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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 5, 1997
File No. 33-
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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THE TJX COMPANIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 04-2207613
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
770 Cochituate Road
Framingham, Massachusetts 01701
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
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THE TJX COMPANIES, INC. 1986 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
---------------------------
(Full title of the plan)
Donald G. Campbell
The TJX Companies, Inc.
770 Cochituate Road
Framingham, Massachusetts 01701
(508) 390-1000
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(Name, Address and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE (1)
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Title of Securities Amount to be Proposed maximum Proposed maximum Amount of
to be registered registered offering price aggregate offering registration
per share(2) price(1) fee
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Common Stock,
par value $1.00 9,000,000 shares $ 27.375 $ 246,375,000.00 $ 74,659.09
======================================================================================================
(1) PURSUANT TO RULE 429(b) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED,
3,000,000 SHARES OF THE TJX COMPANIES, INC. COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $1.00,
ARE BEING CARRIED FORWARD FROM REGISTRATION STATEMENT 33-12220 FOR WHICH A
FILING FEE OF $17,250.00 WAS PAID, AND 3,000,000 SHARES ARE BEING CARRIED
FORWARD FROM REGISTRATION STATEMENT 33-49747 FOR WHICH A FILING FEE OF
$30,797.85 WAS PAID.
(2) THE PROPOSED MAXIMUM OFFERING PRICE HAS BEEN ESTIMATED SOLELY FOR THE
PURPOSE OF DETERMINING THE REGISTRATION FEE PURSUANT TO RULE 457(h) ON THE
BASIS OF THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGH AND LOW SALE PRICES OF THE TJX COMPANIES,
INC. COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $1.00, REPORTED ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
COMPOSITE TRANSACTIONS TAPE ON AUGUST 28, 1997.
EXHIBIT INDEX ON PAGE 8;
PAGE 1 OF 64 PAGES.
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PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
In accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), and the instructional note to Part I of Form
S-8, the information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a)
prospectus has been omitted from this Registration Statement.
Pursuant to Rule 429 under the Securities Act, this Registration
Statement and the Prospectus contained herein also relate to Common Stock of The
TJX Companies, Inc. to be sold under its 1986 Stock Incentive Plan covered by
Registration Statements No. 33-12220 and 33-49747.
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PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.
The TJX Companies, Inc. (the "Company") hereby incorporates the
following documents herein by reference:
(a) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 25,
1997 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (the "Exchange Act");
(b) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter
ended April 26, 1997, filed under Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act;
and
(c) The Company's Amendment No. 4 on Form 8-A/A dated June 3, 1996 to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A in respect of the Common
Stock, including without limitation the description of the Common Stock
set forth therein.
All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13(a),
Section 13(c), Section 14 and Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment to this registration statement which
indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all
securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed incorporated herein by
reference from the date of filing of such documents.
Item 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.
Not applicable.
Item 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.
Not applicable.
Item 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended,
provides that a corporation may indemnify 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
(other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the
fact that he or she 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 expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he
or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she 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 his or her
conduct was unlawful. Section 145 further provides that a corporation similarly
may indemnify any such person serving in any such capacity who was or is a party
or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed
action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in
its favor, against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such
action or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any
claim, issue or matter as to
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which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation
unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other
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.
The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each of
its directors and officers indemnifying them against expenses, settlements,
judgments and fines incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit, arbitration or proceeding, where the individual's
involvement is by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or
officer or served at the Company's request as a director of another organization
(except that indemnification is not provided against judgments and fines in a
derivative suit unless permitted by Delaware law). An individual may not be
indemnified if such person is found not to have acted in good faith and in a
manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Registrant, except to the extent Delaware law permits broader
contractual indemnification. These indemnification agreements provide
procedures, presumptions and remedies which substantially strengthen the
indemnification rights beyond those provided by the Registrant's Restated
Certificate of Incorporation (the "Certificate") and by Delaware law.
The Registrant's Certificate provides that each person who was or is
made a party to, or is involved in, any action, suit, preceding or claim by
reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer or employee of
the Registrant (or is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a
director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of any other enterprise including
service with respect to employee benefit plans) shall be indemnified and held
harmless by the Registrant, to the full extent permitted by Delaware law, as in
effect from time to time, against all expenses (including attorneys' fees and
expenses), judgments, fines, penalties and amounts to be paid in settlement
incurred by such person in connection with the investigation, preparation to
defend or defense of such action, suit, proceeding or claim.
The rights to indemnification and the payment of expenses provided by
the Registrant's Certificate do not apply to any action, suit, proceeding or
claim initiated by or on behalf of a person otherwise entitled to the benefit of
such provisions. Any person seeking indemnification under the Registrant's
Certificate shall be deemed to have met the standard of conduct required for
such indemnification unless the contrary shall be established. The Registrant's
Certificate provides that the rights to indemnification and the payment of
expenses provided thereby shall not be exclusive of any other right which any
person may have or acquire under any statute, provision of the Registrant's
Certificate or By-laws, or otherwise. Any repeal or modification of such
indemnification provisions shall not adversely affect any right or protection of
a director or officer with respect to any conduct of such director or officer
occurring prior to such repeal or modification.
Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended,
permits a corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a provision
eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the corporation
or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a
director, provided that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the
liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to
the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good
faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law,
(iii) under section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (relating to
unlawful payment of dividend and unlawful stock purchase and redemption) or (iv)
for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal
benefit. The Registrant has provided in its Certificate that its directors shall
be exculpated from liability as provided under Delaware law.
Item 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.
Not applicable.
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Item 8. EXHIBITS.
Exhibit
4.1 The TJX Companies, Inc. 1986 Stock Incentive Plan is filed herewith.
4.2 Third Restated Certificate of Incorporation is filed herewith.
4.3 The by-laws of the Company, as amended (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit (3ii) of the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28,
1995).
5.1 Opinion of Ropes & Gray.
23.1 Consent of Coopers & Lybrand LLP.
23.2 Consent of Ropes & Gray (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24. Powers of Attorney (included in Part II of the Registration Statement
under the caption "signatures").
Item 9. UNDERTAKINGS.
(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by
Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of
1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or
events arising after the effective date of
the registration statement (or the most
recent post-effective amendment thereof),
which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the
information set forth in the registration
statement;
(iii) To include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not
previously disclosed in the registration
statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall
be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at
the termination of the offering.
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(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized in the Town of Framingham, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
THE TJX COMPANIES, INC.
By: /s/ Donald G. Campbell
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Donald G. Campbell
Executive Vice President - Finance
Dated: September 4, 1997
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints
Bernard Cammarata, Donald G. Campbell and Jay H. Meltzer, and each of them
singly, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents full power and authority to be done in and about the premises, as fully
to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf
of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
/s/ Bernard Cammarata /s/ Donald G. Campbell
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Bernard Cammarata, President, Chief Executive Donald G. Campbell, Executive Vice President -
Officer and Director Finance and Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer
/s/ Phyllis B. Davis /s/ Dennis F. Hightower
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Phyllis B. Davis, Director Dennis F. Hightower, Director
/s/ Richard G. Lesser /s/ Arthur F. Loewy
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Richard G. Lesser, Executive Vice President, Arthur F. Loewy, Director
Chief Operating Officer and Director
/s/ John M. Nelson /s/ John F. O'Brien
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John M. Nelson, Director John F. O'Brien, Director
/s/ Robert F. Shapiro /s/ Willow B. Shire
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Robert F. Shapiro, Director Willow B. Shire, Director
/s/ Fletcher H. Wiley
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Fletcher H. Wiley, Director
Dated: September 4, 1997
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Number Title of Exhibit
- ------ ----------------
4.1 The TJX Companies, Inc. 1986 Stock Incentive
Plan.
4.2 Third Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
4.6 The by-laws of the Company, as amended
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3ii) of the
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 1995).
5.1 Opinion of Ropes & Gray.
23.1 Consent of Coopers & Lybrand LLP.
23.2 Consent of Ropes & Gray (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24. Powers of Attorney (included in Part II
of the Registration Statement under the
caption "Signatures".
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EXHIBIT 4.1
(As amended through June 3, 1997.
This form reflects the 2 for 1 stock
split of Common Stock effective
June, 1997.)
THE TJX COMPANIES, INC.
1986 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
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INDEX
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Page
SECTION 1. GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE PLAN........................................1
SECTION 2. PLAN ADMINISTRATION................................................1
SECTION 3. SHARES ISSUABLE UNDER THE PLAN; MERGERS; SUBSTITUTION..............2
SECTION 4. ELIGIBILITY........................................................3
SECTION 5. LIMITATIONS ON TERM AND DATES OF AWARDS............................3
SECTION 6. STOCK OPTIONS......................................................4
SECTION 7. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS; DISCRETIONARY PAYMENTS..................6
SECTION 8. RESTRICTED STOCK; UNRESTRICTED STOCK...............................8
SECTION 9. DEFERRED STOCK AWARDS.............................................10
SECTION 10. PERFORMANCE AWARDS................................................11
SECTION 11. OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS..........................................12
SECTION 12. TRANSFER, LEAVE OF ABSENCE........................................13
SECTION 13. AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION........................................14
SECTION 14. STATUS OF PLAN....................................................14
SECTION 15. CHANGE OF CONTROL PROVISIONS......................................15
SECTION 16. GENERAL PROVISIONS................................................15
SECTION 17. DEFINITIONS.......................................................16
DEFINITION OF "CHANGE OF CONTROL".............................................19
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THE TJX COMPANIES, INC.
1986 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
SECTION 1. GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE PLAN.
---------------------------
The name of the plan is The TJX Companies, Inc. 1986 Stock Incentive
Plan (the "Plan"). The purpose of the Plan is to secure for The TJX Companies,
Inc. (the "Company") and its stockholders the benefit of the incentives inherent
in Common Stock ownership and the receipt of incentive awards by selected key
employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries who contribute to and will be
responsible for its continued long term growth. The Plan is intended to
stimulate the efforts of such key employees by providing an opportunity for
capital appreciation and giving suitable recognition for services which
contribute materially to the success of the Company.
SECTION 2. PLAN ADMINISTRATION.
-------------------
The Plan shall be administered by a Committee of not less than two
Non-Employee Directors, who shall be appointed by the Board and who shall serve
at the pleasure of the Board.
The Committee shall have the power and authority to grant Awards
consistent with the terms of the Plan, including the power and authority:
(i) to select the officers and other key employees of the Company
and its Subsidiaries to whom Awards may from time to time be
granted;
(ii) to determine the time or times of grant, and the extent, if
any, of Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options,
Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Unrestricted
Stock, Deferred Stock, Performance Awards and any Other
Stock-based Awards, or any combination of the foregoing,
granted to any one or more participants;
(iii) to determine the number of shares to be covered by any Award;
(iv) to determine the terms and conditions, including restrictions,
not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award,
which terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards
and participants;
(v) to determine whether, to what extent, and under what
circumstances Stock and other amounts payable with respect to
an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the
election of the participant and whether and to what extent the
Company shall pay or credit amounts equal to interest (at
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rates determined by the Committee) or dividends or deemed
dividends on such deferrals; and
(vi) to adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and
practices for administration of the Plan and for its own acts
and proceedings as it shall deem advisable; to interpret the
terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award (including
related Award Agreements); to make all determinations it deems
advisable for the administration of the Plan; to decide all
disputes arising in connection with the Plan; and to otherwise
supervise the administration of the Plan.
All decisions and interpretations of the Committee shall be binding on
all persons, including the Company and Plan participants.
SECTION 3. SHARES ISSUABLE UNDER THE PLAN; MERGERS; SUBSTITUTION.
-----------------------------------------------------
(a) SHARES ISSUABLE. The maximum number of shares of Stock reserved and
available for issuance under the Plan shall be 21,000,000, including shares
issued in lieu of or upon reinvestment of dividends arising from Awards. For
purposes of this limitation, Awards and Stock which are forfeited, reacquired by
the Company or satisfied without the issuance of Stock shall not be counted and
such limitation shall apply only to shares which have become free of any
restrictions under the Plan, except that shares of Restricted Stock reacquired
by the Company, and shares withheld by the Company to satisfy tax withholding
requirements shall be counted to the extent required under Rule 16b-3 under the
Act or any successor rule. The maximum number of shares of Stock which may be
issued pursuant to awards of Restricted Stock or Performance Awards shall not
exceed an aggregate of 35% of the additional shares of stock approved for
issuance under this Plan by shareholders on June 3, 1997, as adjusted for the
stock split effective June, 1997. Subject to the foregoing limitations in
this paragraph (a), shares may be issued up to such maximums pursuant to any
type or types of Award, including Incentive Stock Options. Shares issued under
the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares or shares reacquired by the
Company.
The number of Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights or Performance
Awards that shall be awarded to any Participant during any consecutive
three-year period commencing after June 3, 1997 shall be limited to 2,000,000
shares calculated separately for each of Stock Options, Stock Appreciation
Rights and Performance Awards.
(b) STOCK DIVIDENDS, MERGERS, ETC. In the event of a stock dividend,
stock split or similar change in capitalization, or extraordinary dividend or
distribution or
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restructuring transaction affecting the Stock, the Committee shall make
appropriate adjustments in the number and kind of shares of stock or securities
on which Awards may thereafter be granted and shall make such adjustments in the
number and kind of shares remaining subject to outstanding Awards, and the
option or purchase price in respect of such shares as it may deem appropriate
with a view toward preserving the value of outstanding awards. In the event of
any merger, consolidation, dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the
Committee in its sole discretion may, as to any outstanding Awards, make such
substitution or adjustment in the aggregate number of shares reserved for
issuance under the Plan and in the number and purchase price (if any) of shares
subject to such Awards as it may determine, or accelerate, amend or terminate
such Awards upon such terms and conditions as it shall provide (which, in the
case of the termination of the vested portion of any Award, shall require
payment or other consideration which the Committee deems equitable in the
circumstances), subject, however, to the provisions of Section 15.
(c) SUBSTITUTE AWARDS. The Company may grant Awards under the Plan in
substitution for stock and stock based awards held by employees of another
corporation who concurrently become employees of the Company or a Subsidiary as
the result of a merger or consolidation of the employing corporation with the
Company or a Subsidiary or the acquisition by the Company or a Subsidiary of
property or stock of the employing corporation. The Committee may direct that
the substitute awards be granted on such terms and conditions as the Committee
considers appropriate in the circumstances. The shares which may be delivered
under such substitute Awards shall be in addition to the maximum number of
shares provided for in Section 3(a).
SECTION 4. ELIGIBILITY.
-----------
Participants in the Plan will be such full or part time officers and
other key employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries (excluding any director
who is not a full time employee) who are responsible for or contribute to the
management, growth or profitability of the Company and its Subsidiaries and who
are selected from time to time by the Committee, in its sole discretion. Persons
who are not employees of the Company or a subsidiary (within the meaning of
Section 424 of the Code) shall not be eligible to receive grants of Incentive
Stock Options.
SECTION 5. LIMITATIONS ON TERM AND DATES OF AWARDS.
---------------------------------------
(a) DURATION OF AWARDS. Subject to Sections 16(a) and 16(c) below, no
restrictions or limitations on Awards shall extend beyond 10 years (or 10 years
and one day in the case of Non-Qualified Stock Options) from the grant date,
except that
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deferrals elected by participants of the receipt of Stock or other benefits
under the Plan may extend beyond such date.
(b) LATEST GRANT DATE. No Award shall be granted after April 8, 2007,
but then outstanding Awards may extend beyond such date.
SECTION 6. STOCK OPTIONS.
-------------
Any Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be in such form as the
Committee may from time to time approve.
Stock Options granted under the Plan may be either Incentive Stock
Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options. To the extent that any option does not
qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, it shall constitute a Non-Qualified Stock
Option.
Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no term of this
Plan relating to Incentive Stock Options shall be interpreted, amended or
altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted to the Committee under
the Plan be so exercised, so as to disqualify the Plan or, without the consent
of the optionee, any Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code.
Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following
terms and conditions and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not
inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable:
(a) OPTION PRICE. The option price per share of Stock purchasable under
a Stock Option shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant but
shall be not less than 100% of Fair Market Value on the date of grant.
(b) OPTION TERM. The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the
Committee, but no Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable more than ten
years after the date the option is granted and no Non-Qualified Stock Option
shall be exercisable more than ten years and one day after the date the option
is granted.
(c) EXERCISABILITY. Stock Options shall be exercisable at such future
time or times, whether or not in installments, as shall be determined by the
Committee at or after the grant date. The Committee may at any time accelerate
the exercisability of all or any portion of any Stock Option.
(d) Intentionally omitted.
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(e) METHOD OF EXERCISE. Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in
part, by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying the number
of shares to be purchased. Such notice shall be accompanied by payment in full
of the purchase price, either by certified or bank check or other instrument or
means acceptable to the Committee or by delivery of an unconditional and
irrevocable undertaking by a broker to deliver promptly to the Company
sufficient funds to pay the exercise price. As determined by the Committee, in
its discretion, at (or, in the case of Non-Qualified Stock Options, after)
grant, payment in full or in part of the exercise price or to pay withholding
taxes (as provided in Section 16(c)) may also be made in the form of shares of
Stock not then subject to restrictions under any Company plan. An optionee shall
have the rights of a shareholder only as to shares acquired upon the exercise of
a Stock Option and not as to unexercised Stock Options. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary contained herein, this Plan does not permit the exercise of an
option in successive stages (pyramiding) using as payment at each stage shares
which have been acquired under the option in preceding stages.
(f) NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. No Stock Option shall be
transferable by the optionee otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent
and distribution, and all Stock Options shall be exercisable, during the
optionee's lifetime, only by the optionee.
(g) TERMINATION BY DEATH. If an optionee's employment by the Company
and its Subsidiaries terminates by reason of death, the Stock Option may
thereafter be exercised, to the extent then exercisable (or on such accelerated
basis as the Committee shall at any time determine prior to death), by the legal
representative or legatee of the optionee, for a period of three years (or such
shorter period as the Committee shall specify at time of grant) from the date of
death or until the expiration of the stated term of the option, if earlier.
(h) TERMINATION BY REASON OF DISABILITY. Any Stock Option held by an
optionee whose employment by the Company and its Subsidiaries has terminated, or
who has been designated an inactive employee, by reason of Disability may
thereafter be exercised to the extent it was exercisable at the time of the
earlier of such termination or such designation (or on such accelerated basis as
the Committee shall at any time determine prior to such termination or
designation) for a period of three years (or such shorter period as the
Committee shall specify at time of grant) from the date of such termination of
employment or designation or until the expiration of the stated term of the
option, if earlier. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee at the time of
grant, the death of an optionee during the final year of such exercise period
shall extend such period for one year following death, subject to termination on
the expiration of the stated term of the option, if earlier. The Committee shall
have the authority to determine whether a
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participant has been terminated or designated an inactive employee by reason of
Disability.
(i) TERMINATION BY REASON OF NORMAL RETIREMENT. If an optionee's
employment by the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates by reason of Normal
Retirement, any Stock Option held by such optionee may thereafter be exercised
to the extent that it was then exercisable (or on such accelerated basis as the
Committee shall at any time determine) for a period of three years (or such
shorter period as the Committee shall specify at time of grant) from the date of
Normal Retirement or until the expiration of the stated term of the option, if
earlier. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee at the time of grant, the
death of an optionee during the final year of such exercise period shall extend
such period for one year following death, subject to earlier termination on the
expiration of the stated term of the option, if earlier.
(j) OTHER TERMINATION. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, if
an optionee's employment by the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates for any
reason other than death, Disability, Normal Retirement, or for Cause, any Stock
Option held by such optionee may thereafter be exercised to the extent it was
exercisable on the date of termination of employment (or on such accelerated
basis as the Committee shall determine at or after grant) for a period of three
months (or such longer period up to three years as the Committee shall specify
at or after grant) from the date of termination of employment or until the
expiration of the stated term of the option, if earlier. If an optionee's
employment terminates for Cause, the unexercised portion of any Stock Option
then held by the optionee shall immediately terminate.
(k) FORM OF SETTLEMENT. Subject to Section 16(a) and Section 16(c)
below, shares of Stock issued upon exercise of a Stock Option shall be free of
all restrictions under the Plan, except as provided in the following sentence.
The Committee may provide at time of grant that the shares to be issued upon the
exercise of a Stock Option shall be in the form of Restricted Stock or Deferred
Stock, or may reserve the right to so provide after time of grant.
SECTION 7. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS; DISCRETIONARY PAYMENTS.
-------------------------------------------------
(a) NATURE OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT. A Stock Appreciation Right is
an Award entitling the recipient to receive an amount in cash or shares of Stock
(or in a form of payment permitted under paragraph (e) below) or a combination
thereof having a value equal to (or if the Committee shall so determine at time
of grant, less than) the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on
the date of exercise over the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date
of grant (or over the option exercise price, if the Stock Appreciation Right was
granted in tandem with a Stock Option) multiplied
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by the number of shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right shall
have been exercised, with the Committee having the right to determine the form
of payment.
(b) GRANT AND EXERCISE OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. Stock Appreciation
Rights may be granted in tandem with, or independently of, any Stock Option
granted under the Plan. In the case of a Stock Appreciation Right granted in
tandem with a Non-Qualified Stock Option, such Right may be granted either at or
after the time of the grant of such option. In the case of a Stock Appreciation
Right granted in tandem with an Incentive Stock Option, such Right may be
granted only at the time of the grant of the option.
A Stock Appreciation Right or applicable portion thereof granted in
tandem with a given Stock Option shall terminate and no longer be exercisable
upon the termination or exercise of the related Stock Option, except that a
Stock Appreciation Right granted with respect to less than the full number of
shares covered by a related Stock Option shall not be reduced until the exercise
or termination of the related Stock Option exceeds the number of shares not
covered by the Stock Appreciation Right.
(c) TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. Stock
Appreciation Rights shall be subject to such terms and conditions as shall be
determined from time to time by the Committee, subject to the following:
(i) Stock Appreciation Rights granted in tandem with Stock Options
shall be exercisable only at such time or times and to the
extent that the related Stock Options shall be exercisable.
(ii) Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the
applicable portion of any related Stock Option shall be
surrendered.
(iii) Stock Appreciation Rights granted in tandem with a Stock
Option shall be transferable only with such Stock Option.
Other Stock Appreciation Rights shall not be transferable
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution. All Stock Appreciation Rights shall be
exercisable during the participant's lifetime only by the
participant or the participant's legal representative.
(d) DISCRETIONARY PAYMENTS. Notwithstanding that a Stock Option at the
time of exercise shall not be accompanied by a related Stock Appreciation Right,
if the market price of the shares subject to such Stock Option exceeds the
exercise price of such Stock Option at the time of its exercise, the Committee
may, in its discretion, cancel such Stock Option, in which event the Company
shall pay to the person exercising such Stock Option an amount equal to the
difference between the Fair Market Value of the Stock to
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have been purchased pursuant to such exercise of such Stock Option (determined
on the date the Stock Option is cancelled) and the aggregate consideration to
have been paid by such person upon such exercise. Such payment shall be by
check, bank draft or in Stock (or in a form of payment permitted under paragraph
(e) below) having a Fair Market Value (determined on the date the payment is to
be made) equal to the amount of such payments or any combination thereof, as
determined by the Committee. The Committee may exercise its discretion under the
first sentence of this paragraph (d) only in the event of a written request of
the person exercising the option, which request shall not be binding on the
Committee.
(e) SETTLEMENT IN THE FORM OF RESTRICTED SHARES OR RIGHTS TO RECEIVE
DEFERRED STOCK. Subject to Sections 16(a) and 16(c) below, shares of Stock
issued upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right or as a Discretionary Payment
shall be free of all restrictions under the Plan, except as provided in the
following sentence. The Committee may provide at the time of grant in the case
of a Stock Appreciation Right (and at the time of payment in the case of a
Discretionary Payment) that such shares shall be in the form of shares of
Restricted Stock or rights to acquire Deferred Stock, or in the case of a Stock
Appreciation Right may reserve the right to so provide at any time after the
time of grant. Any such shares and any shares subject to rights to acquire
Deferred Stock shall be valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of
the Stock Appreciation Right or the date the Stock Option is cancelled in the
case of Discretionary Payments.
SECTION 8. RESTRICTED STOCK; UNRESTRICTED STOCK.
------------------------------------
(a) NATURE OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD. A Restricted Stock Award is an
Award entitling the recipient to acquire shares of Stock for a purchase price
(which may be zero), subject to such conditions, including a Company right
during a specified period or periods to repurchase such shares at their original
purchase price (or to require forfeiture of such shares, if the purchase price
was zero) upon participant's termination of employment, as the Committee may
determine at the time of grant.
(b) AWARD AGREEMENT. Unless the Committee shall otherwise determine, a
participant who is granted a Restricted Stock Award shall have no rights with
respect to such Award unless the participant shall have accepted the Award
within 60 days (or such shorter date as the Committee may specify) following the
award date by making payment to the Company by certified or bank check or other
instrument acceptable to the Committee in an amount equal to the specified
purchase price, if any, of the shares covered by the Award and by executing and
delivering to the Company a Restricted Stock Award Agreement in such form as the
Committee shall determine.
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(c) RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER. Upon complying with paragraph (b) above, a
participant shall have all the rights of a shareholder with respect to the
Restricted Stock including voting and dividend rights, subject to
nontransferability restrictions and Company repurchase or forfeiture rights
described in this Section and subject to any other conditions contained in the
Award Agreement. Unless the Committee shall otherwise determine, certificates
evidencing shares of Restricted Stock shall remain in the possession of the
Company until such shares are free of any restrictions under the Plan.
(d) RESTRICTIONS. Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned,
transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of except as
specifically provided herein. In the event of termination of employment with the
Company and its subsidiaries for any reason such shares shall be resold to the
Company at their purchase price, or forfeited to the Company if the purchase
price was zero, except as set forth below.
(i) The Committee at the time of grant shall specify the date or
dates (which may depend upon or be related to the attainment
of performance goals and other conditions) on which the
nontransferability of the Restricted Stock and the obligation
to resell such shares to the Company shall lapse. However, no
grants of Restricted Stock made after September 8, 1993 shall
specify such a date which is less than three years from the
date of the grant, except that (i) such a date may be one
year or greater in the case of Restricted Stock granted
subject to the attainment of performance goals, (ii) future
shares of Restricted Stock may be granted which specify full
vesting in no less than three years and partial vesting at a
rate no faster than one-third of such shares each year, and
(iii) shares of Restricted Stock may be granted which specify
any vesting date provided that on a cumulative basis such
shares granted after September 8, 1993, when no longer
subject to restrictions under the Plan, do not exceed 400,000
shares. The Committee at any time may accelerate such date or
dates and otherwise waive or, subject to Section 13, amend
any conditions of the Award.
(ii) Except as may otherwise be provided in the
Award Agreement, in the event of termination of employment by
the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason (including
death), a participant or the participant's legal
representative shall offer to resell to the Company, at the
price paid therefor, all Restricted Stock, and the Company
shall have the right to purchase the same at such price, or
if the price was zero to require forfeiture of the same,
provided that except as provided in the Award Agreement, the
Company must exercise such right of repurchase or forfeiture
not later than the 60th day following such termination of
employment.
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(e) WAIVER, DEFERRAL AND REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS. The Restricted
Stock Award Agreement may require or permit the immediate payment, waiver,
deferral or investment of dividends paid on the Restricted Stock.
(f) UNRESTRICTED STOCK. The Committee may, in its sole discretion,
grant or sell to any participant shares of Stock free of restrictions under the
Plan ("Unrestricted Stock"). Shares of Unrestricted Stock may be granted or sold
as described in the preceding sentence in respect of past services or other
valid consideration.
SECTION 9. DEFERRED STOCK AWARDS.
---------------------
(a) NATURE OF DEFERRED STOCK AWARD. A Deferred Stock Award is an award
entitling the recipient to acquire shares of Stock without payment in one or
more installments at a future date or dates, all as determined by the Committee.
The Committee may also condition such acquisition on the attainment of specified
performance goals.
(b) AWARD AGREEMENT. Unless the Committee shall otherwise determine, a
participant who is granted a Deferred Stock Award shall have no rights with
respect to such Award unless within 60 days of the grant of such Award or such
shorter period as the Committee may specify, the participant shall have accepted
the Award by executing and delivering to the Company a Deferred Stock Award
Agreement.
(c) RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. Deferred Stock Awards and all rights with
respect to such Awards may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or
otherwise encumbered. Rights with respect to such Awards shall be exercisable
during the participant's lifetime only by the participant or the participant's
legal representative.
(d) RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER. A participant receiving a Deferred Stock
Award will have rights of a shareholder only as to shares actually received by
the participant under the Plan and not with respect to shares subject to the
Award but not actually received by the participant. A participant shall be
entitled to receive a stock certificate for shares of Deferred Stock only upon
satisfaction of all conditions therefor specified in the Deferred Stock Award
Agreement.
(e) TERMINATION. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Committee
at any time prior to termination of employment, a participant's rights in all
Deferred Stock Awards shall automatically terminate upon the participant's
termination of employment by the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason
(including death).
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(f) ACCELERATION, WAIVER, ETC. At any time prior to the participant's
termination of employment the Committee may in its discretion accelerate, waive,
or, subject to Section 13, amend any or all of the restrictions or conditions
imposed under any Deferred Stock Award.
(g) PAYMENTS IN RESPECT OF DEFERRED STOCK. Without limiting the right
of the Committee to specify different terms, the Deferred Stock Award Agreement
may either make no provisions for, or may require or permit the immediate
payment, deferral or investment of amounts equal to, or less than, any cash
dividends which would have been payable on the Deferred Stock had such Stock
been outstanding, all as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
SECTION 10. PERFORMANCE AWARDS.
------------------
(a) NATURE OF PERFORMANCE AWARDS. A Performance Award is an award
entitling the recipient to acquire cash or shares of Stock, or a combination of
cash and Stock, upon the attainment of specified performance goals. If the
grant, vesting, or exercisability of a Stock Option, SAR, Restricted Stock,
Deferred Stock or Other Stock-Based Award is conditioned upon attainment of a
specified performance goal or goals, it shall be treated as a Performance Award
for purposes of this Section and shall be subject to the provisions of this
Section in addition to the provisions of the Plan applicable to such form of
Award.
(b) QUALIFYING AND NONQUALIFYING PERFORMANCE AWARDS. Performance Awards
may include Awards intended to qualify for the performance-based compensation
exception under Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code ("Qualifying Awards") and
Awards not intended so to qualify ("Nonqualifying Awards").
(c) TERMS OF PERFORMANCE AWARDS. The Committee in its sole discretion
shall determine whether and to whom Performance Awards are to be granted, the
performance goals applicable under each such Award, the periods during which
performance is to be measured, and all other limitations and conditions
applicable to the Award. Performance Awards may be granted independently or in
connection with the granting of other Awards. In the case of a Qualifying Award
(other than a Stock Option or SAR), the following special rules shall apply: (i)
the Committee shall preestablish the performance goals and other material terms
of the Award not later than the latest date permitted under Section 162(m) of
the Code; (ii) the performance goal or goals fixed by the Committee in
connection with the Award shall be based exclusively on one or more Approved
Performance Criteria; (iii) no payment (including, for this purpose, vesting or
exercisability where vesting or exercisability, rather than the grant of the
award, is linked to satisfaction of performance goals) shall be made unless the
preestablished
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performance goals have been satisfied and the Committee has certified (pursuant
to Section 162(m) of the Code) that they have been satisfied; (iv) no payment
shall be made in lieu or in substitution for the Award if the preestablished
performance goals are not satisfied (but this clause shall not limit the ability
of the Committee or the Company to provide other remuneration to the affected
Participant, whether or not under the Plan, so long as the payment of such
remuneration would not cause the Award to fail to be treated as having been
contingent on the preestablished performance goals) and (v) in all other
respects the Award shall be construed and administered consistent with the
intent that any compensation under the Award be treated as performance-based
compensation under Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.
(d) AWARD AGREEMENT. Unless the Committee shall otherwise determine, a
participant shall have no rights with respect to a Performance Award unless
within 60 days of the grant of such Award or such shorter period as the
Committee may specify, the participant shall have accepted the Award by
executing and delivering to the Company a Performance Award Agreement.
(e) RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER. A participant receiving a Performance
Award will have rights of a shareholder only as to shares actually received by
the participant under the Plan and not with respect to shares subject to the
Award but not actually received by the participant. A participant shall be
entitled to receive a stock certificate evidencing the acquisition of shares of
Stock under a Performance Award (to the extent the Award provides for the
delivery of shares of Stock) only upon satisfaction of all conditions therefor
specified in the Performance Award Agreement.
(f) TERMINATION. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Committee
(consistent with Section 162(m), in the case of a Qualifying Award) at any time
prior to termination of employment, a participant's rights in all Performance
Awards shall automatically terminate upon the participant's termination of
employment by the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason (including death).
(g) ACCELERATION, WAIVER, ETC. At any time prior to the participant's
termination of employment by the Company and its Subsidiaries, the Committee may
in its sole discretion (but subject to Section 162(m), in the case of a
Qualifying Award) accelerate, waive or, subject to Section 13, amend any or all
of the goals, restrictions or conditions imposed under any Performance Award.
SECTION 11. OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS.
------------------------
(a) NATURE OF AWARDS. The Committee may grant other Awards under which
Stock is or may in the future be acquired ("Other Stock-based Awards").
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(b) PURCHASE PRICE; FORM OF PAYMENT. The Committee may determine the
consideration, if any, payable upon the issuance or exercise of an Other
Stock-based Award. The Committee may permit payment by certified check or bank
check or other instrument acceptable to the Committee or by surrender of other
shares of Stock (excluding shares then subject to restrictions under the Plan).
(c) FORFEITURE OF AWARDS; REPURCHASE OF STOCK; ACCELERATION OR WAIVER
OF RESTRICTIONS. The Committee may determine the conditions under which an Other
Stock-based Award shall be forfeited or, in the case of an Award involving a
payment by the recipient, the conditions under which the Company may or must
repurchase such Award or related Stock. At any time the Committee may in its
sole discretion accelerate, waive or, subject to Section 13, amend any or all of
the limitations or conditions imposed under any Other Stock-based Award.
(d) AWARD AGREEMENTS. Unless the Committee shall otherwise determine, a
participant shall have no rights with respect to any Other Stock-based Award
unless within 60 days after the grant of such Award (or such shorter period as
the Committee may specify) the participant shall have accepted the Award by
executing and delivering to the Company an Other Stock-based Award Agreement.
(e) NONTRANSFERABILITY. Other Stock-based Awards may not be sold,
assigned, transferred, pledged or encumbered except as may be provided in the
Other Stock-based Award Agreement. However, in no event shall any Other
Stock-based Award be transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent
and distribution or be exercisable during the participant's lifetime by other
than the participant or the participant's legal representative.
(f) RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER. A recipient of any Other Stock-based Award
will have rights of a shareholder only at the time and to the extent, if any,
specified by the Committee in the Other Stock-based Award Agreement.
(g) DEEMED DIVIDEND PAYMENTS; DEFERRALS. Without limiting the right of
the Committee to specify different terms at or after grant, an Other Stock-based
Award Agreement may require or permit the immediate payment, waiver, deferral or
investment of dividends or deemed dividends payable or deemed payable on Stock
subject to the Award.
SECTION 12. TRANSFER, LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
--------------------------
For purposes of the Plan, the following events shall not be deemed a
termination of employment:
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(a) a transfer to the employment of the Company from a Subsidiary
or from the Company to a Subsidiary, or from one Subsidiary to
another;
(b) an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness,
or for any other purpose approved by the Company, if the
employee's right to reemployment is guaranteed either by a
statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant to which
the leave of absence was granted or if the Committee otherwise
so provides in writing.
For purposes of the Plan, the employees of a Subsidiary of the Company shall be
deemed to have terminated their employment on the date on which such Subsidiary
ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Company.
SECTION 13. AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION.
--------------------------
The Board may at any time amend or discontinue the Plan and the
Committee may at any time amend or cancel any outstanding Award for the purpose
of satisfying changes in law or for any other lawful purpose, but no such action
shall adversely affect rights under any outstanding Award without the holder's
consent. However, no such amendment shall be effective unless approved by
stockholders if it would (i) reduce the exercise price of any option previously
granted hereunder or (ii) cause the Plan to fail to satisfy the incentive stock
option requirements of the Code or the requirements of Rule 16b-3 or any
successor rule under the Act as in effect on the date of such amendment.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan, the Board or the Committee may at
any time adopt any subplan or otherwise grant Stock Options or other Awards
under this Plan having terms consistent with applicable foreign tax or other
foreign regulatory requirements or laws; provided, however, that no person
subject to the restrictions of Section 16(b) of the Act may be eligible for or
be granted any such Stock Options or other Awards if such eligibility or grant
would cause the Plan to fail to satisfy the requirements of Rule 16b-3 or any
successor rule under the Act as in effect on the applicable date.
SECTION 14. STATUS OF PLAN.
--------------
With respect to the portion of any Award which has not been exercised
and any payments in cash, stock or other consideration not received by a
participant, a participant shall have no rights greater than those of a general
creditor of the Company unless the Committee shall otherwise expressly determine
in connection with any Award or Awards. In its sole discretion, the Committee
may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the Company's
obligations to deliver Stock or make
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payments with respect to awards hereunder, provided that the existence of such
trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the provision of the foregoing
sentence.
SECTION 15. CHANGE OF CONTROL PROVISIONS.
----------------------------
As used herein, a Change of Control and related definitions shall have
the meanings set forth in Exhibit A to this Plan.
Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control:
(i) Each Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Right shall
automatically become fully exercisable unless the Committee
shall otherwise expressly provide at the time of grant.
(ii) Restrictions and conditions on Restricted Stock, Deferred
Stock, Performance Units and Other Stock-based Awards shall
automatically be deemed waived only if and to the extent, if
any, specified (whether at or after time of grant) by the
Committee.
The Committee may at any time prior to or after a Change of Control accelerate
the exercisability of any Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights and may
waive restrictions, limitations and conditions on Restricted Stock, Deferred
Stock, Performance Units and Other Stock-based Awards to the extent it shall in
its sole discretion determine.
SECTION 16. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
------------------
(a) NO DISTRIBUTION; COMPLIANCE WITH LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, ETC. The
Committee may require each person acquiring shares pursuant to an Award to
represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring
the shares without a view to distribution thereof.
No shares of Stock shall be issued pursuant to an Award until all
applicable securities law and other legal and stock exchange requirements have
been satisfied. The Committee may require the placing of such stop-orders and
restrictive legends on certificates for Stock and Awards as it deems
appropriate.
(b) OTHER COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS; NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS. Nothing
contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board of Directors from adopting other
or additional compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder approval if such
approval is required; and such arrangements may be either generally applicable
or applicable only
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in specific cases. The adoption of the Plan does not confer upon any employee
any right to continued employment with the Company or a Subsidiary, nor does it
interfere in any way with the right of the Company or a Subsidiary to terminate
the employment of any of its employees at any time.
(c) TAX WITHHOLDING, ETC. Each participant shall, no later than the
date as of which the value of an Award or of any Stock or other amounts received
thereunder first becomes includable in the gross income of the participant for
Federal income tax purposes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements
satisfactory to the Committee regarding payment of, any Federal, state, or local
taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such income.
The Company and its Subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the
right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the
participant. The Company may withhold or otherwise administer the Plan to comply
with tax obligations under any applicable foreign laws.
The Committee may provide, in respect of any transfer of Stock under an
Award, that if and to the extent withholding of any Federal, state or local tax
is required in respect of such transfer or vesting, the participant may elect,
at such time and in such manner as the Committee shall prescribe, to (i)
surrender to the Company Stock not then subject to restrictions under any
Company plan or (ii) have the Company hold back from the transfer or vesting
Stock having a value calculated to satisfy such withholding obligation.
(d) DEFERRAL OF AWARDS. Participants may elect to defer receipt of
Awards or vesting of Awards only in such cases and to the extent that the
Committee shall determine at or after the grant date.
SECTION 17. DEFINITIONS.
-----------
The following terms shall be defined as set forth below:
(a) "Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
(b) "Approved Performance Criteria" means criteria based on any
one or more of the following (on a consolidated, divisional,
line of business, geographical or area of executive's
responsibilities basis): one or more items of or within (i)
sales, revenues, assets or expenses; (ii) earnings, income or
margins, before or after deduction for all or any portion of
interest, taxes, depreciation, or amortization, whether or not
on a continuing operations and aggregate or per share basis;
(iii) return on investment, capital, assets, sales or
revenues; and (iv) stock price.
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(c) "Award" or "Awards" except where referring to a particular
category of grant under the Plan shall include Incentive Stock
Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation
Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Unrestricted Stock Awards,
Deferred Stock Awards, Performance Awards and Other
Stock-based Awards.
(d) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) "Cause" means a felony conviction of a participant or the
failure of a participant to contest prosecution for a felony,
or a participant's willful misconduct or dishonesty, any of
which is directly harmful to the business or reputation of the
Company or any Subsidiary.
(f) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
and any successor Code, and related rules, regulations and
interpretations.
(g) "Committee" means the Committee referred to in Section 2. If
at any time no Committee shall be in office, the functions of
the Committee shall be exercised by the Board.
(h) "Deferred Stock Award" is defined in Section 9(a).
(i) "Disability" means disability as determined in accordance with
standards and procedures similar to those used under the
Company's long term disability program.
(j) "Fair Market Value" on any given date means the last sale
price regular way at which Stock is traded on such date as
reflected in the New York Stock Exchange Composite
Transactions Index or, where applicable, the value of a share
of Stock as determined by the Committee in accordance with the
applicable provisions of the Code.
(k) "Incentive Stock Option" means any Stock Option intended to be
and designated as an "incentive stock option" as defined in
the Code.
(l) "Non-Employee Director" shall have the meaning set forth in
Rule 16b- 3(b)(3) promulgated under the Act, or any successor
definition under the Act.
(m) "Non-Qualified Stock Option" means any Stock Option that is
not an Incentive Stock Option.
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(n) "Normal Retirement" means retirement from active employment
with the Company and its Subsidiaries on or after the normal
retirement date specified in The TJX Companies, Inc.
Retirement Plan.
(o) "Other Stock-based Award" is defined in Section 11(a).
(p) "Performance Award" is defined in Section 10(a).
(q) "Restricted Stock Award" is defined in Section 8(a).
(r) "Stock" means the Common Stock, $1.00 par value, of the
Company, subject to adjustments pursuant to Section 3.
(s) "Stock Appreciation Right" means a right described in Section
7(a) and granted, either independently of other Awards or in
tandem with the grant of a Stock Option.
(t) "Stock Option" means any option to purchase shares of Stock
granted pursuant to Section 6.
(u) "Subsidiary" means any corporation or other entity (other than
the Company) in an unbroken chain beginning with the Company
if each of the entities (other than the last entity in the
unbroken chain) owns stock or other interests possessing 50%
or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock or other interest in one of the other corporations or
other entities in the chain.
(v) "Unrestricted Stock Award" is defined in Section 8(f).
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EXHIBIT A
---------
DEFINITION OF "CHANGE OF CONTROL"
---------------------------------
"Change of Control" shall mean the occurrence of any one of the
following events:
(a) there occurs a change of control of the Company of a
nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 1(a)
of the Current Report on Form 8-K pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") or in any
other filing under the Exchange Act; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the
Participant or a Participant Related Party is the Person or a member of
a group constituting the Person acquiring control, a transaction shall
not be deemed to be a Change of Control as to a Participant unless the
Committee shall otherwise determine prior to such occurrence; or
(b) any Person other than the Company, any wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company, or any employee benefit plan of the Company
or such a subsidiary becomes the owner of 20% or more of the Company's
Common Stock and thereafter individuals who were not directors of the
Company prior to the date such Person became a 20% owner are elected as
directors pursuant to an arrangement or understanding with, or upon the
request of or nomination by, such Person and constitute at least 1/4 of
the Company's Board of Directors; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that unless the
Committee shall otherwise determine prior to the acquisition of such
20% ownership, such acquisition of ownership shall not constitute a
Change of Control as to a Participant if the Participant or a
Participant Related Party is the Person or a member of a group
constituting the Person acquiring such ownership; or
(c) there occurs any solicitation or series of solicitations
of proxies by or on behalf of any Person other than the Company's Board
of Directors and thereafter individuals who were not directors of the
Company prior to the commencement of such solicitation or series of
solicitations are elected as directors pursuant to an arrangement or
understanding with, or upon the request of or nomination by, such
Person and constitute at least 1/4 of the Company's Board of Directors;
or
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(d) the Company executes an agreement of acquisition, merger
or consolidation which contemplates that (i) after the effective date
provided for in such agreement, all or substantially all of the
business and/or assets of the Company shall be owned, leased or
otherwise controlled by another Person and (ii) individuals who are
directors of the Company when such agreement is executed shall not
constitute a majority of the board of directors of the survivor or
successor entity immediately after the effective date provided for in
such agreement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that unless otherwise determined by
the Committee, no transaction shall constitute a Change of Control as
to a Participant if, immediately after such transaction, the
Participant or any Participant Related Party shall own equity
securities of any surviving corporation ("Surviving Entity") having a
fair value as a percentage of the fair value of the equity securities
of such Surviving Entity greater than 125% of the fair value of the
equity securities of the Company owned by the Participant and any
Participant Related Party immediately prior to such transaction,
expressed as a percentage of the fair value of all equity securities of
the Company immediately prior to such transaction (for purposes of this
paragraph ownership of equity securities shall be determined in the
same manner as ownership of Common Stock); and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that,
for purposes of this paragraph (d), if such agreement requires as a
condition precedent approval by the Company's shareholders of the
agreement or transaction, a Change of Control shall not be deemed to
have taken place unless and until such approval is secured (but upon
any such approval, a Change of Control shall be deemed to have occurred
on the date of execution of such agreement).
In addition, for purposes of this Exhibit A the following terms have
the meanings set forth below:
"Common Stock" shall mean the then outstanding Common Stock of the
Company plus, for purposes of determining the stock ownership of any Person, the
number of unissued shares of Common Stock which such Person has the right to
acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage
of time) upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or
options or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term Common Stock shall
not include shares of Preferred Stock or convertible debt or options or warrants
to acquire shares of Common Stock (including any shares of Common Stock issued
or issuable upon the conversion or exercise thereof) to the extent that the
Board of Directors of the Company shall expressly so determine in any future
transaction or transactions.
A Person shall be deemed to be the "owner" of any Common Stock:
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(i) of which such Person would be the "beneficial owner," as
such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Exchange Act, as in
effect on March 1, 1989; or
(ii) of which such Person would be the "beneficial owner" for
purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules of the
Commission promulgated thereunder, as in effect on March 1, 1989; or
(iii) which such Person or any of its affiliates or associates
(as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated by the Commission
under the Exchange Act, as in effect on March 1, 1989) has the right to
acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after
the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange
rights, warrants or options or otherwise.
"Person" shall have the meaning used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange
Act, as in effect on March 1, 1989.
A "Participant Related Party" shall mean, with respect to a
Participant, any affiliate or associate of the Participant other than the
Company or a Subsidiary of the Company. The terms "affiliate" and "associate"
shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act
(the term "registrant" in the definition of "associate" meaning, in this case,
the Company).
"Participant" means a participant in the Plan.
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EXHIBIT 4.2
THIRD RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
-------------------------------------------
OF
--
THE TJX COMPANIES, INC.
-----------------------
(Originally incorporated on April 9, 1962 under the name Zayre Corp.)
FIRST: The name of this corporation is
THE TJX COMPANIES, INC.
SECOND: Its registered office in the State of Delaware is located at
1013 Centre Road, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name and
address of its registered agent is the United States Corporation Company, 1013
Centre Road, Wilmington, Delaware 19805.
THIRD: The nature of the business of this corporation and the objects or
purposes to be transacted, promoted and carried on by it are as follows:
1. To engage generally in business in the field of merchandising,
whether wholesale or retail or both.
2. To buy, design, develop, manufacture, produce, lease or
otherwise acquire, and to prepare, finish or otherwise process, and to own,
hold, use, store and transport, and to sell at wholesale or retail, transfer,
distribute, export, consign, lease or otherwise dispose of, and generally to
deal in and with, all kinds of merchandise, clothing, articles, equipment,
supplies, goods, wares, foods, drugs, cosmetics and other articles of whatever
nature.
3. To buy, construct, lease or otherwise acquire, and to own, hold,
operate, manage, lease to others, grant or take concessions for, develop,
improve, maintain and use, and to manage for others and to act as consultants
with respect to, and to sell, convey or otherwise dispose of, stores,
warehouses, shopping centers, parking lots, retail outlets and other facilities
for use in connection with wholesale and retail merchandising, and land,
buildings, facilities, equipment and all other property and assets for or
incidental to any of the foregoing.
4. To carry on any manufacturing, selling, management, service or
other business, operation or activity which is lawful to be carried on by a
corporation organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
as amended, whether or not similar or related or incidental to or useful or
advantageous in or in connection with the businesses, operations and activities
referred to in the foregoing paragraphs.
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5. To manufacture, produce, buy, lease or otherwise acquire, and to
own, operate and use, and to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of, and generally
to deal with and in, machinery, appliances, equipment, tools, parts, fixtures,
facilities, motor vehicles, materials, supplies, goods, merchandise and other
articles and property of all kinds incidental to or useful in or in connection
with any business, operation or activity in which this corporation is engaged or
is authorized to engage.
6. To buy, construct, lease or otherwise acquire, and to own, hold,
operate, develop, improve, maintain and use, and to sell, convey, lease or
otherwise dispose of, and to grant easements, rights or interests in, lands,
real estate, easements, leaseholds and other rights or interests in real estate,
plants, structures, building equipment and real estate improvements incidental
to or useful in or in connection with any business, operation or activity in
which this corporation is engaged or is authorized to engage.
7. To apply for, obtain, keep in force and comply with all licenses
and permits from governmental authorities and others which are deemed requisite
or desirable in or in connection with any business, operation or activity in
which this corporation is engaged or desires or is authorized to engage.
8. To apply for, obtain, register, devise, adopt, purchase, lease,
take licenses or rights under or otherwise acquire, and to hold, own, develop,
maintain, protect, operate under, exercise and use, and to grant licenses or
rights under, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of, and generally to
deal in and with, patents, trademarks, copyrights, inventions, improvements,
processes, formulae, trade names, designs and similar properties and rights, and
applications, registrations, reissues, renewals, licenses and other rights and
interests for, in, to or under the same, and franchises, powers, rights,
privileges, grants, concessions, immunities and guaranties from public
authorities or others, all in or under the laws of the United States of America
or any state or other government, country or place.
9. To subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire, and to hold and
own, and to sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of, and generally to
deal in and with, securities, and while the holder or owner thereof to have and
exercise all rights, powers and privileges of ownership, including the right to
vote or consent or give proxies or powers of attorney therefor, and to carry on
any business, operation or activity through a wholly or partly owned subsidiary.
10. To acquire by purchase, exchange, merger or consolidation or
otherwise all or any part of the property and assets, including the business,
good will, rights and franchises, of any corporation, association, trust, firm
or individual wherever organized, created or located, and in payment or exchange
therefor to pay cash, transfer property and issue securities to the transferor
or its security holders and to assume or become liable for any liabilities and
obligations, and to hold and operate or in any manner to dispose of all or any
part of the property and assets so acquired.
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11. To dispose by sale, exchange, merger or consolidation or
otherwise of all or any part of the property and assets, including the business,
good will, rights and franchises of this corporation, to any corporation,
association, trust, firm or individual wherever organized, created or located,
for cash or property, including securities, or the assumption of the liabilities
and obligations of this corporation, and if desired, and subject to the rights
of creditors and preferred stockholders, to distribute such cash, securities or
other property to the security holders of this corporation in exchange for or in
partial or complete liquidation or redemption of their securities.
12. To borrow money and obtain credit, and in consideration of money
borrowed or for the purpose of sale or pledge or in order to pay, evidence or
secure any liability or obligation, to execute, issue and deliver and sell,
pledge or otherwise dispose of bonds, notes, debentures or other evidences of
indebtedness, secured or unsecured, and to give security for any such bonds,
notes, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness or for any purchase price,
guaranty, line of credit, covenant, fidelity or performance bond or any other
liability or obligation and any premium, interest and other sums due thereon or
therewith and any covenants or obligations connected therewith; and for the
foregoing purposes to mortgage or pledge or execute an indenture of mortgage or
deed of trust upon or create a lien upon or other security title or security
interest in all or any part of the property and assets, real and personal, of
this corporation, then owned or thereafter acquired.
13. To lend money, credit or security to, and to guarantee or assume
any liabilities and obligations of, and to aid in any other manner, any
corporation, association, trust, firm or individual, wherever organized, created
or located, any of whose securities are held by this corporation or in whose
affairs or prosperity this corporation has a lawful interest, and to do all acts
and things designed to protect, improve or enhance the value of such securities
or interest.
14. To execute, issue and deliver and to sell or otherwise dispose
of securities of this corporation convertible into other securities, and
options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of this
corporation, to issue any of such options, warrants or rights to any employees
of this corporation, and to maintain, operate and carry on for the benefit of
any employees any pension, retirement, profit-sharing, bonus, health,
disability, savings, loan, insurance, educational, social, recreational or
similar plans or arrangements.
15. To make contributions for charitable, scientific or educational
purposes or for the public welfare or for public purposes, including
contributions to corporations, trusts, funds or foundations organized and
operated for any such purposes, and including any such foundation organized by
this corporation or by its directors or officers, and including contributions to
governments or governmental bodies or agencies for public purposes, and any
contributions which at the time are allowed as deductions from corporate gross
income under the United States Internal Revenue Code as amended.
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16. To do any and all acts and things in this Article Third set
forth to the same extent as an individual might or could do, as principal,
factor, consignee, agent, contractor or otherwise, and either alone or in
conjunction or jointly with any corporation, association, trust, firm or
individual, and, in general, to do any and all acts and things and to engage in
any and all businesses whatsoever, necessary, suitable, advantageous or proper
for or in connection with or incidental to the exercise, transaction, promotion,
carrying on, accomplishment or attainment of any of the businesses, powers,
purposes or objects in this Article Third set forth, excepting in every case all
acts, things and business forbidden by law.
17. In this Article Third the word "securities" includes, to the
extent that the context permits, stocks, shares, bonds, notes, debentures and
other evidences of interest in or indebtedness of any corporation, association,
trust or firm wherever organized, created or located, and notes and other
evidences of indebtedness of any individual wherever located, and bonds, notes,
debentures and other evidences of indebtedness of any country, state, county,
city, town or other governmental body or agency wherever organized, created or
located.
18. In this certificate of incorporation, unless it is otherwise
expressly provided, the conjunctive includes the disjunctive and the singular
includes the plural, and vice versa; verbs in the present or future include both
present and future or either; the whole includes any part or parts; no mention
or inclusion of any particular example or specific enumeration shall be deemed
to limit any general meaning; the statements of the businesses, objects and
purposes of this corporation shall be construed both as objects and powers; the
enumeration of specific powers shall not be held to limit or restrict in any
manner the exercise by this corporation of the general powers conferred upon
corporations by the laws of the State of Delaware, and no statement of any
business, object or purpose shall be deemed to limit or be exclusive of any
other stated business, object or purpose, but all are separate and cumulative
and all may be transacted, promoted and carried on separately or together and at
any time and from time to time, and any business, object or purpose may be
transacted, promoted or carried on, and any property may be owned or held, in
any part of the world; and references to the certificate of incorporation mean
the provisions of the certificate of incorporation (as that term is defined in
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware) of this corporation as
from time to time in effect, and references to the by-laws or to any requirement
or provision of law mean the by-laws of this corporation or such requirement or
provision of law as from time to time in effect.
FOURTH: The total number of shares of capital stock of all classes which
this Corporation shall have authority to issue shall be three hundred five
million (305,000,000) shares, consisting of three hundred million (300,000,000)
shares of Common Stock of the par value of one dollar ($1.00) per share,
amounting in aggregate to three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000), and five
million (5,000,000) shares of Preferred Stock of the par value of one dollar
($1.00) per share, amounting in the aggregate to five million dollars
($5,000,000).
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The holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each
share of Common Stock registered in the name of such holder, and there shall be
no cumulative voting in elections for directors. The holders of the Common Stock
shall be entitled to such dividends as may from time to time be declared by the
Board of Directors, but only when and as declared by the Board of Directors out
of any funds legally available for declaration of dividends, and subject to any
provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation, as amended from time to time,
or of resolutions of the Board of Directors adopted pursuant to authority herein
contained, requiring that dividends be declared and/or paid upon the outstanding
shares of Preferred Stock of any series or upon the outstanding shares of any
other class of capital stock ranking senior to the Common Stock as to dividends
as a condition to the declaration and/or payment of any dividend on the Common
Stock; but no such provisions shall restrict the declaration or payment of any
dividend or distribution of the Common Stock payable solely in shares of Common
Stock. In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs
of the corporation, the holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled to share
pro rata in the net assets available for distribution to holders of Common Stock
after satisfaction of the prior claims of the holders of shares of Preferred
Stock of any series and shares of any other class of capital stock ranking
senior to the Common Stock as to assets, in accordance with the provisions of
this Certificate of Incorporation, as amended from time to time, or of
resolutions of the Board of Directors adopted pursuant to authority herein
contained.
The Board of Directors is hereby authorized from time to time to provide
by resolution for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more
series not exceeding the aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock
authorized by this Certificate of Incorporation, as amended from time to time,
and to determine with respect to each such series, the voting powers, if any
(which voting powers if granted may be full or limited), designations,
preferences, the relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the
qualifications, limitations and restrictions appertaining thereto, including,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the voting rights appertaining
to shares of Preferred Stock of any series (which may be one vote per share or a
fraction of a vote per share, and which may be applicable generally or only upon
the happening and continuance of stated events or conditions), the rate of
dividend to which holders of Preferred Stock of any series may be entitled
(which may be cumulative or noncumulative), the rights of holders of Preferred
Stock of any series in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up
of the affairs of the Corporation and the rights (if any) of holders of
Preferred Stock of any series to convert or exchange such shares of Preferred
Stock of such series for shares of Common Stock or for shares of Preferred Stock
of any other series or for shares of any other class of capital stock (including
the determination of the price or prices or the rate or rates applicable to such
rights to convert or exchange and the adjustments thereof, the time or times
during which the right to convert or exchange shall be applicable and the time
or times during which a particular price or rate shall be applicable).
Before the corporation shall issue any shares of Preferred Stock of any
series, a certificate setting forth a copy of the resolution or resolutions of
the Board of Directors fixing the voting powers, designations, preferences, the
relative, participating, optional and other
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rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions appertaining to the
shares of Preferred Stock of such series, and the number of shares of Preferred
Stock of such series authorized by the Board of Directors to be issued, shall be
made under seal of the corporation and signed by the president or a
vice-president and by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the corporation
and acknowledged by such president or vice-president as provided by the laws of
the State of Delaware and shall be filed and a copy thereof recorded in the
manner prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
NO PRE-EMPTIVE RIGHTS. No stockholder of this corporation shall have any
pre-emptive or preferential right to purchase or subscribe to any shares of any
class of this corporation now or hereafter to be authorized, or any notes,
debentures, bonds or other securities convertible into, or carrying options or
warrants to purchase, shares of any class now or hereafter to be authorized,
whether or not the issue of any such shares or such notes, debentures, bonds or
other securities would adversely affect the dividend or voting rights of such
stockholder, other than such rights, if any, as the board of directors in its
discretion from time to time may grant and at such price as the board of
directors in its discretion may fix; and the board of directors may issue shares
of any class of this corporation, or any notes, debentures, bonds or other
securities convertible into or carrying options or warrants to purchase shares
of any class, or options to purchase shares of any class, without offering any
such shares or securities or options, either in whole or in part, to the
existing stockholders of any class.
SERIES E CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK. There has been created a series
of cumulative convertible Preferred Stock of the Corporation having the voting
powers, designations, preferences, the relative, participating, optional and
other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions appertaining
thereto in addition to those set forth elsewhere in this Certificate of
Incorporation, as follows:
1. DESIGNATION AND NUMBER. The designation of Preferred Stock shall
be Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share,
of The TJX Companies, Inc. (the "Series E Preferred Stock"), and the number of
shares constituting such series shall be 1,500,000, which number may not be
increased but may be decreased (but not below the number of shares of Series E
Preferred Stock then outstanding) from time to time by the Board of Directors.
All shares of Series E Preferred Stock which shall have been issued and
reacquired in any manner by the Corporation (excluding, until the Corporation
elects to retire them, shares which are held as treasury shares but including
shares redeemed, shares purchased and retired, shares converted pursuant to
Section 4 hereof and shares exchanged for any other security of the Corporation)
shall not be reissued and shall, upon the making of any necessary filing with
the Secretary of State of Delaware have the status of authorized but unissued
shares of the Corporation's Preferred Stock, without designation as to series,
and thereafter may be issued, but not as shares of Series E Preferred Stock.
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2. DIVIDEND RIGHTS.
a. General. The holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall
be entitled to receive, in preference to the holders of shares of Common Stock
and any other stock ranking as to dividends junior to the Series E Preferred
Stock, when and as declared by the Board of Directors, out of funds legally
available therefor, cumulative cash dividends, accruing from and after the date
of original issuance of the Series E Preferred Stock at an annual rate of $7.00
per share, and no more, as long as shares of Series E Preferred Stock remain
outstanding. Dividends shall be payable quarterly in arrears, on January 1,
April 1, July 1 and October 1 in each year commencing on the first of such four
dates which follows the date of initial issuance of the Series E Preferred Stock
(each, a "Dividend Payment Date"). Each dividend will be payable to holders of
record as they appear on the stock register of the Corporation on the record
date therefor, not exceeding 60 days nor less than 10 days preceding the payment
date thereof, as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors. Dividends in arrears
may be declared and paid at any time, without reference to any Dividend Payment
Date, to holders of record on such date, not exceeding 60 days preceding the
payment date thereof, as may be fixed by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation. Dividends payable on the Series E Preferred Stock (i) for any
period greater or less than a full dividend period, shall be computed on the
basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months and (ii) for each
full quarterly dividend period, shall be computed by dividing the annual
dividend rate by four. Dividends on shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall be
cumulative and shall accrue on a daily basis from the date of original issuance
thereof whether or not there shall be funds legally available for the payment
thereof and whether or not such dividends are declared. Holders of shares of the
Series E Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividend, whether payable
in cash, property or stock, in excess of Full Cumulative Dividends on such
shares. No interest or sum of money in lieu of interest shall be payable in
respect of any dividend payment or payments which may be in arrears.
b. Requirements for Dividends on Senior Preferred Stock. The
Corporation shall not (i) declare or pay or set apart for payment any dividends
or distributions on shares of Series E Preferred Stock (other than dividends
paid in shares of stock ranking junior to any series of Preferred Stock ranking
senior to the Series E Preferred Stock as to dividends) or (ii) make any
purchase or redemption of, or any sinking fund payment for the purchase or
redemption of, shares of Series E Preferred Stock (other than a purchase or
redemption made by issue or delivery of any stock ranking junior to any series
of Preferred Stock ranking senior to the Series E Preferred Stock as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) unless Full Cumulative
Dividends on all outstanding shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking
senior to Series E Preferred Stock through the most recent dividend payment date
prior to the date of payment of such dividend or distribution, or effective date
of such purchase, redemption or sinking fund payment, shall have been paid in
full or declared and a sufficient sum set apart for payment thereof.
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c. Requirements for Dividends on Parity Preferred Stock. If there
shall be outstanding shares of any other class or series of Preferred Stock
ranking on a parity with the Series E Preferred Stock as to dividends, no
dividends, except as described in the next sentence, shall be declared or paid
or set apart for payment on any such other series for any period unless Full
Cumulative Dividends on the Series E Preferred Stock through the most recent
Dividend Payment Date have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or
declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for such
payment. If dividends on the Series E Preferred Stock and on any other series of
Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with the Series E Preferred
Stock are in arrears, all dividends declared upon shares of the Series E
Preferred Stock and all dividends declared upon such other series shall be
declared pro rata so that the amounts of dividends per share declared on the
Series E Preferred Stock and such other series shall in all cases bear to each
other the same ratio that Full Cumulative Dividends per share at the time on the
shares of Series E Preferred Stock and on such other series bear to each other.
d. Requirements for Dividends on Junior Stock. The Corporation
shall not (i) declare or pay or set apart for payment any dividends or
distributions on any stock ranking as to dividends junior to the Series E
Preferred Stock (other than dividends paid in shares of stock ranking junior to
the Series E Preferred Stock as to dividends) or (ii) make any purchase or
redemption of, or any sinking fund payment for the purchase or redemption of,
any stock ranking as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up
junior to the Series E Preferred Stock (other than a purchase or redemption made
by issue or delivery of any stock ranking junior to the Series E Preferred Stock
as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) unless Full
Cumulative Dividends on all outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock
through the most recent Dividend Payment Date prior to the date of payment of
such dividend or distribution, or effective date of such purchase, redemption or
sinking fund payment, shall have been paid in full or declared and a sufficient
sum set apart for payment thereof; provided, however, that unless prohibited by
the terms of any other outstanding series of Preferred Stock, any moneys
theretofore deposited in any sinking fund with respect to any Preferred Stock of
the Corporation in compliance with this Section 2(d) and the provisions of such
sinking fund may thereafter be applied to the purchase or redemption of such
Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of such sinking fund regardless of
whether at the time of such application Full Cumulative Dividends on all
outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock through the most recent Dividend
Payment Date shall have been paid in full or declared and a sufficient sum set
apart for payment thereof.
3. LIQUIDATION PREFERENCES.
a. Senior Preferred Stock. In the event of any liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary,
before any payment or distribution of the assets of the Corporation (whether
from capital or surplus) shall be made to or set apart for the holders of the
Series E Preferred Stock upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the
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holders of each class or series of Preferred Stock ranking senior to the Series
E Preferred Stock upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up shall be entitled
to receive full payment of their liquidation preferences.
b. Order of Payments among Parity Preferred Stock. In the event of
any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary
or involuntary, before any payment or distribution of the assets of the
Corporation (whether from capital or surplus) shall be made to or set apart for
the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking junior to
the Series E Preferred Stock upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the
holders of the shares of Series E Preferred Stock and the holders of each other
class or series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with Series E Preferred
Stock upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up shall be entitled to receive
liquidation payments according to the following priorities:
First,
The holders of the shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall receive $100
per share and the holders of shares of each such other class or series of
Preferred Stock shall receive the full respective liquidation preferences
(including any premiums) to which they are entitled; and
Second,
The holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock and the holders of
shares of each such other class or series of Preferred Stock shall each receive
an amount equal to Full Cumulative Dividends with respect to their respective
shares through and including the date of final distribution to such holders, but
such holders shall not be entitled to any further payment.
No payment (in either of the First step or Second step provided above)
on account of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation
shall be made to holders of any such other class or series of Preferred Stock or
to the holders of Series E Preferred Stock unless there shall likewise be paid
at the same time to the holders of the Series E Preferred Stock and the holders
of each such other class or series of Preferred Stock like proportionate amounts
of the same payments (as to each of the First step or the Second step above),
such proportionate amounts to be determined ratably in proportion to the full
amounts to which the holders of all outstanding shares of Series E Preferred
Stock and the holders of all outstanding shares of each such other class or
series of Preferred Stock are respectively entitled (in either the First step or
the Second step, as the case may be) with respect to such distribution.
For purposes of this Section 3, neither a consolidation or merger of the
Corporation with or into another corporation nor a merger of any other
corporation with or into the Corporation or a sale or transfer of all or any
part of the Corporation's assets for cash, securities or other property will be
deemed a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.
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c. Junior Stock. After payment shall have been made in full to the
holders of Series E Preferred Stock and to the holders of each such other class
or series of Preferred Stock as provided in this Section 3 upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, any other series or class or
classes of stock ranking junior to the Series E Preferred Stock upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up shall, subject to the respective terms
and provisions (if any) applying thereto, be entitled to receive any and all
assets remaining to be paid or distributed upon such liquidation, dissolution or
winding up, and the holders of Series E Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to
share therein.
4. CONVERSION.
a. Automatic Conversion. Unless earlier converted at the option of
the holder in accordance with the provisions of Section 4(b), on the Automatic
Conversion Date each outstanding share of the Series E Preferred Stock shall
convert automatically (the "Automatic Conversion") into (i) shares of Common
Stock at the Exchange Rate in effect on the Automatic Conversion Date and (ii)
the right to receive an amount in cash equal to Full Cumulative Dividends on
such share to the Automatic Conversion Date.
b. Optional Conversion by Holder. Shares of Series E Preferred
Stock may be converted, in whole or in part, at the option of the holder thereof
("Optional Conversion"), at any time after the Initial Issuance Date and not
later than the close of business on the Business Day prior to the Automatic
Conversion Date, into shares of Common Stock at the Upper Exchange Rate.
Optional Conversion of shares of Series E Preferred Stock may be
effected by delivering certificates evidencing such shares, together with
written notice of conversion and a proper assignment of such certificates to the
Corporation or in blank (and, if applicable, payment of an amount equal to the
dividend payable on such shares), to the office of any transfer agent for the
Series E Preferred Stock or to any other office or agency maintained by the
Corporation for that purpose and otherwise in accordance with the Optional
Conversion procedures established by the Corporation. Each Optional Conversion
shall be deemed to have been effected immediately prior to the close of business
on the date on which the foregoing requirements shall have been satisfied (the
"Optional Conversion Date").
c. Mechanics of Conversion.
i. Upon surrender in accordance with the aforesaid provisions of
the certificate for any shares so converted (duly endorsed or accompanied by
appropriate instruments of transfer), the holder of record of such shares shall
be entitled to receive the applicable number of shares of Common Stock
(calculated to the nearest 1/1,000,000th of a share) (and cash representing
fractional share settlements in respect thereof) at the applicable Exchange Rate
plus Full Cumulative Dividends thereon, without interest.
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ii. Before any holder of shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall
receive certificates for shares of Common Stock in respect of the conversion of
shares of Series E Preferred Stock (or cash representing fractional share
settlements in respect thereof) such holder shall surrender the certificate or
certificates of shares of Series E Preferred Stock duly endorsed if required by
the Corporation, at the office of the Corporation and, if certificates for
shares of Common Stock are to be received by such holder, shall state in writing
the name or names and the denominations in which such holder wishes the
certificate or certificates for the Common Stock to be issued. The Corporation
will, as soon as practicable after receipt thereof, issue and deliver to such
holder, or such holder's designee or designees, a certificate or certificates
for the number of shares of Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled
as aforesaid, together with a certificate or certificates representing any
shares of Series E Preferred Stock which are not to be converted, but which
shall have constituted part of the certificate or certificates for shares of
Series E Preferred Stock so surrendered.
iii. The Corporation's obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock
and provide funds upon conversion in accordance with this Section 4 shall be
deemed fulfilled if, on or before a conversion date, the Corporation shall
deposit with a bank or trust company, or an affiliate of a bank or trust
company, having an office or agency in New York, New York and having a capital
and surplus of at least $50,000,000 according to its last published statement of
condition, or shall set aside or make other reasonable provision for the
issuance of, such number of shares of Common Stock as are required to be
delivered by the Corporation pursuant to this Section 4 upon the occurrence of
the related conversion of Series E Preferred Stock and for cash required to be
paid in lieu of the issuance of fractional share amounts and Full Cumulative
Dividends payable in cash on the shares of Series E Preferred Stock to be
converted as required by this Section 4, in trust for the account of the holders
of such shares of Series E Preferred Stock to be converted (and so as to be and
continue to be available therefor), with (in the case of deposits with a bank or
trust company) irrevocable instructions and authority to such bank or trust
company that such shares and funds be delivered upon conversion of the shares of
Series E Preferred Stock so to be converted. If on the Automatic Conversion Date
shares of Common Stock and funds (if any) necessary for the conversion shall
have been irrevocably either set aside by the Company separate and apart from
its other funds or assets in trust for the account of the holders of the shares
of Series E Preferred Stock to be converted (and so as to be and continue to be
available therefor) or the Company shall have made other reasonable provision
therefor, then, notwithstanding that the certificates evidencing any shares of
the Series E Preferred Stock so subject to conversion shall not have been
surrendered, the shares represented thereby shall be deemed no longer
outstanding, dividends with respect to such shares shall cease to accrue on the
date fixed for conversion (provided that holders of shares of Series E Preferred
Stock at the close of business on a record date for any payment of dividends
shall be entitled to receive Full Cumulative Dividends payable on such shares on
the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the conversion of such
shares following such record date and prior to such Dividend Payment Date) and
all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith after such date cease and
terminate, except for the rights of the holders to receive the shares of Common
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Stock and funds (if any) payable pursuant to this Section 4 without interest
upon surrender of their certificates therefor. Holders of shares of Series E
Preferred Stock at the close of business on a dividend payment record date shall
be entitled to receive the dividend payable on such shares on the corresponding
Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the Optional Conversion of such shares
following such record date and prior to such Dividend Payment Date. However,
shares of Series E Preferred Stock surrendered for Optional Conversion after the
close of business on a dividend payment record date and before the opening of
business on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date must be accompanied by
payment in cash of an amount equal to the dividend payable on such shares on
such Dividend Payment Date. A holder of shares of Series E Preferred Stock on a
dividend record date who (or whose transferee) surrenders any such shares for
conversion into shares of Common Stock on the corresponding Dividend Payment
Date will receive the dividend payable by the Corporation on such shares of
Series E Preferred Stock on such Dividend Payment Date, and the converting
holder need not include payment of the amount of such dividend upon surrender of
shares of Series E Preferred Stock for conversion. Except as provided above,
upon any conversion of shares of Series E Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall
make no payment or allowance for unpaid dividends, whether or not in arrears, on
such shares of Series E Preferred Stock as to which conversion has been effected
or for dividends or distributions on the shares of Common Stock issued upon such
conversion.
iv. Holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock that are converted
shall not be entitled to receive dividends declared and paid on such shares of
Common Stock, and such shares of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote,
until such shares of Common Stock are issued upon the surrender of the
certificates representing such shares of Series E Preferred Stock and upon such
surrender such holders shall be entitled to receive such dividends declared and
paid on such shares of Common Stock subsequent to such conversion date. Amounts
payable in cash in respect of the shares of Series E Preferred Stock or in
respect of such shares of Common Stock shall not bear interest.
v. Each conversion of shares of Series E Preferred Stock into
Common Stock shall be deemed to have been made as of the close of business on
the applicable conversion date, so that the rights of the holder of such shares
of Series E Preferred Stock shall, to the extent of such conversion, cease at
such time and the person or persons entitled to receive shares of the Common
Stock upon conversion of such shares shall be treated for all purposes as having
become the record holder or holders of the Common Stock at such time; provided,
however, that if an event that results in an adjustment to the Exchange Rate is
declared or occurs with respect to the shares of Common Stock, and the record
date for any such action is on or after the close of business on the date on
which notice of such conversion is given, but prior to the close of business on
the date of such conversion, then the person or persons entitled to receive
shares of the Common Stock upon conversion of shares of Series E Preferred Stock
shall be treated for purposes of such action as having become the record holder
or holders of the Common Stock at the close of business on the Trading Day next
preceding the date on which notice of such conversion is given.
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vi. The Corporation will pay any and all taxes that may be payable
in respect of the issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock upon conversion
of shares of Series E Preferred Stock pursuant hereto. The Corporation shall
not, however, be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any
transfer involved in the delivery of shares registered in a name other than the
name in which such shares of Series E Preferred Stock were formerly registered,
and no such issue or delivery shall be made unless and until the person
requesting such issue or delivery has paid to the Corporation the amount of any
such tax, or has established, to the satisfaction of the Corporation, that such
tax has been paid.
d. Adjustments to the Exchange Rate. The Exchange Rate shall be
subject to adjustment from time to time as provided below in this paragraph (d).
(1) If the Corporation shall pay or make a dividend or other
distribution with respect to its Common Stock in shares of Common Stock
(including by way of reclassification of any shares of its Common Stock)
to all holders of Common Stock, the Exchange Rate in effect at the
opening of business on the day following the date fixed for the
determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or other
distribution shall be increased by multiplying such Exchange Rate by a
fraction of which the numerator shall be the sum of the number of shares
of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed
for such determination plus the total number of shares of Common Stock
constituting such dividend or other distribution, and of which the
denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at
the close of business on the date fixed for such determination, such
increase to become effective immediately after the opening of business
on the day following the date fixed for such determination.
(2) In case outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be subdivided
into a greater number of shares of Common Stock, the Exchange Rate in
effect at the opening of business on the day following the day upon
which such subdivision becomes effective shall be proportionately
increased, and, conversely, in case outstanding shares of Common Stock
shall be combined into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock, the
Exchange Rate in effect at the opening of business on the day following
the day upon which such combination becomes effective shall be
proportionately reduced, such increases or reductions, as the case may
be, to become effective immediately after the opening of business on the
day following the day upon which such subdivision or combination becomes
effective.
(3) If the Corporation shall, after the date hereof, issue rights or
warrants, in each case other than the Rights, to all holders of its
Common Stock entitling them (for a period not exceeding 45 days from the
date of such issuance) to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common
Stock at a price per share less than the Fair Market Value of the Common
Stock on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled
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to receive such rights or warrants, then in each case the Exchange Rate
shall be adjusted by multiplying the Exchange Rate in effect on such
record date, by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding on the date of issuance of such
rights or warrants, immediately prior to such issuance, plus the number
of additional shares of Common Stock offered for subscription or
purchase pursuant to such rights or warrants, and of which the
denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on
the date of issuance of such rights or warrants, immediately prior to
such issuance, plus the number of shares of Common Stock which the
aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Common Stock
so offered for subscription or purchase pursuant to such rights or
warrants would purchase at such Fair Market Value (determined by
multiplying such total number of shares by the exercise price of such
rights or warrants and dividing the product so obtained by such Fair
Market Value). Such adjustment shall become effective at the opening of
business on the Business Day next following the record date for the
determination of stockholders entitled to receive such rights or
warrants. To the extent that shares of Common Stock are not delivered
after the expiration of such rights or warrants, the Exchange Rate shall
be readjusted to the Exchange Rate which would then be in effect had the
adjustments made upon the issuance of such rights or warrants been made
upon the basis of the issuance of rights or warrants in respect of only
the number of shares of Common Stock actually delivered.
(4) If the Corporation shall pay a dividend or make a distribution
to all holders of its Common Stock consisting of evidences of its
indebtedness or other assets (including shares of capital stock of the
Corporation other than Common Stock but excluding any cash dividends or
any dividends or other distributions referred to in clauses (i) and (ii)
above), or shall issue to all holders of its Common Stock rights or
warrants to subscribe for or purchase any of its securities (other than
those referred to in clause (iii) above and other than Rights), then in
each such case the Exchange Rate shall be adjusted by multiplying the
Exchange Rate in effect on the record date for such dividend or
distribution or for the determination of stockholders entitled to
receive such rights or warrants, as the case may be, by a fraction of
which the numerator shall be the Fair Market Value per share of the
Common Stock on such record date, and of which the denominator shall be
such Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock less the fair market
value (as determined by the Board of Directors, whose determination
shall be conclusive) as of such record date of the portion of the assets
or evidences of indebtedness so distributed, or of such subscription
rights or warrants, applicable to one share of Common Stock. Such
adjustment shall become effective on the opening of business on the
Business Day next following the record date for such dividend or
distribution or for the determination of stockholders entitled to
receive such rights or warrants, as the case may be.
(5) Any share of Common Stock issuable in payment of a dividend or
other distribution shall be deemed to have been issued immediately prior
to the close of
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business on the record date for such dividend or other distribution for
purposes of calculating the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock
under subparagraph (ii) above.
(6) Anything in this paragraph (d) notwithstanding, the Corporation
shall be entitled to make such upward adjustments in the Exchange Rate,
in addition to those required by this paragraph (d), as the Corporation
in its sole discretion shall determine to be advisable, in order that
any stock dividends, subdivision of shares, distribution of rights to
purchase stock or securities, or distribution of securities convertible
into or exchangeable for stock (or any transaction which could be
treated as any of the foregoing transactions pursuant to Section 305 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) hereafter made by the
Corporation to its stockholders shall not be taxable.
(7) In any case in which this paragraph (d) shall require that an
adjustment as a result of any event become effective at the opening of
business on the Business Day next following a record date and the date
fixed for conversion pursuant to paragraph (a) occurs after such record
date, but before the occurrence of such event, the Corporation may in
its sole discretion elect to defer the following until after the
occurrence of such event: (A) issuing to the holder of any shares of
Series E Preferred Stock surrendered for conversion the additional
shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion over the shares of
Common Stock issuable before giving effect to such adjustment; and (B)
paying to such holder any amount in cash in lieu of a fractional share
of Common Stock pursuant to Section 5(d).
(8) For purposes hereof, an "adjustment in the Exchange Rate" means,
and shall be implemented by, an adjustment of the nature and amount
specified, effected in the manner specified, in each of the Upper
Exchange Rate, the Middle Exchange Rate and the Lower Exchange Rate. If
an adjustment is made to the Exchange Rate pursuant to this paragraph
(d), a proportionate adjustment in the same direction shall also be made
on the Automatic Conversion Date to the Current Market Price solely to
determine which of clauses (a), (b) or (c) of the definition of Exchange
Rate will apply on the Automatic Conversion Date. Such adjustment shall
be made by multiplying the Current Market Price by a fraction of which
the numerator shall be the Exchange Rate immediately after such
adjustment pursuant to this paragraph (d) and the denominator shall be
the Exchange Rate immediately before such adjustment. All adjustments to
the Exchange Rate shall be calculated to the nearest 1/1,000,000th of a
share of Common Stock. No adjustment in the Exchange Rate shall be
required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of
at least one percent in the Exchange Rate; provided, however, that any
adjustments which by reason of this subparagraph are not required to be
made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent
adjustment. All adjustments to the Exchange Rate shall be made
successively.
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(9) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
increasing the Exchange Rate such that the conversion price (for
purposes of this paragraph (d), an amount equal to the liquidation value
per share of Series E Preferred Stock divided by the Upper Exchange Rate
as in effect from time to time) would be below the then par value of the
Common Stock, the Corporation will take any corporate action which may,
in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the
Corporation may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable
shares of Common Stock at the Upper Exchange Rate as so adjusted.
e. Adjustment for Certain Consolidations or Mergers. In case of any
consolidation or merger to which the Corporation is a party (other than a merger
or consolidation in which the Corporation is the continuing corporation and in
which the Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the merger or
consolidation remains unchanged), or in case of any sale or transfer to another
corporation of the property of the Corporation as an entirety or substantially
as an entirety, or in case of any statutory exchange of securities with another
corporation (other than in connection with a merger or acquisition), proper
provision shall be made so that each share of the Series E Preferred Stock
shall, after consummation of such transaction, be subject to (i) conversion at
the option of the holder into the kind and amount of securities, cash or other
property receivable upon consummation of such transaction by a holder of the
number of shares of Common Stock into which such share of Series E Preferred
Stock would have been converted if the conversion had occurred immediately prior
to consummation of such transaction (based on the Exchange Rate in effect
immediately prior to such consummation) and (ii) conversion on the Automatic
Conversion Date into the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property
receivable upon consummation of such transaction by a holder of the number of
shares of Common Stock into which such share of Series E Preferred Stock would
have been converted if the conversion on the Automatic Conversion Date had
occurred immediately prior to the date of consummation of such transaction
(based on the Exchange Rate in effect immediately prior to such consummation);
assuming in each case that such holder of Common Stock failed to exercise rights
of election, if any, as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other
property receivable upon consummation of such transaction (provided that if the
kind or amount of securities, cash or other property receivable upon
consummation of such transaction is not the same for each nonelecting share,
then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property receivable upon
consummation of such transaction for each nonelecting share shall be deemed to
be the kind and amount so receivable per share by a plurality of the nonelecting
shares). The kind and amount of securities into which the shares of the Series E
Preferred Stock shall be convertible after consummation of such transaction
shall be subject to adjustment as described in paragraph (d) following the date
of consummation of such transaction. The Corporation may not become a party to
any such transaction unless the terms thereof are consistent with the foregoing.
f. Notice of Adjustments. Whenever the Exchange Rate is adjusted as
provided in paragraph (d), the Corporation shall:
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(i) Forthwith compute the adjusted Exchange Rate and prepare
a certificate signed by the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President,
the Treasurer or the Controller of the Corporation setting forth the
adjusted Exchange Rate, the method of calculation thereof in reasonable
detail and the facts requiring such adjustment and upon which such
adjustment is based, which certificate shall be prima facie evidence of
the correctness of the adjustment, and file such certificate forthwith
with the Transfer Agent;
(ii) Make a prompt public announcement stating that the
Exchange Rate has been adjusted and setting forth the adjusted Exchange
Rate; and
(iii) Promptly mail a notice (stating that the Exchange Rate
has been adjusted and the facts requiring such adjustment and upon which
such adjustment is based and setting forth the adjusted Exchange Rate)
to the holders of record of the outstanding shares of the Series E
Preferred Stock at or prior to the time the Corporation mails an interim
statement to its stockholders covering the fiscal quarter during which
the facts requiring such adjustment occurred but in any event within 45
days of the end of such fiscal quarter.
g. Prior Notice of Certain Events. In case:
i. the Corporation shall (1) declare any dividend (or any other
distribution) on its Common Stock, other than a dividend payable solely in cash
in an amount such that the aggregate cash dividend per share of Common Stock in
any fiscal quarter does not exceed 3.75% of the Current Market Price of the
Common Stock on the Trading Day next preceding the date of declaration of such
dividend, or (2) declare or authorize a redemption or repurchase of in excess of
10% of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock; or
ii. the Corporation shall authorize the granting to all holders of
Common Stock of rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of
stock of any class or of any other rights or warrants (other than Rights); or
iii. of any reclassification of Common Stock (other than a
subdivision or combination of the outstanding Common Stock, or a change in par
value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value), or
of any consolidation or merger to which the Corporation is a party and for which
approval of any stockholders of the Corporation shall be required, or of the
sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation or
of any compulsory share exchange where the Common Stock is converted into other
securities, cash or other property; or
iv. of the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation;
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then the Corporation shall cause to be filed with the Transfer Agent and each
office or agency maintained for conversion of shares of Series E Preferred
Stock, and shall cause to be mailed to the holders of record of the Series E
Preferred Stock, at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the stock
transfer books of the Corporation, at least 15 days prior to the applicable
record date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a
record (if any) is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution,
redemption, repurchase or granting of rights or warrants or, if a record is not
to be taken, the date as of which the holders of Common Stock of record to be
entitled to such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants are to
be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation,
merger, sale, transfer, share exchange, liquidation, dissolution or winding up
is expected to become effective, and the date as of which it is expected that
holders of Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of
Common Stock for securities or other property (including cash) deliverable upon
such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, share exchange,
liquidation, dissolution or winding up. No failure to mail such notice or any
defect therein or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the
corporate action required to be specified in such notice.
h. Dividend or Interest Reinvestment Plans; Other. Notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions, the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to
any plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on
securities of the Corporation and the investment of additional optional amounts
in shares of Common Stock under any such plan, and the issuance of any shares of
Common Stock or options or rights to purchase such shares pursuant to any
employee benefit plan or program of the Corporation, or pursuant to any option,
warrant, right or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security outstanding
as of the date the Series E Preferred Stock was first designated, shall not be
deemed to constitute an issuance of Common Stock or exercisable, exchangeable or
convertible securities by the Corporation to which any of the adjustment
provisions described above applies. There shall be no adjustment of the Exchange
Rate in case of the issuance of any stock (or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for stock) of the corporation except as described in this Section
4. Except as expressly set forth in this Section 4, if any action would require
adjustment of the Exchange Rate pursuant to more than one of the provisions
described above, only one adjustment shall be made and such adjustment shall be
the amount of adjustment which has the highest absolute value.
i. For purposes of this Section 4, the number of shares of Common
Stock at any time outstanding shall not include any shares of Common Stock then
owned or held, directly or indirectly through a subsidiary, by or for the
account of the Corporation.
5. RESERVATION OF SHARES; LISTING OF SHARES, ETC.
a. Reservation of Shares. The Corporation shall at all times
reserve and keep available, out of its authorized and unissued stock, solely for
the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Series E Preferred Stock, the
full number of shares of its Common Stock
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deliverable upon conversion of all shares of Series E Preferred Stock not
theretofore converted.
b. Listing of Shares. If any shares of Common Stock required to be
reserved for purposes of conversion of the Series E Preferred Stock hereunder
require registration with or approval of any governmental authority under any
Federal or State law before such shares may be issued upon conversion, the
Corporation will in good faith and as expeditiously as possible endeavor to
cause such shares to be duly registered or approved, as the case may be. If the
Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange or any other national
securities exchange, the Corporation will, as expeditiously as possible, if
permitted by the rules of such exchange, cause to be listed and keep listed on
such exchange, upon official notice of issuance, all shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of the Series E Preferred Stock.
c. Shares Issued on Conversion to be Fully Paid, Etc. The shares of
Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the shares of Series E Preferred Stock,
when the same shall be issued in accordance with the terms hereof, are hereby
declared to be and shall be fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock
in the hands of the holders thereof.
d. No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares or scrip representing
fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion of Series E
Preferred Stock. Instead of any fractional share of Common Stock that would
otherwise be issuable upon conversion of any shares of Series E Preferred Stock,
the Corporation shall pay a cash adjustment in respect of such fractional
interest in an amount equal to the same fraction of the Closing Price of a share
of Common Stock (or, if there is no such Closing Price, the fair market value of
a share of Common Stock, as determined or prescribed by the Board of Directors)
at the close of business on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of
conversion.
e. Other Action. If the Corporation shall take any action affecting
the Common Stock, other than action described in Section 4, that in the opinion
of the Board of Directors would materially adversely affect the conversion
rights of the holders of the shares of Series E Preferred Stock, the Exchange
Rate for the Series E Preferred Stock may be adjusted, to the extent permitted
by law, in such manner, if any, and at such time, as the Board of Directors may
determine to be equitable in the circumstances.
6. VOTING RIGHTS. Other than as required by applicable law, the Series E
Preferred Stock shall not have any voting powers either general or special
except that:
a. Unless a greater vote or consent shall then be required by law,
the affirmative vote or consent of two-thirds of the votes to which the holders
of the outstanding shares of the Series E Preferred Stock, and each other series
of Preferred Stock of the Corporation similarly affected, if any, voting
together as a single class, are entitled shall be necessary for authorizing,
effecting or validating the amendment, alteration or repeal of any of the
provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of
Designations,
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Preferences and Rights or any similar document relating to any series of
Preferred Stock) of the Corporation, including any amendment or supplement
thereto, if such would materially and adversely affect the preferences, rights,
powers or privileges, qualification, limitations and restrictions of the Series
E Preferred Stock and any such other series of Preferred Stock; provided,
however, that the creation, issuance or increase in the amount of authorized
shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with or junior to
the Series E Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up will not be deemed to materially and adversely affect
such rights, powers or privileges, qualification, limitations and restrictions.
b. Unless the vote or consent of the holders of a greater number of
shares shall then be required by law, the affirmative vote or consent of
two-thirds of the votes to which the holders of the outstanding shares of the
Series E Preferred Stock, and all other series of Preferred Stock of the
Corporation ranking on parity with shares of the Series E Preferred Stock
(either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) as to
which like voting rights have been conferred, voting together as a single class,
are entitled shall be necessary to create, authorize or issue, or reclassify any
authorized stock of the Corporation into, or create, authorize or issue any
obligation or security convertible into or evidencing a right to purchase, any
shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking prior to the
Series E Preferred Stock or ranking prior to any other class or series of
Preferred Stock of the Corporation which ranks on a parity with the Series E
Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
c. Whenever, at any time or times, dividends payable on the shares
of Series E Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal to at least
six full quarterly dividends on shares of the Series E Preferred Stock at the
time outstanding, the holders of the outstanding shares of Series E Preferred
Stock shall have the exclusive right, voting together as a class with holders of
shares of any one or more other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity
with the Series E Preferred Stock (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) upon which like voting rights have been conferred and
are then exercisable, to elect two (2) directors of the Corporation for one-year
terms at the Corporation's next annual meeting of stockholders and at each
subsequent annual meeting of stockholders. If the right to elect directors shall
have accrued to the holders of the Series E Preferred Stock more than 90 days
prior to the date established for the next annual meeting of stockholders, the
President of the Corporation shall, within 20 days after delivery to the
Corporation at its principal office of a written request for a special meeting
signed by the holders of at least 10% of all outstanding shares of the Series E
Preferred Stock, call a special meeting of the holders of Series E Preferred
Stock to be held within 60 days after the delivery of such request for the
purpose of electing such additional directors. Upon the vesting of such right of
the holders of Series E Preferred Stock, the maximum authorized number of
members of the Board of Directors shall automatically be increased by two and
the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the
outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock (either alone or together with
the holders of shares of any one or more other such series of Preferred Stock
entitled to vote
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in such election) as set forth above. The right of the holders of Series E
Preferred Stock to elect members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation as
aforesaid shall continue until such time as all dividends in arrears on the
Series E Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full or declared and set apart
for payment, at which time such right shall terminate, except as herein or by
law expressly provided, subject to revesting in the event of each and every
subsequent default of the character above described.
d. Upon termination of such special voting rights attributable to
all holders of the Series E Preferred Stock and any other such series of
Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with the Series E Preferred Stock as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up and upon which like
voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, the term of office of
each director elected by the holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock and
such parity Preferred Stock (a "Preferred Stock Director") pursuant to such
special voting rights shall immediately terminate and the number of directors
constituting the entire Board of Directors shall be reduced by the number of
Preferred Stock Directors. Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed by, and
shall not be removed otherwise than by, a majority of the votes to which the
holders of the outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock and all other such
series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with the Series E Preferred Stock
with respect to dividends who were entitled to participate in such Preferred
Stock Directors election, voting as a single class, are entitled. If the office
of any Preferred Stock Director becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation,
retirement, disqualification, removal from office, or otherwise, the remaining
Preferred Stock Director may choose a successor who shall hold office for the
unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.
e. In connection with any right to vote, each holder of Series E
Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share held (the holders
of shares of any other series of Preferred Stock being entitled to such number
of votes, if any, for each share of stock held as may be granted to them).
7. RANKING. The Common Stock shall rank junior to the Series E Preferred
Stock as to dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, as
described in Sections 2 and 3. Any other class or series of stock of the
Corporation shall be deemed to rank:
a. prior to the Series E Preferred Stock, as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up as described in Section 3, respectively,
if the holders of such class shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of
amounts distributable upon such a liquidation, dissolution or winding up, as the
case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of the Series E Preferred
Stock;
b. on a parity with the Series E Preferred Stock, as to dividends
or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up as described in section 3,
respectively, whether or not the dividend rates, dividend payment dates or
redemption or liquidation prices per share thereof be different from those of
the Series E Preferred Stock, if the holders of such class of stock and the
Series
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22
E Preferred Stock shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts
distributable upon such a liquidation, dissolution or winding up, as the case
may be, in proportion to their respective amounts of accrued and unpaid
dividends per share or liquidation prices, without preference or priority one
over the other; and
c. junior to the Series E Preferred Stock, as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up as described in section 3, respectively,
if the holders of Series E Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receipt of
dividends or of amounts distributable upon such a liquidation, dissolution or
winding up, as the case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of
shares of such stock.
8. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Certificate of Designations,
Preferences and Rights of Series E Preferred Stock, the following terms shall
have the meanings indicated:
a. "Automatic Conversion" is defined in Section 4(a).
b. "Automatic Conversion Date" shall mean the third anniversary of
the Initial Issuance Date.
c. "Base Number" shall mean the number derived from dividing $100
by the Initial Common Stock Price.
d. "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday,
or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York or The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts are authorized or obligated by law or executive
order to close or a day which is or is declared a national or New York or
Massachusetts state holiday.
e. "Closing Price" with respect to any securities on any day shall
mean the closing sale price regular way on such day or, in case no such sale
takes place on such day, the average of the reported closing bid and asked
prices, regular way, in each case on the New York Stock Exchange, or, if such
security is not listed or admitted to trading on such Exchange, on the principal
national securities exchange or quotation system on which such security is
quoted or listed or admitted to trading, or, if not quoted or listed or admitted
to trading on any national securities exchange or quotation system, the average
of the closing bid and asked prices of such security on the over-the-counter
market on the day in question as reported by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System, or a similarly generally
accepted reporting service, or if not so available, in such manner as furnished
by any New York Stock Exchange member firm selected from time to time by the
Board of Directors for that purpose.
f. "Current Market Price" shall mean the average of the daily
Closing Prices per share of Common Stock for the ten consecutive Trading Days
immediately prior to the date in question, provided, however, that, if any event
that results in an adjustment of the Exchange
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Rate occurs during the period beginning on the first day of such ten-day period
and ending on the applicable conversion date, the Current Market Price as
determined pursuant to the foregoing shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect
the occurrence of such event.
g. The "Exchange Rate" shall be equal to (a) if the Current Market
Price on the date of determination is equal to or greater than 120% of the
Initial Common Stock Price (the "Threshold Common Stock Price"), the number of
shares of Common Stock equal to 0.83333333 of the Base Number (the "Upper
Exchange Rate"), (b) if the Current Market Price on the date of determination is
less than the Threshold Common Stock Price but greater than the Initial Common
Stock Price, the number of shares of Common Stock having a value (determined at
the Current Market Price) equal to the Initial Preferred Stock Price (the
"Middle Exchange Rate"), and (c) if the Current Market Price on the date of
determination is equal to or less than the Initial Common Stock Price, a number
of shares of Common Stock (the "Lower Exchange Rate") equal to the Base Number;
provided that for all purposes relating to optional conversion by a holder
pursuant to Section 4(b) the Exchange Rate shall be equal to the Upper Exchange
Rate. The Exchange Rate is subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 4(d).
h. "Fair Market Value" on any day shall mean the average of the
daily Closing Prices of a share of Common Stock of the Corporation on the five
(5) consecutive Trading Days selected by the Corporation commencing not more
than 20 Trading Days before, and ending not later than, the earlier of the day
in question and the day before the "ex" date with respect to the issuance or
distribution requiring such computation. The term "'ex' date", when used with
respect to any issuance or distribution, means the first day on which the Common
Stock trades regular way, without the right to receive such issuance or
distribution, on the exchange or in the market, as the case may be, used to
determine that day's Closing Price.
i. "Full Cumulative Dividends" shall mean, with respect to the
Series E Preferred Stock, or any other capital stock of the Corporation, as of
any date the aggregate amount of all then accumulated, accrued and unpaid
dividends payable on such shares of Series E Preferred Stock, or other capital
stock, as the case may be, in cash, whether or not earned or declared and
whether or not there shall be funds legally available for the payment thereof.
j. "Initial Common Stock Price" shall mean $15.4375 per share of
Common Stock.
k. "Initial Issuance Date" shall mean the date on which shares of
Series E Preferred Stock are initially issued by the Company.
l. "Initial Preferred Stock Price" shall mean $100 per share.
m. "Lower Exchange Rate" is defined in the definition of "Exchange
Rate".
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n. "Middle Exchange Rate" is defined in the definition of "Exchange
Rate".
o. "Optional Conversion" is defined in Section 4(b).
p. "Optional Conversion Date" is defined in Section 4(b).
q. "Record Date" shall mean, with respect to any dividend,
distribution or other transaction or event in which the holders of Common Stock
have the right to receive any cash, securities or other property or in which the
Common Stock (or other applicable security) is exchanged or converted into any
combination of cash, securities or other property, the date fixed for
determination of stockholders entitled to receive such cash, securities of other
property (whether such dated is fixed by the Board of Directors or by statute,
contract or otherwise), and with respect to any subdivision or combination of
the Common Stock, the effective date of such subdivision or combination.
r. "Rights" shall mean the rights of the Corporation which are
issuable under the Rights Agreement, or rights to purchase any capital stock of
the Corporation under any successor shareholder rights plan or plan adopted in
replacement of the Rights Agreement.
s. "Rights Agreement" shall mean any agreement similar to the
Corporation's previous Rights Agreement dated as of April 26, 1988 between the
Corporation and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Rights Agent, as the
same may be amended from time to time.
t. [omitted].
u. [omitted].
v. [omitted].
w. "Threshold Common Stock Price" is defined in the definition of
"Exchange Rate".
x. "Trading Day" shall mean (x) if the applicable security is
listed or admitted for trading on the New York Stock Exchange or another
national securities exchange, a day on which the New York Stock Exchange or such
other national securities exchange is open for business or (y) if the applicable
security is quoted on the National Market System of the National Association of
Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System, a day on which trades may be made
on such National Market System or (z) if the applicable security is not so
listed, admitted for trading or quoted, any day other than a Saturday or Sunday
or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized
or obligated by law or executive order to close.
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y. "Transfer Agent" shall mean State Street Bank and Trust Company,
or any other national or state bank or trust company having combined capital and
surplus of at least $100,000,000 and designated by the Corporation as the
transfer agent and/or registrar of the Series E Preferred Stock, or if no such
designation is made, the Corporation.
z. "Upper Exchange Rate" is defined in the definition of "Exchange
Rate".
FIFTH: The minimum amount of capital with which this corporation will
commence business is one thousand dollars ($1,000.).
The board of directors, without the assent of or other action by the
stockholders, may from time to time authorize the issue and sale of shares of
stock of this corporation now or hereafter authorized, for such consideration
and upon such terms as the board may determine.
SIXTH: This corporation is to have perpetual existence.
SEVENTH: The private property of the stockholders shall not be subject
to the payment of corporate debts.
EIGHTH: The following provisions are inserted for the regulation and
conduct of the affairs of this corporation, and it is expressly provided that
they are intended to be in furtherance and not in limitation or exclusion of the
powers elsewhere conferred herein or in the by-laws or conferred by law:
(a) Except as may be otherwise expressly required by law or by other
provisions of this certificate of incorporation or by the by-laws, the board of
directors shall have and may exercise, transact, manage, promote and carry on
all of the powers, authorities, businesses, objects and purposes of this
corporation.
(b) Certain Provisions Relating to Nomination, Election and Removal
of Directors.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. Elections of directors need not
be by written ballot unless the by-laws shall so
provide. No director need be a stockholder.
2. NUMBER, ELECTION AND TERMS OF DIRECTORS. Except as
otherwise fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article
FOURTH hereof relating to the rights of the holders of
any class or series of stock having a preference over
the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation to
elect additional directors under specified
circumstances, the number of directors of the
Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by or
pursuant to the by-laws. The directors, other than those
who may be elected by the holders of any class or series
of stock having preference
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over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon
liquidation, shall be classified, with respect to the
time for which they severally hold office, into three
classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III, as
nearly equal in number as possible, with the term of
office of one Class expiring each year. At the annual
meeting of stockholders in 1985, directors of Class I
shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at
the next succeeding annual meeting, directors of Class
II shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring
at the second succeeding annual meeting, and directors
of Class III shall be elected to hold office for a term
expiring at the third succeeding annual meeting, with
the members of each Class to hold office until their
successors are elected and qualified. At each subsequent
annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation,
the successors to the Class of directors whose term
expires at such meeting shall be elected to hold office
for a term expiring at the annual meeting of
stockholders held in the third year following the year
of their election.
3. STOCKHOLDER NOMINATION OF DIRECTOR CANDIDATES. Advance
notice of nominations for the election of directors,
other than by the Board of Directors or a Committee
thereof, shall be given in the manner provided in the
by-laws.
4. NEWLY CREATED DIRECTORSHIPS AND VACANCIES. Except as
otherwise fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article
FOURTH hereof relating to the rights of the holders of
any class or series of stock having a preference over
the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation to
elect directors under specified circumstances, newly
created directorships resulting from any increase in the
number of directors and any vacancies on the Board of
Directors resulting from death, resignation,
disqualification, removal or other cause shall be filled
solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
remaining directors then in office, even though less
than a quorum of the Board of Directors, or by a sole
remaining director. Any director elected in accordance
with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the
remainder of the full term of the Class of directors in
which the new directorship was created or the vacancy
occurred and until such director's successor shall have
been elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of
directors constituting the Board of Directors shall
shorten the term of any incumbent director.
5. REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS. Except as otherwise fixed pursuant
to the provisions of Article FOURTH hereof relating to
the rights of the holders of any class or series of
stock having a preference over the
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Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation to
elect directors under specified circumstances, any
director may be removed from office without cause only
by the affirmative vote of the holders of 66-2/3% of the
combined voting power of the then outstanding shares of
stock entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors voting together as a single class.
(c) By-laws. The Board of Directors and the stockholders shall each
have the power to adopt, alter, amend and repeal the by-laws; and any by-laws
adopted by the directors or the stockholders under the powers conferred hereby
may be altered, amended or repealed by the directors or by the stockholders;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the by-laws shall not be altered, amended or repealed by
action of the stockholders, and no by-law shall be adopted by action of the
stockholders, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of
the voting power of all the shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally
in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
(d) The board of directors may at any time set apart out of any of
the funds of this corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for
any proper purpose and may at any time reduce or abolish any such reserve. Any
other proper reserves may also be carried.
(e) This corporation may purchase, hold, sell and transfer shares of
its own capital stock, but shall not use its funds or property for the purchase
of its own shares of capital stock when such use would cause any impairment of
the capital of this corporation, subject always to the right of this corporation
to reduce its capital or to redeem any preferred or special shares out of
capital as permitted by law. Shares of its own capital stock belonging to this
corporation shall not be voted upon directly or indirectly. The purchase,
acquisition or holding by this corporation of shares of its own capital stock
shall not be deemed to constitute the retirement of such shares or a reduction
of capital except as such shares are formally retired or the capital is formally
reduced in accordance with the provisions of law therefor.
(f) Nothing in this certificate of incorporation shall be deemed to
prohibit the reissue of any shares of capital stock of this corporation retired
or reduced upon or in connection with any reduction of capital, but upon the
filing and recording of the certificate of reduction such shares shall have the
status of authorized and unissued shares of the class of stock to which such
shares belong, if and to the extent permitted by law. So far as permitted by law
the stockholders or board of directors authorizing or effectuating any reduction
of capital may determine the manner in which such reduction shall be effected
and the extent, if any, to which any assets shall be distributed to
stockholders, and except as and to the extent that such a distribution is so
authorized or provided for, no stockholder shall be entitled to demand any
distribution of assets in connection with or as the result of any reduction of
capital.
(g) The board of directors may from time to time determine whether
and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions and
regulations the accounts
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and books and papers of this corporation, or any of them, shall be open to the
inspection of the stockholders, and no stockholder shall have any right to
inspect any account, book or document of this corporation, except as and to the
extent expressly provided by law with reference to the right of stockholders to
examine the original or duplicate stock ledger, or as otherwise expressly
provided by law, or except as expressly authorized by resolution of the board of
directors.
(h) The board of directors shall have the power to fix from time to
time the compensation of its members. No person shall be disqualified from
holding any office by reason of any interest. In the absence of fraud or bad
faith, any director, officer or stockholder of this corporation individually, or
any individual having any interest in any concern which is a stockholder of this
corporation, or any concern in which any such directors, officers, stockholders
or individuals have any interest, may be a party to, or may be pecuniarily or
otherwise interested in, any contract, transaction or other act of this
corporation, and
(i) such contract, transaction or act shall not be in any way invalidated or
otherwise affected by that fact;
(ii) no such director, officer, or stockholder shall be liable to account to
this corporation for any profit or benefit realized through any such
contract, transaction or act; and
(iii) any such director of this corporation may be counted in determining the
existence of a quorum at any meeting of the board of directors or of any
committee thereof which shall authorize any such contract, transaction
or act, and may vote to authorize the same,
provided, however, that any contract, transaction or act in which any director
or officer of this corporation is so interested individually or as a director,
officer, trustee or member of any concern which is not a subsidiary or affiliate
of this corporation, or in which any directors or officers, respectively, are so
interested as holders, collectively, of a majority of shares of capital stock or
other beneficial interest at the time outstanding in any concern which is not a
subsidiary or affiliate of this corporation, shall be duly authorized or
ratified by a majority of the board of directors who are not so interested and
to whom the nature of such interest has been disclosed. With respect to the
matters herein contained,
(a) the word "interest" shall include personal interest and interest as a
director, officer, stockholder, shareholder, trustee, member or
beneficiary of any concern;
(b) the word "concern" shall mean any corporation, association, trust,
partnership, firm, person or other entity other than this corporation;
and
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(c) the phrase "subsidiary or affiliate" shall mean a concern in which a
majority of the directors, trustees, partners or controlling persons are
elected or appointed by the directors of this corporation, or are
constituted of the directors or officers of this corporation.
To the extent permitted by law, the authorizing or ratifying vote of a majority
in interest of each class of the capital stock of this corporation outstanding
and entitled to vote for directors at an annual meeting or a special meeting
duly called for the purpose (whether such vote is passed before or after
judgment rendered in a suit with respect to such contract, transaction or act)
shall validate any contract, transaction or act of this corporation, or of the
board of directors or any committee thereof, with regard to all stockholders of
this corporation, whether or not of record at the time of such vote, and with
regard to all creditors and other claimants under this corporation, provided,
however, that with respect to the authorization or ratification of contracts,
transactions or acts in which any of the directors, officers or stockholders of
this corporation have an interest, the nature of such contracts, transactions or
acts and the interest of any director, officer or stockholder therein shall be
summarized in the notice of any such annual or special meeting, or in a
statement or letter accompanying such notice, and shall be fully disclosed at
any such meeting, and provided also that stockholders so interested may vote at
any such meeting, and provided further that any failure of the stockholders to
authorize or ratify such contract, transaction or act shall not be deemed in any
way to invalidate the same or to deprive this corporation, its directors,
officers or employees of its or their right to proceed with such contract,
transaction or act.
No contract, transaction or act shall be avoided by reason of any provision of
this clause (h) which would be valid but for those provisions.
(i) The Corporation shall indemnify each person who is or was a
director or officer of this Corporation against expenses (including attorney's
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement to the maximum extent
permitted from time to time under the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware. Such indemnification shall not be exclusive of other indemnification
rights arising under any by-law, agreement, vote of directors or stockholders or
otherwise and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs and legal representatives
of such person.
(j) [omitted].
(k) Stockholder Action. Any action required or permitted to be taken
by the stockholders of the Corporation, or any class or series thereof, must be
effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such holders and may not
be effected by any consent in writing by such holders. Except as otherwise
required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series
of stock having a preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon
liquidation, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be
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30
called only by the Chairman of the Board, the President or the Board of
Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by a majority of the entire Board of
Directors.
(l) Certain Amendments, etc. Notwithstanding anything contained in
this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, the affirmative vote of the
holders of at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of all shares of the Corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a
single class, shall be required to alter, amend, adopt any provision
inconsistent with, or repeal, paragraphs (b), (c), (k) or this paragraph (1) of
this Article EIGHTH or any provision hereof or thereof.
(m) A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to
the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director's
duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or
omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation
Law, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper
personal benefit. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended after
approval by the stockholders of this provision to authorize corporate action
further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the
liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the
full extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as so amended.
Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph by the
stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or
protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal
or modification.
NINTH: Subject to the applicable provisions (if any) of this certificate
of incorporation, this corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change,
add to or repeal any provision contained in this certificate of incorporation,
in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by law.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The TJX Companies, Inc. has caused this certificate
to be signed by Donald G. Campbell, its Executive Vice President, and its
corporate seal affixed hereto, this 4th day of September, 1997. This Restated
Certificate of Incorporation was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions
of section 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and
only restates and integrates and does not further amend the provisions of the
Corporation's certificate of incorporation as heretofore amended or
supplemented. There is no discrepancy between the provisions of the certificate
of incorporation as heretofore amended or supplemented and the provisions of
this restated certificate of incorporation. This certificate is to be filed
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and recorded with the
Recorder of Deeds of New Castle County, Delaware, pursuant to Sections 103 and
245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
THE TJX COMPANIES, INC.
By /s/ Donald G. Campbell
-----------------------------------
Name: Donald G. Campbell
Title: Executive Vice President
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1
EXHIBIT 5.1
September 5, 1997
The TJX Companies, Inc.
770 Cochituate Road
Framingham, Massachusetts 01701
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This opinion is furnished to you in connection with your registration
statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
for the registration of 9,000,000 shares of common stock, $1.00 par value per
share (the "Common Stock"), of The TJX Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), issuable pursuant to The TJX Companies, Inc. 1986 Stock
Incentive Plan (the "Plan").
We have acted as counsel for the Company in connection with certain
matters relating to the Plan and are familiar with the actions taken by the
Company in connection therewith. For purposes of this opinion we have examined
the Registration Statement, the Plan and such other documents as we have deemed
appropriate.
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that (i) the Common Stock
has been duly authorized and (ii) the Common Stock, when issued and sold in
accordance with the terms of the Plan, will have been validly issued and will be
fully paid and non-assessable.
We hereby consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Ropes & Gray
Ropes & Gray
1
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement of
The TJX Companies, Inc. on Form S-8 of our reports dated February 25, 1997 on
our audits of the financial statements and financial statement schedule of The
TJX Companies, Inc. as of January 25, 1997 and January 27, 1996 and for the
years ended January 25, 1997, January 27, 1996 and January 28, 1995 which
reports are included in or incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on
Form 10-K of the TJX Companies, Inc. for the fiscal year ended January 25, 1997.
/s/ Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
Boston, Massachusetts
September 5, 1997
