UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): June 28, 2019

 

 

The Blackstone Group Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-33551   20-8875684

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

345 Park Avenue

New York, New York

  10154
(Address of Principal Executive Officers)   (Zip Code)

(212) 583-5000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

NOT APPLICABLE

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Class A Common Stock   BX   New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company  ☐

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

 

 

 


Introductory Note

The Blackstone Group Inc. is providing the disclosure contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K to reflect the completion of its conversion (the “Conversion”) from a Delaware limited partnership named The Blackstone Group L.P. (the “Partnership”) to a Delaware corporation named The Blackstone Group Inc. (the “Corporation”) effective at 12:01 a.m. (Eastern Time) on July 1, 2019 (the “Effective Time”). References to “Blackstone” in this Current Report on Form 8-K mean (i) prior to the Effective Time, The Blackstone Group L.P. and (ii) following the Effective Time, The Blackstone Group Inc.

 

Item 3.01

Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.

On June 28, 2019, the Partnership notified the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) that a Certificate of Conversion (the “Certificate of Conversion”) had been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. At the Effective Time, (i) each common unit of the Partnership (“Common Unit”) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time converted into one issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A common stock, $0.00001 par value per share, of the Corporation (“Class A Common Stock”), (ii) the special voting unit (“Special Voting Unit”) of the Partnership outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time converted into one issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable share of Class B common stock, $0.00001 par value per share, of the Corporation (“Class B Common Stock”) and (c) the general partner units of the Partnership outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time converted into one issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable share of Class C common stock, $0.00001 par value per share, of the Corporation (“Class C Common Stock”).

As of the open of business on Monday, July 1, 2019, the NYSE will cease trading of the Common Units on the NYSE and commence trading of the Class A Common Stock (CUSIP: 09260D 107) on the NYSE under the existing ticker symbol “BX” and we expect the NYSE to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission an application on Form 25 to report that the Common Units are discontinued for trading on the NYSE.

 

Item 3.03

Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Corporation provide the Class A common stockholders with substantially the same rights and obligations that the common unitholders had under the Partnership’s limited partnership agreement. Accordingly, the Class A Common Stock generally is non-voting like the Common Units. More specifically, the Certificate of Incorporation provides that holders of the Class A Common Stock do not have any voting rights or powers except as required by the Delaware General Corporation Law or as expressly provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.

Similarly, the Class B Common Stock generally is non-voting like the Special Voting Unit. The Class B Common Stock generally will vote together with the Class A Common Stock as a single class on those few matters that may be submitted for a vote of the Class A Common Stock. The single share of outstanding Class B Common Stock is held by Blackstone Partners L.L.C., an entity owned by the senior managing directors of Blackstone and controlled by Mr. Stephen A. Schwarzman that previously held the Special Voting Unit prior to the Conversion.

The Class C Common Stock is the only class of the Corporation’s common stock entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders (or to take similar action by written consent) in the election of directors and generally with respect to all other matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. The single share of outstanding Class C Common Stock is held by Blackstone Group Management L.L.C., an entity owned by the senior managing directors of Blackstone and controlled by Mr. Stephen A. Schwarzman that previously served as the general partner of the Partnership prior to the Conversion.

As a result, the Corporation is a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the NYSE and, like the Partnership, qualifies for exceptions from certain corporate governance rules of the NYSE.


Under the partnership agreement of the Partnership, the general partner of the Partnership may, upon the approval of the holders of at least two-thirds of the voting power of our outstanding Common Units and Special Voting Units voting together as a single class, have been replaced with a successor general partner designated by a majority of the voting power of such classes voting together as a single class. Similarly, under the Certificate of Incorporation, the holder of the Class C Common Stock may, upon the approval of the stockholders holding at least two-thirds of the voting power of our outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock voting together as a single class, be required to transfer its shares of Class C Common Stock to a successor holder of Class C Common Stock designated by the stockholders holding a majority of the voting power of such classes voting together as a single class.

To the extent applicable, the disclosures set forth in (i) Item 3.01 above regarding the conversion of the Common Units into Class A Common Stock, (ii) Item 5.03 below regarding the Certificate of Conversion, Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, and (iii) Item 8.01 below regarding the Conversion are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.02

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

As a result of the Conversion, the business and affairs of the Corporation will be overseen by the board of directors of the Corporation, rather than by the board of directors of Blackstone Group Management L.L.C., the general partner of the Partnership. The directors and executive officers of the Corporation immediately after the Conversion were the same individuals who were directors and executive officers, respectively, of Blackstone Group Management L.L.C., the general partner of the Partnership, immediately prior to the Conversion.

In addition, the audit committee and executive committee of the board of directors of the general partner of the Partnership, and the membership thereof, prior to the Effective Time, were replicated at the Corporation at the Effective Time. The board of directors of the Corporation also has a compensation committee, the members of which are appointed by Blackstone Group Management L.L.C., as the sole holder of Class C Common Stock. Mr. Schwarzman is initially the sole member of the compensation committee. Following the Conversion, when the provisions of the Partnership’s partnership agreement that contemplate a standing conflicts committee no longer apply, disinterested members of our board of directors will continue to address conflicts, including by referral of such matters to the audit committee or such other committee of disinterested directors as the board of directors deems appropriate.

 

Item 5.03

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

On June 28, 2019, to implement the Conversion, Blackstone Group Management L.L.C., in its capacity as the Partnership’s general partner, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware the Certificate of Conversion and, in its capacity as sole incorporator of the Corporation, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware a Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”).

At the Effective Time, the Partnership converted to the Corporation pursuant to the Certificate of Conversion, and the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the Corporation became effective. The full text of the Certificate of Conversion, Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws are filed herewith as Exhibits 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 7.01

Regulation FD Disclosure.

On July 1, 2019, Blackstone issued a press release announcing the completion of the Conversion. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2.

 

Item 8.01

Other Events.

In accordance with Rule 12g-3(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Corporation is a successor registrant to the Partnership and thereby subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The shares of Class A Common Stock of the Corporation, as the successor registrant to the Partnership, are deemed to be registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act.

 

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The Description of Capital Stock set forth in Exhibit 99.1 is being filed for the purpose of providing a description of the capital stock of Blackstone and is incorporated into this Item 8.01 by reference. The Description of Capital Stock summarizes the material terms of Blackstone’s capital stock as of the date hereof. This summary is not a complete description of the terms of Blackstone’s capital stock and is qualified by reference to Blackstone’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, each filed herewith, as well as applicable provisions of Delaware law.

The disclosure contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K modifies and supersedes any corresponding discussions included in any registration statement or report previously filed with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder to the extent they are inconsistent with such information.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  (d)

Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.   

Description

3.1    Certificate of Conversion of The Blackstone Group L.P.
3.2    Certificate of Incorporation of The Blackstone Group Inc.
3.3    Bylaws of The Blackstone Group Inc.
99.1    Description of Capital Stock.
99.2    Press release of The Blackstone Group Inc. dated July 1, 2019.

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

  THE BLACKSTONE GROUP INC.
Date: July 1, 2019  
  By:  

/s/ John G. Finley

    Name:   John G. Finley
    Title:   Chief Legal Officer

Exhibit 3.1

CERTIFICATE OF CONVERSION

PURSUANT TO SECTION 265 OF

THE DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW

This Certificate of Conversion is being duly executed and filed by The Blackstone Group L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Limited Partnership ”), to convert the Limited Partnership to The Blackstone Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), under the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (6 Del. C. § 17-101, et seq.) and the Delaware General Corporation Law (8 Del. C. § 101, et seq.).

1. The Limited Partnership was first formed on March 12, 2007 as a Delaware limited partnership.

2. The name and type of entity of the Limited Partnership immediately prior to filing this Certificate of Conversion is The Blackstone Group L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

3. The name of the Corporation as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation filed in accordance with Section 265(b) of the Delaware General Corporation Law is The Blackstone Group Inc.

4. The conversion of the Limited Partnership to the Corporation shall be effective at 12:01 a.m. (Eastern Time) on July 1, 2019.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate of Conversion on the 28th day of June, 2019.

 

THE BLACKSTONE GROUP L.P.
By: Blackstone Group Management L.L.C., its general partner
By:   /s/ John G. Finley
Name: John G. Finley
Title: Chief Legal Officer

[Signature Page to Certificate of Conversion]

Exhibit 3.2

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

THE BLACKSTONE GROUP INC.

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the Corporation is The Blackstone Group Inc. (the “ Corporation ”).

ARTICLE II

REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT

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

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL. The Corporation is being incorporated in connection with the conversion of The Blackstone Group L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), to the Corporation (the “ Conversion ”), and this Certificate of Incorporation is being filed simultaneously with the Certificate of Conversion of the Partnership to the Corporation.

ARTICLE IV

AUTHORIZED STOCK

Section 4.01 Capitalization . (a) The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 100,000,000,000 which shall be divided into four classes as follows:

 

  (i)

90,000,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, $0.00001 par value per share (“ Class  A Common Stock ”);

 

  (ii)

999,999,000 shares of Class B common stock, $0.00001 par value per share (“ Class  B Common Stock ”);

 

  (iii)

1,000 shares of Class C common stock, $0.00001 par value per share (“ Class  C Common Stock ” and, together with the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock, “ Common Stock ”); and


  (iv)

9,000,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.00001 par value per share (“ Preferred Stock ”).

(b) At the Effective Time, (i) each Common Unit outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be converted into one issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock, (ii) the Special Voting Unit outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be converted into one issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable share of Class B Common Stock, and (iii) the General Partner Units outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be converted into one issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable share of Class C Common Stock, in each case without any action required on the part of the Corporation or the former holder of such Limited Partner Interest or General Partner Interest, as applicable.

(c) The number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, Class C Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) solely with the approval of the Class C Stockholder, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto), and no other vote of the holders of the Class A Common Stock, the Class B Common Stock or Preferred Stock, voting together or separately as a class, shall be required therefor, unless a vote of the holders of any such class or classes or series thereof is expressly required pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation.

Section 4.02 Preferred Stock . The Board of Directors is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions, to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for one or more series of Preferred Stock and, with respect to each such series, to fix, without further stockholder approval (except as may be required by any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock), the designation of such series, the powers (including voting powers), preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of such series of Preferred Stock and the number of shares of such series, which number the Board of Directors may, except where otherwise provided in the certificate of designation of such series, increase (but not above the total number of shares of Preferred Stock then authorized and available for issuance and not committed for other issuance) or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding). The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of each series of Preferred Stock, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time Outstanding.

Section 4.03 Splits and Combinations of Stock .

(a) Subject to Section  4.03(c) and any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock, the Corporation may make a pro rata distribution of shares of stock of the Corporation to all Record Holders or may effect a subdivision or combination of stock of the Corporation so long as, after any such event, each stockholder shall have the same percentage of each class or series of shares of stock of the Corporation as before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per share basis or stated as a number of shares of stock are proportionately adjusted.

 

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(b) Whenever such a distribution, subdivision or combination of shares of stock of the Corporation or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to stock of the Corporation is declared, the Board of Directors shall select a Record Date as of which the distribution, subdivision or combination shall be effective and shall send notice thereof at least 20 days prior to such Record Date to each Record Holder as of a date not less than 10 days prior to the date of such notice.

(c) The Corporation shall not be required to issue fractional shares upon any distribution, subdivision or combination of shares of stock of the Corporation. If the Board of Directors determines that no fractional shares shall be issued in connection with any such distribution, subdivision or combination, the fractional shares resulting therefrom shall be treated in accordance with Section 155 of the DGCL.

ARTICLE V

TERMS OF COMMON STOCK

Section 5.01 V oting .

(a) Except as required by the DGCL or as expressly provided in this Certificate of Incorporation, the exclusive voting power for all purposes relating to holders of Common Stock shall be vested in the Class C Stockholder. The Class C Stockholder shall have one vote for each share of Class C Common Stock that is Outstanding in its name on the books of the Corporation on all matters on which the Class C Stockholder is entitled to vote.

(b) Each holder of Class A Common Stock, as such, shall not have any voting rights or powers, either general or special (including for purposes of the rules of any securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is listed for trading), except as required by the DGCL or as expressly provided in this Section  5.01 , Section  16.01(c) or in Articles VII , VIII , X and XI . Each Record Holder of Class A Common Stock shall have one vote for each share of Class A Common Stock that is Outstanding in his, her or its name on the books of the Corporation on all matters on which holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to vote.

(c) Each holder of Class B Common Stock, as such, shall not have any voting rights or powers, either general or special (including for purposes of the rules of any securities exchange on which the Class B Common Stock is listed for trading), except as required by the DGCL or as expressly provided in this Section  5.01 , Section  16.01(c) or in Articles VII , VIII , X and XI . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or any applicable law, rule or regulation, but subject to this Section  5.01(c) with respect to the voting matters addressed below and except as otherwise required by the DGCL, the holders of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to receive notice of, be included in any requisite quorum for and participate in any and all approvals, votes or other actions of the stockholders of the Corporation on an equivalent basis as, and treating such Persons for all purposes as if they are, holders of Class A Common Stock, including any and all notices, quorums, approvals, votes and other actions that may be taken pursuant to the requirements of the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or any other applicable law, rule or regulation.

 

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Except as otherwise required by the DGCL, the holders of Class B Common Stock shall vote together with the holders of Class A Common Stock as a single class and, to the extent that the holders of Class A Common Stock shall vote together with the holders of any other class, classes or series of stock of the Corporation, the holders of Class B Common Stock shall also vote together with the holders of such other class, classes or series of stock on an equivalent basis as the holders of the Class A Common Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section  5.01(c) , but subject to the following sentence, on each matter submitted to a vote of the holders of Class B Common Stock, the holders of Class B Common Stock, as such, collectively shall be entitled to a number of votes that is equal to the aggregate number of Blackstone Holdings Partnership Units outstanding (excluding Blackstone Holdings Partnership Units held by the Corporation or its Subsidiaries) as of the relevant Record Date. Prior to the Blackstone Partners Cessation Date, Blackstone Partners, as the sole holder of shares of Class B Common Stock immediately following the effectiveness of the Conversion, shall be entitled to all of the votes to which the holders of Class B Common Stock, as such, collectively are then entitled. From and after the Blackstone Partners Cessation Date, each holder of Class B Common Stock (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries), as such, shall be entitled, without regard to the number of shares of Class B Common Stock (or fraction thereof) held by such holder, to a number of votes that is equal to the aggregate number of Blackstone Holdings Partnership Units held of record by such holder as of the relevant Record Date. The number of votes to which the holders of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled shall be adjusted accordingly if (i) a stockholder of the Corporation holding Class A Common Stock, as such, shall become entitled to a number of votes other than one for each share of Class A Common Stock held and/or (ii) under the terms of the Exchange Agreement the holders of Blackstone Holdings Partnership Units party thereto shall become entitled to exchange each such unit for a number of shares of Class A Common Stock other than one. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, and in addition to any other vote required by the DGCL or this Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the Class B Common Stock (excluding shares of Class B Common Stock held by the Corporation and its Subsidiaries), voting separately as a class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal this Section  5.01(c) or to adopt any provision inconsistent therewith.

Section 5.02 Dividends . Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Class A Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends, dividends may be declared and paid ratably on the Class A Common Stock out of the assets of the Corporation that are legally available for this purpose at such times and in such amounts as the Board of Directors in its discretion shall determine. Dividends shall not be declared or paid on the Class B Common Stock or the Class C Common Stock.

Section 5.03 Liquidation . Upon a Dissolution Event, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Class A Common Stock with respect to the distribution of assets of the Corporation upon such Dissolution Event, the holders of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by them. The holders of Class B Common Stock and the Class C Stockholder shall not be entitled to receive any assets of the Corporation in the event of any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation.

 

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Section 5.04 Shares Reserved for Issuance . The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock such number of shares of Class A Common Stock that shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the exchange of Blackstone Holdings Partnership Units pursuant to the Exchange Agreement; provided , that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation from satisfying its obligations in respect of the exchange of the Blackstone Holdings Partnership Units by delivery of purchased shares of Class A Common Stock that are held in the treasury of the Corporation.

Section 5.05 Issuance and Cancellations of Class  B Common Stock . On the date that Blackstone Partners in its sole discretion may elect (the “ Blackstone Partners Cessation Date ”) the Corporation shall, in consideration of, among other things, the corporate benefits received by the Corporation, which consideration shall be at least equal to the aggregate par value of the shares of Class B Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Section  5.05, issue one (1) share of Class B Common Stock to each holder of record on such date of a Blackstone Holdings Partnership Unit (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries), whether or not such Blackstone Holdings Partnership Unit is vested. In addition, on each date following the Blackstone Partners Cessation Date that any Person that is not already a holder of a share of Class B Common Stock shall become a holder of record of a Blackstone Holdings Partnership Unit (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries), whether or not such Blackstone Holdings Partnership Unit is vested, the Corporation shall, in consideration of, among other things, the corporate benefits received by the Corporation, which consideration shall be at least equal to the aggregate par value of the shares of Class B Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Section  5.05, issue one (1) share of Class B Common Stock to such Person on such date. In the event that a holder of a share of Class B Common Stock shall subsequent to the Blackstone Partners Cessation Date cease to be the record holder of a Blackstone Holdings Partnership Unit, the Class B Common Stock held by such holder shall be automatically cancelled without any further action of any Person and such holder shall cease to be a stockholder with respect to the Class B Common Stock so cancelled.

ARTICLE VI

CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF STOCK OF THE CORPORATION

Section 6.01 Certificates . Notwithstanding anything otherwise to the contrary herein, unless the Board of Directors shall provide by resolution or resolutions otherwise in respect of some or all of any or all classes or series of stock of the Corporation, the stock of the Corporation shall not be evidenced by certificates. Certificates that may be issued shall be executed on behalf of the Corporation by any two duly authorized officers of the Corporation.

 

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No Certificate evidencing shares of Common Stock shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent; provided , however , that if the Board of Directors resolves to issue Certificates evidencing shares of Class A Common Stock in global form, the Certificates evidencing such shares of Class A Common Stock shall be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Certificates evidencing such shares of Class A Common Stock have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Corporation. The use of facsimile signatures affixed in the name and on behalf of the Transfer Agent and registrar of the Corporation on certificates representing shares of Class A Common Stock of the Corporation is expressly permitted by this Certificate of Incorporation.

Section 6.02 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates .

(a) If any mutilated Certificate evidencing shares of Class A Common Stock is surrendered to the Transfer Agent or any mutilated Certificate evidencing other shares of stock of the Corporation is surrendered to the Corporation, two authorized officers of the Corporation shall execute, and, if applicable, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver in exchange therefor, a new Certificate evidencing the same number and class of stock as the Certificate so surrendered.

(b) Any two authorized officers of the Corporation shall execute and deliver, and, if applicable, the Transfer Agent shall countersign a new Certificate in place of any Certificate previously issued if the Record Holder of the Certificate:

(i) makes proof by affidavit, in form and substance satisfactory to the Corporation, that a previously issued Certificate has been lost, destroyed or stolen;

(ii) requests the issuance of a new Certificate before the Corporation has notice that the Certificate has been acquired by a purchaser for value in good faith and without notice of an adverse claim;

(iii) if requested by the Corporation, delivers to the Corporation a bond, in form and substance satisfactory to the Corporation, with surety or sureties and with fixed or open penalty as the Corporation may direct to indemnify the Corporation, the stockholders and, if applicable, the Transfer Agent against any claim that may be made on account of the alleged loss, destruction or theft of the Certificate; and

(iv) satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed by the Corporation.

(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section  6.02 , the Corporation may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent, if applicable) reasonably connected therewith.

Section 6.03 Record Holders . The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the owner with respect to any share of stock of the Corporation and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share on the part of any other Person, regardless of whether the Corporation shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which such shares are listed for trading. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust

 

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company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other representative capacity for another Person in acquiring and/or holding shares of stock of the Corporation, as between the Corporation, on the one hand, and such other Persons, on the other, such representative Person shall be the Record Holder of such shares.

Section 6.04 Transfer Generally .

(a) The term “transfer,” when used in this Certificate of Incorporation with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation, shall include (i) with respect to any share of Class C Common Stock held by the Class C Stockholder, a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise, and (ii) with respect to shares of any other stock of the Corporation, a sale, assignment, gift, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise, including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage.

(b) Subject to Article IX and Article X , no shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article VI . Any transfer or purported transfer of any shares of stock of the Corporation not made in accordance with this Article VI , Article IX or Article X , as applicable, shall be null and void.

(c) Nothing contained in this Certificate of Incorporation shall be construed to prevent a disposition or any other type of transfer of the kind enumerated in Section  6.04(a) by any member or other interest holder of the Class C Stockholder of any or all of the issued and outstanding equity or other interests in the Class C Stockholder.

Section 6.05 Registration and Transfer of Stock .

(a) The Corporation shall keep or cause to be kept on behalf of the Corporation a stock ledger in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe and subject to the provisions of Section  6.05(b) , the Corporation will provide for the registration and transfer of stock of the Corporation. The Transfer Agent is hereby appointed registrar and transfer agent for the purpose of registering Class A Common Stock and transfers of such Class A Common Stock as herein provided. The Corporation shall not recognize transfers of Certificates evidencing shares of stock of the Corporation unless such transfers are effected in the manner described in this Section  6.05 . Upon surrender of a Certificate for registration of transfer of any shares of stock of the Corporation evidenced by a Certificate, and subject to the provisions of Section  6.05(b) , any two authorized officers of the Corporation shall execute and deliver, and in the case of Class A Common Stock, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder’s instructions, one or more new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of stock of the Corporation as was evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered.

(b) The Corporation shall not recognize any transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation evidenced by Certificates until the Certificates evidencing such shares of stock are surrendered for registration of transfer. No charge shall be imposed by the Corporation for such transfer; provided that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 6.05 , the Corporation may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto.

 

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(c) Subject to (i) the foregoing provisions of this Section  6.05 , (ii) Section  6.04 , (iii) Section  6.06 , (iv) Section  6.07 , (v) with respect to any series of stock of the Corporation, the provisions of any certificate of designations or amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation establishing such series, (vi) any contractual provisions binding on any holder of shares of stock of the Corporation, and (vii) provisions of applicable law including the Securities Act, the stock of the Corporation shall be freely transferable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, stock of the Corporation issued pursuant to any employee-related policies or equity benefit plans, programs or practices adopted by the Corporation may be subject to any transfer restrictions contained therein.

Section 6.06 Transfer of Class  C Common Stock .

(a) Subject to Section  6.06(b) below, the Class C Stockholder may transfer all or part of the shares of Class C Common Stock held by it without the approval of any other stockholder of the Corporation.

(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary but subject to Section  6.04(c) and Article X , no transfer by the Class C Stockholder of all or part of the shares of Class C Common Stock held by it to another Person shall be permitted unless (i) the written approval of the Board of Directors is obtained prior to such transfer, (ii) the transferee agrees to assume the rights and duties of the Class C Stockholder under this Certificate of Incorporation and to be bound by the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation and (iii) the Corporation receives an Opinion of Counsel that such transfer would not result in the loss of limited liability of any stockholder of the Corporation. Any purported transfer of shares of Class C Common Stock not made in accordance with this Article VI and Article X shall be null and void and any shares of Class C Common Stock purportedly transferred in violation of this Section  6.06(b) shall be automatically cancelled for no consideration.

Section 6.07 Additional Restrictions on Transfers .

(a) Except as provided in Section  6.07(b) below, but notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article VI , no transfer of any shares of stock of the Corporation shall be made if such transfer would (i) violate the then applicable U.S. federal or state securities laws or rules and regulations of the Commission, any state securities commission or any other governmental authority with jurisdiction over such transfer or (ii) terminate the existence or qualification of the Corporation under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation.

(b) Nothing contained in this Article VI , or elsewhere in this Certificate of Incorporation, shall preclude the settlement of any transactions involving shares of stock of the Corporation entered into through the facilities of any National Securities Exchange on which such shares of stock are listed for trading.

 

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ARTICLE VII

SALE, EXCHANGE OR OTHER DISPOSITION OF THE

CORPORATION’S ASSETS

Except as provided in Section  5.03 and Article VIII , the Corporation may not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Corporate Group’s assets, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, without the approval of the Class C Stockholder and the approval of the holders of a majority of the voting power of Outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, voting together as a single class; provided , however , that this Article VII shall not preclude or limit the Corporation’s ability to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporate Group (including for the benefit of Persons other than the members of the Corporate Group, including Affiliates of the Class C Stockholder) and shall not apply to any forced sale of any or all of the assets of the Corporate Group pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance.

ARTICLE VIII

MERGER

Section 8.01 Authority . The Corporation may merge or consolidate or otherwise combine with or into one or more corporations, limited liability companies, statutory trusts or associations, real estate investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a partnership (whether general or limited (including a limited liability partnership or a limited liability limited partnership)), formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state of the United States of America, pursuant to a written agreement of merger, consolidation or other similar business combination (the “ Merger Agreement ”) in accordance with this Article VIII and the DGCL.

Section 8.02 Class C Stockholder Approval . The merger, consolidation or other similar business combination of the Corporation pursuant to this Article VIII requires the prior approval of the Class C Stockholder; provided , however , that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Class C Stockholder shall have no duty or obligation to approve any merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Corporation and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, may decline to do so in its sole and absolute discretion and, in declining to approve a merger, consolidation or other business combination, shall not be required to act pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Certificate of Incorporation, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the DGCL or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity.

Section 8.03 Other Stockholder Approval .

(a) Except as provided in Section  8.03(d) and any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock, the Board of Directors, upon its approval of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the Class C Stockholder as provided in Section  8.02 , shall direct that the Merger Agreement and the merger, consolidation or other business combination contemplated thereby be submitted to a vote of holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B

 

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Common Stock, voting together as a single class, whether at an annual meeting, special meeting or by written consent, in either case in accordance with the requirements of Article XVII and the DGCL. A copy or a summary of the Merger Agreement shall be included in or enclosed with the notice of a meeting or the action by written consent.

(b) Except as provided in Section  8.03(d) and any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock, the Merger Agreement and the merger, consolidation or other business combination contemplated thereby shall be adopted and approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, voting together as a single class.

(c) Except as provided in Section  8.03(d) , after such approval by vote or consent of holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, voting together as a single class, and at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger or consolidation or similar certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in conformity with the requirements of the DGCL, the merger, consolidation or other business combination may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement.

(d) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article VIII or in this Certificate of Incorporation, the Corporation is permitted, with the prior vote or consent of the Class C Stockholder and without any vote of holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, to merge the Corporation or any Group Member into, or convey all of the Corporation’s assets to, another limited liability entity, which shall be newly formed and shall have no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of such merger or conveyance other than those it receives from the Corporation or other Group Member; provided that (A) the Corporation has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger or conveyance, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any stockholder, (B) the sole purpose of such merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the legal form of the Corporation into another limited liability entity and (C) the governing instruments of the new entity provide the stockholders with substantially the same rights and obligations as are herein contained.

ARTICLE IX

RIGHT TO ACQUIRE STOCK OF THE CORPORATION

Section 9.01 Right to Acquire Stock of the Corporation .

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, if at any time less than 10% of the total shares of any class then Outstanding (other than Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock) is held by Persons other than the Class C Stockholder and its Affiliates, the Corporation shall then have the right, which right it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to the Class C Stockholder or any Affiliate of the Class C Stockholder, exercisable in its sole discretion, to purchase all, but not less than all, of such shares of such class then Outstanding held by Persons other than the Class C Stockholder and its Affiliates, at the greater of (x) the Current Market Price as of the date three days prior to the date that the notice described in Section  9.01(b) is mailed and (y) the highest price paid by the Corporation or any of its Affiliates for any such share of such class purchased during the 90-day period preceding the

 

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date that the notice described in Section  9.01(b) is mailed. As used in this Certificate of Incorporation, (i) “ Current Market Price ” as of any date of any class of stock of the Corporation means the average of the daily Closing Prices per share of such class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date; (ii) “ Closing Price ” for any day means the last sale price on such day, regular way, or in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted for trading on the principal National Securities Exchange on which such class of stock of the Corporation is listed or admitted to trading or, if such class of stock of the Corporation is not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, the last quoted price on such day or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the primary reporting system then in use in relation to such class of stock of the Corporation, or, if on any such day such class of stock of the Corporation is not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such class of stock of the Corporation selected by the Corporation in its sole discretion, or if on any such day no market maker is making a market in such class of stock of the Corporation, the fair value of such class of stock of the Corporation on such day as determined by the Corporation in its sole discretion; and (iii) “ Trading Day ” means a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on which such stock of the Corporation of any class is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if a class of stock of the Corporation is not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York City generally are open.

(b) If the Corporation, the Class C Stockholder or any Affiliate of the Class C Stockholder elects to exercise the right to purchase stock of the Corporation granted pursuant to Section  9.01(a) , the Corporation shall deliver to the Transfer Agent notice of such election to purchase (the “ Notice of Election to Purchase ”) and shall cause the Transfer Agent to mail a copy of such Notice of Election to Purchase to the Record Holders of such class (as of a Record Date selected by the Corporation) at least 10, but not more than 60, days prior to the Purchase Date. Such Notice of Election to Purchase shall also be published for a period of at least three consecutive days in at least two daily newspapers of general circulation printed in the English language and circulated in the Borough of Manhattan, New York. The Notice of Election to Purchase shall specify the Purchase Date and the price (determined in accordance with Section  9.01(a) ) at which stock of the Corporation will be purchased and state that the Corporation, the Class C Stockholder or its Affiliate, as the case may be, elects to purchase such stock of the Corporation (in the case of stock of the Corporation evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender of Certificates representing such stock) in exchange for payment at such office or offices of the Transfer Agent as the Transfer Agent may specify or as may be required by any National Securities Exchange on which such stock of the Corporation is listed or admitted to trading. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder at his or her address as reflected in the records of the Transfer Agent shall be conclusively presumed to have been given regardless of whether the owner receives such notice. On or prior to the Purchase Date, the Corporation, the Class C Stockholder or its Affiliate, as the case may be, shall deposit with the Transfer Agent cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate purchase price of all of such stock of the Corporation to be purchased in accordance with this Section  9.01 . If the Notice of Election to Purchase shall have been duly given as aforesaid at least 10 days prior to the

 

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Purchase Date, and if on or prior to the Purchase Date the deposit described in the preceding sentence has been made for the benefit of the stockholders subject to purchase as provided herein, then from and after the Purchase Date, notwithstanding that any Certificate shall not have been surrendered for purchase, all rights of such stockholders of the Corporation shall thereupon cease, except the right to receive the purchase price (determined in accordance with Section  9.01(a) ) for stock of the Corporation therefor, without interest (in the case of stock of the Corporation evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender to the Transfer Agent of the Certificates representing such stock) and such stock of the Corporation shall thereupon be deemed to be transferred to the Corporation, the Class C Stockholder or its Affiliate, as the case may be, on the record books of the Transfer Agent and the Corporation, the Class C Stockholder or its Affiliate, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the owner of all such stock of the Corporation from and after the Purchase Date and shall have all rights as the owner of such stock of the Corporation.

ARTICLE X

RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP OF CLASS C COMMON STOCK

Section 10.01 Restrictions on Ownership of Class  C Common Stock .

Upon the approval by the stockholders holding at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of the Outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock (including Outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock held by the Class C Stockholder and its Affiliates (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries)), voting together as a single class, the Class C Stockholder shall be required to transfer its shares of Class C Common Stock to a successor Class C Stockholder designated by the stockholders of the Corporation holding a majority of the voting power of Outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock (including Outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock held by the Class C Stockholder and its Affiliates (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries)), voting together as a single class (such designated successor, a “Successor Class C Stockholder”), upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Article X (the “Class C Stockholder Removal”). Upon the effectiveness of the Class C Stockholder Removal, the Class C Stockholder shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, automatically be removed as general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the Class C Stockholder is a general partner or a managing member. Any Successor Class C Stockholder who acquires shares of Class C Common Stock in accordance with the terms of this Section  10.01 , shall automatically become a successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the Class C Stockholder is a general partner or a managing member, and is hereby authorized to, and shall, continue the business of the other Group Members without dissolution. The right of the stockholders of the Corporation to cause the effectiveness of the Class C Stockholder Removal shall not exist or be exercised unless the Corporation has received an opinion (following the selection of the Successor Class C Stockholder) that the Class C Stockholder Removal would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any stockholder of the Corporation or cause any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such). The Class C Stockholder, by acceptance of shares of Class C Common Stock, agrees to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation and any Successor Class C Stockholder selected in accordance with the terms of this Section 10.01 shall agree to assume the rights and duties of the Class C Stockholder under this Certificate of Incorporation and to be bound by the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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Section 10.02 Combined Interest .

(a) In the event the Class C Stockholder Removal is approved in accordance with the terms of Section  10.01 where Cause does not exist, the Class C Stockholder shall have the option exercisable prior to the effective date of the Class C Stockholder Removal to require its successor to purchase (x) its shares of the Class C Common Stock and (y) its general partner interest (or equivalent interest), if any, in the other Group Members ((x) and (y) collectively, the “ Combined Interest ”) in exchange for an amount in cash equal to the fair market value of such Combined Interest, such amount to be determined and payable as of the effective date of the Class C Stockholder Removal. If the Class C Stockholder Removal is approved under circumstances where Cause exists and if the Successor Class C Stockholder is elected in accordance with the terms of Section  10.01 , such successor shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the Class C Stockholder Removal, to purchase the Combined Interest of the Class C Stockholder for such fair market value of such Combined Interest of the Class C Stockholder. In either event, the Class C Stockholder shall be entitled to receive all reimbursements due such departing Class C Stockholder pursuant to Section 16.03(d), including any employee-related liabilities (including severance liabilities), incurred in connection with the termination of any employees employed by the Class C Stockholder or its Affiliates (excluding any Group Member) for the benefit of the Corporation or the other Group Members.

For purposes of this Section  10.02(a), the fair market value of a Class C Stockholder’s Combined Interest shall be determined by agreement between the Class C Stockholder and the Successor Class C Stockholder or, failing agreement within 30 days after the effective date of the Class C Stockholder Removal, by an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert selected by the Class C Stockholder and its successor, which, in turn, may rely on other experts, and the determination of which shall be conclusive as to such matter. If such parties cannot agree upon one independent investment banking firm or other independent expert within 45 days after the effective date of the Class C Stockholder Removal, then the Class C Stockholder shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, the Successor Class C Stockholder shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, and such firms or experts shall mutually select a third independent investment banking firm or independent expert, which third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert shall determine the fair market value of the Combined Interest of the Class C Stockholder. In making its determination, such third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert may consider the then current trading price of shares of stock on any National Securities Exchange on which shares of Class A Common Stock are then listed, the value of the Corporation’s assets, the rights and obligations of the Class C Stockholder and other factors it may deem relevant.

 

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(b) If the Combined Interest is not purchased in the manner set forth in Section  10.02(a) , the Corporation shall, in consideration of, among other things, the corporate benefits received by the Corporation, which consideration shall be at least equal to the aggregate par value of the shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Section  10.02(a), issue to the Class C Stockholder (or its transferee) shares of Class A Common Stock having a value equal to the Combined Interest determined pursuant to a valuation made by an investment banking firm or other independent expert selected pursuant to Section  10.02(a) , without reduction in such shares of Class C Common Stock (but subject to proportionate dilution by reason of the Successor Class C Stockholder).

ARTICLE XI

AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

Section 11.01 Amendments to be Approved by the Class  C Stockholder . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein (other than Section  4.02 ), and except as otherwise expressly provided by applicable law, the Class C Stockholder shall have the sole right to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation proposed by the Board of Directors that:

(a) is a change in the name of the Corporation, the registered agent of the Corporation or the registered office of the Corporation;

(b) the Board of Directors has determined to be necessary or appropriate to address changes in U.S. federal income tax regulations, legislation or interpretation;

(c) the Board of Directors has determined (i) does not adversely affect the stockholders (other than the Class C Stockholder) considered as a whole (including any particular class or series of stock of the Corporation as compared to other classes or series of stock of the Corporation, treating the Class A Common Stock as a separate class for this purpose) in any material respect, (ii) to be necessary or appropriate to (A) satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any U.S. federal or state or non-U.S. agency or judicial authority or contained in any U.S. federal or state or non-U.S. statute (including the DGCL) or (B) facilitate the trading of the stock of the Corporation (including the division of any class or classes of Outstanding stock of the Corporation into different classes to facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such classes of stock of the Corporation) or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the stock of the Corporation is or will be listed, (iii) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken pursuant to Section  4.03 , or (iv) is required to effect the intent of the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation or is otherwise contemplated by this Certificate of Incorporation;

(d) is a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Corporation and any other changes that the Board of Directors has determined to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Corporation including, if the Board of Directors has so determined, subject to any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock, the dates on which dividends are to be made by the Corporation;

 

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(e) is necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the Corporation or its directors, officers, trustees or agents from having a material risk of being in any manner subjected to the provisions of the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, regardless of whether such are substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed by the United States Department of Labor;

(f) the Board of Directors has determined to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the creation, authorization or issuance of any class or series of stock of the Corporation or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to stock of the Corporation;

(g) is expressly permitted in this Certificate of Incorporation to be voted on solely by the Class C Stockholder;

(h) is effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement permitted by Article VIII ;

(i) the Board of Directors has determined to be necessary or appropriate to reflect and account for the formation by the Corporation of, or investment by the Corporation in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, in connection with the conduct by the Corporation of activities permitted by the terms of Article III ;

(j) is effected, necessitated or contemplated by an amendment to any Blackstone Holdings Partnership Agreement that requires unitholders of any Blackstone Holdings Partnership to provide a statement, certification or other proof of evidence to the Blackstone Holdings Partnerships regarding whether such unitholder is subject to U.S. federal income taxation on the income generated by the Blackstone Holdings Partnerships;

(k) reflects a merger or conveyance pursuant to Section  8.03(d) ; or

(l) is substantially similar to the foregoing.

The Class C Stockholder shall have no duty or obligation to consent to any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation and may decline to do so in its sole and absolute discretion, and in declining to consent to an amendment to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Certificate of Incorporation, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the DGCL or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity.

Section 11.02 Amendment Requirements .

(a) Except as provided in Article IV , Section  11.01 and subsections (b) through (f) of this Section  11.02 , any proposed amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation shall require the approval of the Class C Stockholder and the approval of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, voting together as a single class, unless a greater or different percentage is required under the DGCL or this Certificate of Incorporation. Each proposed amendment that requires the approval of the holders of a specified percentage of the voting power of the Outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be set forth

 

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in a writing that contains the text of the proposed amendment. If such an amendment is proposed, the Board of Directors shall seek the written approval of the requisite percentage of the voting power of the Outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, voting together as a single class, or call a meeting of the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock to consider and vote on such proposed amendment, in each case, in accordance with the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation and the DGCL. The Corporation shall notify all Record Holders upon final adoption of any such proposed amendments.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 11.01 and 11.02(a) and Article XII , no amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws may (i) enlarge the obligations of any stockholder without its consent, unless such shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of an amendment approved pursuant to Section  11.02(c) , or (ii) enlarge the obligations of, restrict in any way any action by or rights (including, but not limited to, voting power) of, or reduce in any way the amounts distributable, reimbursable or otherwise payable to the Class C Stockholder or any of its Affiliates without the Class C Stockholder’s consent, which consent may be given or withheld in its sole discretion.

(c) Except as provided in Sections 8.03 and 11.01 , any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any class of stock of the Corporation in relation to other classes of stock of the Corporation must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding stock of the class affected.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, except for amendments adopted pursuant to Section  11.01 and except as otherwise provided by Article VIII , in addition to any other approval required by this Certificate of Incorporation no amendment shall become effective without the affirmative vote or consent of stockholders holding at least 90% of the voting power of the Outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, voting together as a single class, unless the Corporation obtains an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment will not affect the limited liability of any stockholder under the DGCL.

(e) Except as provided in Section  11.01 , subsections (b) through (f) of this Section  11.02 shall only be amended with the affirmative vote or consent of the stockholders holding at least 90% of the voting power of the Outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, voting together as a single class.

(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 11.01 and 11.02(a) , no provision of this Certificate of Incorporation that requires the vote of stockholders holding a percentage of the voting power of Outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, voting together as a single class (including Outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock owned by the Class C Stockholder and its Affiliates (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries)) to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of reducing such voting percentage unless such amendment is approved by the written consent or the affirmative vote of stockholders whose aggregate Outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, voting together as a single class, constitutes not less than the voting or consent requirement sought to be reduced.

 

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ARTICLE XII

BYLAWS

Section 12.01 Amendments . In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the DGCL, except as expressly provided in this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend and repeal, in whole or in part, the Bylaws without the assent or vote of the stockholders in any manner not inconsistent with the DGCL or this Certificate of Incorporation.

Section 12.02 Amendments to be Approved by the Class  C Stockholder . In addition to any vote or consent required by this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws or the DGCL, the amendment or repeal, in whole or in part, of Sections 2.03, 3.02 through 3.11, Article IV and Article VIII of the Bylaws, or the adoption of any provision inconsistent therewith, shall require the prior approval of the Class C Stockholder.

ARTICLE XIII

OFFICERS

Section 13.01 Appointment, Selection and Designation of Chief Executive Officers . The officers of the Corporation shall include one or more Chief Executive Officers, each of whom shall be appointed by the Class C Stockholder and shall hold office for such term as shall be determined by the Class C Stockholder or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. Any other officer of the Corporation shall be selected and designated pursuant to the Bylaws.

Section 13.02 Vacancies . Any vacancies occurring in any office of the Chief Executive Officer shall be filled by the Class C Stockholder in the same manner as such officers are appointed pursuant to Section  13.01 . Any vacancies occurring in any other offices shall be filled pursuant to the Bylaws.

Section 13.03 Removal . An officer of the Corporation may be removed from office with or without cause at any time by the Board of Directors (and, in the case of any Chief Executive Officer or Co-Chief Executive Officer, only with the consent of the Class C Stockholder).

ARTICLE XIV

OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES

Section 14.01 Outside Activities .

(a) The Class C Stockholder, for so long as it owns Class C Common Stock, (i) agrees that its sole business will be to act as the Class C Stockholder and as a general partner or managing member of any partnership or limited liability company of which the Corporation is, directly or indirectly, a partner or member and to undertake activities that are ancillary or related thereto and (ii) shall not engage in any business or activity or incur any debts or liabilities except in connection with or incidental to (A) its performance as the Class C Stockholder and as a general partner or managing member of one or more Group Members or (B) the acquiring, owning or disposing of debt or equity securities in any Group Member.

 

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(b) Except insofar as the Class C Stockholder is specifically restricted by Section  14.01(a) and except with respect to any corporate opportunity expressly offered to any Indemnitee solely through their service to the Corporate Group, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, each Indemnitee shall have the right to engage in businesses of every type and description and other activities for profit and to engage in and possess an interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description, whether in businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by any Group Member, independently or with others, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the business and activities of any Group Member, and none of the same shall constitute a violation of this Certificate of Incorporation or any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise to any Group Member or any stockholder of the Corporation. Subject to the immediately preceding sentence, no Group Member or any stockholder of the Corporation shall have any rights by virtue of this Certificate of Incorporation, the DGCL or otherwise in any business ventures of any Indemnitee, and the Corporation hereby waives and renounces any interest or expectancy therein.

Section 14.02 Approval and Waiver . Subject to the terms of Section  14.01 , but otherwise notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Certificate of Incorporation, (i) the engaging in competitive activities by any Indemnitee (other than the Class C Stockholder) in accordance with the provisions of this Article XIV is hereby deemed approved by the Corporation and all stockholders, (ii) it shall be deemed not to be a breach of the Class C Stockholder’s or any other Indemnitee’s duties or any other obligation of any type whatsoever of the Class C Stockholder or any other Indemnitee for the Indemnitee (other than the Class C Stockholder) to engage in such business interests and activities in preference to or to the exclusion of any Group Member, (iii) the Class C Stockholder and the other Indemnitees shall have no obligation hereunder or as a result of any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise to present business opportunities to any Group Member and (iv) the Corporation hereby waives and renounces any interest or expectancy in such activities such that the doctrine of “corporate opportunity” or other analogous doctrine shall not apply to any such Indemnitee.

Section 14.03 Acquisition of Stock . The Class C Stockholder and any of its Affiliates may acquire stock of the Corporation or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to stock of the Corporation and, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Certificate of Incorporation, shall be entitled to exercise all rights of a stockholder of the Corporation relating to such stock or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to stock of the Corporation.

ARTICLE XV

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.

 

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ARTICLE XVI

INDEMNIFICATION, LIABILITY OF INDEMNITEES

Section 16.01 Indemnification .

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law (including, if and to the extent applicable, Section 145 of the DGCL), but subject to the limitations expressly provided for in this Section  16.01 , all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all threatened, pending or completed claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal and including appeals, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee whether arising from acts or omissions to act occurring before or after the date of this Certificate of Incorporation, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any alleged conduct resulting in a criminal proceeding against the Indemnitee, such person had no reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section  16.01(j) , the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a person described in such sentence in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized by the Board of Directors.

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section  16.01(a) in appearing at, participating in or defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Corporation prior to a final and non-appealable determination that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified upon (i) receipt by the Corporation of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it ultimately shall be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Section  16.01 and (ii) to the extent determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion to be necessary or advisable, receipt by the Corporation of security or other assurances satisfactory to the Board of Directors in its sole discretion that the Indemnitee will be able to repay such amount if it ultimately shall be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Section  16.01 . Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section  16.01(j) , the Corporation shall be required to advance expenses of a person described in such sentence in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion.

(c) The indemnification provided by this Section  16.01 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the holders of Outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, voting together as a single class, entitled to vote on such matter, as a matter of law, in equity or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity.

 

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(d) The Corporation may purchase and maintain (or reimburse the Class C Stockholder or its Affiliates for the cost of) insurance, on behalf of the Indemnitees and such other Persons as the Board of Directors shall determine in its sole discretion, against any liability that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, such Person in connection with the Corporation’s activities or such Person’s activities on behalf of the Corporation, regardless of whether the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation.

(e) For purposes of this Section  16.01 , (i) the Corporation shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Corporation also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; (ii) excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute “fines” within the meaning of Section  16.01(a) ; and (iii) any action taken or omitted by an Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the best interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is in the best interests of the Corporation.

(f) Any indemnification pursuant to this Section  16.01 shall be made only out of the assets of the Corporation, it being agreed that the Class C Stockholder shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Corporation to enable it to effectuate such indemnification. In no event may an Indemnitee subject any other stockholders of the Corporation to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation.

(g) To the fullest extent permitted by law, an Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section  16.01 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Certificate of Incorporation.

(h) The provisions of this Section  16.01 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees and their heirs, successors, assigns, executors and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.

(i) No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section  16.01 or any provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or future Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Corporation, nor the obligations of the Corporation to indemnify any such Indemnitee under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section  16.01 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

 

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(j) If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of the action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification is being sought) or advancement of expenses under this Section  16.01 is not paid in full within 30 days after a written claim therefor by any Indemnitee has been received by the Corporation, such Indemnitee may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expenses of prosecuting such claim, including reasonable attorneys’ fees. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that such Indemnitee is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.

(k) This Section  16.01 shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to, and purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of, Persons other than Indemnitees.

Section 16.02 Liability of Indemnitees .

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation (but without limitation of any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation providing for the limitation or elimination of liability of any Person), to the extent and in the manner permitted by the DGCL, no Indemnitee shall be liable to the Corporation, the stockholders of the Corporation or any other Persons who have acquired interests in stock of the Corporation, for any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee, or for any breach of contract (including a violation of this Certificate of Incorporation) or any breach of duties (including breach of fiduciary duties) whether arising hereunder, at law, in equity or otherwise, unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct.

(b) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section  16.02 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the liability of the Indemnitees under this Section  16.02 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted, and provided such Person became an Indemnitee hereunder prior to such amendment, modification or repeal.

(c) A director of the Corporation shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL. Any amendment, modification or repeal of the foregoing sentence shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.

 

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Section 16.03 Other Matters Concerning the Class  C Stockholder .

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, stockholders of the Corporation expressly acknowledge that the Class C Stockholder is under no obligation to consider the separate interests of the other stockholders of the Corporation (including, without limitation, the tax consequences to such stockholders) in deciding whether to cause the Corporation to take (or decline to take) any action, and that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Class C Stockholder shall not be liable to the other stockholders of the Corporation for monetary damages for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by such stockholders in connection with such decisions.

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Class C Stockholder may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Certificate of Incorporation and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and the Class C Stockholder shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by the Class C Stockholder in good faith.

(c) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Class C Stockholder may (i) rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties and (ii) consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisers selected by it, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the advice or opinion (including an Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons as to matters that the Class C Stockholder reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.

(d) The Class C Stockholder shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other reasonable basis as the Class C Stockholder may determine, in its sole discretion, for (i) all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it makes on behalf of the Corporate Group (including salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person including Affiliates of the Class C Stockholder to perform services for the Corporate Group or for the Class C Stockholder in the discharge of its duties to the Corporate Group), and (ii) all other expenses allocable to the Corporate Group or otherwise incurred by the Class C Stockholder in connection with operating the Corporate Group’s business (including expenses allocated to the Class C Stockholder by its Affiliates). The Class C Stockholder in its sole discretion shall determine the expenses that are allocable to the Corporate Group. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section  16.03 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the Class C Stockholder as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section  16.01 .

ARTICLE XVII

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS, ACTION WITHOUT A MEETING

Section 17.01 Special Meetings . Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time only by or at the direction of (i) the Board of Directors, (ii) the Class C Stockholder or (iii) if at any time stockholders of the Corporation other than the Class C Stockholder are entitled under applicable law or this Certificate of Incorporation to vote on the specific matters proposed to be brought before a

 

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special meeting, stockholders of the Corporation owning 50% or more of the voting power of the Outstanding stock of the Corporation of the class or classes for which a meeting is proposed and relating to such matters for which such class or classes are entitled to vote at such meeting. For the avoidance of doubt, the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall not constitute separate classes for this purpose. Stockholders of the Corporation shall call a special meeting by delivering to the Board of Directors one or more requests in writing stating that the signing stockholders wish to call a special meeting and indicating the general or specific purposes for which the special meeting is to be called. Within 60 days after receipt of such a call from stockholders or within such greater time as may be reasonably necessary for the Corporation to comply with any statutes, rules, regulations, listing, agreements or similar requirements governing the holding of a meeting or the solicitation of proxies for use at such a meeting, notice of such meeting shall be given in accordance with the DGCL. A special meeting shall be held at a time and place determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion on a date not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days after the mailing of notice of the meeting.

Section 17.02 Adjournment . When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting and a new Record Date need not be fixed, if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless such adjournment shall be for more than 30 days. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new Record Date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix as the Record Date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record as of the Record Date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

Section 17.03 Quorum . The stockholders of the Corporation holding a majority of the voting power of the Outstanding stock of the class or classes entitled to vote at a meeting (including stock of the Corporation deemed owned by the Class C Stockholder) represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders of such class or classes unless any such action by the stockholders of the Corporation requires approval by stockholders holding a greater percentage of the voting power of such stock, in which case the quorum shall be such greater percentage. For the avoidance of doubt, the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock shall not constitute separate classes for this purpose except as otherwise required by applicable law. At any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation duly called and held in accordance with this Certificate of Incorporation at which a quorum is present, the act of stockholders holding Outstanding stock of the Corporation that in the aggregate represents a majority of the voting power of the Outstanding stock entitled to vote at such meeting shall be deemed to constitute the act of all stockholders, unless a greater or different percentage is required with respect to such action under this Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL, in which case the act of the stockholders holding Outstanding stock that in the aggregate represents at least such greater or different percentage of the voting power shall be required. The stockholders present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to

 

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leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by the required percentage of the voting power of Outstanding stock of the Corporation specified in this Certificate of Incorporation (including Outstanding stock of the Corporation deemed owned by the Class C Stockholder). In the absence of a quorum, any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned from time to time by the affirmative vote of stockholders holding at least a majority of the voting power of the Outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting (including Outstanding stock of the Corporation owned or deemed owned by the Class C Stockholder) represented either in person or by proxy, but no other business may be transacted, except as provided in Section  17.02 .

Section 17.04 Conduct of a Meeting . To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Board of Directors shall have full power and authority concerning the manner of conducting any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation or solicitation of approvals in writing, including the determination of Persons entitled to vote, the existence of a quorum, the satisfaction of the requirements of Section  17.01 , the conduct of voting, the validity and effect of any proxies and the determination of any controversies, votes or challenges arising in connection with or during the meeting or voting. The Board of Directors shall designate a Person to serve as chairman of any meeting and shall further designate a Person to take the minutes of any meeting. All minutes shall be kept with the records of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may make such other regulations consistent with applicable law and this Certificate of Incorporation as it may deem necessary or advisable concerning the conduct of any meeting of the stockholders or solicitation of stockholder action by written consent in lieu of a meeting, including regulations in regard to the appointment of proxies, the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes and approvals, the submission and examination of proxies and other evidence of the right to vote, and the revocation of ballots, proxies and written consents. Unless the Bylaws provide otherwise, elections of directors need not be by written ballot.

Section 17.05 Action Without a Meeting . Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate of Incorporation, including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders (other than the Class C Stockholder) may only be taken at a meeting of stockholders and may not be taken by written consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if consented to by the Class C Stockholder, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the stockholders entitled to vote may be taken without a meeting, without a vote and without prior notice, if a consent or consents in writing setting forth the action so taken are signed by stockholders owning not less than the minimum percentage of the voting power of the Outstanding stock of the Corporation (including stock of the Corporation deemed owned by the Class C Stockholder) that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the stockholders entitled to vote were present and voted and such consent or consents are delivered in the manner contemplated by Section 228 of the DGCL (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the stock of the Corporation or a class thereof are listed for trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such exchange shall govern). Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the stockholders of the Corporation entitled thereto pursuant to the DGCL.

 

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ARTICLE XVIII

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING

Section 18.01 Records and Accounting . The Corporation shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Corporation or any other place designated by the Board of Directors appropriate books and records with respect to the Corporation’s business. Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including the record of the Record Holders of stock of the Corporation or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to stock of the Corporation, books of account and records of Corporation proceedings, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device, method, or one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases); provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time. The books of the Corporation shall be maintained, for financial reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Section 18.02 Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Corporation (each, a “ Fiscal Year ”) shall be a year ending December 31. The Board of Directors, subject to the approval of the Class C Stockholder in accordance with Section  11.01(d) , may change the Fiscal Year of the Corporation at any time and from time to time in each case as may be required or permitted under the Code or applicable United States Treasury Regulations and shall notify the stockholders of such change in the next regular communication to stockholders.

Section 18.03 Reports .

(a) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 120 days after the close of each Fiscal Year, the Corporation shall make available to each Record Holder of a share of stock of the Corporation as of a date selected by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, an annual report containing financial statements of the Corporation for such Fiscal Year, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including a balance sheet and statements of operations, Corporate equity and cash flows, such statements to be audited by a firm of independent public accountants selected by the Board of Directors.

(b) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 90 days after the close of each Quarter except the last Quarter of each Fiscal Year, the Corporation shall make available to each Record Holder of a share of stock of the Corporation, as of a date selected by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, a report containing unaudited financial statements of the Corporation and such other information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of any National Securities Exchange on which the stock of the Corporation is listed for trading, or as the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate.

(c) The Corporation shall be deemed to have made a report available to each Record Holder as required by this Section  17.03 if it has either (i) filed such report with the Commission via its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system and such report is publicly available on such system or (ii) made such report available on any publicly available website maintained by the Corporation.

 

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ARTICLE XIX

NOTICE AND WAIVER OF NOTICE

Section 19.01 Notice .

(a) Any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or permitted to be given or made to a stockholder pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or by other means of written communication to the stockholder at the address described below.

(b) Except as otherwise provided by law, any notice, payment or report to be given or made to a stockholder hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made, and the obligation to give such notice or report or to make such payment shall be deemed conclusively to have been fully satisfied, or upon sending of such notice, payment or report to the Record Holder of such shares of stock of the Corporation at his or her address as shown on the records of the Transfer Agent or as otherwise shown on the records of the Corporation, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such shares by reason of any assignment or otherwise.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) a stockholder shall consent to receiving notices, demands, requests, reports or proxy materials via electronic mail or by the Internet or (ii) the rules of the Commission shall permit any report or proxy materials to be delivered electronically or made available via the Internet, any such notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials shall be deemed given or made in accordance with Section 232 of the DGCL, as applicable, or otherwise when delivered or made available via such mode of delivery.

(d) An affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, payment or report in accordance with the provisions of this Section  19.01 executed by the Corporation, the Transfer Agent or the mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report. Any notice to the Corporation shall be deemed given if received in writing by the Corporation at its principal office. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, the Corporation may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a stockholder if believed by it to be genuine.

Section 19.02 Waiver of Notice . A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder or director, or waiver by electronic transmission by such Person, whether given before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such Person. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver. Attendance at any meeting (in Person or by remote communication) shall constitute waiver of notice except attendance for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

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ARTICLE XX

DEFINITIONS

Section 20.01 Definitions . The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Certificate of Incorporation:

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

Associate ” means, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, (a) any corporation or organization of which such Person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock or other voting interest; (b) any trust or other estate in which such Person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (c) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same principal residence as such Person.

beneficial owner ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act (and “beneficially own” and “beneficial ownership” shall each have a correlative meaning).

Blackstone Holdings AI ” means Blackstone Holdings AI L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successors thereto.

Blackstone Holdings I ” means Blackstone Holdings I L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successors thereto.

Blackstone Holdings II ” means Blackstone Holdings II L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successors thereto.

Blackstone Holdings III ” means Blackstone Holdings III L.P., a Québec société en commandite, and any successors thereto.

Blackstone Holdings IV ” means Blackstone Holdings IV L.P., a Québec société en commandite, and any successors thereto.

Blackstone Holdings Group ” means, collectively, the Blackstone Holdings Partnerships and their respective Subsidiaries.

Blackstone Holdings Partnership Agreements ” means, collectively, the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Blackstone Holdings I, the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Blackstone Holdings AI, the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Blackstone Holdings II, the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Blackstone Holdings III and the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Blackstone Holdings IV, as they may each be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

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Blackstone Holdings Partnership Unit ” means, collectively, one partnership unit in each of Blackstone Holdings I, Blackstone Holdings AI, Blackstone Holdings II, Blackstone Holdings III and Blackstone Holdings IV issued under their respective Blackstone Holdings Partnership Agreement.

Blackstone Holdings Partnerships ” means, collectively, Blackstone Holdings I, Blackstone Holdings AI, Blackstone Holdings II, Blackstone Holdings III and Blackstone Holdings IV.

Blackstone Holdings Limited Partner ” means each Person that becomes a limited partner of the Blackstone Holdings Partnerships pursuant to the terms of the Blackstone Holdings Partnership Agreements.

Blackstone Partners ” means Blackstone Partners L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, and any successors thereto.

Blackstone Partners Cessation Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  5.05 .

Board of Directors ” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

Business Day ” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.

Bylaws ” means the bylaws of the Corporation as in effect from time to time.

Cause ” means a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment finding the Class C Stockholder liable for actual fraud or willful misconduct in its capacity as a stockholder of the Corporation.

Certificate ” means a certificate issued in global form in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Depositary or in such other form as may be adopted by the Board of Directors, issued by the Corporation evidencing ownership of one or more shares of Class A Common Stock or a certificate, in such form as may be adopted by the Board of Directors, issued by the Corporation evidencing ownership of one or more other classes of stock of the Corporation.

Class  A Common Stock ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  4.01(a)(i) .

Class  B Common Stock ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  4.01(a)(ii) .

Class  C Common Stock ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  4.01(a)(iii) .

Class  C Stockholder ” means Blackstone Group Management L.L.C. and any successor or permitted assign that owns the Class C Common Stock at the applicable time.

 

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Closing Price ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  9.01(a) .

Code ” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time. Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of any successor law.

Commission ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Stock ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  4.01(a)(iii) .

Common Unit ” means a Limited Partner Interest representing a fractional part of the partnership interests of all limited partners of the Partnership having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Common Units in the Partnership Agreement.

Conversion ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article III .

Corporate Group ” means the Corporation and its Subsidiaries treated as a single consolidated entity.

Corporation ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article I .

Current Market Price ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  9.01(a) .

Depositary ” means, with respect to any shares of stock issued in global form, The Depository Trust Company and its successors and permitted assigns.

DGCL ” means the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or as may hereafter be amended from time to time.

Dissolution Event ” means an event giving rise to the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation.

Effective Time ” means 12:01 a.m. (Eastern Time) on July 1, 2019.

Exchange Act ” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.

Exchange Agreement ” means one or more exchange agreements providing for the exchange of Blackstone Holdings Partnership Units or other securities issued by members of the Blackstone Holdings Group for Class A Common Stock.

Fiscal Year ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  18.02 .

Former General Partner ” means Blackstone Group Management L.L.C. in its capacity as the former general partner of the Partnership.

General Partner Interest ” means the management and ownership interest of the Former General Partner in the Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner without reference to any Limited Partner Interest held by it), which is evidenced by General Partner Units, and includes any and all benefits to which the Former General Partner is entitled as provided in the Partnership Agreement, together with all obligations of the Former General Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of the Partnership Agreement.

 

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General Partner Unit ” means a fractional part of the General Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to the General Partner Interest.

Group ” means a Person that with or through any of its Affiliates or Associates has any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting, exercising investment power or disposing of any stock of the Corporation with any other Person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or Associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, stock of the Corporation.

Group Member ” means a member of the Corporate Group.

Indemnitee ” means, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, (a) the Class C Stockholder, (b) the Former General Partner, (c) any Person who is or was a controlling Affiliate of the Class C Stockholder or the Former General Partner, (d) any Person who is or was a director or an officer of the Corporation, the Class C Stockholder or the Former General Partner, (e) any Person in clause (d) who is or was serving at the request of the Corporation, the Class C Stockholder or the Former General Partner as an officer, director, employee, member, partner, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another Person; provided that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services and (f) any Person the Corporation in its sole discretion designates as an “Indemnitee” as permitted by applicable law. Any reference to an officer of the Corporation, the Class C Stockholder or the Former General Partner in this definition shall be deemed to refer exclusively to the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice Chairman, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Legal Officer, Secretary or any other officer of the Corporation appointed pursuant to Article XIII or the Bylaws or, with respect to the Class C Stockholder or the Former General Partner, appointed pursuant to the equivalent organizational documents of the Class C Stockholder or the Former General Partner. The fact that any person who is or was an employee of the Corporation, the Class C Stockholder or the Former General Partner, but not an officer thereof as described in the preceding sentence, has been given or has used any title that could be construed to suggest or imply that such person is or may be an officer of the Corporation, the Class C Stockholder or the Former General Partner shall not result in such person being constituted as, or being deemed to be, such an officer of the Corporation, the Class C Stockholder or the Former General Partner for purposes of Article XVI .

Limited Partner Interest ” means the ownership interest of a limited partner of the Partnership in the Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units, Special Voting Units or any other equity interest in the Partnership (but excluding any options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the Partnership), including without limitation, Common Units and Special Voting Units, or a combination thereof or interest therein, and includes any and all benefits to which such limited partner of the Partnership is entitled as provided in the Partnership Agreement.

Merger Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  8.01 .

 

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National Securities Exchange ” means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Exchange Act or any successor thereto and any other securities exchange (whether or not registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Exchange Act) that the Board of Directors shall designate as a National Securities Exchange for purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws.

Notice of Election to Purchase ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  9.01(b) .

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion of counsel acceptable to the Board of Directors.

Original Class  B Stockholder ” means Blackstone Partners, so long as it is a Record Holder of Class B Common Stock.

Outstanding ” means, with respect to stock of the Corporation (other than Class C Common Stock), all shares of such stock that are issued by the Corporation and reflected as outstanding on the Corporation’s books and records as of the date of determination; provided , however , that if at any time any Person or Group (other than the Class C Stockholder or its Affiliates) beneficially owns 20% or more of Outstanding Class A Common Stock, all Class A Common Stock owned by such Person or Group shall not be entitled to be voted on any matter and shall not be considered to be Outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under this Certificate of Incorporation (such shares of Class A Common Stock shall not, however, be treated as a separate class of stock for purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation); provided further , that the foregoing limitation shall not apply (i) to any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any shares of Outstanding Class A Common Stock directly from the Class C Stockholder or its Affiliates, (ii) to any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any shares of Outstanding Class A Common Stock directly or indirectly from a Person or Group described in clause (i) provided that the Board of Directors shall have notified such Person or Group in writing that such limitation shall not apply or (iii) to any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any Class A Common Stock with the prior approval of the Board of Directors.

Partnership ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article III .

Partnership Agreement ” means that certain Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of June 27, 2007, as amended.

Person ” means an individual or a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association (including any group, organization, co-tenancy, plan, board, council or committee), government (including a country, state, county, or any other governmental or political subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof) or other entity (or series thereof).

Purchase Date ” means the date determined by the Corporation as the date for purchase of all Outstanding stock of a certain class (other than shares owned by the Class C Stockholder and its Affiliates) pursuant to Article IX .

 

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Quarter ” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter of the Corporation.

Record Date ” means the date established by the Board of Directors pursuant to the Bylaws.

Record Holder ” means the Person in whose name a share of Class A Common Unit is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent as of the opening of business on a particular Business Day, or with respect to other shares of stock of the Corporation, the Person in whose name any such other share of stock of the Corporation is registered on the books, which the Corporation has caused to be kept as of the opening of business on such Business Day.

Securities Act ” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.

Special Voting Unit ” means a partnership interest of the Partnership having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Special Voting Units in the Partnership Agreement.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of the voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors or other governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests of such partnership (considering all of the partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, (c) any other Person (other than a corporation or a partnership) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a majority ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person or (d) any other Person the financial information of which is consolidated by such Person for financial reporting purposes under U.S. GAAP.

Trading Day ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  9.01(a) .

transfer ”, when used in this Certificate of Incorporation with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation, has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  6.04(a) .

Transfer Agent ” means such bank, trust company or other Person (including the Class C Stockholder or one of its Affiliates) as shall be appointed from time to time by the Board of Directors to act as registrar and transfer agent for the Class A Common Stock.

U.S. GAAP ” means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.

 

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ARTICLE XXI

INCORPORATOR

The incorporator of the Corporation is Blackstone Group Management L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, whose mailing address is 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154.

ARTICLE XXII

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

A committee of the Board of Directors designated as the “Compensation Committee” is hereby created and vested with the full power and authority of the Board of Directors to fix, and establish policies for, the compensation of officers and employees of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries. The Compensation Committee shall initially consist of one member to be designated by the Class C Stockholder, which member shall initially be Stephen Schwarzman. Thereafter, the size and the composition of the Compensation Committee shall be as determined from time to time by the Class C Stockholder, who may remove any member of the Compensation Committee from the Compensation Committee and appoint any director to the Compensation Committee to fill any vacancy or newly created membership on the Compensation Committee. Without the prior consent of the Class C Stockholder, the Board of Directors shall not be entitled to (i) exercise the power and authority vested in the Compensation Committee pursuant to this Article XXII or otherwise delegated to the Compensation Committee by the Board of Directors from time to time, (ii) limit or restrict the power and authority vested in the Compensation Committee pursuant to this Article XXII or otherwise delegated to the Compensation Committee by the Board of Directors from time to time, or (iii) change the size or composition of the Compensation Committee.

ARTICLE XXIII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 23.01 Invalidity of Provisions . If any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby.

Section 23.02 Construction; Section Headings . For purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation, unless the context otherwise requires, (i) references to “Articles”, “Sections” and “clauses” refer to articles, sections and clauses of this Certificate of Incorporation and (ii) the term “include” or “includes” means includes, without limitation, and “including” means including, without limitation. Section headings in this Certificate of Incorporation are for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.

****

This Certificate of Incorporation shall become effective at 12:01 a.m. (Eastern Time) on July 1, 2019.

[ Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned incorporator hereby acknowledges that the foregoing Certificate of Incorporation is its act and deed on this 28th day of June, 2019.

 

BLACKSTONE GROUP MANAGEMENT L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ John G. Finley

Name:   John G. Finley
Title:   Chief Legal Officer

[Signature Page to Certificate of Incorporation]

Exhibit 3.3

BYLAWS

OF

THE BLACKSTONE GROUP INC.

(Effective July 1, 2019)

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

Section 1.01 Registered Office . The registered office and registered agent of The Blackstone Group Inc. (the “ Corporation ”) shall be as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as in effect from time to time, the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”). The Corporation may also have offices in such other places in the United States or elsewhere as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) may, from time to time, determine or as the business of the Corporation may require.

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 2.01 Annual Meetings . If required, annual meetings of stockholders may be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date and at such time as the Board of Directors shall determine. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that annual meetings of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication in accordance with Section 211(a)(2) of the DGCL. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.

Section 2.02 Special Meetings . Special meetings of stockholders may only be called in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and may be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date and at such time, and for such purpose or purposes, as the Board of Directors shall determine and state in the notice of meeting, if any. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors subject to the requirements of the Certificate of Incorporation.

Section 2.03 Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations .

(a) Nominations of Persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) delivered pursuant to Section  2.04 , (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any authorized committee thereof or (iii) by the Class C Stockholder. No stockholder other than the Class C Stockholder shall have the right to make nominations of Persons for election to the


Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders, except to the extent permitted by and made in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section  2.03 . Nothing in this Section  2.03 shall be deemed to provide any voting or other rights or powers to the stockholders of the Corporation, but shall instead set forth the procedures and requirements applicable to stockholders of the Corporation (other than the Class C Stockholder) with respect to bringing business before an annual meeting in circumstances in which they are entitled by law to do so. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section  2.03 shall be deemed to provide any right or power to the stockholders to bring nominations of Persons for election to the Board of Directors before a meeting of stockholders and any such nomination shall only be brought in accordance with the procedures set forth in the first sentence of this Section  2.03(a) .

(b) No stockholder (other than the Class C Stockholder) may bring any business before an annual meeting unless such stockholder (i) is entitled to propose business to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders under Delaware law, (ii) is entitled to vote at the annual meeting on such business, (iii) has complied with the notice procedures set forth in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this Section  2.03 , (iv) was a stockholder of record as of the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation and (v) is a stockholder of record as of the Record Date for notice and voting at the annual meeting and as of the date of the annual meeting. Where any stockholder is entitled to bring any such business before an annual meeting in accordance with the first sentence of this Section  2.03(b) , such stockholder may bring such business notwithstanding the first sentence of Section  2.03(a) .

(c) For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section  2.03(b) , the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and such business must constitute a proper matter for action by stockholders. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (which meeting shall, for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders after the effective date of these Bylaws, be deemed to have occurred on May 31, 2019);  provided , however , that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days, or delayed by more than 70 days, from the anniversary date of the previous year’s meeting, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than 120 days prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice.

(d) Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth (a) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration), the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting and any material interest of such stockholder, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, or any of their affiliates or associates, in such business, including any anticipated benefit therefrom to such stockholder, beneficial owner or their affiliates or associates; and (b) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they

 

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appear on the Corporation’s books and records, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class or series and number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (iii) a representation that the stockholder (x) is a holder of record of the stock of the Corporation at the time of the giving of the notice, (y) will be entitled to vote at such meeting on the proposal of such business such stockholder intends to bring before the annual meeting and (z) will appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to propose such business, (iv) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, will be or is part of a group which will (x) deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding stock required to approve or adopt the proposal and/or (y) otherwise solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal, (v) a certification regarding whether such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, have complied with all applicable federal, state and other legal requirements in connection with the stockholder’s and/or beneficial owner’s acquisition of shares of stock or other securities of the Corporation and/or the stockholder’s and/or beneficial owner’s acts or omissions as a stockholder of the Corporation, (vi) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the proposal between or among such stockholder and/or such beneficial owner, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others (including their names) acting in concert with any of the foregoing, (vii) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, such stockholder and such beneficial owners, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in underlying shares of capital stock of the Corporation, 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 such beneficial owner, with respect to securities of the Corporation and (viii) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal. A stockholder providing notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting shall update and supplement such notice from time to time to the extent necessary so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct (x) as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting and (y) as of the date that is 15 days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, provided that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting is less than 15 days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, the information shall be supplemented and updated as of such later date. Any such update and supplement shall be delivered in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than 5 days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting (in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting), not later than 10 days prior to the date for the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of any update or supplement required to be made as of 15 days prior to the meeting or adjournment or postponement thereof) and not later than 5 days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, but no later than the day prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of a date less than 15 days prior to the date of the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).

 

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(e) Except as provided in Sections 2.03(g) , 2.03(h) and 3.02 , only such Persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section  2.03(a) shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting shall, in addition to making any other determination that may be appropriate for the conduct of the annual meeting of stockholders, have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section  2.03 , unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder making a proposal (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present such business, such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section  2.03 , to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a Person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the annual meeting of stockholders and such Person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the annual meeting of stockholders.

(f) For purposes of this Section  2.03 , public announcement may be made by any means permitted by applicable law, including disclosure in a press release, on the website of the Corporation or in a document publicly filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section  2.03 , a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section  2.03 ; provided , however , that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to proposals as to any business to be considered pursuant to these Bylaws, and compliance with Section  2.03(b) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder other than the Class C Stockholder to submit business to the extent permitted pursuant to Section  2.03(b) .

(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the provisions of this Section  2.03 , the Class C Stockholder shall not be subject to the notice procedures or other requirements set forth in this Section  2.03 .

 

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Section 2.04 Notice of Meetings . If required by law, whenever stockholders are required to take any action at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, a timely notice of the meeting given in writing or by electronic transmission in a manner permitted by applicable law, which shall state the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the Record Date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the Record Date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes of the meeting, shall be mailed to or transmitted electronically as permitted by applicable law by the Secretary of the Corporation to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat as of the Record Date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any such notice shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the Record Date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting.

Section 2.05 Inspectors of Election . The Corporation may, and shall if required by law, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election, who may be employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and to make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more Persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. In the event that no inspector so appointed or designated is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the Person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to execute faithfully the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspector or inspectors so appointed or designated shall (i) ascertain the number of shares of stock of the Corporation Outstanding and the voting power of each such share, (ii) determine the shares of stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors, and (v) certify their determination of the number of shares of stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting and such inspectors’ count of all votes and ballots. Such certification and report shall specify such other information as may be required by law. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. No Person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.

ARTICLE III

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 3.01 Powers . Except as otherwise provided in the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may exercise all such authority and powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not directed or required by the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

 

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Section 3.02 Number of Directors; Removal; Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships . Subject to the rights of the holders of any then outstanding series of Preferred Stock, the Class C Stockholder shall have full authority unilaterally to approve the number of directors to constitute the Board of Directors (which number of directors may be increased or decreased solely by the Class C Stockholder). Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock), the Class C Stockholder shall have full authority unilaterally to remove and replace any director, with or without cause, at any time and for any reason or no reason. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock), any directorships created as a result of an increase in the size of the Board of Directors or vacancies (whether by death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause) shall be filled only by the Class C Stockholder. Each director, including each appointed to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship, shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors or action by written consent of stockholders in lieu of annual meeting for the purpose of electing directors and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. Directors need not be stockholders.

Section 3.03 Resignations . Any director may resign at any time by giving notice of such director’s resignation in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the Secretary of the Board of Directors. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, or if the time when it shall become effective shall not be specified therein, then it shall take effect immediately upon its receipt by the Corporation. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Section 3.04 Compensation . The Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors or to establish policies for the compensation of directors and for the reimbursement of expenses of directors, in each case, in connection with services provided by directors to the Corporation. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at such meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated salary as director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for attending committee meetings, or their service as committee members may be compensated as part of their stated salary as a director.

Section 3.05 Meetings ; Chairman, Executive Vice Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary . The Board of Directors may hold meetings, both regular and special, within or outside the State of Delaware. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or, in the absence of a Chairman of the Board of Directors, by any director and shall be held at such time and at such place as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting. Notice of a special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given (a) at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting, either personally or by telephone or by facsimile, electronic mail or other form of electronic transmission or communication or (b) at least seventy-two (72)

 

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hours prior to the meeting, by first-class mail. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting. A written waiver signed by the director entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the director entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in any such waiver. Attendance of a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. The Board of Directors, with the approval of the Class C Stockholder, may appoint a “Chairman,” “Executive Vice Chairman,” “Vice Chairman” and “Secretary” of the Board of Directors. At each meeting of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors or, in the Chairman of the Board of Directors’ absence, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors or, in the Executive Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors’ absence, the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors or, in the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors’ absence, a director chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall act as chairman of the meeting. In case the Secretary of the Board of Directors shall be absent from any meeting of the Board of Directors, a director chosen by a majority of the directors present shall act as secretary of the meeting.

Section 3.06 Quorum; Voting; Adjournment . Subject to the requirements of the Certificate of Incorporation, at all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the then total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and, except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present at such meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

Section 3.07 Intentionally Omitted .

Section 3.08 Committees; Committee Rules . The Board of Directors may, by resolution or resolutions, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation, which, to the extent provided in such resolution or resolutions, shall have and may exercise, subject to applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws, the powers and authority of the Board of Directors. A majority of all the members of any such committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by the committee. A majority of all the members of any such committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present may determine its action and fix the time and place, if any, of its meetings and specify what notice thereof, if any, shall be given, unless the Board of Directors shall otherwise provide. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall have the power to change the members of any such committee at any time, to fill vacancies and to discharge any such committee, either with or without cause, at any time. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required.

 

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Section 3.09 Remote Meeting . Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, members of the Board of Directors, or members of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in meetings of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, by means of telephone conference or other communications equipment that allows all Persons participating in the meeting to hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

Section 3.10 Action Without a Meeting . Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting by the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, as the case may be, may be taken without a meeting if a consent thereto is signed or transmitted electronically, as the case may be, by all members of the Board of Directors or of such committee, as the case may be, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form or shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

Section 3.11 Reliance on Books and Records . A member of the Board of Directors, or a member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors shall, in the performance of such Person’s duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other Person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other Person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Section 4.01 Appointment, Selection and Designation of Officers Other Than Chief Executive Officer . The Chief Executive Officer(s) may, from time to time as they deem advisable, select natural persons who are employees or agents of the Class C Stockholder and designate them as officers of the Corporation (together with the chief executive officers, the “ Officers ”) and assign titles (including, without limitation, “chief operating officer,” “chief financial officer,” “chief legal officer,” “chief administrative officer,” “chief compliance officer,” “principal accounting officer,” “chairman,” “senior chairman,” “executive vice chairman,” “vice chairman,” “president,” “vice president,” “treasurer,” “assistant treasurer,” “secretary,” “assistant secretary,” “general manager,” “senior managing director,” “managing director” and “director”) to any such persons. An Officer may be removed with or without cause by the Board of Directors. Any vacancies occurring in any office other than the offices of Chief Executive Officer may be filled by the Chief Executive Officer(s) in the same manner as such officers are appointed and selected pursuant to this Section  4.01 .

 

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Section 4.02 Delegation of Duties . Unless the Board of Directors determines otherwise, if a title is one commonly used for officers of a corporation formed under the DGCL, the assignment of such title shall constitute the delegation to such Person of the authorities and duties that are normally associated with that office. The Board of Directors may delegate to any officer any of the Board of Director’s powers to the extent permitted by applicable law, including the power to bind the Corporation. Any delegation pursuant to this Section  4.02 may be revoked at any time by the Board of Directors.

Section 4.03 Officers As Agents . The officers, to the extent of their powers set forth under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws or otherwise vested in them by action of the Board of Directors not inconsistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, are agents of the Corporation for the purpose of the Corporation’s business and the actions of the officers taken in accordance with such powers shall bind the Corporation.

ARTICLE V

STOCK

Section 5.01 List of Stockholders Entitled To Vote . The Corporation shall prepare, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting ( provided , however , that if the Record Date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting is less than 10 days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting as of the 10th day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting at least 10 days prior to the meeting (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of meeting, if any, or (b) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be examined by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting, if any, if required by law. Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section  5.01 or to vote in Person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

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Section 5.02 Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record .

(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a Record Date, which Record Date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the Record Date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which Record Date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the Record Date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at or attend such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such Record Date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determinations. If no Record Date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the Record Date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at or attend a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at or attend a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided , however , that the Board of Directors may fix a new Record Date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at or attend the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the Record Date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at or attend the adjourned meeting.

(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a Record Date, which Record Date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the Record Date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which Record Date shall not be more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the Record Date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no Record Date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting is fixed by the Board of Directors, (i) when no prior action of the Board of Directors is required by law, the Record Date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law, and (ii) if prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, the Record Date for such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

(c) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a Record Date, which Record Date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the Record Date is adopted, and which Record Date shall not be more than 60 days prior to such action. If no such Record Date is fixed, the Record Date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

ARTICLE VI

DEFINITIONS

Section 6.01 Definitions . Terms used in these Bylaws and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.01 Electronic Transmission . For purposes of these Bylaws, “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved, and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

Section 7.02 Corporate Seal . The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation.

Section 7.03 Construction; Section Headings . For purposes of these Bylaws, unless the context otherwise requires, (i) references to “Articles”, “Sections” and “clauses” refer to articles, sections and clauses of these Bylaws and (ii) the term “include” or “includes” means includes, without limitation, and “including” means including, without limitation. Section headings in these Bylaws are for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.

Section 7.04 Inconsistent Provisions . In the event that any provision of these Bylaws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, the DGCL or any other applicable law, such provision of these Bylaws shall not be given any effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full force and effect.

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS

Section 8.01 Amendments . Except as provided in Section  8.02 of these Bylaws or the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend and repeal, in whole or in part, these Bylaws without the assent or vote of the stockholders in any manner not inconsistent with the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation.

Section 8.02 Class C Stockholder Approval . In addition to any vote or consent required by the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or applicable law, the amendment or repeal, in whole or in part, of Sections 2.03 , 3.02 through 3.11 , Article IV and this Article VIII , or the adoption of any provision inconsistent therewith, shall require the prior approval of the Class C Stockholder.

[ Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank ]

 

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Exhibit 99.1

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

The following description summarizes important terms of our capital stock. This summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, copies of which have been filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For a complete description of our capital stock, you should refer to our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws and applicable provisions of Delaware law. As used in this section, “we,” “us” and “our” mean The Blackstone Group Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors, but not any of its subsidiaries.

Our authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000,000 shares, all with a par value of $0.00001 per share, of which:

 

   

90,000,000,000 are designated as Class A common stock;

 

   

999,999,000 are designated as Class B common stock;

 

   

1,000 are designated as Class C common stock; and

 

   

9,000,000,000 are designated as preferred stock.

Common Stock

Our common stock consists of Class A common stock, Class B common stock and Class C common stock.

Economic Rights

Dividends . Subject to preferences that apply to any shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of our Class A common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of funds legally available therefor if our board of directors, in its discretion, determines to declare and pay dividends and then only at the times and in the amounts that our board of directors may determine. Our certificate of incorporation provides that dividends shall not be declared or paid on our Class B common stock or our Class C common stock.

Liquidation . If we become subject to an event giving rise to our dissolution, liquidation or winding up, the assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders would be distributable ratably among the holders of our Class A common stock and any participating preferred stock outstanding at that time ranking on a parity with our Class A common stock with respect to such distribution, subject to prior satisfaction of all outstanding debt and liabilities and the preferential rights of and the payment of liquidation preferences, if any, on any outstanding shares of preferred stock. Our certificate of incorporation provides that the holders of our Class B common stock and our Class C common stock are not entitled to receive any of our assets upon our dissolution, liquidation or winding up.

Voting Rights

Our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock are non-voting and are not entitled to any votes on any matter that is submitted to a vote of our stockholders (including for purposes of the rules of any securities exchange on which the Class A common stock or Class B common stock, as applicable, is listed for trading), except as expressly provided in our certificate of incorporation or required by Delaware law. The Class C common stock is voting and is entitled to one vote per share on any matter that is submitted to a vote of our stockholders generally.

Our certificate of incorporation provides for holders of our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock, voting together as a single class, to have the right to vote on the following matters:

 

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a sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of our and our subsidiaries’ assets, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or series of related transactions (except (i) for the sole purpose of changing our legal form into another limited liability entity and where the governing instruments of the new entity provide our stockholders with substantially the same rights and obligations and (ii) mortgages, pledges, hypothecations or grants of a security interest by us in all or substantially all of our assets (including for the benefit of affiliates of the holder of the Class C common stock (the “Class C Stockholder”)) and any forced sale of any or all of our or our subsidiaries’ assets pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance);

 

   

a merger, consolidation or other combination (except for the sole purpose of changing our legal form into another limited liability entity and where the governing instruments of the new entity provide our stockholders with substantially the same rights and obligations);

 

   

the removal of the Class C Stockholder and forced transfer by the Class C Stockholder of its shares of Class C common stock and the designation of a successor Class C Stockholder. See “—Removal of Class C Stockholder” below; and

 

   

certain amendments to our certificate of incorporation.

In addition, our certificate of incorporation provides that holders of our Class B common stock will be entitled to vote separately as a class on certain matters, including any amendment to our certificate of incorporation that changes certain terms of the Class B common stock or is inconsistent with such terms. Delaware law would also permit the holders of our Class B common stock to vote separately as a class on any amendment to our certificate of incorporation that changes the par value of the shares of Class B common stock or alters or changes the powers, preferences or special rights of the Class B common stock in a way that would affect them adversely.

In addition, Delaware law would permit holders of our Class A common stock to vote as a separate class on an amendment to our certificate of incorporation that would:

 

   

change the par value of our Class A common stock; or

 

   

alter or change the powers, preferences, or special rights of the Class A common stock in a way that would affect them adversely.

Our certificate of incorporation provides that the number of authorized shares of any class of stock, including our Class A common stock, may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares of such class then outstanding) solely with the approval of the Class C Stockholder. As a result, the Class C Stockholder can approve an increase or decrease in the number of authorized shares of Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock and preferred stock without a separate vote of the holders of the applicable class of common stock or preferred stock. This could allow us to increase and issue additional shares of Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock and/or preferred stock beyond what is currently authorized in our certificate of incorporation without the consent of the holders of the applicable class of common stock or preferred stock. Blackstone Group Management L.L.C., an entity owned by senior managing directors of Blackstone and controlled by Mr. Schwarzman, is the initial holder of the Class C common stock.

Except as described below under “Anti-Takeover Provisions—Loss of voting rights,” each record holder of Class A common stock will be entitled to a number of votes equal to the number of shares of Class A common stock held with respect to any matter on which the holders of Class A common stock are entitled to vote.

In addition, holders of our Class B common stock, as such, will collectively be entitled to a number of votes equal to the aggregate number of Blackstone Holdings Partnership Units (as defined below) held by the limited partners of the Blackstone Holdings Partnerships (as defined below) on the relevant record date and will vote together with holders of our Class A common stock as a single class. Blackstone Partners L.L.C., an entity owned by senior managing directors of Blackstone and controlled by Mr. Schwarzman, is the initial holder of the Class B common stock. If Blackstone Partners L.L.C. directs us to do so, we will issue one share of Class B common stock

 

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to each of the limited partners of the Blackstone Holdings Partnerships, whereupon each holder of Class B common stock will be entitled to a number of votes that is equal to the number of Blackstone Holdings Partnership Units held by such holder of Class B common stock on the relevant record date. If the holders of Class A common stock become entitled to a number of votes other than one vote per share or the ratio at which Blackstone Holdings Partnership Units are exchangeable for our Class A common stock changes from a one-for-one basis, the number of votes to which the holders of the Class B common stock are entitled will be adjusted accordingly. Additional classes of common stock having special voting rights could also be issued.

No Preemptive or Similar Rights

The holders of our Class A common stock, Class B common stock and Class C common stock are not entitled to preemptive rights, and, except in the case of impermissible transfers of the Class C common stock, which would result in the cancellation of such Class C common stock, are not subject to conversion, redemption or sinking fund provisions.

Transferability

Without the approval of any other stockholder, the Class C Stockholder may transfer all or any part of the Class C common stock held by it with the prior written approval of our board of directors so long as the transferee agrees to assume the rights and duties of the Class C Stockholder under our certificate of incorporation, agrees to be bound by the provisions of our certificate of incorporation and we receive an opinion of counsel regarding certain limited liability matters. The foregoing limitations do not preclude the members or other interest holders of the Class C Stockholder from selling or transferring all or part of their outstanding equity or other interests in the Class C Stockholder at any time.

Removal of Class C Stockholder

The Class C Stockholder may, upon (i) the approval of the stockholders holding at least two-thirds of the voting power of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class, and (ii) our receipt of an opinion of counsel regarding certain limited liability and tax matters, be required to transfer its shares of Class C common stock to a successor holder of Class C common stock designated by the stockholders holding a majority of the voting power of such classes, voting together as a single class (such designated successor, a “Successor Class C Stockholder”) (the “Class C Stockholder Removal”).

In the event of a Class C Stockholder Removal under circumstances where cause (as such term is defined in the certificate of incorporation) exists, the Successor Class C Stockholder will have the option to purchase the Class C Stockholder’s shares of Class C common stock and the Class C Stockholder’s general partner interest (or equivalent interest), if any, in our subsidiaries (collectively, the “Combined Interest”) for a cash payment equal to the fair market value of such Combined Interest. In the event of a Class C Stockholder Removal under all other circumstances, the Class C Stockholder will have the option to require the Successor Class C Stockholder to purchase its Combined Interest for a cash payment equal to the fair market value of such Combined Interest. In each case, this fair market value will be determined by agreement between the Class C Stockholder and the Successor Class C Stockholder. If no agreement is reached within 30 days after the Class C Stockholder Removal, an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert selected by the Class C Stockholder and the Successor Class C Stockholder will determine the fair market value. If the Class C Stockholder and the Successor Class C Stockholder cannot agree upon an expert within 45 days of the Class C Stockholder Removal, then an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert mutually chosen by the investment banking firms or experts designated by each of them will determine the fair market value.

If the option described above is not exercised by either the Class C Stockholder or the Successor Class C Stockholder, we will issue to the Class C Stockholder (or its transferee) shares of Class A common stock having a value equal to the Combined Interest determined pursuant to a valuation of such Combined Interest as determined by an investment banking firm or other independent expert selected in the manner described in the preceding paragraph, without reduction in such shares of Class C common stock (but subject to proportionate dilution by reason of the Successor Class C Stockholder).

 

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In addition, we are required to reimburse the Class C Stockholder for all amounts due to the Class C Stockholder, including without limitation all employee-related liabilities, including severance liabilities, incurred for the termination of any employees employed by the Class C Stockholder or its affiliates for our benefit.

Exchange

The limited partner interests (the “Blackstone Holdings Partnership Units”) in Blackstone Holdings I L.P., Blackstone Holdings AI L.P., Blackstone Holdings II L.P., Blackstone Holdings III L.P., and Blackstone Holdings IV L.P. (collectively, the “Blackstone Holdings Partnerships”) are exchangeable for our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to customary adjustments for splits, unit distributions and reclassifications and compliance with applicable lock-up, vesting and transfer restrictions. When Blackstone Holdings Partnership Units are exchanged for shares of Class A common stock, the number of votes to which the shares of our Class B common stock are entitled shall automatically be reduced by the number of Blackstone Holdings Partnership Units so exchanged.

Limited Call Right

If at any time less than 10% of the then issued and outstanding shares of any class (other than Class B common stock and Class C common stock) is held by persons other than the Class C Stockholder and its affiliates, we will have the right, which we may assign in whole or in part to the Class C Stockholder or any of its affiliates, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the remaining shares of the class held by unaffiliated persons as of a record date to be selected by us, on at least ten but not more than 60 days notice. The purchase price in the event of this purchase is the greater of:

(1) the current market price as of the date three days before the date the notice is mailed, and

(2) the highest cash price paid by us or any of our affiliates for any share of the class purchased within the 90 days preceding the date on which we first mail notice of our election to purchase those shares.

As a result of our right to purchase outstanding shares of stock, including Class A common stock, as described in the foregoing paragraph, a stockholder may have their shares purchased at an undesirable time or price.

Preferred Stock

Our board of directors is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by Delaware law, to issue preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series, and to fix the designation, powers (including voting powers), preferences and rights of the shares of each series and any of its qualifications, limitations or restrictions, in each case without further vote or action by our stockholders (except as may be required by the terms of any preferred stock then outstanding). Our board of directors can also increase (but not above the total number of shares of preferred stock then authorized and available for issuance and not committed for other issuance) or decrease (but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series of preferred stock without any further vote or action by our stockholders. Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the proportion of voting power held by, or other relative rights of, the holders of our Class A common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in our control of our company and might adversely affect the market price of the Class A common stock or the proportion of voting power held by, or other relative rights of, the holders of the Class A common stock.

Conflicts of Interest

Delaware law permits corporations to adopt provisions renouncing any interest or expectancy in certain opportunities that are presented to the corporation or its officers, directors or stockholders. Our certificate of incorporation, to the maximum extent permitted from time to time by Delaware law, renounces any interest or expectancy that we have in any business ventures of (a) the Class C Stockholder, (b) our former general partner, (c)

 

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any person who is or was a controlling affiliate of the Class C Stockholder or our former general partner, (d) any person who is or was a director or officer of Blackstone, the Class C Stockholder or our former general partner, (e) any person in clause (d) who is or was serving at the request of Blackstone, the Class C Stockholder or our former general partner as an officer, director, employee, member, partner, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another person (subject to certain limitations) and (f) certain other persons designated by the Corporation (collectively, the “Indemnitees”), except with respect to any corporate opportunity expressly offered to any Indemnitee solely through their service to us or our subsidiaries. Our certificate of incorporation provides that each Indemnitee has the right to engage in businesses of every type and description, including business interests and activities in direct competition with our business and activities. Our certificate of incorporation also waives and renounces any interest or expectancy that we may have in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities that are from time to time presented to the Indemnitees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, pursuant to our certificate of incorporation, the Class C Stockholder, for so long as it owns Class C common stock, has agreed that its sole business will be to act as the Class C Stockholder and as a general partner or managing member of any partnership or limited liability company that we may hold an interest in and that it will not engage in any business or activity or incur any debts or liabilities except (x) in connection therewith or incidental thereto or (y) in connection with or incidental to the acquisition, owning or disposing of debt or equity securities of us or any of our subsidiaries.

Anti-Takeover Provisions

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) contain provisions, which are summarized in the following paragraphs, that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of our board of directors and to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened acquisition of our company. These provisions are intended to avoid costly takeover battles, reduce our vulnerability to a hostile change in control or other unsolicited acquisition proposal, and enhance the ability of our board of directors to maximize stockholder value in connection with any unsolicited offer to acquire us. However, these provisions may have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a merger or acquisition of our company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or other takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider in its best interest, including attempts that might result in a premium over the prevailing market price for the shares of Class A common stock held by stockholders.

Non-voting common stock. Our Class A common stock is generally non-voting. In addition, our certificate of incorporation provides that generally, with respect to any matter on which the Class A common stock is entitled to vote, such vote shall require a majority in voting power or more of all the outstanding Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class. With respect to any matter as to which Class A common stock may be entitled to vote, depending on the number of shares of outstanding shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock actually voted, our senior managing directors, as the owners of Blackstone Partners L.L.C., the initial holder of Class B common stock, and the persons to whom the shares of Class B common stock will be issued at the direction of Blackstone Partners L.L.C., should generally have sufficient voting power to significantly influence matters subject to the vote. Because our Class A common stock, which is the class of our capital stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), is generally nonvoting, we believe based on discussions with the NYSE that the stockholder approval requirements of the NYSE do not apply.

Election of directors . Subject to the rights granted to one or more series of preferred stock then outstanding, the Class C Stockholder has the sole authority to elect directors.

Removal of directors . Subject to the rights granted to one or more series of preferred stock then outstanding, the Class C Stockholder has the sole authority to remove and replace any director, with or without cause, at any time.

Vacancies . In addition, our bylaws also provide that, subject to the rights granted to one or more series of preferred stock then outstanding, any newly created directorship on the board of directors that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on our board of directors will be filled only by the Class C Stockholder.

 

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Loss of voting rights. If at any time any person or group (other than the Class C Stockholder and its affiliates, a direct or indirect transferee of the Class C Stockholder or its affiliates (provided that, with respect to any indirect transferee, our board of directors shall have provided such transferee with written notification that this limitation shall not apply) or a person or group that has acquired such stock with the prior approval of our board of directors) acquires, in the aggregate, beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the Class A common stock then outstanding, that person or group will lose voting rights on all of its shares of Class A common stock and such shares of Class A common stock may not be voted on any matter as to which the holders of such shares of Class A common stock may be entitled to vote and will not be considered to be outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of stockholders, calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes, in each case, as applicable and to the extent the holders of such shares of Class A common stock are entitled to any vote.

Requirements for advance notification of stockholder proposals . Stockholders are only permitted to make stockholder proposals with respect to the limited matters on which they are entitled to vote. Further, our bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals relating to the limited matters on which the holders of our Class A common stock may be entitled to vote. Generally, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days or more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. Our bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. Our bylaws allow the chairman of the meeting at a meeting of the stockholders to adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings, which may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the rules and regulations are not followed. These provisions may deter, delay or discourage a potential acquirer from attempting to influence or obtain control of our company.

Special stockholder meetings . Our certificate of incorporation provides that special meetings of our stockholders may be called at any time only by or at the direction of our board of directors, the Class C Stockholder or, if at any time any stockholders other than the Class C Stockholder are entitled under applicable law or our certificate of incorporation to vote on specific matters proposed to be brought before a special meeting, stockholders owning 50% or more of the voting power of the outstanding stock of the class or classes of stock which are entitled to vote at such meeting. Class A common stock and Class B common stock are considered the same class of common stock for this purpose.

Stockholder action by written consent . Pursuant to Section 228 of the DGCL, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of our stock entitled to vote thereon were present and voted, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise or it conflicts with the rules of the NYSE. Our certificate of incorporation permits the Class C Stockholder to act by written consent. Under our certificate of incorporation, stockholders (other than the Class C Stockholder) may only act by written consent if consented to by the Class C Stockholder.

Amendments to our certificate of incorporation requiring only Class  C Stockholder approval. Except as otherwise expressly provided by applicable law, only the vote of the Class C Stockholder, together with the approval of our board of directors, shall be required in order to amend certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and none of our other stockholders shall have the right to vote with respect to any such amendments, which include, without limitation:

(1) a change in our name, our registered agent or our registered office;

(2) an amendment that our board of directors has determined to be necessary or appropriate to address changes in U.S. federal income tax regulations, legislation or interpretation;

(3) an amendment that is necessary, in the opinion of our counsel, to prevent us or our directors, officers, trustees or agents from having a material risk of being in any manner subjected to the provisions of the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, whether or not substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed by the U.S. Department of Labor;

 

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(4) an amendment that is a change in our fiscal year or taxable year or that our board of directors has determined is necessary or appropriate as a result of such change;

(5) an amendment that our board of directors has determined to be necessary or appropriate for the creation, authorization or issuance of any class or series of our capital stock or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to our capital stock;

(6) any amendment expressly permitted in our certificate of incorporation to be voted on solely by the Class C Stockholder acting alone;

(7) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by an agreement of merger, consolidation or other business combination agreement that has been approved under the terms of our certificate of incorporation;

(8) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by an amendment to the partnership agreement of a Blackstone Holdings Partnership that requires unitholders of the Blackstone Holdings Partnership to provide a statement, certification or other proof of evidence regarding whether such unitholder is subject to U.S. federal income taxation on the income generated by the Blackstone Holdings Partnership;

(9) any amendment that our board of directors has determined is necessary or appropriate to reflect and account for our formation of, or our investment in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, in connection with the conduct of the activities permitted by our certificate of incorporation;

(10) any amendment that reflects a merger into, or conveyance of all of our assets to, another limited liability entity that is newly formed and has no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of the merger or conveyance other than those it receives by way of the merger or conveyance consummated solely to effect a mere change in our legal form, the governing instruments of which provide the stockholders with substantially the same rights and obligations as provided by our certificate of incorporation; or

(11) any other amendments substantially similar to any of the matters described in (1) through (10) above or the immediately following paragraph.

In addition, except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Class C Stockholder, together with the approval of our board of directors, can amend our certificate of incorporation without the approval of any other stockholder to adopt any amendments that our board of directors has determined:

(1) do not adversely affect the stockholders (other than the Class C Stockholder) considered as a whole (including any particular class or series of stock as compared to other classes or series) in any material respect;

(2) are necessary or appropriate to satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state or non-U.S. agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state or non-U.S. statute (including the DGCL);

(3) are necessary or appropriate to facilitate the trading of our stock or to comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any securities exchange on which our stock is or will be listed for trading;

(4) are necessary or appropriate for any action taken by us relating to distributions, splits or combinations of shares of our capital stock under the provisions of our certificate of incorporation; or

(5) are required to effect the intent of or are otherwise contemplated by our certificate of incorporation.

 

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Super-majority requirements for certain amendments to our certificate of incorporation. Except for amendments to our certificate of incorporation that require only the approval of the Class C Stockholder, any amendments to our certificate of incorporation require, in addition to the consent of the Class C Stockholder, the vote or consent of stockholders holding at least 90% of the voting power of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class, unless we obtain an opinion of counsel confirming that such amendment would not affect the limited liability of any stockholder under the DGCL. Any amendment of this provision of our certificate of incorporation also requires the vote or consent of stockholders holding at least 90% in voting power of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class.

Merger, sale or other disposition of assets . Our certificate of incorporation provides that we may, with the approval of the Class C Stockholder and with the approval of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class, sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, or consummate any merger, consolidation or other similar combination, or approve the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of our subsidiaries, except that no approval of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock shall be required in the case of certain limited transactions involving our reorganization into another limited liability entity. See “—Common Stock—Voting Rights.” We may in our sole discretion mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of our assets (including for the benefit of persons other than us or our subsidiaries) without the prior approval of the holders of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock. We may also sell all or substantially all of our assets under any forced sale of any or all of our assets pursuant to the foreclosure or other realization upon those encumbrances without the prior approval of the holders of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock.

Business Combinations

We have opted out of Section 203 of the DGCL, which provides that an “interested stockholder” (a person other than the corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or, if such person is an affiliate or associate of the corporation, within three years did own, 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of a corporation) may not engage in “business combinations” (which is broadly defined to include a number of transactions, such as mergers, consolidations, asset sales and other transactions in which an interested stockholder receives or could receive a financial benefit on other than a pro rata basis with other stockholders) with the corporation for a period of three years after the date on which the person became an interested stockholder without certain statutorily mandated approvals.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our Class A common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC. The transfer agent and registrar’s address is 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219, and its telephone number is (718) 921-8300 or (800) 937-5449.

Listing

Our Class A common stock is listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “BX.”

 

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Exhibit 99.2

 

LOGO

Blackstone Completes Conversion to a Corporation

New York, July 1, 2019 – Blackstone today announced that it has completed its previously announced conversion to a corporation from a publicly traded partnership.

Stephen A. Schwarzman, Blackstone Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder, said, “Our conversion to a corporation is an exciting next step for Blackstone, which we believe will make it much easier for both domestic and international investors to own our stock. We’re pleased that many more shareholders can now join us as we’re poised for continued growth and innovation in the years ahead. We’ve been encouraged by the strongly positive feedback we’ve received since the announcement and believe the conversion will unlock significant value for our shareholders over time.”

For more details, please visit the following links that were previously published in April 2019 surrounding the announcement of Blackstone’s conversion to a corporation: (1)  Investor Presentation ; (2)  Video Announcement .

 

LOGO

About Blackstone

Blackstone is one of the world’s leading investment firms. We seek to create positive economic impact and long-term value for our investors, the companies in which we invest, and the communities in which we work. We do this by using extraordinary people and flexible capital to help companies solve problems. Our businesses, with $512 billion in assets under management, include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, non-investment grade credit, real assets and secondary funds, all on a global basis. Further information is available at  www.blackstone.com . Follow Blackstone on twitter @Blackstone.


Contact

Blackstone

Matt Anderson

+1-212-390-2472

matthew.anderson@blackstone.com

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