PROCTER & GAMBLE Co 8-K, filed Dec 13, 2022
PROCTER & GAMBLE Co (PG)
8-K
2022-12-13
For: 2022-12-13
View Original
Added on
April 02, 2026
About this 8-K
PROCTER & GAMBLE Co filed this 8-K on December 13, 2022.
Items reported
- Item 5.03: Charter or bylaw amendment, or fiscal year change
- Item 9.01: Financial statements and exhibits
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): December 13, 2022
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
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(Commission File Number)
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices, and Zip Code)
Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
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Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
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Pre-commencement communication pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
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Pre-commencement communication pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Trading Symbol(s)
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Name of each exchange on which registered
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
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Emerging growth company
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| If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. | ☐ | ||
ITEM 5.03 AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OR BYLAWS; CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR
On December 13, 2022, the Board of Directors of The Procter & Gamble Company (“the Company”) amended the Company’s Code of Regulations (the
“Regulations”), effective immediately. The amendments, which are included in Article I, Section 8, address certain procedural and disclosure requirements in connection with shareholder nominations of directors and solicitation of
proxies, including compliance with Rule 14a-19 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Specifically, the amendments require that any shareholder submitting a nomination notice make a representation as to whether such shareholder
intends to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s nominees in accordance with Rule 14a-19 and further require that such shareholder comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19, including providing
reasonable evidence of such compliance to the Company.
The foregoing description of the Regulations is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Code of Regulations of The Procter
& Gamble Company, which are filed as Exhibit 3.2 to this Form 8-K and hereby incorporated by reference.
The Company is filing this 8-K pursuant to Item 5.03, “Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.”
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ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND
EXHIBITS
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(d) Exhibits
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Exhibit Number
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Description
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
BY: /s/ Sandra T. Lane
Sandra T. Lane
Assistant Secretary
December 13, 2022
The Procter & Gamble Company
Regulations
ARTICLE I
SHAREHOLDERS
SECTION 1. Place of Meeting. Meetings of shareholders shall be
held in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, but the shareholders or the Board of Directors shall have authority to provide for the holding of meetings of shareholders elsewhere within or without the State of Ohio, except the annual meeting, or a
meeting to elect Directors. The Board of Directors is authorized to determine that a meeting shall not be held at a physical place, but instead may be held solely by means of communications equipment as authorized by Ohio law.
SECTION 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the
shareholders shall be held on the second Tuesday of October in each year, or on such other date within thirty (30) days of such date as may be designated by the Board of Directors. At the annual meeting of shareholders, there shall be elected in
accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio and Article II of these Regulations, a Board of Directors. Such other business shall occur at the annual meeting of shareholders as determined by the chair of the meeting, unless otherwise determined by
the Board of Directors prior to the meeting.
SECTION 3. Special Meetings. Special
meetings of the shareholders may be called and held as provided by law.
SECTION 4. Notice of Meetings. A notice, as required by law, of
each regular or special meeting of shareholders shall be given by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, not less than ten (10) days before the meeting.
SECTION 5. Quorum. The shareholders present in person or by
proxy at any meeting shall constitute a quorum unless a larger proportion is required to take the action stated in the notice of the meeting, in which case, to constitute a quorum, there shall be present in person or by proxy the holders of record of
shares entitling them to exercise the voting power required by the Articles of the Company to take the action stated.
SECTION 6. Organization. The Chairman of the Board shall
preside at all meetings of the shareholders, but in his or her absence the Board of Directors may appoint any officer to act as presiding officer at the meeting. The Secretary of the Company shall act as Secretary of all meetings of the shareholders,
but in his or her absence the presiding officer may appoint any person to act as Secretary of the meeting.
SECTION 7. Order of Business and Rules. Unless otherwise
determined by the Board of Directors prior to the meeting, the chair of the meeting shall determine the order of business of each annual meeting of shareholders. The chair shall also determine the rules of procedure for the meeting and shall have the
authority to regulate the conduct of any such meeting as he or she deems appropriate.
SECTION 8. Notice of Shareholder Business and
Nominations to be Brought Before a Meeting of Shareholders.
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(a)
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Business Properly Brought
Before an Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors, or the proposal of other business to be considered by the shareholders, may be made at an
annual meeting of shareholders only if properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting of shareholders, any director nominations or other business must be (i)
brought before the meeting by the Company and specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (ii) brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (iii) properly
brought before the meeting by a shareholder who was a shareholder of record (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such business is proposed, only if such beneficial owner was the beneficial owner of
shares of the Company) both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 8 and at the time of the annual meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (C) has complied with this Section 8 as to such business, or
(iv) properly brought before the meeting by one or more Eligible Shareholders (as such term is defined below) pursuant to and in accordance with Section 9 of this Article I. Except for proposals properly made in accordance with Rule 14a-8
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (as so amended and inclusive of such rules and regulations, the “Exchange Act”), and included in the notice of meeting given by or
at the direction of the Board of Directors, the foregoing clauses (iii) and (iv) shall be the exclusive means for a shareholder to make nominations or propose other business to be brought before an annual meeting of shareholders.
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(b)
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Requirement of Timely
Notice of Shareholder Business and Nominations for Director for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
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(i)
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To properly bring business before an annual meeting of shareholders, a shareholder must provide (A) Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in
writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Company and (B) any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 8.
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(ii)
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With respect to nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors (other than a nomination pursuant to Section 9 of this Article 1),
a shareholder’s notice must be delivered to the Secretary of the Company not less than one hundred and forty (140) days nor more than two hundred and forty (240) days prior to the one year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting;
provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the two
hundred and fortieth (240th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the one hundred and fortieth (140th) day prior to such annual meeting or, if later, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the
date of such annual meeting was first made.
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(iii)
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With respect to any other business (other than shareholder nomination of directors), a shareholder’s notice must be delivered to the Secretary of
the Company not less than ninety (90) days nor more than two hundred forty (240) days prior to the one year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty
(30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the two hundred fortieth (240th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the
ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or, if later, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such annual meeting was first made.
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(iv)
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Any notice of nominations or other business within the time periods referred to in clauses (b)(ii) and (b)(iii), respectively, is a “Timely
Notice” for purposes of such nomination or other business. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting of shareholders, or the announcement thereof, commence a new time period for the giving of Timely Notice as
described above.
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(c)
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Business Properly Brought
Before a Special Meeting of Shareholders. At a special meeting of shareholders, only such business will be conducted or considered as is properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought
before a special meeting, business must be (i) specified in the notice of the meeting (or any supplement thereto) given in accordance with Section 4 of this Article I, (ii) otherwise brought before the meeting by the chair of the meeting
or (iii) brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may not be made at a special meeting of shareholders unless directors are to be elected
pursuant to the Company’s notice of meeting. In such case, any shareholder of the Company who (A) was a shareholder of record (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose
behalf such business is proposed, only if such beneficial owner was the beneficial owner of shares of the Company) both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 8 and at the time of the meeting, (B) is entitled to
vote at the meeting, and (C) has complied with this Section 8 as to such nomination, may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such position(s) as specified in the Company’s notice of meeting.
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(d)
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Requirement of Timely Notice
of Shareholder Nominations for Special Meeting of the Shareholders Held for the Purpose of Electing One or More Directors. In the event the Company calls a special meeting of shareholders for the
purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any shareholder meeting the criteria in Section 8(c) above may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such position(s) as specified in the
Company’s notice of meeting, if the shareholder’s notice with respect to any nomination shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Company not earlier than the close of business on the two hundred and fortieth (240th) day prior to such
special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the one hundred and fortieth (140th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the
date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall any adjournment of a special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving
of a shareholder’s notice as described above.
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(e)
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Requirements for Proper
Form of Shareholder Notice. To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 8, a shareholder’s notice to the Secretary of the Company must:
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(i)
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set forth, as to the shareholder giving the notice and each Shareholder Associated Person (A) the name and address of such shareholder, as they
appear on the Company’s books, and the name and address of each Shareholder Associated Person, (B) the class and number of shares of the Company which are, directly or indirectly, held of record or beneficially owned (within the meaning of
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) by such shareholder and any Shareholder Associated Person as of the date of the notice, and a representation that the shareholder and any Shareholder Associated Person will notify the Company in writing
within five business days after the record date for such meeting of the class and number of shares of the Company held of record on such record date, (C) any other information relating to such shareholder and any Shareholder Associated
Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested
election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (D) such shareholder’s and any Shareholder Associated Person’s written consent to the public disclosure of information provided to
the Company pursuant to this Section 8;
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(ii)
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set forth, as to the shareholder giving the notice and any Shareholder Associated Person (A) any agreements, arrangements or understandings
entered into by the shareholder or Shareholder Associated Person, as appropriate, with respect to equity securities of the Company, including any put or call arrangements, derivative securities, short positions, borrowed shares or swap or
similar arrangements, specifying in each case the effect of such agreements, arrangements or understandings on any voting or economic rights of equity securities of the Company, in each case as of the date of the notice and in each case
describing any changes in voting or economic rights which may arise pursuant to the terms of such agreements, arrangements or understandings, (B) to the extent not covered in clause (A) above, any disclosures that would be required pursuant
to Item 5 or Item 6 of Schedule 13D (regardless of whether the requirement to file a Schedule 13D is applicable to the shareholder or beneficial owner), and (C) a representation that the shareholder will notify the Company in writing within
five business days after the record date for such meeting of the information set forth in clause (A) and (B) above as of such record date;
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(iii)
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if the notice relates to any business other than a nomination of a director or directors that the shareholder proposes to bring before the
meeting, set forth (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such shareholder and any Shareholder
Associated Person and (B) a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such shareholder and any Shareholder Associated Person, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the
proposal of such business by such shareholder;
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(iv)
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set forth, as to each person, if any, whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection to the Board of Directors (A) all
information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section
14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected) and (B) a description of all
direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such shareholder and any Shareholder Associated
Person, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including without limitation all information that would be required to be
disclosed pursuant to Item 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the shareholder making the nomination and any Shareholder Associated Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive
officer of such registrant;
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(v)
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set forth a representation that such shareholder intends to appear at the annual meeting to bring such nomination or other business before the
annual meeting;
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(vi)
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if the notice relates to a nomination of a director or directors, set forth a representation that the shareholder and each Shareholder Associated
Person, if any, intend or are part of a group that intends to solicit proxies or votes in support of each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection to the Board of Directors in accordance with Rule 14a-19
under the Exchange Act;
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(vii)
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set forth such other information as may reasonably be required by the Board of Directors as described in the Company’s proxy statement for the
preceding year’s annual meeting; and
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(viii)
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be followed, within five business days after the record date for such meeting, by the written notice providing the information described in
clauses (i) and (ii) above.
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“Shareholder Associated Person” of any shareholder means (i) any affiliate or associate (as such
terms are defined for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of the shareholder and any other person acting in concert with them, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Company owned of record or beneficially by
such shareholders, and (iii) any person controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such person. The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Company to determine the
eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Company or that could be material to a reasonable shareholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.
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(f)
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Determination of Business
Not Properly Brought Before a Meeting. Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 8 or Section 9 of this Article I shall be eligible to serve as
directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of shareholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 8 or Section 9 of this Article I. Except as
otherwise provided by law, the Articles of Incorporation of the Company or these Regulations, the determination of whether any business sought to be brought before any annual or special meeting of the shareholders is properly brought
before such meeting in accordance with this Section 8 or Section 9 of this Article I will be made by the presiding officer of such meeting. If the presiding officer determines that any business is not properly brought before such meeting,
he or she will so declare to the meeting and any such business will not be conducted or considered.
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(g)
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Rule 14a-8; Exchange Act
Compliance. This Section 8 is expressly intended to apply to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting of shareholders other than any shareholder proposal made pursuant to Rule
14a-8 under the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8, a shareholder must also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 8. Nothing
in this Section 8 will be deemed to affect any rights of shareholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Company’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
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(h)
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Rule 14a-19. Unless otherwise required by law, if any shareholder (i)(A) provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act and (B) subsequently fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) or
Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act or (ii) notifies the Company that such shareholder no longer intends to solicit proxies in accordance with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act, then the Company shall disregard any proxies or votes
solicited for such shareholder’s director nominees. Upon request by the Company, if any shareholder provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b), such shareholder shall deliver to the Company reasonable evidence that it has met the
requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3), and such evidence shall be received by the Secretary of the Company at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than five business days prior to the date of the meeting of shareholders.
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(i)
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Definition of Public Announcement. For purposes of this Section 8 and Section 9 of this Article 1, “public announcement” means disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Company
with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
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SECTION 9. Proxy Access for Director Nominations. The
Company shall include in its proxy statement for an annual shareholder meeting the name, together with the Required Information (as defined below), of any person nominated for election (a “Shareholder Nominee”) to the Board of Directors by a
shareholder that satisfies, or by a group of no more than twenty (20) shareholders that satisfy, the requirements of this Section 9 (an “Eligible Shareholder”), and that expressly elects at the time of providing the notice required by this Section 9
(the “Nomination Notice”) to have its nominee included in the Company’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 9.
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(a)
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Delivery of Nomination Notice. A
shareholder’s Nomination Notice, together with the Required Information, must be delivered to the Secretary of the Company not less than one hundred and twenty (120) days and not more than one hundred and fifty (150) days prior to the one
year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual shareholder meeting; provided, however, that if the date of the annual shareholder meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, the Nomination Notice must be so delivered not later than the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual shareholder meeting, or, if later, the tenth
(10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such annual shareholder meeting was first made. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual shareholder meeting commence
a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Nomination Notice as described above.
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(b)
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Required Information. For
purposes of this Section 9, the “Required Information” that the Company will include in its proxy statement is (i) the information concerning the Shareholder Nominee and the Eligible Shareholder that, as determined by the Board of
Directors, is required to be disclosed in the Company’s proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the SEC; and (ii) if the Eligible Shareholder so elects, a written statement not to exceed five hundred (500) words, in support
of the Shareholder Nominee’s candidacy (the “Statement”), which must be provided at the same time as the Nomination Notice. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 9, the Company may omit from its proxy
materials any information or Statement (or portion thereof) that (A) directly or indirectly impugns the character, integrity or personal reputation of, or directly or indirectly makes charges concerning improper, illegal or immoral
conduct or associations, without factual foundation, with respect to any person; or (B) would violate any applicable law or regulation. Nothing in this Section 9 shall limit the ability of the Company to solicit proxies against the
Shareholder Nominee or to include in its own proxy materials the Company’s own statements or any other additional information relating to any Eligible Shareholder or Shareholder Nominee.
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(c)
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Shareholder Nominees.
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(i)
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The number of Shareholder Nominees appearing in the Company’s proxy materials with respect to an annual shareholder meeting shall not exceed the greater of (A) two (2) ortwenty percent (20%)
of the number of directors in office as of the last day on which a Nomination Notice may be delivered pursuant to this Section 9, or if such amount is not a whole number, the closest whole number below twenty percent (20%); provided,
however, that this maximum number shall be reduced, but not below zero (0), by the number of (I) Shareholder Nominees that were submitted by an Eligible Shareholder for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 9
but either are subsequently withdrawn or that the Board of Directors decides to nominate as Board nominees, and (II) director candidates for which the Company shall have received one or more valid shareholder notices (whether or not
subsequently withdrawn) nominating director candidates pursuant to Section 8. In the event that one or more vacancies for any reason occurs on the Board of Directors after the last day on which a Nomination Notice can be delivered pursuant
to this Section 9 but before the date of the annual shareholder meeting and the Board of Directors resolves to reduce the size of the Board of Directors in connection therewith, the maximum number of Shareholder Nominees included in the
Company’s proxy materials shall be calculated based on the number of directors as so reduced.
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(ii)
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In the event that the number of Shareholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Shareholders pursuant to this Section 9 exceeds this maximum number, each Eligible Shareholder will select one
Shareholder Nominee for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials until the maximum number is reached, going in order of the amount (largest to smallest) of shares of the capital stock of the Company each Eligible Shareholder disclosed as
owned in its respective Nomination Notice submitted to the Company. If the maximum number is not reached after each Eligible Shareholder has selected one Shareholder Nominee, this selection process will continue as many times as necessary,
following the same order each time, until the maximum number is reached.
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(iii)
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Following the determination of which Shareholder Nominees shall be included in the Company’s proxy materials, if any Shareholder Nominee who satisfies the eligibility requirements herein is
thereafter: nominated by the Board of Directors; is otherwise not included in the Company’s proxy materials; or is not submitted for director election for any reason (including the Eligible Shareholder’s or Shareholder Nominee’s failure to
comply with the requirements herein), no other nominee or nominees shall be included in the Company’s proxy materials or otherwise submitted for director election in substitution thereof.
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(iv)
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The Company shall not be required to include, pursuant to this Section 9, any Shareholder Nominee in its proxy materials for any meeting of shareholders (A) if the Eligible
Shareholder who has nominated such Shareholder Nominee has engaged in or is currently engaged in, or has been or is a “participant” in another person’s, “solicitation” within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the 1934 Act in support of the
election of any individual as a director at the meeting other than its Shareholder Nominee(s) or a nominee of the Board of Directors, (B) who is not independent under the Applicable Independence Standards (as defined below), as determined
by the Board of Directors, (C) who serves as an executive officer of a company where a P&G employee director serves on the Board of Directors, (D) whose election as a member of the Board of Directors would cause the Company to be in
violation of these Regulations, the Articles of Incorporation, the listing standards of the principal exchange upon which the Company’s capital stock is traded, or any applicable law, rule or regulation, (E) who is or has been, within the
past three years, an officer or director of a competitor, as defined in Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, (F) who is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding minor traffic violations and other minor
offenses) or has been convicted in such a criminal proceeding within the past ten (10) years, (G) who is subject to any order of the type specified in Rule 506(d) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (H)
if such Shareholder Nominee or the applicable Eligible Shareholder shall have provided information to the Company in respect to such nomination that was untrue in any material respect or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statement made, in light of the circumstances under which it was made, not misleading, as determined by the Board of Directors, or (I) if the Eligible Shareholder or applicable Shareholder Nominee otherwise contravenes any of
the agreements or representations made by such Eligible Shareholder or Shareholder Nominee or fails to comply with its obligations pursuant to this Section 9.
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(v)
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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Board of Directors or the person presiding at the meeting shall declare a nomination by an Eligible Shareholder to be invalid,
and such nomination shall be disregarded notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Company, if (A) the Shareholder Nominee(s) and/or the applicable Eligible Shareholder shall have breached its or
their obligations, agreements or representations under this Section 9, as determined by the Board of Directors or the person presiding at the annual shareholder meeting, or (B) the Eligible Shareholder (or a qualified representative
thereof) does not appear at the annual shareholder meeting to present any nomination pursuant to this Section 9. For purposes of this Section 9, to be considered a qualified representative of the Eligible Shareholder, a person must be
authorized by a writing executed by such Eligible Shareholder, or an electronic transmission delivered by such Eligible Shareholder, to act for such Eligible Shareholder as proxy at the annual shareholder meeting and such person must
produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the annual shareholder meeting.
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(d)
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Ownership Requirements.
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(i)
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An Eligible Shareholder must have owned (as defined above) 3% or more of the Company’s outstanding capital stock continuously for at least three (3) years (the “Required Shares”) as of both
(A) a date within seven (7) days prior to the date of the Nomination Notice and (B) the record date for determining shareholders entitled to vote at the annual shareholder meeting. The Eligible Shareholder must continue to own the Required
Shares through the annual shareholder meeting date. For purposes of satisfying the foregoing ownership requirement under this Section 9, (I) the shares of the capital stock of the Company owned by one or more shareholders, or by the person
or persons who own shares of the capital stock of the Company and on whose behalf any shareholder is acting, may be aggregated, provided that the number of shareholders and other persons whose ownership of shares is aggregated for such
purpose shall not exceed twenty (20), and (II) a group of funds under common management and investment control shall be treated as one shareholder or person for this purpose. No person may be a member of more than one group of persons
constituting an Eligible Shareholder under this Section 9.
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(ii)
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For purposes of this Section 9, an Eligible Shareholder shall be deemed to “own” only those outstanding shares as to which the shareholder possesses both (A) the full voting and investment
rights pertaining to the shares and (B) the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit and risk of loss on) such shares; provided that the number of shares calculated in accordance with clauses (A) and (B) shall not
include any shares (I) sold by such shareholder or any of its affiliates in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, including any short sale, (II) borrowed by such shareholder or any of its affiliates for any purposes or
purchased by such shareholder or any of its affiliates pursuant to an agreement to resell, or (III) subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale, or other derivative or similar agreement entered into by such
shareholder or any of its affiliates, whether any such instrument or agreement is to be settled with shares or with cash based on the notional amount or value of shares, in any such case which instrument or agreement has, or is intended to
have, the purpose or effect of (a) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such shareholder’s or its affiliates’ full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares, and/or (b) hedging, offsetting or
altering to any degree gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of such shares by such shareholder or affiliate.
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A shareholder shall “own” shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the
shareholder retains the right to instruct how the shares are voted with respect to the election of directors and possesses the full economic interest in the shares. A person’s ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which
(A) the person has loaned such shares, provided that the person has the power to recall such loaned shares on three (3) business days’ notice; or (B) the person has delegated any voting power by means of a proxy, power of attorney or other instrument
or arrangement that is revocable at any time by the person. The terms “owned,” “owning” and other variations of the word “own” shall have correlative meanings. Whether outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Company are “owned” for these
purposes shall be determined by the Board of Directors, which determination shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and its shareholders.
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(e)
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Agreements of the Eligible Shareholder. An Eligible Shareholder shall:
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(i)
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Within the time period specified in this Section 9 for providing the Nomination Notice, provide the following information in writing to the Secretary of the Company:
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(A)
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one or more written statements from the record holder of the shares (and from each intermediary through which the shares are or have been held during the requisite three-year holding period)
verifying that, as of a date within seven (7) days prior to the date of the Nomination Notice, the Eligible Shareholder owns, and has owned continuously for the preceding three (3) years, the Required Shares, and the Eligible Shareholder’s
agreement to provide, within five (5) business days after the record date for the annual shareholder meeting, written statements from the record holder and intermediaries verifying the Eligible Shareholder’s continuous ownership of the
Required Shares through the record date;
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(B)
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a written statement as to whether or not the Eligible Shareholder intends to maintain ownership of the Required Shares for at least one year following the annual
shareholder meeting;
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(C)
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the written consent of each Shareholder Nominee to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected, together with the information
and representations that would be required to be set forth in a shareholder’s notice of a nomination pursuant to Section 8 of this Article I;
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(D)
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a copy of the Schedule 14N that has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as required by Rule 14a-18 under the 1934 Act, as such rule may be amended;
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(E)
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a representation and warranty that the Eligible Shareholder (including each member of any group of shareholders that together is an Eligible Shareholder under this Section 9) (I) acquired the
Required Shares in the ordinary course of business and not with the intent to change or influence control at the Company, and does not presently have such intent, (II) has not nominated and will not nominate for election to the Board of
Directors at the annual shareholder meeting any person other than the Shareholder Nominee(s) being nominated pursuant to this Section 9, (III) has not engaged and will not engage in, and has not and will not be a “participant” in another
person’s, “solicitation” within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the 1934 Act in support of the election of any individual as a director at the annual shareholder meeting other than its Shareholder Nominee or a nominee of the Board of
Directors, and (IV) will not distribute to any shareholder any form of proxy for the annual shareholder meeting other than the form distributed by the Company.
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(F)
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in the case of a nomination by a group of shareholders that together is an Eligible Shareholder, the designation by all group members of one group member that is
authorized to act on behalf of all such members with respect to the nomination and matters related thereto, including any withdrawal of the nomination; and
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(G)
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an undertaking that the Eligible Shareholder agrees to (I) own the Required Shares through the date of the annual shareholder meeting, (II) assume all liability stemming
from any legal or regulatory violation arising out of the Eligible Shareholder’s communications with the shareholders of the Company or out of the information that the Eligible Shareholder provided to the Company, (III) indemnify and hold
harmless the Company and each of its directors, officers and employees individually against any liability, loss or damages in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether legal, administrative or
investigative, against the Company or any of its directors, officers or employees arising out of any nomination, solicitation or other activity by the Eligible Shareholder in connection with its efforts to elect the Shareholder Nominee
pursuant to this Section 9, (IV) comply with all other laws and regulations applicable to any solicitation in connection with the annual shareholder meeting, and (V) provide to the Company prior to the annual shareholder meeting such
additional information as necessary with respect thereto.
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(ii)
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file with the Securities and Exchange Commission any solicitation or other communication with the Company’s shareholders relating to the meeting at which the Shareholder Nominee will be
nominated, regardless of whether any such filing is required under Regulation 14A of the 1934 Act or whether any exemption from filing is available for such solicitation or other communication under Regulation 14A of the 1934 Act.
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(f)
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Agreements of the Shareholder Nominee.
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(i)
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Within the time period specified in this Section 9 for providing the Nomination Notice, a Shareholder Nominee must deliver to the Secretary of the Company a written representation and
agreement that the Shareholder Nominee (A) is not and will not become a party to (I) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected
as a director of the Company, will act or vote on any issue or question that has not been disclosed to the Company (a “Voting Commitment”), or (II) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with the Shareholder Nominee’s ability
to comply, if elected as a director of the Company, with the Shareholder Nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (B) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other
than the Company with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a Shareholder Nominee that has not been disclosed to the Company, and is not and will not become
a party to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding with any person or entity other than the Company with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement, or indemnification in connection with service or action as a
director, if elected, and (C) will comply with all the Company’s corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines, and any other Company policies and guidelines applicable
to directors, as well as any applicable law, rule or regulation or listing requirement.
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(ii)
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At the request of the Company, the Shareholder Nominee must submit all completed and signed questionnaires required of the Company’s directors and officers. The Company may
request such additional information as necessary to permit the Board of Directors to determine if each Shareholder Nominee is independent under the listing standards of the principal U.S. exchange upon which the Company’s capital stock is
listed, any applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in determining and disclosing the independence of the Company’s directors (the “Applicable
Independence Standards”). If the Board of Directors determines that the Shareholder Nominee is not independent under the Applicable Independence Standards, the Shareholder Nominee will not be eligible for inclusion in the Company’s proxy
materials.
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(g)
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Authority of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors (and any other person or body authorized by the Board of Directors) shall have the power and authority to interpret this Section 9 and to make any and all determinations necessary or advisable to apply this
Section 9 to any persons, facts or circumstances, including the power to determine (i) whether a person or group of persons qualifies as an Eligible Shareholder; (ii) whether outstanding shares of the Company’s capital stock are “owned”
for purposes of meeting the ownership requirements of this Section 9; (iii) whether any and all requirements of this Section 9 have been satisfied, including a Nomination Notice; (iv) whether a person satisfies the qualifications and
requirements to be a Shareholder Nominee, including any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in determining the qualifications of nominees; and (v) whether inclusion of the Required Information in the Company’s
proxy statement is consistent with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and listing standards. Any such interpretation or determination adopted in good faith by the Board of Directors (or any other person or body authorized by the
Board of Directors) shall be conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company and all record or beneficial owners of stock of the Company. This Section 9 shall be the exclusive means for shareholders to include nominees for
election as a director of the Company in the Company’s proxy statement and on its form of proxy for an annual shareholder meeting. For avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Section 9 shall not apply to a special meeting of
shareholders.
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ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. Number. The Board of Directors shall be composed
of thirteen (13) persons unless this number is changed by: (a) the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares of the Company entitling them to exercise at least a majority of the voting power of the Company voting as a single class
at a meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of electing Directors or (b) the affirmative vote of at least two- thirds (2/3rds) of the whole authorized number of Directors. The Directors may increase the number to not more than fifteen (15)
persons and may decrease the number to not less than ten (10) persons. Any Director's office created by the Directors by reason of an increase in their number may be filled by action of a majority of the Directors in office.
SECTION 2. Election and Term. Except as otherwise provided
by law, the Articles of the Company or these Regulations, Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of shareholders to serve one-year terms and until their successors are elected and qualified. The number of Directors of the Company shall be
fixed from time to time in accordance with these Regulations and may be increased or decreased as herein provided.
SECTION 3. Removal, Vacancies. Directors may be removed from
office, as provided by law, by the vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the Company, voting as a single class, entitling them to elect Directors in place of those to be removed. Vacancies in the Board of Directors for any
unexpired term shall be filled by the remaining Directors, though less than a majority of the whole authorized number of Directors, by the vote of a majority of their number.
SECTION 4. Meetings. Regular meetings of the
Board of Directors shall be held as determined by the Board of Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board, the Lead Director (as elected by the Board), the Chief Executive Officer (if
a member of the Board) or by a majority of the Board.
SECTION 5. Notice of Meetings. The Board shall decide what
notice, if any, shall be given and the length of time prior to the meeting that such notice shall be given of all meetings. Any meeting at which all of the Directors are present shall be a valid meeting whether notice thereof was given or not, and
any business may be transacted at such a meeting.
SECTION 6. Quorum. A majority of the Board of Directors shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and if at any meeting of the Board there be less than a quorum present, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting from time to time.
SECTION 7. Compensation of Directors. The Board of Directors
is authorized to fix, from time to time, their own compensation for attendance at the meetings of the Board, which may include expenses of attendance when meetings are not held at the place of residence of any attending Director.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
SECTION 1. Number. The officers of the Company shall be a
Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary, one or more Assistant Secretaries, if needed, a Treasurer, and one or more Assistant Treasurers, if needed. Any two or more of the offices may be held by the same person, but
no officer shall execute, acknowledge or verify any instrument in more than one capacity if such instrument is required to be executed, acknowledged or verified by two or more officers.
SECTION 2. Other Officers. The Board of Directors is authorized
in its discretion to provide for such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary from time to time and may dispense with any offices and agencies at any time except those required by law.
SECTION 3. Election, Term and Removal. The officers shall be
elected by the Board of Directors. Each officer shall be elected for an indeterminate term and shall hold office during the pleasure of the Board. The Board may hold annual elections of officers; in that event, each such officer shall hold office
until his or her successor is elected and qualified, unless he or she is removed earlier by the Board, which may remove or suspend any officer at any time, without notice, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board. The Board, or a
designated committee of the Board, shall fix the compensation, if any, of each officer.
SECTION 4. Vacancies and Absence. If any office shall become
vacant by reason of the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of the incumbent thereof, or other cause the Board of Directors may elect a successor to hold office for the unexpired term in respect to which such vacancy occurred or was
created. In case of the absence of any officer of the Company or for any reason that the Board of Directors may determine as sufficient, the said Board may delegate the powers and duties of such officer to any other officer, or to any Director,
except where otherwise provided by these Regulations or by statute, for the time being.
ARTICLE IV
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 1. Indemnity. The Company shall indemnify, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed claim, action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, by reason of
the fact that he or she (a) is or was a Director, officer or employee of the Company, or its subsidiaries, or, (b) is or was serving at the request of the Company or its subsidiaries as a director, trustee, officer, partner, managing member or
position of similar capacity of a Company subsidiary or another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise (whether domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit) or (c) is or
was providing to third party organizations volunteer services that were duly authorized in accordance with the Company’s process for approval of such activities, against all liabilities and expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or imposed on
him or her in connection with, or arising out of, any such claim, action, suit or proceeding.
SECTION 2. Liabilities and Expenses. As used in this Article
IV, the terms “liabilit(y)(ies)” and “expense(s)” include but are not limited to liabilities, expenses, attorneys’ fees and disbursements, costs, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement.
SECTION 3. Indemnification Requirements. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Article IV, no person seeking indemnification shall receive indemnification pursuant to this Article IV if he or she (a) failed to act in good faith, in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed
to, the best interests of the Company and its subsidiaries, (b) acted or failed to act, in either case, with deliberate intent to cause injury to the Company or its subsidiaries or with reckless disregard for the best interests of the Company or its
subsidiaries, or (c) knowingly engaged in criminal activity.
SECTION 4. Indemnification Right Limitations. A
determination that a person acted or failed to act in the ways described in clauses (a), (b) or (c) of Section 3 shall be made only if: (i) in cases of an adjudication on the merits, it is determined by any court of competent jurisdiction; or (ii) in
cases of settlement or compromise involving a Director or officer of the Company, the Board of Directors of the Company (excluding any Directors affected by self-interest), makes a determination to that effect ; or (iii) in cases of settlement or
compromise involving an employee of the Company or its subsidiaries (who is not a Director or officer of the Company)), the Chief Legal Officer and Chief Human Resource Officer, or other Board designee, make a determination to that effect.
SECTION 5. Excluded Costs and Other Sources. Indemnification
under this Article IV shall not include reimbursement of any amounts paid or payable to the Company or its subsidiaries by the person entitled to indemnification under this Article IV. Any indemnification or advancement provided pursuant to the
rights granted under Section 1(b) and Section 1(c) of this Article IV, shall be (a) secondary to any indemnification, insurance coverage or advancement from any such third party, and (b) reduced by any amount such individual may collect as
indemnification, insurance coverage or advancement from any third party including, but not limited to, pursuant to an insurance policy, indemnification agreement or statutory right.
SECTION 6. Advances. To the extent permitted by applicable
law, liabilities and expenses incurred by a person subject to this Article IV in defending or investigating a claim, action, suit, or proceeding referenced in Section 1 of this Article IV shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final
disposition of such matter upon receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of such person to (a) repay any such amounts unless it is ultimately determined that such person is entitled to indemnification under this Article IV and (b) reasonably
cooperate with the Company, its subsidiaries, or third party organizations for which such person performed volunteer services, concerning the action, suit or proceeding.
SECTION 7. Non-Exclusive Right. The right of indemnification
provided for in this Article IV shall not be exclusive of other rights to which any person entitled to indemnification under this Article IV may be entitled as a matter of law.
SECTION 8. Survival and Successors. The
right of indemnification provided for in this Article IV shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Director, officer or employee of the Company or its subsidiaries. The right of indemnification provided for in this Article IV shall inure
to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of any person entitled to indemnification under this Article IV.
SECTION 9. Impairment of Indemnification Right. No amendment,
modification, termination or repeal of this Article IV, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any modification of law, shall adversely affect the rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses granted under this Article IV with respect
to any actions, omission, transactions or facts occurring prior to the final adoption of such amendment, modification, termination or repeal.
ARTICLE V
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
SECTION 1. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board of
Directors shall preside at all meetings of the Board, shall confer with and advise all other officers of the Company, and shall perform such other duties as may be delegated to him or her by the Board.
SECTION 2. Chief Executive Officer. The Board of Directors
shall elect the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The officer so elected shall be responsible for the supervision, general control and management of all the Company's business and affairs, subject only to the authority of the Board of
Directors. He shall make periodic reports to the Board of Directors, making such recommendations as he thinks proper, and shall bring before the Board of Directors such information as may be required relating to the Company's business and affairs.
The Board of Directors may designate one of the officers of the Company to perform the duties and have the powers of the officer who is the Chief Executive Officer in his or her absence, and during such absence the officer so designated shall be
authorized to exercise all of his or her responsibilities.
SECTION 3. President. The President shall perform such duties
and have such responsibilities as may be delegated or assigned to him or her by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.
SECTION 4. Other Officers. All other officers shall perform such
duties and have such responsibilities as may be delegated or assigned to them by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.
SECTION 5. Bonds of Officers. The Board of
Directors shall determine which officers of the Company shall give bond, and the amount thereof, the expense to be paid by the Company.
ARTICLE VI
SHARES OF STOCK
SECTION 1. Mutilated and Lost Certificates. If any
certificate for shares of the Company becomes worn, defaced or mutilated, the Company, upon production or surrender thereof may order the same cancelled, and a new certificate issued in lieu thereof. If any certificate for shares be lost or
destroyed, a new certificate may be issued upon such terms and under such regulations as may be adopted by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2. Form. Some or all of any or all of, the classes and
series of the Company’s shares shall be uncertificated shares, provided however that shares represented by a certificate may not be uncertificated until the certificate is surrendered to the Company and any existing certificated security issued in
exchange for an uncertificated security shall not be uncertificated.
ARTICLE VII
GENERAL WELFARE
SECTION 1. Policy. It is declared to be the policy of the
Company to recognize that its interests and those of its employees are inseparable, and are best developed and maintained by the adoption of such measures as will assure the employees of the Company of this fact. To this end the Board of Directors is
authorized, in its discretion, to inaugurate and maintain a profit-sharing or other similar plan, an adequate pension and benefit plan, and to grant to the employees such voice in the conduct of the business as may seem to the Board to be right and
proper.
SECTION 2. Stock Ownership by Employees. The Board of Directors
is authorized to devise and carry into effect such plans as it may deem advisable, to assist the employees to become shareholders of the Company by the purchase of its shares.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1. Amendments. These Regulations, or any of them, may
be altered, amended, added to or repealed by the Board of Directors (to the extent permitted by the Ohio General Corporation law) or by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company entitled to vote thereon, considered for the purposes of this Section 1 as one class.
ARTICLE IX
ASSENT OF SHAREHOLDERS
SECTION 1. Effect. Any person becoming a shareholder in this
Company shall be deemed to assent to these Regulations, and any alterations, amendments, or additions thereto, lawfully adopted, and shall designate to the Secretary or appointed Transfer Agents of the Company, the address to which he desires that
the notices herein required to be given may be sent, and all notices mailed to such address with postage prepaid, shall be considered as duly given at the date of mailing, provided, however, that in the event that any shareholder shall have failed to
so designate an address to which notices shall be sent, then said notices shall be sent to any address where the Secretary believes he may be reached, otherwise to "General Delivery, Cincinnati, Ohio." The mailing of any notice to "General Delivery,
Cincinnati, Ohio," shall be conclusive that the Secretary knows of no address where he believes said shareholder may be reached.
ARTICLE X
CHOICE OF FORUM
SECTION 1. Exclusive Forum. Unless the Company consents in
writing to the selection of an alternative forum, a state court located within Hamilton County, Ohio (or, if no state court located within Hamilton County, Ohio has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the Southern District of Ohio) shall be
the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director or officer or other employee of the Company to the Company
or the Company’s shareholders, (c) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer or other employee of the Company arising pursuant to any provision of the Ohio General Corporation Law or the Articles of Incorporation of
the Company or these Regulations (in each case, as they may be amended from time to time), or (d) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer or other employee of the Company governed by the internal affairs doctrine.