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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): October 25, 2024

 

 

PetIQ, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

Delaware     001-38163     35-2554312
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

230 E. Riverside Dr.
Eagle
, Idaho 
    83616 
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (208) 939-8900

 

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 Instructions A.2. below):

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class  Trading
Symbol(s)
 Name of each exchange
on which registered
Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share  PETQ  The Nasdaq Global Select Market

 

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. ¨

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introductory Note

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K is being filed in connection with the completion of the previously announced Merger (as defined below) pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated August 7, 2024 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among PetIQ, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“PetIQ” or the “Company”), Gula Buyer Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and Gula Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”). Parent and Merger Sub are affiliates of Bansk Group (the “Bansk Group”).

 

On October 25, 2024 (the “Closing Date”), pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub merged with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

The information set forth in the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

 

On the Closing Date, the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”), entered into the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of the Closing Date (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), to the Indenture, dated as of May 19, 2020, by and between the Company and the Trustee (the “Original Indenture” and, together with the First Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), relating to the Company’s 4.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”). As of the Closing Date, $143,750,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes were outstanding.

 

As a result of the Merger, and pursuant to the Indenture, at and after the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), the right to convert each $1,000 principal amount of Notes was changed to a right to convert such principal amount of Notes into solely cash in an amount equal to the conversion rate of the Notes in effect on the relevant conversion date (subject to any adjustment pursuant to the Indenture) multiplied by $31.00.

 

The consummation of the Merger constitutes a Common Stock Change Event, a Fundamental Change and a Make-Whole Fundamental Change (each as defined in the Indenture) under the Indenture. The effective date of the Common Stock Change Event, Fundamental Change and Make-Whole Fundamental Change in respect of the Notes is October 25, 2024, which is the Closing Date.

 

As a result of the Fundamental Change, each holder of the Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase its Notes pursuant to the terms and procedures set forth in the Indenture for a cash repurchase price equal to the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price (as defined in the Indenture).

 

The foregoing descriptions of the Indenture and the transactions contemplated thereby are subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Indenture. A copy of the Original Indenture was filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on May 20, 2020. A copy of the First Supplemental Indenture is filed as Exhibit 4.1 hereto. The Original Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture are incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.  This Current Report on Form 8-K does not constitute an offer to tender for, or purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to tender for, or purchase, any of the Notes or any other security.

 

Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

The information set forth in the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.02.

 

 

 

 

Credit Agreements

 

In connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement on the Closing Date, PetIQ Holdings, LLC (“Holdings”) and PetIQ, LLC (“Opco”), each a subsidiary of the Company, and certain other subsidiaries of the Company, terminated each of the (i) Term Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of April 13, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Term Credit Agreement”), by and among Holdings, Opco, certain other subsidiaries of Holdings party thereto, the lenders party thereto and Jefferies Finance LLC, as administrative agent and collateral agent and (ii) ABL Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of April 13, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ABL Credit Agreement”), by and among Holdings, Opco, certain other subsidiaries of Holdings party thereto, the lenders party thereto and KeyBank National Association, as administrative agent and collateral agent. In connection with the termination of the Term Credit Agreement and the ABL Credit Agreement, all outstanding borrowings and all accrued and unpaid interest and fees due thereunder were paid in full, and all commitments thereunder were terminated.

 

Capped Call Transactions

 

In connection with the issuance of the Notes, the Company entered into capped call transactions (collectively, the “Capped Call Transactions”) with certain financial institutions (each a “Capped Call Counterparty”), certain of which remained outstanding as of the Closing Date prior to giving effect to the Termination Agreements (as defined below).

 

In connection with the Merger, the Company entered into a termination agreement with each Capped Call Counterparty (collectively, the “Termination Agreements”) pursuant to which the Capped Call Transactions with such Capped Call Counterparty terminated on the Closing Date. Pursuant to the Termination Agreements, the Capped Call Counterparties are obligated to make payments in respect of the termination of the Capped Call Transactions on the business day immediately following the Closing Date.

 

Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

 

The information set forth in the Introductory Note and under Items 3.01, 5.01, 5.02, 5.03 and 8.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.01.

 

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time:

 

(i) each share of Class A common stock of the Company that was outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (including any such shares outstanding as a result of the automatic exchange of all outstanding shares of Class B common stock of the Company and all outstanding units of PetIQ Holdings, LLC not held by the Company or any of its subsidiaries for shares of Class A common stock in connection with the consummation of the Merger (the “Mandatory Exchange”), and excluding any Dissenting Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and any shares held by the Company, Parent or any of their respective subsidiaries (including the Rollover Shares (as defined below))), was canceled and ceased to exist and was converted into the right to receive $31.00 in cash, without interest (the “Merger Consideration”), subject to applicable withholding taxes;

 

(ii) each option to purchase shares of common stock of the Company that was outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (each, a “Company Option”), whether vested or unvested, was automatically cancelled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) the total number of shares of common stock underlying such Company Option, multiplied by (ii) the excess, if any, of (A) the Merger Consideration over (B) the per share exercise price for such Company Option, less applicable withholding taxes;

 

(iii) each Company Option, whether vested or unvested, that had an exercise price per share that was greater than or equal to the Merger Consideration was automatically cancelled for no consideration or payment; and

 

(iv) each of the Company’s outstanding restricted stock unit awards that was outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (each, a “Company RSU”), whether vested or unvested, was automatically cancelled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to (i) the total number of shares of common stock underlying such Company RSU, multiplied by (ii) the Merger Consideration, less applicable withholding taxes.

 

The foregoing description of the Merger and the Merger Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement, a copy of which was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 7, 2024. Such exhibit is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.01.

 

 

 

 

In connection with the consummation of the Merger, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in those certain rollover agreements (collectively, the “Rollover Agreements”) entered into by certain of our stockholders (the “Rollover Persons”), including certain of our named executive officers, with a parent entity of Parent (“TopCo”), (i) immediately prior to and contingent upon the occurrence of the Merger, TopCo issued to each Rollover Person a number of newly issued non-voting common units of TopCo in exchange for a number of shares of common stock of the Company held by such Rollover Person having an equivalent value (collectively, the “Rollover Shares”) and (ii) the Rollover Persons reinvested a portion of their respective after-tax proceeds from the consideration received in respect of their Company Options and Company RSUs into a number of newly issued non-voting common units of TopCo, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable Rollover Agreement.  Pursuant to the Rollover Agreements, each of the Rollover Persons entered into an amended and restated limited partnership agreement of TopCo, and the TopCo units received by the Rollover Persons pursuant to their respective Rollover Agreements are subject to the restrictions on transfer and other terms and conditions of such limited partnership agreement.  The Rollover Persons are not entitled to receive the Merger Consideration in respect of the Rollover Shares.

 

Item 3.01 Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.

 

The information set forth in the Introductory Note and under Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.01.

 

On the Closing Date, the Company (i) notified The Nasdaq Global Select Market (“NASDAQ”) of the consummation of the Merger and (ii) requested that NASDAQ file a Form 25 Notification of Removal from Listing and/or Registration with the SEC to remove the Class A common stock from listing on NASDAQ and deregister the Class A common stock pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

 

After effectiveness of the Form 25, the Company intends to file with the SEC a Certification and Notice of Termination on Form 15 to terminate the registration of the Class A common stock under the Exchange Act and suspend the Company’s reporting obligations under Section 13 and Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Trading of the Class A common stock on NASDAQ was halted prior to the opening of trading on the Closing Date.

 

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

 

The information set forth in the Introductory Note and under Items 2.01, 3.01, 5.01 and 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.

 

Except as described in Item 2.01, pursuant to the Merger Agreement each outstanding share of Class A common stock that was issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, including any such shares issued and outstanding as a result of the Mandatory Exchange, was automatically converted at the Effective Time into the right to receive the Merger Consideration. Accordingly, at the Effective Time, the holders of such shares of common stock ceased to have any rights as stockholders of the Company, other than the right to receive the Merger Consideration.

 

Item 5.01 Changes in Control of Registrant.

 

The information set forth in the Introductory Note and under Items 2.01, 3.01, 3.03, 5.02 and 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.01.

 

As a result of the Merger, at the Effective Time, a change in control of the Company occurred, and the Company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. Parent funded the aggregate Merger Consideration of approximately $986 million with debt and equity financing.

 

 

 

 

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

The information set forth in the Introductory Note and under Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02.

 

At the Effective Time, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Mark First, Allan Hall, Scott Huff, Kimberly Lefko, Sheryl O’Loughlin and Kenneth Walker, each of whom was a director of the Company as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, ceased to be a director of the Company and a member of any committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. Following the Effective Time, McCord Christensen remains a director of the Company, and Bart Becht, Chris Kelly, Tim Stone and Sarah Nesi were appointed directors of the Company.

 

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

 

The information set forth in the Introductory Note and under Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.

 

Effective upon completion of the Merger, the certificate of incorporation of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the Merger, was amended and restated to be in the form of the certificate of incorporation attached as Exhibit 3.1 hereto. Such exhibit is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.

 

Effective upon completion of the Merger, the bylaws of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the Merger, were amended and restated to be in the form of the bylaws attached as Exhibit 3.2 hereto. Such exhibit is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

 

On the Closing Date, the Company issued a press release announcing the completion of the Merger. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)            Exhibits

 

Exhibit No. Description
2.1* Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated August 7, 2024 among Gula Buyer Inc., Gula Merger Sub Inc. and PetIQ, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 7, 2024)
   
3.1 Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of PetIQ, Inc.
   
3.2 Second Amended and Restated By-Laws of PetIQ, Inc.
   
4.1 First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 25, 2024, to the Indenture, dated May 19, 2020, by and between PetIQ, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association)
   
99.1 Press Release, dated as of October 25, 2024
   
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

 

* Certain exhibits and schedules to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger have been omitted from this pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Company will furnish copies of such exhibits and schedules to the SEC upon its request.

 

 

 

 

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.

 

  PetIQ, Inc.
   
Dated: October 25, 2024 By: /s/ McCord Christensen
    McCord Christensen
    Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

PETIQ, INC.

 

October 25, 2024

 

FIRST: The name of the corporation is PetIQ, Inc. (the “Corporation”).

 

SECOND: The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware is Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19808. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Service Company.

 

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

 

FOURTH: The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,000, and the par value of each such share is $0.01, amounting in the aggregate to $10.00.

 

FIFTH: The Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”).

 

SIXTH: Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.

 

SEVENTH: The Corporation expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of Delaware Law.

 

EIGHTH: (1) No current or former director or officer of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except, to the extent provided by applicable law, for liability (i) for breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of Delaware Law or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. If Delaware Law is hereafter amended to authorize corporate action further limiting or eliminating the personal liability of directors, then the liability of each current or former director or officer of the Corporation shall be limited or eliminated to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware Law as so amended from time to time. Neither any amendment nor repeal of this Section, nor the adoption of any provision of this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Section, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Section in respect of any matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Section, would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision.

 

 

 

 

(2)          The Corporation shall, in accordance with this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws, indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) (a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, member, trustee, partner, representative or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans maintained or sponsored by the Corporation (an “Indemnitee”), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Indemnitee. The Corporation shall be required to indemnify an Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee only if the initiation of such Proceeding (or part thereof) by the Indemnitee was authorized by the Board of Directors. Each person who was, is or becomes a director or officer of the Corporation shall be deemed to have served or to have continued to serve in such capacity in reliance upon the indemnity provided for in this Section. All rights to indemnification under this Section shall be deemed to have vested at the time such person becomes or became a director or officer of the Corporation, and such rights shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee heirs, executors and administrators. Any amendment, modification, alteration or repeal of this Section that in any way diminishes, limits, restricts, adversely affects or eliminates any right of an Indemnitee or his or her successors to indemnification, advancement of expenses or otherwise shall be prospective only and shall not in any way diminish, limit, restrict, adversely affect or eliminate any such right with respect to any actual or alleged state of facts, occurrence, action or omission then or previously existing, or any action, suit or proceeding previously or thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part upon any such actual or alleged state of facts, occurrence, action or omission. Claims for indemnification shall be made pursuant to the procedural requirements of the Bylaws.

 

(3)           The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under Delaware Law.

 

NINTH: The Corporation reserves the right to amend this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in any manner permitted by Delaware Law and all rights and powers conferred herein on stockholders, directors and officers, if any, are subject to this reserved power.

 

2

Exhibit 3.2

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

BYLAWS

OF

PETIQ, INC.

* * * * *

Article 1

Offices

Section 1.01. Registered Office. The registered office of PetIQ, Inc. (the “Corporation”) shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware.

Section 1.02. Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

Section 1.03. Books. The books of the Corporation may be kept within or without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

Article 2
Meetings of Stockholders

Section 2.01. Time and Place of Meetings. All meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date and at such time as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors (or the Chairman in the absence of a designation by the Board of Directors).

Section 2.02. Annual Meetings. Unless directors are elected by written consent in lieu of an annual meeting as permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (“Delaware Law”), an annual meeting of stockholders shall be held for the election of directors and to transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting at such date and time as may be designated by the Board from time to time. Stockholders may, unless the certificate of incorporation otherwise provides, act by written consent to elect directors; provided, however, that if such consent is less than unanimous, such action by written consent may be in lieu of holding an annual meeting only if all of the directorships to which directors could be elected at an annual meeting held at the effective time of such action are vacant and are filled by such action.

 

Section 2.03. Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders may be called by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board and shall be called by the Secretary at the request in writing of holders of record of a majority of the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote. Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.

Section 2.04. Notice of Meetings and Adjourned Meetings; Waivers of Notice. (a) Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall be given which 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, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise provided by Delaware Law, such notice shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. Unless these bylaws otherwise require, when a meeting is adjourned to another time or place (whether or not a quorum is present), notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, 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 meeting, are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

(b)            A written waiver of any such notice signed by the person entitled thereto, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends the 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. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.

Section 2.05. Quorum. Unless otherwise provided under the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws and subject to Delaware Law, the presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, a majority in voting interest of the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy may adjourn the meeting, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.

Section 2.06. Voting. (a) Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation and subject to Delaware Law, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each outstanding share of capital stock of the Corporation held by such stockholder. Any share of capital stock of the Corporation held by the Corporation shall have no voting rights. Except as otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, in all matters other than the election of directors, the affirmative vote of the majority of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders.

 

(b)            Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to a corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, appointed by an instrument in writing, subscribed by such stockholder or by his attorney thereunto authorized, or by proxy sent by cable, telegram or by any means of electronic communication permitted by law, which results in a writing from such stockholder or by his attorney, and delivered to the secretary of the meeting. No proxy shall be voted after three (3) years from its date, unless said proxy provides for a longer period.

(c)            In determining the number of votes cast for or against a proposal or nominee, shares abstaining from voting on a matter will not be treated as a vote cast.

Section 2.07. Action by Consent. (a)Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation and subject to the proviso in Section 2.02, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding capital stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders to take the action were delivered to the Corporation as provided in Section 2.07(b).

(b)            Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent, and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within 60 days of the earliest dated consent delivered in the manner required by this section and Delaware Law to the Corporation, written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take action are delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.

 

Section 2.08. Organization. At each meeting of stockholders, the Chairman of the Board, if one shall have been elected, or in the Chairman’s absence or if one shall not have been elected, the director designated by the vote of the majority of the directors present at such meeting, shall act as chairman of the meeting. The Secretary (or in the Secretary’s absence or inability to act, the person whom the chairman of the meeting shall appoint secretary of the meeting) shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

Section 2.09. Order of Business. The order of business at all meetings of stockholders shall be as determined by the chairman of the meeting.

Article 3
Directors

Section 3.01. General Powers. Except as otherwise provided in Delaware Law or the certificate of incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

Section 3.02. Number, Election and Term Of Office. (a) The number of directors which shall constitute the whole Board shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors but shall not be less than two or more than nine. The directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders by written ballot, except as provided in Section 2.02 and Section 3.12 herein, and each director so elected shall hold office until such director’s successor is elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Directors need not be stockholders.

(b)  Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect additional directors under specific circumstances, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors.

Section 3.03. Quorum and Manner of Acting. Unless the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws require a greater number, a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place (whether or not a quorum is present), notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors the directors present thereat shall adjourn the meeting, from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

 

Section 3.04. Time and Place of Meetings. The Board of Directors shall hold its meetings at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors (or the Chairman in the absence of a determination by the Board of Directors).

Section 3.05. Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors shall meet for the purpose of organization, the election of officers and the transaction of other business, as soon as practicable after each annual meeting of stockholders, on the same day and at the same place where such annual meeting shall be held. Notice of such meeting need not be given. In the event such annual meeting is not so held, the annual meeting of the Board of Directors may be held at such place either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date and at such time as shall be specified in a notice thereof given as hereinafter provided in Section 3.07 herein or in a waiver of notice thereof signed by any director who chooses to waive the requirement of notice.

Section 3.06. Regular Meetings. After the place and time of regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall have been determined and notice thereof shall have been once given to each member of the Board of Directors, regular meetings may be held without further notice being given.

Section 3.07. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board or the President and shall be called by the Chairman of the Board, President or Secretary on the written request of two directors. Notice of special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director at least three days before the date of the meeting in such manner as is determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 3.08. Committees. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board 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 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, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to any of the following matters: (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by Delaware Law to be submitted to the stockholders for approval or (b) adopting, amending or repealing any bylaw of the Corporation. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required.

 

Section 3.09. Action by Consent. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions, are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

Section 3.10. Telephonic Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors, or such committee, as the case may be, 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.

Section 3.11. Resignation. Any director may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Board of Directors or to the Secretary of the Corporation. The resignation of any director shall take effect upon receipt of notice thereof or at such later time as shall be specified in such notice; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Section 3.12. Vacancies. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors elected by all 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. Whenever the holders of any class or classes of stock or series thereof are entitled to elect one or more directors by the certificate of incorporation, vacancies and newly created directorships of such class or classes or series may be filled by a majority of directors elected by such class or classes or series thereof then in office, or by a sole remaining director so elected. Each director so chosen shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. If there are no directors in office, then an election of directors may be held in accordance with Delaware Law. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, when one or more directors shall resign from the Board, effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office shall have the power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office as provided in the filling of other vacancies.

Section 3.13. Removal. Any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, at any time by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation then entitled to vote at any election of directors and the vacancies thus created may be filled in accordance with Section 3.12 herein.

 

Section 3.14. Compensation. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have authority to fix the compensation of directors, including fees and reimbursement of expenses.

Article 4
Officers

Section 4.01. Principal Officers. The principal officers of the Corporation shall be a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Treasurer and a Secretary who shall have the duty, among other things, to record the proceedings of the meetings of stockholders and directors in a book kept for that purpose. The Corporation may also have such other principal officers, including one or more Controllers, as the Board may in its discretion appoint. One person may hold the offices and perform the duties of any two or more of said offices, except that no one person shall hold the offices and perform the duties of President and Secretary.

Section 4.02. Election, Term of Office and Remuneration. The principal officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the annual meeting thereof. Each such officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. The remuneration of all officers of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors. Any vacancy in any office shall be filled in such manner as the Board of Directors shall determine.

Section 4.03. Subordinate Officers. In addition to the principal officers enumerated in Section 4.01 herein, the Corporation may have one or more Assistant Treasurers, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Controllers and such other subordinate officers, agents and employees as the Board of Directors may deem necessary, each of whom shall hold office for such period as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. The Board of Directors may delegate to any principal officer the power to appoint and to remove any such subordinate officers, agents or employees.

Section 4.04. Removal. Except as otherwise permitted with respect to subordinate officers, any officer may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.

Section 4.05. Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors (or to a principal officer if the Board of Directors has delegated to such principal officer the power to appoint and to remove such officer). The resignation of any officer shall take effect upon receipt of notice thereof or at such later time as shall be specified in such notice; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Section 4.06. Powers and Duties. The officers of the Corporation shall have such powers and perform such duties incident to each of their respective offices and such other duties as may from time to time be conferred upon or assigned to them by the Board of Directors.

 

Article 5
Capital Stock

Section 5.01. Certificates For Stock; Uncertificated Shares. The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors of the Corporation may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Except as otherwise provided by law, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated shares and the rights and obligations of the holders of shares represented by certificates of the same class and series shall be identical. Every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by any two authorized officers of the Corporation 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 shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. The Corporation shall not have power to issue a certificate in bearer form.

Section 5.02. Transfer Of Shares. Shares of the stock of the Corporation may be transferred on the record of stockholders of the Corporation by the holder thereof or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney upon surrender of a certificate therefor properly endorsed or upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered holder of uncertificated shares or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney and upon compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form, unless waived by the Corporation.

Section 5.03. Authority for Additional Rules Regarding Transfer. The Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as they may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificated or uncertificated shares of the stock of the Corporation, as well as for the issuance of new certificates in lieu of those which may be lost or destroyed, and may require of any stockholder requesting replacement of lost or destroyed certificates, bond in such amount and in such form as they may deem expedient to indemnify the Corporation, and/or the transfer agents, and/or the registrars of its stock against any claims arising in connection therewith.

 

 

Article 6
Indemnification

Section 6.01. Right to Indemnification. The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, member, trustee, partner, manager, representative or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans maintained or sponsored by the Corporation (an “Indemnitee”), whether the basis in such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as director, officer, employee, member, trustee, partner, manager, representative or agent or in any other capacity while serving as such, against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties, and amounts paid in settlement) incurred or suffered by such Indemnitee in connection therewith, 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 Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. The Corporation shall indemnify an Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee only if the initiation of such Proceeding (or part thereof) by the Indemnitee was authorized by the Board of Directors.

Section 6.02. Prepayment of Expenses. The Corporation shall pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an Indemnitee in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that the payment of expenses incurred by a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking (an “Undertaking”) by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article or otherwise.

Section 6.03. Claims.

(a)            To obtain indemnification under this Article 6, an Indemnitee shall submit to the Corporation a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the claimant is entitled to indemnification. Upon written request by an Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 6.3(a), a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to the Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made (1) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who are not and were not parties to the matter in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee (“Disinterested Directors”), (2) if a quorum of the Board of Directors consisting of Disinterested Directors is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, such quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs, by less than a quorum of the Board of Directors consisting of Disinterested Directors or (3) if a majority of Disinterested Directors so directs, by the stockholders of the Corporation.

 

(b)            If a claim for indemnification or payment of expenses under this Article 6 is not paid in full by the Corporation within 60 days after a written claim therefor by the Indemnitee has been received by the Corporation (except in the case of a claim for advancement of expenses, for which the applicable period is 30 days), the Indemnitee may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expenses of prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required Undertaking, if any is required, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the Indemnitee has not met the standard of conduct that makes it permissible under Delaware Law for the Corporation to indemnify the Indemnitee for the amount claimed. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors or stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Delaware Law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors or stockholders) that the Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct. If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6.3(b) that the claimant is entitled to indemnification, the Corporation shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 6.3(b). The Corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 6.3(b) that the procedures and presumptions of this Article 6 are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in such proceeding that the Corporation is bound by all the provisions of this Article 6.

Section 6.04. Employees and Agents. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification, and rights to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, to any current or former employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article 6 with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of current or former directors and officers of the Corporation.

Section 6.05. Nonexclusively of Rights. The rights conferred on any person by this Article 6 shall not be exclusive of any other rights that such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or Disinterested Directors or otherwise.

Section 6.06. Other Indemnification. The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify any person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit enterprise.

 

Section 6.07. Nature of Indemnification Rights; Amendment or Repeal. Each person who was, is, or becomes a director or officer shall be deemed to have served or to have continued to serve in such capacity in reliance upon the indemnity provided for in this Article 6. Such rights shall be deemed to have vested at the time such person becomes or became a director or officer of the Corporation, and such rights shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. Any amendment, modification, alteration or repeal of this Article 6 that in any way diminishes, limits, restricts, adversely affects or eliminates any right of an Indemnitee or his or her successors to indemnification, advancement of expenses or otherwise shall be prospective only and shall not in any way diminish, limit, restrict, adversely affect or eliminate any such right with respect to any actual or alleged state of facts, occurrence, action or omission then or previously existing, or any action, suit or proceeding previously or thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part upon any such actual or alleged state of facts, occurrence, action or omission.

Section 6.08. Enforceability. If any provision or provisions of this Article 6 shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, then (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article 6 (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section or paragraph of this Article 6 containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article 6 (including, without limitation, each such portion of any Section or paragraph of this Article 6 containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

Section 6.09. Insurance for Indemnification. The Corporation may purchase and maintain, at its expense, insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any 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 Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of Section 145 of Delaware Law. To the extent that the Corporation maintains any policy or policies providing such insurance, each such current or former director or officer, and each such agent or employee to which rights to indemnification have been granted as provided in Section 6.4, shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage thereunder for any such current or former director, officer, employee or agent.

Section 6.10. Limitation on Indemnification. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article 6 to the contrary, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification (which shall be governed by Section 6.3), the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any director or officer (or his or her heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives) or advance expenses in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors.

 

Article 7
General Provisions

Section 7.01. Fixing the Record Date. (a)In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, 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 no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the 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 that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

(b)            In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which date shall not be more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by Delaware Law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board of Directors is required by Delaware Law, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

(c)            In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or 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 shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

Section 7.02. Dividends. Subject to limitations contained in Delaware Law and the certificate of incorporation, the Board of Directors may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the Corporation, which dividends may be paid either in cash, in property or in shares of the capital stock of the Corporation.

Section 7.03. Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall commence on January 1 and end on December 31 of each year.

Section 7.04. Corporate Seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware”. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed, affixed or otherwise reproduced.

Section 7.05. Voting of Stock Owned by the Corporation. The Board of Directors may authorize any person, on behalf of the Corporation, to attend, vote at and grant proxies to be used at any meeting of stockholders of any corporation (except this Corporation) in which the Corporation may hold stock.

Section 7.06. Amendments. These bylaws or any of them, may be altered, amended or repealed, or new bylaws may be made, by the stockholders entitled to vote thereon at any annual or special meeting thereof or by the Board of Directors.

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

PETIQ, INC.

 

AND

 

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

 

(as successor to WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee),

 

as Trustee

 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

Dated as of October 25, 2024

 

4.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026

 

 

 

 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of October 25, 2024 (this “Supplemental Indenture”), between PetIQ, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), as issuer, and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee), a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States of America, as trustee (the “Trustee”), to the Indenture, dated as of May 19, 2020 (as supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Indenture”), between the Company and the Trustee.

 

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered the Indenture, pursuant to which the Company issued its 4.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”) in the original aggregate principal amount of $143,750,000;

 

WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 7, 2024 (as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, Gula Buyer Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and Gula Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”);

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”) on the date hereof, with the Company, as the surviving entity in the Merger, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent as of the date hereof;

 

WHEREAS, the Merger constitutes a Common Stock Change Event under the Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, Section 5.09(A) of the Indenture provides that, at or before the effective time of any Common Stock Change Event, the Company and the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (if not the Company) of such Common Stock Change Event will execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 8.01(F) of the Indenture, which supplemental indenture will (x) provide for subsequent conversions of Notes in the manner set forth in Section 5.09 of the Indenture; (y) provide for subsequent adjustments to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 5.05(A) of the Indenture in a manner consistent with Section 5.09 of the Indenture; and (z) contain such other provisions, if any, that the Company reasonably determines are appropriate to preserve the economic interests of the Holders and to give effect to the provisions of Section 5.09(A) of the Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Merger, each outstanding share of Common Stock prior to the effective time of the Merger (other than certain shares of Common Stock as set forth in the Merger Agreement) shall be converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to $31.00, without interest, in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, Section 8.01 of the Indenture provides that the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture without the consent of any Holder to, among other things, (i) enter into supplemental indentures pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 5.09 of the Indenture in connection with a Common Stock Change Event; or (ii) make any change to the Indenture that does not, individually or in the aggregate with all other such changes, adversely affect the rights of the Holders, as such, in any material respect;

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture, the Trustee has received an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as contemplated by Sections 8.06, 11.02 and 11.03 of the Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture and has satisfied all requirements necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid instrument in accordance with its terms.

 

-2-

 

 

WITNESSETH:

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee as follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders:

 

ARTICLE 1

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.01. Definitions in the Supplemental Indenture. Unless otherwise specified herein or the context otherwise requires:

 

(a) a term defined in the Indenture has the same meaning when used in this Supplemental Indenture unless the definition of such term is amended or supplemented pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(b) the terms defined in this Article and in this Supplemental Indenture include the plural as well as the singular; and

 

(c) unless otherwise stated, a reference to a Section or Article is to a Section or Article of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

ARTICLE 2

 

EFFECT OF MERGER ON CONVERSION

 

Section 2.01. Conversion Right. In accordance with and subject to Section 5.09 of the Indenture, from and after the effective time of the Merger, (a) a Reference Property Unit under the Indenture will be comprised of an amount in cash equal to $31.00; (b) the Conversion Consideration due upon conversion of any Note, and the conditions to any such conversion, will be determined in the same manner as if each reference to any number of shares of Common Stock in Article 5 of the Indenture (or in any related definitions) were instead a reference to the same number of Reference Property Units; (c) for purposes of Section 4.03 of the Indenture, each reference to any number of shares of Common Stock in such Section (or in any related definitions) will instead be deemed to be a reference to the same number of Reference Property Units; (d) the Company will be deemed to elect Physical Settlement in respect of all conversions whose Conversion Date occurs on or after the effective date of the Merger and will pay the cash due upon such conversions no later than the fifth (5th) Business Day after the relevant Conversion Date; (e) no further adjustments to the Conversion Rate will be made pursuant to Section 5.05(A) of the Indenture; and (f) the Daily VWAP and Last Reported Sale Price of a Reference Property Unit shall be $31.00.

 

ARTICLE 3

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 3.01. Ratification of Indenture. The Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.

 

-3-

 

 

Section 3.02. Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals. The recitals herein contained are made by the Company and not by the Trustee, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture. All of the provisions contained in the Indenture in respect of the rights, privileges, immunities, powers, and duties of the Trustee shall be applicable in respect of this Supplemental Indenture as fully and with like force and effect as though set forth in full herein.

  

Section 3.03 Successors. All agreements of the Company and the Trustee in this Supplemental Indenture will bind their respective successors.

 

Section 3.04. Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 3.05. Headings, Etc. The titles and headings of the articles and sections of this Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

Section 3.06. Execution in Counterparts. This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. This Supplemental Indenture (and any document executed in connection with this Supplemental Indenture) shall be valid, binding, and enforceable against a party only when executed and delivered by an authorized individual on behalf of the party by means of (i) any electronic signature permitted by the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, state enactments of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, and/or any other relevant electronic signatures law, including relevant provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code/UCC (collectively, “Signature Law”); (ii) an original manual signature; or (iii) a faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature. Each electronic signature or faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature shall for all purposes have the same validity, legal effect, and admissibility in evidence as an original manual signature. Each party hereto shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon, and shall have no liability with respect to, any faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or other electronic signature, of any party and shall have no duty to investigate, confirm or otherwise verify the validity or authenticity thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, original manual signatures shall be used for execution or indorsement of writings when required under the Uniform Commercial Code/UCC or other Signature Law due to the character or intended character of the writings.

 

Section 3.07. Severability. In the event any provision of this Supplemental Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, then (to the extent permitted by law) the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired.

 

Section 3.08. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

-4-

 

 

Section 3.09. Effectiveness. This Supplemental Indenture shall become effective upon, without further action by the parties hereto, the occurrence of the effective time of the Merger under the Merger Agreement.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

  PETIQ, INC.
     
  By: /s/ McCord Christensen
    Name: McCord Christensen
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
 

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Trustee

     
  By: /s/ Corey J. Dahlstrand
    Name: Corey J. Dahlstrand
    Title: Vice President

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

PetIQ, Inc. Announces Successful Completion of Acquisition by Bansk Group

 

EAGLE, Idaho and NEW YORK, New York – October 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - PetIQ, Inc. (“PetIQ” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: PETQ), a leading pet medication, health and wellness company, today announced the successful completion of its acquisition by Bansk Group, a consumer-focused private investment firm dedicated to building distinctive consumer brands, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.5 billion.

 

PetIQ stockholders will receive $31.00 in cash per PetIQ share in accordance with the terms of the transaction. With the completion of the transaction, PetIQ shares no longer trade on and will be delisted from the Nasdaq stock exchange. PetIQ is now a privately held company and continues to be operated independently by the Company’s executive team.

 

“We’re pleased to have delivered significant value for PetIQ stockholders through the completion of our transaction with Bansk Group,” commented Cord Christensen, Founder, Chairman and CEO of PetIQ. “Through our partnership with Bart Becht and the Bansk team, we look forward to accelerating our mission of providing pet parents convenient access to affordable pet healthcare while accelerating many longer-term growth initiatives for PetIQ’s continued success.”

 

“We’re thrilled to partner with Cord and the entire PetIQ team. Together, we look forward to building on the Company’s strong momentum as a leading pet health and wellness platform,” said Chris Kelly, Senior Partner of Bansk Group. “By leveraging our extensive brand, marketing and operational experience, we see clear runway to expand and enhance PetIQ’s capabilities and offerings for pet parents.”

 

“We believe PetIQ is poised for continued success in the resilient and very attractive pet health and wellness category,” said Bart Becht, Senior Partner and Chairman of Bansk Group. “We look forward to supporting the talented PetIQ team in its next phase of growth, through strategic investments in marketing and innovation as well as strategic acquisitions.”

 

Advisors

 

Jefferies LLC served as financial advisor and Cooley LLP served as legal counsel to PetIQ. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP served as legal counsel to Bansk Group.

 

 

 

 

About PetIQ

 

PetIQ is a leading pet medication, health and wellness company delivering a smarter way for pet parents to help their pets live their best lives through convenient access to affordable products and veterinary services. The Company's product business engages with pet parents through retail and e-commerce sales channels with its branded and distributed pet medications as well as health and wellness items. PetIQ manufactures and distributes pet products from its world-class facilities in Omaha, Nebraska, Springville, Utah and Daytona Beach, Florida. The Company’s veterinarian services offering operates in over 2,600 mobile community clinic locations and wellness centers hosted at retail partners in 39 states. PetIQ believes that pets are an important part of the family and deserve the best products and care we can provide them.

 

About Bansk Group

 

Founded in 2019, Bansk Group is a New York-based private investment firm focused on investing in and building distinctive consumer brands. The firm partners with differentiated brands across four primary consumer categories: beauty & personal care, consumer health, food & beverage, and household products.

 

Over their careers with Bansk and elsewhere, Bansk's tenured group of investors and operators have been involved in more than $30 billion of equity capital investments across more than 40 transactions with some of the most innovative and well-known consumer companies in the world. With extensive investment experience in the consumer products industry, a global network of relationships, and a tested value creation playbook, Bansk seeks to partner with exceptional founders and management teams to drive outsized organic and acquisitive growth and position brands for enduring long-term success in the evolving consumer landscape. www.banskgroup.com

 

Contacts

 

For PetIQ, Inc.:

Investors: katie.turner@petiq.com or 208.513.1513

Media: kara.schafer@petiq.com or 407.929.6727

 

For Bansk Group:

Media:

Woomi Yun / Erik Carlson / Madeline Jones

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

+1 (212) 355-4449

 

 

 

 

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This communication includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expect,” “believe,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the benefits of the transaction with Bansk Group. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this communication, and on the current expectations of Company management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and may differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of the Company.

 

Further information on factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated by the forward-looking statements is included in the definitive proxy statement filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 16, 2024, in connection with the Agreement, the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings made by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings, when available, are available on the investor relations section of the Company’s website at https://ir.petiq.com/ or on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov. If any of these risks materialize or any of these assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that the Company presently does not know of or that the Company currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this communication are made only as of the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.