UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 1, 2022
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 1-31565 | 06-1377322 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
Commission File Number |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
102 Duffy Avenue, Hicksville, New York 11801
(Address of principal executive offices)
(516) 683-4100
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Trading symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange | ||
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share | NYCB | New York Stock Exchange | ||
Bifurcated Option Note Unit SecuritiES SM | NYCB PU | New York Stock Exchange | ||
NYCB PA | New York Stock Exchange |
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (Section 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Section 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K
Item 2.01 | Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets |
On December 1, 2022, before the opening of business, New York Community Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“NYCB”), completed its previously announced acquisition of Flagstar Bancorp, Inc., a Michigan corporation (“Flagstar”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 24, 2021 (the “Original Agreement”), by and among NYCB, 615 Corp., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of NYCB (“Merger Sub”), and Flagstar, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Original Agreement, dated as of April 26, 2022 (“Amendment No. 1”), by and among NYCB, Merger Sub and Flagstar, and as further amended by Amendment No. 2 to the Original Agreement, dated as of October 27, 2022 (“Amendment No. 2,” and the Original Agreement, as amended by Amendment No. 1 and Amendment No. 2, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among NYCB, Merger Sub and Flagstar. At the closing, (i) Merger Sub merged with and into Flagstar (the “Merger”), with Flagstar as the surviving entity, and (ii) immediately thereafter, Flagstar merged with and into NYCB (the “Holdco Merger”), with NYCB as the surviving entity.
On December 1, 2022, following the Holdco Merger, Flagstar Bank, FSB converted (the “Conversion”) from a federally chartered stock savings bank into Flagstar Bank, N.A., a national banking association (“Flagstar NA”), and, promptly following the Conversion, New York Community Bank, a New York State-chartered savings bank and subsidiary of NYCB (“NYCB Bank”), merged with and into Flagstar NA (the “Bank Merger,” and, together with the Merger, the Holdco Merger and the Conversion, the “Transactions”), so that Flagstar NA is the surviving bank in the Bank Merger.
Merger Consideration
At the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Flagstar outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (“Flagstar Common Stock”), except for certain shares held by NYCB or Flagstar, which shares were cancelled without receipt of any consideration, was converted into the right to receive 4.0151 shares (the “Exchange Ratio”) of the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of NYCB (“NYCB Common Stock”) (the “Merger Consideration”). Holders of Flagstar Common stock will receive cash in lieu of fractional shares of NYCB Common Stock.
Treatment of Flagstar Equity Awards
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, each outstanding time-based restricted stock unit award (a “Flagstar RSU”) under Flagstar’s 2016 Stock Award and Incentive Plan (the “Flagstar Stock Plan”) ceased to represent a restricted stock unit denominated in Flagstar Common Stock and was converted into a number of time-based restricted stock units denominated in NYCB Common Stock (each, an “NYCB RSU”) equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of Flagstar Common Stock subject to such Flagstar RSU immediately prior to the Effective Time (including any applicable dividend equivalents), multiplied by (ii) the Exchange Ratio.
Also pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, each outstanding performance share unit (a “Flagstar PSU”) under the Flagstar Stock Plan for which the applicable performance period was complete, including awards granted prior to the date of the Merger Agreement under Flagstar’s Executive Long-Term Incentive Program and Flagstar PSUs granted in 2019, whether vested or unvested, ceased to represent a performance share unit denominated in shares of Flagstar Common Stock and was converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration in respect of the number of shares of Flagstar Common Stock underlying such Flagstar PSU immediately prior to the Effective Time based on actual performance through completion of the applicable performance period, which was determined by the compensation committee of the board of directors of Flagstar.
Each Flagstar PSU determined not to have completed the applicable performance period at the Effective Time ceased to represent a performance share unit denominated in shares of Flagstar Common Stock and was converted into an NYCB RSU. The number of shares of NYCB Common Stock subject to each such NYCB RSU is equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of Flagstar Common Stock subject to such Flagstar PSU immediately prior to the Effective Time (including any applicable dividend equivalents) based on (a) in the case of Flagstar PSUs granted in 2020, 150% of the target level of performance and (b) in the case of Flagstar PSUs granted in 2021 and thereafter, the target level of performance multiplied by (ii) the Exchange Ratio.
The NYCB RSUs continue to be governed by the same terms and conditions (including employment vesting terms but excluding performance conditions, after giving effect to any “change in control” post-termination protections under the applicable Flagstar Stock Plan or award agreement; provided that such protections have been extended to apply until 18 months after the Effective Time) as were applicable to the applicable Flagstar RSU or Flagstar PSU immediately prior to the Effective Time.
At the Effective Time, each outstanding restricted stock award held by a Flagstar director (a “Flagstar Restricted Share Award”) under the Flagstar Stock Plan, whether vested or unvested, became fully vested and converted into, and became exchanged for, the Merger Consideration in respect of the number of shares of Flagstar Common Stock subject to each such Flagstar Restricted Share Award.
The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement and the Transactions does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2.03 | Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant |
In connection with the Transactions, at the Effective Time, NYCB assumed Flagstar’s obligations as required by the indentures and certain related agreements with respect to Flagstar’s outstanding trust preferred securities consisting of (i) $26 million of its floating rate junior subordinated debt securities due December 26, 2032; (ii) $26 million of its floating rate junior subordinated debt securities due April 7, 2033; (iii) $26 million of its floating rate junior subordinated debt securities due March 19, 2033; (iv) $26 million of its floating rate junior subordinated debt securities due January 7, 2035; (v) $26 million of its floating rate junior subordinated debt securities due April 7, 2035; (vi) $51 million of its floating rate junior subordinated debt securities due June 15, 2035; (vii) $25 million of its floating rate junior subordinated debt securities due October 7, 2035; (viii) $25 million of its floating rate junior subordinated debt securities due September 15, 2037; and (ix) $16 million of its floating rate junior subordinated debt securities due September 15, 2037 (collectively, the “Trust Preferred Securities”). In connection with the Transactions, at the Effective Time, NYCB also assumed Flagstar’s obligations with respect to $150 million aggregate principal amount of 4.125% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due November 1, 2030 (the “2030 Notes”).
The supplemental indentures pursuant to which NYCB assumed the Trust Preferred Securities and the 2030 Notes, as well as the original indentures pursuant to which the Trust Preferred Securities and the 2030 Notes were issued, have not been filed herewith pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. NYCB agrees to furnish a copy of such indentures to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) upon request.
Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers |
Directors
In accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement and the Bylaws Amendment (as defined under Item 5.03 below), as of the Effective Time, the number of directors that comprise the full board of directors of NYCB (the “Board”) was increased to 12, of which (i) eight were directors of NYCB immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) four were directors of Flagstar immediately prior to the Effective Time (the “Flagstar Designated Directors”). In accordance with the Further Bylaws Amendment (as defined under Item 5.03 below), as of the effective time of the Bank Merger (the “Bank Merger Effective Time”), the number of directors that comprise the full Board was further increased to 14, of which the two vacancies resulting from such increase were filled by a director selected by NYCB (the “Additional NYCB Designated Director”) and a director of Flagstar immediately prior to the Effective Time (the “Additional Flagstar Designated Director”).
Resignation of Directors
In connection with the Transactions, at the Effective Time, Dominick Ciampa and James J. O’Donovan (the “Resigning Directors”) resigned as members of the Board. The resignations of the Resigning Directors were not the result, in whole or in part, of any disagreement with NYCB or NYCB’s management.
In connection with the Transactions, at the Effective Time, Thomas R. Cangemi, the President and Chief Executive Officer of NYCB, ceased serving as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Cangemi continues to serve as a director of NYCB.
Continued Service of Directors; Election of Directors
The eight directors of NYCB immediately prior to the Effective Time that continue to serve on the Board, in each case effective from and after the Effective Time, are as follows: Mr. Cangemi, Hanif “Wally” Dahya, Leslie D. Dunn, Marshall J. Lux, Ronald A. Rosenfeld, Lawrence Rosano, Jr., Larry J. Savarese and Robert Wann.
The four Flagstar Designated Directors that were appointed by the Board to fill the vacancies resulting from the resignations referred to above and the increase in the size of the Board to 12 as of the Effective Time, in each case effective from and after the Effective Time, are as follows: Alessandro P. DiNello, Peter Schoels, David L. Treadwell and Jennifer R. Whip. The Additional NYCB Designated Director and the Additional Flagstar Designated Director that were appointed to the Board to fill the vacancies resulting from the further increase in the size of the Board to 14 as of the Bank Merger Effective Time, in each case effective from and after the Bank Merger Effective Time, are James J. Carpenter and Toan C. Huynh, respectively. The Board continues to be divided into three classes, with Mr. DiNello appointed to the term of the Board that expires at the 2023 annual meeting of shareholders, Messrs. Carpenter and Treadwell and Ms. Whip appointed to the term of the Board that expires at the 2024 annual meeting of shareholders and Ms. Huynh and Mr. Schoels appointed to the term of the Board that expires at the 2025 annual meeting of shareholders.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, effective as of the Effective Time, Mr. DiNello, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Flagstar prior to the Effective Time, was appointed Non-Executive Chairman of the Board, and Mr. Dahya, a director of NYCB prior to the Effective time, was appointed to the newly created position of Presiding Director of the Board.
Other than the Merger Agreement, there are no arrangements between the Flagstar Designated Directors, the NYCB Additional Designated Director or the Flagstar Additional Designated Directors (collectively, the “New Directors”) and any other person pursuant to which the New Directors were selected as directors. There are no transactions in which any Flagstar Designated Directors or Flagstar Additional Designated Director has an interest requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. The New Directors will serve as non-employee members of the Board and will be compensated for such service in accordance with NYCB’s non-employee director compensation program on the same basis as other non-employee directors.
The NYCB Additional Designated Director, Mr. Carpenter, was Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of NYCB prior to January 1, 2020. In December 2019, NYCB and Mr. Carpenter entered into a three-year consulting agreement (the “Consulting Agreement”), pursuant to which Mr. Carpenter provides advisory services to NYCB, including its loan officers. Mr. Carpenter’s service as an independent consultant to NYCB began on January 1, 2020. Pursuant to the Consulting Agreement, as consideration for his services, Mr. Carpenter receives a monthly consulting retainer of $67,000.00 and continues to vest in certain stock-based benefits. NYCB expects that Mr. Carpenter will cease providing advisory services under the Consulting Agreement, and the Consulting Agreement will terminate, as of the end of December 2022. The foregoing description of the Consulting Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Consulting Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.
Biographies of the Flagstar Designated Directors and the Additional Flagstar Designated Director can be found in Flagstar’s 2022 Proxy Statement filed with the Commission on April 14, 2022, which is incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference.
Board Committee Assignments after the Merger and the Bank Merger
The Flagstar Designated Directors and the Additional Flagstar Designated Director will serve on the following committees of the Board, effective upon completion of the Transactions: Mr. Treadwell and Ms. Whip will serve on the Audit Committee; Ms. Whip will serve on the Compensation Committee; Mr. DiNello will serve on the Executive Committee; Messrs. Schoels and Treadwell will serve on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee; Ms. Huynh, Mr. Treadwell and Ms. Whip will serve on the Risk Assessment Committee; and Mr. DiNello, Ms. Huynh and Mr. Schoels will serve on the Technology Committee. The Additional NYCB Designated Director, Mr. Carpenter, will serve on the Risk Assessment Committee, effective upon completion of the Transactions.
Restrictive Covenants Agreement
As previously described in the amended prospectus included in the post-effective amendment to the registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-257045) filed by NYCB with the Commission and declared effective on October 11, 2022 (the “Amended Prospectus”), Mr. DiNello entered into a non-competition and non-solicitation agreement (the “restrictive covenants agreement”) with Flagstar in connection with the Merger which provides for Mr. DiNello to be subject to certain non-competition and other restrictive covenants in exchange for certain payments to be made to Mr. DiNello, and also provides that Mr. DiNello would receive his severance entitlements in connection with his termination of employment with Flagstar upon the closing of the Merger. The restrictive covenants agreement was amended and restated on November 28, 2022 to provide that such cash payments would be made prior to the closing of the Merger, without regard to whether Mr. DiNello has terminated employment with Flagstar at such time, subject to execution and non-revocation of a release agreement. The foregoing description of the restrictive covenants agreements does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety to the full text of the amended and restated restrictive covenants agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.
Executive Officers
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, effective as of the Effective Time, (i) Robert Wann, the Chief Operating Officer of NYCB prior to the Effective Time, ceased serving in such capacity; (ii) Lee M. Smith, the Executive Vice President and President of Mortgage of Flagstar prior to the Effective Time, was appointed Senior Vice President and President of Mortgage of NYCB; and (iii) Reginald E. Davis, the Executive Vice President and President of Banking of Flagstar prior to the Effective Time, was appointed Senior Vice President and President of Banking at NYCB.
Employment Agreements
As previously described in the Amended Prospectus, each of Mr. Smith and Mr. Davis entered into an employment agreement with NYCB setting forth the terms of his employment with NYCB following the Effective Time (the “Employment Agreements”). The description of the Employment Agreements under the section of the Amended Prospectus entitled “The Merger—Interests of Certain Flagstar Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger—NYCB Employment Agreements” is incorporated herein by reference.
In addition, in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, Mr. Cangemi entered into a letter agreement with NYCB that amended certain provisions of Mr. Cangemi’s existing employment arrangements with NYCB, which provides that effective as of the Effective Time, Mr. Cangemi will continue to serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of NYCB, but will cease to serve as Chairman of the Board, and for specified termination rights and benefits in connection with the Merger. The description of such letter agreement under the section of the Amended Prospectus entitled “The Merger—Interests of Certain NYCB Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger—CEO Letter Agreement” is incorporated herein by reference. Such description of the letter agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the letter agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.03 | Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year |
In connection with the Merger and in accordance with the Merger Agreement, effective as of the Effective Time, the bylaws of NYCB were amended and restated to reflect certain governance matters (such amendment, the “Bylaws Amendment,” and NYCB’s bylaws, as amended and restated in accordance with the Bylaws Amendment, the “Interim Amended and Restated Bylaws”). Effective as of the Bank Merger Effective Time, the Interim Amended and Restated Bylaws were further amended and restated to reflect certain additional governance matters (such amendment, the “Further Bylaws Amendment,” and the Interim Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended and restated in accordance with the Further Bylaws Amendment, the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”).
The Bylaws Amendment provides that, effective as of the Effective Time, Mr. DiNello will serve as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board and Mr. Cangemi will serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of NYCB. The Bylaws Amendment also provides that, from and after the Effective Time and until the 24-month anniversary of the Effective Time (the “Specified Period”), any removal of Mr. DiNello in his capacity as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board or Mr. Cangemi in his capacity as President and Chief Executive Officer of NYCB, certain amendments or modifications to any employment agreements of either of them, any termination of employment of Mr. Cangemi by NYCB or any of its subsidiaries, or any modification of the reporting relationship of Mr. Cangemi to the Board, will, in each case, require the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the entire Board. The Bylaws Amendment also provides that, during the Specified Period, the Presiding Director of the Board will be an independent director who was a director of NYCB immediately prior to the Effective Time, and that the initial Presiding Director will be Mr. Dahya.
The Bylaws Amendment also provides that, subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock of NYCB, as of the Effective Time, the number of directors that comprise the full Board is 12, of which (i) eight were directors of NYCB immediately prior to the Effective Time, including Mr. Cangemi, and (ii) four were Flagstar Designated Directors, including Mr. DiNello. The Further Bylaws Amendment provides that, subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock of NYCB, as of the Bank Merger Effective Time, the number of directors that comprise the full Board is 14, of which the two vacancies resulting from such increase would be filled by (i) a director of or consultant to NYCB immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) a director of Flagstar immediately prior to the Effective Time.
The Bylaws Amendment provides that, at the Effective Time, NYCB will invite all directors of Flagstar immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than the Flagstar Designated Directors, to become members of an advisory board of NYCB (the “Advisory Board”), and will cause all such individuals who accept such invitation to be elected or appointed for a two-year term from the closing date as members of the Advisory Board. Such members of the Advisory Board will serve on the Advisory Board during the two-year term or until their respective earlier death or resignation, during which two-year term such members will each receive quarterly compensation of $10,000 per quarter served.
The Bylaws Amendment provides that, during the Specified Period, the Board will have and maintain as standing committees an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee, a Risk Assessment Committee and a Technology Committee. Pursuant to the Bylaws Amendment, during the Specified Period, effective as of the Effective Time, Mr. Treadwell, a Flagstar Designated Director, will serve as Chairman of the Risk Assessment Committee. The Bylaws Amendment provides that, during the Specified Period, each committee of the Board will include at least one Flagstar Designated Director or any director that fills a vacancy of, or succeeds, any Flagstar Designated Director (a “Flagstar Legacy Director”), except that if any such committee has more than five members, it will have at least two Flagstar Legacy Directors. The Further Bylaws Amendment provides that the Additional Flagstar Designated Director will be considered a Flagstar Designated Director for purposes of the foregoing provision.
The foregoing summary of the Bylaws Amendment and the Further Bylaws Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Interim Amended and Restated Bylaws and the Amended and Restated Bylaws, as applicable, copies of which are filed hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.2, respectively, to this Current Report and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8.01 | Other Events |
On December 1, 2022, NYCB issued a press release announcing the completion of the Merger. A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
(a) Financial statements of business acquired
The financial statements of Flagstar required by Item 9.01(a) of Form 8-K will be filed by amendment not later than 71 calendar days after the date this Current Report is required to be filed.
(b) Pro forma financial information
The pro forma financial information required by Item 9.01(b) of Form 8-K will be filed by amendment no later than 71 calendar days after the date this Current Report on Form 8-K is required to be filed.
(d) | Exhibits |
The following exhibits are filed as part of this Current Report:
* | Pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K, certain schedules and similar attachments have been omitted. The registrant hereby agrees to furnish a copy of any omitted schedule or similar attachment to the SEC upon request. |
** | Management plan or compensation plan arrangement. |
(1) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to NYCB’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2021 (File No. 1-31565). |
(2) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to NYCB’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2022 (File No. 1-31565). |
(3) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to NYCB’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 28, 2022 (File No. 1-31565). |
(4) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to NYCB’s Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 18, 2020 (File No. 1-31565). |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: December 1, 2022 | NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC. | |||||
/s/ Salvatore J. DiMartino | ||||||
Name: | Salvatore J. DiMartino | |||||
Title: | Senior Managing Director Director, Investor Relations and Strategic Planning |
EXHIBIT 3.1
NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.
BYLAWS
(Amended and Restated as of December 1, 2022)
ARTICLE I - STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Annual Meeting.
An annual meeting of the stockholders, for the election of Directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as the Board of Directors shall each year fix, which date shall be within thirteen (13) months subsequent to the later of the date of incorporation or the last annual meeting of stockholders.
Section 2. Special Meetings.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board. The term Whole Board shall mean the total number of Directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies on the Board of Directors (hereinafter the Whole Board).
Section 3. Notice of Meetings.
Written notice of the place, date, and time of all meetings of the stockholders shall be given, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law.
When a meeting is adjourned to another place, date, or time, written notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the place, date, and time thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than thirty (30) days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, or if a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, written notice of the place, date, and time of the adjourned meeting shall be given in conformity herewith. At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
Section 4. Quorum.
At any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority of all of the shares of the stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or by proxy (after giving effect to the provisions of Article FOURTH of the Corporations Certificate of Incorporation), shall constitute a quorum for all purposes, unless or except to the extent that the presence of a larger number may be required by law. Where a separate vote by a class or classes is required, a majority of the shares of such class or classes present in person or represented by proxy (after giving effect to the provisions of Article FOURTH of the Corporations Certificate of Incorporation) shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter.
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If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the Chief Executive Officer or the holders of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time.
Section 5. Organization.
A Chairman of the Board of the Corporation or, in the absence of a Chairman of the Board or at his or her delegation, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation shall call to order any meeting of the stockholders and preside over the meeting (such person, the Chairman of the Meeting). In the absence of the Secretary of the Corporation, the secretary of the meeting shall be such person as the Chairman of the Meeting appoints.
Section 6. Conduct of Business.
(a) The Chairman of the Meeting of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedures at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seem to him or her in order. The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting.
(b) At any annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote with respect thereto and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 6(b) or, in the case of a director nomination, Section 6(c) or Section 8 of this Article I of these Bylaws. For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder under this Section 6(b), the business must relate to a proper subject matter for stockholder action and the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholders notice must be delivered or mailed to and received at the principal executive office of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days prior to the date of the annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than one hundred (100) days notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be received not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. A stockholders notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter such stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (ii) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporations books, of the stockholder proposing such business, (iii) the class and number of shares of the Corporations capital stock that are beneficially owned by such stockholder, (iv) any material interest of such stockholder in such business, and (v) whether and the extent to which any hedging derivative or other transaction is in place or has been entered into within the prior six months preceding the date of delivery of the stockholders notice by or for the benefit of such stockholder with respect to the Corporation or its subsidiaries or any of their respective securities, debt instruments or credit ratings, the effect or intent of which transaction is to give rise to gain or loss as a result of
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changes in the trading price of such securities or debt instruments or changes in the credit ratings for the Corporation, its subsidiaries or any of their respective securities or debt instruments (or, more generally, changes in the perceived creditworthiness of the Corporation or its subsidiaries), or to increase or decrease the voting power of such stockholder, and if so, a summary of the material terms thereof. Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be brought before or conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(b) (or, in the case of a director nomination, Section 6(c) or Section 8 of this Article I of these Bylaws). The Chairman of the Meeting shall, if the facts so warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(b) and, if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such business so determined to be not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted. At any special meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of a majority of the Whole Board of Directors.
(c) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws shall be eligible for election as Directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be made at a meeting of stockholders at which Directors are to be elected only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election of Directors at the meeting who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 6(c) or Section 8 of this Article I of these Bylaws. Such nominations, other than those made by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, shall be made by timely notice in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely under this Section 6(c), a stockholders notice shall be delivered or mailed to and received at the principal executive office of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days prior to the date of the meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than one hundred (100) days notice or prior disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. Such stockholders notice shall set forth (i) as to each person whom such 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, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including such persons written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a Director if elected); and (ii) as to the stockholder giving the notice (x) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporations books, of such stockholder, (y) the class and number of shares of the Corporations capital stock that are beneficially owned by such stockholder, and (z) whether and the extent to which any hedging, derivative or other transaction is in place or has been entered into within the prior six months preceding the date of delivery of the stockholders notice by or for the benefit of such stockholder with respect to the Corporation or its subsidiaries or any of their respective securities, debt instruments or credit ratings, the effect or intent of which transaction is to give rise to gain or loss as a result of changes in the trading price of such securities or debt instruments or changes in the credit ratings for the Corporation, its subsidiaries or any of their respective securities or debt instruments (or, more generally, changes in the perceived creditworthiness of the Corporation or its subsidiaries), or to increase or decrease the voting power of such stockholder, and if so, a summary of the material terms thereof. At the request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated by the Board of Directors for election as a Director
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shall furnish to the Secretary of the Corporation that information required to be set forth in a stockholders notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee. No person shall be eligible for election by stockholders as a Director of the Corporation unless nominated by the Board of Directors or nominated in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c) or Section 8 of this Article I of these Bylaws. The Chairman of the Meeting shall, if the facts so warrant, determine that a nomination was not made in accordance with such sections and, if he or she shall so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
Section 7. Proxies and Voting.
A stockholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy. Execution may be accomplished by the stockholder or such stockholders authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such writing or causing such persons signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature. A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a telegram, cablegram, or other means of electronic transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission, provided that any such telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission was authorized by stockholder. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this paragraph 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, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.
All voting, including the election of Directors but excepting where otherwise required by law or by the governing documents of the Corporation, may be made by a voice vote; provided, however, that upon demand therefore by a stockholder entitled to vote his or her proxy, a stock vote shall be taken. Every stock vote shall be taken by ballot, each of which shall state the name of the stockholder or proxy voting and such other information as may be required under the procedures established for the meeting. The Board of Directors shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Board of Directors may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the Chairman of the Meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.
Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation with respect to directors to be elected by the holders of any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation and in these Bylaws with respect to the filling of vacancies on the Board of Directors, each director shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast with respect to such director at any meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present and directors are to be elected;
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provided, however, that the directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting of the stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present and directors are to be elected if, in connection with such meeting (i) the Secretary of the Corporation shall have received one or more notices that a stockholder has nominated or proposes to nominate a person or persons for election as a director, which notice(s) purports to be in compliance with the advance notice requirements set forth in Section 6 or Section 8 of this Article I of the Bylaws or applicable rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, irrespective of whether the Board of Directors thereafter determines that any such notice(s) is (are) not in compliance with such requirements, and (ii) as of the fourteenth (14th) day preceding the date on which notice of such meeting of the stockholders is first mailed or otherwise given in accordance with applicable law to the stockholders of the Corporation, such nomination or proposed nomination has not been withdrawn by such stockholder and would thereby cause the number of nominees and proposed nominees to exceed the number of directors to be elected at such meeting, as determined by the Secretary of the Corporation, irrespective of whether such nomination or proposed nomination is thereafter withdrawn by such stockholder (a Contested Election).
If the directors are to be elected by a plurality of the votes cast pursuant to the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence, stockholders shall not be permitted to vote against any one or more nominees but shall only be permitted to vote for one or more nominees or withhold their votes with respect to one or more nominees.
For purposes hereof, a majority of the votes cast means the number of votes cast for a director nominee must exceed the number of votes cast against that director nominee, with abstentions and broker non-votes not counted as a vote cast either for or against that director nominee.
If, in any election of directors of the Corporation which is not a Contested Election, an incumbent director does not receive a majority of the votes cast, such incumbent director shall promptly following certification of the election results tender an irrevocable resignation as a director, subject to acceptance or rejection thereof or other action with respect thereto by the Board, for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will promptly consider any such tendered resignation and will make recommendation to the Board of Directors as to whether such tendered resignation should be accepted or rejected, or whether other action should be taken with respect to such tendered resignation. Any incumbent director whose tendered resignation is under consideration may not participate in any deliberation or vote of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee or the Board of Directors regarding such tendered resignation.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in making its recommendation, and the Board of Directors in making its decision as to whether to accept or reject such recommendation, may each consider any factors they deem relevant, including, without limitation, the incumbent directors qualifications and past and expected future contributions to the Corporation, the overall composition of the Board of Directors and whether accepting the tendered resignation would cause the Corporation to fail to satisfy any applicable law, rule or regulation (including, without limitation, New York Stock Exchange listing requirements and
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federal securities laws and regulations), in deciding whether to accept, reject or take other action with respect to any such tendered resignation and in accordance with such policies and procedures adopted by the Committee and/or the Board of Directors for such purposes.
Within one hundred twenty (120) days after the date on which certification of the stockholder vote on the election of directors is made, the Board of Directors will publicly disclose its decision and rationale regarding whether to accept, reject or take other action with respect to the tendered resignation in a press release, a periodic or current report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or by other public announcement.
If any incumbent director fails to tender his or her resignation as required pursuant to this Section 7 of Article I, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall nevertheless assess the appropriateness of such directors continued service as a director and shall recommend to the Board of Directors the action to be taken with respect to such director as if the director had tendered his or her resignation. Should the Board of Directors determine that it would have accepted the resignation of such director if it had been tendered as required pursuant to this Section 7 of Article I, then the term of such director shall be deemed to expire on the day that is one hundred twenty (120) days following certification of the stockholder vote and the Board of Directors will publicly disclose its decision and rationale in a press release, a periodic or current report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or by other public announcement within one hundred twenty (120) days after certification of the stockholder vote.
Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, all matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively.
Section 8. Stockholder Nominations Included in the Corporations Proxy Materials.
(a) Subject to the provisions of this Section 8(a) if expressly requested in the relevant Nomination Notice (as defined below), the Corporation shall include in its proxy statement for any annual meeting of stockholders:
(i) the name of any person nominated for election (the Stockholder Nominee) by any Eligible Holder (as defined below) or group of up to twenty (20) Eligible Holders that has (individually and collectively, in the case of a group) satisfied all applicable conditions and complied with all applicable procedures set forth in this Section 8 (such Eligible Holder or group being a Nominating Stockholder);
(ii) disclosure about the Stockholder Nominee and the Nominating Stockholder required under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission or other applicable law to be included in the proxy statement;
(iii) any statement included by the Nominating Stockholder in the Nomination Notice for inclusion in the proxy statement in support of the Stockholder Nominees election to the Board of Directors (subject, without limitation, to Section 8(f)(ii)), if such statement does not exceed 500 words; and
(iv) any other information that the Corporation or the Board of Directors determines, in their discretion, to include in the proxy statement relating to the nomination of the Stockholder Nominee, including, without limitation, any statement in opposition to the nomination and any of the information provided pursuant to this Section.
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(b) The name of any Stockholder Nominee included in the proxy statement pursuant to Section 8(a) for an annual meeting of stockholders shall be included on any ballot relating to the election of directors distributed at such annual meeting and shall be set forth on a form of proxy (or other format through which the Corporation permits proxies to be submitted) distributed by the Corporation in connection with election of directors at such annual meeting so as to permit shareholders to vote on the election of such Stockholder Nominee.
(c) Maximum Number of Stockholder Nominees.
(i) The Corporation shall not be required to include in the proxy statement for an annual meeting of stockholders more Stockholder Nominees than that number of directors constituting twenty percent (20%), but no less than two (2), of the total number of directors of the Corporation on the last day on which a Nomination Notice may be submitted pursuant to this Section 8(c) (rounded down to the nearest whole number) (the Maximum Number). The Maximum Number for a particular annual meeting shall be reduced by: (1) Stockholder Nominees who are subsequently withdrawn, cease to satisfy the requirements of this Section 8 or become unwilling to serve; (2) Stockholder Nominees that the Board of Directors itself decides to nominate for election at such annual meeting; and (3) the number of incumbent directors who had been Stockholder Nominees at any of the preceding three annual meetings and whose reelection at the upcoming annual meeting is being recommended by the Board of Directors. In the event that one or more vacancies for any reason occurs on the Board of Directors after the deadline set forth in Section 8(e) below but before the date of the annual meeting and the Board of Directors resolves to reduce the size of the board in connection therewith, the Maximum Number shall be calculated based on the number of directors in office as so reduced.
(ii) If the number of Stockholder Nominees pursuant to this Section 8(c) for any annual meeting of stockholders exceeds the Maximum Number then, promptly upon notice from the Corporation, each Nominating Stockholder will select one Stockholder Nominee for inclusion in the proxy statement until the Maximum Number is reached, going in order of the amount (largest to smallest) of the ownership disclosed in each Nominating Stockholders Nomination Notice, with the process repeated if the Maximum Number is not reached after each Nominating Stockholder has selected one Stockholder Nominee. If, after the deadline for submitting a Nomination Notice as set forth in Section 8(e), a Nominating Stockholder becomes ineligible or withdraws its nomination or a Stockholder Nominee becomes unwilling to serve on the Board of Directors, whether before or after the mailing of definitive proxy statement, then the nomination shall be disregarded, and the Corporation: (1) shall not be required to include in its proxy statement or on any ballot or form of proxy the disregarded Stockholder Nominee or any successor or replacement nominee proposed by the Nominating Stockholder or by any other Nominating Stockholder, and (2) may otherwise communicate to its stockholders, including without limitation by amending or supplementing its proxy statement or ballot or form of proxy, that the Stockholder Nominee will not be included as a Stockholder Nominee in the proxy statement or on any ballot or form of proxy and will not be voted on at the annual meeting.
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(d) Eligibility of Nominating Stockholder.
(i) An Eligible Holder is a person who has either (1) been a record holder of the shares of common stock used to satisfy the eligibility requirements in this Section 8(d) continuously for the relevant three-year period, or (2) provides to the Secretary of the Corporation, within the time period referred to in Section 8(e), evidence of continuous ownership of such shares for such three-year period from one or more securities intermediaries in a form that the Board of Directors or its designee, acting in good faith, determines would be deemed acceptable for purposes of a shareholder proposal under Rule 14a-8(b)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) (or any successor rule).
(ii) An Eligible Holder or group of up to twenty (20) Eligible Holders may submit a nomination in accordance with this Section 8(d) only if the person or group (in the aggregate) has continuously been a holder of full voting rights in and ownership of at least the Minimum Number (as defined below) of shares of the Corporations common stock throughout the three (3) year period preceding and including the date of submission of the Nomination Notice, and continues to hold full voting rights in and ownership of at least the Minimum Number through the date of the annual meeting. Two or more funds that are (1) under common management and investment control, (2) under common management and funded primarily by a single employer or (3) a group of investment companies, as such term is defined in Section 12(d)(1)(G)(ii) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, shall be treated as one Eligible Holder if such Eligible Holder shall provide together with the Nomination Notice documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation that demonstrates that the funds meet the criteria set forth in (1), (2) or (3) hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of a nomination by a group of Eligible Holders, any and all requirements and obligations for an individual Eligible Holder that are set forth in this Section 8(d), including the minimum holding period, shall apply to each member of such group; provided, however, that the Minimum Number shall apply to the ownership of the group in the aggregate. Should any stockholder cease to satisfy the eligibility requirements in this Section 8(d), as determined by the Board of Directors, or withdraw from a group of Eligible Holders at any time prior to the annual meeting of stockholders, the group of Eligible Stockholders shall only be deemed to own the shares held by the remaining members of the group.
(iii) The Minimum Number of shares of the Corporations common stock means three percent (3%) of the number of outstanding shares of common stock as of the most recent date for which such amount is given in any filing by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) prior to the submission of the Nomination Notice.
(iv) For purposes of this Section 8, an Eligible Holder owns only those outstanding shares of the Corporation as to which the Eligible Holder possesses both:
(1) | the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares; and |
(2) | the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit and risk of loss on) such shares; |
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provided that the number of shares calculated in accordance with clauses (1) and (2) shall not include any shares: (i) purchased or sold by such Eligible Holder or any of its affiliates in any transaction that has not been settled or closed; (ii) sold short by such Eligible Holder; (iii) borrowed by such Eligible Holder or any of its affiliates for any purpose or purchased by such Eligible Holder or any of its affiliates pursuant to an agreement to resell or subject to any other obligation to resell to another person; or (iv) subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale, other derivative or similar agreement entered into by such Eligible Holder or any of its affiliates, whether any such instrument or agreement is to be settled with shares or with cash based on the notional amount or value of outstanding shares of the Corporation, in any such case which instrument or agreement has, or is intended to have, the purpose or effect of: (i) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such Eligible Holders or any of its affiliates full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares; and/or (ii) hedging, offsetting, or altering to any degree, gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of such shares by such Eligible Holder or any of its affiliates.
An Eligible Holder owns shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the Eligible Holder retains the right to instruct how the shares are voted with respect to the election of directors and possesses the full economic interest in the shares. An Eligible Holders ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the Eligible Holder has delegated any voting power by means of a proxy, power of attorney, or other similar instrument or arrangement that is revocable at any time by the Eligible Holder. An Eligible Holders ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the Eligible Holder has loaned such shares provided that the Eligible Holder has the power to recall such loaned shares on five (5) business days notice, has recalled such loaned shares as of the date of the Nomination Notice and continues to hold such shares through the date of the annual meeting. The terms owned, owning and other variations of the word own shall have correlative meanings. Whether outstanding shares of the Corporation are owned for these purposes shall be determined by the Board.
(v) No person shall be permitted to be in more than one group constituting a Nominating Stockholder, and if any person appears as a member of more than one group, it shall be deemed to be a member of the group that has the largest net long position as reflected in the Nomination Notice.
(e) Nomination Notice.
To nominate a Stockholder Nominee, the Nominating Stockholder must, no earlier than 150 calendar days and no later than 120 calendar days before the anniversary of the date that the Corporation mailed its proxy statement for the prior years annual meeting, submit to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive office of the Corporation all of the following information and documents (collectively, the Nomination Notice); provided, however, that if (and only if) the annual meeting is not scheduled to be held within a period that commences 30 days before such anniversary date and ends 30 days after such anniversary date (an annual meeting date outside such period being referred to herein as an Other Meeting Date), the Nomination Notice shall be given in the manner provided herein by the later of the close of business on (i) the date that is 180 days prior to such Other Meeting Date or (ii) the tenth day following the date such Other Meeting Date is first publicly announced or disclosed:
(i) A Schedule 14N (or any successor form) relating to the Stockholder Nominee, completed and filed with the SEC by the Nominating Stockholder as applicable, in accordance with SEC rules;
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(ii) A written notice, in a form deemed satisfactory by the Board of Directors or its designee, acting in good faith, of the nomination of such Stockholder Nominee that includes the following additional information, agreements, representations and warranties by the Nominating Stockholder (including each group member):
(1) the information required with respect to the nomination of directors pursuant to Section 6(c) of these By-laws;
(2) the details of any relationship that existed within the past five (5) years and that would have been described pursuant to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14N (or any successor item) if it existed on the date of submission of the Schedule 14N;
(3) a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder did not acquire, and is not holding, securities of the Corporation for the purpose or with the effect of influencing or changing control of the Corporation;
(4) a representation and warranty that the Stockholder Nominees candidacy or, if elected, Board membership would not violate applicable state or federal law or the rules of any stock exchange on which the Corporations securities are traded;
(5) a representation and warranty that the Stockholder Nominee:
a. does not have any direct or indirect relationship with the Corporation other than those relationships that have been deemed categorically immaterial pursuant to the Corporations policy on director independence as most recently published on its website and otherwise qualifies as independent under the rules of the primary stock exchange on which the Corporations securities are traded;
b. meets the audit committee independence requirements under the rules of any stock exchange on which the Corporations securities are traded;
c. is a non-employee director for the purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule);
d. is an outside director for the purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (or any successor provision);
e. meets the director qualifications set forth in Article II of these By-Laws;
f. is not and has not been subject to any event specified in Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K (or any successor rule), without reference to whether the event is material to an evaluation of the ability or integrity of the Nominee or whether the event occurred in the ten-year time period referenced in such Item;
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g. does not serve as a director of more than four other entities other than the Corporation; and
h. is not and has not been, within the past three years, an officer or director of a competitor as defined in Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914.
(6) | a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder satisfies the eligibility requirements set forth in Section 8(d) and has provided evidence of ownership to the extent required by Section 8(d)(i); |
(7) | a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder intends to continue to satisfy the eligibility requirements described in Section 8(d) through the date of the annual meeting; |
(8) | details of any position of the Stockholder Nominee as an officer or director of any competitor (that is, any entity that produces products or provides services that compete with or are alternatives to the principal products produced or services provided by the Corporation or its affiliates) of the Corporation, within the five (5) years preceding the submission of the Nomination Notice; |
(9) | a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder will not engage in a solicitation within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) (without reference to the exception in Section 14a-(I)(2)(iv)) (or any successor rules) with respect to the annual meeting, other than with respect to the Stockholder Nominee; |
(10) | if desired, a statement for inclusion in the proxy statement in support of the Stockholder Nominees election to the Board of Directors, provided that such statement shall not exceed 500 words; and |
(11) | in the case of a nomination by a group, the designation by all group members of one group member that is authorized to act on behalf of all group members with respect to matters relating to the nomination, including withdrawal of the nomination; and |
(iii) an executed agreement, in a form deemed satisfactory by the Board of Directors or its designee, acting in good faith, pursuant to which the Nominating Stockholder (including each group member) agrees:
(1) | to comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations in connection with the nomination and election; |
(2) | to assume all liability stemming from an action, suit or proceeding concerning any actual or alleged legal or regulatory violation arising out of any communication by the Nominating Stockholder with the Corporation, its stockholders or any other person in connection with the nomination or election of directors, including, without limitation, the Nomination Notice; |
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(3) | to indemnify and hold harmless (jointly with all other group members, in the case of a group member) the Corporation and each of its directors, officers and employees individually against any liability, loss, damages, expenses or other costs (including attorneys fees) incurred in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether legal, administrative or investigative, against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers or employees arising out of or relating to a failure or alleged failure of the Nominating Stockholder to comply with, or, any breach or alleged breach of, its obligations, agreements or representations under this Section 8(e); and |
(4) | in the event that any information included in the Nomination Notice, or any other communications by the Nominating Stockholder (including with respect to any group member), with the Corporation, its stockholders or any other person in connection with the nomination or election ceases to be true and accurate in all material respects (or due to a subsequent development omits a material fact necessary to make the statements made not misleading), or that the Nominating Stockholder (including any group member) has failed to continue to satisfy the eligibility requirements described in Section 8(d), to promptly (and in any event within 48 hours of discovering such misstatement or omission) notify the Corporation and any other recipient of such communication of the misstatement or omission in such previously provided information and of the information that is required to correct the misstatement or omission. |
(iv) an executed agreement, in a form deemed satisfactory by the Board of Directors or its designee, acting in good faith, by the Stockholder Nominee:
(1) | to provide to the Corporation such other information, including completion of the Corporations director questionnaire, as it may reasonably request; |
(2) | that the Stockholder Nominee has read and agrees, if elected, to serve as a member of the Board of Directors, to adhere to the Corporations Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Professional Conduct, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and any other Corporation policies and guidelines applicable to directors; and |
(3) | that the Stockholder Nominee is not and will not become a party to any compensatory, payment or other financial agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity in connection with service or action as a director of the Corporation, or any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity as to how the Stockholder Nominee would vote or act on any issue or question as a director, in each case that has not been disclosed to the Corporation. |
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The information and documents required by this Section 8(e) shall be (i) provided with respect to and executed by each group member, in the case of information applicable to group members; and (ii) provided with respect to the persons specified in Instruction 1 to Item 6(c) and (d) of Schedule 14N (or any successor item) in the case of a Nominating Stockholder or group member that is an entity. The Nomination Notice shall be deemed submitted on the date on which all of the information and documents referred to in this Section 8(e) (other than such information and documents contemplated to be provided after the date the Nomination Notice is provided) have been provided to the Secretary of the Corporation.
(f) Exceptions.
(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 8, the Corporation may omit from its proxy statement any Stockholder Nominee, and such nomination shall be disregarded and no vote on such Stockholder Nominee will occur, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation, if:
(1) | the Corporation receives a notice pursuant to Section 6(c) of Article I of these Bylaws that a stockholder intends to nominate a candidate for director at the annual meeting; |
(2) | the Nominating Stockholder or the designated lead group member, as applicable, or any qualified representative thereof, does not appear at the meeting of stockholders to present the nomination submitted pursuant to this Section 8; |
(3) | the Board of Directors, acting in good faith, determines that such Stockholder Nominees nomination or election to the Board of Directors would result in the Corporation violating or failing to be in compliance with the Corporations Bylaws or certificate of incorporation or any applicable law, rule or regulation to which the Corporation is subject, including any rules or regulations of any stock exchange on which the Corporations securities are traded; |
(4) | the Stockholder Nominee was nominated for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to this Section 8 at one of the Corporations two preceding annual meetings of stockholders and received a vote of less than 25% of the shares of common stock entitled to vote for such Nominee; or |
(5) | the Corporation is notified, or the Board of Directors acting in good faith determines, that a Nominating Stockholder has failed to continue to satisfy the eligibility requirements described in Section 8(d), any of the representations and warranties made in the Nomination Notice ceases to be true and accurate in all material respects (or omits a material fact necessary to make the statements made not misleading), the Stockholder Nominee becomes unwilling or unable to serve on the Board of Directors or any material violation or breach occurs of the obligations, agreements, representations or warranties of the Nominating Stockholder or the Stockholder Nominee under this Section 8. |
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(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 8, the Corporation may omit from its proxy statement, or may supplement or correct, any information, including all or any portion of the statement in support of the Stockholder Nominee included in the Nomination Notice, if the Board of Directors in good faith determines that:
(1) | such information is not true in all material respects or omits a material statement necessary to make the statements made not misleading; |
(2) | such information directly or indirectly impugns the character, integrity or personal reputation of, or directly or indirectly makes charges concerning improper, illegal or immoral conduct or associations, without factual foundation, with respect to, any person; or |
(3) | the inclusion of such information in the proxy statement would otherwise violate the SEC proxy rules or any other applicable law, rule or regulation. |
Section 9. Stock List.
A complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in his or her name, shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held.
The stock list shall also be kept at the place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder who is present. This list shall presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them.
Section 10. Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.
ARTICLE II - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. General Powers, Number, and Term of Office.
The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be under the direction of its Board of Directors. Subject to Article IX, the number of Directors who shall constitute the Whole Board shall be such number as the majority of the Whole Board shall from time to time have designated, which number shall be no less than nine (9) and no more than eighteen (18). Subject to Article IX, Section 3(c), immediately following the expiration of the Specified Period the Board of Directors shall elect a Chairman of the Board from among its members and, thereafter, annually elect a Chairman of the Board from among its members.
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The Directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, shall be divided, with respect to the time for which they severally hold office, into three classes, with the term of office of the first class to expire at the first annual meeting of stockholders; the term of office of the second class to expire at the annual meeting of stockholders one year thereafter; and the term of office of the third class to expire at the annual meeting of stockholders two years thereafter, with each Director to hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. At each annual meeting of stockholders, Directors elected to succeed those Directors whose terms then expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election, with each Director to hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.
Section 2. Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, and unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of Directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office, or other cause may be filled only by a majority vote of the Directors then in office, though less than a quorum, and Directors so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders at which the term of office of the class to which they have been elected expires and until such Directors successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of authorized Directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent Director.
Section 3. Regular Meetings.
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place or places, on such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been established by the Board of Directors and publicized among all Directors. A notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.
Section 4. Special Meetings.
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by one-half (1/2) of the Directors then in office (rounded up to the nearest whole number), or by a Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, and shall be held in such place, on such date, and at such time as they, or he or she, shall fix. Notice of the place, date and time of each such special meeting shall be given to each Director, unless waived by such Director, by mailing written notice not less than five (5) days before the meeting or by telegraphing or telexing, or by facsimile transmission of the same or by hand, not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting in the case of a meeting to be held at a location within twenty-five (25) miles of the Corporations executive offices and not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the meeting in the case of a meeting to be held at a location beyond twenty-five (25) miles of the Corporations executive offices. No special meeting shall be held at a location beyond seventy-five (75) miles of the Corporations executive offices. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.
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Section 5. Quorum.
At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum for all purposes. If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time, without further notice or waiver thereof.
Section 6. Participation in Meetings By Conference Telephone.
Members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 7. Conduct of Business.
At any meeting of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in such order and manner as a Chairman of the Board or, in the absence of a Chairman of the Board or at his or her delegation, the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors may from time to time determine, and all matters shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the Directors present, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law. The Board of Directors may take action without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.
Section 8. Compensation of Directors.
Directors, as such, may receive, pursuant to resolution of the Board of Directors, fixed fees and other compensation for their services as Directors, including, without limitation, their services as members of committees of the Board of Directors.
Section 9. Retirement of Directors.
No person may be elected, appointed, or nominated as a Director of the Corporation after December 31 of the year in which such person attains the age of 75; provided, however, that the Board of Directors, by a written resolution approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Whole Board of Directors, may exclude an incumbent director from such age limitation. Notwithstanding the limitation of this provision, a director shall be able to complete a term in which he or she attains the age of 75. Vacancies on the Board of Directors created by operation of this provision may be filled in accordance with these Bylaws.
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ARTICLE III - COMMITTEES
Section 1. Committees of the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors, by a vote of a majority of the Whole Board of Directors, may, from time to time, designate committees of the Board, with such lawfully delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers, to serve at the pleasure of a majority of the Whole Board, and shall, for these committees and any others provided for herein, elect a Director or Directors to serve as the member or members, designating, if it desires, other Directors as alternate members who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. The Board of Directors, by a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board, may terminate any committee previously established. Any committee so designated by resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board, may exercise the power and authority of the Board of Directors to declare a dividend, to authorize the issuance of stock, or to adopt a certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to Section 253 of the Delaware General Corporation Law if the resolution which designates the committee or a supplemental resolution of the Board of Directors shall so provide. In the absence or disqualification of any member of any committee and any alternate member in his or her place, the member or members of the committee present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they constitute a quorum, may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.
Section 2. Conduct of Business.
Each committee may determine the procedural rules for meeting and conducting its business and shall act in accordance therewith, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law or the Board of Directors. Adequate provision shall be made for notice to members of all meetings; a majority of the members shall constitute a quorum unless the committee shall consist of one (1) or two (2) members, in which event one (1) member shall constitute a quorum; and all matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present. Action may be taken by any committee without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of such committee.
Section 3. Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board, shall appoint a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, consisting of not less than three (3) members of the Board of Directors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall have authority (a) to review any nominations for election to the Board of Directors made by a stockholder of the Corporation pursuant to Section 6(c)(ii) of Article I of these Bylaws in order to determine compliance with such Bylaw and (b) to recommend to the Whole Board nominees for election to the Board of Directors to replace those Directors whose terms expire at the annual meeting of stockholders next ensuing.
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ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
Section 1. Generally.
(a) The Board of Directors, as soon as may be practicable after the annual meeting of stockholders, shall choose one or more Chairmen of the Board; a Chief Executive Officer; a President; one or more Vice Presidents (which may have the designation Senior Executive, Executive or Senior before Vice President); and a Secretary, and from time to time may choose such other Officers as it may deem proper. The Chairmen of the Board shall be chosen from among the Directors. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.
(b) The term of office of all Officers shall be until such Officers resignation or removal and any Officer may be removed from office at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the authorized number of Directors then constituting the Board of Directors. The removal of the current Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer and President from such office or any action to materially modify, amend or breach the employment agreement of such person, or terminate such persons employment, shall require the affirmative vote of 75% of all of the Directors of the Corporation. This Section 1(b) of Article IV of these Bylaws may not be amended, altered or repealed by the Board of Directors except pursuant to a resolution adopted by 75% of all of the Directors of the Corporation.
(c) All Officers chosen by the Board of Directors or a Chairman of the Board shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective Offices, subject to the specific provisions of this ARTICLE IV. Such Officers shall also have such powers and duties as, from time to time, may be conferred by the Board of Directors or by any committee thereof.
Section 2. Chairman of the Board of Directors.
A Chairman of the Board shall, subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors, serve in a general executive capacity. A Chairman of the Board shall perform all duties and have all powers which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Chief Executive Officer and President.
The Chief Executive Officer and President shall have general responsibility for the management and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall perform all duties and have all powers that are commonly incident to the office of Chief Executive Officer and President or that are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer and President shall have power to sign all stock certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation that are authorized and shall have general supervision of all of the other Officers (other than a Chairman of the Board), employees and agents of the Corporation.
Section 4. Vice President.
The Vice Presidents shall perform the duties and exercise the powers usually incident to their respective offices and/or such other duties and powers as may be properly assigned to them by the Board of Directors. A Vice President or Vice Presidents may be designated as Senior Executive Vice President, Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President.
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Section 5. Secretary.
The Secretary or Assistant Secretary shall issue notices of meetings, shall keep their minutes, shall have charge of the seal and the corporate books, and shall perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as are usually incident to such office and/or such other duties and powers as are properly assigned thereto by the Board of Directors. Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Secretary shall have the power to sign all stock certificates.
Section 6. Chief Financial Officer.
The Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation shall have the responsibility for maintaining the financial records of the Corporation. He or she shall make such disbursements of the funds of the Corporation as are authorized and shall render, from time to time, an account of all such transactions and of the financial condition of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall also perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
Section 7. Assistant Secretaries and Other Officers.
The Board of Directors may appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries and such other Officers who shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as are provided in these Bylaws or as may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors.
Section 8. Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations.
Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, a Chairman of the Board or any Officer of the Corporation authorized by the Chief Executive Officer shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of stockholders of, or with respect to any action of stockholders of, any other corporation in which this Corporation may hold securities, and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation.
ARTICLE V - STOCK
Section 1. Certificates of Stock.
Each stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, a Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or any Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, certifying the number of shares owned by him or her. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be by facsimile. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors of the Corporation may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation.
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Section 2. Transfers of Stock.
Transfers of stock shall be made only upon the transfer books of the Corporation kept at an office of the Corporation or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares of the stock of the Corporation. Except where a certificate is issued in accordance with Section 4 of Article V of these Bylaws, an outstanding certificate for the number of shares involved shall be surrendered for cancellation before a new certificate is issued therefore.
Section 3. Record Date.
In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion, or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of any meeting of stockholders, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the time for such other action as hereinbefore described; provided, however, that if no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the next day preceding the day on which the meeting is held, and, for determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment or rights or to exercise any rights of change, conversion, or exchange of stock, or for any other purpose, the record date shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts a resolution relating thereto. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
Section 4. Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed Certificates.
In the event of the loss, theft, or destruction of any certificate of stock, another may be issued in its place pursuant to such regulations as the Board of Directors may establish concerning proof of such loss, theft, or destruction and concerning the giving of a satisfactory bond or bonds of indemnity.
Section 5. Regulations.
The issue, transfer, conversion, and registration of certificates of stock shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish.
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ARTICLE VI - NOTICES
Section 1. Notices.
Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or required by law, all notices required to be given to any stockholder, Director, Officer, employee, or agent shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand delivery to the recipient thereof, by depositing such notice in the mails, postage paid, or by sending such notice by prepaid telegram or mailgram or other courier. Any such notice shall be addressed to such stockholder, Director, Officer, employee or agent at his or her last known address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. The time when such notice is received, if hand delivered, or dispatched, if delivered through the mails or by telegram or mailgram or other courier, shall be the time of the giving of the notice.
Section 2. Waivers.
A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder, Director, Officer, employee, or agent, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such stockholder, Director, Officer, employee, or agent. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver.
ARTICLE VII - MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. Facsimile Signatures.
In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures specifically authorized elsewhere in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any Officer or Officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof designated by the Board.
Section 2. Corporate Seal.
The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary. If and when so directed by the Board of Directors or a designated committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Chief Financial Officer or by an Assistant Secretary or an assistant to the Chief Financial Officer.
Section 3. Reliance Upon Books, Reports, and Records.
Each Director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, and each Officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other 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 of Directors so designated, or by lawyers, accountants, agents, or any other person as to matters which such Director or committee member or Officer reasonably believes are within such other persons professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.
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Section 4. Fiscal Year.
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as fixed by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Time Periods.
In applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event, or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.
ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS
The Board of Directors, by a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board, may, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, amend, alter, or repeal these Bylaws at any meeting of the Board, provided notice of the proposed change was given not less than two days prior to the meeting. The stockholders shall also have power to amend, alter, or repeal these Bylaws at any meeting of stockholders provided notice of the proposed change was given in the notice of the meeting; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any other provisions of the Bylaws or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the voting stock required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, any Preferred Stock Designation, or these Bylaws, the affirmative votes of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power (taking into account the provisions of Article FOURTH of the Certificate of Incorporation) of all the then-outstanding shares of the Voting Stock voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend, or repeal any provisions of these Bylaws.
ARTICLE IX CERTAIN GOVERNANCE MATTERS
Section 1. Interpretation; Definitions.
(a) The provisions of this Article IX shall apply notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in these Bylaws. In the event of any inconsistency between any provision of this Article IX and any other provision of these Bylaws, such provision of this Article IX shall control.
(b) The following definitions shall apply to this Article IX and otherwise as applicable in these Bylaws:
(i) Designated Exchange shall mean the primary stock exchange on which the Corporations common stock is listed.
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(ii) Effective Time shall have the meaning set forth in the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 24, 2021, by and between Flagstar Bancorp, Inc., the Corporation and 615 Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation, as it may have been amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (the Merger Agreement).
(iii) Entire Board of Directors shall mean the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies.
(iv) Legacy Flagstar shall mean Flagstar Bancorp, Inc., a Michigan corporation, which has merged with and into the Corporation effective as of the Effective Time.
(v) Legacy Flagstar Directors shall mean the directors as of the Effective Time who were directors of Legacy Flagstar as of immediately prior to the Effective Time and any director that fills a vacancy of any Legacy Flagstar Director or succeeds any Legacy Flagstar Director.
(vi) Legacy NYCB Directors shall mean the directors as of the Effective Time who were directors of the Corporation as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.
(vii) Bank shall mean New York Community Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation.
(viii) Specified Period shall mean the period beginning at the Effective Time and ending on the twenty-four (24) month anniversary of the Effective Time.
Section 2. Non-Executive Chairman; CEO; Presiding Director.
(a) Effective as of the Effective Time, (i) Mr. Alessandro P. DiNello shall serve as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and (ii) Mr. Thomas R. Cangemi shall serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and shall report directly to the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding Sections 1(c) and 2 of Article IV, the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board shall not be an officer of the Corporation and shall not serve in any executive capacity.
(b) During the Specified Period, (i) any removal of any of the individuals serving in the capacities set forth in subsection (a) above from, or failure to appoint, re-elect or re-nominate any of them to, any such positions, (ii) any amendment or modification to any employment or similar agreement with any of them to the extent such amendment or modification would adversely affect such individual, (iii) any termination of Mr. Thomas R. Cangemis employment by the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation, or (iv) any modification of Mr. Thomas R. Cangemis reporting relationship to the Board of Directors as set forth in these Bylaws shall, in each case, require the affirmative vote of at least three-fourths (75%) of the Entire Board of Directors.
(c) Upon the earlier of (i) the death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cessation of service by Mr. Alessandro P. DiNello as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and (ii) the date following the completion of the Specified Period, the Board of Directors shall elect a Chairman of the Board from among its members.
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(d) During the Specified Period, the Presiding Director of the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be an independent director chosen from among the Legacy NYCB Directors by majority vote of the Legacy NYCB Directors and shall initially be, as of the Effective Time, Mr. Hanif Dahya. The Presiding Director shall qualify as an independent director under the rules of the Designated Exchange.
(e) The Corporation shall cause the Bank, effective as of the Effective Time, to appoint (i) Mr. Alessandro P. DiNello as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank as long as he serves as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and (ii) Mr. Thomas R. Cangemi as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank as long as he serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. During the Specified Period, but subject to such individuals holding the qualifying position at the Corporation, the Corporation shall cause the Bank not to (A) remove any of the individuals serving in the capacities set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, or fail to appoint, re-elect or re-nominate any such individuals to serve in any such capacities, (B) amend or modify any employment or similar agreement with any of them to the extent such amendment or modification would adversely affect such individual, or (C) terminate Mr. Thomas R. Cangemis employment, in each case, except with the affirmative vote of at least three-fourths (75%) of the Entire Board of Directors. Upon the earlier of (i) the death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cessation of service by Mr. Alessandro P. DiNello as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank and (ii) the date following the completion of the Specified Period, the Board of Directors of the Bank shall elect a Chairman of the Board from among its members. During the Specified Period, the Corporation may not exercise its authority, in its capacity as sole shareholder of the Bank, to (and the Corporation shall cause the Bank not to) modify, amend or repeal any of the provisions of the bylaws of the Bank relating to the duties, authority or reporting relationships of the Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, in each case, without the affirmative vote of at least three-fourths (75%) of the Entire Board of Directors.
Section 3. Composition of the Board of Directors; Advisory Board.
During the Specified Period, subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation, the Entire Board of Directors shall be comprised of twelve (12) Directors plus a number of additional Directors that may be added in connection with or as a result of any acquisition or merger by the Corporation. At the Effective Time, eight (8) Directors shall be Legacy NYCB Directors (one of whom shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation as of immediately prior to the Effective Time with the remaining Legacy NYCB Directors to be chosen and determined in accordance with the Merger Agreement) and four (4) Directors shall be Legacy Flagstar Directors (one of whom shall be the Chief Executive Officer of Legacy Flagstar as of immediately prior to the Effective Time with the remaining Legacy Flagstar Directors to be chosen and determined in accordance with the Merger Agreement). The composition of the Board of Directors of the Bank shall be identical to that of the Corporation.
During the Specified Period, (a) the Corporation shall maintain the Advisory Board (as defined in the Merger Agreement), (b) the composition of the Advisory Board shall consist of the directors of Legacy Flagstar immediately prior to the Effective Time other than the Flagstar Designated Directors (as defined in the Merger Agreement), (c) the Corporation shall cause all such individuals who accept such role on the Advisory Board to be elected or appointed for a two (2)-year term as members of the Advisory Board and (d) such individuals who accept such
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role and serve on the Advisory Board will each receive quarterly compensation of $10,000 per quarter served. The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation shall meet with the Advisory Board at least one time per quarter during the two (2) year period beginning on the Closing Date (as defined in the Merger Agreement).
Section 4. Committees.
(a) During the Specified Period, the Board of Directors shall have and maintain as standing committees an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee, a Risk Assessment Committee and a Technology Committee.
(b) During the Specified Period, effective as of the Effective Time, Mr. David L. Treadwell shall serve as the Chairman of the Risk Assessment Committee. Upon the death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cessation of service by Mr. David L. Treadwell as Chairman of the Risk Assessment Committee, an individual approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Entire Board of Directors shall succeed Mr. David L. Treadwell as the Chairman of the Risk Assessment Committee.
(c) During the Specified Period, each committee of the Board of Directors shall have at least one (1) Legacy Flagstar Director, provided that, if any such committee shall have more than five (5) members, such committee shall have at least two (2) Legacy Flagstar Directors.
(d) During the Specified Period, in the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Section 4 of this Article IX, on the one hand, and Article III, on the other hand, this Section 4 of this Article IX shall control.
Section 5. Amendments.
During the Specified Period, the provisions of (a) this Article IX, and (b) any other provision of these Bylaws that sets forth the authority and responsibility of the Non-Executive Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer or President, may be modified, amended or repealed, and any Bylaw provision or other resolution inconsistent with this Article IX may be adopted, by the Board of Directors only by (and any such modification, amendment, repeal or inconsistent Bylaw provisions and other resolutions may be proposed or recommended by the Board of Directors for adoption by the shareholders of the Corporation only by) an affirmative vote of at least three-fourths (75%) of the Entire Board of Directors.
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EXHIBIT 3.2
NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.
BYLAWS
(Amended and Restated as of December 1, 2022)
ARTICLE I - STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Annual Meeting.
An annual meeting of the stockholders, for the election of Directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as the Board of Directors shall each year fix, which date shall be within thirteen (13) months subsequent to the later of the date of incorporation or the last annual meeting of stockholders.
Section 2. Special Meetings.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board. The term Whole Board shall mean the total number of Directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies on the Board of Directors (hereinafter the Whole Board).
Section 3. Notice of Meetings.
Written notice of the place, date, and time of all meetings of the stockholders shall be given, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law.
When a meeting is adjourned to another place, date, or time, written notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the place, date, and time thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than thirty (30) days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, or if a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, written notice of the place, date, and time of the adjourned meeting shall be given in conformity herewith. At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
Section 4. Quorum.
At any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority of all of the shares of the stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or by proxy (after giving effect to the provisions of Article FOURTH of the Corporations Certificate of Incorporation), shall constitute a quorum for all purposes, unless or except to the extent that the presence of a larger number may be required by law. Where a separate vote by a class or classes is required, a majority of the shares of such class or classes present in person or represented by proxy (after giving effect to the provisions of Article FOURTH of the Corporations Certificate of Incorporation) shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter.
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If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the Chief Executive Officer or the holders of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time.
Section 5. Organization.
A Chairman of the Board of the Corporation or, in the absence of a Chairman of the Board or at his or her delegation, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation shall call to order any meeting of the stockholders and preside over the meeting (such person, the Chairman of the Meeting). In the absence of the Secretary of the Corporation, the secretary of the meeting shall be such person as the Chairman of the Meeting appoints.
Section 6. Conduct of Business.
(a) The Chairman of the Meeting of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedures at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seem to him or her in order. The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting.
(b) At any annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote with respect thereto and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 6(b) or, in the case of a director nomination, Section 6(c) or Section 8 of this Article I of these Bylaws. For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder under this Section 6(b), the business must relate to a proper subject matter for stockholder action and the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholders notice must be delivered or mailed to and received at the principal executive office of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days prior to the date of the annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than one hundred (100) days notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be received not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. A stockholders notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter such stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (ii) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporations books, of the stockholder proposing such business, (iii) the class and number of shares of the Corporations capital stock that are beneficially owned by such stockholder, (iv) any material interest of such stockholder in such business, and (v) whether and the extent to which any hedging derivative or other transaction is in place or has been entered into within the prior six months preceding the date of delivery of the stockholders notice by or for the benefit of such stockholder with respect to the Corporation or its subsidiaries or any of their respective securities, debt instruments or credit ratings, the effect or intent of which transaction is to give rise to gain or loss as a result of
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changes in the trading price of such securities or debt instruments or changes in the credit ratings for the Corporation, its subsidiaries or any of their respective securities or debt instruments (or, more generally, changes in the perceived creditworthiness of the Corporation or its subsidiaries), or to increase or decrease the voting power of such stockholder, and if so, a summary of the material terms thereof. Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be brought before or conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(b) (or, in the case of a director nomination, Section 6(c) or Section 8 of this Article I of these Bylaws). The Chairman of the Meeting shall, if the facts so warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(b) and, if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such business so determined to be not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted. At any special meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of a majority of the Whole Board of Directors.
(c) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws shall be eligible for election as Directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be made at a meeting of stockholders at which Directors are to be elected only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election of Directors at the meeting who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 6(c) or Section 8 of this Article I of these Bylaws. Such nominations, other than those made by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, shall be made by timely notice in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely under this Section 6(c), a stockholders notice shall be delivered or mailed to and received at the principal executive office of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days prior to the date of the meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than one hundred (100) days notice or prior disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. Such stockholders notice shall set forth (i) as to each person whom such 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, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including such persons written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a Director if elected); and (ii) as to the stockholder giving the notice (x) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporations books, of such stockholder, (y) the class and number of shares of the Corporations capital stock that are beneficially owned by such stockholder, and (z) whether and the extent to which any hedging, derivative or other transaction is in place or has been entered into within the prior six months preceding the date of delivery of the stockholders notice by or for the benefit of such stockholder with respect to the Corporation or its subsidiaries or any of their respective securities, debt instruments or credit ratings, the effect or intent of which transaction is to give rise to gain or loss as a result of changes in the trading price of such securities or debt instruments or changes in the credit ratings for the Corporation, its subsidiaries or any of their respective securities or debt instruments (or, more generally, changes in the perceived creditworthiness of the Corporation or its subsidiaries), or to increase or decrease the voting power of such stockholder, and if so, a summary of the material terms thereof. At the request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated by the Board of Directors for election as a Director
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shall furnish to the Secretary of the Corporation that information required to be set forth in a stockholders notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee. No person shall be eligible for election by stockholders as a Director of the Corporation unless nominated by the Board of Directors or nominated in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c) or Section 8 of this Article I of these Bylaws. The Chairman of the Meeting shall, if the facts so warrant, determine that a nomination was not made in accordance with such sections and, if he or she shall so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
Section 7. Proxies and Voting.
A stockholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy. Execution may be accomplished by the stockholder or such stockholders authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such writing or causing such persons signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature. A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a telegram, cablegram, or other means of electronic transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission, provided that any such telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission was authorized by stockholder. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this paragraph 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, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.
All voting, including the election of Directors but excepting where otherwise required by law or by the governing documents of the Corporation, may be made by a voice vote; provided, however, that upon demand therefore by a stockholder entitled to vote his or her proxy, a stock vote shall be taken. Every stock vote shall be taken by ballot, each of which shall state the name of the stockholder or proxy voting and such other information as may be required under the procedures established for the meeting. The Board of Directors shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Board of Directors may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the Chairman of the Meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.
Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation with respect to directors to be elected by the holders of any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation and in these Bylaws with respect to the filling of vacancies on the Board of Directors, each director shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast with respect to such director at any meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present and directors are to be elected;
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provided, however, that the directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting of the stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present and directors are to be elected if, in connection with such meeting (i) the Secretary of the Corporation shall have received one or more notices that a stockholder has nominated or proposes to nominate a person or persons for election as a director, which notice(s) purports to be in compliance with the advance notice requirements set forth in Section 6 or Section 8 of this Article I of the Bylaws or applicable rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, irrespective of whether the Board of Directors thereafter determines that any such notice(s) is (are) not in compliance with such requirements, and (ii) as of the fourteenth (14th) day preceding the date on which notice of such meeting of the stockholders is first mailed or otherwise given in accordance with applicable law to the stockholders of the Corporation, such nomination or proposed nomination has not been withdrawn by such stockholder and would thereby cause the number of nominees and proposed nominees to exceed the number of directors to be elected at such meeting, as determined by the Secretary of the Corporation, irrespective of whether such nomination or proposed nomination is thereafter withdrawn by such stockholder (a Contested Election).
If the directors are to be elected by a plurality of the votes cast pursuant to the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence, stockholders shall not be permitted to vote against any one or more nominees but shall only be permitted to vote for one or more nominees or withhold their votes with respect to one or more nominees.
For purposes hereof, a majority of the votes cast means the number of votes cast for a director nominee must exceed the number of votes cast against that director nominee, with abstentions and broker non-votes not counted as a vote cast either for or against that director nominee.
If, in any election of directors of the Corporation which is not a Contested Election, an incumbent director does not receive a majority of the votes cast, such incumbent director shall promptly following certification of the election results tender an irrevocable resignation as a director, subject to acceptance or rejection thereof or other action with respect thereto by the Board, for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will promptly consider any such tendered resignation and will make recommendation to the Board of Directors as to whether such tendered resignation should be accepted or rejected, or whether other action should be taken with respect to such tendered resignation. Any incumbent director whose tendered resignation is under consideration may not participate in any deliberation or vote of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee or the Board of Directors regarding such tendered resignation.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in making its recommendation, and the Board of Directors in making its decision as to whether to accept or reject such recommendation, may each consider any factors they deem relevant, including, without limitation, the incumbent directors qualifications and past and expected future contributions to the Corporation, the overall composition of the Board of Directors and whether accepting the tendered resignation would cause the Corporation to fail to satisfy any applicable law, rule or regulation (including, without limitation, New York Stock Exchange listing requirements and
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federal securities laws and regulations), in deciding whether to accept, reject or take other action with respect to any such tendered resignation and in accordance with such policies and procedures adopted by the Committee and/or the Board of Directors for such purposes.
Within one hundred twenty (120) days after the date on which certification of the stockholder vote on the election of directors is made, the Board of Directors will publicly disclose its decision and rationale regarding whether to accept, reject or take other action with respect to the tendered resignation in a press release, a periodic or current report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or by other public announcement.
If any incumbent director fails to tender his or her resignation as required pursuant to this Section 7 of Article I, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall nevertheless assess the appropriateness of such directors continued service as a director and shall recommend to the Board of Directors the action to be taken with respect to such director as if the director had tendered his or her resignation. Should the Board of Directors determine that it would have accepted the resignation of such director if it had been tendered as required pursuant to this Section 7 of Article I, then the term of such director shall be deemed to expire on the day that is one hundred twenty (120) days following certification of the stockholder vote and the Board of Directors will publicly disclose its decision and rationale in a press release, a periodic or current report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or by other public announcement within one hundred twenty (120) days after certification of the stockholder vote.
Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, all matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively.
Section 8. Stockholder Nominations Included in the Corporations Proxy Materials.
(a) Subject to the provisions of this Section 8(a) if expressly requested in the relevant Nomination Notice (as defined below), the Corporation shall include in its proxy statement for any annual meeting of stockholders:
(i) the name of any person nominated for election (the Stockholder Nominee) by any Eligible Holder (as defined below) or group of up to twenty (20) Eligible Holders that has (individually and collectively, in the case of a group) satisfied all applicable conditions and complied with all applicable procedures set forth in this Section 8 (such Eligible Holder or group being a Nominating Stockholder);
(ii) disclosure about the Stockholder Nominee and the Nominating Stockholder required under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission or other applicable law to be included in the proxy statement;
(iii) any statement included by the Nominating Stockholder in the Nomination Notice for inclusion in the proxy statement in support of the Stockholder Nominees election to the Board of Directors (subject, without limitation, to Section 8(f)(ii)), if such statement does not exceed 500 words; and
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(iv) any other information that the Corporation or the Board of Directors determines, in their discretion, to include in the proxy statement relating to the nomination of the Stockholder Nominee, including, without limitation, any statement in opposition to the nomination and any of the information provided pursuant to this Section.
(b) The name of any Stockholder Nominee included in the proxy statement pursuant to Section 8(a) for an annual meeting of stockholders shall be included on any ballot relating to the election of directors distributed at such annual meeting and shall be set forth on a form of proxy (or other format through which the Corporation permits proxies to be submitted) distributed by the Corporation in connection with election of directors at such annual meeting so as to permit shareholders to vote on the election of such Stockholder Nominee.
(c) Maximum Number of Stockholder Nominees.
(i) The Corporation shall not be required to include in the proxy statement for an annual meeting of stockholders more Stockholder Nominees than that number of directors constituting twenty percent (20%), but no less than two (2), of the total number of directors of the Corporation on the last day on which a Nomination Notice may be submitted pursuant to this Section 8(c) (rounded down to the nearest whole number) (the Maximum Number). The Maximum Number for a particular annual meeting shall be reduced by: (1) Stockholder Nominees who are subsequently withdrawn, cease to satisfy the requirements of this Section 8 or become unwilling to serve; (2) Stockholder Nominees that the Board of Directors itself decides to nominate for election at such annual meeting; and (3) the number of incumbent directors who had been Stockholder Nominees at any of the preceding three annual meetings and whose reelection at the upcoming annual meeting is being recommended by the Board of Directors. In the event that one or more vacancies for any reason occurs on the Board of Directors after the deadline set forth in Section 8(e) below but before the date of the annual meeting and the Board of Directors resolves to reduce the size of the board in connection therewith, the Maximum Number shall be calculated based on the number of directors in office as so reduced.
(ii) If the number of Stockholder Nominees pursuant to this Section 8(c) for any annual meeting of stockholders exceeds the Maximum Number then, promptly upon notice from the Corporation, each Nominating Stockholder will select one Stockholder Nominee for inclusion in the proxy statement until the Maximum Number is reached, going in order of the amount (largest to smallest) of the ownership disclosed in each Nominating Stockholders Nomination Notice, with the process repeated if the Maximum Number is not reached after each Nominating Stockholder has selected one Stockholder Nominee. If, after the deadline for submitting a Nomination Notice as set forth in Section 8(e), a Nominating Stockholder becomes ineligible or withdraws its nomination or a Stockholder Nominee becomes unwilling to serve on the Board of Directors, whether before or after the mailing of definitive proxy statement, then the nomination shall be disregarded, and the Corporation: (1) shall not be required to include in its proxy statement or on any ballot or form of proxy the disregarded Stockholder Nominee or any successor or replacement nominee proposed by the Nominating Stockholder or by any other Nominating Stockholder, and (2) may otherwise communicate to its stockholders, including without limitation by amending or supplementing its proxy statement or ballot or form of proxy, that the Stockholder Nominee will not be included as a Stockholder Nominee in the proxy statement or on any ballot or form of proxy and will not be voted on at the annual meeting.
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(d) Eligibility of Nominating Stockholder.
(i) An Eligible Holder is a person who has either (1) been a record holder of the shares of common stock used to satisfy the eligibility requirements in this Section 8(d) continuously for the relevant three-year period, or (2) provides to the Secretary of the Corporation, within the time period referred to in Section 8(e), evidence of continuous ownership of such shares for such three-year period from one or more securities intermediaries in a form that the Board of Directors or its designee, acting in good faith, determines would be deemed acceptable for purposes of a shareholder proposal under Rule 14a-8(b)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) (or any successor rule).
(ii) An Eligible Holder or group of up to twenty (20) Eligible Holders may submit a nomination in accordance with this Section 8(d) only if the person or group (in the aggregate) has continuously been a holder of full voting rights in and ownership of at least the Minimum Number (as defined below) of shares of the Corporations common stock throughout the three (3) year period preceding and including the date of submission of the Nomination Notice, and continues to hold full voting rights in and ownership of at least the Minimum Number through the date of the annual meeting. Two or more funds that are (1) under common management and investment control, (2) under common management and funded primarily by a single employer or (3) a group of investment companies, as such term is defined in Section 12(d)(1)(G)(ii) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, shall be treated as one Eligible Holder if such Eligible Holder shall provide together with the Nomination Notice documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation that demonstrates that the funds meet the criteria set forth in (1), (2) or (3) hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of a nomination by a group of Eligible Holders, any and all requirements and obligations for an individual Eligible Holder that are set forth in this Section 8(d), including the minimum holding period, shall apply to each member of such group; provided, however, that the Minimum Number shall apply to the ownership of the group in the aggregate. Should any stockholder cease to satisfy the eligibility requirements in this Section 8(d), as determined by the Board of Directors, or withdraw from a group of Eligible Holders at any time prior to the annual meeting of stockholders, the group of Eligible Stockholders shall only be deemed to own the shares held by the remaining members of the group.
(iii) The Minimum Number of shares of the Corporations common stock means three percent (3%) of the number of outstanding shares of common stock as of the most recent date for which such amount is given in any filing by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) prior to the submission of the Nomination Notice.
(iv) For purposes of this Section 8, an Eligible Holder owns only those outstanding shares of the Corporation as to which the Eligible Holder possesses both:
(1) | the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares; and |
(2) | the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit and risk of loss on) such shares; |
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provided that the number of shares calculated in accordance with clauses (1) and (2) shall not include any shares: (i) purchased or sold by such Eligible Holder or any of its affiliates in any transaction that has not been settled or closed; (ii) sold short by such Eligible Holder; (iii) borrowed by such Eligible Holder or any of its affiliates for any purpose or purchased by such Eligible Holder or any of its affiliates pursuant to an agreement to resell or subject to any other obligation to resell to another person; or (iv) subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale, other derivative or similar agreement entered into by such Eligible Holder or any of its affiliates, whether any such instrument or agreement is to be settled with shares or with cash based on the notional amount or value of outstanding shares of the Corporation, in any such case which instrument or agreement has, or is intended to have, the purpose or effect of: (i) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such Eligible Holders or any of its affiliates full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares; and/or (ii) hedging, offsetting, or altering to any degree, gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of such shares by such Eligible Holder or any of its affiliates.
An Eligible Holder owns shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the Eligible Holder retains the right to instruct how the shares are voted with respect to the election of directors and possesses the full economic interest in the shares. An Eligible Holders ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the Eligible Holder has delegated any voting power by means of a proxy, power of attorney, or other similar instrument or arrangement that is revocable at any time by the Eligible Holder. An Eligible Holders ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the Eligible Holder has loaned such shares provided that the Eligible Holder has the power to recall such loaned shares on five (5) business days notice, has recalled such loaned shares as of the date of the Nomination Notice and continues to hold such shares through the date of the annual meeting. The terms owned, owning and other variations of the word own shall have correlative meanings. Whether outstanding shares of the Corporation are owned for these purposes shall be determined by the Board.
(v) No person shall be permitted to be in more than one group constituting a Nominating Stockholder, and if any person appears as a member of more than one group, it shall be deemed to be a member of the group that has the largest net long position as reflected in the Nomination Notice.
(e) Nomination Notice.
To nominate a Stockholder Nominee, the Nominating Stockholder must, no earlier than 150 calendar days and no later than 120 calendar days before the anniversary of the date that the Corporation mailed its proxy statement for the prior years annual meeting, submit to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive office of the Corporation all of the following information and documents (collectively, the Nomination Notice); provided, however, that if (and only if) the annual meeting is not scheduled to be held within a period that commences 30 days before such anniversary date and ends 30 days after such anniversary date (an annual meeting date outside such period being referred to herein as an Other Meeting Date), the Nomination Notice shall be given in the manner provided herein by the later of the close of business on (i) the date that is 180 days prior to such Other Meeting Date or (ii) the tenth day following the date such Other Meeting Date is first publicly announced or disclosed:
(i) A Schedule 14N (or any successor form) relating to the Stockholder Nominee, completed and filed with the SEC by the Nominating Stockholder as applicable, in accordance with SEC rules;
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(ii) A written notice, in a form deemed satisfactory by the Board of Directors or its designee, acting in good faith, of the nomination of such Stockholder Nominee that includes the following additional information, agreements, representations and warranties by the Nominating Stockholder (including each group member):
(1) the information required with respect to the nomination of directors pursuant to Section 6(c) of these By-laws;
(2) the details of any relationship that existed within the past five (5) years and that would have been described pursuant to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14N (or any successor item) if it existed on the date of submission of the Schedule 14N;
(3) a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder did not acquire, and is not holding, securities of the Corporation for the purpose or with the effect of influencing or changing control of the Corporation;
(4) a representation and warranty that the Stockholder Nominees candidacy or, if elected, Board membership would not violate applicable state or federal law or the rules of any stock exchange on which the Corporations securities are traded;
(5) a representation and warranty that the Stockholder Nominee:
a. does not have any direct or indirect relationship with the Corporation other than those relationships that have been deemed categorically immaterial pursuant to the Corporations policy on director independence as most recently published on its website and otherwise qualifies as independent under the rules of the primary stock exchange on which the Corporations securities are traded;
b. meets the audit committee independence requirements under the rules of any stock exchange on which the Corporations securities are traded;
c. is a non-employee director for the purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule);
d. is an outside director for the purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (or any successor provision);
e. meets the director qualifications set forth in Article II of these By-Laws;
f. is not and has not been subject to any event specified in Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K (or any successor rule), without reference to whether the event is material to an evaluation of the ability or integrity of the Nominee or whether the event occurred in the ten-year time period referenced in such Item;
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g. does not serve as a director of more than four other entities other than the Corporation; and
h. is not and has not been, within the past three years, an officer or director of a competitor as defined in Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914.
(6) | a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder satisfies the eligibility requirements set forth in Section 8(d) and has provided evidence of ownership to the extent required by Section 8(d)(i); |
(7) | a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder intends to continue to satisfy the eligibility requirements described in Section 8(d) through the date of the annual meeting; |
(8) | details of any position of the Stockholder Nominee as an officer or director of any competitor (that is, any entity that produces products or provides services that compete with or are alternatives to the principal products produced or services provided by the Corporation or its affiliates) of the Corporation, within the five (5) years preceding the submission of the Nomination Notice; |
(9) | a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder will not engage in a solicitation within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) (without reference to the exception in Section 14a-(I)(2)(iv)) (or any successor rules) with respect to the annual meeting, other than with respect to the Stockholder Nominee; |
(10) | if desired, a statement for inclusion in the proxy statement in support of the Stockholder Nominees election to the Board of Directors, provided that such statement shall not exceed 500 words; and |
(11) | in the case of a nomination by a group, the designation by all group members of one group member that is authorized to act on behalf of all group members with respect to matters relating to the nomination, including withdrawal of the nomination; and |
(iii) an executed agreement, in a form deemed satisfactory by the Board of Directors or its designee, acting in good faith, pursuant to which the Nominating Stockholder (including each group member) agrees:
(1) | to comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations in connection with the nomination and election; |
(2) | to assume all liability stemming from an action, suit or proceeding concerning any actual or alleged legal or regulatory violation arising out of any communication by the Nominating Stockholder with the Corporation, its stockholders or any other person in connection with the nomination or election of directors, including, without limitation, the Nomination Notice; |
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(3) | to indemnify and hold harmless (jointly with all other group members, in the case of a group member) the Corporation and each of its directors, officers and employees individually against any liability, loss, damages, expenses or other costs (including attorneys fees) incurred in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether legal, administrative or investigative, against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers or employees arising out of or relating to a failure or alleged failure of the Nominating Stockholder to comply with, or, any breach or alleged breach of, its obligations, agreements or representations under this Section 8(e); and |
(4) | in the event that any information included in the Nomination Notice, or any other communications by the Nominating Stockholder (including with respect to any group member), with the Corporation, its stockholders or any other person in connection with the nomination or election ceases to be true and accurate in all material respects (or due to a subsequent development omits a material fact necessary to make the statements made not misleading), or that the Nominating Stockholder (including any group member) has failed to continue to satisfy the eligibility requirements described in Section 8(d), to promptly (and in any event within 48 hours of discovering such misstatement or omission) notify the Corporation and any other recipient of such communication of the misstatement or omission in such previously provided information and of the information that is required to correct the misstatement or omission. |
(iv) an executed agreement, in a form deemed satisfactory by the Board of Directors or its designee, acting in good faith, by the Stockholder Nominee:
(1) | to provide to the Corporation such other information, including completion of the Corporations director questionnaire, as it may reasonably request; |
(2) | that the Stockholder Nominee has read and agrees, if elected, to serve as a member of the Board of Directors, to adhere to the Corporations Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Professional Conduct, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and any other Corporation policies and guidelines applicable to directors; and |
(3) | that the Stockholder Nominee is not and will not become a party to any compensatory, payment or other financial agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity in connection with service or action as a director of the Corporation, or any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity as to how the Stockholder Nominee would vote or act on any issue or question as a director, in each case that has not been disclosed to the Corporation. |
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The information and documents required by this Section 8(e) shall be (i) provided with respect to and executed by each group member, in the case of information applicable to group members; and (ii) provided with respect to the persons specified in Instruction 1 to Item 6(c) and (d) of Schedule 14N (or any successor item) in the case of a Nominating Stockholder or group member that is an entity. The Nomination Notice shall be deemed submitted on the date on which all of the information and documents referred to in this Section 8(e) (other than such information and documents contemplated to be provided after the date the Nomination Notice is provided) have been provided to the Secretary of the Corporation.
(f) Exceptions.
(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 8, the Corporation may omit from its proxy statement any Stockholder Nominee, and such nomination shall be disregarded and no vote on such Stockholder Nominee will occur, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation, if:
(1) | the Corporation receives a notice pursuant to Section 6(c) of Article I of these Bylaws that a stockholder intends to nominate a candidate for director at the annual meeting; |
(2) | the Nominating Stockholder or the designated lead group member, as applicable, or any qualified representative thereof, does not appear at the meeting of stockholders to present the nomination submitted pursuant to this Section 8; |
(3) | the Board of Directors, acting in good faith, determines that such Stockholder Nominees nomination or election to the Board of Directors would result in the Corporation violating or failing to be in compliance with the Corporations Bylaws or certificate of incorporation or any applicable law, rule or regulation to which the Corporation is subject, including any rules or regulations of any stock exchange on which the Corporations securities are traded; |
(4) | the Stockholder Nominee was nominated for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to this Section 8 at one of the Corporations two preceding annual meetings of stockholders and received a vote of less than 25% of the shares of common stock entitled to vote for such Nominee; or |
(5) | the Corporation is notified, or the Board of Directors acting in good faith determines, that a Nominating Stockholder has failed to continue to satisfy the eligibility requirements described in Section 8(d), any of the representations and warranties made in the Nomination Notice ceases to be true and accurate in all material respects (or omits a material fact necessary to make the statements made not misleading), the Stockholder Nominee becomes unwilling or unable to serve on the Board of Directors or any material violation or breach occurs of the obligations, agreements, representations or warranties of the Nominating Stockholder or the Stockholder Nominee under this Section 8. |
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(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 8, the Corporation may omit from its proxy statement, or may supplement or correct, any information, including all or any portion of the statement in support of the Stockholder Nominee included in the Nomination Notice, if the Board of Directors in good faith determines that:
(1) | such information is not true in all material respects or omits a material statement necessary to make the statements made not misleading; |
(2) | such information directly or indirectly impugns the character, integrity or personal reputation of, or directly or indirectly makes charges concerning improper, illegal or immoral conduct or associations, without factual foundation, with respect to, any person; or |
(3) | the inclusion of such information in the proxy statement would otherwise violate the SEC proxy rules or any other applicable law, rule or regulation. |
Section 9. Stock List.
A complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in his or her name, shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held.
The stock list shall also be kept at the place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder who is present. This list shall presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them.
Section 10. Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.
ARTICLE II - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. General Powers, Number, and Term of Office.
The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be under the direction of its Board of Directors. Subject to Article IX, the number of Directors who shall constitute the Whole Board shall be such number as the majority of the Whole Board shall from time to time have designated, which number shall be no less than nine (9) and no more than eighteen (18). Subject to Article IX, Section 3(c), immediately following the expiration of the Specified Period the Board of Directors shall elect a Chairman of the Board from among its members and, thereafter, annually elect a Chairman of the Board from among its members.
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The Directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, shall be divided, with respect to the time for which they severally hold office, into three classes, with the term of office of the first class to expire at the first annual meeting of stockholders; the term of office of the second class to expire at the annual meeting of stockholders one year thereafter; and the term of office of the third class to expire at the annual meeting of stockholders two years thereafter, with each Director to hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. At each annual meeting of stockholders, Directors elected to succeed those Directors whose terms then expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election, with each Director to hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.
Section 2. Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, and unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of Directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office, or other cause may be filled only by a majority vote of the Directors then in office, though less than a quorum, and Directors so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders at which the term of office of the class to which they have been elected expires and until such Directors successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of authorized Directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent Director.
Section 3. Regular Meetings.
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place or places, on such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been established by the Board of Directors and publicized among all Directors. A notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.
Section 4. Special Meetings.
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by one-half (1/2) of the Directors then in office (rounded up to the nearest whole number), or by a Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, and shall be held in such place, on such date, and at such time as they, or he or she, shall fix. Notice of the place, date and time of each such special meeting shall be given to each Director, unless waived by such Director, by mailing written notice not less than five (5) days before the meeting or by telegraphing or telexing, or by facsimile transmission of the same or by hand, not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting in the case of a meeting to be held at a location within twenty-five (25) miles of the Corporations executive offices and not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the meeting in the case of a meeting to be held at a location beyond twenty-five (25) miles of the Corporations executive offices. No special meeting shall be held at a location beyond seventy-five (75) miles of the Corporations executive offices. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.
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Section 5. Quorum.
At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum for all purposes. If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time, without further notice or waiver thereof.
Section 6. Participation in Meetings By Conference Telephone.
Members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 7. Conduct of Business.
At any meeting of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in such order and manner as a Chairman of the Board or, in the absence of a Chairman of the Board or at his or her delegation, the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors may from time to time determine, and all matters shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the Directors present, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law. The Board of Directors may take action without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.
Section 8. Compensation of Directors.
Directors, as such, may receive, pursuant to resolution of the Board of Directors, fixed fees and other compensation for their services as Directors, including, without limitation, their services as members of committees of the Board of Directors.
Section 9. Retirement of Directors.
No person may be elected, appointed, or nominated as a Director of the Corporation after December 31 of the year in which such person attains the age of 75; provided, however, that the Board of Directors, by a written resolution approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Whole Board of Directors, may exclude an incumbent director from such age limitation. Notwithstanding the limitation of this provision, a director shall be able to complete a term in which he or she attains the age of 75. Vacancies on the Board of Directors created by operation of this provision may be filled in accordance with these Bylaws.
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ARTICLE III - COMMITTEES
Section 1. Committees of the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors, by a vote of a majority of the Whole Board of Directors, may, from time to time, designate committees of the Board, with such lawfully delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers, to serve at the pleasure of a majority of the Whole Board, and shall, for these committees and any others provided for herein, elect a Director or Directors to serve as the member or members, designating, if it desires, other Directors as alternate members who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. The Board of Directors, by a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board, may terminate any committee previously established. Any committee so designated by resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board, may exercise the power and authority of the Board of Directors to declare a dividend, to authorize the issuance of stock, or to adopt a certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to Section 253 of the Delaware General Corporation Law if the resolution which designates the committee or a supplemental resolution of the Board of Directors shall so provide. In the absence or disqualification of any member of any committee and any alternate member in his or her place, the member or members of the committee present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they constitute a quorum, may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.
Section 2. Conduct of Business.
Each committee may determine the procedural rules for meeting and conducting its business and shall act in accordance therewith, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law or the Board of Directors. Adequate provision shall be made for notice to members of all meetings; a majority of the members shall constitute a quorum unless the committee shall consist of one (1) or two (2) members, in which event one (1) member shall constitute a quorum; and all matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present. Action may be taken by any committee without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of such committee.
Section 3. Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board, shall appoint a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, consisting of not less than three (3) members of the Board of Directors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall have authority (a) to review any nominations for election to the Board of Directors made by a stockholder of the Corporation pursuant to Section 6(c)(ii) of Article I of these Bylaws in order to determine compliance with such Bylaw and (b) to recommend to the Whole Board nominees for election to the Board of Directors to replace those Directors whose terms expire at the annual meeting of stockholders next ensuing.
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ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
Section 1. Generally.
(a) The Board of Directors, as soon as may be practicable after the annual meeting of stockholders, shall choose one or more Chairmen of the Board; a Chief Executive Officer; a President; one or more Vice Presidents (which may have the designation Senior Executive, Executive or Senior before Vice President); and a Secretary, and from time to time may choose such other Officers as it may deem proper. The Chairmen of the Board shall be chosen from among the Directors. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.
(b) The term of office of all Officers shall be until such Officers resignation or removal and any Officer may be removed from office at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the authorized number of Directors then constituting the Board of Directors. The removal of the current Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer and President from such office or any action to materially modify, amend or breach the employment agreement of such person, or terminate such persons employment, shall require the affirmative vote of 75% of all of the Directors of the Corporation. This Section 1(b) of Article IV of these Bylaws may not be amended, altered or repealed by the Board of Directors except pursuant to a resolution adopted by 75% of all of the Directors of the Corporation.
(c) All Officers chosen by the Board of Directors or a Chairman of the Board shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective Offices, subject to the specific provisions of this ARTICLE IV. Such Officers shall also have such powers and duties as, from time to time, may be conferred by the Board of Directors or by any committee thereof.
Section 2. Chairman of the Board of Directors.
A Chairman of the Board shall, subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors, serve in a general executive capacity. A Chairman of the Board shall perform all duties and have all powers which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Chief Executive Officer and President.
The Chief Executive Officer and President shall have general responsibility for the management and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall perform all duties and have all powers that are commonly incident to the office of Chief Executive Officer and President or that are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer and President shall have power to sign all stock certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation that are authorized and shall have general supervision of all of the other Officers (other than a Chairman of the Board), employees and agents of the Corporation.
Section 4. Vice President.
The Vice Presidents shall perform the duties and exercise the powers usually incident to their respective offices and/or such other duties and powers as may be properly assigned to them by the Board of Directors. A Vice President or Vice Presidents may be designated as Senior Executive Vice President, Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President.
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Section 5. Secretary.
The Secretary or Assistant Secretary shall issue notices of meetings, shall keep their minutes, shall have charge of the seal and the corporate books, and shall perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as are usually incident to such office and/or such other duties and powers as are properly assigned thereto by the Board of Directors. Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Secretary shall have the power to sign all stock certificates.
Section 6. Chief Financial Officer.
The Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation shall have the responsibility for maintaining the financial records of the Corporation. He or she shall make such disbursements of the funds of the Corporation as are authorized and shall render, from time to time, an account of all such transactions and of the financial condition of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall also perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
Section 7. Assistant Secretaries and Other Officers.
The Board of Directors may appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries and such other Officers who shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as are provided in these Bylaws or as may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors.
Section 8. Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations.
Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, a Chairman of the Board or any Officer of the Corporation authorized by the Chief Executive Officer shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of stockholders of, or with respect to any action of stockholders of, any other corporation in which this Corporation may hold securities, and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation.
ARTICLE V - STOCK
Section 1. Certificates of Stock.
Each stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, a Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or any Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, certifying the number of shares owned by him or her. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be by facsimile. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors of the Corporation may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation.
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Section 2. Transfers of Stock.
Transfers of stock shall be made only upon the transfer books of the Corporation kept at an office of the Corporation or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares of the stock of the Corporation. Except where a certificate is issued in accordance with Section 4 of Article V of these Bylaws, an outstanding certificate for the number of shares involved shall be surrendered for cancellation before a new certificate is issued therefore.
Section 3. Record Date.
In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion, or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of any meeting of stockholders, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the time for such other action as hereinbefore described; provided, however, that if no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the next day preceding the day on which the meeting is held, and, for determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment or rights or to exercise any rights of change, conversion, or exchange of stock, or for any other purpose, the record date shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts a resolution relating thereto. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
Section 4. Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed Certificates.
In the event of the loss, theft, or destruction of any certificate of stock, another may be issued in its place pursuant to such regulations as the Board of Directors may establish concerning proof of such loss, theft, or destruction and concerning the giving of a satisfactory bond or bonds of indemnity.
Section 5. Regulations.
The issue, transfer, conversion, and registration of certificates of stock shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish.
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ARTICLE VI - NOTICES
Section 1. Notices.
Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or required by law, all notices required to be given to any stockholder, Director, Officer, employee, or agent shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand delivery to the recipient thereof, by depositing such notice in the mails, postage paid, or by sending such notice by prepaid telegram or mailgram or other courier. Any such notice shall be addressed to such stockholder, Director, Officer, employee or agent at his or her last known address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. The time when such notice is received, if hand delivered, or dispatched, if delivered through the mails or by telegram or mailgram or other courier, shall be the time of the giving of the notice.
Section 2. Waivers.
A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder, Director, Officer, employee, or agent, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such stockholder, Director, Officer, employee, or agent. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver.
ARTICLE VII - MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. Facsimile Signatures.
In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures specifically authorized elsewhere in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any Officer or Officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof designated by the Board.
Section 2. Corporate Seal.
The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary. If and when so directed by the Board of Directors or a designated committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Chief Financial Officer or by an Assistant Secretary or an assistant to the Chief Financial Officer.
Section 3. Reliance Upon Books, Reports, and Records.
Each Director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, and each Officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other 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 of Directors so designated, or by lawyers, accountants, agents, or any other person as to matters which such Director or committee member or Officer reasonably believes are within such other persons professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.
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Section 4. Fiscal Year.
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as fixed by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Time Periods.
In applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event, or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.
ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS
The Board of Directors, by a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board, may, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, amend, alter, or repeal these Bylaws at any meeting of the Board, provided notice of the proposed change was given not less than two days prior to the meeting. The stockholders shall also have power to amend, alter, or repeal these Bylaws at any meeting of stockholders provided notice of the proposed change was given in the notice of the meeting; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any other provisions of the Bylaws or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the voting stock required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, any Preferred Stock Designation, or these Bylaws, the affirmative votes of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power (taking into account the provisions of Article FOURTH of the Certificate of Incorporation) of all the then-outstanding shares of the Voting Stock voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend, or repeal any provisions of these Bylaws.
ARTICLE IX CERTAIN GOVERNANCE MATTERS
Section 1. Interpretation; Definitions.
(a) The provisions of this Article IX shall apply notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in these Bylaws. In the event of any inconsistency between any provision of this Article IX and any other provision of these Bylaws, such provision of this Article IX shall control.
(b) The following definitions shall apply to this Article IX and otherwise as applicable in these Bylaws:
(i) Bank Merger Effective Time shall have the meaning set forth in the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated of as April 24, 2021, between the Bank and Flagstar Bank, FSB, as it may have been amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time.
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(ii) Designated Exchange shall mean the primary stock exchange on which the Corporations common stock is listed.
(iii) Effective Time shall have the meaning set forth in the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 24, 2021, by and between Flagstar Bancorp, Inc., the Corporation and 615 Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation, as it may have been amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (the Merger Agreement).
(iv) Entire Board of Directors shall mean the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies.
(v) Legacy Flagstar shall mean Flagstar Bancorp, Inc., a Michigan corporation, which has merged with and into the Corporation effective as of the Effective Time.
(vi) Legacy Flagstar Directors shall mean the directors as of the Bank Merger Effective Time who were directors of Legacy Flagstar as of immediately prior to the Effective Time and any director that fills a vacancy of any Legacy Flagstar Director or succeeds any Legacy Flagstar Director.
(vii) Legacy NYCB Directors shall mean the directors as of the Bank Merger Effective Time who were directors of, or a consultant to, the Corporation as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.
(viii) Bank shall mean New York Community Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation.
(ix) Specified Period shall mean the period beginning at the Effective Time and ending on the twenty-four (24) month anniversary of the Effective Time.
Section 2. Non-Executive Chairman; CEO; Presiding Director.
(a) Effective as of the Effective Time, (i) Mr. Alessandro P. DiNello shall serve as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and (ii) Mr. Thomas R. Cangemi shall serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and shall report directly to the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding Sections 1(c) and 2 of Article IV, the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board shall not be an officer of the Corporation and shall not serve in any executive capacity.
(b) During the Specified Period, (i) any removal of any of the individuals serving in the capacities set forth in subsection (a) above from, or failure to appoint, re-elect or re-nominate any of them to, any such positions, (ii) any amendment or modification to any employment or similar agreement with any of them to the extent such amendment or modification would adversely affect such individual, (iii) any termination of Mr. Thomas R. Cangemis employment by the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation, or (iv) any modification of Mr. Thomas R. Cangemis reporting relationship to the Board of Directors as set forth in these Bylaws shall, in each case, require the affirmative vote of at least three-fourths (75%) of the Entire Board of Directors.
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(c) Upon the earlier of (i) the death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cessation of service by Mr. Alessandro P. DiNello as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and (ii) the date following the completion of the Specified Period, the Board of Directors shall elect a Chairman of the Board from among its members.
(d) During the Specified Period, the Presiding Director of the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be an independent director chosen from among the Legacy NYCB Directors by majority vote of the Legacy NYCB Directors and shall initially be, as of the Effective Time, Mr. Hanif Dahya. The Presiding Director shall qualify as an independent director under the rules of the Designated Exchange.
(e) The Corporation shall cause the Bank, effective as of the Effective Time, to appoint (i) Mr. Alessandro P. DiNello as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank as long as he serves as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and (ii) Mr. Thomas R. Cangemi as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank as long as he serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. During the Specified Period, but subject to such individuals holding the qualifying position at the Corporation, the Corporation shall cause the Bank not to (A) remove any of the individuals serving in the capacities set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, or fail to appoint, re-elect or re-nominate any such individuals to serve in any such capacities, (B) amend or modify any employment or similar agreement with any of them to the extent such amendment or modification would adversely affect such individual, or (C) terminate Mr. Thomas R. Cangemis employment, in each case, except with the affirmative vote of at least three-fourths (75%) of the Entire Board of Directors. Upon the earlier of (i) the death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cessation of service by Mr. Alessandro P. DiNello as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank and (ii) the date following the completion of the Specified Period, the Board of Directors of the Bank shall elect a Chairman of the Board from among its members. During the Specified Period, the Corporation may not exercise its authority, in its capacity as sole shareholder of the Bank, to (and the Corporation shall cause the Bank not to) modify, amend or repeal any of the provisions of the bylaws of the Bank relating to the duties, authority or reporting relationships of the Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, in each case, without the affirmative vote of at least three-fourths (75%) of the Entire Board of Directors.
Section 3. Composition of the Board of Directors; Advisory Board.
During the Specified Period, subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation, the Entire Board of Directors shall be comprised of fourteen (14) Directors plus a number of additional Directors that may be added in connection with or as a result of any acquisition or merger by the Corporation. At the Bank Merger Effective Time, nine (9) Directors shall be Legacy NYCB Directors (one of whom shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation as of immediately prior to the Effective Time with the remaining Legacy NYCB Directors to be chosen and determined in accordance with the Merger Agreement) and five (5) Directors shall be Legacy Flagstar Directors (one of whom shall be the Chief Executive Officer of Legacy Flagstar as of immediately prior to the Effective Time with the remaining Legacy Flagstar Directors to be chosen and determined in accordance with the Merger Agreement). Effective as of the first meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bank to occur following the Bank Merger Effective Time, the composition of the Board of Directors of the Bank shall be identical to that of the Corporation.
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During the Specified Period, (a) the Corporation shall maintain the Advisory Board (as defined in the Merger Agreement), (b) the composition of the Advisory Board shall consist of the directors of Legacy Flagstar immediately prior to the Effective Time other than the Flagstar Designated Directors (as defined in the Merger Agreement), (c) the Corporation shall cause all such individuals who accept such role on the Advisory Board to be elected or appointed for a two (2)-year term as members of the Advisory Board and (d) such individuals who accept such role and serve on the Advisory Board will each receive quarterly compensation of $10,000 per quarter served. The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation shall meet with the Advisory Board at least one time per quarter during the two (2) year period beginning on the Closing Date (as defined in the Merger Agreement).
Section 4. Committees.
(a) During the Specified Period, the Board of Directors shall have and maintain as standing committees an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee, a Risk Assessment Committee and a Technology Committee.
(b) During the Specified Period, effective as of the Effective Time, Mr. David L. Treadwell shall serve as the Chairman of the Risk Assessment Committee. Upon the death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cessation of service by Mr. David L. Treadwell as Chairman of the Risk Assessment Committee, an individual approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Entire Board of Directors shall succeed Mr. David L. Treadwell as the Chairman of the Risk Assessment Committee.
(c) During the Specified Period, each committee of the Board of Directors shall have at least one (1) Legacy Flagstar Director, provided that, if any such committee shall have more than five (5) members, such committee shall have at least two (2) Legacy Flagstar Directors.
(d) During the Specified Period, in the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Section 4 of this Article IX, on the one hand, and Article III, on the other hand, this Section 4 of this Article IX shall control.
Section 5. Amendments.
During the Specified Period, the provisions of (a) this Article IX, and (b) any other provision of these Bylaws that sets forth the authority and responsibility of the Non-Executive Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer or President, may be modified, amended or repealed, and any Bylaw provision or other resolution inconsistent with this Article IX may be adopted, by the Board of Directors only by (and any such modification, amendment, repeal or inconsistent Bylaw provisions and other resolutions may be proposed or recommended by the Board of Directors for adoption by the shareholders of the Corporation only by) an affirmative vote of at least three-fourths (75%) of the Entire Board of Directors.
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Exhibit 10.2
EXECUTION VERSION
AMENDED AND RESTATED
NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of November 28, 2022, by and among Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. (the Company), a Michigan corporation, and Alessandro DiNello (Executive) is effective as of the Closing (as defined below) (the Effective Date). For purposes of this Agreement, Executive and the Company shall each be a Party and shall collectively be the Parties.
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, Executive is currently subject to certain post-employment non-solicitation and non-competition covenants with respect to certain customers and employees of the Company contained in his Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with the Company, dated May 21, 2019 (the Employment Agreement) and previously entered into that certain Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement with the Company, dated as of April 24, 2021 (the Prior Agreement), to be effective from and after the Effective Date;
WHEREAS, in connection with the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 24, 2021, between New York Community Bancorp, Inc. (Parent) and the Company (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Merger Agreement), and effective as of the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (the Closing), Executive will cease to be employed by the Company and/or the Company Subsidiaries (as defined in the Merger Agreement);
WHEREAS, Executive and the Company entered into the Prior Agreement contemporaneously with the Merger Agreement, to be effective from and after the Closing;
WHEREAS, in connection with the foregoing and subject to the occurrence of the Closing, the Company determined that it was in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, who will become stockholders of Parent as successor to the Company from and after the Closing, to enter into the Prior Agreement embodying the terms of such non-competition covenant and non-solicitation covenant, subject to the terms and provisions of this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Executive and the Company desire to amend and restate the Prior Agreement pursuant to this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are mutually acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Covenant Not To Compete and Covenant Not to Solicit.
(a) Covenant Not to Compete. In consideration of the compensation to be paid to Executive under this Agreement, Executive agrees that, for a period of three (3) years following the Closing (the Restriction Period), he shall not, directly or indirectly:
(i) | as owner, officer, director, stockholder, investor, proprietor, organizer, employee, agent, representative, consultant, independent contractor, or otherwise, engage in the same trade or business as the Companys Business, in the same or similar capacity as the Executive worked for the Company, or in such capacity as would cause the actual or threatened use of the Companys trade secrets and/or confidential information; provided, however, that this Subsection shall not restrict the Executive from acquiring, as a passive investment, less than five percent (5%) of the outstanding securities of any class of an entity that are listed on a national securities exchange or actively traded in the over-the-counter market; or |
(ii) | offer to provide employment or work of any kind (whether such employment is with the Executive or any other business or enterprise), either on a full-time or part-time or consulting basis, to any person who then currently is an employee of the Company or the Parent. |
For purposes of the foregoing, Companys Business means, collectively, the products and services provided by the Company and its affiliates (including, as of the Closing, Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries), including, but not limited to, lending activities (including individual loans consisting primarily of home equity lines of credit, residential real estate loans, and/or consumer loans, and commercial loans, including lines of credit, real estate loans, letters of credit, and lease financing) and depository activities (including noninterest-bearing demand, NOW, savings and money market, and time deposits), debit and ATM cards, merchant cash management, internet banking, treasury services, (including investment management, wholesale funding, interest rate risk, liquidity and leverage management and capital markets products) and other general banking services. The restrictions on the activities of the Executive contained in this Section shall apply throughout the United States.
(b) Covenant Not to Solicit. Notwithstanding any other agreement between the Company or any Company Subsidiary, on the one hand, and Executive, on the other hand, to the contrary, in consideration of the compensation to be paid to Executive under this Agreement, Executive agrees that, during the Restriction Period, he shall not directly or indirectly, individually or jointly:
(i) | solicit in any manner, seek to obtain or service, or accept the business of any Customer for any product or service of the type offered by the Company or competitive with the Companys Business; |
(ii) | solicit in any manner, seek to obtain or service, or accept the business of any Prospective Customer for any product or service of the type offered by the Company or otherwise competitive with the Companys Business; |
(iii) | request or advise any Customer, Prospective Customer, or supplier of the Company to terminate, reduce, limit, or change its business or relationship with the Company; or |
(iv) | induce, request, or attempt to influence any employee of the Company to terminate his employment with the Company. |
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For purposes of the foregoing, Customer means a person or entity who is a customer of a Company at the time of the Closing or with whom the Executive had direct contact on behalf of the Company or its affiliates at any time prior to the Closing, and Prospective Customer means a person or entity who was the direct target of sales or marketing activity by the Executive or whom the Executive knew was a target of a Companys sales or marketing activities during the one year period preceding the Closing.
Section 2. Compensation.
(a) Payment. In addition to any other payments or benefits that Executive may be entitled to as a result of a termination of his employment and in consideration for the covenants set forth in Section 1 hereof, prior to the Closing, the Company will pay Executive a lump sum amount equal to six million dollars ($6,000,000) (the Restrictive Covenant Payment), subject to Executives execution of the Release concurrently with his execution of this Agreement.
(b) Clawback. In the event of a breach by Executive of any of the covenants and agreements contained in Section 1 prior to the end of the Restriction Period, the Company may, in its sole discretion, require that Executive pay to the Company, within 60 days following the date the Company first provides written notification to Executive that a breach has occurred, an amount equal to the after-tax portion of the Restrictive Covenant Payment received by Executive. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company fails to so notify Executive within 30 days of the Company first becoming aware that a breach may have occurred, Executive shall not be required to repay any portion of the Restrictive Covenant Payment in respect of the event giving rise to the Companys claim of breach (which shall not prejudice any future claims by the Company under this Agreement due to the occurrence of separate grounds for breach).
Section 3. Enforcement. In the event of a breach by Executive of any of the covenants and agreements contained in Section 1, to which the Company has not consented in writing, the Company shall be entitled to one or more of the following remedies, in addition to any other remedy provided for in this Agreement or as a matter of law, to the extent that such remedies are not by their nature exclusive:
(a) To seek repayment pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof;
(b) To collect through an action at law any damages sustained by the Company in excess of any amounts repaid pursuant to Section 2(b); and
(c) To obtain as appropriate, and without the necessity of showing actual damages: (i) an injunction against the continuation of any such breach by Executive, or (ii) specific performance of any negative covenant of Executive, it being agreed, in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), by Executive and the Company that money damages alone for such defaults by Executive would be inadequate.
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Section 4. Reasonableness of Restrictions. Executive acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the Companys business, that access to confidential information renders Executive special and unique within the Companys industry, and that Executive has had the opportunity to develop substantial relationships with existing and prospective clients, accounts, customers, consultants, contractors, investors, and strategic partners of the Company during the course of and as a result of Executives employment with the Company. In light of and in consideration for the foregoing, and in consideration of the compensation provided under this Agreement, Executive acknowledges and agrees that the restrictions and limitations set forth in this Agreement are reasonable and valid in geographical and temporal scope and in all other respects and are essential to protect the value of the business and assets of the Company. Executive further acknowledges that the restrictions and limitations set forth in this Agreement will not materially interfere with Executives ability to earn a living following the Effective Date.
Section 5. Resignation. Effective upon the Closing, Executive hereby irrevocably resigns from any and all positions Executive holds as a director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each, a Company Entity), as a member of any committee of the board of directors of any Company Entity, and as an employee of any Company Entity without the need for acceptance or further action by any other person (the Employment Separation). If the Closing does not occur, including due to a termination of the Merger Agreement, this Section 5 shall be null and void.
Section 6. Separation Benefits. In accordance with Section 5.4 of Executives Employment Agreement, upon the occurrence of the Employment Separation, subject to timely execution and effectiveness of the Release (as defined in the Employment Agreement) Executive will be entitled to receive the following payments and benefits:
(a) The Accrued Amounts (as such term is defined in the Employment Agreement) which shall be paid within ten (10) days following the date of the Employment Separation (the Separation Date);
(b) Eleven twelfths (11/12ths) of the Annual AIP payment, which shall be deemed earned at 150% of the target level and paid prior to the Closing (the Pro Rata Bonus Payment), subject to Executives execution of the Release concurrently with his execution of this Agreement;
(c) A lump sum amount equal to seven million five hundred thousand dollars ($7,500,000), which shall be paid prior to the Closing (the Severance Payment), subject to Executives execution of the Release concurrently with his execution of this Agreement;
(d) Reimbursement for the full cost of a health insurance policy covering Executive and his dependents with substantially similar coverage to that provided prior to the Separation Date until the earlier of such time that Executive and his spouse qualify for coverage under Medicare or the date on which Executive becomes eligible for health care coverage from a subsequent employer; and
(e) Full vesting and exercisability of all outstanding equity-based compensation awards, with performance for all performance awards with incomplete performance periods deemed to be achieved at the higher of target performance and actual performance through the Effective Time, as determined by the compensation committee of the Companys Board of Directors (the Compensation Committee) prior to Closing and performance awards with
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complete performance periods deemed achieved at the actual level of performance as determined by the Compensation Committee, with all such awards to be settled no later than ten (10) days following the Separation Date, provided, that any awards that constitute nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code and that are not permitted to be settled at such time without triggering a tax or penalty shall be settled at the earliest time permitted without triggering a tax or penalty under Section 409A of the Code.
Section 7. Recovery Upon Termination of the Merger or Release Noncompliance. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, and in addition to any rights that the Company may have pursuant to Section 2(b), Executive understands, acknowledges and agrees that the Company may clawback (recover) the gross amount of the Restrictive Covenant Payment, the Pro Rata Bonus Payment and the Severance Payment (collectively, the Clawback Amount) upon the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) the Closing does not occur, including due to a termination of the Merger Agreement; or (ii) Executive does not timely execute and deliver (or revokes) the Release as requested by the Company on or within twenty-one (21) days after the Closing. In the case of a clawback, Executive must return the Clawback Amount to the Company no later than sixty (60) days after the Company delivers written notice to Executive, which notice must be delivered within thirty (30) days after the occurrence of either clawback event as described in clause (i) and clause (ii) above.
Section 8. Taxes. The Company may withhold from any payments made under this Agreement all applicable taxes, including but not limited to income, employment, and social insurance taxes, as shall be required by law. Executive acknowledges and represents that the Company has not provided any tax advice to him in connection with this Agreement and that he has been advised by the Company to seek tax advice from his own tax advisors regarding this Agreement and payments that may be made to him pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 9. Notice. Any notice to be given hereunder shall be deemed given when either mailed in the United States mails, postage prepaid, by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested or e-mailed to the applicable Party, in each case, to the addresses of the Parties specified by themselves.
Section 10. Waiver. No action, waiver or forbearance by the Company on any one occasion in pursuing any right or remedy to which it may be entitled under this Agreement shall operate to waive, modify or in any way affect or restrict the rights of the Company on any subsequent occasion, nor shall any action, waiver or forbearance by the Company under or with respect to any similar or dissimilar agreement with any past, present or future employee of the Company in any way modify, affect or restrict the rights of the Company under this Agreement.
Section 11. Entire Agreement; Blue Pencil. This is the entire agreement between the Parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement and all prior discussions relating to it are merged herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and oral understandings between the Parties. No covenant or agreement contained herein shall be altered, modified or waived, except, in each instance, by an instrument in writing properly executed by the Party to be charged by such alteration, modification or waiver. If any term, clause or provision of this Agreement shall be judged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the validity of any other term, clause or provision of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. If any term, clause or provision in Section 1 shall be judged by a court of competent jurisdiction to exceed the scope of non-competition agreements permissible under applicable law, then such term, clause or provision shall be reformed to coincide with the maximum limitations permitted.
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Section 12. Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan (excluding any that mandate the use of another jurisdictions laws). Each Party to this Agreement also hereby waives any right to trial by jury in connection with any suit, action, or proceeding under or in connection with this Agreement.
Section 13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but both of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 14. Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective heirs, successors and permitted assigns. It is expressly understood and agreed that the benefits of this Agreement shall inure to any third party which shall succeed to the business of the Company, whether by way of consolidation, merger or otherwise, or to which all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (including its rights under this Agreement) shall be transferred or assigned, including, without limitation, pursuant to the Merger Agreement. It is also expressly understood and agreed that this Agreement is personal to Executive and cannot be assigned by Executive to any third party without the prior written consent of the Company; provided, however, that if Executive shall die, all amounts then payable to Executive hereunder shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to Executives estate. Nothing expressed or referred to in this Agreement will be construed to give any person other than the Company, its Affiliates and Executive any legal or equitable right, remedy, or claim under or with respect to this Agreement or any provision of this Agreement.
Section 15. Section 409A Provisions.
Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary:
(a) Any payment otherwise required to be made hereunder to Executive at any date shall be delayed for such period of time as may be necessary to meet the requirements of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code (the Delay Period). On the first business day following the expiration of the Delay Period, Executive shall be paid, in a single cash lump sum, an amount equal to the aggregate amount of all payments delayed pursuant to the preceding sentence, and any remaining payments not so delayed shall continue to be paid pursuant to the payment schedule set forth herein.
(b) Each payment in a series of payments hereunder shall be deemed to be a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.
(c) To the extent that any right to reimbursement of expenses or payment of any benefit in-kind under this Agreement constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code), (i) any such expense reimbursement shall be made by the Company no later than the last day of the taxable year following the taxable year in which such expense was incurred by Executive, (ii) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to
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liquidation or exchange for another benefit, and (iii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits provided during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits to be provided in any other taxable year; provided, that the foregoing clause shall not be violated with regard to expenses reimbursed under any arrangement covered by Section 105(b) of the Code solely because such expenses are subject to a limit related to the period the arrangement is in effect.
(d) While the payments and benefits provided hereunder are intended to be structured in a manner to avoid the implication of any penalty taxes under Section 409A of the Code, in no event whatsoever shall the Company be liable for any additional tax, interest, or penalties that may be imposed on Executive as a result of Section 409A of the Code or any damages for failing to comply with Section 409A of the Code (other than for withholding obligations or other obligations applicable to the Company, if any, under Section 409A of the Code).
Section 16. Review by Counsel. Executive affirms that, before the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Executive has read and understood this Agreement and its legal affects and has reviewed them with counsel of his choice.
Section 17. Conditional Upon Closing of Transaction. The effectiveness of this Agreement shall be conditioned upon the Closing. In the event that the Merger Agreement terminates prior to Closing, this Agreement shall be void ab initio.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed or caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first set forth above.
FLAGSTAR BANCORP, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Christina M. Reid | |
Its: | Secretary |
EXECUTIVE | ||
By: | /s/ Alessandro DiNello | |
Alessandro DiNello |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement]
Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Investor/Media Contact: | Salvatore J. DiMartino (516) 683-4286 |
NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC. COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF
FLAGSTAR BANCORP. INC.
Combining the Best of Both Banks to Create the 24th Largest Regional Bank in the Country
Company Names New Board Members and Executive Leadership Team
Hicksville, N.Y., December 1, 2022 New York Community Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: NYCB) (the Company or NYCB) announced that its acquisition of Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. (Flagstar or FBC) was completed earlier today, creating a regional banking franchise ranking among the top 25 banks in the country based on total assets. In accordance with the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated April 24, 2021, as amended on April 26, 2022 and October 27, 2022 by and among the Company, Flagstar, and 615 Corp. (the Merger Agreement), Flagstar merged with and into the Company and Flagstar Bank, FSB now operates as Flagstar Bank, N.A., with New York Community Bank having merged into Flagstar Bank, N.A.
On a proforma basis, as of September 30, 2022, the Company would have had $88.4 billion of assets, $66.0 billion of loans, deposits of $58.3 billion, and total stockholders equity of $9.3 billion. Flagstar Bank, N.A. operates 395 branches across nine states, and operates nationally through its Flagstar Mortgage division. The combined organization will have a diverse revenue and earnings stream; an expansive retail banking network; industry-leading positions in several national lines of business, including multi-family lending, residential mortgage origination and servicing, and warehouse lending; along with a robust commercial banking platform.
Commenting on the completion of the acquisition, President and Chief Executive Officer, Thomas R. Cangemi stated: We are tremendously pleased and very excited to announce the completion of our merger with Flagstar. The merger creates a company with significant scale and capabilities with a more diversified loan portfolio, an improved funding mix, and a much better interest-rate risk profile. In Flagstar we found a like-minded partner that shares the same values and commitment to our employees, customers, and communities. Our employees will benefit from greater opportunities and resources that a bank with almost $90 billion in assets possesses, customers will benefit by having access to a wider array of products and services driven by enhanced technology, and our communities will benefit, including from our $28 billion pledge agreement. More importantly, the entire organization benefits from having a best-in-class executive leadership team culled from both companies. We couldnt have picked a better partner as we continue our transition to a full-service commercial bank. I am pleased to welcome Flagstars employees and customers to the New York Community family.
In connection with the closing of the acquisition, NYCBs Board of Directors appointed six new directors, five of whom are former directors of Flagstar:
| Alessandro (Sandro) DiNello, Non-Executive Chairman of NYCBs Board and former President and CEO of Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. |
| James Carpenter, Chief Lending OfficerNew York Community Bancorp, Inc. (retired) |
| Toan Huynh, Venture Capitalist |
| Peter Schoels, Managing Partner MP Global Advisors |
| David L. Treadwell, President and CEO EP Management Corporation (retired) |
| Jennifer R. Whip, Principal Cambridge One, LLC |
Concurrently, in conjunction with the closing of the acquisition, Dominick Ciampa and James ODonovan have retired from the Boards of Directors of NYCB and New York Community Bank. Mr. Ciampa had been a director since 1995 and previously served as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board until January 2021. Mr. ODonovan had been a director since 2003. Previously, he served as the Companys Chief Lending Officer. Additionally, Robert Wann has retired from his Chief Operating Officer position after a four-decade career with the Company, but he will remain a director. With these changes, the Board of Directors will be comprised of 14 members.
The Company is privileged to add these six directors to its Board, continued Mr. Cangemi, Each of them adds unique skills and business expertise to an already diverse Board. I would like to thank both Don and Jim for their long and dedicated service to our Company. I know I speak for the entire Board when I say that their advice and business acumen over the years have proved invaluable to our organization. At the same time, I wish to extend my thanks to Robert for 40 years of distinguished and loyal service to the Company and the Bank. I am delighted that he is staying on as a member of the Board of Directors. His institutional knowledge of the Company will help guide us as we transition to a full-service commercial bank.
In addition to the new Board members, the Company also formally named its new Executive Leadership team:
| John Adams, Senior Executive Vice President and Director of Indirect Multi-Family Lending |
| Reggie Davis, Senior Executive Vice President and President of Banking |
| John Pinto, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
| R. Patrick Quinn, Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary |
| Lee Smith, Senior Executive Vice President and President of Mortgage |
| Meagan Belfinger, Executive Vice President and Chief Audit Executive |
| Karen Buck, Executive Vice President and Special Advisor to the CEO on the Conversion |
| Jennifer Charters, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer |
| Beth Correa, Executive Vice President and Director of Corporate Responsibility |
| Salvatore DiMartino, Executive Vice President, Chief of Staff to the CEO, and Director of Investor Relations |
| David Hollis, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer |
| Andrew Kaplan, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital and Banking as a Service Officer |
| Ross Marrazzo, Executive Vice President and Enterprise Chief Compliance Officer |
| Nicholas Munson, Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer |
| Julie Signorille-Browne, Executive Vice President and Director of Operations |
Mr. Cangemi continued, When the merger was first announced, I stated that our executive leadership team would be drawn from the combined Companys deep talent pool. Today, I am pleased to formally announce our Senior Executive Leadership team, all of whom will report directly to me as President and CEO. The team we have assembled reflects, what I believe to be one of the most effective and dynamic leadership teams within the regional bank industry.
Both New York Community and Flagstar will continue to operate their retail banking networks separately under their respective brands. Customers at both banks will not experience any immediate changes to their accounts, loan payments, access to account information, use of debit cards, access to ATMs, or access to account information, either on-line or through mobile-banking applications. As we move closer to becoming a top-tier regional bank, we plan to announce a single brand for the combined company along with a multi-channel marketing campaign.
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement between the two companies, each share of FBC common stock was converted into NYCB common shares at the effective time of the merger. FBC shareholders are receiving cash in lieu of fractional shares as per the Merger Agreement. Based upon a fixed exchange ratio of 4.0151 shares of New York
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Community Bancorp stock for each share of Flagstar stock held immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, approximately 215 million shares are being issued in the transaction, bringing the number of the Companys shares outstanding as of the closing date to approximately 681 million.
About New York Community Bancorp, Inc.
New York Community Bancorp, Inc. is the parent company of Flagstar Bank, N.A., one of the largest regional banks in the country. The Company is headquartered in Hicksville, New York with regional headquarters in Troy, Michigan. Proforma, at September 30, 2022, the Company had $88.4 billion of assets, $66.0 billion of loans, deposits of $58.3 billion, and total stockholders equity of $9.3 billion.
Flagstar Bank, N.A. operates 395 branches across nine states, including strong footholds in the Northeast and Midwest and exposure to high growth markets in the Southeast and West Coast. Through its Flagstar Mortgage division, the Company operates nationally through 81 retail home lending offices and a wholesale network of approximately 3,000 third-party mortgage originators.
New York Community Bancorp, Inc. has market-leading positions in several national businesses, including multi-family lending, mortgage origination and servicing, and warehouse lending. The Company is the second-largest multi-family portfolio lender in the country and the leading multi-family portfolio lender in the New York City market area, where it specializes in rent-regulated, non-luxury apartment buildings. Flagstar Mortgage is the 7th largest bank originator of residential mortgages for the 12-months ending September 30, 2022, while we are the industrys 5th largest sub-servicer of mortgage loans nationwide, servicing 1.4 million accounts with $360 billion in unpaid principal balances. Additionally, the Company is the 2nd largest mortgage warehouse lender nationally based on total commitments.
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with respect to NYCBs beliefs, goals, intentions, and expectations regarding revenues, earnings, loan production, asset quality, capital levels, and acquisitions, among other matters; NYCBs estimates of future costs and benefits of the actions it may take; NYCBs assessments of probable losses on loans; NYCBs assessments of interest rate and other market risks; and NYCBs ability to achieve its respective financial and other strategic goals.
Forward-looking statements are typically identified by such words as believe, expect, anticipate, intend, outlook, estimate, forecast, project, should, and other similar words and expressions, and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, which change over time. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, those relating to the terms of the transaction between NYCB and Flagstar.
Additionally, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made; NYCB does not assume any duty, and does not undertake, to update such forward-looking statements. Furthermore, because forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions and uncertainties, actual results or future events could differ, possibly materially, from those indicated in such forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, many of which are beyond the control of NYCB. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the following: the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against NYCB; the ability of NYCB to meet expectations regarding the accounting and tax treatments of the transaction; the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction will not be realized when expected or at all, including as a result of the impact of, or problems arising from, the integration of the two companies or as a result of the strength of the economy and competitive factors in the areas where NYCB does business; diversion of managements attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; the possibility that NYCB may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies in the transaction within the expected timeframes or at all and to successfully integrate operations of the two companies; such integration may be more difficult, time consuming or costly than expected; revenues following the transaction may be lower than expected; potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the completion of the transaction; NYCBs success in executing its business plans and strategies and managing the risks involved in the foregoing; the dilution caused by NYCBs issuance of additional shares of its capital stock in connection with the transaction; and other factors that may affect future results of NYCB; and the other factors discussed in the Risk Factors section of NYCBs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and in other reports NYCB files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at http://www.sec.gov and in the SEC Filings section of NYCBs website, https://ir.mynycb.com, under the heading Financial Information.
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