0001104659-15-041070.txt : 20150527 0001104659-15-041070.hdr.sgml : 20150527 20150527122708 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-15-041070 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20150527 ITEM INFORMATION: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement ITEM INFORMATION: Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20150527 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20150527 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Press Ganey Holdings, Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001633142 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-MANAGEMENT CONSULTING SERVICES [8742] IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-37398 FILM NUMBER: 15891506 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 401 EDGEWATER PLACE, SUITE 500 CITY: WAKEFIELD STATE: MA ZIP: 01880 BUSINESS PHONE: 7812955000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 401 EDGEWATER PLACE, SUITE 500 CITY: WAKEFIELD STATE: MA ZIP: 01880 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: PGA Holdings, Inc. DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20150209 8-K 1 a15-3946_118k.htm 8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 


 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 


 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): May 27, 2015

 


 

PRESS GANEY HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware

 

001-37398

 

20-0259496

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(Commission

 

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

 

File Number)

 

Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

401 Edgewater Place

 

 

 

 

Suite 500

 

 

 

 

Wakefield Massachusetts 02421

 

 

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(781) 295-5000

 

 

(Registrant’s telephone number, include area code)

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

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

 


 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

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

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

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

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

 

 

 



 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

 

On May 27, 2015, in connection with the closing of the initial public offering (the “IPO”) by Press Ganey Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) of shares of its common stock, the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 27, 2015 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), was entered into by and among the Company and Vestar Capital Partners V, L.P., Vestar Capital Partners V-A, L.P., Vestar Capital Partners V-B, L.P., Vestar Executives V, L.P., Vestar Co-Invest V, L.P., Vestar Investors V, L.P., and Vestar/PGA Investors, LLC, substantially in the form previously filed as Exhibit 10.12 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-203248), as amended. The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement is qualified by reference to the Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

 

On May 27, 2015, the Company filed an amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in connection with the IPO. The Company’s board of directors and stockholders previously approved the Amended and Restated Certificate to be filed upon the closing of the IPO.

 

The Amended and Restated Certificate amends and restates the Company’s certificate of incorporation in its entirety to, among other things: (i) authorize 350,000,000 shares of common stock; (ii) authorize 50,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock that may be issued from time to time by the Company’s board of directors in one or more series; (iii) establish a classified board of directors, divided into three classes, each of whose members will serve for staggered three-year terms; and (vii) designate the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware to be the sole and exclusive forum for certain actions, including, but not limited to, derivative actions or proceedings brought on behalf of the Company or actions asserting claims of breach of a fiduciary duty owned by, or other wrongdoing by, any of the Company’s directors, officers, employees or agents to the Company or the Company’s stockholders.

 

The foregoing description of the amendments made by the Amended and Restated Certificate is qualified by reference to the Amended and Restated Certificate, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws

 

On May 27, 2015, in connection with the closing of the IPO, amended and restated bylaws of the Company (the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”), previously approved by the Company’s board of directors to become effective upon the closing of the IPO, became effective. The Amended and Restated Bylaws amend and restate the Company’s bylaws in their entirety to, among other things: (i) establish procedures relating to the presentation of stockholder proposals at stockholder meetings; (ii) establish procedures relating to the nomination of directors; and (iii) conform to the amended provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate.

 

The foregoing description of the amendments made in the Amended and Restated Bylaws is qualified by reference to the Amended and Restated Bylaws, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.

 

Description

 

 

 

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Press Ganey Holdings, Inc.

 

 

 

3.2

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Press Ganey Holdings, Inc.

 

 

 

4.1

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 27, 2015, by and among Press Ganey Holdings, Inc. and Vestar Capital Partners V, L.P., Vestar Capital Partners V-A, L.P., Vestar Capital Partners V-B, L.P., Vestar Executives V, L.P., Vestar Co-Invest V, L.P., Vestar Investors V, L.P., and Vestar/PGA Investors, LLC.

 

2



 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

PRESS GANEY HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: May 27, 2015

By:

/s/ Devin J. Anderson

 

 

Devin J. Anderson

 

 

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

 

Description

 

 

 

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Press Ganey Holdings, Inc.

 

 

 

3.2

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Press Ganey Holdings, Inc.

 

 

 

4.1

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 27, 2015, by and among Press Ganey Holdings, Inc. and Vestar Capital Partners V, L.P., Vestar Capital Partners V-A, L.P., Vestar Capital Partners V-B, L.P., Vestar Executives V, L.P., Vestar Co-Invest V, L.P., Vestar Investors V, L.P., and Vestar/PGA Investors, LLC.

 

4


EX-3.1 2 a15-3946_11ex3d1.htm EX-3.1

Exhibit 3.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

PRESS GANEY HOLDINGS, INC.
(a Delaware corporation)

 

Press Ganey Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies as follows:

 

1.  The name of the Corporation is Press Ganey Holdings, Inc.  The date of filing of the Corporation’s original Certificate of Incorporation was September 8, 2003. The Corporation was originally incorporated under the name PGA Holdings, Inc.

 

2.  The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation attached hereto as Exhibit A, which restates, integrates and further amends the provisions of the existing Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as heretofore amended, has been duly adopted by the Corporation’s Board of Directors and stockholder in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, with the adoption of the Corporation’s stockholder having been given by written consent in lieu of a meeting thereof in accordance with Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by Patrick T. Ryan, its Chief Executive Officer, this 27th day of May, 2015.

 

 

By:

/s/ Patrick T. Ryan

 

Name:

Patrick T. Ryan

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

PRESS GANEY HOLDINGS, INC.

 

ARTICLE ONE

 

The name of this corporation is Press Ganey Holdings, Inc. (the “Corporation”).

 

ARTICLE TWO

 

The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centreville Road, Suite 400, County of New Castle, Wilmington, Delaware 19808.  The name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.  The registered office and/or registered agent of the Corporation may be changed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE THREE

 

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time (the “Delaware General Corporation Law”).

 

ARTICLE FOUR

 

The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock that the Corporation has authority to issue is 400,000,000 shares, consisting of: (a) 50,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”); and (b) 350,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”).

 

The following is a statement of the designations and the powers, privileges and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof in respect of each class of capital stock of the Corporation.

 

Section 1.  Preferred Stock.  Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, each of such series to have such terms as stated or expressed herein and in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation as hereinafter provided.

 

Authority is hereby expressly granted to the Board of Directors from time to time to issue the Preferred Stock in one or more series, and in connection with the creation of any such series, by adopting a resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of the shares thereof and by filing a certificate of designations relating thereto in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, to determine and fix the number of shares of such series and such

 



 

voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including without limitation thereof, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, as shall be stated and expressed in such resolutions, all to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.  The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each such series of Preferred Stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding.   Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of any series of Preferred Stock may provide that such series shall be superior or rank equally or be junior to any other series of Preferred Stock to the extent permitted by law.

 

Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms of this Certificate of Incorporation or any resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such series of stock adopted by the Board of Directors, the number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.  Subject to the first paragraph of this ARTICLE FOUR, the Board of Directors is also expressly authorized to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series of Preferred Stock subsequent to the issuance of shares of that series, but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding.  Unless otherwise expressly provided in the certificate of designations in respect of any series of Preferred Stock, in case the number of shares of such series shall be decreased in accordance with the foregoing sentence, 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 series.

 

Section 2.  Common Stock.

 

(a) General.  The voting, dividend and liquidation rights of the holders of the Common Stock are subject to and qualified by the rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock of any series as may be designated by the Board of Directors upon any issuance of the Preferred Stock of any series.

 

(b) Voting.  The holders of the Common Stock shall have voting rights at all meetings of stockholders, each such holder being entitled to one vote for each share thereof held by such holder; provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (which, as used herein, shall mean the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, as amended from time to time, including the terms of any certificate of designations of any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together as a class with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation or the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.  There shall be no cumulative voting.

 

3



 

The number of authorized shares of Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware

 

(c) Dividends.  Dividends may be declared and paid on the Common Stock if, as and when determined by the Board of Directors subject to any preferential dividend or other rights of any then outstanding Preferred Stock and to the requirements of applicable law.

 

(d) Liquidation.  Upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Common Stock will be entitled to receive all assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, subject to any preferential or other rights of any then outstanding Preferred Stock.

 

ARTICLE FIVE

 

This ARTICLE FIVE is inserted for the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation.

 

Section 1.  General Powers.  The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.  Number of Directors; Election of Directors.  Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the number of directors of the Corporation shall be established from time to time by the Board of Directors.  Election of directors need not be by written ballot, except as and to the extent provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

 

Section 3.  Classes of Directors.  Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the Board of Directors shall be and is divided into three classes, designated as Class I, Class II and Class III.  Each class shall consist, as nearly as may be possible, of one-third of the total number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors is authorized to assign members of the Board of Directors to Class I, Class II or Class III.

 

Section 4.  Terms of Office.  Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, each director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third annual meeting of stockholders following the annual meeting of stockholders at which such director was elected; provided that each director initially assigned to Class I shall serve for a term expiring at the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders held after the effectiveness of this Certificate of Incorporation; each director initially assigned to Class II shall serve for a term expiring at the Corporation’s second annual meeting of stockholders held after the effectiveness of this Certificate of Incorporation; and each director initially assigned to Class III shall serve for a term expiring at the Corporation’s third annual meeting of stockholders held after the effectiveness of this Certificate of Incorporation; provided further, that the term of each director shall continue until the election and qualification of his or her successor and be subject to his or her earlier death, resignation or removal

 

4



 

Section 5.  Quorum.  The greater of (a) a majority of the directors at any time in office and (b) one-third of the number of directors fixed pursuant to Section 2 of this ARTICLE FIVE shall constitute a quorum of the Board of Directors.  If at any meeting of the Board of Directors there shall be less than such a quorum, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

 

Section 6.  Action at Meeting.  Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the directors present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present shall be regarded as the act of the Board of Directors unless a greater number is required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation

 

Section 7.  Removal of Directors.  Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, (a) prior to the Trigger Date (as defined below), any director may be removed from office at any time with or without cause, at a meeting called for that purpose, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors and (b) after the Trigger Date, any director may be removed from office but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors.

 

Section 8.  Vacancies.  Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, any vacancy or newly created directorship in the Board of Directors, however occurring, shall be filled only by vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director and shall not be filled by the stockholders, unless the Board of Directors determines by resolution that any such vacancy or newly created directorship shall be filled by the stockholders.  A director elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen, subject to the election and qualification of a successor and to such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.

 

Section 9.  Stockholder Nominations and Introduction of Business, Etc.  Advance notice of stockholder nominations for election of directors and other business to be brought by stockholders before a meeting of stockholders shall be given in the manner provided by the Bylaws of the Corporation

 

Section 10.  Amendments to Article.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser percentage may be specified by law, (a) prior to the Trigger Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this ARTICLE FIVE and (b) after the Trigger Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this ARTICLE FIVE.

 

5



 

ARTICLE SIX

 

Except to the extent that the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breaches of fiduciary duty, no director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability.  No amendment to or repeal of this provision shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.  If the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware is amended to permit further elimination or limitation of the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as so amended.

 

ARTICLE SEVEN

 

Section 1.  No Action by Written Consent.  From and after the first date (the “Trigger Date”) on which investment funds affiliated with Vestar Capital Partners and their respective successors and Affiliates (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries) (collectively, the “Vestar Entities”) cease collectively to beneficially own (directly or indirectly) more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, no action that is required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be effected by written consent of stockholders in lieu of a meeting.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser percentage may be specified by law, (a) prior to the Trigger Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this ARTICLE SEVEN and (b) after the Trigger Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this ARTICLE SEVEN.  “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person; the term “control,” as used in this definition, means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and “controlled” and “controlling” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.  “Person” means an individual, any general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, business trust, joint stock company, joint venture, unincorporated association, cooperative or association or any other legal entity or organization of whatever nature, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.  For the purpose of this Certificate of Incorporation, “beneficial ownership” shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Section 2.  Annual Meetings of Stockholders.  Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held at such date, time and

 

6



 

place, if any, as shall be determined exclusively by resolution of the Board of Directors in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

Section 3.  Special Meetings of Stockholders.  Special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called (a) at any time only by the Board of Directors or the chairperson of the Board of Directors or (b) prior to the Trigger Date, by the Secretary of the Corporation at the request of one or more of the Vestar Entities that own outstanding shares of Common Stock, and shall not otherwise be called by stockholders.  Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser percentage may be specified by law, (a) prior to the Trigger Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this ARTICLE SEVEN and (b) after the Trigger Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this ARTICLE SEVEN.

 

ARTICLE EIGHT

 

Section 1.  Certificate of Incorporation.  Except as otherwise provided herein, 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 statute and this Certificate of Incorporation, and all rights conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons herein are granted subject to this reservation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, and notwithstanding that a lesser percentage or vote may be specified by law, no provision of ARTICLE FIVE, ARTICLE SIX, ARTICLE SEVEN, this ARTICLE EIGHT, ARTICLE NINE, ARTICLE TEN, ARTICLE ELEVEN or ARTICLE TWELVE may be altered, amended or repealed in any respect, nor may any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or of the Bylaws inconsistent therewith be adopted, unless in addition to any other vote required by this Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise required by law, (a) prior to the Trigger Date, such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon and (b) from and after the Trigger Date, such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption is approved at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon.

 

Section 2.  Bylaws. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and subject to the terms of any series of Preferred Stock, the Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation.  The stockholders may not adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation, or adopt any provision inconsistent therewith, unless such action is approved, in addition to any other vote required by this Certificate of Incorporation, (a) prior to the Trigger Date, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of

 

7



 

the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon and (b) from and after the Trigger Date, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon.

 

ARTICLE NINE

 

Prior to the Trigger Date, the Corporation shall not be governed by Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.  From and after the Trigger Date, the Corporation shall be governed by Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

ARTICLE TEN

 

Section 1.  Scope.  The provisions of this ARTICLE TEN are set forth to define, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the duties of Exempted Persons (as defined below) to the Corporation with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities.  “Exempted Persons” means the Vestar Entities and their respective Affiliates (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries) and all of their respective partners, principals, directors, officers, members, managers and employees, including any of the foregoing who serve as officers or directors of the Corporation.

 

Section 2.  Competition and Allocation of Corporate Opportunities.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Exempted Persons shall not have any fiduciary 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.  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and in accordance with Section 122(17) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, 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, business opportunities that are from time to time presented to the Exempted Persons, 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 each such Exempted Person shall have no duty to communicate or offer such business opportunity to the Corporation and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not 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 Exempted Person pursues or acquires such business opportunity, directs such business opportunity to another person or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business opportunity, to the Corporation or its subsidiaries.

 

Section 3.  Certain Matters Deemed Not Corporate Opportunities.  In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this ARTICLE TEN, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to belong to the Corporation if it is a business opportunity that the Corporation is not financially or legally able or contractually permitted to undertake, or that is, from its nature, not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to it or that is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.

 

Section 4.  Amendment of this Article.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, no amendment or repeal of this ARTICLE TEN in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of

 

8



 

ARTICLE EIGHT shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any Exempted Person for or with respect to any activities or opportunities of which such Exempted Person becomes aware prior to such amendment or repeal.  This ARTICLE TEN shall not limit or eliminate any protections or defenses otherwise available to, or any rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses of, any director or officer of the Corporation under this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement between the Corporation and such officer or director, or any applicable law.

 

Section 5.  Deemed Notice.  Any person or entity purchasing, holding or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this ARTICLE TEN.

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN

 

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or as to which the Delaware General Corporation Law confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or (d) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case subject to said Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein; provided that, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware dismisses any such action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, such action may be brought in another state or federal court sitting in the State of Delaware.  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this ARTICLE ELEVEN.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser percentage may be specified by law, (a) prior to the Trigger Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this ARTICLE ELEVEN and (b) after the Trigger Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this ARTICLE ELEVEN.  If any provision or provisions of this ARTICLE ELEVEN shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this ARTICLE ELEVEN (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this ARTICLE ELEVEN containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

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ARTICLE TWELVE

 

Section 1.  Payment of Legal Fees in Certain Proceedings.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, and unless the Board of Directors otherwise approves in accordance with Section 141 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Bylaws or this Certificate of Incorporation, in the event that any current or former stockholder of the Corporation, any current or former director, or any person acting on behalf of such stockholder or director, including any third party that receives substantial assistance from any such person or entity if such person or entity has a direct financial interest in the claim or proceeding of such third party (each, a “Claiming Party”) (a) initiates, asserts or joins, offers substantial assistance to, or has a direct financial interest in (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (2) any claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of its directors, officers, employees or agents to the Corporation or its stockholders, (3) any action against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers, employees or agents arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or (4) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, each of the foregoing, a claim, or joins any such claim as a named party, and (b) does not thereby obtain a judgment on the merits that substantially achieves, in substance and amount, the full remedy or relief sought in the claim, then such Claiming Party shall be obligated to reimburse the Corporation and any such director or officer for all fees, costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and the fees of experts) actually and reasonably incurred by the Corporation or its officers and directors in defending such claim. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in the shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this ARTICLE TWELVE.

 

Section 2.  Severability.  If any provision (or any part thereof) of this ARTICLE TWELVE shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable facially or as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision (or part thereof) in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this ARTICLE TWELVE (including, without limitation, each portion of any subsection of this ARTICLE TWELVE containing any such provision (or part thereof) 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, and (b) to the fullest extent permitted by law, the provisions of this ARTICLE TWELVE (including, without limitation, each such portion containing any such provision (or part thereof) held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law so as to (1) give effect to the intent manifested by the provision (or part thereof) held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, and (2) permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in the shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this ARTICLE TWELVE.

 

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EX-3.2 3 a15-3946_11ex3d2.htm EX-3.2

Exhibit 3.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

BYLAWS

 

OF

 

PRESS GANEY HOLDINGS, INC.

 

A Delaware corporation

 

(Adopted as of May 27, 2015)

 

ARTICLE I
OFFICES

 

Section 1.  Registered Office.  The address of the registered office of Press Ganey Holdings, Inc. (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware, and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address, shall be as set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”).  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 2.  Other Offices.  The Corporation may have an office or offices other than said registered office at such place or places, either within or outside the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may from time to time require.

 

ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 1.  Place of Meetings.  All meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place, if any, as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors may designate such place of meeting, either within or outside the State of Delaware, or the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication in accordance with Section 211(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

Section 2.  Annual Meeting.  An annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held on such date and at such time as is specified by the Board of Directors.  At the annual meeting, stockholders shall elect directors and transact such other business as may be properly brought before the annual meeting pursuant to Section 11 of ARTICLE II hereof.  The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled annual meeting of the stockholders.

 

Section 3.  Special Meetings.  Special meetings of the stockholders may only be called in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.  Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purpose or purposes stated in the Corporation’s

 



 

notice of the meeting given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or by the Secretary (solely to the extent and in the manner provided by the Certificate of Incorporation).  The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled special meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 4.  Notice.

 

(a) Timing; Contents.  Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take action at a meeting, notice of each annual and special meeting of stockholders stating the date, time and place, if any, of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different than 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, shall be given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or by the Secretary (solely to the extent and in the manner provided by the Certificate of Incorporation), to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting except as otherwise required by law.

 

(b) Form of Notice.  All such notices shall be delivered in writing or by a form of electronic transmission if receipt thereof has been consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given.  If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his, her or its address as the same appears on the records of the Corporation.  If given by facsimile telecommunication, such notice shall be deemed given when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice by facsimile.  Subject to the limitations of Section 4(d) of this ARTICLE II, if given by electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed given:  (i) by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (ii) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (x) such posting and (y) the giving of such separate notice by United States mail or facsimile transmission; and (iii) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, the transfer agent of the Corporation or any other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

 

(c) Waiver of Notice.  Whenever notice is required to be given under any provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the stockholder entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person or entity entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.  Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation need be specified in any waiver of notice of such meeting.  Attendance of a stockholder of the Corporation at a meeting of stockholders shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the stockholder attends for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the

 

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meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

(d) Notice by Electronic Delivery.  Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders of the Corporation pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any notice to stockholders of the Corporation given by the Corporation under any provision of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder of the Corporation to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation.  Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if:  (i) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices of meetings or of other business given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent; and (ii) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.  For purposes of these Bylaws, except as otherwise limited by applicable law, the term “electronic transmission” means any form of communication not directly involving the physical transmission of paper that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

 

Section 5.  List of Stockholders.  The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least 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 10 days before the meeting date, 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 of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder.  Nothing contained in this section shall require the Corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list.  Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting:  (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation.  In the event the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation.  If the meeting is to be held at a place, then 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, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.  The stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this section or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

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Section 6.  Quorum.  Except as otherwise provided by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the stockholders.  If a quorum is not present, the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote at the meeting, may adjourn the meeting to another time and/or place.  Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series is required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series of capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on such matter, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on the matter.  A quorum, once established at a meeting, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum.

 

Section 7.  Adjourned Meetings.  Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time to any other time and to any other place by the chairman of the meeting or by the stockholders present or represented at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon, although less than a quorum.  When a meeting is adjourned to another time and place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.  At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.  If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.  If after the adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 213(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

 

Section 8.  Vote Required.  When a quorum is present at any meeting of stockholders, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of capital stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall decide any question brought before the meeting (other than the election of directors), unless by express provisions of an applicable law or regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities or of the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation or of the Certificate of Incorporation or of these Bylaws a different or minimum vote is required, in which case such different or minimum vote shall be the applicable vote on the question.  Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of record of capital stock entitled to vote in the election of such directors.

 

Section 9.  Voting Rights.  Except as otherwise provided by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or the Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation in respect of any series of preferred stock), each holder of record of capital stock

 

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shall at every meeting of the stockholders be entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder on the record date for voting for such meeting.

 

Section 10.  Proxies Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy executed or transmitted in a manner permitted by applicable law, but 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 proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the Corporation generally.    No shares may be represented or voted under a proxy that has been found to be invalid.

 

Section 11.  Business Brought Before a Meeting of the Stockholders.

 

(A) Annual Meetings.

 

(1) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors shall be considered and such other business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting.  To be properly brought before an annual meeting, nominations and other business must be a proper matter for stockholder action under Delaware law and must be (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (b) brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or a committee thereof) or (c) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder who (i) is a stockholder of record of the Corporation (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such business is proposed or such nomination or nominations are made, only if such beneficial owner is the beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation) both at the time the notice provided for in paragraph (A) of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting of stockholders, (ii) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (iii) complies with the notice procedures set forth in paragraph (A) of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II.  For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (c) of the preceding sentence, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation.  To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (provided, however, that in the event that there was no annual meeting in the prior year or the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth

 

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(10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation).  In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the public announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.  Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting is increased effective after the time period for which nominations would otherwise by due under this paragraph (A)(1) and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by paragraph (A) of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

(2) A stockholder’s notice providing for the nomination of a person or persons for election as a director or directors of the Corporation shall set forth (a) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made (and for purposes of clauses (ii) through (ix) below, including any interests described therein held by any affiliates or associates (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) for purposes of these Bylaws) of such stockholder or beneficial owner or by any member of such stockholder’s or beneficial owner’s immediate family sharing the same household or Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), in each case as of the date of such stockholder’s notice, which information shall be confirmed or updated, if necessary, by such stockholder and beneficial owner (x) not later than ten (10) days after the record date for the notice of the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date for the notice of the meeting, and (y) not later than eight (8) business days before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof to disclose such ownership as of the date that is ten (10) business days before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (or if not practicable to provide such updated information not later than eight (8) business days before any adjournment or postponement, on the first practicable date before any such adjournment or postponement)) (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) (provided that a person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation as to which such person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future) and owned of record by such stockholder or beneficial owner, (iii) the class or series, if any, and number of options, warrants, puts, calls, convertible securities, stock appreciation rights, or similar rights, obligations or commitments with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares or other securities of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares or other securities of the Corporation,

 

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whether or not such instrument, right, obligation or commitment shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of shares or other securities of the Corporation (each a “Derivative Security”), which are, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned by such stockholder or beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated Person, (iv) any agreement, arrangement, understanding, or relationship, including any repurchase or similar so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such stockholder or beneficial owner or any Stockholder Associated Person, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of any class or series of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation by, manage the risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder or beneficial owner or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any class or series of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation, or that provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit from any decrease in the price or value of any class or series or capital stock or other securities of the Corporation, (v) a description of any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit (including any performance-based fees) derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares or other securities of the Corporation, (vi) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or beneficial owner or any Stockholder Associated Person has a right to vote any shares or other securities of the Corporation, (vii) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder or such beneficial owner or such Stockholder Associated Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (viii) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Securities held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated Person is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, if any, (ix) a description of all agreements, arrangements, and understandings between such stockholder or beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated Person and any other person(s) (including the nominee) (including their name(s)) in connection with or related to the ownership or voting of capital stock of the Corporation or Derivative Securities, (x) any other information relating to such stockholder or beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (xi) a statement as to whether either such stockholder or beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated Person intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to elect such stockholder’s nominees and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from the stockholders in support of such nomination and (xii) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such nomination, and (b) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, (i) all information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to the Exchange Act and the rules and

 

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regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected), (ii) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder or beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated Person, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant, (iii) a completed and signed questionnaire regarding the background and qualifications of such person to serve as a director, a copy of which may be obtained upon request to the Secretary of the Corporation, (iv) all information with respect to such person that would be required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice pursuant to this Section 11 of ARTICLE II if such person were a stockholder or beneficial owner, on whose behalf the nomination was made, submitting a notice providing for the nomination of a person or persons for election as a director or directors of the Corporation in accordance with this Section 11 of ARTICLE II and (v) such additional information that the Corporation may reasonably request to determine the eligibility or qualifications of such person to serve as a director or an independent director of the Corporation, or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the qualifications and/or independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee as a director.  For purposes of these Bylaws, a “Stockholder Associated Person” of any stockholder means (i) any “affiliate” or “associate” (as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such stockholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of any stock or other securities of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder, (iii) any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with any such Stockholder Associated Person referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above and (iv) any person acting in concert in respect of any matter involving the Corporation or its securities with either such stockholder or any beneficial owner of any stock or other securities of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder.

 

(3) A stockholder’s notice regarding business proposed to be brought before a meeting of stockholders other than the nomination of persons for election to the Board of Directors shall set forth (a) as to the stockholder giving notice and the beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated Person, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, the information called for by clauses (a)(i) through (a)(ix) of the immediately preceding paragraph (2) (including any interests described therein held by any affiliates or associates of such stockholder or beneficial owner or by any member of such stockholder’s or beneficial owner’s immediate family sharing the same household, in each case as of the date of such stockholder’s notice, which information shall be confirmed or updated, if necessary, by such stockholder and beneficial owner (x) not later than ten (10) days after the record date for the notice of the meeting to disclose such

 

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ownership as of the record date for the notice of the meeting, and (y) not later than eight (8) business days before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof to disclose such ownership as of the date that is ten (10) business days before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (or if not practicable to provide such updated information not later than eight (8) business days before any adjournment or postponement, on the first practicable date before any such adjournment or postponement)), (b) a brief description of (i) the business desired to be brought before such meeting, including the text of any resolution proposed for consideration by the stockholders, (ii) the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and (iii) any material interest of such stockholder or beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated Person in such business, including a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder or beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated Person and any other person(s) (including the name(s) of such other person(s)) in connection with or related to the proposal of such business by the stockholder, (c) as to the stockholder giving notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (i) a statement as to whether either such stockholder or beneficial owner of Stockholder Associated Person intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to approve the proposal and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal and (ii) any other information relating to such stockholder or beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (d) if the matter such stockholder proposes to bring before any meeting of stockholders involves an amendment to the Corporation’s Bylaws, the specific wording of such proposed amendment, (e) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business and (f) such additional information that the Corporation may reasonably request regarding such stockholder or beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated Person, if any, and/or the business that such stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting.  The foregoing notice requirements shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his or her intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.

 

(B) Special Meetings of Stockholders.  Special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called only in the manner set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.  Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as is a proper matter for stockholder action under Delaware law and as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of the special meeting given by or at the direction of the Board or by the Secretary (solely to the extent and in the manner provided by the Certificate of Incorporation).  The notice of such special meeting shall include the purpose for which the meeting is called.  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at

 

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a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or by the Secretary (solely to the extent and in the manner provided by the Certificate of Incorporation) or (2) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who (a) is a stockholder of record of the Corporation (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such nomination or nominations are made, only if such beneficial owner is the beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation) both at the time the notice provided for in paragraph (B) of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II is delivered to the Corporation’s Secretary and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting, (b) is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and (c) complies with the notice procedures set forth in subparagraph (2) of paragraph (A) of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II.  In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II shall be delivered to the Corporation’s Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting.  In no event shall any adjournment, deferral or postponement of a special meeting or the public announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

(C) General.

 

(1) Except as otherwise expressly provided in any applicable rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act, only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11 of ARTICLE II shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11 of ARTICLE II.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation.  For purposes of this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II, to be considered a “qualified representative” of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce

 

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such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

 

(2) For purposes of this section, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable national news service in the United States or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 11 of ARTICLE II provided however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to this Section 11 (including paragraphs (A)(1)(c) and (B) hereof), and compliance with paragraphs (A)(1)(c) and (B) of this Section 11 shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than, as provided in the last sentence of (A)(3), business other than nominations brought properly under and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, as may be amended from time to time).

 

(4) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to (a) affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, (b) confer upon any stockholder a right to have a nominee or any proposed business included in the Corporation’s proxy statement, or (c) affect any rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

(5) Except as otherwise provided by law, the chairman of the meeting of stockholders shall have the power and duty (a) to determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not properly made or any business was not properly brought before the meeting, as the case may be, in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II (including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies or votes in support of such stockholder’s nominee or proposal in compliance with such stockholder’s representation as required by clause (A)(2)(a)(xi) or clause (A)(3)(c)(i), as the case may be, of this Section 11);and (b) if any proposed nomination or business was not made or proposed in compliance with this Section 11, to declare to the meeting that any such nomination or any business not properly brought before the meeting, as the case may be, shall not be transacted.

 

Section 12.  (a)  Fixing a Record Date for Stockholder Meetings.  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

 

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Directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (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, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and 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 with the foregoing provisions of this Section 12 of ARTICLE II at the adjourned meeting.

 

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

 

Section 13.  Fixing a Record Date for Other Purposes.  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment or any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purposes of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action.  If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

Section 14.  Conduct of Meetings.

 

(a) Generally.  Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by a chairman designated by the Board of Directors, or in his or her absence, by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, by the Chief Executive Officer, or in the

 

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absence of the Chief Executive Officer, by the President, or in the absence of the President, by the Chief Financial Officer, or in the absence of all of the foregoing, by the most senior officer of the Corporation present at the meeting.  The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the absence of the Secretary, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

(b) Rules, Regulations and Procedures.  The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules, regulations and procedures for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation as it shall deem appropriate, including, without limitation, such guidelines and procedures as it may deem appropriate regarding the participation by means of remote communication of stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting.  Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules, regulations and procedures as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting.  Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following:  (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as shall be determined; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants.  Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.  The chairman of the meeting shall announce at the meeting the date and time for when the polls for each matter to be voted upon at the meeting will be opened and closed.  After the polls close, no ballots, proxies or votes or any revocations or changes thereto may be accepted.  The chairman of the meeting shall have the power and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date and time and/or to recess the meeting.

 

(c) Inspectors of Elections.  The Corporation may, and to the extent required by law shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof.  One or more other persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act.  If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting.  Unless otherwise required by law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation.  Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of such inspector’s duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability.  The inspector shall have the duties prescribed by law.

 

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ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS

 

Section 1.  General Powers.  Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.  Annual Meetings.  Except as otherwise from time to time determined by resolution of the Board of Directors, an annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held without other notice than this Bylaw immediately after, and at the same place (if any) as, the annual meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 3.  Regular Meetings and Special Meetings.  Regular meetings, other than the annual meeting, of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.  Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President (in either case, if such person is a director) or upon the written request of at least a majority of the directors then in office.

 

Section 4.  Notice of Meetings.  Notice of regular meetings of the Board of Directors need not be given except as otherwise required by law or these Bylaws.  Notice of each special meeting of the Board of Directors, and of each regular and annual meeting of the Board of Directors for which notice shall be required, shall be given by the Secretary as hereinafter provided in this Section 4.  Any such notice shall state the time and place of the meeting.  Notice of any special meeting, and of any regular or annual meeting for which notice is required, shall be given to each director at least (a) 24 hours before the meeting, if the notice is given by telephone, by delivery in person, or sent by telex, telecopy, electronic mail, electronic transmission or similar means or (b) 5 days before the meeting if delivered by mail to the director’s residence or usual place of business.  Such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail so addressed, with postage prepaid, or when transmitted if sent by telex, telecopy, email or similar means.  Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.

 

Section 5.  Chairman of the Board, Quorum, Required Vote and Adjournment.  The Board of Directors may elect from among its ranks, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors then in office, a Chairman of the Board (who shall be the Executive Chair, if such an officer be elected), who shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which he or she is present and shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.  If the Chairman of the Board is not present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall preside at such meeting (if the Chief Executive Officer is a director and is not also Chairman of the Board), and, if the Chief Executive Officer is not present at such meeting or is not a director, the President shall preside at such meeting (if the President is a director and is not also the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer), and, if the President is not present at such meeting or is not a director, a majority of the directors present at such meeting then in office shall elect one of their members

 

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to so preside.  A majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  Unless by express provision of an applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws a different vote is required, the vote of a majority of directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.  If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

 

Section 6.  Committees.  The Board of Directors (i) may designate one or more committees consisting of one or more of the directors of the Corporation and (ii) shall, during such period of time as any securities of the Corporation are listed on a national securities exchange, designate all committees required by the rules and regulations of such exchange.  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 such committee.  Except to the extent restricted by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, each such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution creating it, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors.  Each such committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors or as required by the rules and regulations of such exchange, if applicable.  Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors upon request.

 

Section 7.  Committee Rules.  Each committee of the Board of Directors may fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee.  Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, the presence of at least a majority of the members of the committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum.  All matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present.  Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, in the event that a member and that member’s alternate, if alternates are designated by the Board of Directors, of such committee is or are absent or disqualified, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.

 

Section 8.  Telephonic and Other Meetings.  Unless restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, any one or more members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may participate in and act at any 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.  Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.

 

Section 9.  Waiver of Notice.  Any director may waive notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, by a written waiver signed by the director entitled to the notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the director entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein.  Attendance of a director at a meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting,

 

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except when the director attends 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.

 

Section 10.  Action by Written Consent.  Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, 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 or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.  Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

 

Section 11.  Compensation.  The Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including fees and reimbursement of expenses, of directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity.

 

Section 12.  Reliance on Books and Records.  A member of the Board of Directors, or a member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors shall, in the performance of such director’s duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other person as to matters the director reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

 

Section 13.  Resignation.  Any director may resign by delivering a resignation in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation.  Such resignation shall be effective upon delivery unless it is specified to be effective at some later time or upon the happening of some later event or events.

 

ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS

 

Section 1.  Number, Titles.  Subject to the authority of Chief Executive Officer to appoint officers as set forth in Section 2 of this Article IV, the officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors and may consist of an Executive Chair, a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, a Treasurer, a Chief Operating Officer, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary and such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed necessary or desirable by the Board of Directors.  Any number of offices may be held by the same person, except that neither the Chief Executive Officer nor the President shall also hold the office of Secretary, and no officer except the Executive Chair, if any, need be a director.  In its discretion, the Board of Directors may choose not to fill any office for any period as it may deem advisable, except that the offices of President and Secretary shall be filled as expeditiously as possible.

 

Section 2.  Election and Term of Office.  The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at its first meeting held after each annual meeting of

 

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stockholders or as soon thereafter as convenient, except that the Chief Executive Officer shall have the authority to appoint one or more Vice Presidents and assistant officers.  Vacancies may be filled or new offices created and filled at any meeting of the Board of Directors.  Each officer shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation, removal, disqualification, or retirement as hereinafter provided.

 

Section 3.  Removal.  Any officer or agent of the Corporation may be removed by the Board of Directors at its sole discretion, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.  Any officer appointed by the Chief Executive Officer may also be removed by the Chief Executive Officer in his or her sole discretion.

 

Section 4.  Vacancies.  Any vacancy occurring in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification, retirement or otherwise may be filled by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer in accordance with Section 2 of this Article IV.

 

Section 5.  Compensation.  Compensation of all executive officers shall be approved by the Board of Directors, and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by virtue of his or her also being a director of the Corporation; provided, however, that compensation of some or all executive officers may be determined by a committee established for that purpose if so authorized by the Board of Directors or as required by applicable law or any applicable rule or regulation, including any rule or regulation of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are then listed for trading.

 

Section 6.  Executive Chair.  The Executive Chair, if such an officer be elected, shall be determined by the Board of Directors and shall have the powers and perform the duties incident to that position.  He or she shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and stockholders and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or provided in these Bylaws.  Whenever the Executive Chair is unable to serve, by reason of sickness, absence or otherwise, the Board of Directors may designate another member of the Board of Directors or officer of the Corporation to perform all the duties and responsibilities and exercise all the powers of the Executive Chair.

 

Section 7.  Chief Executive Officer.  The Chief Executive Officer shall have the powers and perform the duties incident to that position.  Subject to the powers of the Board of Directors, he or she shall be in the general and active charge of the entire business and affairs of the Corporation, and shall be its chief policy making officer.  The Chief Executive Officer shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or provided in these Bylaws.  If the Board of Directors has not elected or appointed a President or the office of the President is otherwise vacant, and no officer otherwise functions with the powers and duties of the President, then, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall also have all the powers and duties of the President.

 

Section 8.  The President.  The President shall, subject to the powers of the Board of Directors, have general charge of the business, affairs and property of the Corporation, and control over its officers, agents and employees; and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect.  The President shall execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or

 

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permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation.  The President shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer or as may be provided in these Bylaws.  If the Board of Directors has not elected or appointed a Chief Executive Officer or the office of Chief Executive Officer is otherwise vacant, then, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the President shall also have all the powers and duties of the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 9.  The Chief Operating Officer.  The Chief Operating Officer, subject to the powers of the Board of Directors, shall have general charge of the active management of the business of the Corporation; and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect.  The Chief Operating Officer shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer or as may be provided in these Bylaws.

 

Section 10.  Vice Presidents.  Each Vice President shall have the powers and duties delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors or the President.  One Vice President may be designated by the Board of Directors to perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President in the event of the President’s absence or disability.

 

Section 11.  The Secretary and Assistant Secretaries.  The Secretary shall issue all authorized notices for, and shall keep minutes of, all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors.  He or she shall have charge of the corporate books and shall perform other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

Any Assistant Secretary, if there is such an officer, shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, President or the Secretary may from time to time prescribe.  In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary (or if there shall be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board of Directors), shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary.

 

Section 12.  The Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers.  The Chief Financial Officer shall keep or cause to be kept the books of account of the Corporation in a thorough and proper manner and shall render statements of the financial affairs of the Corporation in such form and as often as required by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President.  The Chief Financial Officer, subject to the order of the Board of Directors, shall have the custody of all funds and securities of the Corporation.  The Chief Financial Officer shall perform other duties commonly incident to such office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President shall designate from time to time.  The Chief Executive Officer or President may direct the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, if there is such an officer, to assume and perform the duties of the Chief Financial Officer in the absence or disability of the Chief Financial Officer, and each Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer shall perform other duties commonly incident to such office and shall also perform such other duties

 

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and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President shall designate from time to time.

 

Section 13.  Other Officers, Assistant Officers and Agents.  Officers, assistant officers and agents, if any, other than those whose duties are provided for in these Bylaws, shall have such authority and perform such duties as may from time to time be prescribed by resolution of the Board of Directors, or, in the case of a Vice President or an assistant officer, as designated from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 14.  Delegation of Authority.  The Board of Directors may by resolution delegate the powers and duties of such officer to any other officer or to any director, or to any other person whom it may select.

 

Section 15.  Officers’ Bonds or Other Security.  If required by the Board of Directors, any officer of the Corporation shall give a bond or other security for the faithful performance of his duties, in such amount and with such surety as the Board of Directors may require.

 

Section 16.  Absence or Disability of Officers.  In the case of the absence or disability of any officer of the Corporation and of any person hereby authorized to act in such officer’s place during such officer’s absence or disability, the Board of Directors may by resolution delegate the powers and duties of such officer to any other officer or to any director, or to any other person selected by it.

 

ARTICLE V
STOCK

 

Section 1.  Form.  The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors of the Corporation may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares.  Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation.  Every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, (i) the Chairman of the Board, or the President or Vice President and (ii) the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary.  Any or all signatures on any such certificate may be a facsimile.  In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed, whose facsimile signature has been used on or who has duly affixed a facsimile signature or signatures to any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar of the Corporation whether because of death, resignation or otherwise before such certificate or certificates have been issued by the Corporation, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be issued as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates, whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used thereon or who duly affixed a facsimile signature or signatures thereon had not ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar of the Corporation.  All certificates for shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified.

 

Section 2.  Transfers of Stock.  Transfers of shares of stock of the Corporation shall be made only on the stock record of the Corporation by the holder of record thereof or by his, her or its attorney thereunto authorized by the power of attorney duly executed and filed with the

 

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Secretary of the Corporation or the transfer agent thereof.  Certificated shares, if any, shall be transferred only upon surrender of the certificate or certificates representing such shares, properly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed stock transfer power.  Uncertificated shares shall be transferred by delivery of a duly executed stock transfer power.  Registration of transfer of any shares shall be subject to applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law with respect to the transfer of such shares.  The Board of Directors may make such additional rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning the issue and transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation.

 

Section 3.  Transfer Agent.  The Board of Directors may appoint a bank or trust company organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof to act as its transfer agent or registrar, or both in connection with the transfer of any class or series of securities of the Corporation.

 

Section 4.  Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.  The Corporation may issue or direct a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates previously 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 or certificates, or of uncertificated shares, the Corporation may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.

 

Section 5.  Registered Stockholders.  The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its records as the owner of shares of stock of the Corporation to receive dividends, to vote, to receive notifications and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of an owner of such shares.  The Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in any such shares of stock on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

ARTICLE VI
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 1.  Dividends.  Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the Corporation may be declared by the Board of Directors in accordance with applicable law.  Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, in shares of the capital stock or in any combination thereof, subject to the provisions of applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation.  Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in its absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors may think conducive to the

 

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interests of the Corporation.  The Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserves in the manner in which it was created.

 

Section 2.  Contracts.  In addition to the powers otherwise granted to officers pursuant to ARTICLE IV hereof, the Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, or any agent or agents, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation to enter into or execute and deliver any and all deeds, bonds, mortgages, contracts and other obligations or instruments, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

 

Section 3.  Fiscal Year.  The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4.  Corporate Seal.  The Board of Directors may provide a corporate seal which shall be in the form as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine.  The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no seal shall be required by virtue of this section.

 

Section 5.  Voting Securities Owned By Corporation.  Voting securities in any other entity held by the Corporation shall be voted (or consents in writing may be provided in respect thereof) by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Secretary or any Vice President, unless the Board of Directors specifically confers authority to vote (or express consent in writing) with respect thereto, which authority may be general or confined to specific instances, upon some other person or officer.  Any person authorized to vote or express consent with respect to such securities shall have the power to appoint proxies, with general power of substitution.

 

Section 6.  Inspection of Books and Records.  Subject to applicable law, the Board of Directors shall have power from time to time to determine to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions and regulations the accounts and books of the Corporation, or any of them, shall be open to the inspection of the stockholders; and no stockholder shall have any right to inspect any account or book or document of the Corporation, except as conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

Section 7.  Time Periods.  Unless otherwise provided by applicable law, in applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded and the day of the event shall be included.

 

Section 8.  Section Headings.  Section headings in these Bylaws are for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.

 

Section 9.  Inconsistent Provisions.  In the event that any provision (or part thereof) of these Bylaws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision (or part thereof) of the Certificate of Incorporation, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or any other applicable

 

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law, the provision (or part thereof) of these Bylaws shall not be given any effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full force and effect.

 

ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 1.  Right to Indemnification.  Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved (including involvement, without limitation, as a witness) in any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as an employee or agent of the Corporation or as a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, administrator, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees and related disbursements, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time (“ERISA”), and any other penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation (or has ceased to serve, at the request of the Corporation, as an employee or agent of the Corporation or as a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, administrator, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan) and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 2 of this ARTICLE VII with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized in the first instance by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.  The right to indemnification conferred in this Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII shall be a contract right and shall include the obligation of the Corporation to pay, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however, that an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 1 or otherwise.  The Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification and advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the

 

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Corporation with the same or lesser scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers.

 

Section 2.  Procedure for Indemnification.  If a claim for indemnification under this ARTICLE VII (which may only be made following the final disposition of such proceeding) is not paid in full within sixty days after the Corporation has received a claim therefor by the indemnitee, or if a claim for any advancement of expenses under this ARTICLE VII is not paid in full within thirty days after the Corporation has received a statement or statements requesting such amounts to be advanced (provided that the indemnitee has delivered the undertaking contemplated by Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII), the indemnitee shall thereupon (but not before) be entitled to file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim.  Such person’s costs and expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing his or her right to indemnification or advancement of expenses, in whole or in part, in any such action shall also be indemnified by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.  It shall be a defense to any action by a director or officer for indemnification or the advancement of expenses (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for the advancement of expenses where the undertaking required pursuant to Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII, if any, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Corporation.  Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, a committee thereof, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, a committee thereof, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.  The procedure for indemnification of other employees and agents of the Corporation for whom indemnification and advancement of expenses is provided pursuant to Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII shall be the same procedure set forth in this Section 2 for directors or officers of the Corporation, unless otherwise set forth in the action of the Board of Directors providing indemnification and advancement of expenses for such employees or agents of the Corporation.

 

Section 3.  Insurance.  The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on its own behalf and on behalf of any person who is or was or has agreed to become 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, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, against any expense, liability or loss asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expenses, liability or loss under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

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Section 4.  Service for Subsidiaries.  Any person serving as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other enterprise, at least 50% of whose equity interests are owned directly or indirectly by the Corporation (a “subsidiary” for this ARTICLE VII) shall be conclusively presumed to be serving in such capacity at the request of the Corporation.

 

Section 5.  Reliance.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, persons who after the date of the adoption of this provision become or remain directors or officers of the Corporation or who, while a director or officer of the Corporation, become or remain a director, officer, employee or agent of a subsidiary, shall be conclusively presumed to have relied on the rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and other rights contained in this ARTICLE VII in entering into or continuing such service.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, the rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this ARTICLE VII shall apply to claims made against an indemnitee arising out of acts or omissions which occurred or occur both prior and subsequent to the adoption hereof.

 

Section 6.  Other Rights; Continuation of Rights to Indemnification.  The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this ARTICLE VII shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or under any statute, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.  All rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses under this ARTICLE VII shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each indemnitee who serves or served in such capacity at any time while this ARTICLE VII is in effect.  Any repeal or modification of this ARTICLE VII or any repeal or modification of relevant provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or any other applicable laws shall not in any way diminish any rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses of such indemnitee or the obligations of the Corporation arising hereunder with respect to any proceeding arising out of, or relating to, any actions, transactions or facts occurring prior to the final adoption of such repeal or modification.

 

Section 7.  Merger or Consolidation.  For purposes of this ARTICLE VII, references to the “Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting or surviving corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this ARTICLE VII with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

 

Section 8.  Savings Clause.  If this ARTICLE VII or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify and advance expenses to each person entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses under Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII as to all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees and related disbursements, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes

 

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and penalties, and any other penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred or suffered by such person and for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is available to such person pursuant to this ARTICLE VII to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this ARTICLE VII that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

 

ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS

 

These Bylaws may be amended, altered, changed or repealed or new Bylaws adopted only in accordance with Article Eight, Section 2 of the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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EX-4.1 4 a15-3946_11ex4d1.htm EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

 

Execution Version

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of May 27, 2015 by and among Press Ganey Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), each of the Controlling Holders (as defined below), and each other Person identified on Schedule A attached hereto (the “Schedule of Investors”) as of the date hereof.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company is contemplating an offer and sale of its shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock” and such shares, the “Shares”), to the public in an underwritten initial public offering (the “IPO”);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the closing of the IPO, PG Holdco, LLC (the “Parent LLC”), the parent company of the Company, will be liquidated and the equity holders of the Parent LLC will receive Common Stock of the Company (the “Distribution”); and

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO and the transactions described above, the Company has agreed to grant to the Holders (as defined below) certain rights with respect to the registration of the Registrable Securities (as defined below) on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

 

Section 1.              Definitions.  For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified in this Section 1:

 

Acquired Common” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.

 

Additional Investor” has the meaning set forth in Section 9, and shall be deemed to include each such Person’s Affiliates, immediate family members, heirs, successors and assigns who may succeed to such Person as a Holder hereunder.

 

Affiliate” of any Person means any other Person controlled by, controlling or under common control with such Person; provided that the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of any Holder.  As used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities, by contract or otherwise).

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Automatic Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

Business Day” means any day of the year on which national banking institutions in New York are open to the public for conducting business and are not required or authorized to close.

 



 

Capital Stock” means (i) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all Shares, interests or equivalents in capital stock of such corporation (whether voting or nonvoting and whether common or preferred), (ii) with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, individual or governmental entity, any and all partnership, membership, limited liability company or other equity interests of such Person that confer on the holder thereof the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or the distribution of assets of the issuing Person, and (iii) any and all warrants, rights (including conversion and exchange rights) and options to purchase any security described in the clause (i) or (ii) above.

 

Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Controlling Holder” means each of Vestar Capital Partners V, L.P., Vestar Capital Partners V-A, L.P., Vestar Capital Partners V-B, L.P., Vestar Executives V, L.P., Vestar Co-Invest V, L.P., Vestar Investors V, L.P. and Vestar/PGA Investors, LLC, so long as such Holders continue to hold Registrable Securities.

 

Demand Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

End of Suspension Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)(ii).

 

Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor federal law then in force, together with all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

 

Free Writing Prospectus” means a free-writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.

 

Holder” means any Person who is the registered holder of Registrable Securities.

 

Holder Indemnified Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).

 

IPO” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Joinder” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.

 

Long-Form Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

MNPI” means material non-public information within the meaning of Regulation FD promulgated under the Exchange Act, which shall in any case include the receipt of the notice of a Demand Registration or Shelf Offering Notice pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(d) and the information contained in such notice.

 

Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Piggyback Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

 

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Public Offering” means any sale or distribution to the public of Capital Stock of the Company pursuant to an offering registered under the Securities Act, whether by the Company, by Holders and/or by any other holders of the Company’s Capital Stock.

 

Registrable Securities” means (i) any Common Stock issued by the Company in connection with the Distribution, (ii) any common Capital Stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company issued or issuable with respect to the securities referred to in clause (i) above by way of dividend, distribution, split or combination of securities, or any recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization, and (iii) any other Shares owned or acquired after the date hereof by Persons that are the registered holders of securities described in clauses (i) or (ii) above.  As to any particular Registrable Securities owned by any Person, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities on the date such securities have been (a) sold or distributed pursuant to a Public Offering, (b) sold in compliance with Rule 144 following the consummation of the IPO or (c) repurchased by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company.  For purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to be a Holder, and the Registrable Securities shall be deemed to be in existence, whenever such Person has the right to acquire, directly or indirectly, such Registrable Securities (upon conversion or exercise in connection with a transfer of securities or otherwise, but disregarding any restrictions or limitations upon the exercise of such right), whether or not such acquisition has actually been effected, and such Person shall be entitled to exercise the rights of a Holder hereunder; provided a Holder may only request that Registrable Securities in the form of Capital Stock of the Company that is registered or to be registered as a class under Section 12 of the Exchange Act be registered pursuant to this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, with the consent of the Company and the Controlling Holders, any Registrable Securities held by any Person that may be sold under Rule 144(b)(1)(i) without limitation under any other of the requirements of Rule 144 (including the aggregation rules thereof) shall not be deemed to be Registrable Securities upon notice from the Company to such Person.

 

Registration Expenses” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

Rule 144,” “Rule 158,” “Rule 405” and “Rule 415” mean, in each case, such rule promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor provision) by the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the same shall be amended from time to time, or any successor rule then in force.

 

Schedule of Investors” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, or any successor federal law then in force, together with all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Shares” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Shelf Offering” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii).

 

Shelf Offering Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii).

 

Shelf Offering Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii).

 

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Shelf Registrable Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii).

 

Shelf Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

Shelf Registration Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(i).

 

“Shelf Registration Participation Deadline” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(i).

 

Shelf Registration Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(i).

 

Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(i).

 

Short-Form Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to the Company, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of Capital Stock of such Person entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company, or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity, either (x) a majority of the Capital Stock of such Person entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of managers, general partners or other oversight board vested with the authority to direct management of such Person is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company or (y) the Company or one of its Subsidiaries is the sole manager or general partner of such Person.

 

Suspension Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)(ii).

 

Suspension Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)(ii).

 

Suspension Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)(i).

 

Underwritten Takedown” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii).

 

Violation” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).

 

WKSI” means a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined under Rule 405.

 

Section 2.              Demand Registrations.

 

(a)           Requests for Registration.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Controlling Holder may request registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of their Registrable Securities on Form S-1 or any similar long-form registration (“Long-Form Registrations”), and each Controlling Holder may request registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of their Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration (“Short-Form Registrations”) if available.  All registrations requested pursuant to this Section 2(a) are referred to herein as “Demand Registrations.”  The Controlling Holder making a Demand Registration may request that the registration be made pursuant to Rule 415

 

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under the Securities Act (a “Shelf Registration”) and, if the Company is a WKSI at the time any request for a Demand Registration is submitted to the Company, that such Shelf Registration be an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (an “Automatic Shelf Registration Statement”).  Except to the extent that Section 2(c) applies, promptly upon receipt of a request for a Demand Registration (but in no event more than five Business Days thereafter (or such shorter period as may be reasonably requested in connection with a Shelf Offering )), the Company shall give written notice of the Demand Registration to all other Holders and, subject to the terms of Section 2(d), shall include in such Demand Registration (and in all related registrations and qualifications under state blue sky laws and in any related underwriting) all Registrable Securities of each Holder with respect to which the Company has received a written request for inclusion therein within five Business Days after the date the Company’s notice was delivered.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, other than delivery to each Holder of the written notice in accordance with this Section 2(a), the Company shall not be required to take any action that would otherwise be required under this Section 2 if such action would violate Section 4(a) hereof or any similar provision contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with any underwritten Public Offering.

 

(b)           Demand Registrations.  Each Controlling Holder shall be entitled to request an unlimited number of Demand Registrations in which the Company shall pay all Registration Expenses, regardless of whether any registration statement is filed or any such Demand Registration is consummated.  Demand Registrations shall be Short-Form Registrations whenever the Company is permitted to use any applicable short form and the managing underwriters (if any) agree to the use of a Short-Form Registration.  After the Company has become subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to make Short-Form Registrations available for the sale of Registrable Securities.  All Long-Form Registrations shall be underwritten registrations unless otherwise approved by the applicable Controlling Holder.

 

(c)           Shelf Registrations.

 

(i)            Subject to the availability of required financial information, as promptly as practicable after the Company receives written notice of a request for a Shelf Registration (a “Shelf Registration Request”) and the expiration of the Shelf Registration Participation Deadline (as defined below), the Company shall file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act for the Shelf Registration (a “Shelf Registration Statement”).  As promptly as practicable, but no later than two Business Days after receipt of a Shelf Registration Request, the Company shall give written notice (the “Shelf Registration Notice”) of such Shelf Registration Request to all other Holders.  The Company, subject to Sections 2(d) and 8 hereof, shall include in such Shelf Registration (and in all related registrations and qualifications under state blue sky laws) all Registrable Securities of each Holder with respect to which the Company has received a written request for inclusion therein within two Business Days after the Shelf Registration Notice was delivered (such deadline, the “Shelf Registration Participation Deadline”).  The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause any Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as soon as practicable after the initial filing of such Shelf Registration Statement and, once effective, the Company shall cause such Shelf Registration Statement to remain continuously

 

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effective for such time period as is specified in the request by the Holders, but for no time period longer than the period ending on the earliest of (A) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and (B) the date as of which there are no longer any Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement in existence.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 2(c)(ii), any Holder that is named as a selling securityholder in such Shelf Registration Statement may make a secondary resale under such Shelf Registration Statement without the consent of the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities or any other Holder if such resale does not require a supplement to the Shelf Registration Statement.

 

(ii)           In the event that a Shelf Registration Statement is effective, Holders representing Registrable Securities with a market value of at least $50 million (or such lesser amount if all Registrable Securities available for sale pursuant to such registration statement held by a Controlling Holder are requested to be included) shall have the right at any time or from time to time to elect to offer and sell (including pursuant to an underwritten offering (an “Underwritten Takedown”)) Registrable Securities available for sale pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (“Shelf Registrable Securities”), so long as the Shelf Registration Statement remains effective, and the Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection therewith.  The applicable Holders shall make such election by delivering to the Company a written request (a “Shelf Offering Request”) for such offering specifying the number of Shelf Registrable Securities that such Holders desire to sell pursuant to such offering (the “Shelf Offering”).  As promptly as practicable, but no later than two Business Days after receipt of a Shelf Offering Request, the Company shall give written notice (the “Shelf Offering Notice”) of such Shelf Offering Request to all other holders of Shelf Registrable Securities.  The Company, subject to Sections 2(d) and 8 hereof, shall include in such Shelf Offering (and in all related registrations and qualifications under state blue sky laws and in any related underwriting) the Shelf Registrable Securities of any other Holder that shall have made a written request to the Company for inclusion in such Shelf Offering (which request shall specify the maximum number of Shelf Registrable Securities intended to be sold by such Holder) within two Business Days after the receipt of the Shelf Offering Notice.  The Company shall, as expeditiously as possible (and in any event within 10 days after the receipt of a Shelf Offering Request, unless a longer period is agreed to by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities that made the Shelf Offering Request), use its reasonable best efforts to facilitate such Shelf Offering.

 

(iii)          The Company shall, at the request of Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, file any prospectus supplement or, if the applicable Shelf Registration Statement is an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, any post-effective amendments and otherwise take any action necessary to include therein all disclosure and language deemed necessary or advisable by such Holders to effect such Shelf Offering.

 

(d)           Priority on Demand Registrations and Shelf Offerings.  The Company shall not include in any Demand Registration or Shelf Offering any securities that are not Registrable Securities without the prior written consent of Holders representing a majority of the Registrable

 

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Securities included in such registration or offering.  If a Demand Registration or a Shelf Offering is an underwritten offering and the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such offering exceeds the number of securities that can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Company shall include in such registration or offering, as applicable, prior to the inclusion of any securities which are not Registrable Securities, the number of Registrable Securities requested by Holders to be included that, in the opinion of such underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the respective Holders thereof on the basis of the amount of Registrable Securities then owned by each such Holder that such Holder of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein.  Alternatively, if the number of Registrable Securities which can be included on a Shelf Registration Statement is otherwise limited by Instruction I.B.6 to Form S-3 (or any successor provision thereto), the Company shall include in such registration or offering, prior to the inclusion of any securities which are not Registrable Securities, the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included which can be included on such Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Form S-3, pro rata among the respective Holders thereof on the basis of the amount of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder that such Holder of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein.

 

(e)           Restrictions on Demand Registration and Shelf Offerings.

 

(i)            The Company shall not be obligated to effect more than 5 Demand Registrations in any calendar year.  The Company may postpone, for up to 60 days from the date of the request, the filing or the effectiveness of a registration statement for a Demand Registration or suspend the use of a prospectus that is part of a Shelf Registration Statement for up to 60 days from the date of the Suspension Notice (as defined below) and therefore suspend sales of the Shelf Registrable Securities (such period, the “Suspension Period”) by providing written notice to the Holders if (A) the Company’s board of directors determines in its reasonable good faith judgment that the offer or sale of Registrable Securities would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on any proposal or plan by the Company or any Subsidiary to engage in any material acquisition of assets or stock (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any material merger, consolidation, tender offer, recapitalization, reorganization or other transaction involving the Company or any Subsidiary, or (B) upon advice of counsel, the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement would require disclosure of MNPI not otherwise required to be disclosed under applicable law, and either (x) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving the confidentiality of such transaction or (y) disclosure of such MNPI would have a material adverse effect on the Company or the Company’s ability to consummate such transaction; provided that in such event, the Holders shall be entitled to withdraw such request for a Demand Registration or underwritten Shelf Offering and the Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with such Demand Registration or Shelf Offering.  The Company may delay a Demand Registration hereunder only once in any twelve-month period, except with the consent of the applicable Controlling Holder.

 

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(ii)           In the case of an event that causes the Company to suspend the use of a Shelf Registration Statement as set forth in paragraph (f)(i) above or pursuant to applicable subsections of Section 5(a)(vi) (a “Suspension Event”), the Company shall give a notice to the Holders of Registrable Securities registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (a “Suspension Notice”) to suspend sales of the Registrable Securities and such notice shall state generally the basis for the notice and that such suspension shall continue only for so long as the Suspension Event or its effect is continuing.  If the basis of such suspension is nondisclosure of MNPI, the Company shall not be required to disclose the subject matter of such MNPI to Holders.  A Holder shall not effect any sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) at any time after it has received a Suspension Notice from the Company and prior to receipt of an End of Suspension Notice (as defined below).  Holders may recommence effecting sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) following written notice to such effect (an “End of Suspension Notice”) from the Company, which End of Suspension Notice shall be given by the Company to the Holders promptly following the conclusion of any Suspension Event.

 

(iii)          Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Company gives a Suspension Notice with respect to any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 2(e), the Company agrees that it shall provide copies of any supplemented or amended prospectus necessary to resume sales, with respect to each Suspension Event.

 

(f)            Selection of Underwriters.  Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in any Demand Registration or Underwritten Takedown shall have the right to select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to administer such offering (including assignment of titles), subject to the Company’s approval not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

 

(g)           Other Registration Rights.  The Company represents and warrants that it is not a party to, or otherwise subject to, any other agreement granting registration rights to any other Person with respect to any securities of the Company.  Except as provided in this Agreement, the Company shall not grant to any Persons the right to request the Company or any Subsidiary to register any Capital Stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary, or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for such securities, without the prior written consent of the Controlling Holders.

 

Section 3.              Piggyback Registrations.

 

(a)           Right to Piggyback.  Following the IPO, whenever the Company proposes to register any of its securities under the Securities Act (other than (i) pursuant to a Demand Registration, (ii) in connection with registrations on Form S-4 or S-8 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor or similar forms or (iii) a registration on any form that does not include substantially the same information as would be required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale of Registrable Securities) and the registration form to be used may be used for the registration of Registrable Securities (a “Piggyback Registration”), the Company shall give prompt written notice (in any event within

 

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three Business Days after its receipt of notice of any request for registration on behalf of holders of the Company’s securities (other than under this Agreement)) to all Holders of its intention to effect such Piggyback Registration and, subject to the terms of Section 3(c) and Section 3(d), shall include in such Piggyback Registration (and in all related registrations or qualifications under blue sky laws and in any related underwriting) all Registrable Securities of each Holder with respect to which the Company has received a written request for inclusion therein within 10 days after delivery of the Company’s notice.

 

(b)           Piggyback Expenses.  The Registration Expenses of the Holders shall be paid by the Company in all Piggyback Registrations, whether or not any such registration became effective.

 

(c)           Priority on Primary Registrations.  If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten primary registration on behalf of the Company, and the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Company shall include in such registration (i) first, the securities the Company proposes to sell, (ii) second, the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the Holders on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities then owned by each such Holder that such Holder of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein, and (iii) third, other securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect.

 

(d)           Priority on Secondary Registrations.  If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten secondary registration on behalf of holders of the Company’s securities (other than the Holders), and the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Company shall include in such registration (i) first, the securities requested to be included therein by the initial holders requesting such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, (ii) second, the Registrable Securities of Holders requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the Holders on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities then owned by each such Holder that such Holder of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein and (iii) third, other securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect.

 

(e)           Selection of Underwriters.  If any Piggyback Registration is an underwritten offering, the selection of investment banker(s) and manager(s) for the offering shall be at the election of the Company (in the case of a primary registration) or at the election of the holders of other Company securities requesting such registration (in the case of a secondary registration); provided that Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Piggyback Registration may request that one or more investment banker(s) or manager(s) be

 

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included in such offering (such request not to be binding on the Company or such other initiating holders of Company securities).

 

(f)            Right to Terminate Registration.  The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 3 whether or not any Holder has elected to include securities in such registration.  The Registration Expenses of such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Company in accordance with Section 6.

 

Section 4.              Holdback Agreements.

 

(a)           Holders of Registrable Securities.  If requested by the Company or the managing underwriter(s), each Holder participating in an underwritten Public Offering shall enter into customary lock-up agreements with the managing underwriter(s) of such Public Offering.  Each Holder (other than a Controlling Holder) not participating in an offering pursuant to this Agreement agrees to be bound by the terms of the customary lock-up agreement entered into by the participating Holders in connection therewith as if such Holder had been a party thereto; provided that, notwithstanding the terms of the customary lock-up agreement entered into by the participating Holders, non-participating Holders shall not be prohibited from (i) establishing any contract, instruction or plan (a “Plan”) that satisfies all of the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1) under the Exchange Act during the lock-up period set forth in such agreements (provided that no sales may be made pursuant to such a Plan prior to the expiration of the lock-up period set forth in such agreements and no public announcement of the establishment or existence of a Plan or filing in respect thereof is required or made voluntarily prior to the expiration of the lock-up period set forth in such agreements) or (ii) in connection with an offering other than an IPO, making sales pursuant to a Plan that exists on the date of the customary lock-up agreement entered into by the participating Holders.  The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the Shares (or other securities) subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 4(a) until the end of the lock-up period set forth in such agreements, including any extension thereof as may be required to comply with FINRA Rule 2711(f)(4).

 

(b)           Exceptions.  The foregoing holdback agreements in Section 4(a) shall not apply to a registration on Form S-8 or any successor or similar form or otherwise in connection with an employee benefit plan or in connection with any registration on Form S-4 or any successor or similar form in connection with any type of acquisition transaction or exchange offer.

 

Section 5.              Registration Procedures.

 

(a)           Whenever the Holders have requested that any Registrable Securities be registered pursuant to this Agreement or have initiated a Shelf Offering, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration and the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall as expeditiously as possible:

 

(i)            in accordance with the Securities Act and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto and related prospectuses with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable

 

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best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective (provided that before filing a registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company shall furnish to the counsel selected by the Controlling Holders and the counsel selected by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents shall be subject to the review and comment of such counsel);

 

(ii)           notify each Holder of (A) the issuance by the Securities and Exchange Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (B) the receipt by the Company or its counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and (C) the effectiveness of each registration statement filed hereunder;

 

(iii)          prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective for a period ending when all of the securities covered by such registration statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement (but in any event not before the expiration of any longer period required under the Securities Act or, if such registration statement relates to an underwritten Public Offering, such longer period as in the opinion of counsel for the underwriters a prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sale of Registrable Securities by an underwriter or dealer) and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement;

 

(iv)          furnish to each seller of Registrable Securities thereunder such number of copies of such registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus), each Free Writing Prospectus and such other documents as such seller may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller;

 

(v)           use reasonable best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any seller reasonably requests and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such seller to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller (provided that the Company shall not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subparagraph or (B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction);

 

(vi)          notify each seller of such Registrable Securities (A) promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the date and time when such registration statement and each

 

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post-effective amendment thereto has become effective or a prospectus or supplement to any prospectus relating to a registration statement has been filed and when any registration or qualification has become effective under a state securities or blue sky law or any exemption thereunder has been obtained, (B) promptly after receipt thereof, of any written comments by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any request by the Securities and Exchange Commission or other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to such registration statement or such prospectus, or for additional information (whether before or after the effective date of the registration statement) or any other correspondence with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to, or which may affect, the registration and (C) at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and, subject to Section 2(e), at the request of any such seller, the Company shall prepare a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

 

(vii)         use reasonable best efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed and, if not so listed, to be listed on a securities exchange;

 

(viii)        use reasonable best efforts to provide a transfer agent, registrar and CUSIP number for all such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such registration statement;

 

(ix)          enter into and perform such customary agreements (including underwriting agreements in customary form), which may include indemnification provisions in favor of underwriters and other Persons in addition to the provisions of Section 7 hereof, make such representations and warranties to the Holders registering securities and the underwriters or agents, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers in public offerings similar to the offering then being undertaken, and take all such other actions as the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold or the underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

 

(x)           make available for inspection by any seller of Registrable Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such seller or underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate and business documents and properties of the Company as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives and independent accountants to make themselves available to discuss the business of the Company and to supply all information reasonably requested by any such seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such registration statement;

 

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(xi)          use reasonable best efforts to ensure that any Free Writing Prospectus utilized in connection with any Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration hereunder complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, is filed in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby, is retained in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby and, when taken together with the related prospectus, shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(xii)         otherwise use reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158;

 

(xiii)        to the extent that a Holder, in its sole and exclusive judgment, might be deemed to be an underwriter of any Registrable Securities or a controlling person of the Company, permit such Holder to participate in the preparation of such registration or comparable statement and allow such Holder to provide language for insertion therein, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, which in the reasonable judgment of such Holder and its counsel should be included;

 

(xiv)        in the event of the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement, or the issuance of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related prospectus or suspending the qualification of any Common Stock included in such registration statement for sale in any jurisdiction, use reasonable best efforts promptly to obtain the withdrawal of such order;

 

(xv)         use reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

 

(xvi)        cooperate with the Holders of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement and the managing underwriter or agent, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing the Registrable Securities to be sold under the registration statement and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriter, or agent, if any, or such Holders may request;

 

(xvii)       cooperate with each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA;

 

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(xviii)      use reasonable best efforts to make available the executive officers of the Company to participate with the Holders of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement and any underwriters in any “road shows” or other selling efforts that may be reasonably requested by the Holders in connection with the methods of distribution for the Registrable Securities;

 

(xix)        in the case of any underwritten Public Offering, use its reasonable best efforts to obtain one or more cold comfort letters from the Company’s independent certified public accountants (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants or independent auditors of any Subsidiary of the Company or any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the registration statement) in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by cold comfort letters as the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold reasonably request;

 

(xx)         in the case of any underwritten Public Offering, use its reasonable best efforts to provide (i) a legal opinion of the Company’s outside counsel, dated the effective date of such registration statement and the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement, the registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included therein (including the preliminary prospectus) and such other documents relating thereto in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by legal opinions of such nature, which opinion shall be addressed to the underwriters and the Holders of such Registrable Securities being sold and (ii) a legal opinion of the Company’s general counsel, dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement, the registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included therein (including the preliminary prospectus) and such other documents relating thereto in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by legal opinions of such nature, which opinion shall be addressed to the underwriters and the Holders of such Registrable Securities being sold;

 

(xxi)        if the Company files an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement covering any Registrable Securities, use its reasonable best efforts to remain a WKSI (and not become an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act)) during the period during which such Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is required to remain effective;

 

(xxii)       if the Company does not pay the filing fee covering the Registrable Securities at the time an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is filed, pay such fee at such time or times as the Registrable Securities are to be sold;

 

(xxiii)      if an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement has been outstanding for at least three (3) years, at the end of the third year, file a new Automatic Shelf Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities, and, if at any time when the Company is required to re-evaluate its WKSI status the Company determines that it is not a WKSI, use its reasonable best efforts to refile the Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 and, if such form is not available, Form S-1 and keep such registration statement effective

 

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during the period during which such registration statement is required to be kept effective;

 

(xxiv)     provide all such other certificates, letters, opinions and other requested documents customarily provided in public offerings similar to the offering then being undertaken; and

 

(xxv)      take all such other reasonable actions as are necessary or advisable in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(b)           Any officer of the Company who is a Holder agrees that if and for so long as he or she is employed by the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, he or she shall participate fully in the sale process in a manner customary and reasonable for persons in like positions and consistent with his or her other duties with the Company and in accordance with applicable law, including the preparation of the registration statement and the preparation and presentation of any road shows.

 

(c)           The Company may require each Holder requesting, or electing to participate in, any registration to furnish the Company such information regarding such Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing.

 

(d)           If the Controlling Holders or any of their respective Affiliates seek to effectuate an in-kind distribution of all or part of their respective Registrable Securities to their respective direct or indirect equityholders, the Company shall, subject to any applicable lock-ups, use reasonable best efforts to facilitate such in-kind distribution in the manner reasonably requested.

 

Section 6.              Registration Expenses.

 

(a)           The Company’s Obligation.  All expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement (including, without limitation, (i) all registration, qualification and filing fees (including filings with FINRA and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters in connection with FINRA qualification of the Registrable Securities), (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters in connection with blue sky qualification of the Registrable Securities), (iii) printing expenses (including expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The Depositary Trust Company and of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is requested by the managing underwriters or by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration), (iv) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (v) fees and disbursements of custodians, (vi) any other reasonable fees and disbursements of underwriters customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities, (vii) all expenses related to the “road show” for any underwritten Public Offering, including the cost of any aircraft chartered for such purpose, (viii) fees and expenses of the transfer agent and registrar of the Company’s Common Stock and (ix) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and all independent certified public accountants (including the expenses of any special audit and

 

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comfort letters required by or incident to such performance), underwriters (excluding underwriting discounts and commissions) and other Persons retained by the Company) (all such expenses being herein called “Registration Expenses”), shall be borne as provided in this Agreement, except that the Company shall, in any event, pay its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit or quarterly review, the expense of any liability insurance and the expenses and fees for listing the securities to be registered on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed or quotation of the Registrable Securities on any inter-dealer quotation system.  Each Person that sells securities pursuant to a Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration hereunder shall bear and pay all underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the securities sold for such Person’s account.

 

(b)           Counsel Fees and Disbursements.  In connection with each Demand Registration, each Piggyback Registration and each Shelf Offering that is an underwritten Public Offering, the Company shall reimburse the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration for the reasonable fees and disbursements of (i) one counsel chosen by the Controlling Holders, (ii) one counsel chosen by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration or participating in such Shelf Offering, if other than the Controlling Holders, and (iii) each additional counsel retained by any Holder for the purpose of rendering an opinion on behalf of such Holder in connection with any Demand Registration, Piggyback Registration or Shelf Offering that is an underwritten Public Offering, where the counsel referred to in clause (i) or (ii) is unable or unwilling to render an opinion on behalf of such Holder.

 

Section 7.              Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a)           By the Company.  The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder, such Holder’s officers, directors, managers, employees, agents and representatives, and each Person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) (the “Holder Indemnified Parties”) against all losses, claims, actions, damages, liabilities and expenses (including with respect to actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, and including reasonable attorney fees and expenses) caused by, resulting from, arising out of, based upon or related to any of the following statements, omissions or violations (each a “Violation”) by the Company: (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in (A) any registration statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or (B) any application or other document or communication (in this Section 7, collectively called an “application”) executed by or on behalf of the Company or based upon written information furnished by or on behalf of the Company filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify any securities covered by such registration under the securities laws thereof, (ii) any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act or any other similar federal or state securities laws or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance.  In addition, the Company will reimburse such Holder Indemnified Party for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such losses.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company

 

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shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such losses result from, arise out of, are based upon, or relate to an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission, made in such registration statement, any such prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any application, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information prepared and furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder Indemnified Party expressly for use therein or by such Holder Indemnified Party’s failure to deliver a copy of the registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto after the Company has furnished such Holder Indemnified Party with a sufficient number of copies of the same.  In connection with an underwritten offering, the Company shall indemnify such underwriters, their officers and directors, and each Person who controls such underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holder Indemnified Parties.

 

(b)           By Each Holder.  In connection with any registration statement in which a Holder is participating, each such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such registration statement or prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its officers, directors, managers, employees, agents and representatives, and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in the registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder; provided that the obligation to indemnify shall be individual, not joint and several, for each Holder and shall be limited to the net amount of proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement.

 

(c)           Claim Procedure.  Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall impair any Person’s right to indemnification hereunder only to the extent such failure has prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party.  If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).  An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim.  In such instance, the conflicted indemnified parties shall have a right to retain one separate counsel, chosen by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the registration if such Holders are indemnified parties, at the expense of the indemnifying party.

 

17



 

(d)           Contribution.  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to, or is insufficient to hold harmless, an indemnified party or is otherwise unenforceable with respect to any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to herein, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amounts paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided that the maximum amount of liability in respect of such contribution shall be limited, in the case of each seller of Registrable Securities, to an amount equal to the net proceeds actually received by such seller from the sale of Registrable Securities effected pursuant to such registration.  The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  The parties hereto agree that it would not be just or equitable if the contribution pursuant to this Section 7(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account such equitable considerations.  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to herein shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending against any action or claim which is the subject hereof.  No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(t) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

(e)           Release.  No indemnifying party shall, except with the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 7, an indemnifying party shall not be liable for any amounts paid in settlement of any loss, claim, damage, liability, or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the indemnifying party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

 

(f)            Non-exclusive Remedy; Survival.  The indemnification and contribution provided for under this Agreement shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution that any indemnified party may have pursuant to law or contract and shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling Person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of Registrable Securities and the termination or expiration of this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the IPO are in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall control.

 

18



 

Section 8.              Underwritten Registrations.

 

(a)           Participation.  No Person may participate in any Public Offering hereunder which is underwritten unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Person or Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements (including, without limitation, pursuant to any over-allotment or “green shoe” option requested by the underwriters; provided that no Holder shall be required to sell more than the number of Registrable Securities such Holder has requested to include) and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements and that are consistent in all material respects with the documents to be completed and executed by the Controlling Holders.  Each Holder shall execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Company and the lead managing underwriter(s) that are consistent with such Holder’s obligations under Section 4, Section 5 and this Section 8(a) or that are necessary to give further effect thereto and that are consistent in all material respects with the documents to be completed and executed by the Controlling Holders.  To the extent that any such agreement is entered into pursuant to, and consistent with, Section 4 and this Section 8(a), the respective rights and obligations created under such agreement shall supersede the respective rights and obligations of the Holders, the Company and the underwriters created pursuant to this Section 8(a).

 

(b)           Price and Underwriting Discounts.  In the case of an underwritten Demand Registration or Underwritten Takedown requested by Holders pursuant to this Agreement, the price, underwriting discount and other financial terms of the related underwriting agreement for the Registrable Securities shall be determined by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such underwritten offering.

 

(c)           Suspended Distributions.  Each Person that is participating in any registration under this Agreement, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 5(a)(vi)(B) or (C), shall immediately discontinue the disposition of its Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement until such Person’s receipt of the copies of a supplemented or amended prospectus as contemplated by Section 5(a)(vi).

 

Section 9.              Additional Parties; Joinder.  Subject to the prior written consent of each Controlling Holder, the Company may make any Person who acquires Common Stock or rights to acquire Common Stock from the Company after the date hereof a party to this Agreement (each such Person, an “Additional Investor”) and to succeed to all of the rights and obligations of a Holder under this Agreement by obtaining an executed joinder to this Agreement from such Additional Investor in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (a “Joinder”).  Upon the execution and delivery of a Joinder by such Additional Investor, the Common Stock of the Company acquired by such Additional Investor or to which such Additional Investor has the right to acquire (the “Acquired Common”) shall be Registrable Securities to the extent provided herein, such Additional Investor shall be a Holder under this Agreement with respect to the Acquired Common, and the Company shall add such Additional Investor’s name and address to the Schedule of Investors and circulate such information to the parties to this Agreement.

 

Section 10.            Current Public Information.  At all times after the Company has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the

 

19



 

requirements of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, the Company shall file all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required to enable such Holders to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144.  Upon request, the Company shall deliver to any Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

Section 11.            Subsidiary Public Offering.  If, after an initial Public Offering of the Capital Stock of one of its Subsidiaries (including the Company), the Company distributes securities of such Subsidiary to its equityholders, then the rights and obligations of the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to such Subsidiary, and the Company shall cause such Subsidiary to comply with such Subsidiary’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

Section 12.            MNPI Provisions.

 

(a)           Each Holder acknowledges that (i) the provisions of this Agreement that require communications by the Company or other Holders to such Holder may result in such Holder and its Representatives (as defined below) acquiring MNPI (which may include, solely by way of illustration, the fact that an offering of the Company’s securities is pending or the number of Company securities or the identity of the selling Holders), and (ii) there is no limitation on the duration of time that such Holder and its Representatives may be in possession of MNPI and no requirement that the Company or other Holders make any public disclosure to cause such information to cease to be MNPI; provided that the Company will use reasonable best efforts to promptly notify each Holder if any proposed registration or offering for which a notice has been delivered pursuant to this Agreement has been terminated or aborted.

 

(b)           Each Holder agrees that it will maintain the confidentiality of such MNPI and, to the extent such Holder is not a natural person, such confidential treatment shall be in accordance with procedures adopted by it in good faith to protect confidential information of third parties delivered to such Holder (“Policies”); provided that a Holder may deliver or disclose MNPI to (i) its directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, affiliates and financial and other advisors (collectively, the “Representatives”), but solely to the extent such disclosure reasonably relates to its evaluation of exercise of its rights under this Agreement and the sale of any Registrable Securities in connection with the subject of the notice, (ii) any federal or state regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Holder, (iii) any Person if necessary to effect compliance with any law, rule, regulation or order applicable to such Holder, (iv) in response to any subpoena or other legal process, or (v) in connection with any litigation to which such Holder is a party; provided further, that in the case of clause (i), the recipients of such MNPI are subject to the Policies or agree to hold confidential the MNPI in a manner substantially consistent with the terms of this Section 12 and that in the case of clauses (ii) through (v), such disclosure is required by law and you promptly notify the Company of such disclosure to the extent such Holder is legally permitted to give such notice.

 

(c)           Each Holder, by its execution of a counterpart to this Agreement or of a Joinder, hereby (i) acknowledges that it is aware that the U.S. securities laws prohibit any Person who has MNPI about a company from purchasing or selling, directly or indirectly, securities of such company (including entering into hedge transactions involving such securities), or from communicating such information to any other Person under circumstances in which it is

 

20



 

reasonably foreseeable that such Person is likely to purchase or sell such securities, and (ii) agrees that it will not use or permit any third party to use, and that it will use its reasonable best efforts to assure that none of its Representatives will use or permit any third party to use, any MNPI the Company provides in contravention of the U.S. securities laws and you will cease trading in the Company’s securities while in possession of MNPI.

 

(d)           Each Holder shall have the right, at any time and from time to time (including after receiving information regarding any potential Public Offering), to elect not to receive any notice that the Company or any other Holders otherwise are required to deliver pursuant to this Agreement by delivering to the Company a written statement signed by such Holder that it does not want to receive any notices hereunder (an “Opt-Out Request”); in which case and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement the Company and other Holders shall not be required to, and shall not, deliver any notice or other information required to be provided to Holders hereunder to the extent that the Company or such other Holders reasonably expect would result in a Holder acquiring MNPI.  An Opt-Out Request may state a date on which it expires or, if no such date is specified, shall remain in effect indefinitely.  A Holder who previously has given the Company an Opt-Out Request may revoke such request at any time, and there shall be no limit on the ability of a Holder to issue and revoke subsequent Opt-Out Requests; provided that each Holder shall use commercially reasonable efforts to minimize the administrative burden on the Company arising in connection with any such Opt-Out Requests.

 

Section 13.            General Provisions.

 

(a)           Amendments and Waivers.  Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified or waived only with the prior written consent of the Company and each Controlling Holder; provided that no such amendment, modification or waiver that would adversely affect a Holder in a manner that is different from any other Holder (provided that the accession by any Additional Investor to this Agreement pursuant to Section 9 shall not be deemed to adversely affect any Holder), shall be effective against such Holder without the prior written consent of such Holder.  The failure or delay of any Person to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and shall not affect the right of such Person thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.  A waiver or consent to or of any breach or default by any Person in the performance by that Person of his, her or its obligations under this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Person of the same or any other obligations of that Person under this Agreement.

 

(b)           Remedies.  The parties to this Agreement shall be entitled to enforce their rights under this Agreement specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages caused by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in their favor.  The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that a breach of this Agreement would cause irreparable harm and money damages would not be an adequate remedy for any such breach and that, in addition to any other rights and remedies existing hereunder, any party shall be entitled to specific performance and/or other injunctive relief from any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction (without posting any bond or other security) in order to enforce or prevent violation of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

21



 

(c)           Severability.  Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited, invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or regulation in any jurisdiction, such prohibition, invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement in such jurisdiction or in any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such prohibited, invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

 

(d)           Entire Agreement.  Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement contains the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.

 

(e)           Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit and be enforceable by the Company and its successors and assigns and the Holders and their respective successors and assigns (whether so expressed or not).  In addition, whether or not any express assignment has been made, the provisions of this Agreement which are for the benefit Holders are also for the benefit of, and enforceable by, any subsequent or successor Holder.

 

(f)            Notices.  Any notice, demand or other communication to be given under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given or delivered (i) when delivered personally to the recipient, (ii) when sent by confirmed electronic mail or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient but, if not, then on the next Business Day, (iii) one Business Day after it is sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) or (iv) three Business Days after it is mailed to the recipient by first class mail, return receipt requested.  Such notices, demands and other communications shall be sent to the Company and the Controlling Holders at the addresses specified below and to any other party subject to this Agreement at such address as indicated on the Schedule of Investors, or at such address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.  Any party may change such party’s address for receipt of notice by providing prior written notice of the change to the sending party as provided herein.  The Company’s address is:

 

Press Ganey Holdings, Inc.
401 Edgewater Place
Suite 500

Wakefield, Massachusetts 01880
Attn: Devin J. Anderson, General Counsel

Facsimile: (866) 542-1521

 

With a copy to:

 

Latham & Watkins LLP
John Hancock Tower
200 Clarendon Street

 

22



 

Boston, Massachusetts 02116
Attn: Peter N. Handrinos, Esq.
Facsimile: (617) 948-6001

 

or to such other address or to the attention of such other Person as the Company has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.

 

The Controlling Holders’ address is:

 

Vestar Capital Partners, Inc.

245 Park Avenue, 41st Floor

New York, New York 10167

Attn: Steven Della Rocca

Facsimile: (212) 808-4922

 

 

With a copy to:

 

Latham & Watkins LLP
John Hancock Tower
200 Clarendon Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02116
Attn: Peter N. Handrinos, Esq.
Facsimile: (617) 948-6001

 

or to such other address or to the attention of such other Person as the Controlling Holders have specified by prior written notice to the sending party.

 

(g)           Business Days.  If any time period for giving notice or taking action hereunder expires on a day that is not a Business Day, the time period shall automatically be extended to the immediately following Business Day.

 

(h)           Governing Law.  The corporate law of the State of Delaware shall govern all issues and questions concerning the relative rights of the Company and its stockholders.  All other issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.

 

(i)            MUTUAL WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  AS A SPECIFICALLY BARGAINED FOR INDUCEMENT FOR EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT (AFTER HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL), EACH PARTY HERETO EXPRESSLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LAWSUIT OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO OR ARISING IN ANY WAY FROM THIS AGREEMENT OR THE MATTERS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

23



 

(j)            CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS.  EACH OF THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, FOR THE PURPOSES OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO FURTHER AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ANY PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICE OR DOCUMENT BY U.S. REGISTERED MAIL TO SUCH PARTY’S RESPECTIVE ADDRESS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL BE EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS FOR ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTERS TO WHICH IT HAS SUBMITTED TO JURISDICTION IN THIS PARAGRAPH.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE, AND HEREBY AND THEREBY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

 

(k)           No Recourse.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company and each Holder agrees and acknowledges that no recourse under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement, shall be had against any current or future director, officer, employee, general or limited partner or member of any Holder or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other applicable law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any current or future officer, agent or employee of any Holder or any current or future member of any Holder or any current or future director, officer, employee, partner or member of any Holder or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, as such for any obligation of any Holder under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.

 

(l)            Descriptive Headings; Interpretation.  The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.  The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation.

 

(m)          No Strict Construction.  The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.

 

(n)           Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, any one of which need not contain the signature of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

24



 

(o)           Electronic Delivery.  This Agreement, the agreements referred to herein, and each other agreement or instrument entered into in connection herewith or therewith or contemplated hereby or thereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent executed and delivered by means of a photographic, photostatic, facsimile or similar reproduction of such signed writing using a facsimile machine or electronic mail shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person.  At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties.  No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or electronic mail to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine or electronic mail as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.

 

(p)           Further Assurances.  In connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, each Holder shall execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(q)           No Inconsistent Agreements.  The Company shall not hereafter enter into any agreement with respect to its securities which is inconsistent with or violates the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement.

 

* * * * *

 

25



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

PRESS GANEY HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Devin J. Anderson

 

Name: Devin J. Anderson

 

Its: General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 



 

 

VESTAR CAPITAL PARTNERS V, L.P.

 

 

 

By: VESTAR ASSOCIATES V, L.P., its General Partner

 

 

 

By: VESTAR MANAGERS V LTD., its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Steven Della Rocca

 

 

Name: Steven Della Rocca

 

 

Title: Managing Director and General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

VESTAR CAPITAL PARTNERS V-A, L.P.

 

 

 

By: VESTAR ASSOCIATES V, L.P., its General Partner

 

 

 

By: VESTAR MANAGERS V LTD., its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Steven Della Rocca

 

 

Name: Steven Della Rocca

 

 

Title: Managing Director and General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

VESTAR CAPITAL PARTNERS V-B, L.P.

 

 

 

By: VESTAR ASSOCIATES V, L.P., its General Partner

 

 

 

By: VESTAR MANAGERS V LTD., its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Steven Della Rocca

 

 

Name: Steven Della Rocca

 

 

Title: Managing Director and General Counsel

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 



 

 

VESTAR EXECUTIVES V, L.P.

 

 

 

By: VESTAR ASSOCIATES V, L.P., its General Partner

 

 

 

By: VESTAR MANAGERS V LTD., its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Steven Della Rocca

 

 

Name: Steven Della Rocca

 

 

Title: Managing Director and General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VESTAR CO-INVEST V, L.P.

 

 

 

By: VESTAR MANAGERS V LTD., its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Steven Della Rocca

 

 

Name: Steven Della Rocca

 

 

Title: Managing Director and General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VESTAR/PGA INVESTORS, LLC

 

 

 

By: VESTAR CAPITAL PARTNERS V, L.P., its Managing Member

 

 

 

By: VESTAR ASSOCIATES V, L.P., its General Partner

 

 

 

By: VESTAR MANAGERS V LTD., its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Steven Della Rocca

 

 

Name: Steven Della Rocca

 

 

Title: Managing Director and General Counsel

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 



 

SCHEDULE A

 

Schedule of Investors

 

Vestar Capital Partners V, L.P.

Vestar Capital Partners V-A, L.P.

Vestar Capital Partners V-B, L.P.

Vestar Executives V, L.P.

Vestar Co-Invest V, L.P.

Vestar Investors V, L.P.

Vestar/PGA Investors, LLC

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT JOINDER

 

The undersigned is executing and delivering this Joinder pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of [·], 2015 (as the same may hereafter be amended, the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among Press Ganey Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the other person named as parties therein.

 

By executing and delivering this Joinder to the Company, and upon acceptance hereof by the Company upon the execution of a counterpart hereof, the undersigned hereby agrees to become a party to, to be bound by, and to comply with the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement as a Holder of Registrable Securities in the same manner as if the undersigned were an original signatory to the Registration Rights Agreement, and the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock shall be included as Registrable Securities under the Registration Rights Agreement to the extent provided therein.  The Company is directed to add the address below the undersigned’s signature on this Joinder to the Schedule of Investors attached to the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Accordingly, the undersigned has executed and delivered this Joinder as of the                      day of                     , 20    .

 

 

 

 

Signature of Stockholder

 

 

 

 

 

Print Name of Stockholder

 

Its:

 

 

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agreed and Accepted as of
                        , 20

 

 

Press Ganey Holdings, Inc.

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Its: