As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 17, 2024

Registration No. 333-  

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

ARDENT HEALTH PARTNERS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   61-1764793

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

340 Seven Springs Way, Suite 100

Brentwood, Tennessee 37027

(Address and Zip Code of Principal Executive Offices)

Ardent Health Partners, Inc. 2024 Omnibus Incentive Award Plan

(Full title of the plan)

Martin J. Bonick

Chief Executive Officer

Ardent Health Partners, Inc.

340 Seven Springs Way, Suite 100

Brentwood, Tennessee 37027

Telephone: (615) 296-3000

(Name, Address, and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

 

 

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

 

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

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

 

 

 


PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

All information required by Part I to be contained in the prospectus is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with the explanatory note to Part I of Form S-8 and Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is filed by Ardent Health Partners, Inc. (the “Registrant”) regarding the Ardent Health Partners, Inc. 2024 Omnibus Incentive Award Plan (the “Plan”). Documents containing the information required by Part I of the Registration Statement will be sent or given to Plan participants as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3.

Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) by the Registrant are hereby incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference (other than information in such filings deemed, under Commission rules or otherwise, not to have been filed with the Commission):

 

  1.

The Registrant’s prospectus contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (Registration No. 333-280425), filed with the Commission on July 15, 2024; and

 

  2.

The description of the Registrant’s Common Stock contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on July 16, 2024, pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including any amendment or report for the purpose of updating such description.

In addition, all documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement (other than information in such filings deemed, under Commission rules or otherwise, not to have been filed with the Commission), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

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

 

Item 4.

Description of Securities.

Not applicable.

 

Item 5.

Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not applicable.

 

Item 6.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) allows a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation will not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached the duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit. The Registrant’s certificate of incorporation provides for this limitation of liability.


Section 145 of the DGCL (“Section 145”), provides, among other things, that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who was, is or is threatened to be made, party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of such corporation or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. A Delaware corporation may indemnify any persons who were or are a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests, provided further that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer, director, employee or agent is adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him or her against the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) which such officer or director has actually and reasonably incurred. Section 145 further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify such person under Section 145.

The Registrant’s bylaws provide that it must indemnify and advance expenses to its directors and officers to the full extent authorized by the DGCL.

The indemnification rights set forth above shall not be exclusive of any other right which an indemnified person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, any provision of our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Registrant shall not be obligated to indemnify a director or officer in respect of a proceeding (or part thereof) instituted by such director or officer, unless such proceeding (or part thereof) has been authorized by the Registrant’s Board of Directors pursuant to the applicable procedure outlined in the Registrant’s bylaws.

Section 174 of the DGCL provides, among other things, that a director, who willfully or negligently approves of an unlawful payment of dividends or an unlawful stock purchase or redemption, may be held jointly and severally liable for such actions. A director who was either absent when the unlawful actions were approved or dissented at the time may avoid liability by causing his or her dissent to such actions to be entered in the books containing the minutes of the meetings of the Registrant’s Board of Directors at the time such action occurred or immediately after such absent director receives notice of the unlawful acts.

The Registrant maintains standard policies of insurance that provide coverage (1) to its directors and officers against loss rising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act and (2) to the Registrant with respect to indemnification payments that it may make to such directors and officers.


Item 7.

Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

 

Item 8.

Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number
  

Description

4.1*    Certificate of Incorporation of Ardent Health Partners, Inc., as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 17, 2024
4.2*    Bylaws of Ardent Health Partners, Inc.
4.3    Specimen Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the Commission on July 8, 2024)
5.1*    Opinion of Sidley Austin LLP with respect to validity of issuance of securities
23.1*    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
23.2*    Consent of Sidley Austin LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1*    Power of Attorney (included on the signature pages to the Registration Statement and incorporated herein by reference)
99.1    Ardent Health Partners, Inc. 2024 Omnibus Incentive Award Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the Commission on July 8, 2024)
107*    Filing Fee Table

 

*

Filed herewith.

 

Item 9.

Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

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

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

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


(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

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

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

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

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


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Brentwood, State of Tennessee, on July 17, 2024.

 

ARDENT HEALTH PARTNERS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Martin J. Bonick

Name:   Martin J. Bonick
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

We, the undersigned officers and directors of Ardent Health Partners, Inc., hereby severally constitute and appoint Marty Bonick, the Registrant’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and Alfred Lumsdaine, the Registrant’s Chief Financial Officer, our true and lawful attorneys with full power to them, and each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed herewith and any and all subsequent amendments to said Registration Statement, and generally to do all such things in our names and on our behalf in our capacities as officers and directors to enable Ardent Health Partners, Inc. to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our said attorneys, or any of them, to said Registration Statement and any and all amendments thereto.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature    Title    Date

/s/ Martin J. Bonick

  

President and Chief Executive Officer, Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

   July 17, 2024
Martin J. Bonick

/s/ Alfred Lumsdaine

  

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

   July 17, 2024
Alfred Lumsdaine

/s/ David Byers

  

Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

   July 17, 2024
David Byers

/s/ Mark Sotir

   Director    July 17, 2024
Mark Sotir

/s/ Peter Bulgarelli

   Director    July 17, 2024
Peter Bulgarelli

/s/ Peter Bynoe

   Director    July 17, 2024
Peter Bynoe

/s/ Suzanne Campion

   Director    July 17, 2024
Suzanne Campion

/s/ William Goodyear

   Director    July 17, 2024
William Goodyear


/s/ Ellen Havdala

      July 17, 2024
Ellen Havdala    Director

/s/ Edmondo Robinson

   Director    July 17, 2024
Edmondo Robinson

/s/ Rahul Sen

   Director   
Rahul Sen    July 17, 2024

/s/ Rob Webb

   Director   
Rob Webb    July 17, 2024

Exhibit 4.1

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

ARDENT HEALTH PARTNERS, INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the Corporation is Ardent Health Partners, Inc. (hereinafter called the “Corporation”).

ARTICLE II

REGISTERED OFFICE

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, Delaware 19808-1674 in New Castle County, and the name of the registered agent at that address is Corporation Service Company.

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE

The purpose for which the Corporation is formed is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”).

ARTICLE IV

STOCK

SECTION 4.01 Authorized Stock. The aggregate number of shares which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is Eight Hundred Million (800,000,000) shares, of which Seven Hundred Fifty Million (750,000,000) shall be designated as Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), and Fifty Million (50,000,000) shall be designated as Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”).

SECTION 4.02 Common Stock.

(a) Voting. Except as otherwise provided (i) by the DGCL, (ii) by Section 4.03 of this Article IV, or (iii) by resolutions, if any, of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (“Board of Directors”) fixing the relative powers, preferences and rights and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of the Preferred Stock, the entire voting power of the shares of the Corporation for the election of directors and for all other purposes shall be vested exclusively in the Common Stock. Each share of Common Stock shall have one vote upon all matters to be voted on by the holders of the Common Stock. The holders of shares of Common Stock shall not have cumulative voting rights.


(b) Dividends. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, each share of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive and share equally in all dividends paid out of any funds of the Corporation legally available therefor when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors.

(c) Liquidation. Upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by them.

SECTION 4.03 Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock may be issued at any time and from time to time in one or more series. Subject to the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (this “Certificate of Incorporation”), the Board of Directors is hereby expressly authorized to fix from time to time by resolution or resolutions the number of shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock, and to determine the voting powers, designations, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of any such class or series. Further, within the limits and restrictions stated in any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors originally fixing the number of shares constituting any such class or series, the Board of Directors is hereby expressly authorized to increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such class or series then outstanding) the number of shares of any such class or series subsequent to the issuance of shares of that class or series. If the number of shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock is so decreased, then the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status that they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such class or series.

ARTICLE V

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECTION 5.01 Number. Subject to the rights and preferences of any series of outstanding Preferred Stock, the number of directors constituting the whole Board of Directors shall be not fewer than three (3) nor more than fifteen (15) and shall be fixed from time to time solely by resolution adopted by affirmative vote of a majority of such directors then in office and may not be fixed by any other person or persons, including stockholders.

SECTION 5.02 Vacancies. Subject to the rights and preferences of any series of outstanding Preferred Stock and except as otherwise set forth in the Nomination Agreement, dated as of July 19, 2024, by and among the Corporation, EGI-AM Investments, L.L.C., and ALH Holdings, LLC (as may be amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms), newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death,

 

2


resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall, unless otherwise provided by law, be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even if such a majority is less than a quorum of the Board of Directors, or by a sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by any other person or persons, including stockholders. Any director so chosen shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class for which such director shall have been chosen or in which such vacancy occurred and until his successor shall be elected and qualified. No decrease in the authorized number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

SECTION 5.03 Powers. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the DGCL or this Certificate of Incorporation, the management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation shall be vested in its Board of Directors.

SECTION 5.04 Election. The directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the Corporation so provide.

ARTICLE VI

STOCKHOLDER ACTION

SECTION 6.01 No Action by Written Consent of Stockholders. The authority contemplated by Section 228 of the DGCL which permits stockholders to act by written consent is expressly denied to the stockholders of the Corporation. Accordingly, the stockholders have no ability to take any action unless such action is taken at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders.

SECTION 6.02 Advance Notice. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders shall be given in the manner and to the extent provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

ARTICLE VII

SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

A special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called at any time only by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer (or if there is no Chief Executive Officer, the President) or the Board of Directors of the Corporation pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors then in office. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting.

 

3


ARTICLE VIII

EXISTENCE

The Corporation shall have perpetual existence.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENT AND SEVERABILITY

SECTION 9.01 Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation. The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change, or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware, and all rights conferred herein are granted subject to this reservation.

SECTION 9.02 Amendment of Bylaws. In furtherance and not in limitation of the rights, powers, privileges and discretionary authority granted or conferred by the DGCL or other statutes or laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation, by the majority vote of the whole Board of Directors, without any action on the part of the stockholders.

SECTION 9.03 Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever, the validity, legality, and enforceability of such provision in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

ARTICLE X

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 10.01 Personal Liability. To the fullest extent elimination or limitation of personal liability of directors and officers is permitted by the DGCL, no director or officer of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer. No amendment to or repeal of this provision shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director or officer of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.

SECTION 10.02 Indemnification. Each person (and the heirs, executors or administrators of such person) who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or is involved in, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent

 

4


permitted by the DGCL. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article X shall also include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in connection with any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL; provided, however, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 10.02. The rights to indemnification and advancement conferred in this Article X shall be contract rights and shall become vested by virtue of the director’s or officer’s service at the time when the state of facts giving rise to the claim occurred. The Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification to such of the employees and agents of the Corporation to such extent and to such effect as the Board of Directors shall determine to be appropriate and authorized by the DGCL.

SECTION 10.03 Insurance. To the fullest extent authorized or permitted by the DGCL, the Corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss incurred by such person in any such capacity or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the DGCL.

SECTION 10.04 Non-Exclusivity. The rights and authority conferred in this Article X shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may otherwise have or hereafter acquire.

SECTION 10.05 Applicability. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article X, nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, any modification of law, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article X in respect of any acts or omissions occurring prior to such amendment, repeal, adoption or modification. Any vested rights to indemnification or advancement hereunder may not be amended or otherwise modified or limited without the express written consent of the affected director, officer, employee, or agent, as the case may be.

ARTICLE XI

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

SECTION 11.01 Business Opportunities. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL and except as may be otherwise expressly agreed in writing by the Corporation, on the one hand, and EGI-AM Investments, L.L.C. or any affiliate or subsidiary thereof (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries) (collectively, “EGI”), ALH Holdings, LLC or any affiliate or subsidiary thereof (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries) (collectively, “Ventas”), or Pure Health Capital Americas 1 SPV RSC LTD or any affiliate or subsidiary thereof (other than the Corporation and

 

5


its subsidiaries) (collectively, “Pure Health”), on the other hand, the Corporation, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation and its subsidiaries in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity that may be from time to time presented to EGI, Ventas, or Pure Health or any of their respective officers, directors, agents, stockholders, members, partners, affiliates, and subsidiaries (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries) and that may be a business opportunity for EGI, Ventas, or Pure Health or any of their respective affiliates and subsidiaries, even if the opportunity is one that the Corporation or its subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so, and no such person shall be liable to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or officer or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such person pursues or acquires any such business opportunity, directs any such business opportunity to another person or fails to present any such business opportunity, or information regarding any such business opportunity, to the Corporation or its subsidiaries unless, in the case of any such person who is a director or officer of the Corporation, any such business opportunity is expressly offered to such director or officer solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation. None of EGI, Ventas, or Pure Health nor any of their respective affiliates or subsidiaries shall have any duty to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries.

SECTION 11.02 Termination. The provisions of this Article XI shall have no further force or effect with respect to EGI, Ventas, or Pure Health or any of their respective affiliates or subsidiaries on the date that no person who is a director or officer of the Corporation is also a director, officer, member, partner, or employee of EGI, Ventas, or Pure Health or any of their respective affiliates or subsidiaries. Neither the alteration, amendment or repeal of this Article XI nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article XI nor the termination of applicability pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article XI in respect of any business opportunity first identified or any other matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article XI, would accrue or arise, prior to such alteration, amendment, repeal, adoption or termination.

SECTION 11.03 Deemed Notice. Any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XI.

ARTICLE XII

CHOICE OF FORUM

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, or stockholder of the Corporation, (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or of this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, or

 

6


(d) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, to have consented to the provisions of this Article XII. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any action asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

ARTICLE XIII

DGCL SECTION 203 AND BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

SECTION 13.01 Section 203 of the DGCL. The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.

SECTION 13.02 Limitations on Business Combinations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not engage in any business combination (as defined below) with any interested stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three (3) years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

(a) prior to such time, the Board of Directors approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

(b) upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock (as defined below) of the Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares of voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned (i) by persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

(c) at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the Board of Directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

SECTION 13.03 Exceptions to Prohibition on Interested Stockholder Transactions. The restrictions contained in Section 13.02 shall not apply if:

(a) the Corporation does not have a class of voting stock that is: (i) listed on a national securities exchange; or (ii) held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders, unless any of the foregoing results from action taken, directly or indirectly, by an interested stockholder or from a transaction in which a person becomes an interested stockholder; or

 

7


(b) a stockholder becomes an interested stockholder inadvertently and (i) as soon as practicable divests itself of ownership of sufficient shares so that the stockholder ceases to be an interested stockholder; and (ii) would not, at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to a business combination between the Corporation and such stockholder, have been an interested stockholder but for the inadvertent acquisition of ownership.

SECTION 13.04 Definitions. For purposes of this Article XIII, references to:

(a) “affiliate” means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another person.

(b) “associate,” when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means: (i) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association, or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock; (ii) any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (iii) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person.

(c) “business combination,” when used in reference to the Corporation and any interested stockholder of the Corporation, means:

(i) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (a) with the interested stockholder, or (b) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation Section 13.02 is not applicable to the surviving entity;

(ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer, or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the interested stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to 10% or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of the Corporation;

(iii) any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested stockholder, except: (A) pursuant to the exercise, exchange, or conversion of any security exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested stockholder became such; (B) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (C) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange, or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of stock of the Corporation

 

8


subsequent to the time the interested stockholder became such; (D) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all holders of said stock; or (E) any issuance or transfer of stock by the Corporation; provided, however, that in no case under items (C)-(E) of this subsection (iii) shall there be an increase in the interested stockholder’s proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the voting stock of the Corporation (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments);

(iv) any transaction involving the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series, or of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into the stock of any class or series, of the Corporation or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the interested stockholder, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares of stock not caused, directly or indirectly, by the interested stockholder; or

(v) any receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges, or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in subsections (i)-(iv) above) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary.

(d) “control,” including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by,” and “under common control with,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract, or otherwise. A person who is the owner of 20% or more of the outstanding voting stock of any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Article XIII, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.

(e) “Existing Holder” means EGI and their affiliates and subsidiaries.

(f) “Existing Holder Direct Transferee” means any person (and its affiliates) who acquires (other than in a registered public offering) directly in one or more related transactions from the Existing Holder or any “group”, or any member of any such group, to which such Existing Sponsor is a party under Rule 13d-5 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), beneficial ownership of 15% or more in the aggregate of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation.

(g) “Existing Holder Indirect Transferee” means any person (and its affiliates) who acquires (other than in a registered public offering) directly in one or more related transactions from any Existing Holder Direct Transferee or any other Existing Holder Indirect Transferee beneficial ownership of 15% or more in the aggregate of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation.

 

9


(h) “interested stockholder” means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, or (ii) is an affiliate or associate of the Corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation at any time within the three (3) year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder; and the affiliates and associates of such person; but “interested stockholder” shall not include (A) the Existing Holder, any Existing Holder Direct Transferee, any Existing Holder Indirect Transferee or any of their respective affiliates or successors or any “group,” or any member of any such group, to which any such person is a party under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act, or (B) any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the 15% limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation, provided, in the case of this clause (B), that such person shall be an interested stockholder if thereafter such person acquires additional shares of voting stock of the Corporation, except as a result of further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include voting stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of “owner” below but shall not include any other unissued stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

(i) “owner,” including the terms “own” and “owned,” when used with respect to any stock, means a person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates:

(i) beneficially owns (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor provision) such stock, directly or indirectly;

(ii) has (A) the right to acquire such stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants, or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote such stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any stock because of such person’s right to vote such stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to ten (10) or more persons; or

(iii) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in item (B) of subsection (ii) above), or disposing of such stock with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such stock.

 

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(j) “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association, or other entity.

(k) “stock” means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest.

(l) “voting stock” means, with respect to any corporation, stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and, with respect to any entity that is not a corporation, any equity interest entitled to vote generally in the election of the governing body of such entity. Every reference in this Article XIII to a percentage of voting stock shall refer to such percentage of the votes of such voting stock.

ARTICLE XIV

INCORPORATOR NAME AND ADDRESS

The name and mailing address of the incorporator is as follows:

 

Name

  

Address

Martin J. Bonick    340 Seven Springs Way, Suite 100
   Brentwood, TN 37027

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Incorporation to be executed, signed and acknowledged by the undersigned as of the date set forth below.

Dated: July 17, 2024

 

By:  

/s/ Martin J. Bonick

  Name: Martin J. Bonick
  Title: Sole Incorporator

Exhibit 4.2

BYLAWS

OF

ARDENT HEALTH PARTNERS, INC.

(Adopted as of July 17, 2024)

ARTICLE I

Offices

Section 1.1 Registered Offices. The registered office of Ardent Health Partners, Inc. (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware shall be located at 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, Delaware 19808-1674 in New Castle County. The name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address shall be Corporation Service Company. The registered office and/or registered agent of the Corporation may be changed from time to time by action of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”).

Section 1.2 Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

Section 1.3 Books. The books of the Corporation may be kept within or without of the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

ARTICLE II

Stockholders Meetings

Section 2.1 Annual Meetings.

(a) An annual meeting of stockholders shall be held for the election of directors and the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting in accordance with these Bylaws at such date, time and place, if any, as may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Corporation from time to time.

(b) Only such business (other than stockholder nominations of directors, which shall be made in compliance with, and shall be exclusively governed by, Section 3.1(c)) shall be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. For business to be properly brought before the meeting, it must be (i) authorized by the Board of Directors and specified in the notice, or a supplemental notice, of the meeting, (ii) otherwise brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice by the stockholder as provided for in this Section 2.1(b) and at the time of the annual meeting of stockholders, who is entitled to vote at the meeting on any such business and who has complied with the notice and other requirements set forth in these Bylaws; clause (iii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to submit such business (other than proposals properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and included in the Corporation’s notice of the meeting, which proposals are not governed by these Bylaws) before an annual meeting of stockholders.


(c) For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(iii), the stockholder must have given timely written notice thereof to the Secretary of the Corporation as hereinafter provided and such proposal must otherwise be a proper subject for action by the Corporation’s stockholders. To be timely, a stockholder’s written notice shall set forth all information required under this Section 2.1(c) and shall be delivered or mailed to and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials or a notice of availability of proxy materials (whichever is earlier) for the immediately preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within 30 days from the first anniversary of the immediately preceding year’s annual meeting date, written notice by a stockholder in order to be timely must be received not earlier than the 120th day before the date of such annual meeting and not later than the later of the 90th day before the date of such annual meeting, as originally convened, or the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which the first public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was made. In no event shall the public disclosure of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of stockholder’s notice as described above. A stockholder’s notice to the Secretary delivered pursuant to this Section 2.1(c) shall set forth:

 

  (i)

as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, (A) a description of the proposal or business (including the complete text of any resolutions to be presented at the annual meeting, and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) of the Corporation or these Bylaws, the text of the proposed amendment) desired to be brought before the annual meeting, (B) the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (C) any material interest in such business of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), individually or in the aggregate, including any anticipated benefit to the stockholder or the Stockholder Associated Person therefrom, and (D) all other information relating to such business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person in connection with the solicitation of proxies in support of such proposed business or otherwise required pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Proxy Rules”);

 

  (ii)

to the extent known by the stockholder giving the notice, the name and address of any other stockholder supporting the proposal of business on the date of such stockholder’s notice;

 

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  (iii)

as to the stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder Associated Person:

(A) the name and address of such stockholder and each Stockholder Associated Person (including, as applicable, as they appear on the Corporation’s books and records);

(B) the class or series and number of shares of each class or series of capital stock (if any) of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially or of record (specifying the type of ownership) by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person (including any right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the fulfillment of a condition) and the date or dates on which such shares were acquired;

(C) the name of each nominee holder for, and number of, any securities of the Corporation owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person and any pledge by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any of such securities;

(D) a description of all agreements, arrangements, or understandings, written or oral, (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, hedging transactions, forwards, futures, swaps, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation, or similar rights, repurchase agreements, or arrangements, borrowed or loaned shares and so-called “stock borrowing” agreements or arrangements) that have been entered into by, or on behalf of, such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss, manage risk, or benefit from changes in the price of any securities of the Corporation, or maintain, increase, or decrease the voting power of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to securities of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in underlying shares of capital stock of the Corporation (any of the foregoing, a “Derivative Instrument”);

(E) any substantial interest, direct or indirect (including any existing or prospective commercial, business or contractual relationship with the Corporation), of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person in the Corporation or any affiliate (as defined below) thereof or in the proposed business or nomination to be brought before the meeting by such stockholder, other than an interest arising from the ownership of Corporation securities where such stockholder or such Stockholder Associated Person receives no extra or special benefit not shared on a pro rata basis by all other holders of the same class or series;

(F) a description of all agreements, arrangements, or understandings, written or oral, (I) between or among such stockholder and any of the Stockholder Associated Persons or (II) between or among such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person and any other person or entity (naming each such person or entity), in each case, relating to the Corporation or its securities or the voting thereof, including any proxy, agreement, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, directly or indirectly, has a right to vote any security of the Corporation (other than any revocable proxy given in response to a solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Proxy Rules by way of a solicitation statement filed on Schedule 14A);

 

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(G) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation;

(H) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership, limited liability company or similar entity in which such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person (I) is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner of such general or limited partnership or (II) is the manager, managing member, or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in the manager or managing member of such limited liability company or similar entity;

(I) any equity interests or any Derivative Instruments, in each case, with a market value of more than $100,000, in any principal competitor of the Corporation held by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person;

(J) any direct or indirect interest (other than solely as a result of security ownership) of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person in any agreement with the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation, or any principal competitor of the Corporation (including any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement, or consulting agreement);

(K) a representation that (I) neither such stockholder nor any Stockholder Associated Person has breached any agreement, arrangement, or understanding with the Corporation except as disclosed to the Corporation pursuant hereto and (II) such stockholder and each Stockholder Associated Person has complied, and will comply, with all applicable requirements of state law and the Exchange Act with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.1;

(L) a description of any performance-related fees (other than asset-based fees) to which such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person may be entitled as a result of any increase or decrease in the value of the Corporation’s securities or any Derivative Instruments;

(M) a description of the investment strategy or objective, if any, of such stockholder (or the beneficial owner(s) on whose behalf such stockholder is submitting a notice to the Corporation);

(N) all information that would be required to be set forth in a Schedule 13D filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(a) under the Exchange Act or an amendment pursuant to Rule 13d-2(a) under the Exchange Act if such a statement were required to be filed under the Exchange Act by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, or such stockholder’s or any Stockholder Associated Person’s associates (as defined below), with respect to the Corporation (regardless of whether such person or entity is actually required to file a Schedule 13D), including a description of any agreement, arrangement, or understanding that would be required to be disclosed by such stockholder, any Stockholder Associated Person or any of their respective associates pursuant to Item 5 or Item 6 of Schedule 13D;

 

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(O) a certification that such stockholder and each Stockholder Associated Person has complied with all applicable federal, state and other legal requirements in connection with such stockholder’s or Stockholder Associated Person’s acquisition of shares of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation and such stockholder’s or Stockholder Associated Person’s acts or omissions as a stockholder of the Corporation, if such Stockholder Associated Person is a stockholder of the Corporation;

(P) (I) if the stockholder (or the beneficial owner(s) on whose behalf such stockholder is submitting a notice to the Corporation) is not a natural person, the identity of each natural person associated with such stockholder (or beneficial owner(s)) ultimately responsible for the decision to propose the business or nomination to be brought before the meeting (any such person or persons, a “Responsible Person”), the relationship of the Responsible Person to such stockholder (or beneficial owner(s)); and

(Q) all other information relating to such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement in connection with the solicitation of proxies in support of the business proposed by such stockholder, if any, or for the election of any Proposed Nominee in a contested election or otherwise required pursuant to the Proxy Rules;

provided, however, that the disclosures described in the foregoing subclauses (A) through (Q) shall not include any such disclosures with respect to the ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company, or other nominee who is a stockholder solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these Bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner.

 

  (iv)

a representation that such stockholder intends to appear in person or cause a qualified representative (as defined below) of such stockholder to appear in person at the meeting to bring such business before the meeting or nominate any Proposed Nominees, as applicable, and an acknowledgment that, if such stockholder (or a qualified representative of such stockholder) does not appear to present such business or Proposed Nominees, as applicable, at such meeting, the Corporation need not present such business or Proposed Nominees for a vote at such meeting, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation;

 

  (v)

a description of any pending or, to such stockholder’s knowledge, threatened legal proceeding or investigation in which such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person is a party or participant directly involving or directly relating to the Corporation or, to such stockholder’s knowledge, any current or former officer, director, or affiliate of the Corporation;

 

  (vi)

identification of the names and addresses of other stockholders (including beneficial owners) known by such stockholder to provide financial support of the nomination(s) or other business proposal(s) submitted by such stockholder and, to the extent known, the class and number of shares of the Corporation’s capital stock owned beneficially or of record by such other stockholder(s) or other beneficial owner(s); and

 

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  (vii)

a representation from such stockholder as to whether such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person intends or is part of a group that intends to (A) solicit proxies in support of the election of any Proposed Nominee in accordance with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act or (B) engage in a solicitation (within the meaning of Exchange Act Rule 14a-1(l)) with respect to the nomination of any Proposed Nominee or proposed business to be considered at the meeting, as applicable, and if so, the name of each participant (as defined in Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in such solicitation.

(d) In addition to the information required pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.1, the Corporation may require such stockholder to furnish such other information as the Corporation may reasonably require to determine the eligibility or suitability of a Proposed Nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such Proposed Nominee, under the listing standards of each securities exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed, any applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in selecting nominees for election as a director and for determining and disclosing the independence of the Corporation’s directors, including those applicable to a director’s service on any of the committees of the Board of Directors, or the requirements of any other laws or regulations applicable to the Corporation. If requested by the Corporation, any supplemental information required under this paragraph shall be provided by such stockholder within ten (10) days after it has been requested by the Corporation. The Board of Directors may require any Proposed Nominee to submit to interviews with the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, and such Proposed Nominee shall make himself or herself available for any such interviews within ten (10) days following such request.

(e) Unless otherwise required by applicable law, if a stockholder (or qualified representative) does not appear at the meeting of stockholders to present business proposed by such stockholder pursuant to Section 2.1(c), such proposed business shall not be transacted, even though proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. No business shall be conducted at any annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this paragraph (c) of this Section 2.1. The Board of Directors or chairman of the meeting at which any business is proposed by a stockholder shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that such business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.1(c), and in such event, the business not properly before the meeting shall not be transacted.

Section 2.2 Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders may be called only as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.

Section 2.3 Notice of Meetings. A written notice of each annual or special meeting of stockholders shall be given stating the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of

 

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Incorporation or these Bylaws, such notice of meeting shall be given not less than ten nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, personally, by mail or, to the extent and in the manner permitted by applicable law, by electronic transmission. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. If notice is given by means of electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed to be given at the times provided in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

Section 2.4 Adjournments. Any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be adjourned from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, if any, by the holders of stock having a majority of the votes which could be cast by the holders of all outstanding stock entitled to vote thereat, which are present in person or represented by proxy at such meeting, though less than a quorum, or by any officer entitled to preside at or to act as secretary of such meeting, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the date, time, and place, if any, thereof and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 2.3. If the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at an adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as the record date determined for stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting.

Section 2.5 Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of stock having a majority of the votes which could be cast by the holders of all outstanding stock entitled to vote at the meeting shall constitute a quorum at each meeting of stockholders. In the absence of a quorum, the stockholders so present may, by the affirmative vote of the holders of stock having a majority of the votes which could be cast by all such holders, adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 2.4 of these Bylaws until a quorum is present. If a quorum is present when a meeting is convened, the subsequent withdrawal of stockholders, even though less than a quorum remains, shall not affect the ability of the remaining stockholders lawfully to transact business.

Section 2.6 Conduct; Place of Meetings and Remote Communication.

(a) Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board or, in his or her absence, by the Chief Executive Officer, or in his or her absence, by a chairman designated by the Board of Directors, or in the absence of such designation by a chairman chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

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(b) Meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be held at such time and place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting shall not be held at any place, but shall instead be held solely by means of remote communication in accordance with Section 211(a) of the DGCL. If authorized by the Board of Directors in accordance with these Bylaws and applicable law, stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication, (1) participate in a meeting of stockholders and (2) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided that (i) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder, (ii) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and (iii) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.

Section 2.7 Voting.

(a) Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by such stockholder which has voting power on the matter in question.

(b) Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot and need not be conducted by inspectors of election unless so required by Section 2.9 of these Bylaws or so determined by the holders of stock having a majority of the votes which could be cast by the holders of all outstanding stock entitled to vote which are present in person or by proxy at such meeting. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast in the election of directors. Unless otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, all other matters submitted to the stockholders at any meeting shall be decided by the vote of the holders of stock having a majority of the votes which could be cast by the holders of all stock entitled to vote on such question which are present in person or by proxy at the meeting.

(c) Stock of the Corporation standing in the name of another corporation and entitled to vote may be voted by such officer, agent, or proxy as the bylaws or other internal regulations of such other corporation may prescribe or, in the absence of such provision, as the board of directors or comparable body of such other corporation may determine.

(d) Stock of the Corporation standing in the name of a deceased person, a minor, an incompetent, or a debtor in a case under Title 11, United States Code, and entitled to vote may be voted by an administrator, executor, guardian, conservator, debtor-in-possession, or trustee, as the case may be, either in person or by proxy, without transfer of such shares into the name of the official or other person so voting.

 

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(e) A stockholder whose voting stock of the Corporation is pledged shall be entitled to vote such stock unless on the transfer records of the Corporation the pledgor has expressly empowered the pledgee to vote such shares, in which case only the pledgee, or such pledgee’s proxy, may represent such shares and vote thereon.

(f) If voting stock is held of record in the names of two or more persons, whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety, or otherwise, or if two or more persons have the same fiduciary relationship respecting the same shares, unless the Secretary is given written notice to the contrary and is furnished with a copy of the instrument or order appointing them or creating the relationship wherein it is so provided, their acts with respect to voting shall have the following effect: (i) if only one votes, such act binds all; (ii) if more than one vote, the act of the majority so voting binds all; and (iii) if more than one vote, but the vote is evenly split on any particular matter each faction may vote such stock proportionally, or any person voting the shares, or a beneficiary, if any, may apply to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or such other court as may have jurisdiction to appoint an additional person to act with the persons so voting the stock, which shall then be voted as determined by a majority of such persons and the person appointed by the Court. If the instrument so filed shows that any such tenancy is held in unequal interests, a majority or even split for the purpose of this subsection shall be a majority or even split in interest.

(g) Stock of the Corporation belonging to the Corporation, or to another corporation a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of which are held by the Corporation, shall not be voted at any meeting of stockholders and shall not be counted in the total number of outstanding shares for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present. Nothing in this Section 2.7 shall limit the right of the Corporation to vote shares of stock of the Corporation held by it in a fiduciary capacity.

Section 2.8 Proxies.

(a) Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy filed with the Secretary before or at the time of the meeting. No such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing with the Secretary an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or another duly executed proxy bearing a later date. Any stockholder directly or indirectly soliciting proxies from other stockholders may use any proxy card color other than white, which shall be reserved for exclusive use of the Board of Directors.

(b) A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy (i) by executing a writing authorizing such person or persons to act as such, which execution may be accomplished by such stockholder or such stockholder’s authorized officer, director, partner, employee, or agent (or, if the stock is held in a trust or estate, by a trustee, executor, or administrator thereof) signing such writing or causing his or her signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means, including, but not limited to, facsimile signature, or (ii) by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic

 

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transmission (each, a “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 Transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that such Transmission was authorized by such stockholder.

(c) Any inspector or inspectors appointed pursuant to Section 2.9 of these Bylaws shall examine Transmissions to determine if they are valid. If no inspector or inspectors are so appointed, the Secretary or such other person or persons as shall be appointed from time to time by the Board of Directors shall examine Transmissions to determine if they are valid. If it is determined that a Transmission is valid, the person or persons making that determination shall specify the information upon which such person or persons relied. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of such a writing or Transmission 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.

Section 2.9 Voting Procedures and Inspectors of Elections.

(a) If the Corporation has a class of voting stock that is (i) listed on a national securities exchange, (ii) authorized for quotation on an interdealer quotation system of a registered national securities association, or (iii) held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders, the Board of Directors shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors (individually an “Inspector,” and collectively the “Inspectors”) to act at such 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 shall fail to act. If no Inspector or alternate is able to act at such meeting, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more other persons to act as Inspectors. Each Inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of Inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability.

(b) The Inspectors shall (i) ascertain the number of shares of stock of the Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each, (ii) determine the number of shares of stock of the Corporation present in person or by proxy at such meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period of time a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the Inspectors, and (v) certify their determination of the number of such shares present in person or by proxy at such meeting and their count of all votes and ballots. The Inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist them in the performance of their duties.

(c) The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at such meeting. No ballots, proxies, or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes thereto, shall be accepted by the Inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware upon application by any stockholder shall determine otherwise.

 

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(d) In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots, the Inspectors shall be limited to an examination of the proxies, any envelopes submitted with such proxies, any information referred to in paragraphs (b) and (c) of Section 2.8 of these Bylaws, ballots, and the regular books and records of the Corporation, except that the Inspectors may consider other reliable information for the limited purpose of reconciling proxies and ballots submitted by or on behalf of banks, brokers, their nominees, or similar persons which represent more votes than the holder of a proxy is authorized by a stockholder of record to cast or more votes than such stockholder holds of record. If the Inspectors consider other reliable information for the limited purpose permitted herein, the Inspectors, at the time they make their certification pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 2.9, shall specify the precise information considered by them, including the person or persons from whom such information was obtained, when and the means by which such information was obtained and the basis for the Inspectors’ belief that such information is accurate and reliable.

Section 2.10 Fixing Date of Determination of Stockholders of Record.

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

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

 

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Section 2.11 List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The Secretary shall prepare, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10)_days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, the list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, the list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time thereof on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list of stockholders or the books of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

Section 2.12 No Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the terms of any series of preferred stock permitting the holders of such series of preferred stock to act by written consent, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, and, as specified by the Certificate of Incorporation, the ability of the stockholders to consent in writing to the taking of any action is specifically denied.

ARTICLE III

Board of Directors

Section 3.1 Powers; Number; Election; Resignation; Vacancies.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

(b) The total number of directors shall be fixed from time to time in the manner provided by the Certificate of Incorporation. No decrease in the total number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

(c) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 3.1(c) shall be eligible for election as directors of the Corporation. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a meeting of stockholders by the Board of Directors or by any stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors at the meeting who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this paragraph (c). Any nomination by a stockholder must be made by timely written notice to the Secretary as hereinafter provided. To be timely, a stockholder’s written notice shall set forth all information required under

 

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this Section 3.1(c) and shall be delivered or mailed to and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation: (i) with respect to an election to be held at an annual meeting of stockholders, not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials or a notice of availability of proxy materials (whichever is earlier) for the immediately preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within 30 days from the first anniversary of the immediately preceding year’s annual meeting date, written notice by a stockholder in order to be timely must be received not earlier than the 120th day before the date of such annual meeting and not later than the later of the 90th day before the date of such annual meeting, as originally convened, or the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which the first public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was made, and (ii) with respect to an election to be held at a special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors, not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which the first public disclosure of the date of such special meeting was made. In no event shall the public disclosure of an adjournment or postponement of any annual or special meeting commence a new time period for giving of a stockholder notice as described above. A stockholder’s notice to the Secretary delivered pursuant to this Section 3.1(c) shall set forth:

 

  (i)

as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director (each, a “Proposed Nominee”), if any,

(A) the name, age, business address, and residential address of such Proposed Nominee;

(B) the principal occupation and employment of such Proposed Nominee;

(C) a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualifications of such Proposed Nominee, completed by such Proposed Nominee in the form required by the Corporation (which form such stockholder shall request in writing from the Secretary and which the Secretary shall provide to such stockholder within ten (10) days after receiving such request);

(D) a written representation and agreement completed by such Proposed Nominee in the form required by the Corporation (which form such stockholder shall request in writing from the Secretary and which the Secretary shall provide to such stockholder within ten (10) days after receiving such request) providing that such Proposed Nominee: (I) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such Proposed Nominee, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such Proposed Nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such Proposed Nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law; (II) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement, or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director or nominee with respect to the Corporation that has not been disclosed to the Corporation; (III) will, if elected as a director of the Corporation, comply with all applicable rules of any securities exchanges upon which the

 

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Corporation’s securities are listed, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, ethics, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and trading policies, and all other guidelines and policies of the Corporation generally applicable to directors (which other guidelines and policies will be provided to such Proposed Nominee within five (5) business days after the Secretary receives any written request therefor from such Proposed Nominee), and all applicable fiduciary duties under state law; (IV) consents to being named as a nominee in the Corporation’s proxy statement and form of proxy for the meeting; (V) intends to serve a full term as a director of the Corporation, if elected; and (VI) will provide facts, statements, and other information in all communications with the Corporation and its stockholders that are or will be true and correct in all material respects and that do not and will not omit to state any fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;

(E) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements, or understandings, written or oral, during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such Proposed Nominee or any of such Proposed Nominee’s associates (as defined below), on the one hand, and any stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), on the other hand, including all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K as if such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the Proposed Nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant;

(F) a description of any business or personal interests that would reasonably be expected to place such Proposed Nominee in a potential conflict of interest with the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries;

(G) the date(s) of first contact between such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person, on the one hand, and the Proposed Nominee, on the other hand, with respect to the Corporation and any proposed nomination(s) of any person(s) (including the Proposed Nominee) for election as a director of the Corporation; and

(H) all other information relating to such Proposed Nominee or such Proposed Nominee’s associates that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of directors in a contested election or otherwise required pursuant to the Proxy Rules.

At the request of the Board of Directors any person nominated by the Board of Directors for election as a director shall furnish to the Secretary (in accordance with any applicable time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under these Bylaws) that information required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee. The Corporation may require any Proposed Nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation.

 

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Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3.1(c) to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased, and there is no public disclosure of such action at least 90 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials or a notice of availability of proxy materials (whichever is earlier) for the immediately preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 3.1(c) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than the tenth day following the day on which such public disclosure is first made by the Corporation.

No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 3.1(c). Unless otherwise required by applicable law, if a stockholder (or qualified representative) does not appear at the meeting of stockholders to present a nomination proposed by such stockholder pursuant to this Section 3.1(c), such nomination shall be disregarded, even though proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. The Board of Directors or chairman of the meeting at which a stockholder nomination is presented shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that such nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by this Section 3.1(c), and, in such event, the defective nomination shall be disregarded.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if (A) any such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act with respect to any Proposed Nominee and (B) (1) such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person subsequently either (x) notifies the Corporation that such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person no longer intends to solicit proxies in support of the election or reelection of such Proposed Nominee in accordance with Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act or (y) fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) or Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act (or fails to timely provide reasonable evidence sufficient to satisfy the Corporation that such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act in accordance with the following sentence) and (2) no other stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person that has provided notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act with respect to such Proposed Nominee (x) to the Corporation’s knowledge based on information provided pursuant to Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act or these Bylaws, still intends to solicit proxies in support of the election or reelection of such Proposed Nominee in accordance with Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act and (y) has complied with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) and Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act and the requirements set forth in the following sentence, then the nomination of such Proposed Nominee shall be disregarded and no vote on the election of such Proposed Nominee shall occur (notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation). Upon request by the Corporation, if any such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act, such stockholder shall deliver to the Secretary, no later than five (5) business days prior to the applicable meeting date, reasonable evidence that the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act have been satisfied. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to limit the exercise, the method, or timing of the exercise of, the rights of any person granted by the Corporation to nominate directors (including pursuant to the Nomination Agreement, dated as of July 19, 2024, by and among the Corporation, EGI-AM Investments, L.L.C., and ALH Holdings, LLC (as may be amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “Nomination Agreement”), which rights may be exercised without compliance with the provisions of this Section 3.1(c)).

 

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(d) Any director may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary. A resignation shall take effect when the resignation is delivered to the officer to whom it is directed unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events, without any need for its acceptance. A resignation that is conditioned upon the director failing to receive a specified vote for reelection as a director may provide that it is irrevocable.

(e) Any newly created directorship or any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors for any reason shall be filled as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation and subject to the rights granted pursuant to the Nomination Agreement.

Section 3.2 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such times and places, either within or without the State of Delaware, as may from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors. After there has been such determination, and notice thereof has been given to each member of the Board of Directors, regular meetings may be held without further notice being given.

Section 3.3 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Secretary or by a majority of the whole Board of Directors. Notice of a special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given by the person or persons calling the meeting at least twenty-four hours before the special meeting. The purpose or purposes of a special meeting need not be stated in the call or notice.

Section 3.4 Organization. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board or, in his or her absence, by the Chief Executive Officer, or in his or her absence, by a chairman chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. A majority of the directors present at a meeting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may adjourn such meeting to any other date, time or place without notice other than announcement at the meeting.

Section 3.5 Quorum; Vote Required for Action. At all meetings of the Board of Directors a majority of the whole Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Unless the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws otherwise provide, the vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.

Section 3.6 Committees. Subject to provisions regarding committee designations in the Nomination Agreement, the Board of Directors may, by resolution, designate one or more committees, including but not limited to an Audit and Compliance Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, each committee to consist of one or more directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of the committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to

 

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act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by applicable law and provided in these Bylaws or in the resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee, or an amendment to such resolution, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. At all meetings of a committee of the Board of Directors, a majority of the directors then serving on the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Unless the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws otherwise provide, the vote of the majority of the members of a committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee.

Section 3.7 Telephonic Meetings. Directors, or any committee of directors designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 3.7 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 3.8 Board of Director Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing (which may be in counterparts) or by electronic transmission, and the written consent or consents or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee. Such filing shall be made in paper form if the minutes of the Corporation are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form. Such action by written consent or consent by electronic transmission shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the Board of Directors.

Section 3.9 Committee Rules. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise provides, each committee designated by the Board of Directors may make, alter, and repeal rules not inconsistent with the provisions of law for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules, each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of Directors conducts its business pursuant to this Article III of these Bylaws.

Section 3.10 Reliance upon Records. Every director, and every member of any committee of the Board of Directors, shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other person as to matters the director or member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation, including, but not limited to, such records, information, opinions, reports, or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities and/or net profits of the Corporation, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of surplus or other funds from which dividends might properly be declared and paid, or with which the Corporation’s capital stock might properly be purchased or redeemed.

 

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Section 3.11 Interested Directors. A director who is directly or indirectly a party to a contract or transaction with the Corporation, or is a director or officer of or has a financial interest in any other corporation, partnership, association, or other organization which is a party to a contract or transaction with the Corporation, may be counted in determining whether a quorum is present at any meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof at which such contract or transaction is considered or authorized, and such director may participate in such meeting and vote on such authorization to the extent permitted by applicable law, including Section 144 of the DGCL.

Section 3.12 Compensation. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors. The directors shall be paid their reasonable expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each such meeting and an annual retainer or salary for services as a director or committee member. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

Section 3.13 Chairman of the Board. Subject to provisions regarding appointment of the Chairman of the Board in the Nomination Agreement, the Board of Directors shall elect a Chairman of the Board from among its members. The position of Chairman of the Board is not an officer position of the Corporation.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

Section 4.1 Executive Officers; Election; Qualification; Term of Office. The Board of Directors shall elect a Chief Executive Officer and a Chief Financial Officer. The Board of Directors shall also elect a Secretary and may elect a President, one or more Vice Presidents, and one or more Assistant Secretaries. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. Each officer shall hold office until the first meeting of the Board of Directors after the annual meeting of stockholders next succeeding his or her election, and until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation, or removal.

Section 4.2 Resignation; Removal; Vacancies. Any officer may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Secretary. Unless otherwise stated in a notice of resignation, it shall take effect when received by the officer to whom it is directed, without any need for its acceptance. The Board of Directors may remove any officer with or without cause at any time, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights of such officer, if any, with the Corporation. Any officer chosen by another officer pursuant to Section 4.10 of these Bylaws may be removed with or without cause at any time by that officer, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights of such officer, if any, with the Corporation. A vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term thereof by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting.

 

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Section 4.3 Powers and Duties of Executive Officers. The officers of the Corporation shall have such powers and duties in the management of the Corporation as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may require any officer, agent, or employee to give security for the faithful performance of his or her duties.

Section 4.4 Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation shall in general supervise and control all of the business affairs of the Corporation, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer may also serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors or President, if so elected by the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer may execute, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, or other instruments which the Board of Directors or a committee thereof has authorized to be executed, except in cases where the execution shall have been expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof to some other officer or agent of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall also perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned to such officer by these Bylaws or by the Board of Directors.

Section 4.5 President. The President, if there be one, shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability, or refusal to act of the Chief Executive Officer, the President shall perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer and, when so performing, shall have all the powers and be subject to all the restrictions upon the office of Chief Executive Officer. The President shall also perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned to such officer by these Bylaws, the Board of Directors, or the Chief Executive Officer.

Section 4.6 Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. The Chief Financial Officer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors, at its regular meetings, or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of all such officer’s transactions as Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the Corporation. If required by the Board of Directors, the Chief Financial Officer shall give the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of the office and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of such person’s death, resignation, retirement, or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money, and other property of whatever kind in his possession or under his control belonging to the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall also perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned to such officer by these Bylaws, the Board of Directors, or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

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Section 4.7 Secretary. In addition to such other duties, if any, as may be assigned to the Secretary by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, the Secretary shall (i) keep the minutes of proceedings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and any committee of the Board of Directors in one or more books provided for that purpose; (ii) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by applicable law; (iii) be the custodian of the records and seal of the Corporation; (iv) affix or cause to be affixed the seal of the Corporation or a facsimile thereof, and attest the seal by his or her signature, to all documents the execution of which under seal is authorized by the Board of Directors; and (v) unless such duties have been delegated by the Board of Directors to a transfer agent of the Corporation, keep or cause to be kept a register of the name and address of each stockholder, as the same shall be furnished to the Secretary by such stockholder, and have general charge of the stock transfer records of the Corporation.

Section 4.8 Assistant Secretaries. Except as may be otherwise provided in these Bylaws, Assistant Secretaries, if there be any, shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, if there be one, or any Vice President, if there be one, or the Secretary, and in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of such person’s disability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the Secretary, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Secretary.

Section 4.9 Vice Presidents. Except as may be otherwise provided in these Bylaws, Vice Presidents, if there be any, shall perform such duties and possess such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President. The Board of Directors may assign to any Vice President the title of Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or any other such title.

Section 4.10 Other Officers. Such other officers as the Board of Directors may choose shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may delegate to any other officer of the Corporation the power to choose such other officers and to prescribe their respective duties and powers.

ARTICLE V

Stock Certificates and Transfers

Section 5.1 Certificated and Uncertificated Shares. Shares of the Corporation’s stock may be certificated or uncertificated, as provided under Delaware law. All certificates of stock of the Corporation shall be numbered and shall be entered in the books of the Corporation as they are issued. The certificates shall be signed by any two authorized officers of the Corporation, and certify the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation.

Section 5.2 Signatures. Any signature required to be on a certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

 

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Section 5.3 Lost Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates. The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as the Board of Directors shall require and/or to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

Section 5.4 Transfers of Stock. Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by applicable law and in these Bylaws. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the record holder of such stock, or by their attorney lawfully constituted in writing, and, in the case of stock represented by a certificate, upon the surrender of the certificate.

Section 5.5 Stockholders of Record. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than 60 days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty days prior to any such other corporate action. 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 5.6 Beneficial Owners. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by applicable law.

ARTICLE VI

Notices

Section 6.1 Manner of Notice.

(a) Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, whenever notice is required to be given to any stockholder, director or member of any committee of the Board of Directors, such notice may be given by (i) personal delivery, (ii) depositing it, in a sealed envelope, in the United States mails, first class, postage prepaid, addressed, (iii) delivering to a company for overnight or second day mail or delivery,

 

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(iv) delivering it to a telegraph company, charges prepaid, for transmission, or by transmitting it via telecopier, or (v) any other reliable means permitted by applicable law (including, subject to Section 6.1(b), electronic transmission) to such stockholder, director or member, either at the address of such stockholder, director or member as it appears on the records of the Corporation or, in the case of such a director or member, at his or her business address and such notice shall be deemed not to have been delivered unless so given; and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when it is thus personally delivered, deposited, delivered or transmitted, as the case may be. Such requirement for notice shall also be deemed satisfied, except in the case of stockholder meetings, if actual notice is received orally or by other writing by the person entitled thereto as far in advance of the event with respect to which notice is being given as the minimum notice period required by applicable law or these Bylaws.

(b) Without limiting the foregoing, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation pursuant to these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation and shall also be deemed revoked if (1) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent and (2) such inability becomes known to the Secretary of the Corporation, the transfer agent or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, that the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action. Notice given by a form of electronic transmission in accordance with these Bylaws shall be deemed given: (i) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (ii) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (iii) if by a posting on an electronic network, together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of such posting and the giving of such separate notice; and (iv) if by another form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.

Section 6.2 Dispensation with Notice.

(a) Whenever notice is required to be given by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws to any stockholder to whom (i) notice of two consecutive annual meetings of stockholders, and all notices of meetings of stockholders to such stockholder during the period between such two consecutive annual meetings, or (ii) all, and at least two, payments (if sent by first class mail) of dividends or interest on securities of the Corporation during a 12-month period, have been mailed addressed to such stockholder at the address of such stockholder as shown on the records of the Corporation and have been returned undeliverable, the giving of such notice to such stockholder shall not be required. Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to such stockholder shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. If any such stockholder shall deliver to the Corporation a written notice setting forth the then current address of such stockholder, the requirement that notice be given to such stockholder shall be reinstated.

(b) Whenever notice is required to be given by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws to any person with whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required, and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person. Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to any such person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given.

 

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Section 6.3 Waiver of Notice. Any written waiver of notice, signed by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, directors, or members of a committee or directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice.

ARTICLE VII

Indemnification

Section 7.1 Right to Indemnification.

(a) The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as in effect on the date of adoption of these Bylaws or as it may thereafter be amended, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (a “proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture or other enterprise, against any and all liability and loss (including judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) suffered or incurred and expenses reasonably incurred by such person. The Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification to such of the employees and agents of the Corporation to such extent and to such effect as the Board of Directors shall determine to be appropriate and authorized by Delaware law. The Corporation shall not be required to indemnify a person in connection with a proceeding initiated by such person, including a counterclaim or crossclaim, unless the proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors.

(b) For purposes of this Article VII: (i) any reference to “other enterprise” shall include all plans, programs, policies, agreements, contracts and payroll practices and related trusts for the benefit of or relating to employees of the Corporation and its related entities (“employee benefit plans”); (ii) any reference to “fines”, “penalties”, “liability”, and “expenses” shall include any excise taxes, penalties, claims, liabilities and reasonable expenses (including reasonable legal fees and related expenses) assessed against or incurred by a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; (iii) any reference to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or trustee or administrator of any employee benefit plan which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, beneficiaries, fiduciaries, administrators and service providers; (iv) any reference to serving at the request of the

 

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Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of a partnership or trust shall include service as a partner or trustee; and (v) a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” for purposes of this Article VII.

Section 7.2 Prepayment of Expenses. The Corporation shall pay or reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition if the Corporation has received an undertaking by the person receiving such payment or reimbursement to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VII or otherwise.

Section 7.3 Claims. If a claim for indemnification or payment of expenses under this Article VII is not paid in full within 60 days after a written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation, the claimant may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the claimant was not entitled to the requested indemnification or payment of expenses under applicable law.

Section 7.4 Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any person by this Article VII shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

Section 7.5 Other Indemnification. The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify any person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee, partner, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture or other enterprise.

Section 7.6 Amendment or Repeal. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article VII shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

ARTICLE VIII

General

Section 8.1 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors. Initially, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December 31 of each year.

Section 8.2 Seal. The corporate seal shall have the name of the Corporation inscribed thereon and shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

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Section 8.3 Definitions.

(a) For purposes of these Bylaws, “affiliate” and “associate” each shall have the respective meanings set forth in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act;

(b) For purposes of these Bylaws, “beneficial owner” or “beneficially owned” shall have the meaning set forth for such terms in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act;

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

(d) For purposes of these Bylaws, “public disclosure” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or comparable national news service, or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(e) For purposes of these Bylaws, a “qualified representative” of a stockholder shall mean a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or a person authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders, which writing or electronic transmission (or a reliable reproduction thereof) shall be produced at the meeting of stockholders.

(f) For purposes of these Bylaws, “Stockholder Associated Person” shall mean, with respect to a stockholder giving notice and if different from such stockholder, any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation on whose behalf such stockholder is providing notice of any nomination or other business proposed, (i) any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such stockholder or such beneficial owner(s), (ii) any member of the immediate family of such stockholder or such beneficial owner(s) sharing the same household, (iii) any person or entity who is a member of a “group” (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) with such stockholder, such beneficial owner(s) with respect to the stock of the Corporation, (iv) any associate of such stockholder or such beneficial owner(s), (v) if such stockholder or any such beneficial owner is not a natural person, any Responsible Person, (vi) any participant (as defined in Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A) with such stockholder or such beneficial owner(s) with respect to any proposed business or nominations, as applicable, (vii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record by such stockholder (other than a stockholder that is a depositary), and (viii) any Proposed Nominee.

Section 8.4 Amendment of Bylaws. The Board of Directors may adopt, amend or repeal these Bylaws as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, or new Bylaws may be added, by the stockholders at any annual meeting of the stockholders or at any special meeting thereof if notice of the proposed alteration, amendment, repeal or addition is contained in the notice of such special meeting, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of the stock entitled to vote thereon. These Bylaws may also be altered, amended or repealed, or new Bylaws may be added, by the Board of Directors as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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Section 8.5 Severability. To the extent any provision of these Bylaws would be, in the absence of this Section 8.5, invalid, illegal, or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, such provision shall be severable from the other provisions of these Bylaws, and all provisions of these Bylaws shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by these Bylaws, including, to the maximum extent possible, the provision that would be otherwise invalid, illegal, or unenforceable.

ARTICLE IX

Emergency Bylaws

Section 9.1 Emergency Bylaws. This Article IX shall be operative during any emergency, disaster or catastrophe, as referred to in Section 110 of the DGCL or other similar emergency condition (including a pandemic), as a result of which a quorum of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof cannot readily be convened for action (each, an “Emergency”), notwithstanding any different or conflicting provision in the preceding sections of these Bylaws or in the Certificate of Incorporation. To the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article IX, the preceding sections of these Bylaws and the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation shall remain in effect during such Emergency, and upon termination of such Emergency, the provisions of this Article IX shall cease to be operative unless and until another Emergency shall occur.

Section 9.2 Meetings; Notice. During any Emergency, a meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may be called by any member of the Board of Directors or such committee or the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, or the Secretary of the Corporation. Notice of the place, date and time of the meeting shall be given by any available means of communication by the person calling the meeting to such of the directors or committee members and Designated Officers (as defined below) as, in the judgment of the person calling the meeting, it may be feasible to reach. Such notice shall be given at such time in advance of the meeting as, in the judgment of the person calling the meeting, circumstances permit.

Section 9.3 Quorum. At any meeting of the Board of Directors called in accordance with Section 9.2 above, the presence or participation of three directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and at any meeting of any committee of the Board of Directors called in accordance with Section 9.2 above, the presence or participation of one committee member shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the event that the requisite number of directors is not able to attend a meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, then the Designated Officers in attendance shall serve as directors, or committee members, as the case may be, for the meeting, without any additional quorum requirement and will have full powers to act as directors, or committee members, as the case may be, of the Corporation.

Section 9.4 Liability. No officer, director, or employee of the Corporation acting in accordance with the provisions of this Article IX shall be liable except for willful misconduct.

Section 9.5 Amendments. At any meeting called in accordance with Section 9.2 above, the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, as the case may be, may modify, amend or add to the provisions of this Article IX as it deems it to be in the best interests of the Corporation and as is practical or necessary for the circumstances of the Emergency.

 

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Section 9.6 Repeal or Change. The provisions of this Article IX shall be subject to repeal or change by further action of the Board of Directors or by action of the stockholders pursuant to Article VIII of these Bylaws, but no such repeal or change shall modify the provisions of Section 9.4 above with regard to action taken prior to the time of such repeal or change.

Section 9.7 Definitions. For purposes of this Article IX, the term “Designated Officer” means an officer identified on a numbered list of officers of the Corporation who shall be deemed to be, in the order in which they appear on the list up until a quorum is obtained, directors of the Corporation, or members of a committee of the Board of Directors, as the case may be, for purposes of obtaining a quorum during an Emergency, if a quorum of directors or committee members, as the case may be, cannot otherwise be obtained during such Emergency, which officers have been designated by the Board of Directors from time to time but in any event prior to such time or times as an Emergency may have occurred.

 

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Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

 

SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP

787 SEVENTH AVENUE

NEW YORK, NY 10019

+1 212 839 5300

+1 212 839 5599 FAX

 

AMERICA • ASIA PACIFIC • EUROPE

  

July 17, 2024

Ardent Health Partners, Inc.

340 Seven Springs Way, Suite 100

Brentwood, Tennessee 37027

 

  Re:

15,750,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We refer to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) being filed by Ardent Health Partners, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the registration of 15,750,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company, which may be issued under the Ardent Health Partners, Inc. 2024 Omnibus Incentive Award Plan (the “Plan,” and the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to be registered under the Registration Statement, the “Registered Shares”).

This opinion letter is being delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

We have examined the Registration Statement, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the Company’s Bylaws, the Plan, the resolutions adopted by the board of directors of the Company relating to the Registration Statement and the Plan, and the resolutions adopted by the majority stockholder of the Company relating to the Plan. We have also examined originals, or copies of originals certified to our satisfaction, of such agreements, documents, certificates and statements of the Company and other corporate documents and instruments, and have examined such questions of law, as we have considered relevant and necessary as a basis for this opinion letter. We have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all persons and the conformity with the original documents of any copies thereof submitted to us for examination. As to facts relevant to the opinions expressed herein, we have relied without independent investigation or verification upon, and assumed the accuracy and completeness of, certificates, letters and oral and written statements and representations of public officials and officers and other representatives of the Company.

Sidley Austin (NY) LLP is a Delaware limited liability partnership doing business as Sidley Austin LLP and practicing in affiliation with other Sidley Austin partnerships.


LOGO

Ardent Health Partners, Inc.

July 17, 2024

Page 2

 

Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that each Registered Share that is newly issued pursuant to the Plan will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable when: (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended, shall have become effective under the Securities Act; (ii) such Registered Share shall have been duly issued and delivered in accordance with the Plan; and (iii) a certificate representing such Registered Share shall have been duly executed, countersigned and registered and duly delivered to the person entitled thereto against payment of the agreed consideration therefor (in an amount not less than the par value thereof) or, if any such Registered Share is to be issued in uncertificated form, the Company’s books shall reflect the issuance of such Registered Share to the person entitled thereto against payment of the agreed consideration therefor (in an amount not less than the par value thereof), all in accordance with the Plan.

This opinion letter is limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We express no opinion as to the laws, rules or regulations of any other jurisdiction, including, without limitation, the federal laws of the United States of America or any state securities or blue sky laws.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to all references to our Firm included in or made a part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Sidley Austin LLP
Sidley Austin LLP

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the Ardent Health Partners, Inc. 2024 Omnibus Incentive Award Plan of Ardent Health Partners, Inc. of our report dated March 8, 2024 (except for footnote 1 to the consolidated balance sheets, Note 2, “Summary of significant accounting policies”, with respect to “Variable interest entities”, and Note 15, “Subsequent events”, as to which the date is June 3, 2024), with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Ardent Health Partners, LLC included in the Registration Statement (Form S-1 No. 333-280425) and the related Prospectus of Ardent Health Partners, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 15, 2024.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Nashville, Tennessee

July 17, 2024

EXHIBIT 107

Calculation of Filing Fee Table

FORM S-8

(Form Type)

Ardent Health Partners, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Newly Registered Securities

 

               
Security Type  

Security

Class

Title

 

Fee

Calculation

Rule

  Amount
Registered(1)
  Proposed
Maximum
  Offering
Price Per
Unit(2)
 

Maximum

Aggregate

Offering

Price(2)

 

Fee

Rate

  Amount of
Registration
Fee(2)
               
Equity(3)   Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share  

Rule 457(c) and

Rule 457(h)

  15,750,000   $16   $252,000,000   0.00014760   $37,196
         
Total Offering Amounts     $252,000,000     $37,196
         
Total Fee Offsets         $—
         
Net Fee Due               $37,196
(1)

Pursuant to Rule 416(a) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock that become issuable under the plans set forth herein by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, or other similar transaction effected that results in an increase to the number of outstanding shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock, as applicable.

(2)

Pursuant to Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act, the proposed maximum offering price per share was determined based on the price per share of the Registrant’s proposed initial public offering. The price of $16 per share represents the initial public offering price.

(3)

Represents shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock that may be issued under the Ardent Health Partners, Inc. 2024 Omnibus Incentive Award Plan.