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)
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||||
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(650 ) 204-1000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class: | Trading Symbol: | Name of each exchange on which registered: | ||||||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Effective as of December 5, 2022, the Amended and Restated Executive Change in Control and Severance Policy (the “Amended Policy”) of Upstart Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) is amended to provide a standardized approach for the receipt of severance payments and benefits by certain employees with a title of Vice President or above, which include our Named Executive Officers Dave Girouard, Sanjay Datta, Paul Gu and Anna M. Counselman (each such Named Executive Officer, an “Eligible Executive”).
Generally, the Amended Policy is identical to the Executive Change in Control and Severance Policy it replaced (the “Original Policy”), except that the Amended Policy provides Eligible Executives with certain severance benefits for qualified terminations of employment that are outside the Change in Control Period (as defined in the Amended Policy).
Under the Amended Policy, if, outside of the Change in Control Period, the Company terminates the employment of the applicable Eligible Executive without “cause” (excluding death or disability) or the Eligible Executive resigns for “good reason” (as such terms are defined in the Amended Policy), and the Eligible Executive satisfies the Release Requirement (as defined in the Amended Policy), the Eligible Executive is entitled to receive (i) continuing payments of severance pay at a rate equal to the Eligible Executive’s then current annual base salary for up to 12 months, and (ii) payment of premiums to maintain group health insurance continuation benefits pursuant to “COBRA” for the Eligible Executive and the Eligible Executive’s dependents for up to 12 months.
The remaining terms of the Amended Policy are generally identical to the Original Policy, which was incorporated by reference as Exhibit 10.6 with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K on February 18, 2022.
The foregoing description of the Amended Policy is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amended Policy, which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year
On November 17, 2022, the Company filed a certificate of change of registered agent and/or registered office (the “Certificate of Change”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to change its registered agent in Delaware. The Certificate of Change is filed herewith as Exhibit 3.1 and is incorporated herein by reference into this Item 5.03.
On November 16, 2022, the Board of Directors of the Company approved and adopted an amendment and restatement of the Company’s bylaws (the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”), effective as of such date. The amendments set forth in the Amended and Restated Bylaws include among other things, (1) revisions to the procedures, requirements and required information for the nomination of directors and the submission of proposals for consideration at meetings of stockholders, including by adding a requirement that a stockholder seeking to nominate director(s) at a meeting of stockholders deliver to the Company reasonable evidence that it has complied with the requirements of Rule 14a-19 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, within five business days of the meeting, (2) revisions to certain procedures related to stockholder meetings to conform to the provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as recently amended (the “DGCL”), (3) revisions to the provisions for board action by unanimous written consent in lieu of a meeting to conform to the provisions of the DGCL, (4) revisions to the requirements for officer appointments, duties, and delegation of authority, (5) revisions to provisions related to board committee and subcommittee rules and procedures, and (6) certain other language and conforming changes and other technical edits and updates.
The Amended and Restated Bylaws are attached hereto as Exhibit 3.2 and are hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03. The foregoing summary description of the Amended and Restated Bylaws is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended and Restated Bylaws.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit No. | Description | |||||||
| 3.1 | ||||||||
| 3.2 | ||||||||
| 10.1 | ||||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (Cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | |||||||
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Upstart Holdings, Inc. | ||||||||
| Dated: November 18, 2022 | By: | /s/Alison Nicoll | ||||||
| Alison Nicoll | ||||||||
| General Counsel | ||||||||
Exhibit 3.1
STATE OF DELAWARE
CERTIFICATE OF CHANGE OF REGISTERED AGENT
AND/OR REGISTERED OFFICE
The corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, hereby certifies as follows:
1.The name of the corporation is Upstart Holdings, Inc.
2.The Registered Office of the corporation in the State of Delaware is changed to 251 Little Falls Drive (street), in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Zip Code 19808. The name of the Registered Agent at such address upon whom process against this Corporation may be served is Corporation Service Company.
3.The foregoing change to the registered office/agent was adopted by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the corporation.
By: /s/ Alison Nicoll
Authorized Officer
Name: Alison Nicoll
Print or Type
Exhibit 3.2 AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF UPSTART HOLDINGS, INC. (initially adopted on December 6, 2013) (as amended on November 16, 2022)
-1-
-2-
- 3 - BYLAWS OF UPSTART HOLDINGS, INC. ARTICLE I CORPORATE OFFICES 1.1 REGISTERED OFFICE The registered office of Upstart Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) shall be fixed in the Company’s certificate of incorporation, as the same may be amended from time to time. 1.2 OTHER OFFICES The Company may at any time establish other offices. ARTICLE II MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS 2.1 PLACE OF MEETINGS Meetings of stockholders shall be held at a place, if any, within or outside the State of Delaware, determined by the board of directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”). The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). In the absence of any such designation or determination, stockholders’ meetings shall be held at the Company’s principal executive office. 2.2 ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held each year. The Board of Directors shall designate the date and time of the annual meeting. At the annual meeting, directors shall be elected and any other proper business, brought in accordance with Section 2.4 of these bylaws, may be transacted. The Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board may cancel, postpone or reschedule any previously scheduled annual meeting at any time, before or after the notice for such meeting has been sent to the stockholders. For the purposes of these bylaws, the term “Whole Board” shall mean the total number of authorized directorships whether or not there exist any vacancies or other unfilled seats in previously authorized directorships. 2.3 SPECIAL MEETING (a) A special meeting of the stockholders, other than as required by statute, may be called at any time by (i) the Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board, (ii) the chairperson of the Board of Directors, (iii) the chief executive officer or (iv) the president, but a special meeting may not be called by any other person or persons and any power of stockholders to call a special meeting of stockholders is specifically denied. The Board of Directors acting
- 4 - pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board may cancel, postpone or reschedule any previously scheduled special meeting at any time, before or after the notice for such meeting has been sent to the stockholders. (b) The notice of a special meeting shall include the purpose for which the meeting is called. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of a majority of the Whole Board, the chairperson of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer or the president. Nothing contained in this Section 2.3(b) shall be construed as limiting, fixing or affecting the time when a meeting of stockholders called by action of the Board of Directors may be held. 2.4 ADVANCE NOTICE PROCEDURES (a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders. (i) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors or the proposal of other business to be transacted by the stockholders at an annual meeting of stockholders may be made only (1) pursuant to the Company’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto); (2) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof that has been formally delegated authority to nominate such persons or propose such business pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board; (3) as may be provided in the certificate of designations for any class or series of preferred stock; or (4) by any stockholder of the Company who (A) is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of the notice contemplated by Section 2.4(a)(ii); (B) is a stockholder of record on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of the annual meeting; (C) is a stockholder of record on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting; (D) is a stockholder of record at the time of the annual meeting; and (E) complies with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.4(a). (ii) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting of stockholders by a stockholder pursuant to clause (4) of Section 2.4(a)(i), the stockholder must have given timely notice in writing to the secretary of the Company (the “Secretary”) and any such nomination or proposed business must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company no earlier than 8:00 a.m., Pacific time, on the 120th day and no later than 5:00 p.m., Pacific time, on the 90th day prior to the day of the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders as first specified in the Company’s notice of such annual meeting (without regard to any adjournment, rescheduling, postponement or other delay of such annual meeting occurring after such notice was first sent). However, if no annual meeting of stockholders was held in the preceding year, or if the date of the annual meeting for the current year has been changed by more than 25 days from the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, then to be timely such notice must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company no earlier than 8:00 a.m., Pacific time, on the 120th day prior to the day of the annual meeting and no later than 5:00 p.m., Pacific time, on the later of the 90th day prior to the day of the annual meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the annual meeting was first made by the Company. In no event will the adjournment, rescheduling, postponement or other delay of any annual meeting, or any announcement thereof, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. In no event may a stockholder provide notice with respect to a greater number of director candidates than there are director seats subject to election by stockholders at the annual meeting.
- 5 - If the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least 10 days before the last day that a stockholder may deliver a notice of nomination pursuant to the foregoing provisions, then a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.4(a)(ii) will also be considered timely, but only with respect to any nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it is received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company no later than 5:00 p.m., Pacific time, on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made. “Public announcement” means disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to Section 13, Section 14 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended and inclusive of rules and regulations thereunder, the “1934 Act”) or by such other means as is reasonably designed to inform the public or stockholders of the Company in general of such information, including, without limitation, posting on the Company’s investor relations website. (iii) A stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth: (1) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director: (A) such person’s name, age, business address, residence address and principal occupation or employment; (B) the class and number of shares of the Company that are held of record or are beneficially owned by such person and any (i) Derivative Instruments (as defined below) held or beneficially owned by such person, including the full notional amount of any securities that, directly or indirectly, underlie any Derivative Instrument; and (ii) other agreement, arrangement or understanding that has been made the effect or intent of which is to create or mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of such person with respect to the Company’s securities; (C) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in connection with solicitations of proxies for the contested election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Section 14 of the 1934 Act; (D) such person’s written consent (x) to being named as a nominee of such stockholder, (y) to being named in the Company’s form of proxy pursuant to Rule 14a-19 under the 1934 Act and (z) to serving as a director of the Company if elected; (E) any direct or indirect compensatory, payment, indemnification or other financial agreement, arrangement or understanding that such person has, or has had within the past three years, with any person or entity other than the Company (including, without limitation, the amount of any payment or payments received or receivable thereunder), in each case in connection with candidacy or service as a director of the Company (such agreement, arrangement or understanding, a “Third-Party Compensation Arrangement”); and (F) a description of any other material relationships between such person and such person’s respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert with them, on the one hand, and such stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the
- 6 - nomination is made, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert with them, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K if such stockholder, beneficial owner, affiliate or associate were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and such person were a director or executive officer of such registrant; (2) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting: (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting; (B) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, if applicable, the text of any proposed amendment to these bylaws); (C) the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting; (D) any material interest in such business of such stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert with them; and (E) all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder; and (3) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made: (A) the name and address of such stockholder (as they appear on the Company’s books), of such beneficial owner and of their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them; (B) for each class or series, the number of shares of stock of the Company that are, directly or indirectly, held of record or are beneficially owned by such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them; (C) any agreement, arrangement or understanding between such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them, and any other person or persons (including, in each case, their names) in connection with the proposal of such nomination or other business; (D) any (i) agreement, arrangement or understanding (including, without limitation and regardless of the form of settlement, any derivative, long or short positions, profit interests, forwards, futures, swaps, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into by or on behalf of such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them with respect to the Company’s securities (any of the foregoing, a
- 7 - “Derivative Instrument”) including the full notional amount of any securities that, directly or indirectly, underlie any Derivative Instrument; and (ii) other agreement, arrangement or understanding that has been made the effect or intent of which is to create or mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for or increase or decrease the voting power of such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them, with respect to the Company’s securities; (E) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Company; (F) any rights to dividends on the Company’s securities owned beneficially by such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them that are separated or separable from the underlying security; (G) any proportionate interest in the Company’s securities or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner of such general or limited partnership; (H) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of the Company’s securities or Derivative Instruments, including, without limitation, any such interests held by members of the immediate family of such persons sharing the same household; (I) any significant equity interests or any Derivative Instruments in any principal competitor of the Company that are held by such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them; (J) any direct or indirect interest of such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them in any contract with the Company, any affiliate of the Company or any principal competitor of the Company (in each case, including, without limitation, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement); (K) any material pending or threatened legal proceeding in which such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them is a party or material participant involving the Company or any of its officers, directors or affiliates; (L) any material relationship between such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them, on the one hand, and the Company or any of its officers, directors or affiliates, on the other hand;
- 8 - (M) a representation and undertaking that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Company as of the date of submission of the stockholder’s notice and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such nomination or other business before the annual meeting; (N) a representation and undertaking as to whether such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them intends, or is part of a group that intends, to (x) deliver a proxy statement or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or to elect each such nominee(which representation and undertaking must include a statement as to whether such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them intends to solicit the requisite percentage of the voting power of the Company’s stock under Rule 14a-19 of the 1934 Act); or (y) otherwise solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination; (O) any other information relating to such stockholder, such beneficial owner, or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them, or director nominee or proposed business that, in each case, would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies in support of such nominee (in a contested election of directors) or proposal pursuant to Section 14 of the 1934 Act; and (P) such other information relating to any proposed item of business as the Company may reasonably require to determine whether such proposed item of business is a proper matter for stockholder action. (iv) In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.4, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice (and any additional information submitted to the Company in connection therewith) must further be updated and supplemented (1) if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice is true and correct as of the record date(s) for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting and as of the date that is 10 business days prior to the annual meeting or any adjournment, rescheduling, postponement or other delay thereof; and (2) to provide any additional information that the Company may reasonably request. Any such update and supplement or additional information (including, if requested pursuant to Section 2.4(a)(iii)(3)(P)) must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company (A) in the case of a request for additional information, promptly following a request therefor, which response must be received by the Secretary not later than such reasonable time as is specified in any such request from the Company; or (B) in the case of any other update or supplement of any information, not later than five business days after the record date(s) for the annual meeting (in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of the record date(s)), and not later than eight business days prior to the date for the annual meeting or any adjournment, rescheduling, postponement or other delay thereof (in the case of any update or supplement required to be made as of 10 business days prior to the annual meeting or any adjournment, rescheduling, postponement or other delay thereof). No later than five business days prior to the annual meeting or any adjournment, rescheduling, postponement or other delay thereof, a stockholder nominating individuals for election as a director will provide the Company with reasonable evidence that such stockholder has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19. The failure to timely provide such update, supplement, evidence or additional information shall result in the nomination or proposal no longer being eligible for consideration at the annual meeting. If the stockholder fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19 (including because the stockholder fails to provide the Company with all information or notices required by Rule 14a-19), then
- 9 - the director nominees proposed by such stockholder shall be ineligible for election at the annual meeting and any votes or proxies in respect of such nomination shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that such proxies may have been received by the Company and counted for the purposes of determining quorum. For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement, or provide additional information or evidence, as set forth in these bylaws shall not limit the Company’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines pursuant to these bylaws or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice pursuant to these bylaws to amend or update any nomination or to submit any new nomination. No disclosure pursuant to these bylaws will be required with respect to the ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is the stockholder submitting a notice pursuant to this Section 2.4 solely because such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee has been directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner. (b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Except to the extent required by the DGCL, and subject to Section 2.3(a), special meetings of stockholders may be called only in accordance with the Company’s certificate of incorporation and these bylaws. Only such business will be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as has been brought before the special meeting pursuant to the Company’s notice of meeting. If the election of directors is included as business to be brought before a special meeting in the Company’s notice of meeting, then nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at such special meeting may be made by any stockholder who (i) is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of the notice contemplated by this Section 2.4(b); (ii) is a stockholder of record on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of the special meeting; (iii) is a stockholder of record on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting; (iv) is a stockholder of record at the time of the special meeting; and (v) complies with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.4(b) (with such procedures that the Company deems to be applicable to such special meeting). For nominations to be properly brought by a stockholder before a special meeting pursuant to this Section 2.4(b), the stockholder’s notice must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company no earlier than 8:00 a.m., Pacific time, on the 120th day prior to the day of the special meeting and no later than 5:00 p.m., Pacific time, on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the special meeting was first made. In no event will any adjournment, rescheduling, postponement or other delay of a special meeting or any announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. A stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must comply with the applicable notice requirements of Section 2.4(a)(iii), with references therein to “annual meeting” deemed to mean “special meeting” for the purposes of this final sentence of this Section 2.4(b). (c) Other Requirements and Procedures. (i) To be eligible to be a nominee of any stockholder for election as a director of the Company, the proposed nominee must provide to the Secretary, in accordance with the applicable time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Section 2.4(a)(ii) or Section 2.4(b): (1) a signed and completed written questionnaire (in the form provided by the Secretary at the written request of the nominating stockholder, which form will be provided by the Secretary within 10 days of receiving such request) containing information regarding such nominee’s background and qualifications and such other information as may reasonably be required by the Company to determine the eligibility of such nominee to serve as a director of the Company or to serve as an independent director of the Company;
- 10 - (2) a written representation and undertaking that, unless previously disclosed to the Company, such nominee is not, and will not become, a party to any voting agreement, arrangement, commitment, assurance or understanding with any person or entity as to how such nominee, if elected as a director, will vote on any issue; (3) a written representation and undertaking that, unless previously disclosed to the Company, such nominee is not, and will not become, a party to any Third-Party Compensation Arrangement; (4) a written representation and undertaking that, if elected as a director, such nominee would be in compliance, and will continue to comply, with the Company’s corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and trading guidelines, and other policies and guidelines applicable to directors and in effect during such person’s term in office as a director (and, if requested by any candidate for nomination, the Secretary will provide to such proposed nominee all such policies and guidelines then in effect); and (5) a written representation and undertaking that such nominee, if elected, intends to serve a full term on the Board of Directors. (ii) At the request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated by the Board of Directors for election as a director must furnish to the Secretary the information that is required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice of nomination pertaining to such nominee. (iii) No person will be eligible to be nominated by a stockholder for election as a director of the Company, or to be seated as a director of the Company, unless nominated and elected in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.4. No business proposed by a stockholder will be conducted at a stockholder meeting except in accordance with this Section 2.4. (iv) The chairperson of the applicable meeting of stockholders will, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by these bylaws or that other proposed business was not properly brought before the meeting. If the chairperson of the meeting should so determine, then the chairperson of the meeting will so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination will be disregarded or such business will not be transacted, as the case may be. (v) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.4, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear in person at the meeting to present a nomination or other proposed business, such nomination will be disregarded or such business will not be transacted, as the case may be, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such nomination or business may have been received by the Company and counted for purposes of determining a quorum. For purposes of this Section 2.4, 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, and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting.
- 11 - (vi) Without limiting this Section 2.4, a stockholder must also comply with all applicable requirements of the 1934 Act with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.4, it being understood that (1) any references in these bylaws to the 1934 Act are not intended to, and will not, limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to this Section 2.4; and (2) compliance with clause (4) of Section 2.4(a)(i) and with Section 2.4(b) are the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than as provided in Section 2.4(c)(vii)). (vii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.4, the notice requirements set forth in these bylaws with respect to the proposal of any business pursuant to this Section 2.4 will be deemed to be satisfied by a stockholder if (1) such stockholder has submitted a proposal to the Company in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act; and (2) such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Company to solicit proxies for the meeting of stockholders. Subject to Rule 14a-8 and other applicable rules and regulations under the 1934 Act, nothing in these bylaws will be construed to permit any stockholder, or give any stockholder the right, to include or have disseminated or described in the Company’s proxy statement any nomination of a director or any other business proposal. 2.5 NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice of the meeting shall be given in accordance with Section 232 of the DGCL, and such notice shall state the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Except as otherwise provided in the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. 2.6 QUORUM The holders of a majority of the voting power of the capital stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the stockholders, unless otherwise required by law, the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws or the rules of any applicable stock exchange on which the Company’s securities are listed. Where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or series or classes or series, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter, except as otherwise required by law, the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws or the rules of any applicable stock exchange on which the Company’s securities are listed. If, however, such quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, then either (a) the chairperson of the meeting, or (b) the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present or represented. At such adjourned
- 12 - meeting at which a quorum is present or represented, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the original meeting. 2.7 ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE Unless these bylaws otherwise require, when a meeting is adjourned to another time or place (including an adjournment taken to address a technical failure to convene or continue a meeting using remote communication), notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are (i) announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, (ii) displayed, during the time scheduled for the meeting, on the same electronic network used to enable stockholders and proxy holders to participate in the meeting by means of remote communication or (iii) set forth in the notice of meeting given in accordance with Section 222(a) of the DGCL. At the adjourned meeting, the Company 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 DGCL and Section 2.11 of these bylaws, 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. 2.8 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS The chairperson of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of business and discussion as seem to the chairperson in order. The chairperson of any meeting of stockholders shall be designated by the Board of Directors; in the absence of such designation, the chairperson of the Board of Directors, if any, or the chief executive officer (in the absence of the chairperson of the Board of Directors) or the president (in the absence of the chairperson of the Board of Directors and the chief executive officer), or in their absence any other executive officer of the Company, shall serve as chairperson of the stockholder meeting. The chairperson of any meeting of stockholders shall have the power to adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date or time, whether or not a quorum is present. 2.9 VOTING The stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.11 of these bylaws, subject to Section 217 (relating to voting rights of fiduciaries, pledgors and joint owners of stock) and Section 218 (relating to voting trusts and other voting agreements) of the DGCL. Except as may be otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder as of the applicable record date that has voting power upon the matter in question. Except as otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws or the rules of any applicable stock exchange on which the Company’s securities are listed, in all matters other than the election of directors, the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the shares present in person
- 13 - or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders. Except as otherwise required by law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the voting power of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. Except as otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws or the rules of any applicable stock exchange on which the Company’s securities are listed, where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, in all matters other than the election of directors, the affirmative vote of the majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or series or classes or series present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of such class or series or classes or series. 2.10 STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING Unless otherwise provided in the Company’s certificate of incorporation and subject to the rights of holders of preferred stock of the Company, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Company must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Company and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders. 2.11 RECORD DATES In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at 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 provisions of Section 213 of the DGCL and this Section 2.11 at the adjourned meeting. In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose
- 14 - shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto. 2.12 PROXIES Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders, or such stockholder’s authorized officer, director, employee or agent, may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy authorized by a document or by a transmission permitted by law filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. The authorization of a person to act as a proxy may be documented, signed and delivered in accordance with Section 116 of the DGCL; provided that such authorization shall set forth, or be delivered with information enabling the Company to determine, the identity of the stockholder granting such authorization. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section 212 of the DGCL. 2.13 LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE The Company shall prepare, no later than the tenth day before each 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. The Company shall not be required 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 ten days ending on the day before the meeting date: (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 Company’s principal place of business. In the event that the Company determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Company may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Company. 2.14 INSPECTORS OF ELECTION Before any meeting of stockholders, the Company shall appoint an inspector or inspectors of election to act at the meeting or its adjournment. The Company may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. Such inspectors shall: (a) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each; (b) determine the shares represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots; (c) count all votes and ballots; (d) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors; and
- 15 - (e) certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting, and their count of all votes and ballots. The inspectors of election shall perform their duties impartially, in good faith, to the best of their ability and as expeditiously as is practical. If there are multiple inspectors of election, the decision, act or certificate of a majority is effective in all respects as the decision, act or certificate of all. Any report or certificate made by the inspectors of election is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. ARTICLE III DIRECTORS 3.1 POWERS The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise provided in the DGCL or the certificate of incorporation. 3.2 NUMBER OF DIRECTORS The Board of Directors shall consist of one or more members, each of whom shall be a natural person. Unless the certificate of incorporation fixes the number of directors, the number of directors shall be determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the Whole Board. No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director before that director’s term of office expires. 3.3 ELECTION, QUALIFICATION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS Except as provided in Section 3.4 of these bylaws, each director, including a director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship, shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which elected and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Directors need not be stockholders unless so required by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws. The certificate of incorporation or these bylaws may prescribe other qualifications for directors. If so provided in the certificate of incorporation, the directors of the Company shall be divided into three classes. 3.4 RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Company. A resignation is effective when the resignation is delivered unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events. A resignation which is conditioned upon the director failing to receive a specified vote for reelection as a director may provide that it is irrevocable. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, when one or more directors resign from the Board of Directors, effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective.
- 16 - Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws or permitted in the specific case by resolution of the Board of Directors, and subject to the rights of holders of preferred stock of the Company, vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors elected by all of the stockholders having the right to vote as a single class may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and not by stockholders. If the directors are divided into classes, a person so chosen to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. 3.5 PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE The Board of Directors may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or outside the State of Delaware. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, members of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting. 3.6 REGULAR MEETINGS Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors. 3.7 SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE Special meetings of the Board of Directors for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the chairperson of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president or the Secretary or by a majority of the Whole Board; provided that the person(s) authorized to call a special meeting of the Board of Directors may authorize another person or persons to send notice of such meeting. Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be: (a) delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone; (b) sent by United States first-class mail, postage prepaid; (c) sent by electronic mail; or (d) otherwise given by electronic transmission (as defined in Section 232 of the DGCL), directed to each director at that director’s address, telephone number, electronic mail address or other contact for notice by electronic transmission, as the case may be, as shown on the Company’s records. If the notice is (i) delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone, (ii) sent by electronic mail or (iii) otherwise given by electronic transmission, it shall be delivered, sent or otherwise directed to each director, as applicable, at least 24 hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. If the notice is sent by United States mail, it shall be deposited in the United States mail at least four days before the time
- 17 - of the holding of the meeting. Any oral notice of the time and place of the meeting may be communicated to the director in lieu of written notice if such notice is communicated at least 24 hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. The notice need not specify the place of the meeting (if the meeting is to be held at the Company’s principal executive office) nor the purpose of the meeting, unless required by statute. 3.8 QUORUM; VOTING At all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, then the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present. The affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws. If the certificate of incorporation provides that one or more directors shall have more or less than one vote per director on any matter, except as may otherwise be expressly provided herein or therein and denoted with the phrase “notwithstanding the final paragraph of Section 3.8 of the bylaws” or language to similar effect, every reference in these bylaws to a majority or other proportion of the directors shall refer to a majority or other proportion of the votes of the directors. 3.9 BOARD ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, (i) 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 committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and (ii) a consent may be documented, signed and delivered in any manner permitted by Section 116 of the DGCL. Any person (whether or not then a director) may provide, whether through instruction to an agent or otherwise, that a consent to action will be effective at a future time (including a time determined upon the happening of an event), no later than 60 days after such instruction is given or such provision is made and such consent shall be deemed to have been given for purposes of this Section 3.9 at such effective time so long as such person is then a director and did not revoke the consent prior to such time. Any such consent shall be revocable prior to its becoming effective. After an action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors, or the committee thereof, in the same paper or electronic form as the minutes are maintained. 3.10 FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors. 3.11 REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS Any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed from office by stockholders of the Company in the manner specified in the certificate of incorporation and applicable law. No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director prior to the expiration of such director’s term of office.
- 18 - ARTICLE IV COMMITTEES 4.1 COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the Whole Board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Company. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors or in these bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Company, and may authorize the seal of the Company to be affixed to all papers that may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority to (a) approve or adopt, or recommend to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, or (b) adopt, amend or repeal any bylaw of the Company. 4.2 COMMITTEE MINUTES Each committee and subcommittee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings. 4.3 MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES Unless otherwise specified by the Board of Directors, meetings and actions of committees and subcommittees shall be governed by, and held and taken in accordance with, the provisions of: (a) Section 3.5 (place of meetings and meetings by telephone); (b) Section 3.6 (regular meetings); (c) Section 3.7 (special meetings and notice); (d) Section 3.8 (quorum; voting); (e) Section 3.9 (action without a meeting); and (f) Section 7.4 (waiver of notice) with such changes in the context of those bylaws as are necessary to substitute the committee or subcommittee and its members for the Board of Directors and its members. However, (i) the time and place of regular meetings of committees or subcommittees may be determined either by resolution of the Board of Directors or by resolution of the committee or subcommittee; (ii) special meetings of committees or subcommittees may also be called by resolution of the Board of Directors or the committee or the subcommittee; and (iii) notice of special meetings of committees and subcommittees shall also be given to all alternate members who shall have the right to attend all meetings of the committee or subcommittee.
- 19 - The Board of Directors or a committee or subcommittee may also adopt other rules for the government of any committee or subcommittee. Any provision in the certificate of incorporation providing that one or more directors shall have more or less than one vote per director on any matter shall apply to voting in any committee or subcommittee, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws. 4.4 SUBCOMMITTEES Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws or the resolutions of the Board of Directors designating the committee, a committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one or more members of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee. ARTICLE V OFFICERS 5.1 OFFICERS The officers of the Company shall be a president and a secretary. The Company may also have, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, a chairperson of the Board of Directors, a vice chairperson of the Board of Directors, a chief executive officer, a chief financial officer or treasurer, one or more vice presidents, one or more assistant vice presidents, one or more assistant treasurers, one or more assistant secretaries and any such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. 5.2 APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS The Board of Directors shall appoint the officers of the Company, except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3 of these bylaws, subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment. 5.3 SUBORDINATE OFFICERS The Board of Directors may appoint, or empower any officer to appoint, such other officers as the business of the Company may require. Each of such officers shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform such duties as are provided in these bylaws or as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors or, for the avoidance of doubt, any duly authorized committee or subcommittee thereof or by any officer who has been conferred such power of determination. 5.4 REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Board of Directors or, for the avoidance of doubt, any duly authorized committee or subcommittee thereof or by any officer who has been conferred such power of removal.
- 20 - Any officer may resign at any time by giving notice, in writing or by electronic transmission, to the Company. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice. Unless otherwise specified in the notice of resignation, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Company under any contract to which the officer is a party. 5.5 VACANCIES IN OFFICES Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Company shall be filled by the Board of Directors or as provided in Section 5.3. 5.6 REPRESENTATION OF SECURITIES OF OTHER ENTITIES The chairperson of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president, any vice president, the treasurer, the secretary or assistant secretary of the Company or any other person authorized by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer, the president or a vice president, is authorized to vote, represent and exercise on behalf of the Company all rights incident to any and all shares or other securities of, or interests in, or issued by, any other entity or entities, and all rights incident to any management authority conferred on the Company in accordance with the governing documents of any entity or entities, standing in the name of the Company, including the right to act by written consent. The authority granted herein may be exercised either by such person directly or by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by such person having the authority. 5.7 AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS Each officer of the Company shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the business of the Company as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or, for the avoidance of doubt, any duly authorized committee or subcommittee thereof or by any officer who has been conferred such power of designation and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to such office, subject to the control of the Board of Directors. ARTICLE VI STOCK 6.1 STOCK CERTIFICATES; PARTLY PAID SHARES The shares of the Company shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors 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 Company. Unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors, every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of, the Company by any two officers of the Company representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Company with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. The Company shall not have power to issue a certificate in bearer form.
- 21 - The Company may issue the whole or any part of its shares as partly paid and subject to call for the remainder of the consideration to be paid therefor. Upon the face or back of each stock certificate issued to represent any such partly-paid shares, or upon the books and records of the Company in the case of uncertificated partly-paid shares, the total amount of the consideration to be paid therefor and the amount paid thereon shall be stated. Upon the declaration of any dividend on fully-paid shares, the Company shall declare a dividend upon partly-paid shares of the same class, but only upon the basis of the percentage of the consideration actually paid thereon. 6.2 SPECIAL DESIGNATION ON CERTIFICATES If the Company is authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, then the powers, the designations, the preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate that the Company shall issue to represent such class or series of stock; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the DGCL, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate that the Company shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, a statement that the Company will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated stock, the registered owner thereof shall be given a notice, in writing or by electronic transmission, containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to this Section 6.2 or Sections 151, 156, 202(a), 218(a) or 364 of the DGCL or with respect to this Section 6.2 a statement that the Company will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated stock and the rights and obligations of the holders of certificates representing stock of the same class and series shall be identical. 6.3 LOST CERTIFICATES Except as provided in this Section 6.3, no new certificates for shares shall be issued to replace a previously issued certificate unless the latter is surrendered to the Company and cancelled at the same time. The Company may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Company may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Company a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares. 6.4 DIVIDENDS The Board of Directors, subject to any restrictions contained in the certificate of incorporation or applicable law, may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of the Company’s capital stock. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the Company’s capital stock, subject to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation. The Board of Directors may set apart out of any of the funds of the Company available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve.
- 22 - 6.5 TRANSFER OF STOCK Transfers of record of shares of stock of the Company shall be made only upon its books by the holders thereof, in person or by an attorney duly authorized, and, subject to Section 6.3 of these bylaws, if such stock is certificated, upon the surrender of a certificate or certificates for a like number of shares, properly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to transfer. 6.6 STOCK TRANSFER AGREEMENTS The Company shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes or series of stock of the Company to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Company of any one or more classes or series owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL. 6.7 REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS The Company: (a) shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and notices and to vote as such owner; and (b) shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of another person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware. ARTICLE VII MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE AND WAIVER 7.1 NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be given in the manner set forth in the DGCL. 7.2 NOTICE TO STOCKHOLDERS SHARING AN ADDRESS Except as otherwise prohibited under the DGCL, without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Company under the provisions of the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Company. Any stockholder who fails to object in writing to the Company, within 60 days of having been given written notice by the Company of its intention to send the single notice, shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice. This Section 7.2 shall not apply to Sections 164, 296, 311, 312 or 324 of the DGCL.
- 23 - 7.3 NOTICE TO PERSON WITH WHOM COMMUNICATION IS UNLAWFUL Whenever notice is required to be given, under the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, to any person with whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person. Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to any such person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. In the event that the action taken by the Company is such as to require the filing of a certificate under the DGCL, the certificate shall state, if such is the fact and if notice is required, that notice was given to all persons entitled to receive notice except such persons with whom communication is unlawful. 7.4 WAIVER OF NOTICE Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws. ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION 8.1 INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS IN THIRD PARTY PROCEEDINGS Subject to the other provisions of this Article VIII, the Company shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as now or hereinafter in effect, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”) (other than an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is or was a director or officer of the Company serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such Proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful.
- 24 - 8.2 INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS IN ACTIONS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY Subject to the other provisions of this Article VIII, the Company shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as now or hereinafter in effect, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is or was a director or officer of the Company serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such Proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company; except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper. 8.3 SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE To the extent that a present or former director or officer (for purposes of this Section 8.3 only, as such term is defined in Section 145(c)(1) of the DGCL) of the Company has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any Proceeding described in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith. The Company may indemnify any other person who is not a present or former director or officer of the Company against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person to the extent he or she has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any Proceeding described in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein. 8.4 INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHERS Subject to the other provisions of this Article VIII, the Company shall have power to indemnify its employees and agents, or any other persons, to the extent not prohibited by the DGCL or other applicable law. The Board of Directors shall have the power to delegate to any person or persons identified in subsections (1) through (4) of Section 145(d) of the DGCL the determination of whether employees or agents shall be indemnified. 8.5 ADVANCED PAYMENT OF EXPENSES Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by an officer or director of the Company in defending any Proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding upon receipt of a written request therefor (together with documentation reasonably evidencing such expenses) and an undertaking by or on behalf of the person to repay such amounts if it shall ultimately be determined that the person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VIII or the DGCL. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents of the Company or by persons serving at the request of the Company
- 25 - as directors, officers, employees or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Company deems appropriate. The right to advancement of expenses shall not apply to any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to these bylaws, but shall apply to any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) referenced in Section 8.6(b) or 8.6(c) prior to a determination that the person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise determined pursuant to Section 8.8, no advance shall be made by the Company to an officer of the Company (except by reason of the fact that such officer is or was a director of the Company, in which event this paragraph shall not apply) in any Proceeding if a determination is reasonably and promptly made (a) by a vote of the directors who are not parties to such Proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (b) by a committee of such directors designated by the vote of the majority of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (c) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, that facts known to the decision- making party at the time such determination is made demonstrate clearly and convincingly that such person did not act in good faith or in a manner that such person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company. 8.6 LIMITATION ON INDEMNIFICATION Subject to the requirements in Section 8.3 and the DGCL, the Company shall not be obligated to indemnify any person pursuant to this Article VIII in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding): (a) for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of such person under any statute, insurance policy, indemnity provision, vote or otherwise, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid; (b) for an accounting or disgorgement of profits pursuant to Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act, or similar provisions of federal, state or local statutory law or common law, if such person is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements); (c) for any reimbursement of the Company by such person of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by such person from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the 1934 Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by such person of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if such person is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements); (d) initiated by such person, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by such person against the Company or its directors, officers, employees, agents or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board of Directors authorized the Proceeding (or the relevant part of the Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law, (iii) otherwise required to be made under Section 8.7 or (iv) otherwise required by applicable law; or (e) if prohibited by applicable law.
- 26 - 8.7 DETERMINATION; CLAIM If a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article VIII is not paid in full within 90 days after receipt by the Company of the written request therefor, the claimant shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of competent jurisdiction of his or her entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of expenses. The Company shall indemnify such person against any and all expenses that are actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any action for indemnification or advancement of expenses from the Company under this Article VIII, to the extent such person is successful in such action, and to the extent not prohibited by law. In any such suit, the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proving that the claimant is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses. 8.8 NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VIII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the certificate of incorporation or any statute, bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. The Company is specifically authorized to enter into individual contracts with any or all of its directors, officers, employees or agents respecting indemnification and advancement of expenses, to the fullest extent not prohibited by the DGCL or other applicable law. 8.9 INSURANCE The Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of the DGCL. 8.10 SURVIVAL The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this Article VIII shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. 8.11 EFFECT OF REPEAL OR MODIFICATION A right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising under a provision of the certificate of incorporation or a bylaw shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to or repeal or elimination of the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the Proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought, unless the provision in effect at the time of such act or omission explicitly authorizes such elimination or impairment after such action or omission has occurred.
- 27 - 8.12 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS For purposes of this Article VIII, references to the “Company” shall include, in addition to the resulting entity, any constituent company (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, employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent entity, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent entity as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article VIII with respect to the resulting or surviving entity as such person would have with respect to such constituent entity if its separate existence had continued. For purposes of this Article VIII, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Article VIII. ARTICLE IX GENERAL MATTERS 9.1 EXECUTION OF CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS Except as otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, or employee or employees, to enter into any contract or execute any document or instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Company; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Unless so authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors or within the agency power of an officer, agent or employee, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the Company by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount. 9.2 FISCAL YEAR The fiscal year of the Company shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors and may be changed by the Board of Directors. 9.3 SEAL The Company may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be adopted and which may be altered by the Board of Directors. The Company may use the corporate seal by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.
- 28 - 9.4 CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction, and definitions in the DGCL shall govern the construction of these bylaws. Without limiting the generality of this provision, the singular number includes the plural, the plural number includes the singular, and the term “person” includes a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, and a natural person. Any reference in these bylaws to a section of the DGCL shall be deemed to refer to such section as amended from time to time and any successor provisions thereto. 9.5 FORUM SELECTION Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another State court in Delaware or the federal district court for the District 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 Company, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, stockholder, officer or other employee of the Company to the Company or the Company’s stockholders, (c) any action arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time) or (d) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except for, as to each of (a) through (d) above, any claim as to which such court determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of such court (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of such court within 10 days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than such court or for which such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction. Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, against any person in connection with any offering of the Company’s securities, including, without limitation and for the avoidance of doubt, any auditor, underwriter, expert, control person or other defendant. Any person or entity purchasing, holding or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Company shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 9.5. This provision shall be enforceable by any party to a complaint covered by the provisions of this Section 9.5. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing contained in this Section 9.5 shall apply to any action brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the 1934 Act or any successor thereto. ARTICLE X AMENDMENTS These bylaws may be adopted, amended or repealed by the stockholders entitled to vote; provided, however, that the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the total voting power of outstanding voting securities, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders of the Company to alter, amend or repeal, or adopt any bylaw inconsistent with, the following provisions of these bylaws: Article II, Section 3.1, Section 3.2, Section 3.4, or Section 3.11 of Article III, Article VIII, Section 9.5 of Article IX or this Article X (including, without limitation, any such Article or Section as renumbered as a result of any amendment, alteration, change, repeal, or adoption of any other bylaw). The Board of Directors
- 29 - shall also have the power to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws; provided, however, that a bylaw amendment adopted by stockholders which specifies the votes that shall be necessary for the election of directors shall not be further amended or repealed by the Board of Directors.
Exhibit 10.1
UPSTART HOLDINGS, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
EXECUTIVE CHANGE IN CONTROL AND SEVERANCE POLICY
(Effective as of December 5, 2022)
This Amended and Restated Executive Change in Control and Severance Policy (the “Policy”) is designed to provide certain protections to a select group of key employees of Upstart Holdings, Inc. (“Upstart” or the “Company”) or any of its subsidiaries if their employment is involuntarily terminated under the circumstances described in this Policy. The Policy is designed to be an “employee welfare benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”)), and this document is both the formal plan document and the required summary plan description for the Policy.
1.Eligible Employee: An individual is only eligible for protection under this Policy if he or she is an Eligible Employee and complies with its terms. An “Eligible Employee” is an employee of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company who has (i) been designated by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) as eligible to participate in the Policy, whether individually or by position or category of position and (ii) executed a participation agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (a “Participation Agreement”).
2.Policy Benefits: An Eligible Employee will be eligible to receive the payments and benefits under this Policy upon his or her Qualified Termination, subject to the terms of the applicable Participation Agreement. All benefits under this Policy will be subject to the Eligible Employee’s compliance with the Release Requirement and any timing modifications required to avoid adverse taxation under Section 409A. For the avoidance of doubt, depending on an Eligible Employee’s applicable Tier and whether such Eligible Employee’s Qualified Termination is a Non-CIC Qualified Termination or a CIC Qualified Termination, not all of the payments and benefits described in this Policy may be available to such Eligible Employee.
3.Salary Severance.
a.On a Non-CIC Qualified Termination, if and to the extent provided for in the applicable Participation Agreement, an Eligible Employee will be eligible to receive continuing payments of severance pay at a rate equal to the Eligible Employee’s Base Salary for the number of months as set forth in the applicable Participation Agreement, commencing on the first Company payroll date following the effective date of the Release (subject to any delay as provided in Section 10), less applicable withholdings; provided that, if the Eligible Employee’s Non-CIC Qualified Termination occurs prior to the 12-month anniversary of the Eligible Employee’s start date with the Company or any of its subsidiaries (the “Start Date”), the number of months the Eligible Employee will be eligible to receive severance pay will be equal to 50% of the number of months set forth in such Eligible Employee’s Participation Agreement.
b.On a CIC Qualified Termination, an Eligible Employee will be eligible to receive a lump-sum payment equal to the number of months of annualized Base Salary as set forth in the applicable Participation Agreement, payable on the first Company payroll date following the effective date of the Release (subject to any delay as provided in Section 10), less applicable withholdings; provided that, if the Eligible Employee’s CIC Qualified Termination occurs prior to the 12-month anniversary of the Eligible Employee’s Start Date, the applicable lump-sum payment will be pro-rated by multiplying such lump-sum payment by the quotient of (x) the number of days between the Start Date and the date of the CIC Qualified Termination and (y) 365.
4.COBRA Benefit. On an applicable Qualified Termination, if and to the extent provided for in the applicable Participation Agreement, if an Eligible Employee makes a valid election under COBRA to continue his or her health coverage, the Company will pay the cost of such
1
continuation coverage for the Eligible Employee and any of the Eligible Employee’s eligible dependents that were covered under the Company’s health care plans immediately prior to the date of his or her eligible termination until the earliest of (i) the end of the period following the Qualified Termination set forth in the applicable Participation Agreement; provided that, if the Eligible Employee’s CIC Qualified Termination occurs prior to the 12-month anniversary of the Eligible Employee’s Start Date, the length of the applicable period will be pro-rated by multiplying the length of such period by the quotient of (x) the number of days between the Start Date and the date of the Qualified Termination and (y) 365, with such resulting pro-rated period rounded up to the nearest whole month; and provided further that, if the Eligible Employee’s Non-CIC Qualified Termination occurs prior to the 12-month anniversary of the Eligible Employee’s Start Date, the length of the applicable period will be equal to 50% of the length of the period set forth in the applicable Participation Agreement, (ii) the date upon which the Eligible Employee and/or the Eligible Employee’s eligible dependents become covered under similar plans or (iii) the date upon which the Eligible Employee ceases to be eligible for coverage under COBRA (such payments, the “COBRA Premiums”). However, if the Company determines in its sole discretion that it cannot pay the COBRA Premiums without potentially violating applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), the Company will in lieu thereof provide to the Eligible Employee a taxable lump-sum payment equal to the total amount of the COBRA premiums that the Executive would be required to pay to continue his or her group health coverage in effect on the date of his or her Qualified Termination (which amount will be based on the premium rates applicable for the first month of COBRA coverage for the Eligible Employee and any of eligible dependents of the Eligible Employee) for the period of time set forth in the applicable Participation Agreement (subject to any applicable pro-ration as provided for in subsection (i)) following the Qualified Termination (the “COBRA Replacement Payment”), payable on the first Company payroll date following the effective date of the Release (subject to any delay as provided in Section 10). The COBRA Replacement Payment (if any) will be made regardless of whether the Eligible Employee elects COBRA continuation coverage. For the avoidance of doubt, the COBRA Replacement Payment may be used for any purpose, including, but not limited to continuation coverage under COBRA, and will be subject to all applicable tax withholdings. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary under this Policy, if at any time the Company determines in its sole discretion that it cannot provide the COBRA Premiums or the COBRA Replacement Payment without violating applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), the Eligible Employee will not receive any further COBRA Premiums or the COBRA Replacement Payment.
5.Equity Benefits: On a CIC Qualified Termination, acceleration of vesting as to a percentage of the then-unvested shares or rights subject to all equity awards which have been granted to the Eligible Employee, as set forth in the applicable Participation Agreement; provided that, if the Eligible Employee’s CIC Qualified Termination occurs prior to the 12-month anniversary of the Eligible Employee’s Start Date, the applicable percentage will be pro-rated by multiplying such percentage by the quotient of (x) the number of days between the Start Date and the date of the CIC Qualified Termination and (y) 365. In the case of an equity award with performance-based vesting, unless otherwise specified in the applicable equity award agreement governing such award, all performance goals and other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at target or as earned (determined on a pro rata basis) if greater. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of the Eligible Employee’s Non-CIC Qualified Termination, any unvested portion of the Eligible Employee’s then-outstanding equity awards will remain outstanding until the earlier of (x) 3 months following the Non-CIC Qualified Termination (the “Closing Deadline”) or (y) the occurrence of a Change in Control, solely so that any benefits due on a CIC Qualified Termination can be provided if a Change in Control occurs within the 3-month period following the Non-CIC Qualified Termination (provided that in no event will the Executive’s stock options or similar equity awards remain outstanding beyond the equity award’s maximum term to expiration). If no Change in Control occurs within the 3-month period following a Non-CIC Qualified Termination, any unvested portion of the Eligible Employee’s equity awards automatically and permanently will be forfeited on the 3-month anniversary following the date of the Non-CIC Qualified Termination without having vested.
2
6.Bonus Severance. On a CIC Qualified Termination, an Eligible Employee will be eligible to receive a lump-sum payment equal to 100% of the Eligible Employee’s target bonus as in effect for the fiscal year in which the CIC Qualified Termination occurs, payable on the first Company payroll date following the effective date of the Release (subject to any delay as provided in Section 10), less applicable withholdings; provided that, (i) if so provided in the applicable Participation Agreement, the applicable lump-sum payment will be pro-rated by multiplying such lump-sum payment by the quotient of (x) the number of days between the start of the performance period to which the applicable target bonus relates and the date of the CIC Qualified Termination, and (y) the number of days in such performance period, and (ii) if the Eligible Employee’s CIC Qualified Termination occurs prior to the 12-month anniversary of the Eligible Employee’s Start Date, the applicable lump-sum payment will be pro-rated by multiplying such lump-sum payment by the quotient of (a) the number of days between the Start Date and the date of the CIC Qualified Termination and (b) 365. For the avoidance of doubt, the pro-ration applied by subsections (i) and (ii) will jointly apply with respect to an applicable Eligible Employee whose CIC Qualified Termination occurs less than 12 months following the applicable Start Date.
7.Non-Duplication of Payment or Benefits: If (i) an Eligible Employee’s termination occurs during the 3 month period prior to a Change in Control that qualifies him or her for Salary Severance and COBRA Benefits payable on a Non-CIC Qualified Termination under this Policy and the applicable Participation Agreement, and (ii) a Change in Control occurs by the Closing Deadline that qualifies him or her for the Salary Severance, COBRA Benefits and Bonus Severance payable on a CIC Qualified Termination under this Policy and the applicable Participation Agreement, then (x) the Eligible Employee will cease receiving any further payments or benefits under this Policy in connection with his or her Non-CIC Qualified Termination and (y) the Salary Severance and COBRA Premiums (or the COBRA Replacement Payment) otherwise payable to the Eligible Employee on a CIC Qualified Termination under this Policy and the applicable Participation Agreement will each be offset by the corresponding payments or benefits already paid to the Eligible Employee under this Policy and the applicable Participation Agreement upon a Non-CIC Qualified Termination.
8.Death of Eligible Employee: If the Eligible Employee dies before all payments or benefits he or she is entitled to receive under this Policy and the applicable Participation Agreement have been paid, then (i) the COBRA Premiums to the Eligible Employee will immediately cease (and the COBRA Replacement Payment will not be paid to the Eligible Employee) and (ii) any such unpaid Salary Severance, Bonus Severance or Equity Benefits will be paid to his or her designated beneficiary, if living, or otherwise to his or her personal representative in a lump-sum payment as soon as possible following his or her death.
9.Release: The Eligible Employee’s receipt of any severance payments or benefits upon his or Qualified Termination under this Policy is subject to the Eligible Employee signing and not revoking the Company’s then-standard separation agreement and release of claims (which may include an agreement not to disparage the Company, non-solicit provisions, and other standard terms and conditions) (the “Release” and such requirement, the “Release Requirement”), which must become effective and irrevocable no later than the 60th day following the Eligible Employee’s Qualified Termination (the “Release Deadline”). If the Release does not become effective and irrevocable by the Release Deadline, the Eligible Employee will forfeit any right to severance payments or benefits under this Policy. In no event will severance payments or benefits under the Policy be paid or provided until the Release actually becomes effective and irrevocable. Notwithstanding any other payment schedule set forth in this Policy, none of the severance payments and benefits payable upon such Eligible Employee’s Qualified Termination under this Policy will be paid or otherwise provided prior to the 60th day following the Eligible Employee’s Qualified Termination. Except to the extent that payments are delayed under the paragraph below entitled “Section 409A,” on the first regular payroll pay day following the 60th day following the Eligible Employee’s Qualified Termination, the Company will pay or provide the Eligible Employee the severance payments and benefits that the Eligible Employee would otherwise have received under this Policy on or prior to such date, with the balance of such severance payments and benefits being paid or provided as originally scheduled.
10.Section 409A:
3
c.For purposes of this Policy, no payment will be made to an Eligible Employee upon termination of his or her employment unless such termination constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A and Section 1.409A-l(h) of the regulations promulgated thereunder.
d.To the extent any payments to which an Eligible Employee becomes entitled under this Policy, or any agreement or plan referenced herein, in connection with his or her separation from service from the Company constitute deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code (the “Deferred Payments”), such payments will be paid on, or in the case of installments, will not commence, until the 60th day following the Eligible Employee’s separation from service, or if later, such time as required by Section 10.c. Except as required by 10.c., any installment payments that would have been made to an Eligible Employee during the 60 day period immediately following such Eligible Employee’s separation from service but for the preceding sentence will be paid to Eligible Employee on or around the 60th day following Eligible Employee’s separation from service and the remaining payments will be made as provided herein.
e.If an Eligible Employee is deemed at the time of such separation from service to be a “specified employee” under Code Section 409A, then any Deferred Payment(s) shall not be made or commence until the earliest of (i) the expiration of the 6 month period measured from the date of his or her “separation from service” (as such term is at the time defined in Treasury Regulations under Code Section 409A) with the Company or (ii) the date of his or her death following such separation from service; provided, however, that such deferral shall only be effected to the extent required to avoid adverse tax treatment to the Eligible Employee, including (without limitation) the additional 20% tax for which the Eligible Employee would otherwise be liable under Code Section 409A(a)(l)(B) in the absence of such deferral. Upon the expiration of the applicable deferral period, any payments which would have otherwise been made during that period (whether in a single sum or in installments) in the absence of this paragraph shall be paid to the Eligible Employee or his or her beneficiary in one lump sum.
f.The Company reserves the right to amend the Policy as it deems necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion and without the consent of any Eligible Employee or any other individual, to comply with any provision required to avoid the imposition of the additional tax imposed under Code Section 409A or to otherwise avoid income recognition under Code Section 409A prior to the actual payment of any benefits or imposition of any additional tax. Each payment and benefit payable hereunder is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Section 1.409A-2(b)(2) of the Treasury Regulations. In no event will the Company reimburse an Eligible Employee for any taxes that may be imposed on the Eligible Employee as a result of Section 409A.
11.Parachute Payments:
g.Reduction of Severance Benefits. Notwithstanding anything set forth herein to the contrary, if any payment or benefit that an Eligible Employee would receive from the Company or any other party whether in connection with the provisions herein or otherwise (the “Payment”) would (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and (ii) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then such Payment will be equal to the Best Results Amount. The “Best Results Amount” will be either (x) the full amount of such Payment or (y) such lesser amount as would result in no portion of the Payment being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in the Eligible Employee’s receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater amount notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax. If a reduction in payments or benefits constituting parachute payments is necessary so that the Payment equals the Best Results Amount, reduction will occur in the following order: reduction of cash payments; cancellation of awards granted “contingent on a change in ownership or control” (within the meaning of Code Section 280G); cancellation of accelerated vesting of stock awards; and reduction of employee benefits.
4
In the event that acceleration of vesting of stock award compensation is to be reduced, such acceleration of vesting will be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant of the Eligible Employee’s equity awards.
h.Determination of Excise Tax Liability. The Company will select a professional services firm to make all of the determinations required to be made under these paragraphs relating to parachute payments. The Company will request that firm provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Eligible Employee prior to the date on which the event that triggers the Payment occurs if administratively feasible, or subsequent to such date if events occur that result in parachute payments to the Eligible Employee at that time. For purposes of making the calculations required under these paragraphs relating to parachute payments, the firm may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith determinations concerning the application of the Code. The Company and the Eligible Employee will furnish to the firm such information and documents as the firm may reasonably request in order to make a determination under these paragraphs relating to parachute payments. The Company will bear all costs the firm may reasonably incur in connection with any calculations contemplated by these paragraphs relating to parachute payments. Any such determination by the firm will be binding upon the Company and the Eligible Employee, and the Company will have no liability to the Eligible Employee for the determinations of the firm.
12.Administration: The Policy will be administered by the Compensation Committee or its delegate (in each case, an “Administrator”). The Administrator will have full discretion to administer and interpret the Policy. Any decision made or other action taken by the Administrator with respect to the Policy and any interpretation by the Administrator of any term or condition of the Policy, or any related document, will be conclusive and binding on all persons and be given the maximum possible deference allowed by law. The Administrator is the “plan administrator” of the Policy for purposes of ERISA and will be subject to the fiduciary standards of ERISA when acting in such capacity.
13.Exclusive Benefits: This Policy is intended to be the only agreement between the Eligible Employee and the Company regarding any change in control severance payments or benefits to be paid to the Eligible Employee on account of a termination of employment whether unrelated to, concurrent with, or following, a Change in Control. Accordingly, by executing a Participation Agreement, an Eligible Employee hereby forfeits and waives any rights to any severance or change in control benefits set forth in any employment agreement, offer letter, and/or equity award agreement, except as set forth in this Policy.
14.Tax Obligations: All payments and benefits under this Policy will be paid less applicable withholding taxes. The Company is authorized to withhold from any payments or benefits all federal, state, local and/or foreign taxes required to be withheld therefrom and any other required payroll deductions. The Company will not pay any Eligible Employee’s taxes arising from or relating to any payments or benefits under this Policy. The Eligible Employee will be solely responsible for the payment of all personal tax liability that is incurred as a result of the payments and benefits received under this Policy, and the Eligible Employee will not be reimbursed by the Company for any such payments.
15.Amendment or Termination: The Board or the Compensation Committee may amend or terminate the Policy at any time without advance notice to any Eligible Employee or other individual and without regard to the effect of the amendment or termination on any Eligible Employee or on any other individual, except that any amendment or termination of the Policy that would reduce the benefits provided hereunder or impair an Eligible Employee’s eligibility under the Policy will not be effective with respect to such Eligible Employee without such Eligible Employee’s prior written consent. Any action in amending or terminating the Policy will be taken in a non-fiduciary capacity.
16.Claims Procedure: Any Eligible Employee who believes he or she is entitled to any payment under the Policy may submit a claim in writing to the Administrator. If the claim is denied (in
5
full or in part), the claimant will be provided a written notice explaining the specific reasons for the denial and referring to the provisions of the Policy on which the denial is based. The notice will also describe any additional information needed to support the claim and the Policy’s procedures for appealing the denial. The denial notice will be provided within 90 days after the claim is received. If special circumstances require an extension of time (up to 90 days), written notice of the extension will be given within the initial 90 day period. This notice of extension will indicate the special circumstances requiring the extension of time and the date by which the Administrator expects to render its decision on the claim.
17.Appeal Procedure: If the claimant’s claim is denied, the claimant (or his or her authorized representative) may apply in writing to the Administrator for a review of the decision denying the claim. Review must be requested within 60 days following the date the claimant received the written notice of their claim denial or else the claimant loses the right to review. The claimant (or representative) then has the right to review and obtain copies of all documents and other information relevant to the claim, upon request and at no charge, and to submit issues and comments in writing. The Administrator will provide written notice of the decision on review within 60 days after it receives a review request. If additional time (up to 60 days) is needed to review the request, the claimant (or representative) will be given written notice of the reason for the delay. This notice of extension will indicate the special circumstances requiring the extension of time and the date by which the Administrator expects to render its decision. If the claim is denied (in full or in part), the claimant will be provided a written notice explaining the specific reasons for the denial and referring to the provisions of the Policy on which the denial is based. The notice will also include a statement that the claimant will be provided, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents and other information relevant to the claim and a statement regarding the claimant’s right to bring an action under Section 502(a) of ERISA.
18.Successors: Any successor to the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s business and/or assets (whether direct or indirect and whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, liquidation or other transaction) shall assume the obligations under the Policy and agree expressly to perform the obligations under the Policy in the same manner and to the same extent as the Company would be required to perform such obligations in the absence of a succession. For all purposes under the Policy, the term “Company” will include any successor to the Company’s business and/or assets which becomes bound by the terms of the Policy by operation of law, or otherwise. Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this Policy and each Participation Agreement.
19.Applicable Law: The provisions of the Policy will be construed, administered, and enforced in accordance with ERISA and, to the extent applicable, the internal substantive laws of the state of California (but not its conflict of laws provisions).
20.Definitions: The following terms will have the following meanings for purposes of this Policy:
i.“Affiliate” means the Company and any other parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as such terms are defined in Section 424(e) and (1) of the Code.
j.“Base Salary” means the Eligible Employee’s annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to his or her Qualified Termination (or if the Qualified Termination is due to Good Reason based on a material reduction in base salary under Section 20.n.(ii), then the Eligible Employee’s annual base salary in effect immediately prior to such reduction).
k.“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
l.“Bonus Severance” means the severance payments set forth in Section 6.
m.“Cause” means: (i) any material breach by Eligible Employee of any material written agreement between Eligible Employee and the Company or any Affiliate, and Eligible Employee’s failure to cure such breach to the Company’s reasonable satisfaction within
6
30 days after receiving written notice thereof; (ii) any failure by Eligible Employee to comply with the Company’s material written policies or rules as they may be in effect from time to time; (iii) neglect or persistent unsatisfactory performance of Eligible Employee's duties and Eligible Employee’s failure to cure such condition within 30 days after receiving written notice thereof; (iv) Eligible Employee’s repeated failure to follow reasonable and lawful instructions from the Company and Eligible Employee’s failure to cure such condition within 30 days after receiving written notice thereof; (v) Eligible Employee's conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendre to, a felony, any crime involving fraud, embezzlement or any other act of moral turpitude, or any crime that results in, or is reasonably expected to result in, a material adverse effect on the business or reputation of the Company; (vi) Eligible Employee's intentional material damage to the Company's business, property or reputation; (vii) Eligible Employee's unauthorized use or disclosure of any proprietary information or trade secrets of the Company or any other party to whom the Eligible Employee owes an obligation of nondisclosure as a result of his or her relationship with the Company; or (viii) Eligible Employee’s gross misconduct.
n.“Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:
i.A change in the ownership of the Company which occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (“Person”), acquires ownership of the stock of the Company that, together with the stock held by such Person, constitutes more than 50% of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection, the acquisition of additional stock by any one Person, who is considered to own more than 50% of the total voting power of the stock of the Company, will not be considered a Change in Control; or
ii.Any action or event occurring within a 1-year period, as a result of which less than a majority of the members of the Board are Incumbent Directors. “Incumbent Directors” will mean members of the Board who either (A) are members of the Board as of the date hereof, or (B) are elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or nomination (but will not include an individual whose election or nomination is in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of members of the Board); or
iii.A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets which occurs on the date that any Person acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 50% of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (iii), the following will not constitute a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets: (A) a transfer to an entity that is controlled by the Company’s stockholders immediately after the transfer, or (B) a transfer of assets by the Company to: (1) a stockholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to the Company’s stock, (2) an entity, 50% or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, (3) a Person, that owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the Company, or (4) an entity, at least 50% of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a Person described in this subsection (iii)(B)(3). For purposes of this subsection (iii), gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.
7
For purposes of this definition, persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed a Change in Control unless the transaction qualifies as a change in control event within the meaning of Section 409A.
Further and for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction will not constitute a Change in Control if: (i) its sole purpose is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation, or
(ii) its sole purpose is to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.
o.“Change in Control Period” means the period beginning 3 months prior to a Change in Control and ending 12 months following a Change in Control.
p.“CIC Qualified Termination” means a termination of the Eligible Employee’s employment either (i) by the Company without Cause (excluding by reason of the Eligible Employee’s death or Disability) or (ii) by the Executive for Good Reason, in either case, during the Change in Control Period.
q.“COBRA” means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.
r.“COBRA Benefit” means the COBRA premium payments and COBRA Replacement Payments set forth in Section 4.
s.“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
t.“Disability” means that the Eligible Employee has been unable to perform Eligible Employee’s Company duties as the result of Eligible Employee’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness, and such inability, at least 26 weeks after its commencement or 180 days in any consecutive 12-month period, is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and acceptable to Eligible Employee or Eligible Employee’s legal representative (such agreement as to acceptability not to be unreasonably withheld). Termination resulting from Disability may only be effected after at least 30 days’ written notice by the Company of its intention to terminate the Eligible Employee’s employment. In the event that the Eligible Employee resumes the performance of substantially all of Eligible Employee’s duties hereunder before the termination of Eligible Employee’s employment becomes effective, the notice of intent to terminate will automatically be deemed to have been revoked.
u.“Equity Benefits” means the equity award acceleration benefits set forth in Section 5.
v.“Good Reason” means Eligible Employee’s resignation within 30 days following the expiration of any Company cure period (discussed below) following the occurrence of one or more of the following, without Eligible Employee’s express written consent: (i) a material reduction of Eligible Employee’s duties, position or responsibilities, or the removal of Eligible Employee from such position and responsibilities, either of which results in a material diminution of Eligible Employee’s authority, duties or responsibilities, unless Eligible Employee is provided with a comparable position (i.e., a position of equal or greater organizational level, duties, authority, compensation and status); (ii) a material reduction in Eligible Employee’s annual base compensation; provided, however, that a reduction in Eligible Employee’s annual base compensation of 10% or less in any one year will not be deemed a material reduction; (iii) a material change in the geographic location of Eligible Employee’s primary work facility or location; provided, that a relocation of less than 25 miles from Eligible Employee’s then present location or to Eligible Employee’s home as his primary work location will not be
8
considered a material change in geographic location; or (iv) a material breach by the Company of the terms of Eligible Employee’s employment arrangement with the Company. Eligible Employee’s resignation will not be deemed to be for Good Reason unless Eligible Employee has first provided the Company with written notice of the acts or omissions constituting the grounds for “Good Reason” within 90 days of the initial existence of the grounds for “Good Reason” and a reasonable cure period of not less than 30 days following the date the Company receives such notice, and such condition has not been cured during such period.
w.“Non-CIC Qualified Termination” means a termination of the Eligible Employee’s employment that would constitute a CIC Qualified Termination but for the fact that it occurs outside of the Change in Control Period.
x.“Qualified Termination” means either a Non-CIC Qualified Termination or a CIC Qualified Termination.
y.“Salary Severance” means the severance payments set forth in Section 3.
z.“Tier” means the tier of severance benefits an Eligible Employee is entitled to receive under the Policy, depending on the rank of the Eligible Employee on the date the right to severance benefits under the Policy is triggered through an applicable Qualified Termination, as set forth below.
i.“Tier 1” applies to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.
ii.“Tier 2” applies to the Company’s Senior Vice Presidents and Executive Officers other than the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.
iii.“Tier 3” applies to the Company’s Vice Presidents.
21.Additional Information:
Plan Name: Upstart Holdings, Inc. Amended and Restated Executive Change in Control and Severance Policy
Plan Sponsor: Upstart Holdings, Inc.
2950 S. Delaware Street, Suite 300 San Mateo, California 94403
Identification Numbers: [ ]
Plan Year: Company’s Fiscal Year
Plan Administrator: Upstart Holdings, Inc.
Attention: Administrator of the Upstart Holdings, Inc. Amended and Restated Executive Change in Control and Severance Policy
2950 S. Delaware Street, Suite 300 San Mateo, California 94403
Agent for Service of
Legal Process: Upstart Holdings, Inc.
Attention: General Counsel
2950 S. Delaware Street, Suite 300 San Mateo, California 94403
Service of process may also be made upon the Plan Administrator.
9
Type of Plan Severance Plan/Employee Welfare Benefit Plan
Plan Costs The cost of the Policy is paid by the Company.
22.Statement of ERISA Rights:
Eligible Employees have certain rights and protections under ERISA:
They may examine (without charge) all Policy documents, including any amendments and copies of all documents filed with the U.S. Department of Labor, such as the Policy’s annual report (Internal Revenue Service Form 5500). These documents are available for review in the Company’s Human Resources Department.
They may obtain copies of all Policy documents and other Policy information upon written request to the Plan Administrator. A reasonable charge may be made for such copies.
In addition to creating rights for Eligible Employees, ERISA imposes duties upon the people who are responsible for the operation of the Policy. The people who operate the Policy (called “fiduciaries”) have a duty to do so prudently and in the interests of Eligible Employees. No one, including the Company or any other person, may fire or otherwise discriminate against an Eligible Employee in any way to prevent them from obtaining a benefit under the Policy or exercising rights under ERISA. If an Eligible Employee’s claim for a severance benefit is denied, in whole or in part, they must receive a written explanation of the reason for the denial. An Eligible Employee has the right to have the denial of their claim reviewed. (The claim review procedure is explained above.)
Under ERISA, there are steps Eligible Employees can take to enforce the above rights. For instance, if an Eligible Employee requests materials and does not receive them within thirty
(30) days, they may file suit in a federal court. In such a case, the court may require the Administrator to provide the materials and to pay the Eligible Employee up to $110 a day until they receive the materials, unless the materials were not sent because of reasons beyond the control of the Plan Administrator. If an Eligible Employee has a claim which is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, he or she may file suit in a state or federal court. If it should happen that an Eligible Employee is discriminated against for asserting their rights, he or she may seek assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, or may file suit in a federal court.
In any case, the court will decide who will pay court costs and legal fees. If the Eligible Employee is successful, the court may order the person sued to pay these costs and fees. If the Eligible Employee loses, the court may order the Eligible Employee to pay these costs and fees, for example, if it finds that the claim is frivolous.
If an Eligible Employee has any questions regarding the Policy, please contact the Plan Administrator. If an Eligible Employee has any questions about this statement or about their rights under ERISA, they may contact the nearest area office of the Employee Benefits Security Administration (formerly the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration), U.S. Department of Labor, listed in the telephone directory, or the Division of Technical Assistance and Inquiries, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20210. An Eligible Employee may also obtain certain publications about their rights and responsibilities under ERISA by calling the publications hotline of the Employee Benefits Security Administration.
10
EXHIBIT A
Amended and Restated Executive Change in Control and Severance Policy Participation Agreement
This Participation Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between Dave Girouard on the one hand, and Upstart Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) on the other.
You have been designated as eligible to participate in the Company’s Amended and Restated Executive Change in Control and Severance Policy (the “Policy”), a copy of which is attached hereto, pursuant to which you are eligible to receive the applicable Salary Severance, COBRA Benefits, Equity Benefits and Bonus Severance in the amounts set forth below upon the type of Qualified Termination set forth below, subject to the terms and conditions of the Policy. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Agreement have the meanings given to them in the Policy.
•Non-CIC Qualified Termination:
Salary Severance: 12 months
COBRA Benefit: 12 months
Equity Benefits: None
Bonus Severance: None
•CIC Qualified Termination:
Salary Severance: 12 months
COBRA Benefit: 12 months
Equity Benefits: 100%
Bonus Severance: 100% of applicable target bonus, provided that such Bonus Severance will not be subject to the proration set forth in Section 6(i) of the Policy.
You agree that the Policy and the Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties hereto and supersede in their entirety all prior representations, understandings, undertakings or agreements (whether oral or written and whether expressed or implied) of the parties, and will specifically supersede any change in control severance and/or change in control provisions of any offer letter, employment agreement, or equity award agreement entered into between you and the Company.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.
By its signature below, each of the parties signifies its acceptance of the terms of the Policy, in the case of the Company by its duly authorized officer effective as of the last date set forth below.
UPSTART HOLDINGS, INC. ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE
By: Signature:
Date: Date:
Participation Agreement
This Participation Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between [Paul Gu/Anna Counselman/Sanjay Datta] on the one hand, and Upstart Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) on the other.
You have been designated as eligible to participate in the Company’s Amended and Restated Executive Change in Control and Severance Policy (the “Policy”), a copy of which is attached hereto, pursuant to which you are eligible to receive the applicable Salary Severance, COBRA Benefits, Equity Benefits and Bonus Severance in the amounts set forth below upon the type of Qualified Termination set forth below, subject to the terms and conditions of the Policy. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Agreement have the meanings given to them in the Policy.
•Non-CIC Qualified Termination:
Salary Severance: 12 months
COBRA Benefit: 12 months
Equity Benefits: None
Bonus Severance: None
•CIC Qualified Termination:
Salary Severance: 12 months
COBRA Benefit: 12 months
Equity Benefits: 100%
Bonus Severance: 100% of applicable target bonus, provided that such Bonus Severance will be subject to the proration set forth in Section 6(i) of the Policy.
You agree that the Policy and the Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties hereto and supersede in their entirety all prior representations, understandings, undertakings or agreements (whether oral or written and whether expressed or implied) of the parties, and will specifically supersede any change in control severance and/or change in control provisions of any offer letter, employment agreement, or equity award agreement entered into between you and the Company.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.
By its signature below, each of the parties signifies its acceptance of the terms of the Policy, in the case of the Company by its duly authorized officer effective as of the last date set forth below.
UPSTART HOLDINGS, INC. ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE
By: Signature:
Date: Date: