware as the Board may from time to time determine.
3.9. Participation in Meetings by Conference Telephone. Members of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of the Board or committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
3.10. Quorum. A majority of the total number of Directors then holding office shall constitute a quorum. In the event of lack of a quorum, a majority of the Directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without notice, other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be obtained.
3.11. Organization. The Chairman of the Board, or, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or, in the absence of both, a member of the Board selected by the members present, shall preside at meetings of the Board. The Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company shall act as secretary, but in the absence of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, the presiding officer may appoint a secretary.
3.12. Compensation of Directors. Directors shall receive such compensation for their services on the Board and any committee thereof and such reimbursement for their expenses of attending meetings of the Board and any committee thereof as the Board may determine from time to time.
3.13. Action by Written Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent to the action in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee thereof. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
3.14. Interested Transactions. No contract or transaction between the Company and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the Company and any other corporation, partnership, association or other organization in which one or more of the Companys directors or officers are directors or officers or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board or committee thereof that authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because any such directors or officers vote is counted for such purpose if: (a) the material facts as to the directors or officers relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board or the committee and the Board or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; (b) the material facts as to the directors or officers relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or (c) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Company as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the Board, a committee thereof or the stockholders. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board or of a committee that authorizes the contract or transaction.
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SECTION IV COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
4.1. Creation and Organization. The standing committees of the Board shall be an Audit Committee; a Compensation and Leadership Development Committee; a Corporate Governance Committee; and an Environment, Health, Safety & Technology Committee, having the respective powers and duties assigned to each in this Section IV and any other powers and duties assigned to such committee by resolution passed by a majority of the entire Board from time to time. Except as specified herein, each such standing committee shall consist of one or more Directors and such other ex officio members as the Board shall from time to time determine. The chairman of each standing committee shall be one or more of such committees members who shall be designated as that committees chairman by a majority vote of the entire Board. Members of each standing committee shall be elected by a majority vote of the entire Board. Vacancies in any standing committee shall be filled by a majority vote of the entire Board. The Board may appoint management employees of the Company or its subsidiaries to be ex officio members of any standing committee. Ex officio members of standing committees shall be entitled to be present at all meetings of their respective committees and to participate in committee discussions, but shall not be entitled to vote or be counted for quorum purposes. Each standing committee shall fix its own rules of procedure and shall meet where and as provided by such rules, but the presence of a majority of its members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. The Board may from time to time designate one or more additional committees or special committees with such powers and such members as it may designate in a resolution or resolutions adopted by a majority of the entire Board.
4.2. Audit Committee. The Audit Committee shall have the sole authority to appoint or replace the Companys independent auditors, subject to shareholder ratification at each annual meeting. The Audit Committee shall assist the Board in monitoring:
(a) |
the integrity of the financial statements of the Company; |
(b) |
the independent auditors qualifications, independence and performance; |
(c) |
the performance of the Companys internal controls and audit function; |
(d) |
the application of the Companys accounting principles; and |
(e) |
the compliance by the Company with legal and regulatory requirements. |
The Audit Committee shall prepare the report required by the rules of the Commission to be included in the Companys annual meeting proxy statement.
4.3. Compensation and Leadership Development Committee. The Compensation and Leadership Development Committee shall discharge the Boards responsibilities relating to the total compensation of the Companys Chief Executive Officer and other senior executives in a manner consistent with and in support of the business objectives of the Company, competitive practice, and all applicable rules and regulations.
4.4. Corporate Governance Committee. The Corporate Governance Committee shall consider and report periodically to the Board on all matters relating to the selection, qualification, and compensation of members of the Board and candidates nominated to the Board, as well as any other matters relating to the duties of the members of the Board. The Committee shall act as a nominating committee with respect to candidates for Directors and will make recommendations to the full Board concerning the size of the Board and structure of committees of the Board. The Committee shall also assist the Board with oversight of corporate governance matters.
4.5. Environment, Health, Safety & Technology Committee. The Environment, Health, Safety & Technology Committee shall have:
(a) the authority and responsibility to assess current aspects of the Companys environment, health and safety policies and performance and to make recommendations to the Board and the management of the Company with regard to promoting and maintaining superior standards of performance;
Page 14 of 19
(b) oversight responsibility and shall advise the Board on matters impacting corporate social responsibility and the Companys public reputation. The Committees focus includes the Companys public policy management, philanthropic contributions, international codes of business conduct, and corporate reputation management. Recognizing that positive perceptions of the Companys policies and practices are valuable assets, the Committee will monitor these perceptions and will make recommendations to the Board and management to continually enhance the Companys public standing; and
(c) oversight responsibility to assess all aspects of the Companys science and technology capabilities in all phases of its activities in relation to its strategies and plans and to make recommendations to the Board and the management of the Company to continually enhance the Companys science and technology capabilities.
4.6. Powers Reserved to the Board. No committee of the Board shall have the power or authority to:
(a) approve or adopt, or recommend to stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval; or
(b) adopt, amend, or repeal these Bylaws.
No committee of the Board shall take any action that is required by these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL to be taken by a vote of a specified proportion of the entire Board.
SECTION V OFFICERS
5.1. Designation. The officers of the Company appointed by the Board shall be a Chairman of the Board (provided, that, if a non-employee is designated as Chairman they shall not serve as an officer), a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, a General Counsel, and may also include a President, one or more Executive Vice Presidents, one or more Vice Presidents, a Treasurer, a Controller, and a Secretary. The Board also may elect or appoint, or provide for the appointment of, and, if delegated to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Executive Officer also may elect or appoint, such other officers, assistant officers (including, without limitation one or more Assistant Treasurers, Assistant Controllers and Assistant Secretaries) and agents as may from time to time appear necessary or advisable in the conduct of the business and affairs of the Company.
5.2. Election and Term. At its first meeting after each annual meeting of stockholders, the Board shall elect the officers. The term of each officer shall be until the first meeting of the Board following the next annual meeting of stockholders and until such officers successor is chosen and qualified, unless a different term is specified in the resolution electing or appointing such officer, or until such persons earlier death, disqualification or removal.
5.3. Resignation. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary. Unless otherwise stated in such notice of resignation, the acceptance thereof shall not be necessary to make it effective; and such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, in the absence of such specification, it shall take effect upon the receipt thereof.
5.4. Removal. Except where otherwise expressly provided in a contract authorized by the Board, any officer elected or appointed by the Board may be removed at any time with or without cause by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board.
5.5. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office for any reason may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by resolution of the Board. The Board may, in its discretion, leave unfilled for such period of time as it may determine, any offices.
5.6. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board.
5.7. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall be in general and active charge of the business and affairs of the Company, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board.
Page 15 of 19
5.8. Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall be the principal financial officer of the Company, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board.
5.9. President. The President shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board.
5.10. Executive Vice Presidents. The Executive Vice Presidents shall assist the Chief Executive Officer in the management of the business and affairs of the Company and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board.
5.11. Vice Presidents. Each Vice President shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned by the President or the Board. The Board may designate one or more Vice Presidents as Senior Vice Presidents, Group Vice Presidents or Corporate Vice Presidents.
5.12. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge of all funds of the Company and shall perform all acts incident to the position of Treasurer, subject to the control of the Board.
5.13. Assistant Treasurers. Each Assistant Treasurer shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned by the Treasurer or the Board.
5.14. Secretary. The Secretary or an Assistant Secretary shall keep the minutes and give notices of all meetings of stockholders and Directors and of such committees as directed by the Board. The Secretary shall have charge of such books and papers as the Board may require. The Secretary or any Assistant Secretary is authorized to certify copies of extracts from minutes and of documents in the Secretarys charge, and anyone may rely on such certified copies to the same effect as if such copies were originals and may rely upon any statement of fact concerning the Company certified by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary. The Secretary shall perform all acts incident to the office of Secretary, subject to the control of the Board.
5.15. Assistant Secretaries. Each Assistant Secretary shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned by the Secretary or the Board.
5.16. Controller. The Controller shall be the principal accounting officer of the Company. The Controller shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board and shall submit such reports and records to the Board as it may request.
5.17. Assistant Controllers. Each Assistant Controller shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned by the Controller or the Board.
5.18. General Counsel. The General Counsel shall be in charge of all matters concerning the Company involving litigation or legal counseling. The General Counsel shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board and shall submit such reports to the Board as it may request.
5.19. Compensation of Officers. The officers of the Company shall receive such compensation for their services as the Compensation and Leadership Development Committee may determine in accordance with its charter.
SECTION VI INDEMNIFICATION
6.1. Mandatory Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, any person who was or is a defendant or is threatened to be made a defendant to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person:
(a) is or was a Director, officer or employee of the Company;
(b) is or was a Director, officer or employee of the Company and is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, trustee, member, member representative, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise; or
(c) is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, trustee, member, member representative or officer of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such persons conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such persons conduct was unlawful.
Page 16 of 19
6.2. Permitted Indemnification. The Company may indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person:
(a) is or was a Director, officer, employee or agent of the Company; or
(b) is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, trustee, member, member representative, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such persons conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such persons conduct was unlawful.
6.3. Expenses Payable in Advance. Expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by any person who is or was a Director or officer of the Company, or any person who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, trustee, member, member representative or officer of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, in defending or investigating a threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, shall be paid by the Company to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it ultimately shall be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized in this Section VI. Such expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by any person who is or was an employee or agent of the Company, or any person who is or was serving at the request of the Company as an employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or enterprise may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Board deems appropriate.
6.4. Judicial Determination of Mandatory Indemnification or Mandatory Advancement of Expenses. Any person may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction in Delaware to order indemnification or advancement of expenses to the extent mandated under Sections 6.1 or 6.3 above. The basis of such order of indemnification or advancement of expenses by a court shall be a determination by such court that indemnification of, or advancement of expenses to, such person is proper in the circumstances. Notice of any application for indemnification or advancement of expenses pursuant to this Section 6.4 shall be given to the Company promptly upon the filing of such application. The burden of proving that such person is not entitled to such mandatory indemnification or mandatory advancement of expenses, or that the Company is entitled to recover the mandatory advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, shall be on the Company. If successful in whole or in part in obtaining an order for mandatory indemnification or mandatory advancement of expenses, or in a suit brought by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, such person shall also be entitled to be paid all costs (including attorneys fees and expenses) in connection therewith.
Page 17 of 19
6.5. Nonexclusivity . The indemnification and advancement of expenses mandated or permitted by, or granted pursuant to, this Section VI shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the Certificate of Incorporation, any Bylaw, agreement, contract, vote of stockholders or disinterested Directors, or pursuant to the direction (howsoever embodied) of any court of competent jurisdiction or otherwise both as to action by the person in an official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office it being the policy of the Company that indemnification of the persons specified in Section 6.1 and Section 6.3 shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law. The provisions of this Section VI shall not be deemed to preclude the indemnification of any person who is not specified in Section 6.1 or 6.3 of this Section VI, but whom the Company has the power or obligation to indemnify under Delaware law or otherwise.
6.6. Insurance. The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, purchase and maintain at its expense insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a Director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was a director or officer of the Company serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, member, member representative, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of the persons status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Section VI.
6.7. Definitions. For the purposes of this Section VI references to the Company shall include, in addition to the resulting company, any constituent company (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, trustees, members, member representatives, officers, employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, trustee, member, member representative, officer, employee or agent of such constituent company, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent company as a director, trustee, member, member representative, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Section VI with respect to the resulting or surviving company as such person would have with respect to such constituent company if its separate existence had continued. The term other enterprise as used in this Section VI shall include employee benefit plans. References to fines in this Section VI shall include excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan. The phrase serving at the request of the Company shall include any service as a director, trustee, member, member representative, officer, employee or agent that imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, trustee, member, member representative, officer, employee or agent with respect to any employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries.
6.8. Survival. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Section VI shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, and to a person who has ceased to serve at the request of the Company as a director, trustee, member, member representative, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, and, in each case, shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person.
6.9. Repeal, Amendment or Modification. Any repeal, amendment or modification of this Section VI shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing between the Company and any person referred to in this Section VI with respect to any state of facts then or theretofore existing or any action, suit or proceeding theretofore or thereafter brought based in whole or in part upon such state of facts.
SECTION VII MISCELLANEOUS
7.1. Seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed upon it the name of the Company, the year 2018 and the words Seal and Delaware. The Secretary shall be in charge of the seal and may authorize a duplicate seal to be kept and used by any other officer or person.
7.2. Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given to any stockholder or Director of the Company, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to the notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto.
Page 18 of 19
7.3. Voting of Stock Owned by the Company. Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Company may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, any Executive Vice President or the General Counsel. Any such officer may, in the name of and on behalf of the Company, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Company may own securities and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Company might have exercised and possessed if present. The Board may from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.
7.4. Forum for Adjudication of Certain Disputes. Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Company to the Company or the Companys stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Company shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 7.4. Failure to enforce the foregoing provisions would cause the Company irreparable harm and the Company shall be entitled to equitable relief, including injunction and specific performance, to enforce the foregoing provisions. The provisions of this Section 7.4 shall not preclude or contract the scope of exclusive federal or concurrent jurisdiction for suits brought under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act or the respective rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
7.5. Executive Office. The principal executive office of the Company shall be located in the city of Midland, State of Michigan, where, as applicable, the books of account and records shall be kept. The Company also may have offices at such other places, both within and without Delaware, as the Board from time to time shall determine or the business and affairs of the Company may require.
SECTION VIII AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
8.1. The Board is expressly authorized and shall have the power to amend, alter, change, adopt and repeal the Bylaws of the Company at any regular or special meeting of the Board at which there is a quorum by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors present at such meeting, or by unanimous written consent. The stockholders also shall have power to amend, alter, change, adopt and repeal the Bylaws of the Company at any annual or special meeting subject to the requirements of these Bylaws and the Certificate of Incorporation by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Company then entitled to vote.
Page 19 of 19
Exhibit 4.1
The Dow Chemical Company
Elective Deferral Plan
(Post 2004)
Restated and Effective as of April 1, 2019
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I PURPOSE AND EFFECTIVE DATE |
1 | |||||
ARTICLE II DEFINITIONS |
3 | |||||
2.01. |
Administrator |
3 | ||||
2.02. |
Appeals Administrator |
3 | ||||
2.03. |
Base Salary |
3 | ||||
2.04. |
Base Salary Deferral |
3 | ||||
2.05. |
Beneficiary |
3 | ||||
2.06. |
Board |
4 | ||||
2.07. |
Cadre Employee |
4 | ||||
2.08. |
Change of Control |
4 | ||||
2.09. |
Code |
5 | ||||
2.10. |
Common Stock |
5 | ||||
2.11. |
Company |
5 | ||||
2.12. |
Deferral Account |
6 | ||||
2.13. |
Deferred Amount |
6 | ||||
2.14. |
Disabled |
6 | ||||
2.15. |
Discretionary Company Contribution |
6 | ||||
2.16. |
Domestic Partner |
6 | ||||
2.17. |
Domestic Partnership |
6 | ||||
2.18. |
Eligible Compensation |
6 | ||||
2.19. |
Eligible Employee |
6 | ||||
2.20. |
ERISA |
7 | ||||
2.21. |
Executive Life Insurance |
7 | ||||
2.22. |
Fair Market Value |
7 | ||||
2.23. |
Form of Payment |
8 | ||||
2.24. |
Hardship Withdrawal |
8 | ||||
2.25. |
Hypothetical Investment Benchmark |
8 | ||||
2.26. |
Initial Claims Reviewer |
8 | ||||
2.27. |
Key Employee |
8 | ||||
2.28. |
Matching Contribution |
8 | ||||
2.29. |
Participant |
8 | ||||
2.30. |
Participation Agreement |
8 | ||||
2.31. |
Performance Awards |
8 | ||||
2.32. |
Performance Deferral |
9 | ||||
2.33. |
Phantom Share Units |
9 | ||||
2.34. |
Plan |
9 | ||||
2.35. |
Plan Year |
9 | ||||
2.36. |
Savings Plan |
9 | ||||
2.37. |
Section 16 Participant |
9 | ||||
2.38. |
Separation from Service |
9 | ||||
2.39. |
Unforeseeable Emergency |
9 | ||||
2.40. |
Valuation Date |
10 | ||||
2.41. |
VPHR |
10 |
ARTICLE III ADMINISTRATION |
11 | |||||
3.01. |
Duties and Powers of the Administrator |
11 | ||||
3.02. |
Designation of Additional Administrators and Delegation of Administrative Responsibilities |
11 | ||||
3.03. |
Decisions of Administrators |
12 | ||||
3.04. |
Indemnification of Administrators |
12 | ||||
3.05. |
Claim Procedure |
12 | ||||
3.06. |
Commencement of Legal Action |
13 | ||||
3.07. |
Forum Selection |
14 | ||||
ARTICLE IV PARTICIPATION |
15 | |||||
4.01. |
Participation |
15 | ||||
4.02. |
Contents of Participation Agreement |
16 | ||||
4.03. |
Modification or Revocation of Election by Participant |
16 | ||||
ARTICLE V DEFERRED COMPENSATION |
17 | |||||
5.01. |
Elective Deferred Compensation |
17 | ||||
5.02. |
Vesting of Deferral Account |
17 | ||||
ARTICLE VI MAINTENANCE AND INVESTMENT OF ACCOUNTS |
18 | |||||
6.01. |
Maintenance of Accounts |
18 | ||||
6.02. |
Hypothetical Investment Benchmarks |
18 | ||||
6.03. |
Statement of Accounts |
20 | ||||
ARTICLE VII BENEFITS |
21 | |||||
7.01. |
Time and Form of Payment |
21 | ||||
7.02. |
Changing Time or Form of Benefit |
23 | ||||
7.03. |
Survivor Benefit |
23 | ||||
7.04. |
Disability |
24 | ||||
7.05. |
Hardship Withdrawals |
24 | ||||
7.06. |
Change of Control |
24 | ||||
7.07. |
Matching Contribution |
24 | ||||
7.08. |
Discretionary Company Contributions |
25 | ||||
7.09. |
Special Cadre Plan Contributions |
26 | ||||
7.10. |
Withholding of Taxes |
26 | ||||
7.11. |
Distribution Upon Inclusion in Income |
26 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION |
27 | |||||
8.01. |
Beneficiary Designation |
27 | ||||
8.02. |
No Beneficiary Designation |
27 | ||||
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF PLAN |
28 | |||||
9.01. |
Amendment |
28 | ||||
9.02. |
Companys Right to Terminate |
28 | ||||
9.03. |
Effect of Amendment or Termination |
28 | ||||
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS |
30 | |||||
10.01. |
Unfunded Plan |
30 | ||||
10.02. |
Nonassignability |
30 | ||||
10.03. |
Validity and Severability |
30 | ||||
10.04. |
Governing Law |
31 |
- ii -
10.05. |
Employment Status |
31 | ||||
10.06. |
Underlying Incentive Plans and Programs |
31 | ||||
10.07. |
Successors of Dow Inc. and the Company |
31 | ||||
10.08. |
Waiver of Breach |
31 | ||||
10.09. |
Notice |
31 | ||||
10.10. |
Successor Titles or Positions |
31 | ||||
APPENDIX A: Hypothetical Investment Benchmarks |
33 |
- iii -
ARTICLE I
PURPOSE AND EFFECTIVE DATE
Dow Inc. sponsors The Dow Chemical Company Elective Deferral Plan (Plan) to aid The Dow Chemical Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries in retaining and attracting executive employees by providing them with tax deferred savings opportunities. The Plan provides a select group of management and highly compensated employees of The Dow Chemical Company and certain affiliates and subsidiaries with the opportunity to elect to defer receipt of specified portions of compensation, and to have these deferred amounts treated as if invested in specified Hypothetical Investment Benchmarks. The benefits provided under the Plan shall be provided in consideration for services to be performed after the effective date of the Plan, but prior to the executives Separation from Service. Any reference to plan document with respect to this Plan is a reference to the document herein.
The Plan is intended to (1) constitute an unfunded program maintained primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated Employees consistent with the requirements of sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), and (2) comply with section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Code) and official guidance issued thereunder. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, this Plan shall be interpreted, operated and administered in a manner consistent with these intentions.
The Plan shall be effective for deferrals made hereunder on or after January 1, 2005. Amendments were made to the Plan on January 10, 2005 and March 11, 2005 to comply with the provisions of Code section 409A, and a minor amendment was made to the Plan on January 23, 2006. On September 1, 2006, the Plan was amended to further comply with the provisions of Code section 409A and, effective September 1, 2006 and January 1, 2007, to change the Hypothetical Investment Benchmarks. On November 1, 2006, the Plan was amended for Change of Control language. On December 31, 2008, the Plan was amended and restated to comply with the requirements of Code section 409A and the final regulations thereunder, effective January 1, 2009. On January 1, 2010, minor amendments to the Plan were made via a Plan restatement to change the Hypothetical Investment Benchmarks, to clarify the valuation date used for the calculation of installment payments, and to eliminate the small balance distribution. On April 14, 2010, the Plan was amended and restated to make certain changes to the administrative provisions of the Plan.
On January 19, 2017, the Plan was amended to add provisions regarding participation by employees of Dow Corning Corporation and certain subsidiaries. On September 1, 2017, the Plan was amended and restated to make certain changes to the definitions of Key Employee and Change of Control.
The instant amended and restated Plan document is adopted effective as of the Spinoff Date, and is intended to, inter alia , reflect the establishment of Dow Inc. as the parent of The Dow Chemical Company and the Spinoff of Dow Inc. from the DowDuPont Inc. controlled group. For purposes of this restated Plan document, the Spinoff means the separation of Dow Inc. from DowDuPont Inc. by means of a pro rata distribution of all of the then-issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock to DowDuPonts stockholders and the Spinoff Date means April 1, 2019, the effective date of the Spinoff. Effective as of the Spinoff Date, Dow Inc. shall be the sponsor of the Plan with all the rights and obligations attendant thereto, and The Dow Chemical Company and other participating employers shall have the rights and obligations set forth herein and shall remain responsible for the contributions credited, and payments due, under the Plan.
For rules that apply to the distribution of amounts that were earned and vested prior to 2005 (and earnings thereon) and are exempt from the requirements of Code section 409A, refer to the plan document in effect on October 3, 2004. For rules that apply to the distribution of amounts that were earned and vested prior to January 1, 2010 (and earnings thereon) refer to the plan document in effect on January 1, 2009 as amended through December 31, 2009. For rules that apply to the distribution of amounts that were earned and vested prior to April 14, 2010 (and earnings thereon), refer to the plan document in effect on January 1, 2010 as amended through April 13, 2010. For rules that apply to the distribution of amounts that were earned and vested prior to September 1, 2017 (and earnings thereon), refer to the plan document in effect on April 14, 2010 as amended through August 31, 2017. For rules that apply to the distribution of amounts that were earned and vested prior to April 1, 2019 (and earnings thereon), refer to the plan document in effect on September 1, 2017 as amended through March 31, 2019.
- 2 -
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this Plan, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings indicated, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
2.01. |
Administrator |
Administrator shall mean the person, group of persons, or entity designated by Dow Inc. in accordance with Section 3.02 as an Administrator. An individual or entity shall be an Administrator only with respect to those administrative powers or responsibilities assigned to such individual or entity pursuant to Section 3.02. For the avoidance of doubt, more than one individual may be designated as and serve as an Administrator at any given time. For purposes of Sections 3.01, 3.03 and 3.04, the Administrator shall also include the Appeals Administrator and the Initial Claims Reviewer.
2.02. |
Appeals Administrator |
Appeals Administrator shall mean the person, group of persons, or entity designated as the Appeals Administrator pursuant to Section 3.02, or the person, group of persons, or entity to which a designated Appeals Administrator delegates its responsibility for deciding claims pursuant to Section 3.02. The Appeals Administrator is responsible for reviewing adverse benefit determinations under the Plan, as described in DOL Reg. § 2560.503-1(h).
2.03. |
Base Salary |
Base Salary shall mean the annual base rate of pay from the Company at which a Participant is employed (excluding Performance Awards, commissions, relocation expenses, and other non-regular forms of compensation) before deductions under (A) deferrals pursuant to Section 4.02 and (B) contributions made on his or her behalf to any qualified plan maintained by any Company or to any cafeteria plan under Code section 125 maintained by any Company. Base Salary for a Cadre Employee shall mean the annual base rate of pay (excluding Performance Awards, commissions, relocation expenses, and other non-regular forms of compensation) before the deductions listed above payable to a Cadre Employee while the Cadre Employee is on U.S. assignment.
2.04. |
Base Salary Deferral |
Base Salary Deferral shall mean the amount of a Participants Base Salary which the Participant elects to have withheld on a pre-tax basis from his or her Base Salary and credited to his or her Deferral Account pursuant to Section 4.02.
2.05. |
Beneficiary |
Beneficiary shall mean the person, persons or entity designated by the Participant to receive any benefits payable under the Plan pursuant to Article VIII.
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2.06. |
Board |
Board shall mean the board of directors of Dow Inc.
2.07. |
Cadre Employee |
Cadre Employee shall mean an employee who has been authorized by Dow Europe GmbH to participate in the Cadre Pension Plan and who earns compensation while on assignment in the U.S.
2.08. |
Change of Control |
A Change of Control under the Plan shall be deemed to have occurred on:
(a) |
the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock of The Dow Chemical Company that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50 percent of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of The Dow Chemical Company; |
(b) |
the date that a majority of the members of the Board is replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the directors before the date of the appointment or election; |
(c) |
the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of stock of The Dow Chemical Company possessing 30 percent or more of the total voting power of the stock of The Dow Chemical Company; or |
(d) |
the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from The Dow Chemical Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 40 percent of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of The Dow Chemical Company immediately before such acquisition or acquisitions, provided that the following asset transfers shall not result in a Change of Control: (i) a transfer of assets to a stockholder of The Dow Chemical Company in exchange for or with respect to its stock, (ii) a transfer to a corporation, 50 percent or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned directly or indirectly, by The Dow Chemical Company, (iii) a transfer to a person, or more than one person acting as a group, that owns 50 percent or more of the stock of The Dow Chemical Company, or (iv) a transfer to an entity, at least 50 percent of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a person described in clause (iii). |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 2.08(a) through (d), however, a Change of Control with respect to benefits to which the Participant accrues a legally binding right on or after the closing date of the transaction described in the Agreement and Plan of Merger shall not include: (i) a transfer, sale or disposition of assets from The Dow Chemical Company to a person, corporation or other entity that occurs in
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preparation for or in connection with a Business Separation; (ii) the acquisition, disposition, transfer or distribution of stock of The Dow Chemical Company that occurs in preparation for or in connection with a Business Separation; (iii) a change in the membership of the Board that occurs in preparation for or in connection with a Business Separation; or (iv) any other event, action or transaction involving, or with respect to, The Dow Chemical Company or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries that would otherwise be described in Section 2.08(a) through (d) that occurs in preparation for or in connection with a Business Separation. A Business Separation is (A) any event, action or transaction described in or contemplated by (1) The Intended Business Separations section of the final proxy statement/prospectus filed by DowDuPont Inc. (formerly known as Diamond-Orion HoldCo, Inc.) with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 10, 2016 regarding the separation of the agriculture businesses, specialty products businesses and materials science businesses into three independent, publicly traded companies following the completion of the Orion Merger, or (2) Section 9.3 and Article X of the bylaws of DowDuPont Inc. as adopted upon the completion of the Orion Merger, and (B) any similar business separation, including any similar event, action or transaction involving the spin-off or split-out of entities or assets from the DowDuPont Inc. controlled group.
The Agreement and Plan of Merger for this purpose means the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of December 11, 2015 by and among Diamond-Orion HoldCo, Inc., The Dow Chemical Company, Diamond Merger Sub, Inc., Orion Merger Sub, Inc. and E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.
The Orion Merger for this purpose means the transaction described in the Agreement and Plan of Merger.
This definition of Change of Control is intended to satisfy the definition of a change in the ownership or effective control of a corporation, or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of a corporation as defined in Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(i)(5) (or any successor provision thereto), and in no circumstance shall an event be treated as a Change of Control unless this Section 2.08 complies with such requirements.
2.09. |
Code |
Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
2.10. |
Common Stock |
Common Stock shall mean the common stock of Dow Inc.
2.11. |
Company |
Company shall mean The Dow Chemical Company, its successors, any subsidiary or affiliated organizations authorized by the Board or the Administrator to participate in the Plan and any organization into which or with which The Dow Chemical Company may merge or consolidate or to which all or substantially all of its assets may be transferred.
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2.12. |
Deferral Account |
Deferral Account shall mean the notional account established for record keeping purposes for each Participant pursuant to Article VI.
2.13. |
Deferred Amount |
Deferred Amount shall mean the amount deferred pursuant to Section 4.02.
2.14. |
Disabled |
Disabled or Disability shall mean a Participant who, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, is receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under the Companys ERISA welfare plan that provides long-term disability payments.
2.15. |
Discretionary Company Contribution |
Discretionary Company Contribution shall mean an amount credited to a Participants Deferral Account pursuant to Section 7.08.
2.16. |
Domestic Partner |
Domestic Partner shall mean a person who is a member of a Domestic Partnership.
2.17. |
Domestic Partnership |
Domestic Partnership shall mean a partnership of two people that meets the definition of Domestic Partnership as defined in the Savings Plan.
2.18. |
Eligible Compensation |
Eligible Compensation shall mean any Base Salary, Performance Awards and any other monies treated as eligible compensation by the Company, payable to a Participant to the extent the Participant is on the U.S. payroll of the Company at the time the amount would have otherwise been paid to the Participant. Eligible Compensation for a Cadre Employee shall mean any Base Salary, Performance Awards and any other monies treated as eligible compensation by The Dow Chemical Company, payable to a Cadre Employee while the Cadre Employee is on U.S. assignment.
2.19. |
Eligible Employee |
Eligible Employee shall mean an employee of any Company who:
a. |
is a United States employee or an expatriate who is paid from one of The Dow Chemical Companys U.S. entities, |
b. |
is a member of the functional specialist/functional leader or global leadership job families, |
c. |
has a job level of 362 points or higher, |
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d. |
is eligible for participation in the Savings Plan, |
e. |
is designated by the Administrator as eligible to participate in the Plan as of September 30 for deferral of Base Salary and Performance Awards, and |
f. |
qualifies as a member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees under ERISA. |
For purposes of Section 7.08, Discretionary Company Contributions, only, Eligible Employee shall mean an employee who:
a. |
is a United States employee, |
b. |
has terminated employment with a foreign affiliate of the Company and has accepted employment with one of the Companys U.S. entities, |
c. |
is eligible for a signing bonus from one of the Companys U.S. entities, |
d. |
has a job level of 208 points or higher, |
e. |
is eligible for participation in the Savings Plan, and |
f. |
qualifies as a member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees under ERISA. |
An Eligible Employee, including for purposes of Section 7.08, shall include a DuPont transferee who is designated by the Administrator as eligible to participate in the Plan as a result of his or her transfer to the Company. A DuPont transferee for purposes of this paragraph means an individual who: (1) is transferred from employment with E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont) or a subsidiary or affiliate of DuPont to employment with the Company in preparation for or in connection with the Company Business Separation; and (2) unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, remains employed by the Company immediately after consummation of the Company Business Separation. For this purpose, the Company Business Separation is the separation of the material science business as described in The Intended Business Separations section of the final proxy statement/prospectus filed by DowDuPont Inc. (formerly known as Diamond-Orion HoldCo, Inc.) with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 10, 2016.
An Eligible Employee, including for purposes of Section 7.08, shall include an employee of Dow Inc. who qualifies as a member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees under ERISA and is designated by Dow Inc. as eligible to participate in the Plan.
2.20. |
ERISA |
ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
2.21. |
Executive Life Insurance |
Executive Life Insurance shall mean a life insurance policy under TDCC Executive Split Dollar Life Insurance Plan, or the UCC Executive Life Insurance Plan.
2.22. |
Fair Market Value |
Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall mean the closing price of Dow Inc.s Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the most recent day on which the Common Stock was so traded that precedes the date the Fair Market Value is to be determined. The definition of Fair Market Value in this Section 2.22 shall be exclusively used to determine the value of a Participants Deferral Account under this Plan.
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2.23. |
Form of Payment |
Form of Payment shall mean payment in one lump sum or in substantially equal monthly, quarterly or annual installments not to exceed 15 years.
2.24. |
Hardship Withdrawal |
Hardship Withdrawal shall mean the early payment of all or part of the balance in a Deferral Account(s) in the event of an Unforeseeable Emergency.
2.25. |
Hypothetical Investment Benchmark |
Hypothetical Investment Benchmark shall mean the phantom investment benchmarks which are used to measure the return credited to a Participants Deferral Account.
2.26. |
Initial Claims Reviewer |
Initial Claims Reviewer shall mean the person, group of persons or entity designated as such pursuant to Section 3.02. The Initial Claims Reviewer is responsible for deciding claims under the Plan, as described in DOL Reg. § 2560.503-1(e) ( i.e. , first level claims).
2.27. |
Key Employee |
Key Employee shall mean a Participant who is a key employee within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(i), as determined in accordance with the procedures adopted by the Company.
2.28. |
Matching Contribution |
Matching Contribution shall mean the amount of annual matching contribution that each Company will make to the Plan.
2.29. |
Participant |
Participant shall mean an Eligible Employee who is eligible and makes an election to participate in this Plan by filing a Participation Agreement as provided in Article IV.
2.30. |
Participation Agreement |
Participation Agreement shall mean an agreement filed by a Participant in accordance with Article IV.
2.31. |
Performance Awards |
Performance Awards shall mean the amount paid in cash to the Participant by any Company in the form of annual incentive bonuses for a Plan Year. Performance Awards for a Cadre Employee shall mean the annual incentive bonuses for a Plan Year payable to a Cadre Employee while the Cadre Employee is on U.S. assignment.
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2.32. |
Performance Deferral |
Performance Deferral shall mean the amount of a Participants Performance Award which the Participant elects to have withheld on a pre-tax basis from his or her Performance Award and credited to his or her account pursuant to Section 4.02.
2.33. |
Phantom Share Units |
Phantom Share Units shall mean units of deemed investment in shares of Common Stock as determined under Section 6.02(b).
2.34. |
Plan |
Plan shall mean The Dow Chemical Company Elective Deferral Plan (Post 2004) as set forth herein, together with any and all amendments and supplements hereto.
2.35. |
Plan Year |
Plan Year shall mean a twelve-month period beginning January 1 and ending the following December 31.
2.36. |
Savings Plan |
Savings Plan shall mean The Dow Chemical Company Employees Savings Plan as it currently exists and as it may subsequently be amended.
2.37. |
Section 16 Participant |
Section 16 Participant shall mean an officer or director of Dow Inc. required to report transactions in Dow Inc. securities to the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
2.38. |
Separation from Service |
Separation from Service or Separates from Service shall mean a separation from service within the meaning of section 409A of the Code, except that in applying section 1563(a)(1), (2), and (3) of the Code for purposes of determining a controlled group of corporations under section 414(b) and (c) of the Code, and in applying Treasury Regulation section 1.414(c)-2 for purposes of determining trades or businesses that are under common control under section 414(c) of the Code, the language at least 45 percent is used instead of at least 80 percent each place it appears.
2.39. |
Unforeseeable Emergency |
Unforeseeable Emergency shall mean severe financial hardship to the Participant resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participants spouse, or a dependent (as defined in Code section 152(a)) of the Participant loss of the Participants property due to casualty, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant as determined by the Administrator. The amount of the distribution may not exceed the amounts necessary to satisfy such emergency plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of the distribution, after taking into account the extent to which such hardship is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, by liquidation of the Participants assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship) or by cessation of the Participants deferrals under the Plan.
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2.40. |
Valuation Date |
Valuation Date shall mean the 4 th day or the prior business day of each calendar month or such other date as the Administrator in its sole discretion may determine.
2.41. |
VPHR |
VPHR shall mean the Vice President of The Dow Chemical Company or Dow Inc. with senior responsibility for Human Resources.
A pronoun or adjective in the masculine gender includes the feminine gender, and the singular includes the plural, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The title of an officer or employee when used in this Plan document shall mean the respective officer or employee of Dow Inc. or The Dow Chemical Company, except where otherwise indicated. The title for a person or entity who is assigned responsibilities under the Plan shall mean any successor title to such position as such title may be changed from time to time.
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ARTICLE III
ADMINISTRATION
3.01. |
Duties and Powers of the Administrator |
The Administrator shall be responsible for the administration of the Plan and shall see that the Plan is carried out in accordance with its terms.
Except as provided in Section 3.02, the responsibility and authority of the Administrator shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following duties and powers:
a. |
To promulgate and enforce such rules and regulations and prescribe the use of such forms as he shall deem necessary or appropriate for the proper and efficient administration of the Plan; |
b. |
To interpret the Plan and to resolve any possible ambiguities, inconsistencies and omissions therein or therefrom; |
c. |
To decide all questions concerning the Plan; |
d. |
To prepare and disseminate communications to Participants and Beneficiaries as are necessary or appropriate to properly administer the Plan; and |
e. |
To retain third party administrators, consultants, accountants and other individuals or entities as he deems necessary or advisable to assist him in fulfilling his responsibilities under the Plan, consistent with The Dow Chemical Companys guidelines on hiring and retention of outside service providers; and monitor the performance of such individuals and entities, decide whether to discontinue the services of such individuals and entities, and make payment to such individuals and entities in accordance with the terms of the plan document. |
3.02. |
Designation of Additional Administrators and Delegation of Administrative Responsibilities |
Dow Inc., as the plan sponsor, may designate one or more persons or entities to serve as an Administrator, an Appeals Administrator or an Initial Claims Reviewer, through an action of the Board or through a written designation signed by the VPHR or the Global Benefits Director, each acting individually, or such other person as the Board shall designate. Such designation shall set forth in general or specific terms such persons or entitys responsibilities and authority.
In addition, each Administrator, Appeals Administrator and Initial Claims Reviewer may designate other persons to carry out its responsibilities under the Plan in a writing that sets forth the responsibilities assigned to the delegee and, if applicable, the period for which such delegation shall be in effect.
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3.03. |
Decisions of Administrators |
a. |
Each Administrator shall have the sole and absolute discretion to interpret the plan document, make findings of fact, operate, administer and decide any matters arising with respect to the Plan, and may adopt such rules and procedures as it deems necessary, desirable or appropriate in the administration of the Plan. All rules and decisions of such Administrators shall be conclusive and binding on all persons having an interest in the Plan. |
b. |
Any determination by an Administrator shall be binding on all parties. If challenged in court, such determination shall not be subject to de novo review and shall not be overturned unless proven to be arbitrary and capricious based upon the evidence presented to the Administrator at the time of its determination. |
3.04. |
Indemnification of Administrators |
Dow Inc. agrees to indemnify and to defend to the fullest extent permitted by law any employee or former employee of the Company or entity within the Companys controlled group (a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of section 414(b) or section 414(c) of the Code) who is serving or has served as an Administrator or who is acting or has acted on behalf of an Administrator against all liabilities, damages, costs and expenses (including attorneys fees and amounts paid in settlement of any claims approved by Dow Inc.) occasioned by any act or omission to act in connection with the Plan, if such act or omission is in good faith.
3.05. |
Claim Procedure |
If a Participant or Beneficiary (claimant) makes a written request alleging a right to receive payments under this Plan or alleging a right to receive an adjustment in benefits being paid under this Plan, such actions shall be treated as a claim for benefits. Benefits under this Plan shall be payable only if the Initial Claims Reviewer or the Appeals Administrator, as the case may be, determines, in its sole discretion, that a claimant is entitled to them.
a. |
All initial claims for benefits under this Plan shall be sent to the Initial Claims Reviewer. If the Initial Claims Reviewer determines that any individual who has claimed a right to receive benefits, or different benefits, under this Plan is not entitled to receive all or any part of the benefits claimed, the Initial Claims Reviewer shall inform the claimant in writing of such determination and the reasons therefore in terms calculated to be understood by the claimant. The notice shall be sent within 90 days of receipt of the claim unless the Initial Claims Reviewer determines that additional time, not exceeding 90 additional days, is needed and so notifies the claimant in writing before the expiration of the initial 90 day period. Any written notice of extension for review shall include the circumstances requiring extension and date by which a decision is expected to be rendered. A written notice of denial of benefits shall (i) state specific reasons for the denial, (ii) make specific reference to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial is based, (iii) describe any additional material or information that is necessary to support the claimants claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary, and (iv) include a statement that the claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of all documents, records or other information relevant (as defined by Department of Labor Regulation section 2560.503-1(m)) to the claim. Such notice shall, in addition, inform the claimant of the procedure that the claimant should follow to take advantage of the review procedures set forth below in the event the claimant desires to contest the denial of the claim, including the right to bring a civil action under section 502(a) of ERISA following exhaustion of review procedures set forth herein. |
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b. |
The claimant may within 60 days after notice of the denial submit, in writing, to the Appeals Administrator a notice that the claimant contests the denial of his or her claim and desires a further review by the Appeals Administrator. During the review process, the claimant has the right to submit written comments, documents, records and other information relating to the claim for benefits, which the Appeals Administrator shall consider without regard to whether the items were considered upon the initial review. The Appeals Administrator shall within 60 days thereafter review the claim and authorize the claimant to, upon request and free of charge, have reasonable access to, and copies of all documents, records or other information relevant (as defined by Department of Labor Regulation section 2560.503-1(m)) to the claim. The Appeals Administrator will render a final decision with specific reasons therefor in writing and will transmit it to the claimant within 60 days of the written request for review, unless the Appeals Administrator determines that additional time, not exceeding 60 days, is needed, and so notifies the claimant in writing before the expiration of the initial 60 day period. In no event shall the Appeals Administrator render a final decision later than the initial 60 days plus the possible additional 60 days following receipt of the claimants appeal. Any written notice of extension for review shall include the circumstances requiring extension and date by which a decision is expected to be rendered. A written notice of denial of benefits upon review shall (i) state specific reasons for the denial, (ii) make specific reference to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial is based, and (iii) include a statement that the claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of all documents, records or other information relevant (as defined by Department of Labor Regulation section 2560.503-1(m)) to the claim. Such notice shall, in addition, inform the claimant of the right to bring a civil action under section 502(a) of ERISA. If such determination is adverse to the claimant, it shall be binding and conclusive unless the claimant notifies the Appeals Administrator within 90 days after the mailing or delivery to him or her by the Appeals Administrator of its determination that he or she intends to institute legal proceedings challenging the determination of the Appeals Administrator, and actually institutes such legal proceeding within the applicable limitations period described in Section 3.06 below. |
3.06. |
Commencement of Legal Action |
A claim for benefits under the Plan (including a claim that the claimant is eligible to participate in the Plan) may not be filed in any court:
a. |
until the claimant has exhausted the claims review procedures described in Section 3.05 above, including complying with the 90-day notice requirement in Section 3.05(b), and |
b. |
unless such claim is filed in a court with jurisdiction over such claim the earlier of: |
1. |
180 days after the mailing or delivery of the adverse determination by the Appeals Administrator, or |
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2. |
two (2) years after (i) the date the first benefit payment was allegedly due, or (ii) the date the Plan first repudiated its alleged obligation to provide such benefits or coverage (regardless of whether such repudiation occurred before or during the administrative review process), whichever is earlier. |
This limitations period replaces and supersedes any limitation period ending at a later time that might otherwise be deemed applicable under state or federal law in the absence of this Section 3.06.
3.07. |
Forum Selection |
To the fullest extent permitted by law, any putative class action lawsuit relating to the Plan shall be filed in the jurisdiction in which the Plan is principally administered or the jurisdiction in which the largest number of putative class members resides. If any such putative class action is filed in a different jurisdiction, or if any non-class action filed in a different jurisdiction is subsequently amended or altered to include class action allegations, then the Plan, all parties to such action that are related to the Plan (such as the Administrator) and all alleged Participants and Beneficiaries shall take all necessary steps to have the action removed to, transferred to or re-filed in a jurisdiction described in the first sentence of this Section 3.07. This forum selection provision is waived if no party invokes it within 120 days of the filing of a putative class action or the assertion of class action allegations. This provision does not relieve any putative class member from any obligation existing under the Plan or by law to exhaust administrative remedies before initiating litigation.
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ARTICLE IV
PARTICIPATION
4.01. |
Participation |
a. |
Eligible Employees . In general, participation in the Plan shall be limited to Eligible Employees who elect to participate in this Plan by filing a Participation Agreement with the Administrator in accordance with the Plans enrollment procedures. A Participation Agreement normally must be filed on or prior to the December 15 (Eastern Standard Time) immediately preceding the Plan Year in which the Eligible Compensation to which the Participation Agreement relates is earned. An individual shall not be eligible to elect to participate in this Plan unless the individual qualifies as an Eligible Employee for the Plan Year for which the election is made. The Administrator, in its sole discretion and to the extent permitted by Code section 409A and the regulations or other guidance issued thereunder, may permit: (i) a Participation Agreement to be filed after the December 15 but on or before the December 31 (Eastern Standard Time) immediately preceding the Plan Year in which the Eligible Compensation to which the Participation Agreement relates is earned; and (ii) a newly Eligible Employee to submit a Participation Agreement within 30 days after the date the Eligible Employee becomes eligible, and deferrals shall commence as soon as practical thereafter for Eligible Compensation earned after the Administrator receives a completed and timely submitted Participation Agreement. An Eligible Employee of Dow Corning Corporation who was a participant in the Dow Corning Supplemental Savings Plan as of December 31, 2016 shall not be considered a newly Eligible Employee for purposes of the preceding paragraph. |
A DuPont transferee as defined in Section 2.19 may be permitted to file a Participation Agreement prior to the beginning of the Plan Year in which he becomes an Eligible Employee, provided that the Administrator determines that such filing is practicable and consistent with the requirements of Code section 409A.
b. |
Cadre Employees . Cadre Employees shall also be eligible to participate in the Plan by filing a Participation Agreement with the Administrator in accordance with the Companys enrollment procedures. A Participation Agreement normally must be filed on or prior to the November 30 (Eastern Standard Time) immediately preceding the Plan Year in which the Eligible Compensation to which the Participation Agreement relates is earned. The Administrator, in its sole discretion and to the extent permitted by Code section 409A and the regulations or other guidance issued thereunder, may permit a newly eligible Cadre Employee to submit a Participation Agreement within 30 days after the date the Cadre Employee becomes eligible, and deferrals shall commence as soon as practical thereafter for Eligible Compensation earned after the Administrator receives a completed and timely submitted Participation Agreement. In addition, the Administrator, in its sole discretion and to the extent permitted by Code section 409A and the regulations or other guidance issued thereunder, may permit a newly eligible Cadre Employee for the first Plan Year in which the Cadre Employee is a resident alien to make a deferral election in a timely manner as permitted under Treas. Reg. section 1.409A-2(c). |
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4.02. |
Contents of Participation Agreement |
a. |
Eligible Employees . Subject to Article VII, each Participation Agreement shall set forth the amount of Eligible Compensation for the Plan Year to which the Participation Agreement relates that is to be deferred under the Plan (the Deferred Amount), expressed as either a dollar amount or a whole percentage of the Base Salary and Performance Awards for such Plan Year; provided that the minimum and maximum Deferred Amounts for any Plan Year shall be the minimum and maximum Deferred Amounts, respectively, established by the Administrator and set forth in the Participation Agreement for such Plan Year, and further provided that for deferrals earned on or after January 1, 2010, the maximum Deferred Amount for any Plan Year shall not exceed 75% of Base Salary and 100% of Performance Award. In accordance with the provisions contained in Article VII, each Participation Agreement shall also set forth a time and Form of Payment of a Deferred Amount. Participation Agreements are to be completed in a format specified by the Administrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Participant shall have failed to designate properly the form of payment of the Participants benefit under the Plan, such payment will be in a lump sum. |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding paragraph, however, an Eligible Employee who was an employee of Dow Corning Corporation for any period prior to January 1, 2017 may not elect to defer under this Plan: (x) any portion of an AVIP Award earned prior to January 1, 2017; or (y) any portion of an LTIP Award for a performance cycle beginning before January 1, 2017. For purposes of this paragraph: (i) AVIP Award shall mean that portion of a Participants compensation payable as an annual bonus under the Dow Corning Corporations Annual Variable Incentive Program; and (ii) LTIP Award shall mean a Participants award under any long-term incentive plan sponsored by Dow Corning Corporation, including but not limited to the Dow Corning Corporation Performance Excellence Plan.
b. |
Cadre Employees . A Cadre Employees Participation Agreement shall set forth the amount of Base Salary for the Plan Year to which the Participation Agreement relates that is to be deferred under the Plan (the Deferred Amount), expressed as a whole percentage of the Base Salary for such Plan Year; provided that the maximum Deferred Amount for any Plan Year shall not exceed 15% of Base Salary. In addition, each Participation Agreement shall, in accordance with the provisions contained in Article VII, set forth a time and Form of Payment of a Deferred Amount. Participation Agreements are to be completed in a format specified by the Administrator. |
4.03. |
Modification or Revocation of Election by Participant |
A Participant may not change the amount of his or her Deferred Amount during a Plan Year. A Participants Participation Agreement may not be made, modified or revoked retroactively.
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ARTICLE V
DEFERRED COMPENSATION
5.01. |
Elective Deferred Compensation |
The Deferred Amount of a Participant with respect to each Plan Year of participation in the Plan shall be credited to the Participants Deferral Account as and when such Deferred Amount would otherwise have been paid to the Participant. If a Participant is employed at a Company other than The Dow Chemical Company, such Company shall pay or transfer the Deferred Amounts for all such Companys Participants to The Dow Chemical Company as and when the Deferred Amounts are withheld from a Participants Base Salary or Performance Award. Such forwarded Deferred Amounts will be held as part of the general assets of The Dow Chemical Company. The earnings credit under Section 6.02 based on a Participants investment selection among the Hypothetical Investment Benchmarks specified in Appendix A hereto, as amended by the VPHR, Global Benefits Director, Chief Financial Officer, or Global Director of Portfolio Investments, each acting individually, or their respective delegates, from time to time, shall be borne by The Dow Chemical Company. To the extent that any Company is required to withhold any taxes or other amounts from the Deferred Amount pursuant to any state, Federal or local law, such amounts shall be taken out of other compensation eligible to be paid to the Participant that is not deferred under this Plan.
5.02. |
Vesting of Deferral Account |
Except as provided in Sections 7.10 and 7.11, a Participant shall be 100% vested in his or her Deferral Account as of each Valuation Date.
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ARTICLE VI
MAINTENANCE AND INVESTMENT OF ACCOUNTS
6.01. |
Maintenance of Accounts |
Separate Deferral Accounts shall be maintained for each Participant. More than one Deferral Account may be maintained for a Participant as necessary to reflect (a) various Hypothetical Investment Benchmarks and/or (b) separate Participation Agreements specifying different times and Forms of Payment. A Participants Deferral Account(s) shall be utilized solely as a device for the measurement and determination of the amounts to be paid to the Participant pursuant to this Plan, and shall not constitute or be treated as a trust fund of any kind. The Administrator shall determine the balance of each Deferral Account, as of each Valuation Date, by adjusting the balance of such Deferral Account as of the immediately preceding Valuation Date to reflect changes in the value of the deemed investments thereof, credits and debits pursuant to Section 6.02 and Section 7.08 and distributions pursuant to Article VII with respect to such Deferral Account since the preceding Valuation Date.
6.02. |
Hypothetical Investment Benchmarks |
a. |
Direction of Hypothetical Investments . Each Participant shall be entitled to direct the manner in which his or her Deferral Accounts will be deemed to be invested, selecting among the Hypothetical Investment Benchmarks specified in Appendix A hereto, as amended by the VPHR, Global Benefits Director, Chief Financial Officer, or Global Director of Portfolio Investments, each acting individually, or their respective delegates, from time to time, and in accordance with such rules, regulations and procedures as the Administrator may establish from time to time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, earnings and losses based on a Participants investment elections shall begin to accrue as of the date such Participants Deferred Amounts are credited to his or her Deferral Accounts. Participants, except for Section 16 Participants, can reallocate among the Hypothetical Investment Benchmarks on a daily basis. Section 16 Participants can reallocate among the Hypothetical Investment Benchmarks in accordance with such rules, regulations and procedures as the Administrator may establish from time to time. |
b. |
Dow Inc. Stock Index Fund and DowDuPont Inc. Stock Index Fund . |
1. |
The Hypothetical Investment Benchmarks available for Deferral Accounts will include the Dow Inc. Stock Index Fund. The Dow Inc. Stock Index Fund will consist of deemed investments in shares of Dow Inc. Common Stock, including reinvestment of dividends and stock splits. Deferred Amounts that are deemed to be invested in the Dow Inc. Stock Index Fund shall be converted into Phantom Share Units based upon the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as of the date(s) the Deferred Amounts are to be credited to a Deferral Account. The portion of any Deferral Account that is invested in the Dow Inc. Stock Index Fund shall be credited, as of each dividend payment date, with additional Phantom Share Units of Common Stock with respect to cash dividends paid on the Common Stock with record dates during the period beginning on the day after the most recent preceding Valuation Date and ending on such Valuation Date. |
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2. |
When a reallocation or a distribution of all or a portion of a Deferral Account that is invested in the Dow Inc. Stock Index Fund is to be made, the balance in such a Deferral Account shall be determined by multiplying the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the most recent Valuation Date preceding the date of such reallocation or distribution by the number of Phantom Share Units to be reallocated or distributed. Upon a distribution, the amounts in the Dow Inc. Stock Index Fund shall be distributed in the form of cash having a value equal to the Fair Market Value of a comparable number of actual shares of Common Stock. |
3. |
In the event of a reorganization, recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend, combination of shares, merger, consolidation, or other change in the corporate structure of Dow Inc. affecting Common Stock, or a sale by Dow Inc. of all or part of its assets, or any distribution to stockholders other than a normal cash dividend, then the Administrator may make appropriate adjustments to the number of Phantom Share Units credited to any Deferral Account. The determination of the Administrator as to such adjustments, if any, to be made shall be conclusive. |
Section 16 Participants may not elect to direct their Deferred Amount into the Hypothetical Investment Benchmark of the Dow Inc. Stock Index Fund.
4. |
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, the Administrator shall adopt such procedures as it may determine are necessary to ensure that with respect to any Participant who is actually or potentially subject to section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the crediting of deemed shares to his or her Deferral Account is deemed to be an exempt purchase for purposes of such section 16(b), including without limitation requiring that no shares of Common Stock or cash relating to such deemed shares may be distributed for six months after being credited to such Deferral Account. |
5. |
The Hypothetical Investment Benchmarks available for Deferral Accounts shall also include the DowDuPont Inc. Stock Index Fund, but only to the extent that a Participants Deferral Account is deemed to be invested in DowDuPont Inc. common stock prior to the Spinoff Date (as defined in Article I). The DowDuPont Inc. Stock Index Fund will consist of deemed investments in the common stock of DowDuPont Inc. or any successor thereto (as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion), including stock splits but not dividends. Dividends shall be deemed to be invested in the same manner as under the Savings Plan. Similar rules and procedures as described in this Section 6.02(b) with respect to the Dow Inc. Stock Index Fund shall apply with respect to the DowDuPont Inc. Stock Index Fund and its successors, to the extent required by section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or by rules established by the Administrator. For the avoidance of doubt: (A) a Participant may not direct that any amounts allocated to his Deferral Account after the Spinoff Date will be deemed to be invested in the DowDuPont Inc. Stock Index Fund or any successor thereto; and (B) amounts deemed to be invested in the DowDuPont Inc. Stock Index Fund prior to the Spinoff Date may continue to be deemed to be so invested following the Spinoff Date in accordance with rules established by the Administrator. |
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6.03. |
Statement of Accounts |
Each Participant shall be issued quarterly statements of his or her Deferral Account(s) in such form as the Administrator deems desirable, setting forth the balance to the credit of such Participant in his or her Deferral Account(s) as of the end of the most recently completed quarter.
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ARTICLE VII
BENEFITS
7.01. |
Time and Form of Payment |
a. |
For Deferral Accounts for years prior to 2010 . The Dow Chemical Company shall pay to the Participant the balance of each Deferral Account at the time and in the Form of Payment as provided in this Section 7.01(a). A separate distribution election can be made for Base Salary and Performance Award. If the Participant is employed at a Company other than The Dow Chemical Company, such Company shall pay the balance of such Participants Deferral Account, pursuant to the terms of the Plan, and The Dow Chemical Company shall reimburse such Company for any such payments. |
1. |
Distributions in a Specific Year . A Participant may elect in a Participation Agreement to have a Deferral Account be distributed in a lump sum (determined as of the most recent Valuation Date preceding the payment date) in cash in a specific future year or be distributed in installment payments (either annual or monthly from 2 to 15 years) beginning in a specific future year. Distributions pursuant to this Section 7.01(a) shall be made or commence on the January 31 (or the last immediately preceding business day of January if such January 31st is not a business day) of the year that the Participant has selected to begin receiving distributions. If a Participant has selected quarterly installment payments, such distributions shall commence on the March 31 (or the last immediately preceding business day of March if such March 31st is not a business day) of the year that the Participant has selected to begin receiving distributions. The minimum deferral period is 12 months for Base Salary and 24 months for Performance Awards. |
2. |
Distributions upon Separation from Service . Alternatively, a Participant may elect in a Participation Agreement to have a Deferral Account be distributed (i) in a lump sum (determined as of the most recent Valuation Date preceding the payment date) in cash in the year after the year in which the Participants Separation from Service occurs, (ii) in installment payments (either annual, quarterly or monthly for up to 15 years) beginning in the year after the year in which the Participants Separation from Service occurs, (iii) in a lump sum (determined as of the most recent Valuation Date preceding the payment date) in cash in the second year after the year in which the Participants Separation from Service occurs, or (iv) in installment payments (either annual, quarterly or monthly for up to 15 years) beginning in the second year after the year in which the Participants Separation from Service occurs. Except when a Participant elects quarterly installment payments, such distributions pursuant to this Section 7.01(a) shall be made or commence on the January 31 (or the last immediately preceding business day of January if such January 31st is not a business day) of the applicable year. If a Participant has selected quarterly installment payments, such distributions pursuant to this Section 7.01(a) shall commence on the March 31st (or the last immediately preceding business day of March if such March 31st is not a business day) of the applicable year. |
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3. |
Distributions upon Separation from Service by a Key Employee . Notwithstanding the foregoing, distributions may not be made to a Key Employee upon a Separation from Service before the date which is six months after the date of the Key Employees Separation from Service (or, if earlier, the date of the Key Employees death). |
4. |
Calculation of Installments . If a Participant has elected in a Participation Agreement to have a Deferral Account be distributed in installment payments, each installment payment shall equal the balance of such Deferral Account as of the most recent Valuation Date preceding the payment date, times a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is the number of remaining installment payments. Each subsequent installment shall be paid on or about the succeeding anniversary of such first payment or in quarterly or monthly intervals, if selected. Each such installment shall be deemed to be made on a pro rata basis from each of the different deemed investments of the Deferral Account (if there is more than one such deemed investment). |
b. |
For Deferral Accounts for years 2010 and later . The Dow Chemical Company shall pay to the Participant the balance of each Deferral Account at the time and in the Form of Payment as provided in this Section 7.01(b). A separate distribution election can be made for Base Salary and Performance Award. If the Participant is employed at a Company other than The Dow Chemical Company, such Company shall pay the balance of such Participants Deferral Account, pursuant to the terms of the Plan, and The Dow Chemical Company shall reimburse such Company for any such payments. |
1. |
Distributions in a Specific Year . A Participant may elect in a Participation Agreement to have a Deferral Account be distributed in a lump sum (determined as of the most recent Valuation Date preceding the payment date) in cash in a specific future year or be distributed in installment payments (either annual or monthly from 2 to 15 years) beginning in a specific future year. Distributions pursuant to this Section 7.01(b) shall be made or commence within the month elected by the participant. |
2. |
Distributions upon Separation from Service . Alternatively, a Participant may elect in a Participation Agreement to have a Deferral Account be distributed (i) in a lump sum (determined as of the most recent Valuation Date preceding the payment date) in cash commencing within 60 days in which the Participants Separation from Service occurs, (ii) in a lump sum (determined as of the most recent Valuation Date preceding the payment date) in cash commencing within 60 days following the twelve months anniversary from the Participants Separation from Service, (iii) in installment payments (either annual or monthly from 2 to 15 years) in cash commencing within 60 days following the Participants Separation from Service, or (iv) in installment payments (either annual or monthly from 2 to 15 years) in cash commencing within 60 days following the twelve months anniversary from the Participants Separation from Service. |
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3. |
Distributions upon Separation from Service by a Key Employee . Notwithstanding the foregoing, distributions may not be made to a Key Employee upon a Separation from Service before the date which is six months after the date of the Key Employees Separation from Service (or, if earlier, the date of the Key Employees death). |
4. |
Calculation of Installments . If a Participant has elected in a Participation Agreement to have a Deferral Account be distributed in installment payments, each installment payment shall equal the balance of such Deferral Account as of the most recent Valuation Date preceding the payment date, times a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is the number of remaining installment payments. Each subsequent installment shall be paid on or about the succeeding anniversary of such first payment or in quarterly (applicable for disbursement elections made prior to January 1, 2010) or monthly intervals, if selected. Each such installment shall be deemed to be made on a pro rata basis from each of the different deemed investments of the Deferral Account (if there is more than one such deemed investment). |
7.02. |
Changing Time or Form of Benefit |
A Participant may subsequently elect an alternative time or Form of Payment as available under Section 7.01 by written election filed with the Administrator; provided, however, that:
a. |
the election will not be effective for the twelve (12) month period after the date on which the election is made; |
b. |
the election must be made at least twelve (12) months prior to the date the distribution is scheduled to be made or commence; |
c. |
a distribution may not be made earlier than at least five (5) years following the date the distribution would have been made or commenced; |
d. |
the election may not cause the payments to be accelerated; and |
e. |
quarterly installments are no longer a disbursement election effective January 1, 2010. |
7.03. |
Survivor Benefit |
Notwithstanding any election by a Participant in a Participation Agreement or provisions of the Plan to the contrary, if a Participant dies prior to receiving full payment of his or her Deferral Account(s), The Dow Chemical Company shall pay the remaining balance (determined as of the most recent Valuation Date preceding death) to the Participants Beneficiary or Beneficiaries (as the case may be) in a lump sum in cash as soon as administratively practicable within 90 days after the Participants death, provided that such beneficiary or beneficiaries shall not have the right to designate the taxable year of payment. If a Participant was employed at a Company other than The Dow Chemical Company, such Company shall pay the remaining balance of such deceased Participants Deferral Account in accordance with the preceding sentence, and The Dow Chemical Company shall reimburse the Company for such payment.
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7.04. |
Disability |
Notwithstanding any election by a Participant in a Participation Agreement or provisions of the Plan to the contrary, if a Participant incurs a Disability prior to receiving full payment of his or her Deferral Account(s), The Dow Chemical Company shall pay the remaining balance (determined as of the most recent Valuation Date preceding death) to the Participant in a lump sum in cash as soon as administratively practicable within 90 days after the Participant becomes Disabled, provided that the Participant shall not have the right to designate the taxable year of payment. If a Participant was employed at a Company other than The Dow Chemical Company, such Company shall pay the remaining balance of such Participants Deferral Account in accordance with the preceding sentence, and The Dow Chemical Company shall reimburse the Company for such payment.
7.05. |
Hardship Withdrawals |
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.01 and any elections by a Participant in a Participation Agreement a Participant shall be entitled to early payment of all or part of the balance in his or her Deferral Account(s) in the event of an Unforeseeable Emergency, in accordance with this Section 7.05. A distribution pursuant to this Section 7.05 may only be made to the extent reasonably needed to satisfy the Unforeseeable Emergency need, and may not be made if such need is or may be relieved (i) through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, (ii) by liquidation of the Participants assets to the extent such liquidation would not itself cause severe financial hardship, or (iii) by cessation of participation in the Plan. An application for an early payment under this Section 7.05 shall be made to the Administrator in such form and in accordance with such procedures as the Administrator shall determine from time to time. The determination of whether and in what amount a distribution will be permitted pursuant to this Section 7.05 shall be made by the Administrator. Upon such an early payment under this Section 7.05 in a Plan Year, the Participants deferral election pursuant to Section 4.02 shall be cancelled with respect to any Deferred Amounts that would otherwise be deferred for the remainder of such Plan Year.
7.06. |
Change of Control |
In accordance with the Companys procedures and to the extent permitted by Code section 409A, a Participant may elect in a Participation Agreement that, if a Change of Control occurs, the Participant shall receive a lump sum payment of the balance of the Participants applicable Deferral Account within thirty (30) days after the Change of Control. Certain Participants were provided with transition elections during the Code section 409A transition period to have their 2005-2008 Deferral Accounts, if any, paid in a lump sum within thirty (30) days after a Change of Control. In the event a Participant did not elect to have his 2005-2008 Deferral Accounts, if any, paid in a lump sum upon a Change of Control, such 2005-2008 Deferral Accounts, if any, will be distributed in accordance with the Participants Distribution elections in the relevant Participation Agreements.
7.07. |
Matching Contribution |
Each Eligible Employee who elects to make deferrals of Eligible Compensation to the Plan will be credited with a Matching Contribution utilizing the same formula authorized under the Savings Plan for employer matching contributions. For purposes of calculating the
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match under this Plan, The Dow Chemical Company will assume each Participant is contributing the maximum allowable amount to the Savings Plan and receiving a match thereon. The Matching Contribution calculated under provisions of this Plan will be reduced by this assumed match from the Savings Plan. The amount of the Matching Contribution may be based on a formula that takes into account a Participants overall compensation and may be subject to maximum or minimum limitations. The Matching Contribution shall be credited to the Deferral Account as soon as administratively feasible within the first 60 days of the following Plan Year. The Matching Contribution shall be invested among the same Hypothetical Investment Benchmarks as defined in Section 6.02 in the same proportion as the elections made by the Participant governing the Eligible Compensation deferrals of the Participant at such time. The Matching Contribution for a Plan Year shall be distributed to the Participant at the same time and in the same Form of Payment as the Participants Deferred Amount (and earnings thereon) for such Plan Year in accordance with this Article VII, and will vest one hundred percent (100%) on the date credited to the Participants account. In the event a Participant has elected one time and Form of Payment with respect to his or her Base Salary Deferral for such Plan Year and another time and Form of Payment with respect to his or her Performance Deferral for such Plan Year, the Matching Contribution (and earnings thereon) for such Plan Year shall be distributed in accordance with the time and Form of Payment applicable to the Participants Base Salary Deferral for such Plan Year. A Cadre Employee is not eligible for a Matching Contribution.
If a Participant is employed by a Company, other than The Dow Chemical Company, an amount equal to all Matching Contributions credited to Participants of such Company shall be paid or transferred in full by such Company to The Dow Chemical Company as of the date such Matching Contribution is credited to a Participants Deferral Account. The Dow Chemical Company shall hold such amounts as part of the general assets of The Dow Chemical Company.
7.08. |
Discretionary Company Contributions |
Any Company may at any time contribute a discretionary Company contribution. This discretionary Company contribution may be for payments including, but not limited to, signing or retention bonuses. The amount of the discretionary Company contribution may vary from payroll period to payroll period throughout the Plan Year, may be based on a formula which takes into account a Participants overall compensation, and otherwise may be subject to maximum or minimum limitations. The discretionary Company contribution shall be credited to the Deferral Account as soon as administratively feasible following the end of the payroll period. The discretionary contribution shall be invested among the same Hypothetical Investment Benchmarks as defined in Section 6.02 in the same proportion as the elections made by the Participant governing the deferrals of the Participant at the time, or if none, BGI LifePath (according to age). Subject to the other provisions contained in this Article VII, if no distribution election is made, any vested discretionary contribution (and earnings thereon) shall be distributed to the Participant in cash in a lump sum within 60 days following the Participants Separation from Service. Any vesting schedule shall be determined by the Administrator at the time the discretionary Company contribution is made. A Cadre Employee is not eligible for a discretionary Company contribution.
If a Participant is employed at a Company other than The Dow Chemical Company, such Company shall pay or transfer to The Dow Chemical Company any amounts designated as discretionary Company contributions for all such Participants as of the date such discretionary Company contributions are credited to a Participants Deferral Account. The Dow Chemical Company shall hold such amounts as part of the general assets of The Dow Chemical Company.
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7.09. |
Special Cadre Plan Contributions |
Each Cadre Employee will be credited with a nondiscretionary Company contribution equal to (1) 4% of the Cadre Employees monthly Base Salary for each month while he is an eligible to participate in the Plan, and (2) 12% of the Cadre Employees Performance Awards received annually while he is eligible to participate in the Plan. The Company contribution shall be credited to the Deferral Account as soon as administratively feasible following the end of the applicable period. The Company contribution shall be invested among the same Hypothetical Investment Benchmarks as defined in Section 6.02 in the same proportion as the elections made by the Participant governing the deferrals of the Participant at the time, or if none, BGI LifePath (according to age). Subject to the other provisions contained in this Article VII, the Company contribution shall be distributed to the Participant at the same time and in the same form as the Participants deferrals for the Plan Year in which the nondiscretionary Company contribution is made in accordance with this Article VII. In the event a Participant has elected one time and Form of Payment with respect to his or her Base Salary Deferral for such year and another time and Form of Payment with respect to his or her Performance Deferral for such year, the Company contribution (and earnings thereon) for such year shall be distributed in accordance with the time and Form of Payment applicable to the Participants Base Salary Deferral for such year. If no base salary deferral election is made by the Participant, the nondiscretionary Company contribution distribution will be made via lump sum at separation per Section 7.01. The nondiscretionary Company contributions will vest one hundred percent (100%) on the date the Participant is eligible to participate in the Plan.
If a Participant is employed by a Company other than The Dow Chemical Company, an amount equal to all nondiscretionary Company contributions credited to Participants of such Company shall be paid or transferred in full by such Company to The Dow Chemical Company as of the date such contribution is credited to a Participants Deferral Account. The Dow Chemical Company shall hold such amounts as part of the general assets of The Dow Chemical Company.
7.10. |
Withholding of Taxes |
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, any Company shall withhold from payments made hereunder any amounts required to be so withheld by any applicable law or regulation. The Company may also accelerate and pay a portion of a Participants benefits in a lump sum equal to the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax imposed and the income tax withholding related to such FICA amounts.
7.11. |
Distribution Upon Inclusion in Income |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a portion of the Participants Deferral Account balance is includible in income under Code section 409A, such portion shall be distributed immediately to the Participant.
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ARTICLE VIII
BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION
8.01. |
Beneficiary Designation |
Each Participant shall have the right, at any time, to designate any person, persons or entity as his or her Beneficiary or Beneficiaries. A Beneficiary designation shall be made, and may be amended, by the Participant by filing a written designation with the Administrator, on such form and in accordance with such procedures as the Administrator shall establish from time to time.
8.02. |
No Beneficiary Designation |
If a Participant or Beneficiary fails to designate a Beneficiary as provided above or if all designated Beneficiaries predecease the Participant or his or her Beneficiary, then the Participants Beneficiary shall be deemed to be, in the following order:
a. |
the spouse or Domestic Partner of such person, if any; |
b. |
the children of such person, if any; |
c. |
the beneficiary of any company paid life insurance of such person, if any; |
d. |
the beneficiary of the Executive Life Insurance of such person, if any; |
e. |
the beneficiary of any Company-sponsored life insurance policy for which any Company pays all or part of the premium of such person, if any; or |
f. |
the deceased persons estate. |
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ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF PLAN
9.01. |
Amendment |
The Board or its delegate may amend or modify the Plan at any time, and the President, Chief Financial Officer, VPHR, the Benefits Governance and Finance Committee of The Dow Chemical Company, or Global Benefits Director, each acting individually, may amend or modify the Plan at any time, provided, however, that no amendment shall be effective to decrease the balance in any Deferral Account as accrued at the time of such amendment, nor shall any amendment otherwise have a retroactive effect.
Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) an amendment that affects only Section 16(b) Participants shall not be valid unless it is adopted or approved by the Board; and (ii) no amendment of the Plan shall apply to amounts that were earned and vested (within the meaning of Code section 409A and regulations thereunder) under the Plan prior to 2005, unless the amendment specifically provides that it applies to such amounts. The purpose of this restriction is to prevent a Plan amendment from resulting in an inadvertent material modification to amounts that are grandfathered and exempt from the requirements of Code section 409A.
The authority of the President, Chief Financial Officer, VPHR, the Benefits Governance and Finance Committee of The Dow Chemical Company, and Global Benefits Director to amend or modify the Plan under this Section 9.01 may not be delegated.
9.02. |
Companys Right to Terminate |
The Board may at any time terminate the Plan with respect to future Participation Agreements. The Board may also terminate the Plan in its entirety at any time for any reason, including without limitation if, in its judgment, the continuance of the Plan, the tax, accounting, or other effects thereof, or potential payments thereunder would not be in the best interests of Dow Inc. or The Dow Chemical Company. Any plan termination made pursuant to this Section 9.02 shall be performed in a manner consistent with the requirements of Code section 409A and any regulations or other applicable guidance issued thereunder. In the event a Participant is employed by a Company other than The Dow Chemical Company at the time distributions are made as a result of the plan termination and such Company makes the required payments to the Participant, The Dow Chemical Company shall transfer to such Company an amount equal to the amount paid to the Participant on account of termination of the Plan. Any Company may cease participation in the Plan for any reason by notifying Dow Inc. in writing at least 30 days prior to such Companys cessation of participation. Payments to Participants by any such Company will commence in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the Companys cessation of participation will otherwise comply with Code section 409A.
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9.03. |
Effect of Amendment or Termination |
Except as provided in the next sentence, no amendment or termination of the Plan shall adversely affect the rights of any Participant to amounts credited to his Deferral Accounts as of the effective date of such amendment or termination. Upon termination of the Plan, distribution of balances in Deferral Accounts shall be made to Participants and beneficiaries in the manner and at the time described in Article VII, unless Dow Inc. determines in its sole discretion that all such amounts shall be distributed upon termination in accordance with the requirements under Code section 409A. Upon termination of the Plan, no further deferrals of Eligible Compensation shall be permitted; however, earnings, gains and losses shall continue to be credited to Deferral Account balances in accordance with Article VI until the Deferral Account balances are fully distributed.
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ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
10.01. |
Unfunded Plan |
This Plan is intended to be an unfunded plan maintained primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees, within the meaning of sections 201, 301 and 401 of ERISA and therefore meant to be exempt from Parts 2, 3 and 4 of Title I of ERISA. All payments pursuant to the Plan shall first be made from the general assets of The Dow Chemical Company, as the entity primarily liable for such payments, and no special or separate fund shall be established or other segregation of assets made to assure payment. As described above, if a Participant is employed at a Company other than The Dow Chemical Company, such Company shall pay such Participants Deferral Account balance to such Participant according to the terms of the Plan, and The Dow Chemical Company shall reimburse such Company for the amount of the payment. In the event The Dow Chemical Company is insolvent or is otherwise unable to make any required payment or reimbursement to a Participant or a Company, the Company (other than The Dow Chemical Company) that employed such Participant shall be secondarily liable for such payments from the general assets of such Company. In the event such Company is also insolvent or is otherwise unable to make any required payment, Dow Inc. shall be liable for such payments from the general assets of Dow Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, taken as a whole. No Participant or other person shall have under any circumstances any interest in any particular property or assets of Dow Inc., The Dow Chemical Company or any other Company as a result of participating in the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, The Dow Chemical Company may (but shall not be obligated to) create one or more grantor trusts, the assets of which are subject to the claims of The Dow Chemical Companys creditors, to assist it in accumulating funds to pay its obligations.
10.02. |
Nonassignability |
Except as specifically set forth in the Plan with respect to the designation of Beneficiaries, neither a Participant nor any other person shall have any right to commute, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, anticipate, mortgage or otherwise encumber, transfer, hypothecate or convey in advance of actual receipt the amounts, if any, payable hereunder, or any part thereof, which are, and all rights to which are, expressly declared to be unassignable and non-transferable. No part of the amounts payable shall, prior to actual payment, be subject to seizure or sequestration for the payment of any debts, judgments, alimony or separate maintenance owed by a Participant or any other person, nor be transferable by operation of law in the event of a Participants or any other persons bankruptcy or insolvency.
10.03. |
Validity and Severability |
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Plan shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Plan, which shall remain in full force and effect, and any prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
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10.04. |
Governing Law |
The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Plan shall in all respects be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to principles of conflict of law, except to the extent preempted by federal law.
10.05. |
Employment Status |
This Plan does not constitute a contract of employment or impose on the Participant or any Company any obligation for the Participant to remain an employee of such Company or change the status of the Participants employment or the policies of such Company and its affiliates regarding termination of employment.
10.06. |
Underlying Incentive Plans and Programs |
Nothing in this Plan shall prevent any Company from modifying, amending or terminating the compensation or the incentive plans and programs pursuant to which Performance Awards are earned and which are deferred under this Plan.
10.07. |
Successors of Dow Inc. and the Company |
The rights and obligations of Dow Inc. and The Dow Chemical Company shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, the successors and assigns of Dow Inc. and The Dow Chemical Company, respectively.
10.08. |
Waiver of Breach |
The waiver by Dow Inc. or The Dow Chemical Company of any breach of any provision of the Plan by the Participant shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by the Participant.
10.09. |
Notice |
Any notice or filing required or permitted to be given to Dow Inc. or The Dow Chemical Company under the Plan shall be sufficient if in writing and hand-delivered, or sent by first class mail to the principal office of Dow Inc. or The Dow Chemical Company, as applicable, directed to the attention of the Administrator. Such notice shall be deemed given as of the date of delivery, or, if delivery is made by mail, as of the date shown on the postmark.
10.10. |
Successor Titles or Positions |
The title of any person or entity who is assigned responsibilities under the Plan shall include any successor title to such position as such title may be changed from time to time.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , Dow Inc. has caused this amended and restated Plan document to be executed in its name and on its behalf by its officers duly authorized on this 1st day of April, 2019.
DOW INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Karen S. Carter |
|
Its: |
Chief Human Resources Officer |
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APPENDIX A: Hypothetical Investment Benchmarks
The funds offered in the Savings Plan are also offered in this plan.
Ten Year U.S. Treasury Notes Plus Fund
The Angus Cash Fund is grandfathered to existing participants. No new contributions are allowed.
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Exhibit 5.1
OPINION OF COUNSEL
April 1, 2019
Dow Inc.
2211 H.H. Dow Way
Midland, Michigan 48674
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is hereby made to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-220352) (the Post-Effective Amendment) being jointly filed by Dow Inc. (the Company) and The Dow Chemical Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (TDCC), with the Securities and Exchange Commission, relating to deferred compensation obligations of the Company and TDCC pursuant to The Dow Chemical Company Elective Deferral Plan (the Plan).
In rendering the opinions expressed below, I or a member of my staff have examined and relied upon: (a) the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and any and all amendments thereto; (b) the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company and any and all amendments thereto; (c) the Seventh Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of TDCC and any and all amendments thereto; (d) the Amended and Restated Bylaws of TDCC and any and all amendments thereto; (e) the Post-Effective Amendment; (f) certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company; (g) certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of TDCC; and (h) such other documents, corporate records and instruments as I have deemed necessary or appropriate to form a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed.
In connection with this opinion, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures on all documents examined by me and the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals and the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to me as copies.
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications herein set forth, it is my opinion that, when outstanding in accordance with the Plan, the deferred compensation obligations will be legally valid and binding obligations of each of the Company and TDCC as set forth in the Plan, and enforceable in accordance with the terms of the Plan.
I do not express any opinion with respect to the law of any jurisdiction other than Delaware corporate law (including, to the extent applicable, the Delaware constitution and judicial decisions) and I do not express any opinion as to the effect of any other laws on the opinion herein stated. The opinion expressed above is further subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors rights generally and to general principles of equity. This opinion is given as of the date hereof. I assume no obligation to update or supplement this opinion to reflect any facts or circumstances which may hereafter occur or come to my attention or any changes in law which may hereafter occur.
I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Companys Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to the reference to me under the caption Interests of Named Experts and Counsel in the Registration Statement.
Very truly yours, |
/s/ Amy E. Wilson |
Amy E. Wilson |
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Dow Inc. |
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, The Dow Chemical Company |
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-220352 on Form S-8 of our reports dated February 11, 2019, relating to (i) the consolidated financial statements (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph regarding a change in accounting policy from expensing asbestos-related defense and processing costs as incurred to the accrual of asbestos-related defense and processing costs when probable of occurring and estimable and a change in the method of accounting for revenue due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, Revenue From Contracts with Customers ) of The Dow Chemical Company and subsidiaries (the Company), and (ii) the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of The Dow Chemical Company for the year ended December 31, 2018.
/S/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP |
Midland, Michigan |
April 1, 2019 |
Exhibit 23.2
Ankura Consulting Group, LLC Consent
Regarding the Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 (the Post-Effective Amendment) to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-220352) relating to The Dow Chemical Company Elective Deferral Plan, Ankura Consulting Group, LLC (Ankura) hereby consents to the incorporation by reference in the Post-Effective Amendment of the use of Ankuras name and the reference to Ankuras reports appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of The Dow Chemical Company for the year ended December 31, 2018.
/s/ B. Thomas Florence |
B. Thomas Florence |
Senior Managing Director |
Ankura Consulting Group, LLC |
April 1, 2019 |