As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 28, 2021

Registration No. 333-          

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

SYLVAMO CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   86-2596371

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

6400 Poplar Avenue

Memphis, Tennessee 38197

901-519-8000

(Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including Area Code of Registrant’s Principal Executive Office)

SYLVAMO CORPORATION 2021 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

(Full title of the plan)

Matthew Barron, Esq.

Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

Sylvamo Corporation

6400 Poplar Avenue

Memphis, Tennessee 38197

901-519-8000

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging Growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Securities

to be registered

 

Amount

to be

registered(1)

 

Proposed

maximum

offering price

per share

 

Proposed

maximum

aggregate

offering price

 

Amount of

registration fee

Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share   4,410,725   $25.00 (2)   $110,268,125.00   $12,030.25

 

 

(1)

The number of shares being registered represents shares reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under the Sylvamo Corporation 2021 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Incentive Plan”). Pursuant to Rule 416(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of Common Stock of Sylvamo Corporation (the “Company”) that become issuable under the Incentive Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction.

(2)

Computed pursuant to Rule 457(h) solely for purpose of determining the registration fee, based upon an assumed price of $25.00 per share of the Company’s Common Stock, which is based on the average of the high sales price and low sales price per share of the Company’s Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on September 23, 2021.

 

 

 


Part I

Information Required in the Section 10(a) Prospectus

The information specified in Part I of the Registration Statement is omitted from this filing in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428 under the 1933 Act and the introductory note to Part I of the Registration Statement. The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered to the participants in the Plan covered by this Registration Statement as required by Rule 428(b)(1).


Part II

Information Required in the Registration Statement

 

Item 3.

Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.

The following documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are incorporated into this Registration Statement by reference (other than, in each case, documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with the Commission’s rules):

(a) The Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10, as filed with the Commission on August 9, 2021, and Amendment No. 1 thereto, as filed with the Commission on August 23, 2021 (File No. 001-40718); and

(b) The Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K, as filed with the Commission on September  3, 2021 and September 15, 2021, respectively.

All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement that indicate that all securities offered hereby have been sold or that deregister all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the respective dates of filing of such documents.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

 

Item 4.

Description of Securities.

Not applicable.

 

Item 5.

Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not applicable.

 

Item 6.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Delaware General Corporation Law

Sylvamo Corporation is incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware.

Section 102(b)(7) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) permits a Delaware corporation to include a provision in its certificate of incorporation eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. This provision, however, may not eliminate or limit a director’s liability (1) for breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (3) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (4) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. The Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains such a provision.

Section 145(a) of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding whether civil,

 

II-1


criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful.

Section 145(b) of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

Section 145(c) of the DGCL provides that to the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145 of the DGCL, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.

Section 145(e) of the DGCL permits a Delaware corporation to advance litigation expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by present and former directors and officers prior to the final disposition of the relevant proceedings. The advancement of expenses to a present director or officer is conditioned upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay the advancement if it is ultimately determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation. Advancement to former officers and directors may be conditioned upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation may deem appropriate.

Section 145(g) of the DGCL specifically allows a Delaware corporation to purchase liability insurance on behalf of its directors and officers and to insure against potential liability of such directors and officers regardless of whether the corporation would have the power to indemnify such directors and officers under Section 145 of the DGCL.

The Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the company’s amended and restated bylaws require the Company to indemnify and advance expenses to its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws also provide that the Company is required to indemnify directors and executive officers, to the fullest extent permitted by law, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with pending or threatened legal proceedings because of the director’s or officer’s positions with the Company or another entity that the director or officer serves at the Company’s request, subject to various conditions, and to pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by directors and officers in advance of the final disposition to enable them to defend against such proceedings.

The foregoing summaries are necessarily subject to the complete text of the DGCL and the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws.

We have also entered into indemnification agreements with our directors. The indemnification agreements provide the directors with contractual rights to indemnification and expense rights.

 

Item 7.

Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

 

II-2


Item 8.

Exhibits.

The Exhibits accompanying this Registration Statement are listed on the accompanying Exhibit Index.

 

Item 9.

Undertakings.

(a) The Company hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”);

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b) The Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

II-3


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Memphis, Tennessee on September 28, 2021.

 

Sylvamo Corporation
By:  

/s/ Matthew Barron

  Name:   Matthew Barron
  Title:   Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed on September 28, 2021 by the following persons in the capacities indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

*

  

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

Jean-Michel Ribieras

  

*

  

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director (Principal Financial Officer)

John V. Sims

  

*

  

Vice President, Corporate Finance and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)

Kevin W. Ferguson

  

*

  

Director

Jeanmarie Desmond

  

*

  

Director

Timothy S. Nicholls

  

*

  

Director

Thomas J. Plath

  

*

  

Director

Sharon R. Ryan

  

 

* By:  

/s/ Matthew Barron

 

Matthew Barron

as Attorney-in-Fact

 

II-4


INDEX TO EXHIBITS TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

Exhibits

 

  3.1*    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Sylvamo Corporation
  3.2*    By-Laws of Sylvamo Corporation (f/k/a U.S. Paper Corporation)
  3.3*    Form of Amended and Restated By-Laws of Sylvamo Corporation (to be effective September 29, 2021)
  4.1    Form of Common Stock Certificate of Sylvamo Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No.  1 to Sylvamo Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form 10 filed on August 23, 2021).
  5.1*    Opinion of K&L Gates LLP.
10.1*    Sylvamo Corporation 2021 Incentive Compensation Plan.
23.1*    Consent of K&L Gates LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.2*    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
24.1*    Powers of Attorney.

 

*

Filed herewith

 

1

Exhibit 3.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

SYLVAMO CORPORATION

Sylvamo Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, hereby certifies as follows:

1. The present name of the corporation is Sylvamo Corporation (the “Corporation”).

2. The Corporation was originally formed as U.S. Paper Corporation, a Delaware corporation, by means of a Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Secretary of State”) on March 11, 2021. A Certificate of Amendment changing the name of the Corporation to Sylvamo Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State on April 7, 2021. A Certificate of Change of Registered Agent was filed with the Secretary of State on August 9, 2021.

3. The Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended and restated pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (as amended from time to time, the “DGCL”), so as to read in its entirety in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by this reference.

4. This amendment and restatement of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the DGCL.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned officer of the Corporation has executed this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation on the 28th day of September, 2021.

 

By:  

/s/ Matthew Barron

  Name: Matthew Barron
  Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

[Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]


Exhibit A

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

SYLVAMO CORPORATION

FIRST. Name. The name of the Corporation is Sylvamo Corporation (the “Corporation”).

SECOND. Registered Office. The Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is United Agent Group Inc., 3411 Silverside Road, Suite 104 Tatnall Building, Wilmington, Delaware 19810. The name of its registered agent at such address is United Agent Group Inc.

THIRD. Purpose. The nature of the business of the Corporation and its purpose is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

FOURTH. Capital Stock. The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 220,000,000, consisting of: (x) 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Common Stock”), and (y) 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), issuable in one or more series as hereinafter provided. The number of authorized shares of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL or any corresponding provision hereinafter enacted, and no vote of the holders of any of the Preferred Stock or the Common Stock voting separately as a class shall be required thereof.

1. Provisions Relating to the Common Stock.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or by the DGCL, each holder of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled, with respect to each share of Common Stock held by such holder, to one vote in person or by proxy on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Common Stock, whether voting separately as a class or otherwise.

(b) Subject to the preferences and rights, if any, applicable to shares of Preferred Stock or any series thereof, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions in cash, property, stock or otherwise as may be declared thereon by the Board of Directors at any time and from time to time out of assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in such dividends and distributions.


(c) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, and subject to the preferences and rights, if any, applicable to shares of Preferred Stock or any series thereof, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all of the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them.

2. Provisions Relating to the Preferred Stock.

(a) The Preferred Stock may be issued at any time and from time to time in one or more series. The Board of Directors is hereby authorized to provide for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series and, by filing a certificate of designation pursuant to the applicable provisions of the DGCL (hereinafter referred to as a “Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation”), to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of shares of each such series, including, without limitation, dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences.

(b) The Common Stock shall be subject to the express terms of the Preferred Stock and any series thereof.

(c) Except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or to a Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation that alters or changes the powers, preferences, rights or other terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other series of Preferred Stock, to vote thereon pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or a Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation or pursuant to the DGCL as currently in effect or as the same may hereafter be amended.

3. Voting in Election of Directors. Except as may be required by the DGCL or as provided in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or in a Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation, holders of Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and for all other purposes, and holders of Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any matter or receive notice of any meeting of stockholders.

 

2


FIFTH. Management of Corporation. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

SIXTH. Director Indemnification. No director of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of his or her fiduciary duty as a director, provided that nothing contained in this Article SIXTH shall eliminate or limit the liability of a director (a) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law, (c) under Section 174 of the DGCL or (d) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.

SEVENTH. Stockholder Action by Written Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken only upon the vote of the stockholders at an annual or special meeting duly called and may not be taken by written consent of the stockholders. The By-Laws may establish procedures regulating the submission by stockholders of nominations and proposals for consideration at meetings of stockholders of the Corporation.

EIGHTH. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to any rights granted to holders of shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes may be called only by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors adopted by at least a majority of the directors then in office or by the Secretary of the Corporation upon written request of one or more record holders representing ownership of 20% or more of the total outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote on the business to be brought before the proposed special meeting.

NINTH. DGCL 203. The Corporation elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL (“Section 203”) as permitted under and pursuant to subsection (b)(3) of Section 203, until the first date on which International Paper Company, a New York corporation, ceases to own (directly or indirectly) ten percent (10%) of the then-outstanding shares of Common Stock. From and after such date, the Corporation shall be governed by Section 203 for so long as Section 203 by its terms would apply to the Corporation.

TENTH. Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation. The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter or repeal any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the DGCL, and all rights herein conferred upon stockholders or directors are granted subject to this reservation; provided, however, that any amendment, alteration or repeal of Article SIXTH shall not adversely affect any right or protection existing under this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation immediately prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal, including any right or protection of a director thereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, alteration or repeal.

 

3


ELEVENTH. Amendment of the By-Laws. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to amend, alter or repeal the By-Laws of the Corporation, without the assent or vote of stockholders of the Corporation. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of the By-Laws of the Corporation by the Board of Directors shall require the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the directors then in office. In addition to any other vote otherwise required by law, the stockholders of the Corporation may amend, alter or repeal the By-Laws of the Corporation, provided that any such action will require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at any annual or special meeting of stockholders.

TWELFTH. Exclusive Jurisdiction for Certain Actions. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall to the fullest extent permitted by law be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (b) any action or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, employee, stockholder or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (c) any action or proceeding asserting a claim arising out of or pursuant to, or seeking to enforce any right, obligation or remedy under, any provision of the DGCL, or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery (including, without limitation, any action asserting a claim arising out of or pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation) or (d) any action or proceeding asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article TWELFTH.

 

4

Exhibit 3.2

 

 

 

U.S. PAPER CORPORATION

BYLAWS

As Adopted on March 11, 2021

 

 

 


U.S. PAPER CORPORATION

BYLAWS

Table of Contents

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I

  MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS      1  

Section 1.01.

  Annual Meetings      1  

Section 1.02.

  Special Meetings      1  

Section 1.03.

  Participation in Meetings by Remote Communication      1  

Section 1.04.

  Notice of Meetings; Waiver of Notice      1  

Section 1.05.

  Proxies      2  

Section 1.06.

  Voting Lists      2  

Section 1.07.

  Quorum      3  

Section 1.08.

  Voting      3  

Section 1.09.

  Adjournment      3  

Section 1.10.

  Organization; Procedure      3  

Section 1.11.

  Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting      4  

ARTICLE II

  BOARD OF DIRECTORS      5  

Section 2.01.

  General Powers      5  

Section 2.02.

  Number and Term of Office      5  

Section 2.03.

  Election of Directors      5  

Section 2.04.

  Regular Meetings      5  

Section 2.05.

  Special Meetings      5  

Section 2.06.

  Notice of Meetings; Waiver of Notice      5  

Section 2.07.

  Quorum; Voting      6  

Section 2.08.

  Action by Telephonic Communications      6  

Section 2.09.

  Adjournment      6  

Section 2.10.

  Action Without a Meeting      6  

Section 2.11.

  Regulations      6  

Section 2.12.

  Resignations of Directors      7  

Section 2.13.

  Removal of Directors      7  

Section 2.14.

  Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships      7  

Section 2.15.

  Compensation      7  

Section 2.16.

  Reliance on Accounts and Reports, etc      7  

ARTICLE III

  COMMITTEES      7  

Section 3.01.

  Designation of Committees      7  

Section 3.02.

  Members and Alternate Members      8  

Section 3.03.

  Committee Procedures      8  

Section 3.04.

  Meetings and Actions of Committees      8  

Section 3.05.

  Resignations and Removals      9  


Table of Contents

(continued)

 

         Page  

Section 3.06.

  Vacancies      9  

ARTICLE IV

  OFFICERS      9  

Section 4.01.

  Officers      9  

Section 4.02.

  Election      9  

Section 4.03.

  Compensation      9  

Section 4.04.

  Removal and Resignation; Vacancies      9  

Section 4.05.

  Authority and Duties of Officers      10  

Section 4.06.

  President      10  

Section 4.07.

  Vice Presidents      10  

Section 4.08.

  Secretary      10  

Section 4.09.

  Treasurer      11  

ARTICLE V

  CAPITAL STOCK      12  

Section 5.01.

  Certificates of Stock      12  

Section 5.02.

  Facsimile Signatures      12  

Section 5.03.

  Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates      12  

Section 5.04.

  Transfer of Stock      13  

Section 5.05.

  Registered Stockholders      13  

ARTICLE VI

  INDEMNIFICATION      13  

Section 6.01.

  Indemnification      13  

Section 6.02.

  Advance of Expenses      14  

Section 6.03.

  Procedure for Indemnification      14  

Section 6.04.

  Burden of Proof      15  

Section 6.05.

  Contract Right; Non-Exclusivity; Survival      15  

Section 6.06.

  Insurance      15  

Section 6.07.

  Employees and Agents      16  

Section 6.08.

  Interpretation; Severability      16  

ARTICLE VII

  OFFICES      16  

Section 7.01.

  Registered Office      16  

Section 7.02.

  Other Offices      16  

ARTICLE VIII

  GENERAL PROVISIONS      16  

Section 8.01.

  Dividends      16  

Section 8.02.

  Reserves      17  

Section 8.03.

  Execution of Instruments      17  

Section 8.04.

  Voting as Stockholder      17  

Section 8.05.

  Fiscal Year      17  

Section 8.06.

  Seal      17  

 

ii


Table of Contents

(continued)

 

         Page  

Section 8.07.

  Books and Records; Inspection      17  

Section 8.08.

  Electronic Transmission      18  

ARTICLE IX

 

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

     18  

Section 9.01.

  Amendment      18  

ARTICLE X

 

CONSTRUCTION

     18  

Section 10.01.

  Construction      18  

 

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U.S. PAPER CORPORATION

BYLAWS

As adopted on March 11, 2021

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1.01. Annual Meetings. An annual meeting of the stockholders of the corporation for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as properly may come before such meeting shall be held each year either within or without the State of Delaware on such date and at such place and time as are designated by resolution of the corporation’s board of directors (the “Board”), unless the stockholders have acted by written consent to elect directors as permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time (the “DGCL”).

Section 1.02. Special Meetings. A special meeting of the stockholders for any purpose may be called at any time by the President or by the Secretary pursuant to a resolution of the Board, to be held either within or without the State of Delaware on such date and at such time and place as are designated by such officer or in such resolution.

Section 1.03. Participation in Meetings by Remote Communication. The Board, acting in its sole discretion, may establish guidelines and procedures in accordance with applicable provisions of the DGCL and any other applicable law for the participation by stockholders and proxyholders in a meeting of stockholders by means of remote communications, and may determine that any meeting of stockholders will not be held at any place but will be held solely by means of remote communication. Stockholders and proxyholders complying with such procedures and guidelines and otherwise entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be deemed present in person and entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication.

Section 1.04. Notice of Meetings; Waiver of Notice.

(a) The Secretary or any Assistant Secretary shall cause notice of each meeting of stockholders to be given in writing in a manner permitted by the DGCL not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days prior to the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting, subject to such exclusions as are then permitted by the DGCL. The notice shall specify (i) the place, if any, date and time of such meeting, (ii) the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, (iii) in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is called, and (iv) such other information as may be required by law or as may be deemed appropriate by the President calling the meeting, or by the Board. If the stockholder list referred to in Section 1.06 of these bylaws is made accessible on an electronic network, the notice of meeting must indicate how the stockholder list can be accessed. If the meeting of stockholders is to be held solely by means of electronic communications, the notice of meeting must provide the information required to access such stockholder list during the meeting.

 


(b) A written waiver of notice of meeting signed by a stockholder or a waiver by electronic transmission by a stockholder, whether given before or after the meeting time stated in such notice, is deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a stockholder at a meeting is a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the stockholder attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business at the meeting on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

Section 1.05. Proxies.

(a) Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent to or dissent from corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy.

(b) A stockholder may authorize a valid proxy by executing a written instrument signed by such stockholder, or by causing his or her signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means, including but not limited to by facsimile signature, or by transmitting or authorizing an electronic transmission (as defined in Section 8.08 of these bylaws) setting forth an authorization to act as proxy to the person designated as the holder of the proxy, a proxy solicitation firm or a like authorized agent. Proxies by electronic transmission must either set forth, or be submitted with, information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of a writing or transmission created pursuant to this section may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used if such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction is a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.

(c) No proxy may be voted or acted upon after the expiration of three years from the date of such proxy, unless such proxy provides for a longer period. Every proxy is revocable at the pleasure of the stockholder executing it unless the proxy states that it is irrevocable and applicable law makes it irrevocable. A stockholder may revoke any proxy that is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or by filing another duly executed proxy bearing a later date with the Secretary.

Section 1.06. Voting Lists. The officer of the corporation who has charge of the stock ledger of the corporation shall prepare, at least 10 days before every meeting of the stockholders (and before any adjournment thereof for which a new record date has been set), a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. This list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder prior to and during the meeting for any purpose germane to the meeting as required by the DGCL or other applicable law. The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled by this section to examine the list required by this section or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

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Section 1.07. Quorum. Except as otherwise required by law or by the certificate of incorporation, the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of record of a majority of the shares entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting. A quorum, once established, is not broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum.

Section 1.08. Voting. Every holder of record of shares entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders is entitled to one vote for each share outstanding in his or her name on the books of the corporation (x) at the close of business on the record date for such meeting, or (y) if no record date has been fixed, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice of the meeting 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. All matters at any meeting at which a quorum is present, including the election of directors, shall be decided by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter in question, unless otherwise expressly provided by express provision of law or the certificate of incorporation. The stockholders do not have the right to cumulate their votes for the election of directors.

Section 1.09. Adjournment. Any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned from time to time, by the chairperson of the meeting or by the vote of a majority of the shares of stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting, to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the place, if any, and date and time thereof (and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting) are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken unless (x) the adjournment is for more than 30 days, in which case notice of the adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 1.04 of these bylaws shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting, or (y) a new record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting after the adjournment, in which case notice of the adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 1.04 of these bylaws shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the adjourned meeting. At the adjourned meeting, the corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting.

Section 1.10. Organization; Procedure. The President shall preside over each meeting of stockholders. If the President is absent or disabled, the presiding officer shall be selected by the Board or, failing action by the Board, by a majority of the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy. The Secretary, or in the event of his or her absence or disability, an appointee of the presiding officer, shall act as secretary of the meeting. The Board may make such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of stockholders as it shall deem necessary, appropriate or convenient. Subject to any such rules and regulations, the presiding officer of any meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe rules, regulations and procedures for such meeting and to take all such actions as in the judgment of the presiding officer are appropriate for the proper conduct of such meeting.

 

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Section 1.11. Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting.

(a) Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote of stockholders, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, are (i) signed by the holders of outstanding shares 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 entitled to vote thereon were present and voted (but not less than the minimum number of votes otherwise prescribed by law) and (ii) delivered to the corporation by delivery to its registered office in this State, to its principal place of business or to an officer or agent of the corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded within 60 days of the earliest dated consent so delivered to the corporation.

(b) If a stockholder consent is to be given without a meeting of stockholders, and the Board has not fixed a record date for the purpose of determining the stockholders entitled to sign such consent, then: (i) if the DGCL does not require action by the Board prior to the proposed stockholder action, the record date 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 at any of the locations referred to in clause (ii) of Section 1.11(a) of these bylaws; and (ii) if the DGCL requires action by the Board prior to the proposed stockholder action, the record date shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action. Every written consent to action without a meeting shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent, and shall be valid if timely delivered to the corporation at any of the locations referred to in Section 1.11(a)(ii) of these bylaws. Any person executing a consent may provide, whether through instruction to an agent or otherwise, that such a consent will be effective at a future time (including a time determined upon the happening of an event), no later than 60 days after such instruction is given or such provision is made, and, for the purposes of this Section 1.11, if evidence of such instruction or provision is provided to the corporation, such later effective time shall serve as the date of signature. Any such consent shall be revocable prior to its becoming effective.

(c) The Secretary shall give prompt notice of the taking of an action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent to those stockholders who have not consented in writing and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by holders of a sufficient number of shares to take the action were delivered to the corporation in accordance with the DGCL.

 

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ARTICLE II

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 2.01. General Powers. Except as may otherwise be provided by law or by the certificate of incorporation, the business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board. The directors shall act only as a Board, and the individual directors shall have no power as such.

Section 2.02. Number and Term of Office. The Board shall consist off directors, or such greater or lesser number as the Board may determine by resolution, each of whom shall be a natural person. Each director (whenever elected) shall hold office until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

Section 2.03. Election of Directors. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 2.13 and 2.14 of these bylaws, the directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of the stockholders.

Section 2.04. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board shall be held on such dates, and at such times and places as are determined from time to time by resolution of the Board.

Section 2.05. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board shall be held whenever called by the President or by a majority of the Board, at such place, date and time as may be specified in the respective notices or waivers of notice of such meetings. Any business may be conducted at a special meeting.

Section 2.06. Notice of Meetings; Waiver of Notice.

(a) Notices of special meetings shall be given to each director, and notice of each resolution or other action affecting the date, time or place of one or more regular meetings shall be given to each director not present at the meeting adopting such resolution or other action, subject to Section 2.09 of these bylaws. Notices shall be given personally, or by telephone confirmed by facsimile or email dispatched promptly thereafter, or by facsimile or email confirmed by a writing delivered by a recognized overnight courier service, directed to each director at the address from time to time designated by such director to the Secretary. Each such notice and confirmation must be given (received in the case of personal service or delivery of written confirmation) at least 24 hours prior to the time of a special meeting, and at least five days prior to the initial regular meeting affected by such resolution or other action, as the case may be.

(b) A written waiver of notice of meeting signed by a director or a waiver by electronic transmission by a director, whether given before or after the meeting time stated in such notice, is deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a director at a meeting is 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 at the meeting on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

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Section 2.07. Quorum; Voting. At all meetings of the Board, the presence of a majority of the total authorized number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except as otherwise required by law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board.

Section 2.08. Action by Telephonic Communications. Members of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this provision shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 2.09. Adjournment. A majority of the directors present may adjourn any meeting of the Board to another date, time or place, whether or not a quorum is present. No notice need be given of any adjourned meeting unless (a) the date, time and place of the adjourned meeting are not announced at the time of adjournment, in which case notice conforming to the requirements of Section 2.06 of these bylaws applicable to special meetings shall be given to each director, or (b) the meeting is adjourned for more than 24 hours, in which case the notice referred to in clause (a) shall be given to those directors not present at the announcement of the date, time and place of the adjourned meeting.

Section 2.10. Action Without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and such writing or writings or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form. Any person (whether or not then a director) may provide, whether through instruction to an agent or otherwise, that a consent to action will be effective at a future time (including a time determined upon the happening of an event), no later than 60 days after such instruction is given or such provision is made and such consent shall be deemed to have been given for purposes of this Section 2.10 at such effective time, so long as such person is then a director and did not revoke the consent prior to such time. Any such consent shall be revocable prior to its becoming effective.

Section 2.11. Regulations. To the extent consistent with applicable law, the certificate of incorporation and these bylaws, the Board may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings of the Board and for the management of the affairs and business of the corporation as the Board may deem appropriate. The Board may elect from among its members a chairperson and one or more vice-chairpersons to preside over meetings and to perform such other duties as may be designated by the Board.

 

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Section 2.12. Resignations of Directors. Any director may resign at any time by submitting an electronic transmission or by delivering a written notice of resignation, signed by such director, to the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect upon delivery unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of a specified event.

Section 2.13. Removal of Directors. Any director may be removed at any time, either for or without cause, upon the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote generally for the election of directors, acting at a stockholder meeting or by written consent in accordance with the DGCL and these bylaws. Any vacancy in the Board caused by any such removal may be filled by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote for the election of the director so removed, acting at such meeting or, if the removal was effected by written consent without a meeting, in the written instrument effecting the removal.

Section 2.14. Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. Except as provided in Section 2.13, any vacancies in the Board or any newly created directorships may be filled only by a vote of the stockholders, acting at any regular or special meeting of the stockholders or by written consent in accordance with the DGCL and these bylaws. A director elected to fill a vacancy or a newly created directorship shall hold office until his or her successor has been elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

Section 2.15. Compensation. The directors shall be entitled to compensation for their services to the extent approved by the stockholders at any regular or special meeting of the stockholders. The Board may by resolution determine the expenses in the performance of such services for which a director is entitled to reimbursement.

Section 2.16. Reliance on Accounts and Reports, etc. A member of the Board, or a member of any committee designated by the Board, shall in the performance of his or her duties be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the corporation and upon information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the corporation by any of the corporation’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board, 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 III

COMMITTEES

Section 3.01. Designation of Committees. The Board may designate one or more committees. Each committee shall consist of such number of directors as from time to time may be fixed by resolution of the Board, and shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation to the extent delegated to such committee by the Board, but no committee

 

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shall have any power or authority as to (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, (b) adopting, amending or repealing any of these bylaws or (c) as may otherwise be excluded by law or by the certificate of incorporation, and no committee may delegate any of its power or authority to a subcommittee unless so authorized by the Board.

Section 3.02. Members and Alternate Members. The members of each committee and any alternate members shall be selected by the Board. The Board may provide that the members and alternate members serve at the pleasure of the Board or, if the Board shall so determine, for a stated term. An alternate member may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. An alternate member shall be given all notices of committee meetings, may attend any meeting of the committee, but may count towards a quorum and vote only if a member for whom such person is an alternate is absent or disqualified. Each member (and each alternate member) of any committee shall hold office only until the end of such term, if any, as may have been fixed for such person by the Board, the time he or she shall cease for any reason to be a director, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

Section 3.03. Committee Procedures. A quorum for each committee shall be a majority of its members, unless the committee has only one or two members, in which case a quorum shall be one member, or unless a greater quorum is established by the Board. The vote of a majority of the committee members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report to the Board when required. The Board may adopt other rules and regulations for the government of any committee not inconsistent with the provisions of these bylaws, and each committee may adopt its own rules and regulations of government, to the extent not inconsistent with these bylaws or rules and regulations adopted by the Board.

Section 3.04. Meetings and Actions of Committees. Meetings and actions of each committee shall be governed by, and held and taken in accordance with, the provisions of the following sections of these bylaws, with such bylaws being deemed to refer to the committee and its members in lieu of the Board and its members:

(a) Section 2.04 (to the extent relating to place and time of regular meetings);

(b) Section 2.05 (relating to special meetings);

(c) Section 2.06 (relating to notice and waiver of notice);

(d) Sections 2.08 and 2.10 (relating to telephonic communication and action without a meeting); and

(e) Section 2.09 (relating to adjournment and notice of adjournment).

Special meetings of committees may also be called by resolution of the Board.

 

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Section 3.05. Resignations and Removals. Any member (and any alternate member) of any committee may resign from such position at any time by delivering a written notice of resignation, signed by such member, to the President or the Secretary. Unless otherwise specified therein, such resignation shall take effect upon delivery. Any member (and any alternate member) of any committee may be removed from such position by the Board at any time, either for or without cause.

Section 3.06. Vacancies. If a vacancy occurs in any committee for any reason, the remaining members (and any alternate members) may continue to act if a quorum is present. A committee vacancy may be filled only by the Board.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Section 4.01. Officers. The Board shall elect a President and a Secretary as officers of the corporation. The Board may also elect a Treasurer, one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers, and such other officers and agents as the Board may determine. In addition, the Board from time to time may delegate to any officer the power to appoint subordinate officers or agents and to prescribe their respective rights, terms of office, authorities and duties. Any action by an appointing officer may be superseded by action by the Board. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, except that one person may not hold both the office of President and the office of Secretary. No officer need be a director of the corporation.

Section 4.02. Election. The officers of the corporation elected by the Board shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. Officers and agents appointed pursuant to delegated authority as provided in Section 4.01 (or, in the case of agents, as provided in Section 4.06) shall hold their offices for such terms as may be determined from time to time by the appointing officer. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor has been elected or appointed and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

Section 4.03. Compensation. The salaries and other compensation of all officers and agents of the corporation shall be fixed by the Board or in the manner established by the Board.

Section 4.04. Removal and Resignation; Vacancies. Any officer may be removed for or without cause at any time by the Board. Any officer granted the power to appoint subordinate officers and agents as provided in Section 4.01 may remove any subordinate officer or agent appointed by such officer, for or without cause. Any officer or agent may resign at any time by delivering notice of resignation, either in writing signed by such officer or by electronic transmission, to the Board or the President. Unless otherwise specified therein, such resignation shall take effect upon delivery. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the corporation by death, resignation, removal or otherwise, may be filled by the Board or by the officer, if any, who appointed the person formerly holding such office.

 

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Section 4.05. Authority and Duties of Officers. An officer of the corporation shall have such authority and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties (a) as may be required by law, (b) to the extent not inconsistent with law, as are specified in these bylaws, (c) to the extent not inconsistent with law or these bylaws, as may be specified by resolution of the Board, and (d) to the extent not inconsistent with any of the foregoing, as may be specified by the appointing officer with respect to a subordinate officer appointed pursuant to delegated authority under Section 4.01.

Section 4.06. President. The President shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and directors at which he or she is present, shall be the chief executive officer and the chief operating officer of the corporation, shall have general control and supervision of the policies and operations of the corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. He or she shall manage and administer the corporation’s business and affairs and shall also perform all duties and exercise all powers usually pertaining to the office of a chief executive officer and a chief operating officer of a corporation. He or she shall have the authority to sign, in the name and on behalf of the corporation, checks, orders, contracts, leases, notes, drafts and all other documents and instruments in connection with the business of the corporation. He or she shall have the authority to cause the employment or appointment of such employees or agents of the corporation as the conduct of the business of the corporation may require, to fix their compensation, and to remove or suspend any employee or any agent employed or appointed by any officer or to suspend any agent appointed by the Board. The President shall have the duties and powers of the Treasurer if no Treasurer is elected and shall have such other duties and powers as the Board may from time to time prescribe.

Section 4.07. Vice Presidents. If one or more Vice-Presidents have been elected, each Vice President shall perform such duties and exercise such powers as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board or the President pursuant to the power delegated to him or her by the Board pursuant to Section 4.01. In the event of absence or disability of the President, the duties of the President shall be performed, and his or her powers may be exercised, by such Vice President as shall be designated by the Board or, failing such designation, by the Vice President in order of seniority of election to that office.

Section 4.08. Secretary. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Secretary shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept a record of all the proceedings of the meetings of the stockholders, the Board and any committees thereof in books provided for that purpose.

(b) The Secretary shall cause all notices to be duly given in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws and as required by law.

 

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(c) Whenever any committee shall be appointed pursuant to a resolution of the Board, the Secretary shall furnish a copy of such resolution to the members of such committee.

(d) The Secretary shall be the custodian of the records and of the seal of the corporation and cause such seal (or a facsimile thereof) to be affixed to all certificates representing shares of the corporation prior to the issuance thereof and to all documents and instruments that the Board or any officer of the corporation has determined should be executed under seal, may sign (together with any other authorized officer) any such document or instrument, and when the seal is so affixed he or she may attest the same.

(e) The Secretary shall properly maintain and file all books, reports, statements, certificates and all other documents and records required by law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws.

(f) The Secretary shall have charge of the stock books and ledgers of the corporation and shall cause the stock and transfer books to be kept in such manner as to show at any time the number of shares of stock of the corporation of each class issued and outstanding, the names (alphabetically arranged) and the addresses of the holders of record of such shares, the number of shares held by each holder and the date as of which each such holder became a holder of record.

(g) The Secretary shall sign (unless the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary shall have signed) certificates representing shares of the corporation the issuance of which shall have been authorized by the Board.

(h) The Secretary shall perform, in general, all duties incident to the office of secretary and such other duties as may be specified in these bylaws or as may be assigned to the Secretary from time to time by the Board or the President.

Section 4.09. Treasurer. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Treasurer, if there be one, shall be the chief financial officer of the corporation and shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) The Treasurer shall have charge and supervision over and be responsible for the moneys, securities, receipts and disbursements of the corporation, and shall keep or cause to be kept full and accurate records thereof.

(b) The Treasurer shall cause the moneys and other valuable effects of the corporation to be deposited in the name and to the credit of the corporation in such banks or trust companies or with such bankers or other depositaries as shall be determined by the Board or the President, or by such other officers of the corporation as may be authorized by the Board or the President to make such determinations.

(c) The Treasurer shall cause the moneys of the corporation to be disbursed by checks or drafts (signed by such officer or officers or such agent or agents of the corporation, and in such manner, as the Board or the President may determine from time to time) upon the authorized depositaries of the corporation and cause to be taken and preserved proper vouchers for all moneys disbursed.

 

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(d) The Treasurer shall render to the Board or the President, whenever requested, a statement of the financial condition of the corporation and of the transactions of the corporation, and render a full financial report at the annual meeting of the stockholders, if called upon to do so.

(e) The Treasurer shall be empowered from time to time to require from all officers or agents of the corporation reports or statements giving such information as he or she may desire with respect to any and all financial transactions of the corporation.

(f) The Treasurer may sign (unless an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary shall have signed) certificates representing shares of stock of the corporation the issuance of which shall have been authorized by the Board.

(g) The Treasurer shall perform, in general, all duties incident to the office of treasurer and such other duties as may be specified in these bylaws or as may be assigned to the Treasurer from time to time by the Board or the President.

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL STOCK

Section 5.01. Certificates of Stock. The shares of the corporation shall be represented by certificates, except to the extent that the Board has provided by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the stock of the corporation shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the corporation. Every holder of stock in the corporation represented by certificates shall be entitled to have, and the Board may in its sole discretion permit a holder of uncertificated shares to receive upon request, a certificate signed by the appropriate officers of the corporation, certifying the number and class of shares owned by such holder. Such certificate shall be in such form as the Board may determine, to the extent consistent with applicable law, the certificate of incorporation and these bylaws.

Section 5.02. Facsimile Signatures. Any or all signatures on the certificates referred to in Section 5.01 of these bylaws may be in facsimile form. If any officer who has signed, or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon, a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer at the date of issue.

Section 5.03. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. A new certificate may be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed only upon delivery to the corporation of an affidavit of the owner or owners (or their legal representatives) of such certificate, setting forth such allegation, and a bond or other undertaking as may be satisfactory to a financial officer of the corporation designated by the Board to indemnify the corporation against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of any such new certificate.

 

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Section 5.04. Transfer of Stock.

(a) Transfer of shares shall be made on the books of the corporation upon surrender to the corporation of a certificate for shares, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, and otherwise in compliance with applicable law. Subject to applicable law, the provisions of the certificate of incorporation and these bylaws, the Board may prescribe such additional rules and regulations as it may deem appropriate relating to the issue, transfer and registration of shares of the corporation.

(b) The corporation may enter into agreements with shareholders to restrict the transfer of stock of the corporation in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.

Section 5.05. Registered Stockholders. Prior to due surrender of a certificate for registration of transfer, the corporation may treat the registered owner as the person exclusively entitled to receive dividends and other distributions, to vote, to receive notice and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of the owner of the shares represented by such certificate, and the corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or legal claim to or interest in such shares on the part of any other person, whether or not the corporation shall have notice of such claim or interests. If a transfer of shares is made for collateral security, and not absolutely, this fact shall be so expressed in the entry of the transfer if, when the certificates are presented to the corporation for transfer, both the transferor and transferee request the corporation to do so.

ARTICLE VI

INDEMNIFICATION

Section 6.01. Indemnification.

(a) General. The corporation shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL and other applicable law, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (each, a “proceeding”) by reason of the fact that (x) such person is or was serving or has agreed to serve as a director or officer of the corporation, or (y) such person, while serving as a director or officer of the corporation, is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, manager or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or (z) such person is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the corporation as a director, officer or manager of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by such person in such capacity, and who satisfies the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL or other applicable law:

 

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(i) in a proceeding other than a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person or on such person’s behalf in connection with such proceeding and any appeal therefrom, or

(ii) in a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person or on such person’s behalf in connection with the defense or settlement of such proceeding and any appeal therefrom.

(b) Indemnification in Respect of Successful Defense. To the extent that a present or former director or officer of the corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any proceeding referred to in Section 6.01(a) or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified by the corporation against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.

(c) Indemnification in Respect of Proceedings Instituted by Indemnitee. Section 6.01(a) does not require the corporation to indemnify a present or former director or officer of the corporation in respect of a proceeding (or part thereof) instituted by such person on his or her own behalf, unless such proceeding (or part thereof) has been authorized by the Board or the indemnification requested is pursuant to the last sentence of Section 6.03 of these bylaws.

Section 6.02. Advance of Expenses. The corporation shall advance all expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by a present or former director or officer in defending any proceeding prior to the final disposition of such proceeding upon written request of such person and delivery of an undertaking by such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation. The corporation may authorize any counsel for the corporation to represent (subject to applicable conflict of interest considerations) such present or former director or officer in any proceeding, whether or not the corporation is a party to such proceeding.

Section 6.03. Procedure for Indemnification. Any indemnification under Section 6.01 of these bylaws or any advance of expenses under Section 6.02 of these bylaws shall be made only against a written request therefor (together with supporting documentation) submitted by or on behalf of the person seeking indemnification or advance of expenses. Indemnification may be sought by a person under Section 6.01 of these bylaws in respect of a proceeding only to the extent that both the liabilities for which indemnification is sought and all portions of the proceeding relevant to the determination of whether the person has satisfied any appropriate standard of conduct have become final. A person seeking indemnification or advance of expenses may seek to enforce such person’s rights to indemnification or advance of expenses (as the case may be) in the Delaware Court of

 

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Chancery to the extent all or any portion of a requested indemnification has not been granted within 90 days of, or to the extent all or any portion of a requested advance of expenses has not been granted within 20 days of, the submission of such request. To the extent that such person has been successful in establishing such person’s right to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article VI, such person shall be indemnified by the corporation against expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by such person in connection therewith.

Section 6.04. Burden of Proof.

(a) In any proceeding brought to enforce the right of a person to receive indemnification to which such person is entitled under Section 6.01 of these bylaws, the corporation has the burden of demonstrating that the standard of conduct applicable under the DGCL or other applicable law was not met. A prior determination by the corporation (including its Board or any committee thereof, its independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct does not itself constitute evidence that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

(b) In any proceeding brought to enforce a claim for advances to which a person is entitled under Section 6.02 of these bylaws, the person seeking an advance need only show that he or she has satisfied the requirements expressly set forth in Section 6.02 of these bylaws.

Section 6.05. Contract Right; Non-Exclusivity; Survival.

(a) The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by this Article VI shall be deemed to be separate contract rights between the corporation and each director and officer who serves in any such capacity at any time while these provisions as well as the relevant provisions of the DGCL are in effect, and no repeal or modification of any of these provisions or any relevant provisions of the DGCL shall adversely affect any right or obligation of such director or officer existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to any state of facts then or previously existing or any proceeding previously or thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part upon any such state of facts. Such “contract rights” may not be modified retroactively as to any present or former director or officer without the consent of such director or officer.

(b) The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by this Article VI shall not be deemed exclusive of any other indemnification or advancement of expenses to which a present or former director or officer of the corporation seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled by any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by this Article VI to any present or former director or officer of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person.

 

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Section 6.06. Insurance. The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was or has agreed to become a director or officer of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person or on such person’s behalf in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article VI.

Section 6.07. Employees and Agents. The Board, or any officer authorized by the Board generally or in the specific case to make indemnification decisions, may cause the corporation to indemnify any present or former employee or agent of the corporation in such manner and for such liabilities as the Board may determine, up to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL and other applicable law.

Section 6.08. Interpretation; Severability. Terms defined in Sections 145(h) or (i) of the DGCL have the meanings set forth in such sections when used in this Article VI. If this Article or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each director or officer of the corporation as to costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including an action by or in the right of the corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article VI that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

ARTICLE VII

OFFICES

Section 7.01. Registered Office. The registered office of the corporation in the State of Delaware shall be located at the location provided in the corporation’s certificate of incorporation.

Section 7.02. Other Offices. The corporation may maintain offices or places of business at such other locations within or without the State of Delaware as the Board may from time to time determine or as the business of the corporation may require.

ARTICLE VIII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 8.01. Dividends.

(a) Subject to any applicable provisions of law and the certificate of incorporation, dividends upon the shares of the corporation may be declared by the Board at any regular or special meeting of the Board and any such dividend may be paid in cash, property, or shares of the corporation’s stock.

 

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(b) A member of the Board, or a member of any committee designated by the Board shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board, or by any other person as to matters the director reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the corporation, as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities and/or net profits of the corporation, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of surplus or other funds from which dividends might properly be declared and paid.

Section 8.02. Reserves. The Board may set apart, out of any of the funds of the corporation available for dividends, a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve.

Section 8.03. Execution of Instruments. The President may enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name and on behalf of the corporation. Except as otherwise required by law or the certificate of incorporation, the Board or, subject to any restrictions imposed by the Board, the President may authorize any other officer or agent of the corporation to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name and on behalf of the corporation. Any such authorization must be in writing or by electronic transmission and may be general or limited to specific contracts or instruments.

Section 8.04. Voting as Stockholder. Unless otherwise determined by resolution of the Board, the President or any Vice President shall have full power and authority on behalf of the corporation to attend any meeting of stockholders of any corporation in which the corporation may hold stock, and to act, vote (or execute proxies to vote) and exercise in person or by proxy all other rights, powers and privileges incident to the ownership of such stock at any such meeting, or through action without a meeting. The Board may by resolution from time to time confer such power and authority (in general or confined to specific instances) upon any other person or persons.

Section 8.05. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the corporation shall commence on the first day of January of each year (except for the corporation’s first fiscal year which shall commence on the date of incorporation) and shall terminate in each case on December 31.

Section 8.06. Seal. The seal of the corporation shall be circular in form and shall contain the name of the corporation, the year of its incorporation and the words “Corporate Seal” and “Delaware”. The form of such seal shall be subject to alteration by the Board. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed, affixed or reproduced, or may be used in any other lawful manner.

Section 8.07. Books and Records; Inspection. Except to the extent otherwise required by law, the books and records of the corporation shall be kept at such place or places within or without the State of Delaware as may be determined from time to time by the Board.

 

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Section 8.08. Electronic Transmission. “Electronic transmission”, as used in these bylaws, 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 8.09. Litigation. Unless the corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court of Chancery”) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the corporation, (b) any action asserting a claim for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation to the corporation or the corporation’s stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws of the corporation or (d) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case subject to the Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

Section 9.01. Amendment. These bylaws may be amended or repealed at any regular or special meeting of the stockholders if, in the case of such special meeting only, notice of such amendment or repeal is contained in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.

ARTICLE X

CONSTRUCTION

Section 10.01. Construction. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of these bylaws as in effect from time to time and the provisions of the certificate of incorporation as in effect from time to time, the provisions of such certificate of incorporation shall be controlling.

 

18

Exhibit 3.3

 

 

 

FORM OF

SYLVAMO CORPORATION

AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS

Effective as of                 , 2021

 

 

 


SYLVAMO CORPORATION

BY-LAWS

Table of Contents

 

         Page  
ARTICLE I  
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS  

Section 1.01.

 

Annual Meetings

     1

Section 1.02.

 

Special Meetings

     1

Section 1.03.

 

Participation in Meetings by Remote Communication

     1

Section 1.04.

 

Notice of Meetings; Waiver of Notice

     2

Section 1.05.

 

Proxies

     3

Section 1.06.

 

Voting Lists

     3

Section 1.07.

 

Quorum

     4

Section 1.08.

 

Voting

     4

Section 1.09.

 

Adjournment

     4

Section 1.10.

 

Organization; Procedure; Inspection of Elections

     5

Section 1.11.

 

Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting

     5

Section 1.12.

 

Notice of Stockholder Proposals and Nominations

     6
ARTICLE II  
BOARD OF DIRECTORS  

Section 2.01.

 

General Powers

     10

Section 2.02.

 

Number and Term of Office

     10

Section 2.03.

 

Election of Directors

     11

Section 2.04.

 

Regular Meetings

     12

Section 2.05.

 

Special Meetings

     12

Section 2.06.

 

Notice of Meetings; Waiver of Notice

     12

Section 2.07.

 

Quorum; Voting

     12

Section 2.08.

 

Participation by Electronic Communications Equipment

     12

Section 2.09.

 

Adjournment

     13

Section 2.10.

 

Action Without a Meeting

     13

Section 2.11.

 

Regulations

     13

Section 2.12.

 

Resignations of Directors

     13

Section 2.13.

 

Removal of Directors

     13

Section 2.14

 

Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships

     13

Section 2.15.

 

Compensation

     13

Section 2.16.

 

Reliance on Accounts and Reports, etc.

     14

Section 2.17.

 

Chairperson of the Board

     14


Table of Contents

(continued)

 

         Page  
ARTICLE III  
COMMITTEES  

Section 3.01.

 

How Constituted

     14

Section 3.02.

 

Members and Alternate Members

     14

Section 3.03.

 

Committee Procedures

     15

Section 3.04.

 

Meetings and Actions of Committees

     15

Section 3.05.

 

Resignations and Removals

     15

Section 3.06.

 

Vacancies

     16
ARTICLE IV  
OFFICERS  

Section 4.01.

 

Officers

     16

Section 4.02.

 

Election

     16

Section 4.03.

 

Compensation

     16

Section 4.04.

 

Removal and Resignation; Vacancies

     16

Section 4.05.

 

Authority and Duties of Officers

     17

Section 4.06.

 

Chief Executive Officer; President

     17

Section 4.07.

 

Vice Presidents

     17

Section 4.08.

 

Secretary

     17

Section 4.09.

 

Treasurer

     18
ARTICLE V  
CAPITAL STOCK  

Section 5.01.

 

Certificates of Stock; Uncertificated Shares

     19

Section 5.02.

 

Facsimile Signatures

     20

Section 5.03.

 

Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates

     20

Section 5.04.

 

Transfer of Stock

     20

Section 5.05.

 

Registered Stockholders

     20

Section 5.06.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

     20
ARTICLE VI  
INDEMNIFICATION  

Section 6.01.

 

Indemnification

     21

Section 6.02.

 

Advance of Expenses

     22

Section 6.03.

 

Procedure for Indemnification

     22

Section 6.04.

 

Burden of Proof

     22

 

ii


Table of Contents

(continued)

 

         Page  

Section 6.05.

 

Contract Right; Non-Exclusivity; Survival

     23

Section 6.06.

 

Insurance

     23

Section 6.07.

 

Employees and Agents

     23

Section 6.08.

 

Interpretation; Severability

     23
ARTICLE VII  
OFFICES  

Section 7.01.

 

Registered Office

     24

Section 7.02.

 

Other Offices

     24
ARTICLE VIII  
GENERAL PROVISIONS  

Section 8.01.

 

Dividends

     24

Section 8.02.

 

Reserves

     24

Section 8.03.

 

Execution of Instruments

     24

Section 8.04.

 

Voting as Stockholder or Securityholder

     25

Section 8.05.

 

Fiscal Year

     25

Section 8.06.

 

Seal

     25

Section 8.07.

 

Books and Records; Inspection

     25

Section 8.08.

 

Electronic Transmission

     25

Section 8.09.

 

Facsimile and Electronic Signatures

     25
ARTICLE IX  
AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS  

Section 9.01.

 

Amendment

     26

 

iii


SYLVAMO CORPORATION

AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS

As amended and restated effective                 , 2021

ARTICLE I

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1.01. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of the stockholders of Sylvamo Corporation (the “Corporation”) for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as properly may come before such meeting shall be held each year either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date and at such place, if any, and time as exclusively may be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Corporation’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and set forth in the notice or waiver of notice of the meeting. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board.

Section 1.02. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called only in the manner set forth in the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation as then in effect (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”). Notice of every special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall state the purpose or purposes of such meeting. Except as otherwise required by law, the business conducted at a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation shall be limited exclusively to the business set forth in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, and the individual or group calling such meeting shall have exclusive authority to determine the business included in such notice. Any special meeting of the stockholders shall be held either within or without the State of Delaware, at such place, if any, and on such date and time, as shall be specified in the notice of such special meeting. The Board may postpone, recess, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of the stockholders previously scheduled by the Board.

Section 1.03. Participation in Meetings by Remote Communication. The Board, acting in its sole discretion, may establish guidelines and procedures in accordance with applicable provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time (the “DGCL”), and any other applicable law for the participation by stockholders and proxyholders in a meeting of stockholders by means of remote communications, and may determine that any meeting of stockholders will not be held at any place but will be held solely by means of remote communication. Stockholders and proxyholders complying with such procedures and guidelines and otherwise entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be deemed present in person and entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication; provided that (i) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder, (ii) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to


provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and (iii) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.

Section 1.04. Notice of Meetings; Waiver of Notice.

(a) Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice of the meeting shall be given that shall specify (i) the place, if any, date and time of such meeting, (ii) 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, (iii) the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such record date is different from the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, (iv) in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is called, and (v) such other information as may be required by law or as may be deemed appropriate by the Chairperson of the Board, the Secretary or the Board. Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Amended and Restated By-Laws (the “By-Laws”), the notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. Notice shall be deemed to have been given to all stockholders of record who share an address if notice is given in accordance with the “householding” rules set forth in Rule 14a-3(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and Section 233 of the DGCL. If the stockholder list referred to in Section 1.06 of these By-Laws is made accessible on an electronic network, the notice of meeting must indicate how the stockholder list can be accessed. If the meeting of stockholders is to be held solely by means of electronic communications, the notice of meeting must provide the information required to access such stockholder list during the meeting.

(b) A written waiver of notice of meeting signed by a stockholder or a waiver by electronic transmission by a stockholder, whether given before or after the meeting time stated in such notice, is deemed equivalent to notice. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in a waiver of notice. Attendance of a stockholder at a meeting is a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the stockholder attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business at the meeting on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

(c) Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders pursuant to the DGCL, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws may be given in writing directed to the stockholder’s mailing address (or by electronic transmission directed to the stockholder’s electronic mail address, as applicable) as it appears on the records of the Corporation and shall be deemed given (i) if mailed, when

 

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the notice is deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, (ii) if delivered by courier service, the earlier of when the notice is (x) received or (y) left at such stockholder’s address or (iii) if given by electronic mail, when directed to such stockholder’s electronic mail address unless the stockholder has notified the Corporation in writing or by electronic transmission of an objection to receiving notice by electronic mail or such notice is prohibited by subsection (e) of Section 232 of the DGCL. A notice by electronic mail must include a prominent legend that the communication is an important notice regarding the Corporation. Notice given by electronic transmission (other than by electronic mail) pursuant to this subsection shall be deemed given: (1) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a facsimile telecommunication number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (2) if by posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and (3) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given by personal delivery, by mail or by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

Section 1.05. Proxies.

(a) Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent to or dissent from corporate action without a meeting (if permitted by the Certificate of Incorporation) may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy.

(b) No proxy may be voted or acted upon after the expiration of three years from the date of such proxy, unless such proxy provides for a longer period. Every proxy is revocable at the sole discretion of the stockholder executing it unless the proxy states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy that is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the Secretary a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date.

Section 1.06. Voting Lists. The Corporation shall prepare, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder, unless the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the meeting, in which case the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date. This list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting for any purpose germane to the meeting as required by the DGCL or other applicable law. The list may be made available on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting or may be made available 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

 

3


electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled by this section to examine the list required by this section or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

Section 1.07. Quorum. Except as otherwise required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of record of a majority of the shares entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, provided, however, that where a separate vote by a class or series is required, the holders of a majority in voting power of all issued and outstanding stock of such class or series entitled to vote on such matter, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to such matter. In the absence of a quorum, the presiding person of the meeting or the stockholders so present, by a majority in voting power thereof, may adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 1.09 of these By-Laws until a quorum is present or represented.

Section 1.08. Voting. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or by applicable law, every holder of record of shares entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders is entitled to one vote for each share outstanding in his, her or its name on the books of the Corporation (a) at the close of business on the record date for such meeting or (b) if no record date has been fixed, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice of the meeting 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. All matters at any meeting at which a quorum is present, except the election of directors, shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of the Corporation’s capital stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter in question, unless otherwise expressly provided by express provision of law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws.

Section 1.09. Adjournment. Any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned from time to time, by the presiding person of the meeting or by the vote of a majority of the shares of stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting, to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the place, if any, and date and time thereof (and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting) are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken unless the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days or a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting after the adjournment, in which case notice of the adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 1.04 of these By-Laws shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting.

 

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Section 1.10. Organization; Procedure; Inspection of Elections.

(a) At every meeting of stockholders, the presiding person shall be the Chairperson of the Board or, in the event of his or her absence or disability, the Chief Executive Officer and President, or, in the event of his or her absence or disability, a presiding person chosen by resolution of the Board. The Secretary or, in the event of his or her absence or disability, the Assistant Secretary, if any, or, if there be no Assistant Secretary, in the absence of the Secretary, an appointee of the presiding person, shall act as secretary of the meeting. The Board may make such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of stockholders as it shall deem necessary, appropriate or convenient. Subject to any such rules and regulations, the presiding person of any meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe rules, regulations and procedures for such meeting and to take all such actions as in the judgment of the presiding person are appropriate for the proper conduct of such meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the presiding person of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the presiding person of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The presiding person at any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such presiding person should so determine, such presiding person shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the presiding person of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

(b) Preceding any meeting of the stockholders, the Board may, and when required by law shall, appoint one or more persons to act as inspectors of elections, and may designate one or more alternate inspectors. If no inspector or alternate so appointed by the Board is able to act, or if no inspector or alternate has been appointed and the appointment of an inspector is required by law, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. No director or nominee for election to the Board shall be appointed as an inspector of elections. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of an inspector, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall discharge their duties in accordance with the requirements of applicable law.

Section 1.11. Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, stockholders may not take any action by consent in lieu of action at an annual or special meeting of stockholders.

 

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Section 1.12. Notice of Stockholder Proposals and Nominations.

(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders. (i) Nominations of persons for election to the Board and proposals of business to be considered by the stockholders at an annual meeting of stockholders may be made only (A) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any notice supplemental thereto), (B) by or at the direction of the Board, or a committee appointed by the Board for such purpose, or (C) by any stockholder of the Corporation who or which (1) is entitled to vote at the meeting, (2) complies in a timely manner with all notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.12, and (3) is a stockholder of record when the required notice is delivered and at the date of the meeting.

(ii) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to subclause (C) of Section 1.12(a)(i) of these By-Laws, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary and, in the case of business other than nominations for persons for election to the Board, such other business must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (which date shall, for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders after its shares of common stock are first publicly traded, be deemed to have occurred on May 16, 2021); provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than thirty (30) days or delayed by more than seventy (70) days from such anniversary date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at an annual meeting (or in the case of a stockholder giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at an annual meeting on behalf of such beneficial owner) shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such annual meeting. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth (A) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director, all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including such person’s written consent to being named in the Corporation’s proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; (B) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these By-Laws, the text of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (C) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is

 

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made (1) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner; (2) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner; (3) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of the stock of the Corporation at the time of giving the notice, will be entitled to vote at such meeting and will appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination; (4) 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 Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (y) otherwise solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination; and (5) 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 capital 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. Notice of a stockholder nomination or proposal shall also set forth, as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (A) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or proposal and/or the voting of shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation between or among the stockholder giving notice, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, any of their respective affiliates or associates and/or other person or persons (including their names) acting in concert with any of the foregoing (collectively, the “proponent persons”); (B) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including, without limitation, regardless of the form of settlement, any derivative, long or short positions, profit interests, forwards, futures, swaps, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions and borrowed or loaned shares) to which any proponent person is a party, the effect or intent of which is to transfer to or from any proponent person, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security of the Corporation, to increase or decrease the voting power of any proponent person with respect to shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation and/or to provide any proponent person, directly or indirectly, with the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from, or to otherwise benefit economically from, any increase or decrease in the value of any security of the Corporation (a “Derivative Instrument”); (C) to the extent not disclosed pursuant to the immediately preceding clause (B), the principal amount of any indebtedness of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries beneficially owned by such stockholder or by the beneficial owner, if any, together with the title of the instrument under which such indebtedness was issued and a description of any Derivative Instrument entered into by or on behalf of such stockholder or such beneficial owner relating to the value or payment of any indebtedness of the Corporation or any such subsidiary; and (D) 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 and/or for the election of directors in an election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange

 

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Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The foregoing notice requirements shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his or her intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) promulgated under the Exchange Act, and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. A stockholder providing notice of a proposed nomination for election to the Board or other business proposed to be brought before a meeting (whether given pursuant to this paragraph (a)(ii) or paragraph (b) of this Section 1.12 of these By-Laws) 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 fifteen (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 fifteen (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 at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (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 ten (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 fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting or adjournment or postponement thereof) and not later than five (5) days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, but no later than the date 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 fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation and to determine the independence of such director under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and applicable stock exchange rules. In addition, a stockholder seeking to bring an item of business before the annual meeting shall promptly provide any other information reasonably requested by the Corporation.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything in Section 1.12(a)(ii) of these By-Laws to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board made by the Corporation at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (which date shall, for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders after its shares of common stock are first publicly traded, be deemed to have occurred on May 16, 2021), then a stockholder’s notice under this Section 1.12(a) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it is received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

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(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business as shall have been brought before the special meeting of the stockholders pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting shall be conducted at such meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of the Board or a Committee appointed by the Board for such purpose or stockholders pursuant to Article EIGHTH of the Certificate of Incorporation or (2) provided that the Board or stockholders pursuant to Article EIGHTH of the Certificate of Incorporation has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.12(b) and who is a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary. The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at a special meeting (or in the case of a stockholder giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at a special meeting on behalf of such beneficial owner) shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such special meeting. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors of the Corporation, any stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting may nominate a person or persons, as the case may be, for election to such position(s) as specified by the Corporation, if the stockholder’s notice as required by Section 1.12(a)(ii) of these By-Laws shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting at which directors are to be elected.

(c) General.

(i) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.12 shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at an annual or special 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 applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, the presiding person of a meeting of stockholders shall have the power and duty (x) to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.12 (including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies in support of such stockholder’s nominee or proposal in compliance with such stockholder’s representation as required by clause (a)(ii)(C)(4) of this Section 1.12), and (y) if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Section 1.12, to declare that such defective nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted.

 

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(ii) If the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) making a nomination or proposal under this Section 1.12 does not appear at a meeting of stockholders to present such nomination or proposal, the nomination shall be disregarded and/or the proposed business shall not be transacted, as the case may be, notwithstanding that proxies in favor thereof may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 1.12, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

(A) Whenever used in these By-Laws,public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.12, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 1.12. Nothing in this Section 1.12 shall be deemed to affect any rights of (x) stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (y) the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or of the relevant preferred stock certificate of designation.

(C) The announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual or special meeting does not commence a new time period (and does not extend any time period) for the giving of notice of a stockholder nomination or a stockholder proposal as described above.

ARTICLE II

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 2.01. General Powers. Except as may otherwise be provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board. The directors shall act only as a Board, and the individual directors shall have no power as such.

Section 2.02. Number and Term of Office. Subject to any rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock to elect additional directors and any requirements of the Certificate of Incorporation, the number of directors shall be fixed, and may be altered from time to time, exclusively by resolution of the Board, but in no event may the number of directors of the Corporation be less than one (1). Each director (whenever elected) shall hold office until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

 

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Section 2.03. Election of Directors. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, and any rights of the holders of shares of any class or series of preferred stock, if any, to elect additional directors, at each meeting of stockholders for the election of directors, provided a quorum is present, each director who is standing for election shall be elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to that Director’s election; provided, however, that directors shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of votes cast in connection with the election of directors at any meeting of stockholders with respect to which (i) a stockholder has nominated a person for election to the Board in compliance with the requirements for stockholder nominees for director set forth in Section 1.12 of these By-Laws, (ii) such nomination has not been withdrawn by such stockholder prior to the 10th day preceding the date the Corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to the stockholders, and (iii) as of the record date for such meeting of stockholders, there are more nominees for election than positions on the Board to be filled by election at the meeting (a “Contested Election”). For purposes of this Section 2.03, “a majority of the votes cast” means that the number of shares voted “for” a nominee’s election exceeds the number of shares voted “against” such nominee’s election (with “abstentions” and “broker non-votes” not counted as a vote cast either “for” or “against” that director’s election).

Any nominee who is an incumbent director and does not receive a majority of the votes cast in an election that is not a Contested Election must promptly tender his or her resignation contingent on the acceptance of that resignation by the Board to the Chairperson of the Board following certification of the election results. In the event that such a resignation is tendered, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, or another duly authorized committee designated by the Board, shall recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject the tendered resignation or whether other action should be taken. The Board shall act on the resignation, considering the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation no later than at its first regularly scheduled meeting following certification of the election results and shall publicly disclose the Board’s decision (including, if applicable, the reasons for rejecting the tendered resignation) in a periodic or current report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

If one or more directors’ resignations are accepted by the Board, or if a nominee for director who is not an incumbent director is not elected, the Board may fill the resulting vacancy or vacancies pursuant to Section 2.14 of these By-Laws or reduce the size of the Board pursuant to Section 2.02 of these By-Laws.

Any director who tenders his or her resignation pursuant to this provision will not participate in the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation or Board’s decision regarding the tendered resignation. If a majority of the members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee failed to receive a majority vote at the same election, the Board shall appoint a Board committee solely for the purpose of considering the tendered resignations, consisting of one or more of the directors who were not required to tender a resignation pursuant to this provision, and shall recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject them.

 

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The stockholders do not have the right to cumulate their votes for the election of directors.

Section 2.04. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board shall be held on such dates, and at such times and places, as are determined from time to time by the Board. A notice of regular meetings of the Board shall not be required.

Section 2.05. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board shall be held whenever called by the Chairperson of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or, in the event of his or her absence or disability, by the Secretary, or by a majority of the directors then in office, at such place, date and time as may be specified in the respective notices or waivers of notice of such meetings. Any business may be conducted at a special meeting.

Section 2.06. Notice of Meetings; Waiver of Notice.

(a) Notice to directors of the date, place and time of any special meeting of the Board shall be given to each director by the Secretary or by the officer or one of the directors calling the meeting. If the notice is delivered in person, by electronic mail, telephone or other means of electronic transmission, it shall be delivered or sent at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. If the notice is sent by mail, it shall be deposited in the United States mail at least five (5) days before the time of the holding of the meeting. Except as otherwise provided herein or permitted by applicable law, notices to any director may be in writing and delivered personally or mailed to such director at such director’s address appearing on the books of the Corporation, or may be given by telephone or by any means of electronic transmission (including, without limitation, electronic mail) directed to an address for receipt by such director of electronic transmissions appearing on the books of the Corporation.

(b) A written waiver of notice of meeting signed by a director or a waiver by electronic transmission by a director, whether given before or after the meeting time stated in such notice, is deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a director at a meeting is 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 at the meeting on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

Section 2.07. Quorum; Voting. At all meetings of the Board, the presence of a majority of the total authorized number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, the vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board.

Section 2.08. Participation by Electronic Communications Equipment. Members of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this provision shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

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Section 2.09. Adjournment. A majority of the directors present may adjourn any meeting of the Board to another date, time or place, whether or not a quorum is present. No notice need be given of any adjourned meeting unless (a) the date, time and place of the adjourned meeting are not announced at the time of adjournment, in which case notice conforming to the requirements of Section 2.05 of these By-Laws shall be given to each director, or (b) the meeting is adjourned for more than twenty-four (24) hours, in which case the notice referred to in clause (a) shall be given to those directors not present at the announcement of the date, time and place of the adjourned meeting.

Section 2.10. Action Without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission. Thereafter, such writing or writings or electronic transmissions shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

Section 2.11. Regulations. To the extent consistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation and these By-Laws, the Board may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings of the Board and for the management of the affairs and business of the Corporation as the Board may deem appropriate.

Section 2.12. Resignations of Directors. Any director may resign at any time by submitting an electronic transmission or by delivering a written notice of resignation, signed by such director, to the Chairperson of the Board or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect upon delivery unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of a specified event.

Section 2.13. Removal of Directors. Subject to any rights granted to the holders of shares of any class or series of preferred stock then outstanding to remove directors elected by such class or series of preferred stock, a director may be removed at any time, either with or without cause, upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Corporation then entitled to vote in an election of directors.

Section 2.14. Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. Subject to any rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock then outstanding, and except as provided by law, any vacancies in the Board that results from the death, disability, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director or from any other cause or newly created directorships shall be filled solely by an affirmative vote of at least a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. A director elected to fill a vacancy or a newly created directorship shall hold office until his or her successor has been elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

Section 2.15. Compensation. The amount, if any, which each director shall be entitled to receive as compensation for his or her services shall be fixed from time to

 

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time by the Board. The Corporation will cause each director serving on the Board to be reimbursed for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by him or her in connection with such service.

Section 2.16. Reliance on Accounts and Reports, etc. A director, as such or as a member of any committee designated by the Board, shall in the performance of his or her duties be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees designated by the Board, or by any other person as to the 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.

Section 2.17. Chairperson of the Board. A Chairperson of the Board shall be appointed by a majority of the directors of the Board. Subject to the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Chairperson of the Board shall have the power to call special meetings of stockholders. If present, the Chairperson of the Board shall preside at meetings of the stockholders and of the Board. The Chairperson of the Board shall have such other powers and duties customarily and usually associated with the office of Chairperson of the board of directors, as well as any additional powers and duties as may be from time to time assigned to him or her by the Board. The Board may also elect from among its members a one or more vice-chairpersons to perform such duties as may be designated by the Board.

ARTICLE III

COMMITTEES

Section 3.01. How Constituted. The Board shall designate such committees as may be required by applicable laws, regulations or stock exchange rules, and may designate such additional committees as it deems necessary or appropriate (collectively, the “Committees”). Each Committee shall consist of such number of directors, with such qualifications, as may be required by applicable laws, regulations or stock exchange rules, or as from time to time may be fixed by the Board, and shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation to the extent delegated to such Committee by resolution of the Board, which delegation shall include all such powers and authority as may be required by applicable laws, regulations or stock exchange rules. No Committee shall have any power or authority (a) as to approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, (b) as to adopting, amending or repealing any of these By-Laws or (c) as may otherwise be excluded by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation. Any Committee may be abolished or re-designated from time to time by the Board.

Section 3.02. Members and Alternate Members. The members of each Committee and any alternate members shall be selected by the Board. The Board may

 

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provide that the members and alternate members serve at the pleasure of the Board. An alternate member may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the Committee. An alternate member shall be given all notices of Committee meetings, may attend any meeting of the Committee, but may count towards a quorum and vote only if a member for whom such person is an alternate is absent or disqualified. 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 to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Each member or alternate member of any Committee (whether designated at an annual meeting of the Board or to fill a vacancy or otherwise) shall hold office until his or her successor shall have been designated or until he or she shall cease to be a director, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

Section 3.03. Committee Procedures. A quorum for each Committee shall be a majority of its members, unless the Committee has only one or two members, in which case a quorum shall be one member, unless a greater quorum is established by the Board. The vote of a majority of the Committee members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Committee. Each Committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report to the Board when required. The Board may adopt other rules and regulations for the government of any Committee not inconsistent with the provisions of these By-Laws, and each Committee may adopt its own rules and regulations of government, to the extent not inconsistent with these By-Laws or rules and regulations adopted by the Board.

Section 3.04. Meetings and Actions of Committees. Meetings and actions of each Committee shall be governed by, and held and taken in accordance with, the provisions of the following sections of these By-Laws, with such By-Laws being deemed to refer to the Committee and its members in lieu of the Board and its members:

(a) Section 2.04 (relating to regular meetings);

(b) Section 2.05 (relating to special meetings);

(c) Section 2.06 (relating to notice and waiver of notice);

(d) Sections 2.08 and 2.10 (relating to electronic communication);

(e) Section 2.09 (relating to adjournment and notice of adjournment); and

(f) Section 2.10 (relating to action without a meeting).

Special meetings of Committees may also be called by resolution of the Board.

Section 3.05. Resignations and Removals. Any member (and any alternate member) of any Committee may resign from such position at any time by submitting an electronic transmission or by delivering a written notice of resignation, signed by such member, to the Chairperson of the Board or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take

 

15


effect upon delivery unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of a specified event. Any member (and any alternate member) of any Committee may be removed from such position by the Board at any time, either for or without cause.

Section 3.06. Vacancies. If a vacancy occurs in any Committee for any reason, the remaining members (and any alternate members) may continue to act if a quorum is present. A Committee vacancy may be filled only by the Board.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Section 4.01. Officers. The Board shall elect a Chief Executive Officer and President (which offices may be held by the same person) and a Secretary as officers of the Corporation. The Board may also elect a Treasurer, one or more Senior Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers and such other officers and agents as the Board may determine (including a Chief Financial Officer). The Board from time to time may also delegate to any officer the power to appoint subordinate officers or agents and to prescribe their respective rights, terms of office, authorities and duties. Any action by an appointing officer may be superseded by action by the Board. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, except that one person may not hold both the office of Chief Executive Officer and President and the office of Secretary. No officer need be a director of the Corporation.

Section 4.02. Election. The officers of the Corporation elected by the Board shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. Officers and agents appointed pursuant to delegated authority as provided in Section 4.01 (or, in the case of agents, as provided in Section 4.06) shall hold their offices for such terms as may be determined from time to time by the appointing officer. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor has been elected or appointed and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

Section 4.03. Compensation. The salaries and other compensation of all executive officers of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board or in the manner established by the Board, including by any committee established by the Board for such purpose.

Section 4.04. Removal and Resignation; Vacancies. Any officer may be removed for or without cause at any time by the Board. Any officer granted the power to appoint subordinate officers and agents as provided in Section 4.01 may remove any subordinate officer or agent appointed by such officer, for or without cause. Any officer or agent may resign at any time by delivering notice of resignation, either in writing signed by such officer or by electronic transmission, to the Board or the Chief Executive Officer and President. Unless otherwise specified therein, such resignation shall take effect upon delivery. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation, by death, resignation, removal or otherwise, may be filled by the Board or by the officer, if any, who appointed the person formerly holding such office.

 

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Section 4.05. Authority and Duties of Officers. An officer of the Corporation shall have such authority and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties (a) as may be required by law, (b) to the extent not inconsistent with law, as are specified in these By-Laws, (c) to the extent not inconsistent with law or these By-Laws, as may be specified by resolution of the Board and (d) to the extent not inconsistent with any of the foregoing, as may be specified by the appointing officer with respect to a subordinate officer appointed pursuant to delegated authority under Section 4.01.

Section 4.06. Chief Executive Officer; President. The Chief Executive Officer and President shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation, shall have general control and supervision of the policies and operations of the Corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. Unless otherwise provided by the Board, he or she shall manage and administer the Corporation’s business and affairs and shall also perform all duties and exercise all powers usually pertaining to the office of a chief executive officer of a corporation. He or she shall have the authority to sign, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, checks, orders, contracts, leases, notes, drafts and all other documents and instruments in connection with the business of the Corporation. He or she shall have the authority to cause the employment or appointment of such employees or agents of the Corporation as the conduct of the business of the Corporation may require, to fix their compensation, and to remove or suspend any employee or any agent employed or appointed by any officer or to suspend any agent appointed by the Board. The Chief Executive Officer and President shall have the duties and powers of the Treasurer if no Treasurer is elected and shall have such other duties and powers as the Board may from time to time prescribe. The Board may determine to bifurcate the role of Chief Executive Officer and President, in each case with such duties and powers as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board. In the event the role of Chief Executive Officer and President are bifurcated as described in the foregoing sentence, references in these Bylaws to Chief Executive Officer and President shall refer only to the Chief Executive Officer.

Section 4.07. Vice Presidents. If one or more Senior Vice Presidents or Vice Presidents have been elected, each Senior Vice President or Vice President shall perform such duties and exercise such powers as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer and President. In the event of absence or disability of the Chief Executive Officer and President, the duties of the Chief Executive Officer and President shall be performed, and his or her powers may be exercised, by such Senior Vice President or Vice President as shall be designated by the Board or, failing such designation, by the Senior Vice President or Vice President in order of seniority of election to that office.

Section 4.08. Secretary. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Secretary shall have the following powers and duties:

 

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(a) The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept a record of all the proceedings of the meetings of the stockholders, the Board and any Committees thereof in books provided for that purpose.

(b) The Secretary shall cause all notices to be duly given in accordance with the provisions of these By-Laws and as required by law.

(c) Whenever any Committee shall be appointed pursuant to a resolution of the Board, upon request, the Secretary shall furnish a copy of such resolution to the members of such Committee.

(d) The Secretary shall be the custodian of the records and of the seal of the Corporation, if any, and cause such seal (or a facsimile thereof), if any, to be affixed to all certificates representing shares of the Corporation prior to the issuance thereof and to all documents and instruments that the Board or any officer of the Corporation has determined should be executed under seal, may sign (together with any other authorized officer) any such document or instrument, and when the seal is so affixed he or she may attest the same.

(e) The Secretary shall properly maintain and file all books, reports, statements, certificates and all other documents and records required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws.

(f) The Secretary shall have charge of the stock books and ledgers of the Corporation and shall cause the stock and transfer books to be kept in such manner as to show at any time the number of shares of stock of the Corporation of each class issued and outstanding, the names (alphabetically arranged) and the addresses of the holders of record of such shares, the number of shares held by each holder and the date as of which each such holder became a holder of record.

(g) The Secretary shall sign (unless the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary shall have signed) certificates representing shares of the Corporation the issuance of which shall have been authorized by the Board.

(h) The Secretary shall perform, in general, all duties incident to the office of secretary and such other duties as may be specified in these By-Laws or as may be assigned to the Secretary from time to time by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer and President.

Section 4.09. Treasurer. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Treasurer, if there be one, shall be the chief financial officer of the Corporation and shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) The Treasurer shall have charge and supervision over and be responsible for the moneys, securities, receipts and disbursements of the Corporation, and shall keep or cause to be kept full and accurate records thereof.

 

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(b) The Treasurer shall cause the moneys and other valuable effects of the Corporation to be deposited in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such banks or trust companies or with such bankers or other depositaries as shall be determined by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer and President, or by such other officers of the Corporation as may be authorized by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer and President to make such determinations.

(c) The Treasurer shall cause the moneys of the Corporation to be disbursed by checks or drafts (signed by such officer or officers or such agent or agents of the Corporation, and in such manner, as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer and President may determine from time to time) upon the authorized depositaries of the Corporation and cause to be taken and preserved proper vouchers for all moneys disbursed.

(d) The Treasurer shall render to the Board or the Chief Executive Officer and President, whenever requested, a statement of the financial condition of the Corporation and of the transactions of the Corporation, and render a full financial report at the annual meeting of the stockholders, if called upon to do so.

(e) The Treasurer shall be empowered from time to time to require from all officers or agents of the Corporation reports or statements giving such information as he or she may desire with respect to any and all financial transactions of the Corporation.

(f) The Treasurer may sign (unless an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary shall have signed) certificates representing shares of stock of the Corporation the issuance of which shall have been authorized by the Board.

(g) The Treasurer shall perform, in general, all duties incident to the office of treasurer and such other duties as may be specified in these By-Laws or as may be assigned to the Treasurer from time to time by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer and President.

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL STOCK

Section 5.01. Certificates of Stock; Uncertificated Shares. The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, except to the extent that the Board has provided by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the stock of the Corporation shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Every holder of stock in the Corporation represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by any two authorized officers of the Corporation, certifying the number and class of shares owned by such holder. Such certificate shall be in such form as the Board may determine, to the extent consistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation and these By-Laws.

 

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Section 5.02. Facsimile Signatures. Any or all signatures on the certificates referred to in Section 5.01 of these By-Laws may be in any form permitted under the DGCL. If any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed, or whose signature has been placed upon, a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

Section 5.03. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. A new certificate may be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed only upon delivery to the Corporation of an affidavit of the owner or owners (or their legal representatives) of such certificate, setting forth such allegation, and a bond or other undertaking as may be satisfactory to a financial officer of the Corporation designated by the Board to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of any such new certificate.

Section 5.04. Transfer of Stock.

(a) Transfer of shares represented by certificates shall be made on the books of the Corporation upon surrender to the Corporation of a certificate for shares, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, and otherwise in compliance with applicable law. Shares that are not represented by a certificate shall be transferred in accordance with applicable law. Subject to applicable law, the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and these By-Laws, the Board may prescribe such additional rules and regulations as it may deem appropriate relating to the issue, transfer and registration of shares of the Corporation.

(b) The Corporation may enter into agreements with stockholders to restrict the transfer of stock of the Corporation in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.

Section 5.05. Registered Stockholders. Prior to due surrender of a certificate for registration of transfer, the Corporation may treat the registered owner as the person exclusively entitled to receive dividends and other distributions, to vote, to receive notice and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of the owner of the shares represented by such certificate, and the Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or legal claim to or interest in such shares on the part of any other person, whether or not the Corporation shall have notice of such claim or interests except as required by applicable law. If a transfer of shares is made for collateral security, and not absolutely, this fact shall be so expressed in the entry of the transfer if, when the certificates are presented to the Corporation for transfer or uncertificated shares are requested to be transferred, both the transferor and transferee request the Corporation to do so.

Section 5.06. Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Board may appoint one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars, and may require all certificates representing shares to bear the signature of any such transfer agents or registrars.

 

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ARTICLE VI

INDEMNIFICATION

Section 6.01. Indemnification.

(a) In General. The Corporation shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL and other applicable law (including as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (each, a “proceeding”) by reason of the fact that (x) such person is or was serving or has agreed to serve as a director or officer of the Corporation, or (y) such person, while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, manager or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise or (z) at the request of the Corporation, such person is or was serving or has agreed to serve as a director, officer, employee, manager or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by such person in such capacity, and who satisfies the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL or other applicable law:

(i) in a proceeding other than a proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person or on such person’s behalf in connection with such proceeding and any appeal therefrom, or

(ii) in a proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person or on such person’s behalf in connection with the defense or settlement of such proceeding and any appeal therefrom.

(b) Indemnification in Respect of Successful Defense. To the extent that a person has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any proceeding referred to in Section 6.01(a) or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified by the Corporation against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.

(c) Indemnification in Respect of Proceedings Instituted by Indemnitee. Section 6.01(a) does not require the Corporation to indemnify a person in respect of a proceeding (or part thereof) instituted by such person on his or her own behalf, unless such proceeding (or part thereof) has been authorized by the Board or the indemnification requested is pursuant to the last sentence of Section 6.03 of these By-Laws.

 

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Section 6.02. Advance of Expenses. The Corporation shall to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL advance all expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by a person in defending any proceeding referred to in Section 6.01(a) prior to the final disposition of such proceeding upon written request of such person and delivery of an undertaking by such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation. The Corporation may authorize any counsel for the Corporation to represent (subject to applicable conflict of interest considerations) such person in any proceeding, whether or not the Corporation is a party to such proceeding.

Section 6.03. Procedure for Indemnification. Any indemnification under Section 6.01 of these By-Laws or any advance of expenses under Section 6.02 of these By-Laws shall be made only against a written request therefor (together with supporting documentation) submitted by or on behalf of the person seeking indemnification or advance. Indemnification may be sought by a person under Section 6.01 of these By-Laws in respect of a proceeding only to the extent that both the liabilities for which indemnification is sought and all portions of the proceeding relevant to the determination of whether the person has satisfied any appropriate standard of conduct have become final. A person seeking indemnification or advance of expenses may seek to enforce such person’s rights to indemnification or advance of expenses (as the case may be) in the Delaware Court of Chancery to the extent all or any portion of a requested indemnification has not been granted within ninety (90) days of, or to the extent all or any portion of a requested advance of expenses has not been granted within twenty (20) days of, the submission of such request. All expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by such person in connection with successfully establishing such person’s right to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article, in whole or in part, shall also be indemnified by the Corporation.

Section 6.04. Burden of Proof.

(a) In any proceeding brought to enforce the right of a person to receive indemnification to which such person is entitled under Section 6.01 of these By-Laws, the Corporation has the burden of demonstrating that the standard of conduct applicable under the DGCL or other applicable law was not met. A prior determination by the Corporation (including its Board or any Committee thereof, its independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct does not itself constitute evidence that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

(b) In any proceeding brought to enforce a claim for advances to which a person is entitled under Section 6.02 of these By-Laws, the person seeking an advance need only show that he or she has satisfied the requirements expressly set forth in Section 6.02 of these By-Laws.

 

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Section 6.05. Contract Right; Non-Exclusivity; Survival.

(a) The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by this Article VI shall be deemed to be separate contract rights between the Corporation and each person referred to in Section 6.01(a) who serves in any such capacity at any time while these provisions as well as the relevant provisions of the DGCL are in effect, and no repeal or modification of any of these provisions or any relevant provisions of the DGCL shall adversely affect any right or obligation of such person existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to any state of facts then or previously existing or any proceeding previously or thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part upon any such state of facts. Such “contract rights” may not be modified retroactively as to any such person without the consent of such person.

(b) The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by this Article VI shall not be deemed exclusive of any other indemnification or advancement of expenses to which a person seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled by any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

(c) The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by this Article VI to any person referred to in Section 6.01(a) shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person.

Section 6.06. Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was or has agreed to become a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, manager or agent of another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person or on such person’s behalf in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article.

Section 6.07. Employees and Agents. The Board, or any officer authorized by the Board generally or in the specific case to make indemnification decisions, may cause the Corporation to indemnify any present or former employee or agent of the Corporation in such manner and for such liabilities as the Board may determine, up to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL and other applicable law.

Section 6.08. Interpretation; Severability. Terms defined in Sections 145(h) or 145(i) of the DGCL have the meanings set forth in such sections when used in this Article VI. If this Article or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each person referred to in Section 6.01(a) as to costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including an action by or in the right of the Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

 

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ARTICLE VII

OFFICES

Section 7.01. Registered Office. The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware shall be located at the location provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.

Section 7.02. Other Offices. The Corporation may maintain offices or places of business at such other locations within or without the State of Delaware as the Board may from time to time determine or as the business of the Corporation may require.

ARTICLE VIII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 8.01. Dividends.

(a) Subject to any applicable provisions of law and the Certificate of Incorporation, dividends upon the shares of stock of the Corporation may be declared by the Board and any such dividend may be paid in cash, property or shares of the Corporation’s stock out of its surplus, as defined in the DGCL, or, in the case there shall be no surplus, out of its net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year, or as otherwise permitted under the DGCL.

(b) A member of the Board, or a member of any Committee designated by the Board, shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or Committees of the Board, or by any other person as to matters the director reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation, as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities and/or net profits of the Corporation, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of surplus or other funds from which dividends might properly be declared and paid.

Section 8.02. Reserves. There may be set apart out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board from time to time may determine proper as a reserve or reserves for meeting contingencies, equalizing dividends, repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation or for such other purpose or purposes as the Board may determine conducive to the interests of the Corporation, and the Board may similarly modify or abolish any such reserve.

Section 8.03. Execution of Instruments. Except as otherwise required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board or any officer of the Corporation authorized by the Board may authorize any other officer or agent of the Corporation to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name and on behalf of the Corporation. Any such authorization must be in writing or by electronic transmission and may be general or limited to specific contracts or instruments.

 

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Section 8.04. Voting as Stockholder or Securityholder. Unless otherwise determined by resolution of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer and President or any Vice President shall have full power and authority on behalf of the Corporation to attend any meeting of stockholders or securityholders of any corporation or other entity in which the Corporation may hold stock or other securities, and to act, vote (or execute proxies to vote) and exercise in person or by proxy all other rights, powers and privileges incident to the ownership of such securities at any such meeting, or through action without a meeting. The Board may by resolution from time to time confer such power and authority (in general or confined to specific instances) upon any other person or persons.

Section 8.05. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as determined by the Board of Directors. In the absence of such determination, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall commence on the first day of January and shall terminate on December 31.

Section 8.06. Seal. The seal of the Corporation, if any, shall be circular in form and shall contain the name of the Corporation, the year of its incorporation and the words “Corporate Seal” and “Delaware”. The form of such seal, if any, shall be subject to alteration by the Board. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed, affixed or reproduced or may be used in any other lawful manner.

Section 8.07. Books and Records; Inspection. Except to the extent otherwise required by law, the books and records of the Corporation shall be kept at such place or places within or without the State of Delaware as may be determined from time to time by the Board.

Section 8.08. Electronic Transmission. “Electronic transmission”, as used in these By-Laws, means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, including the use of, or participation in, one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases), 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 8.09. Facsimile and Electronic Signatures. In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile or electronic signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these By-Laws, facsimile or electronic signatures of any officer or officers of the corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board or a committee thereof.

 

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ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS

Section 9.01. Amendment. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-Laws may be amended, altered or repealed (a) by resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, so long as a quorum is present or (b) by the stockholders at any regular or special meeting of the stockholders upon the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the shares of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment, alteration or repeal of Article VI shall adversely affect any right or protection existing under By-Laws immediately prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal, including any right or protection of a director, officer or other person thereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment.

 

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Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

September 28, 2021

Sylvamo Corporation

6400 Poplar Avenue

Memphis, TN 38197

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Sylvamo Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) filed on the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder for the registration of an aggregate of 4,410,725 shares (the “Shares”) of common stock, par value $1.00 per share (“Common Stock”), of the Company issuable pursuant to the Sylvamo Corporation 2021 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”).

You have requested our opinion as to the matters set forth below in connection with the Registration Statement. For purposes of rendering that opinion, we have examined (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended through the date hereof, (iii) the Company’s By-Laws, as amended through the date hereof, (iv) the Company’s stock ledger; (v) corporate actions of the Company’s Board of Directors relating to the approval of the Plan (the “Plan Resolutions”), and (vi) the Plan, and we also have made such investigation of law as we have deemed appropriate. We have examined and relied upon certificates of public officials and, as to certain matters of fact that are material to our opinion, we have also relied on a certificate of an officer of the Company. Other than our review of the documents listed in (i) through (vi) above, we have not reviewed any other documents or made any independent investigation for the purpose of rendering this opinion.

For the purposes of this opinion letter, we have made assumptions that are customary in opinion letters of this kind, including the assumptions that each document submitted to us is accurate and complete, that each such document that is an original is authentic, that each such document that is a copy conforms to an authentic original, that all signatures on each such document are genuine and that the Company is and shall remain at all times a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. We have further assumed the legal capacity of natural persons, and we have assumed that each party to the documents we have examined or relied on has the legal capacity or authority and has satisfied all legal requirements that are applicable to that party to the extent necessary to make such documents enforceable against that party. We have not verified any of those assumptions.

K&L GATES LLP

300 SOUTH TRYON STREET, SUITE 1000 CHARLOTTE NC 28202

T +1 704 331 7400 F +1 704 331 7598 klgates.com


Sylvamo Corporation

September 28, 2021

Page 2

 

In rendering our opinion below, we also have assumed that: (a) the Company will have sufficient authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock at the time of each issuance of a Share under the Plan; (b) the issuance of each Share will be duly noted in the Company’s stock ledger upon its issuance; (c) the Plan constitutes the valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms; (d) the Company will receive consideration for each Share at least equal to the par value of such share of Common Stock and in the amount required by the Plan (or the applicable award agreement thereunder) and the Authorizing Resolutions (as defined below); (e) the Plan will have become effective prior to the issuance of any Shares under the Plan; (f) prior to the issuance of any Shares under the Plan, the Company’s Board of Directors, or a committee to which it has delegated the relevant authority, will have duly authorized an award contemplating the issuance or future issuance (even if contingent) of such Shares under the Plan, pursuant to an award agreement and in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) and the Plan (the “Award Resolutions” and, together with the Plan Resolutions, the “Authorizing Resolutions”); and (g) the Authorizing Resolutions will not have been revoked, modified or amended. We have not verified any of the foregoing assumptions.

Our opinion set forth below is limited to the DGCL and reported judicial decisions interpreting the DGCL.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that when, and if, issued pursuant to the terms of the Plan, the Authorizing Resolutions and the applicable award agreement, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter with the SEC as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ K&L Gates LLP

K&L Gates LLP

Exhibit 10.1

SYLVAMO CORPORATION

2021 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

ARTICLE 1

PURPOSE

1.1. GENERAL. The purpose of the Sylvamo Corporation 2021 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) is to provide incentive for non-employee directors and designated employees of Sylvamo Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), or any Affiliate, to improve the performance of the Company on a long-term basis, and to attract and retain certain persons in the employ of the Company. Accordingly, the Plan permits the grant of incentive awards from time to time to directors of the Company and selected designated employees of the Company and its Affiliates.

ARTICLE 2

DEFINITIONS

2.1. DEFINITIONS. The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:

 

(a)

Affiliate” means (i) any Subsidiary or Parent, or (ii) an entity that directly or through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Company, as determined by the Committee.

 

(b)

Award” means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award, Deferred Stock Unit Award, Dividend Equivalent Award, Other Stock-Based Award, or any other right or interest relating to Stock or cash, granted to a Participant under the Plan.

 

(c)

Award Certificate” means a written document, in such form as the Committee prescribes from time to time, setting forth the terms and conditions of an Award. Award Certificates may be in the form of individual award agreements or certificates or a program document describing the terms and provisions of an Award or series of Awards under the Plan. The Committee may provide for the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper Award Certificates.

 

(d)

Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

 

(e)

Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

 

 

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(f)

Cause” as a reason for a Participant’s termination of employment shall have the meaning assigned such term in the employment, severance or similar agreement, if any, between such Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, provided, however that if there is no such employment, severance or similar agreement in which such term is defined, and unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Certificate, “Cause” shall include but is not limited to misconduct or other activity detrimental to the business interest or reputation of the Company or continued unsatisfactory job performance without making reasonable efforts to improve. Examples include insubordination, protracted or repeated absence from work without permission, illegal activity, disorderly conduct, etc.

 

(g)

Change in Control” means and includes the occurrence of any one of the following events:

(1) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of the Company’s voting stock representing 30% or more of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding voting stock, provided, however, that an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries for whom shares are held under an employee stock ownership, employee retirement, employee savings or similar plan and whose shares are voted in accordance with the instructions of such employee shall not be a member of a “group”(as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) solely because such employee’s shares are held by a trustee under said plan;

(2) during any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the election, or the nomination for election, by the Company’s shareowners of each new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period;

(3) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any person, or any person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the Company’s outstanding voting stock or voting stock of such other person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the Company’s voting stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitutes, or is converted into or exchanged for, voting stock representing more than 50% of the voting power of the voting stock of the surviving person immediately after giving effect to such transaction;

 

 

 

2


(4) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than to the Company or one of its subsidiaries; or

(5) the shareowners of the Company approve a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

(h)

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. For purposes of this Plan, references to sections of the Code shall be deemed to include references to any applicable regulations thereunder and any successor or similar provision.

 

(i)

Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board described in Article 4.

 

(j)

Company” means Sylvamo Corporation, a Delaware corporation, or any successor corporation.

 

(k)

Continuous Service” means the absence of any interruption or termination of service as an employee, officer, or director of the Company or any Affiliate, as applicable; provided, however, that for purposes of an Incentive Stock Option “Continuous Service” means the absence of any interruption or termination of service as an employee of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, as applicable, pursuant to applicable tax regulations. Continuous Service shall not be considered interrupted in the following cases: (i) a Participant transfers employment between the Company and an Affiliate or between Affiliates, or (ii) in the discretion of the Committee as specified at or prior to such occurrence, in the case of a spin-off, sale or disposition of the Participant’s employer from the Company or any Affiliate, (iii) a Participant transfers from being an employee of the Company or an Affiliate to being a director of the Company or of an Affiliate, or vice versa, or (iv) any leave of absence authorized in writing by the Company prior to its commencement; provided, however, that for purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed 90 days, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, on the 91st day of such leave any Incentive Stock Option held by the Participant shall cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and shall be treated for tax purposes as a Non-qualified Stock Option. Whether military, government or other service or other leave of

 

 

 

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  absence shall constitute a termination of Continuous Service shall be determined in each case by the Committee at its discretion, and any determination by the Committee shall be final and conclusive; provided, however, that for purposes of any Award that is subject to Code Section 409A, the determination of a leave of absence must comply with the requirements of a “bona fide leave of absence” as provided in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(h).

 

(l)

Deferred Stock Unit” means a right granted to a Participant under Article 9 to receive Shares of Stock (or the equivalent value in cash or other property if the Committee so provides) at a future time as determined by the Committee, or as determined by the Participant within guidelines established by the Committee in the case of voluntary deferral elections.

 

(m)

Disability” of a Participant means that the Participant (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Participant’s employer. If the determination of Disability relates to an Incentive Stock Option, Disability means Permanent and Total Disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. In the event of a dispute, the determination whether a Participant has incurred a Disability will be made by the Committee and may be supported by the advice of a physician competent in the area to which such Disability relates.

 

(n)

Dividend Equivalent” means a right granted to a Participant under Article 11.

 

(o)

Effective Date” has the meaning assigned such term in Section 3.1.

 

(p)

Eligible Participant” means Non-Employee Directors and designated employees of the Company or any Affiliate.

 

(q)

Exchange” means any national securities exchange on which the Stock may from time to time be listed or traded.

 

(r)

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

 

 

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(s)

Fair Market Value,” on any date, means (i) if the Stock is listed on a securities exchange, the closing stock price on such date (or, in the absence of reported sales on such date, on the immediately preceding date on which sales were reported), or (ii) if the Stock is not listed on a securities exchange, the mean between the bid and offered prices as quoted by the applicable interdealer quotation system for such date, provided that if the Stock is not quoted on an interdealer quotation system or if it is determined that the fair market value is not properly reflected by such quotations, Fair Market Value will be determined by such other method as the Committee determines in good faith to be reasonable and in compliance with Code Section 409A.

 

(t)

Full-Value Award means an Award other than in the form of an Option or SAR, and which is settled by the issuance of Stock (or at the discretion of the Committee, settled in cash valued by reference to Stock value).

 

(u)

Good Reason” (or a similar term denoting constructive termination) has the meaning, if any, assigned such term in the employment, severance or similar agreement, if any, between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, provided, however that if there is no such employment, severance or similar agreement in which such term is defined, “Good Reason” shall have the meaning, if any, given such term in the applicable Award Certificate. If not defined in any such document, the term “Good Reason” as used herein shall not apply to a particular Award.

 

(v)

Grant Date” of an Award means the first date on which all necessary corporate action has been taken to approve the grant of the Award as provided in the Plan, or such later date as is determined and specified as part of that authorization process. Notice of the grant shall be provided to the grantee within a reasonable time after the Grant Date.

 

(w)

Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is intended to be an incentive stock option and meets the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.

 

(x)

Independent Directors” means those members of the Board of Directors who qualify at any given time as “independent” directors under the applicable rules of each Exchange on which the Shares are listed, and “non-employee” directors under Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

 

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(y)

Non-Employee Director” means a director of the Company who is not a common law employee of the Company or an Affiliate.

 

(z)

Non-qualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(aa)

Non-Segmented Performance Award” means a Performance Award that is not a Segmented Performance Award.

 

(ab)

Option” means a right granted to a Participant under Article 7 of the Plan to purchase Stock at a specified price during specified time periods. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-qualified Stock Option.

 

(ac)

Other Stock-Based Award” means a right granted to a Participant under Article 12 that relates to or is valued by reference to Stock or other Awards relating to Stock.

 

(ad)

Parent” means a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity which owns or beneficially owns a majority of the outstanding voting stock or voting power of the Company. Notwithstanding the above, with respect to an Incentive Stock Option, Parent shall have the meaning set forth in Section 424(e) of the Code.

 

(ae)

Participant” means an Eligible Participant who has been granted an Award under the Plan; provided that in the case of the death of a Participant, the term “Participant” refers to a beneficiary designated pursuant to Section 13.4 or the legal guardian or other legal representative acting in a fiduciary capacity on behalf of the Participant under applicable state law and court supervision.

 

(af)

Performance Award” means any award granted under the Plan pursuant to Article 10.

 

(ag)

Person” means any individual, entity or group, within the meaning of Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and as used in Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act.

 

(ah)

Plan” means the Sylvamo Corporation 2021 Incentive Compensation Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

(ai)

Restricted Stock Award” means Stock granted to a Participant under Article 9 that is subject to certain restrictions and to risk of forfeiture.

 

 

 

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(aj)

Restricted Stock Unit Award” means the right granted to a Participant under Article 9 to receive shares of Stock (or the equivalent value in cash or other property if the Committee so provides) in the future, which right is subject to certain restrictions and to risk of forfeiture.

 

(ak)

Retirement” means a Participant’s termination of employment with the Company or an Affiliate after reaching at least age 55 with 10 years of service, age 61 with 20 years of service, age 62 with 10 years of service, or age 65; for purposes of determining whether any service requirement under this definition are satisfied, any continuous service (as defined in the International Paper Company Amended and Restated 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan) with International Paper Company through the date of the spin-off of Sylvamo Corporation from International Paper Company shall be included and count towards satisfaction of such service requirement. In the case of a Participant who is a Non-Employee Director, “Retirement” means retirement from the Board after reaching the age specified for mandatory retirement from the Board.

 

(al)

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

(am)

Segmented Performance Award” means a Performance Award that provides for two or more segments within an overall performance period and in which performance achievement is measured separately for each individual segment and a portion of the award is deemed earned and “banked” pending the final assessment of performance over the full performance period.

 

(an)

Shares” means shares of the Company’s Stock. If there has been an adjustment or substitution with respect to the Shares (whether or not pursuant to Article 14), the term “Shares” shall also include any shares of stock or other securities that are substituted for Shares or into which Shares are adjusted.

 

(ao)

Stock” means the $1.00 par value common stock of the Company and such other securities of the Company as may be substituted for Stock pursuant to Article 14.

 

(ap)

Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right granted to a Participant under Article 8 to receive a payment equal to the difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the date of exercise of the SAR over the base price of the SAR, all as determined pursuant to Article 8.

 

 

 

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(aq)

Subsidiary” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity of which 50% or more of the outstanding voting stock or voting power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Company. Notwithstanding the above, with respect to an Incentive Stock Option, Subsidiary shall have the meaning set forth in Section 424(f) of the Code.

 

(ar)

Surviving Entity” means the entity resulting from a Change in Control (including, without limitation, an entity which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or stock either directly or through one or more subsidiaries).

ARTICLE 3

EFFECTIVE TERM OF PLAN

3.1. EFFECTIVE DATE. The Plan shall be effective as of October 1, 2021 (the “Effective Date”).

3.2. TERMINATION OF PLAN. Unless earlier terminated as provided herein, the Plan shall continue in effect until the date of the 2031 annual shareowners’ meeting or, if the shareowners approve an amendment to the Plan that increases the number of Shares subject to the Plan, the tenth anniversary of the date of such approval. The termination of the Plan shall not affect the validity of any Award outstanding on the date of termination, which shall continue to be governed by the applicable terms and conditions of this Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Incentive Stock Options may be granted more than ten (10) years after the the Effective Date.

 

 

 

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ARTICLE 4

ADMINISTRATION

4.1. COMMITTEE. The Plan shall be administered by a Committee appointed by the Board (which Committee shall consist of at least two directors) or, at the discretion of the Board from time to time, the Plan may be administered by the Board. Unless and until changed by the Board, the Compensation Committee of the Board is designated as the Committee to administer the Plan. It is intended that the Committee be composed solely of two or more Independent Directors and that any such members of the Committee who do not so qualify shall abstain from participating in any decision to make or administer Awards that are made to Eligible Participants who at the time of consideration for such Award are persons subject to the short-swing profit rules of Section 16 of the Exchange Act. However, a Committee member’s failure to qualify as an Independent Director or failure to abstain from such action shall not invalidate any Award made by the Committee which Award is otherwise validly made under the Plan. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by, and may be changed at any time and from time to time in the discretion of, the Board. The Board may reserve to itself any or all of the authority and responsibility of the Committee under the Plan or may act as administrator of the Plan for any and all purposes. To the extent the Board has reserved any authority and responsibility or during any time that the Board is acting as administrator of the Plan, it shall have all the powers and protections of the Committee hereunder, and any reference herein to the Committee (other than in this Section 4.1) shall include the Board. To the extent any action of the Board under the Plan conflicts with actions taken by the Committee, the actions of the Board shall control.

4.2. ACTION AND INTERPRETATIONS BY THE COMMITTEE. For purposes of administering the Plan, the Committee may from time to time adopt rules, regulations, guidelines and procedures for carrying out the provisions and purposes of the Plan and make such other determinations, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Committee may deem appropriate. The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award in the manner and to the extent it deems necessary to carry out the intent of the Plan. The Committee’s interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted under the Plan, any Award Certificate and all decisions and determinations by the Committee with respect to the Plan are final, binding, and conclusive on all parties. Each member of the Committee is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by any officer or other employee of the Company or any Affiliate, the Company’s or an Affiliate’s independent certified public accountants, Company counsel or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan. No member of the Committee will be liable for any good faith determination, act or omission in connection with the Plan or any Award.

 

 

 

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4.3. AUTHORITY OF COMMITTEE. Except as provided in Section 4.1 hereof, the Committee has the exclusive power, authority and discretion to:

 

(a)

Grant Awards;

 

(b)

Delegate the granting Awards as specified in Section 4.4;

 

(c)

Designate Participants;

 

(d)

Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant;

 

(e)

Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of Shares or dollar amount to which an Award will relate;

 

(f)

Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted under the Plan;

 

(g)

Prescribe the form of each Award Certificate, which need not be identical for each Participant;

 

(h)

Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;

 

(i)

Establish, adopt or revise any rules, regulations, guidelines or procedures as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;

 

(j)

Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required under the Plan or as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;

 

(k)

Amend the Plan or any Award Certificate as provided herein; and

 

(l)

Adopt such modifications, procedures, and subplans as may be necessary or desirable to comply with provisions of the laws of the United States or any non-U.S. jurisdictions in which the Company or any Affiliate may operate, in order to assure the viability of the benefits of Awards granted to participants located in the United States or such other jurisdictions and to meet the objectives of the Plan.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, grants of Awards to Non-Employee Directors hereunder shall be made only in accordance with the terms, conditions and parameters of a plan, program or policy for the compensation of Non-Employee Directors as in effect from time to time that is approved and administered by a committee of the Board consisting solely of Independent Directors, and the Committee may not make other discretionary grants hereunder to Non-Employee Directors.

4.4. DELEGATION.

 

(a)

Administrative Duties. The Committee may delegate to one or more of its members or to one or more officers of the Company or an Affiliate or to one or more agents or advisors such administrative duties or powers as it may deem advisable, and the Committee or any individuals to whom it has delegated duties or powers as aforesaid may employ one or more individuals to render advice with respect to any responsibility the Committee or such individuals may have under this Plan.

 

 

 

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(b) Special Committee. The Board may, by resolution, expressly delegate to a special committee, consisting of one or more directors who may but need not be officers of the Company, the authority, within specified parameters as to the number and terms of Awards, to (i) designate employees of the Company or any of its Affiliates to be recipients of Awards under the Plan, and (ii) to determine the number of such Awards to be received by any such Participants; provided, however, that such delegation of duties and responsibilities to an officer of the Company may not be made with respect to the grant of Awards to eligible participants who are subject to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act at the Grant Date. The acts of such delegates shall be treated hereunder as acts of the Board and such delegates shall report regularly to the Board and the Committee regarding the delegated duties and responsibilities and any Awards so granted.

(c) Other Delegation. The Board may, by resolution, expressly delegate to the Senior Vice President & Chief People Officer the authority, within specified parameters as to the number and terms of Awards, to (i) designate employees of the Company or any of its Affiliates to be recipients of Awards under the Plan, and (ii) to determine the number of such Awards to be received by any such Participants; provided, however, that such delegation of duties and responsibilities may not be made with respect to the grant of Awards to eligible participants who are Senior Vice President of the Company and above. The acts of such delegate shall be treated hereunder as acts of the Board and such delegate shall report regularly to the Committee regarding the delegated duties and responsibilities and any Awards so granted.

ARTICLE 5

SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

5.1. NUMBER OF SHARES. Subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 5.2 and 14.1, the aggregate number of Shares reserved and available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall be 4,410,725. The maximum number of Shares that may be issued upon exercise of Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be 4,410,725.

5.2. SHARE COUNTING. Shares covered by an Award shall be subtracted from the Plan share reserve as of the Grant Date, but shall be added back to the Plan share reserve in accordance with this Section 5.2.

 

(a)

To the extent that an Award is canceled, terminates, expires, is forfeited or lapses for any reason, any unissued or forfeited Shares subject to the Award shall be added back to the Plan share reserve and again be available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.

 

 

 

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(b)

Shares subject to Awards settled in cash shall be added back to the Plan share reserve and again be available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.

 

(c)

Shares withheld from an Award or delivered by a Participant to satisfy minimum tax withholding requirements shall be added back to the Plan share reserve and again be available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.

 

(d)

If the exercise price of an Option is satisfied by delivering Shares to the Company (by either actual delivery or attestation), only the number of Shares issued to the Participant in excess of the Shares tendered (by delivery or attestation) shall be debited from the number of Shares remaining available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.

 

(e)

To the extent that the full number of Shares subject to an Option or SAR is not issued upon exercise of the Option or SAR for any reason, including by reason of net-settlement of the Award, only the number of Shares issued and delivered upon exercise of the Option or SAR shall be considered for purposes of determining the number of Shares remaining available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.

 

(f)

To the extent that the full number of Shares subject to a Performance Award is not issued by reason of failure to achieve maximum performance goals, the unissued Shares originally subject to the Performance Award will be added back to the Plan share reserve and again be available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.

 

(g)

Substitute Awards granted pursuant to Section 13.11 shall not count against the Shares otherwise available for issuance under the Plan under Section 5.1.

 

(h)

Subject to applicable Exchange requirements, shares available under a shareowner-approved plan of a company acquired by the Company (as appropriately adjusted to Shares to reflect the transaction) may be issued under the Plan pursuant to Awards granted to individuals who were not employees of the Company or its Affiliates immediately before such transaction and will not count against the maximum share limitation specified in Section 5.1.

5.3. STOCK DISTRIBUTED. Any Stock distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Stock, treasury Stock or Stock purchased on the open market.

 

 

 

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ARTICLE 6

ELIGIBILITY

6.1. GENERAL. Awards may be granted only to Eligible Participants. Eligible Participants who are service providers to an Affiliate may be granted Options or SARs under this Plan only if the Affiliate qualifies as an “eligible issuer of service recipient stock” within the meaning of §1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E) of the final regulations under Code Section 409A.

ARTICLE 7

STOCK OPTIONS

7.1. GENERAL. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

 

(a)

Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share under an Option shall be determined by the Committee, provided that the exercise price for any Option (other than an Option issued as a substitute Award pursuant to Section 13.11) shall not be less than the Fair Market Value as of the Grant Date.

 

(b)

Prohibition on Repricing. Except as otherwise provided in Section 14.1, the exercise price of an Option may not be reduced, directly or indirectly by cancellation and regrant or otherwise, without the prior approval of the shareowners of the Company.

 

(c)

Time and Conditions of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part, subject to Section 7.1(e). The Committee shall also determine the performance or other conditions, if any, that must be satisfied before all or part of an Option may be exercised or vested.

 

(d)

Payment. The Committee shall determine the methods by which the exercise price of an Option may be paid, the form of payment, and the methods by which Shares shall be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants. As determined by the Committee at or after the Grant Date, payment of the exercise price of an Option may be made, in whole or in part, in the form of (i) cash or cash equivalents, (ii) delivery (by either actual delivery or attestation) of previously-acquired Shares based on the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date the Option is exercised, (iii) withholding of Shares from the Option based on the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date the Option is exercised, (iv) broker-assisted market sales, or (iv) any other “cashless exercise” arrangement.

 

 

 

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(e)

Exercise Term. Except for Non-qualified Stock Options granted to Participants outside the United States, no Option granted under the Plan shall be exercisable for more than ten years from the Grant Date.

 

(f)

No Deferral Feature. No Option shall provide for any feature for the deferral of compensation other than the deferral of recognition of income until the exercise or disposition of the Option.

 

(g)

No Dividend Equivalents. No Option shall provide for Dividend Equivalents.

7.2. INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. Incentive Stock Options may be granted to only to Eligible Participants who are employees of the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary as defined in Section 424(e) and (f) of the Code. The terms of any Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan must comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. If all of the requirements of Section 422 of the Code are not met, the Option shall automatically become a Non-qualified Stock Option.

ARTICLE 8

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

8.1. GRANT OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. The Committee is authorized to grant Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”) to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

 

(a)

Right to Payment. Upon the exercise of a SAR, the Participant to whom it is granted has the right to receive, for each Share with respect to which the SAR is being exercised, the excess, if any, of:

(1) The Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise; over

(2) The base price of the SAR as determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Certificate, which shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of one Share on the Grant Date.

 

(b)

Prohibition on Repricing. Except as otherwise provided in Section 14.1, the base price of a SAR may not be reduced, directly or indirectly by cancellation and regrant or otherwise, without the prior approval of the shareowners of the Company.

 

(c)

Time and Conditions of Exercise. Except for SARs granted to Participants outside the United States, no SAR shall be exercisable for more than ten years from the Grant Date.

 

 

 

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(d)

No Deferral Feature. No SAR shall provide for any feature for the deferral of compensation other than the deferral of recognition of income until the exercise or disposition of the SAR.

 

(e)

No Dividend Equivalents. No SAR shall provide for Dividend Equivalents.

 

(f)

Other Terms. All SARs shall be evidenced by an Award Certificate. Subject to the limitations of this Article 8, the terms, methods of exercise, methods of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, and any other terms and conditions of any SAR shall be determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award and shall be reflected in the Award Certificate.

ARTICLE 9

RESTRICTED STOCK, RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

AND DEFERRED STOCK UNITS

9.1. GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK, RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS AND DEFERRED STOCK UNITS. The Committee is authorized to make Awards of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units to Participants in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as may be selected by the Committee. An Award of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units shall be evidenced by an Award Certificate setting forth the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to the Award.

9.2. ISSUANCE AND RESTRICTIONS. Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the Committee may impose (including, without limitation, limitations on the right to vote Restricted Stock or the right to receive dividends on the Restricted Stock). These restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances, in such installments, upon the satisfaction of performance goals or otherwise, as the Committee determines at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter. Except as otherwise provided in an Award Certificate or any special Plan document governing an Award, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a shareowner with respect to the Restricted Stock, and the Participant shall have none of the rights of a shareowner with respect to Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units until such time as Shares of Stock are paid in settlement of the Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Certificate, Awards of Restricted Stock will be entitled to full dividend rights and any dividends paid thereon will be paid or distributed to the holder no later than the end of the calendar year in which the dividends are paid to shareowners or, if later, the 15th day of the third month following the date the dividends are paid to shareowners.

 

 

 

15


9.3. FORFEITURE. Subject to the terms of the Award Certificate and except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter, upon termination of Continuous Service during the applicable restriction period or upon failure to satisfy a performance goal during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units that are at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited.

9.4. DELIVERY OF RESTRICTED STOCK. Shares of Restricted Stock shall be delivered to the Participant on the Grant Date either by book-entry registration or by delivering to the Participant, or a custodian or escrow agent (including, without limitation, the Company or one or more of its employees) designated by the Committee, a stock certificate or certificates registered in the name of the Participant. If physical certificates representing shares of Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, such certificates must bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock.

ARTICLE 10

PERFORMANCE AWARDS

10.1. GRANT OF PERFORMANCE AWARDS. The Committee is authorized to grant any Award under this Plan, including cash-settled Awards, with performance-based vesting criteria, on such terms and conditions as may be selected by the Committee. Any such Awards with performance-based vesting criteria are referred to herein as Performance Awards. The Committee shall have the complete discretion to determine the number of Performance Awards granted to each Participant, subject to Section 5.4, and to designate the provisions of such Performance Awards as provided in Section 4.3. All Performance Awards shall be evidenced by an Award Certificate or a written program established by the Committee, pursuant to which Performance Awards are awarded under the Plan under uniform terms, conditions and restrictions set forth in such written program. All Dividend Equivalents credited on Performance Shares during a performance period shall be reinvested in additional Performance Shares, which shall be allocated to the same performance period and shall be subject to being earned by the Participant on the same basis as the original Award. Once a Performance Award has been settled in Stock, any dividends on such Shares shall be paid in the same form and at the same time as to other shareowners.

10.2. PERFORMANCE GOALS. The Committee may establish performance goals for Performance Awards which may be based on any criteria selected by the Committee. Such performance goals may be described in terms of Company-wide objectives or in terms of objectives that relate to the performance of the Participant, an Affiliate or a division, region, department or function within the Company or an Affiliate. Such performance measures may include, but are not limited to:

 

(a)

Revenue

 

 

 

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(b)

Sales

 

(c)

Profit (net profit, gross profit, operating profit, economic profit, profit margins or other corporate profit measures)

 

(d)

Earnings (EBIT, EBITDA, earnings per share, or other corporate earnings measures)

 

(e)

Net income (before or after taxes, operating income or other income measures)

 

(f)

Cash (cash flow, cash generation or other cash measures)

 

(g)

Stock price or performance

 

(h)

Total shareholder return (stock price appreciation plus reinvested dividends divided by beginning share price)

 

(i)

Economic value added

 

(j)

Return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, income, capital, equity, investments or sales, and cash flow return on assets, capital, equity, or sales);

 

(k)

Market share

 

(l)

Improvements in capital structure

 

(m)

Expenses (expense management, expense ratio, expense efficiency ratios or other expense measures)

 

(n)

Business expansion or consolidation (acquisitions and divestitures)

 

(o)

Internal rate of return or increase in net present value

 

(p)

Working capital targets relating to inventory and/or accounts receivable

 

(q)

Safety standards

 

(r)

Productivity measures

 

(s)

Cost reduction measures

 

(t)

Strategic plan development and implementation

If the Committee determines that events or circumstances render the performance goals to be unsuitable, the Committee may modify such performance goals in whole or in part, as the Committee deems appropriate. If a Participant is promoted, demoted or transferred to a different business unit or function during a performance period, the Committee may determine that the performance goals or performance period are no longer appropriate and may (i) adjust, change or eliminate the performance goals or the applicable performance period as it deems appropriate to make such goals and period comparable to the initial goals and period, or (ii) make a cash payment to the participant in an amount determined by the Committee.

 

 

 

17


ARTICLE 11

DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS

11.1. GRANT OF DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS. The Committee is authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents with respect to Full-Value Awards granted hereunder, subject to such terms and conditions as may be selected by the Committee. Dividend Equivalents shall entitle the Participant to receive payments equal to ordinary cash dividends or distributions with respect to all or a portion of the number of Shares subject to a Full-Value Award, as determined by the Committee. Dividend Equivalents will be accrued and only vest and be payable to a Participant if and to the extent that any Shares underlying such Full-Value Award with which respect to the Dividend Equivalent was granted actually vest and become payable.

ARTICLE 12

STOCK OR OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS

12.1. GRANT OF STOCK OR OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS. The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants such other Awards that are payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to Shares, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan, including without limitation Shares awarded purely as a “bonus” and not subject to any restrictions or conditions, convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Shares, and Awards valued by reference to book value of Shares or the value of securities of or the performance of specified Parents or Subsidiaries. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards.

ARTICLE 13

PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS

13.1. AWARD CERTIFICATES. Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Certificate. Each Award Certificate shall include such provisions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as may be specified by the Committee.

13.2. FORM OF PAYMENT FOR AWARDS. At the discretion of the Committee, payment of Awards may be made in cash, Stock, a combination of cash and Stock, or any other form of property as the Committee shall determine. In addition, payment of Awards may include such terms, conditions, restrictions and/or limitations, if any, as the Committee deems appropriate, including, in the case of Awards paid in the form of Stock, restrictions on transfer and forfeiture provisions. Further, payment of Awards may be made in the form of a lump sum, or in installments, as determined by the Committee.

13.3. LIMITS ON TRANSFER. No right or interest of a Participant in any unexercised or restricted Award may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any party other than the Company or an Affiliate, or shall be subject to any lien,

 

 

 

18


obligation, or liability of such Participant to any other party other than the Company or an Affiliate. No unexercised or restricted Award shall be assignable or transferable by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, except in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, pursuant to a domestic relations order that would satisfy Section 414(p)(1)(A) of the Code if such Section applied to an Award under the Plan; provided, however, that the Committee may (but need not) permit other transfers (other than transfers for value) where the Committee concludes that such transferability (i) does not result in accelerated taxation, (ii) does not cause any Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option to fail to be described in Code Section 422(b), and (iii) is otherwise appropriate and desirable, taking into account any factors deemed relevant, including without limitation, state or federal tax or securities laws applicable to transferable Awards.

13.4. BENEFICIARIES. Notwithstanding Section 13.3, a Participant may, in the manner determined by the Committee, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Participant and to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the Participant’s death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights under the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Certificate applicable to the Participant, except to the extent the Plan and Award Certificate otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives the Participant, any payment due to the Participant shall be made to the Participant’s estate. Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Participant at any time provided the change or revocation is filed with the Company.

13.5. STOCK TRADING RESTRICTIONS. All Stock issuable under the Plan is subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to comply with federal or state securities laws, rules and regulations and the rules of any national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Stock is listed, quoted, or traded. The Committee may place legends on any Stock certificate or issue instructions to the transfer agent to reference restrictions applicable to the Stock.

13.6. TREATMENT UPON DEATH OR DISABILITY. Except as otherwise provided in the Award Certificate or any special Plan document governing an Award, upon the termination of a person’s Continuous Service by reason of death or Disability:

 

(a)

all of that Participant’s outstanding Options and SARs shall become fully exercisable, and shall thereafter remain exercisable for a period of one (1) year or until the earlier expiration of the original term of the Option or SAR;

 

(b)

all time-based vesting restrictions on that Participant’s outstanding Awards shall lapse as of the date of termination; and

 

(c)

the payout opportunities attainable under all of that Participant’s outstanding Performance Awards shall be prorated based upon the number of months employed during each measurement period and shall be paid at the end of the Award period based on actual Company performance.

 

 

 

19


To the extent that this provision causes Incentive Stock Options to exceed the dollar limitation set forth in Code Section 422(d), the excess Options shall be deemed to be Non-qualified Stock Options.

13.7. TREATMENT UPON RETIREMENT. Except as otherwise provided in the Award Certificate or any special Plan document governing an Award, upon the termination of a person’s Continuous Service by reason of his or her Retirement:

 

(a)

that Participant’s outstanding Options and SARs shall become exercisable on a pro-rated basis (based upon the number of months employed during the applicable vesting period), and shall thereafter remain exercisable for a period of one (1) year or until the earlier expiration of the original term of the Option or SAR;

 

(b)

time-based vesting restrictions on that Participant’s outstanding Awards shall lapse in a pro-rated basis (based upon the number of months employed during the applicable vesting period); and

 

(c)

the payout opportunities attainable under all of that Participant’s outstanding Performance Awards shall be prorated based upon the number of months employed during each measurement period and shall be paid at the end of the Award period based on actual Company performance.

To the extent that this provision causes Incentive Stock Options to exceed the dollar limitation set forth in Code Section 422(d), the excess Options shall be deemed to be Non-qualified Stock Options.

13.8. EFFECT OF A CHANGE IN CONTROL. The provisions of this Section 13.8 shall apply in the case of a Change in Control, unless otherwise provided in the Award Certificate or any special Plan document or separate agreement with a Participant governing an Award.

 

(a)

Awards Assumed or Substituted by Surviving Entity. With respect to Awards assumed by the Surviving Entity or otherwise equitably converted or substituted in connection with a Change in Control in a manner approved by the Committee or the Board: if within two years after the effective date of the Change in Control, a Participant’s employment is terminated without Cause or the Participant resigns for Good Reason, then

 

(i)

all of that Participant’s outstanding Options or SARs shall become fully vested and exercisable as of the employment termination date and shall thereafter continue or lapse in accordance with the other provisions of the Plan and the Award Certificate;

 

 

 

20


(ii)

all time-based vesting restrictions on that Participant’s outstanding Awards shall lapse as of the employment termination date; and

 

(iii)

the level of performance achievement under all of that Participant’s Performance Awards that were outstanding immediately prior to effective time of the Change in Control shall be calculated as follows:

(A) Segmented Performance Awards:

 

1.

The portion of the Award that had been “banked” prior to the employment termination date based on the assessment of performance for a completed segment shall be fully vested as of the employment termination date; and

 

2.

The portion of the Award that relates to any segment that had not been completed, or for which performance had not been assessed, prior to the employment termination date shall vest as of the employment termination date based on the assumed achievement of performance at the “target” level.

 

3.

In either such case, the vested portion of the Award shall be paid within sixty (60) days following the employment termination date (unless a later date is required by Section 16.4 hereof).

(B) Non-Segmented Performance Awards:

 

1.

Where less than one year had elapsed between the beginning of the applicable performance period and the employment termination date, a Non-Segmented Performance Award shall vest as of the employment termination date based on the assumed achievement of performance at the “target” level; and

 

2.

Where one year or more has elapsed between the beginning of the applicable performance period and the employment termination date, a Non-Segmented Award shall vest based upon the level of actual Company performance measured through the end of the year immediately preceding the employment termination date.

 

3.

In either such case, the vested portion of the Award shall be paid within sixty (60) days following the employment termination date (unless a later date is required by Section 16.4 hereof).

 

 

 

21


(b)

Awards not Assumed or Substituted by Surviving Entity. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, and except with respect to any Awards assumed by the Surviving Entity or otherwise equitably converted or substituted in connection with the Change in Control in a manner approved by the Committee or the Board:

 

(i)

outstanding Options or SARs shall become fully vested and exercisable as of the date of the Change in Control and shall thereafter continue or lapse in accordance with the other provisions of the Plan and the Award Certificate;

 

(ii)

time-based vesting restrictions on outstanding Awards shall lapse as of the date of the Change in Control; and

 

(iii)

the level of performance achievement under outstanding Performance Awards shall be calculated as follows:

(A) Segmented Performance Awards:

 

1.

The portion of the Award that had been “banked” prior to the Change in Control based on the assessment of performance for a completed segment shall be fully vested as of the date of the Change in Control; and

 

2.

The portion of the Award that relates to any segment that had not been completed, or for which performance had not been assessed, prior to the Change in Control shall vest as of the date of the Change in Control based on the assumed achievement of performance at the “target” level.

 

3.

In either such case, the vested portion of the Award shall be paid within sixty (60) days following the Change in Control (unless a later date is required by Section 16.4 hereof).

(B) Non-Segmented Performance Awards:

 

1.

Where less than one year has elapsed between the beginning of the applicable performance period and the Change in Control, a Non-Segmented Performance Award shall vest as of the date of the Change in Control based on the assumed achievement of performance at the “target” level; and

 

 

 

22


2.

Where one year or more has elapsed between the beginning of the applicable performance period and the Change in Control, a Non-Segmented Award shall vest as of the date of the Change in Control based upon the level of actual Company performance measured through the date of the Change in Control.

 

3.

In either such case, the vested portion of the Award shall be paid within sixty (60) days following the Change in Control (unless a later date is required by Section 16.4 hereof).

13.9. ACCELERATION FOR ANY OTHER REASON. Regardless of whether an event has occurred as described in Sections 13.6, 13.7 or 13.8 above, the Committee may in its sole discretion at any time determine that all or a portion of a Participant’s Options, SARs, and other Awards in the nature of rights that may be exercised shall become fully or partially exercisable, that all or a part of the time-based vesting restrictions on all or a portion of the outstanding Awards shall lapse, and/or that any performance-based criteria with respect to any Awards shall be deemed to be wholly or partially satisfied, in each case, as of such date as the Committee may, in its sole discretion, declare. The Committee may discriminate among Participants and among Awards granted to a Participant in exercising its discretion pursuant to this Section 13.9. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan, including this Section 13.9, the Committee may not accelerate the payment of any Award if such acceleration would violate Section 409A(a)(3) of the Code.

13.10. FORFEITURE EVENTS. Awards under the Plan shall be subject to any compensation recoupment policy that the Company may adopt from time to time that is applicable by its terms to the Participant. In addition, the Committee may specify in an Award Certificate that the Participant’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award.

Such events may include, but shall not be limited to, voluntary termination prior to Retirement eligibility, termination of employment for Cause, violation of a Non-Compete Agreement, Non-Solicitation Agreement or Confidentiality Agreement, or other conduct by the Participant that is detrimental to the business interest or reputation of the Company or any Affiliate or any act that is determined by the Senior Vice President & Chief People Officer to be a deliberate disregard of the Company’s rules.

13.11. SUBSTITUTE AWARDS. The Committee may grant Awards under the Plan in substitution for stock and stock-based awards held by employees of another entity who become employees of the Company or an Affiliate as a result of a merger or consolidation of

 

 

 

23


the former employing entity with the Company or an Affiliate or the acquisition by the Company or an Affiliate of property or stock of the former employing corporation. The Committee may direct that the substitute awards be granted on such terms and conditions as the Committee considers appropriate in the circumstances.

ARTICLE 14

CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE

14.1. MANDATORY ADJUSTMENTS. In the event of a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its shareowners that causes the per-share value of the Stock to change (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering, or large nonrecurring cash dividend), the authorization limits under Section 5.1 and 5.4 shall be adjusted proportionately, and the Committee shall make such adjustments to the Plan and Awards as it deems necessary, in its sole discretion, to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights immediately resulting from such transaction. Action by the Committee may include: (i) adjustment of the number and kind of shares that may be delivered under the Plan; (ii) adjustment of the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Awards; (iii) adjustment of the exercise price of outstanding Awards or the measure to be used to determine the amount of the benefit payable on an Award; and (iv) any other adjustments that the Committee determines to be equitable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall not make any adjustments to outstanding Options or SARs that would constitute a modification or substitution of the stock right under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(v) that would be treated as the grant of a new stock right or change in the form of payment for purposes of Code Section 409A. Without limiting the foregoing, in the event of a subdivision of the outstanding Stock (stock-split), a declaration of a dividend payable in Shares, or a combination or consolidation of the outstanding Stock into a lesser number of Shares, the authorization limits under Sections 5.1 and 5.4 shall automatically be adjusted proportionately, and the Shares then subject to each Award shall automatically, without the necessity for any additional action by the Committee, be adjusted proportionately without any change in the aggregate purchase price therefor.

14.2 DISCRETIONARY ADJUSTMENTS. Upon the occurrence or in anticipation of any corporate event or transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any merger, reorganization, recapitalization, combination or exchange of shares, or any transaction described in Section 14.1), the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide (i) that Awards will be settled in cash rather than Stock, (ii) that Awards will become immediately vested and exercisable (in whole or in part) and will expire after a designated period of time to the extent not then exercised, (iii) that Awards will be assumed by another party to a transaction or otherwise be equitably converted or substituted in connection with such transaction, (iv) that outstanding Awards may be settled by payment in cash or cash equivalents equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the underlying Stock, as of a specified date associated with the transaction, over the exercise or base price of the Award, or (v) any combination of the foregoing. The Committee’s determination need not be uniform and may be different for different Participants whether or not such Participants are similarly situated.

 

 

 

24


14.3 GENERAL. Any discretionary adjustments made pursuant to this Article 14 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 15.2. To the extent that any adjustments made pursuant to this Article 14 cause Incentive Stock Options to cease to qualify as Incentive Stock Options, such Options shall be deemed to be Non-qualified Stock Options.

ARTICLE 15

AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION

15.1. AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION. The Board or the Committee may, at any time and from time to time, amend, modify or terminate the Plan without shareowner approval; provided, however, that if an amendment to the Plan would, in the reasonable opinion of the Board or the Committee, either (i) materially increase the number of Shares available under the Plan, (ii) expand the types of awards under the Plan, (iii) materially expand the class of participants eligible to participate in the Plan, (iv) materially extend the term of the Plan, or (v) otherwise constitute a material change requiring shareowner approval under applicable laws, policies or regulations or the applicable listing or other requirements of an Exchange, then such amendment shall be subject to shareowner approval; and provided, further, that the Board or Committee may condition any other amendment or modification on the approval of shareowners of the Company for any reason, including by reason of such approval being necessary or deemed advisable (i) to comply with the listing or other requirements of an Exchange, or (ii) to satisfy any other tax, securities or other applicable laws, policies or regulations.

15.2. AWARDS PREVIOUSLY GRANTED. At any time and from time to time, the Committee may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award without approval of the Participant; provided, however:

 

(a)

Subject to the terms of the applicable Award Certificate, no amendment, modification or termination shall, without the Participant’s consent, reduce or diminish the value of such Award determined as if the Award had been exercised, vested, cashed in or otherwise settled on the date of such amendment or termination (with the per-share value of an Option or SAR for this purpose being calculated as the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value as of the date of such amendment or termination over the exercise or base price of such Award);

 

(b)

The original term of an Option or SAR may not be extended without the prior approval of the shareowners of the Company;

 

 

 

25


(c)

Except as otherwise provided in Section 14.1, the exercise price of an Option or base price of a SAR may not be reduced, directly or indirectly, without the prior approval of the shareowners of the Company; and

 

(d)

No termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan shall adversely affect any Award previously granted under the Plan, without the written consent of the Participant affected thereby. An outstanding Award shall not be deemed to be “adversely affected” by a Plan amendment if such amendment would not reduce or diminish the value of such Award determined as if the Award had been exercised, vested, cashed in or otherwise settled on the date of such amendment (with the per-share value of an Option or SAR for this purpose being calculated as the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value as of the date of such amendment over the exercise or base price of such Award).

15.3. COMPLIANCE AMENDMENTS. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or in any Award Certificate to the contrary, the Board may amend the Plan or an Award Certificate, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of conforming the Plan or Award Certificate to any present or future law relating to plans of this or similar nature (including, but not limited to, Section 409A of the Code), and to the administrative regulations and rulings promulgated thereunder. By accepting an Award under this Plan, a Participant agrees to any amendment made pursuant to this Section 15.3 to any Award granted under the Plan without further consideration or action.

ARTICLE 16

GENERAL PROVISIONS

16.1. RIGHTS OF PARTICIPANTS.

 

(a)

No Participant or any Eligible Participant shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan. Neither the Company, its Affiliates nor the Committee is obligated to treat Participants or Eligible Participants uniformly, and determinations made under the Plan may be made by the Committee selectively among Eligible Participants who receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards (whether or not such Eligible Participants are similarly situated).

 

(b)

Nothing in the Plan, any Award Certificate or any other document or statement made with respect to the Plan, shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate any Participant’s employment or status as an officer, or any Participant’s service as a director, at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue as an employee, officer, or director of the Company or any Affiliate, whether for the duration of a Participant’s Award or otherwise.

 

 

 

26


(c)

Neither an Award nor any benefits arising under this Plan shall constitute an employment contract with the Company or any Affiliate and, accordingly, subject to Article 15, this Plan and the benefits hereunder may be terminated at any time in the sole and exclusive discretion of the Committee without giving rise to any liability on the part of the Company or an of its Affiliates.

 

(d)

No Award gives a Participant any of the rights of a shareowner of the Company unless and until Shares are in fact issued to such person in connection with such Award.

16.2. WITHHOLDING. The Company or any Affiliate shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation in the United States and any social tax obligations for any non-U.S. jurisdiction) required by law to be withheld with respect to any exercise, lapse of restriction or other taxable event arising as a result of the Plan. The obligations of the Company under the Plan will be conditioned on such payment or arrangements and the Company or such Affiliate will, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time the Award is granted or thereafter, any such withholding requirement may be satisfied, in whole or in part, by withholding from the Award Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date of withholding equal to the minimum amount (and not any greater amount) required to be withheld for tax purposes, all in accordance with such procedures as the Committee establishes. All such elections shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. For certain Participants designated by the Company, the Company shall also have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold additional amounts to satisfy federal, state or local taxes up to a maximum amount of 85% of the Award at the election of the Participant.

16.3. IMPACT OF RESTATEMENT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS UPON PREVIOUS AWARDS. If any of the Company’s financial statements are required to be restated, resulting from errors, omissions, or fraud, the Committee may (in its sole discretion, but acting in good faith) direct that the Company recover all or a portion of any such Award made to any, all or any class of Participants with respect to any fiscal year of the Company the financial results of which are negatively affected by such restatement. The amount to be recovered from any Participant shall be the amount by which the affected Award(s) exceeded the amount that would have been payable to such Participant had the financial statements been initially filed as restated, or any greater or lesser amount (including, but not limited to, the entire award) that the Committee shall determine. The Committee may determine to recover different amounts from different Participants or different classes of

 

 

 

27


Participants on such bases as it shall deem appropriate. In no event shall the amount to be recovered by the Company be less than the amount required to be repaid or recovered as a matter of law. The Committee shall determine whether the Company shall effect any such recovery (i) by seeking repayment from the Participant, (ii) by reducing (subject to applicable law and the terms and conditions of the applicable plan, program or arrangement) the amount that would otherwise be payable to the Participant under any compensatory plan, program or arrangement maintained by the Company or any of its affiliates, (iii) by withholding payment of future increases in compensation (including the payment of any discretionary bonus amount) or grants of compensatory awards that would otherwise have been made in accordance with the Company’s otherwise applicable compensation practices, or (iv) by any combination of the foregoing.

16.4. SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATED TO SECTION 409A OF THE CODE.

 

(a)

General. It is intended that the payments and benefits provided under the Plan and any Award shall either be exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The Plan and all Award Certificates shall be construed in a manner that effects such intent. Nevertheless, the tax treatment of the benefits provided under the Plan or any Award is not warranted or guaranteed. Neither the Company, its Affiliates nor their respective directors, officers, employees or advisers (other than in his or her capacity as a Participant) shall be held liable for any taxes, interest, penalties or other monetary amounts owed by any Participant or other taxpayer as a result of the Plan or any Award.

 

(b)

Definitional Restrictions. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or in any Award Certificate to the contrary, to the extent that any amount or benefit that would constitute non-exempt “deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code (“Non-Exempt Deferred Compensation”) would otherwise be payable or distributable, or a different form of payment (e.g., lump sum or installment) of such Non-Exempt Deferred Compensation would be effected, under the Plan or any Award Certificate by reason of the occurrence of a Change in Control, or the Participant’s Disability or separation from service, such Non-Exempt Deferred Compensation will not be payable or distributable to the Participant, and/or such different form of payment will not be effected, by reason of such circumstance unless the circumstances giving rise to such Change in Control, Disability or separation from service meet any description or definition of “change in control event”, “disability” or “separation from service”, as the case may be, in Section 409A of the Code and applicable regulations (without giving effect to any elective provisions that may be available under such definition). This provision does not affect the dollar amount or prohibit the vesting of such Non-Exempt Deferred

 

 

 

28


  Compensation upon a Change in Control, Disability or separation from service, however defined. If this provision prevents the payment or distribution of any Non-Exempt Deferred Compensation, or the application of a different form of payment, such payment or distribution shall be made at the time and in the form that would have applied absent the non-409A-conforming event.

 

(c)

Allocation among Possible Exemptions. If any one or more Awards granted under the Plan to a Participant could qualify for any separation pay exemption described in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(9), but such Awards in the aggregate exceed the dollar limit permitted for the separation pay exemptions, the Company (acting through the Committee or the Head of Human Resources) shall determine which Awards or portions thereof will be subject to such exemptions.

 

(d)

Six-Month Delay in Certain Circumstances. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or in any Award Certificate to the contrary, if any amount or benefit that would constitute Non-Exempt Deferred Compensation would otherwise be payable or distributable under this Plan or any Award Certificate by reason of a Participant’s separation from service during a period in which the Participant is a Specified Employee (as defined below), then, subject to any permissible acceleration of payment by the Committee under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ii) (domestic relations order), (j)(4)(iii) (conflicts of interest), or (j)(4)(vi) (payment of employment taxes):

(i) the amount of such non-exempt deferred compensation that would otherwise be payable during the six-month period immediately following the Participant’s separation from service will be accumulated through and paid or provided on the first day of the seventh month following the Participant’s separation from service (or, if the Participant dies during such period, within 30 days after the Participant’s death) (in either case, the “Required Delay Period”); and

(ii) the normal payment or distribution schedule for any remaining payments or distributions will resume at the end of the Required Delay Period.

For purposes of this Plan, the term “Specified Employee” has the meaning given such term in Code Section 409A and the final regulations thereunder, provided, however, that, as permitted in such final regulations, the Company’s Specified Employees and its application of the six-month delay rule of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) shall be determined in accordance with rules adopted by the Board or any committee of the Board, which shall be applied consistently with respect to all nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements of the Company, including this Plan.

 

 

 

29


(e)

Installment Payments. If, pursuant to an Award, a Participant is entitled to a series of installment payments, such Participant’s right to the series of installment payments shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments and not to a single payment. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term “series of installment payments” has the meaning provided in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii) (or any successor thereto).

 

(f)

Timing of Release of Claims. Whenever an Award conditions a payment or benefit on the Participant’s execution and non-revocation of a release of claims, such release must be executed and all revocation periods shall have expired within 60 days after the date of termination of the Participant’s employment; failing which such payment or benefit shall be forfeited. If such payment or benefit is exempt from Section 409A of the Code, the Company may elect to make or commence payment at any time during such 60-day period. If such payment or benefit constitutes Non-Exempt Deferred Compensation, then, subject to subsection (c) above, (i) if such 60-day period begins and ends in a single calendar year, the Company may make or commence payment at any time during such period at its discretion, and (ii) if such 60-day period begins in one calendar year and ends in the next calendar year, the payment shall be made or commence during the second such calendar year (or any later date specified for such payment under the applicable Award), even if such signing and non-revocation of the release occur during the first such calendar year included within such 60-day period. In other words, a Participant is not permitted to influence the calendar year of payment based on the timing of signing the release.

 

(g)

Permitted Acceleration. The Company shall have the sole authority to make any accelerated distribution permissible under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(j)(4) to Participants of deferred amounts, provided that such distribution(s) meets the requirements of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(j)(4).

16.5. UNFUNDED STATUS OF AWARDS. The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Certificate shall give the Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate. This Plan is not intended to be subject to ERISA.

 

 

 

30


16.6. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER BENEFITS. No payment under the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate unless provided otherwise in such other plan.

16.7. EXPENSES. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Affiliates.

16.8. TITLES AND HEADINGS. The titles and headings of the Sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only, and in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.

16.9. GENDER AND NUMBER. Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine and any feminine term used herein also shall include the masculine; the plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural.

16.10. FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional Shares shall be issued and the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares shall be eliminated by rounding up or down.

16.11. GOVERNMENT AND OTHER REGULATIONS.

 

(a)

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, no Participant who acquires Shares pursuant to the Plan may, during any period of time that such Participant is an affiliate of the Company (within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act), sell such Shares, unless such offer and sale is made (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, which is current and includes the Shares to be sold, or (ii) pursuant to an appropriate exemption from the registration requirement of the Securities Act, such as that set forth in Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

(b)

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, if at any time the Committee shall determine that the registration, listing or qualification of the Shares covered by an Award upon any Exchange or under any foreign, federal, state or local law or practice, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the granting of such Award or the purchase or receipt of Shares thereunder, no Shares may be purchased, delivered or received pursuant to such Award unless and until such registration, listing,

 

 

 

31


  qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any condition not acceptable to the Committee. Any Participant receiving or purchasing Shares pursuant to an Award shall make such representations and agreements and furnish such information as the Committee may request to assure compliance with the foregoing or any other applicable legal requirements. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate or certificates for Shares under the Plan prior to the Committee’s determination that all related requirements have been fulfilled. The Company shall in no event be obligated to register any securities pursuant to the Securities Act or applicable state or foreign law or to take any other action in order to cause the issuance and delivery of such certificates to comply with any such law, regulation or requirement.

16.12. GOVERNING LAW. To the extent not governed by federal law, the Plan and all Award Certificates shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.

16.13. SEVERABILITY. In the event that any provision of this Plan is found to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable under any applicable law, such invalidity or unenforceability will not be construed as rendering any other provisions contained herein as invalid or unenforceable, and all such other provisions will be given full force and effect to the same extent as though the invalid or unenforceable provision was not contained herein.

16.14. NO LIMITATIONS ON RIGHTS OF COMPANY. The grant of any Award shall not in any way affect the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassification or changes in its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets. The Plan shall not restrict the authority of the Company, for proper corporate purposes, to draft or assume awards, other than under the Plan, to or with respect to any person. If the Committee so directs, the Company may issue or transfer Shares to an Affiliate, for such lawful consideration as the Committee may specify, upon the condition or understanding that the Affiliate will transfer such Shares to a Participant in accordance with the terms of an Award granted to such Participant and specified by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.

16.15. INDEMNIFICATION. Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee, or of the Board, or an officer of the Company to whom authority was delegated in accordance with Article 4 shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and

 

 

 

32


all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her, provided he or she shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf, unless such loss, cost, liability, or expense is a result of his or her own willful misconduct or except as expressly provided by statute. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s charter or bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

 

 

 

33

Exhibit 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated April 16, 2021, relating to the combined financial statements of Sylvamo Corporation, a business of International Paper Company, appearing in the Registration Statement on Form 10 of Sylvamo Corporation (File No. 001-40718).

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Memphis, Tennessee

September 28, 2021

Exhibit 24.1

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Matthew Barron, Erin Raccah, St. John Daugherty, Vincent Smith and Tina Bailey and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, acting alone, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement on Form S-8 be filed with respect to the Sylvamo Corporation 2021 Incentive Compensation Plan, and any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto and any new registration statement with respect to the offering contemplated thereby filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to the Act, and any and all other instruments which said attorney-in-fact and agent deem necessary or advisable to enable the Company to comply with the Act, the rules, regulations and requirements of the SEC in respect thereof, and the securities or Blue Sky laws of any State or governmental subdivision, giving and granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing whatsoever necessary or appropriate to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents as he might or could do it personally present at the doing thereof, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or substitute or substitutes, may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Jean-Michel Ribieras

Jean-Michel Ribieras

  

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

  September 28, 2021

/s/ John V. Sims

John V. Sims

  

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director (Principal Financial Officer)

  September 28, 2021

/s/ Kevin W. Ferguson

Kevin W. Ferguson

  

Vice President, Corporate Finance and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)

  September 27, 2021

/s/ Jeanmarie Desmond

Jeanmarie Desmond

  

Director

  September 27, 2021

/s/ Timothy S. Nicholls

Timothy S. Nicholls

  

Director

  September 28, 2021

/s/ Thomas J. Plath

Thomas J. Plath

  

Director

  September 28, 2021

/s/ Sharon R. Ryan

Sharon R. Ryan

  

Director

  September 28, 2021