PITNEY BOWES INC /DE/ - FORM 8-K - EX-3.A - May 12, 2011

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8-K - PITNEY BOWES INC /DE/c65668_8-k.htm
EX-3.C - PITNEY BOWES INC /DE/c65668_ex-3c.htm
EX-3.D - PITNEY BOWES INC /DE/c65668_ex-3d.htm
EX-3.B - PITNEY BOWES INC /DE/c65668_ex-3b.htm

Exhibit 3(a)

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

OF

RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

PITNEY BOWES INC.

          Pitney Bowes Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”),

          DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

          FIRST: That at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, duly noticed and held on February 14, 2011, the Board of Directors voted to approve, and to recommend to the stockholders that they approve amendments to the Corporation’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

          SECOND: That said amendments were duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and approved by the stockholders at the May 9, 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, at which meeting the necessary number of shares as required by law and the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation were voted in favor of the amendments and that pursuant to such amendments Article Seventh, Article Eighth, Article Ninth and Article Tenth shall henceforth read as follows:

          “Seventh:-

PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

          (a) Number, election and terms. Except as otherwise fixed by or 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 the Directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by or pursuant to the By-Laws of the Corporation. Commencing with the

annual meeting of stockholders in 2011, the Directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, shall be elected annually for terms expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting; provided, however, that Directors elected at the 2008 annual meeting of stockholders shall hold office until the 2011 annual meeting of stockholders, Directors elected at the 2009 annual meeting of stockholders shall hold office until the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders, and Directors elected at the 2010 annual meeting of stockholders shall hold office until the 2013 annual meeting of stockholders.

          (b) Stockholder nomination of director candidates. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of Directors shall be given in the manner provided in the By-Laws of the Corporation.

          (c) Newly created directorship and vacancies. Except as otherwise provided for or fixed by or 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 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. Any Director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office until such Director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified, subject, however, to prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office. No decrease in the number of Directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent Director.

          (d) Removal. Subject to the rights 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, any Director may be removed from office, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority 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.

          (e) Amendment, repeal, etc. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Restated Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority 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 this Article SEVENTH.

Eighth:-

PROVISIONS RELATING TO STOCKHOLDER ACTION

          Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such holders and may not be affected 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 called only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by a majority of the entire Board of Directors. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Restated Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority 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 this Article EIGHTH.

Ninth:-

PROVISIONS RELATING TO BY-LAWS

          The Board of Directors shall have power to make, alter, amend and repeal the By-Laws of the Corporation (except so far as the By-Laws of the Corporation adopted by the stockholders shall otherwise provide). Any By-Laws made by the Directors under the powers conferred hereby may be altered, amended or repealed by the Directors or by the stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing and anything contained in this Restated Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, Article I, Section 7 and Article II, Sections 2, 3, 4. 5, and 6 of the By-Laws shall not be altered, amended or repealed and no provision inconsistent therewith shall be adopted by the stockholders without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority 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. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Restated Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority 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 this Article NINTH.

Tenth:-

PROVISIONS RELATING TO CERTAIN BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

Section 1. Vote Required for Certain Business Combinations.

          A. Vote for Certain Business Combinations. In addition to any affirmative vote required by law or this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 2 of this Article TENTH:

          (i) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) with (a) any Interested Stockholder (as hereinafter defined) or (b) any other corporation (whether or not itself an Interested Stockholder) which is, or after such merger or consolidation would be, an Affiliate (as hereinafter defined) of an Interested Stockholder; or

          (ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) to or with any Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder of any assets of the Corporation or any Subsidiary having an aggregate Fair Market Value of $50,000,000 or more; or

          (iii) the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or any Subsidiary (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of any securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to any Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder in exchange for cash, securities or other property (or a combination thereof) having an aggregate Fair Market Value of $50,000,000 or more; or

          (iv) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation proposed by or on behalf of an Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder; or

          (v) any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock split), or recapitalization of the Corporation, or any merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any of its Subsidiaries or any other transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving an Interested Stockholder) which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity or convertible securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary which is directly or indirectly owned by any Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder;

shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Voting Stock”), voting together as a single class (it being understood that for purposes of this Article TENTH, each share of the Voting Stock shall have the number of votes granted to it as determined pursuant to Article FOURTH of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation). Such affirmative vote shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or that a lesser percentage may be specified, by law or in any agreement with any national securities exchange or otherwise.

          B. Definition of “Business Combination”. The term “Business Combination” as used in this Article TENTH shall mean any transaction which is referred to in any one or more clauses (i) through (v) of paragraph A of this Section 1.

Section 2. When Vote is Not Required.

          The provisions of Section 1 of this Article TENTH shall not be applicable to any particular Business Combination, and such Business Combination shall require only such affirmative vote as is required by law and any other provision of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, if all of the conditions specified in either of the following paragraphs A and B are met:

          A. Approval by Disinterested Directors. The Business Combination shall have been approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined).

          B. Price and Procedural Requirements. All of the following conditions shall have been met:

          (i) The aggregate amount of the cash and the Fair Market Value (as hereinafter defined) as of the date of the consummation of the Business Combination of consideration other than cash to be received per share by holders of Common Stock in such Business Combination shall be at

least equal to the higher of the following, appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, split-up or combination of shares:

          (a) (if applicable) the highest per share price (including any brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers’ fees) paid by the Interested Stockholder for any shares of Common Stock acquired by it (1) within the two-year period immediately prior to the first public announcement of the proposal of the Business Combination (the “Announcement Date”) or (2) in the transaction in which it became an Interested Stockholder, whichever is higher; and

          (b) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the Announcement Date or on the date on which the Interested Stockholder became an Interested Stockholder (such latter date is referred to in this Article TENTH as the “Determination Date”), whichever is higher.

          (ii) The aggregate amount of the cash and the Fair Market Value as of the date of the consummation of the Business Combination of consideration other than cash to be received per share by holders of shares of any other class of outstanding Voting Stock shall be at least equal to the highest of the following, appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, split-up or combination of shares (it being intended that the requirements of this paragraph B (II) shall be required to be met with respect to every class of outstanding Voting Stock, whether or not the Interested Stockholder has previously acquired any shares of a particular class of Voting Stock):

          (a) (if applicable) the highest per share price (including any brokerage commission, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers’ fees) paid by the Interested Stockholder for any shares of such class of Voting Stock acquired by it (1) within the two-year period immediately prior to the Announcement Date of (2) in the transaction in which it became an Interested Stockholder, whichever is higher;

          (b) (if applicable) the highest preferential amount per share to which the holders of shares of such class of Voting Stock are entitled in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation; and

          (c) the Fair Market Value per share of such class of Voting Stock on the Announcement Date or on the Determination Date, whichever is higher.

          (iii) The consideration to be received by holders of a particular class of outstanding Voting Stock (including Common Stock) shall be in cash or in the same form as the Interested Stockholder has previously paid for shares of such class of Voting Stock. If the Interested Stockholder has paid for shares of any class of Voting Stock with varying forms of consideration, the form of consideration for such class of Voting Stock shall be either cash or the form used to acquire the largest number of shares of such class of Voting Stock previously acquired by it.

          (iv) After such Interested Stockholder has become an Interested Stockholder and prior to the consummation of such Business Combination: (a) except as approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors, there shall have been no failure to declare and pay at the regular date therefor any full quarterly dividends (whether or not cumulative) on the outstanding Preferred or Preference Stock; (b) there shall have been (1) no reduction in the annual rate of dividends paid on the Common Stock (except as necessary to reflect any subdivision of the Common Stock),

except as approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors, and (2) an increase in such annual rate of dividends as necessary to reflect any reclassification (including any reverse stock split) recapitalization, reorganization or any similar transaction which has the effect of reducing the number of outstanding shares of the Common Stock, unless the failure so to increase such annual rate is approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors; and (c) such Interested Stockholder shall have not become the beneficial owner of any additional shares of Voting Stock except as part of the transaction which results in such Interested Stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder.

          (v) After such Interested Stockholder has become an Interested Stockholder, such Interested Stockholder shall not have received the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial assistance or any tax credits or other tax advantages provided by the Corporation, whether in anticipation of or in connection with such Business Combination or otherwise.

          (vi) A proxy or information statement describing the proposed Business Combination and complying with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder (or any subsequent provisions replacing such Act, rules or regulations) shall be mailed to public stockholders of the Corporation at least 30 days prior to the consummation of such Business Combination (whether or not such proxy or information statement is required to be mailed pursuant to such Act or subsequent provisions).

Section 3. Certain Definitions

          For the purposes of this Article TENTH:

          A. A “person” shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other entity.

          B. “Interested Stockholder” shall mean any person (other than the Corporation or any Subsidiary) who or which:

               (i) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 20% of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock; or

               (ii) is an Affiliate of the Corporation and at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 20% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding Voting Stock; or

               (iii) is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded to any shares of Voting Stock which were at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question beneficially owned by any Interested Stockholder, if such assignment or succession shall have occurred in the course of a transaction or series of transactions not involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933.

          C. A person shall be a “beneficial owner” of any Voting Stock:

               (i) which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates (as hereinafter defined) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly; or

               (ii) which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has (a) 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, or (b) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; or

               (iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other person with which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any shares of Voting Stock.

          D. For the purposes of determining whether a person is an Interested Stockholder pursuant to paragraph B of this Section 3, the number of shares of Voting Stock deemed to be outstanding shall include shares deemed owned through application of paragraph C of this Section 3 but shall not include any other shares of Voting Stock which may be issuable to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

          E. “Affiliate” or “Associate” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on May 3, 1984.

          F. “Subsidiary” means any corporation of which a majority of any class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation; provided, however, that for the purposes of the definition of Interested Stockholder set forth in paragraph B of this Section 3, the term “Subsidiary” shall mean only a corporation of which a majority of each class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation.

          G. “Disinterested Director” means any member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) who is unaffiliated with the Interested Stockholder and was a member of the Board prior to the time that the Interested Stockholder became an Interested Stockholder, and any successor of a Disinterested Director who is unaffiliated with the Interested Stockholder and is recommended to succeed a Disinterested Director by a majority of Disinterested Directors then on the Board.

          H. “Fair Market Value” means: (i) in the case of stock, the highest closing sale price during the 30-day period immediately preceding the date in question of a share of such stock on the Composite Tape for New York Stock Exchange Listed Stocks, or, if such stock is not quoted on the Composite Tape, on the New York Stock Exchange, or, if such Stock is not listed on such Exchange, on the principal United States securities exchange registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on which such stock is listed, or, if such stock is not listed on any such exchange, the highest closing bid quotation with respect to a share of such stock during the 30-day period preceding the date in question on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System or any system then in use, or if no such quotations are available, the fair market value on the date in question of a share of such stock as determined by the Board in good faith; and (ii) in the case of property other than cash or stock, the fair market value of such property on the date in question as determined by the Board in good faith.

          I. In the event of any Business Combination in which the Corporation survives, the phrase “other consideration to be received” as used in paragraphs B (i) and (ii) of Section 2 of this Article TENTH shall include the shares of Common Stock and/or the shares of any other class of outstanding Voting Stock retained by the holders of such shares.

Section 4. Powers of the Board of Directors.

          A majority of the directors of the Corporation shall have the power and duty to determine for the purposes of this Article TENTH, on the basis of information known to them after reasonable inquiry, (A) whether a person is an Interested Stockholder, (B) the number of shares of Voting Stock beneficially owned by any person, (C) whether a person is an Affiliate or Associate of another, (D) whether the assets which are the subject of any Business Combination have, or the consideration to be received for the issuance or transfer of securities by the Corporation or any Subsidiary in any Business Combination have, or the consideration to be received for the issuance or transfer of securities by the Corporation or any Subsidiary in any Business Combination has, an aggregate Fair Market Value of $50,000,000 or more.

Section 5. No Effect on Fiduciary Obligations of Interested Stockholders.

          Nothing contained in this Article TENTH shall be construed to relieve any Interested Stockholder from any fiduciary obligation imposed by law.

Section 6. Amendment, Repeal, etc.

          Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation (and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser percentage may be specified by law, this Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend or repeal, or adopt any provisions inconsistent with this Article TENTH.”

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment to be signed by its duly authorized officer this 9th day of May, 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

PITNEY BOWES INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

   /s/ Amy Corn

 

 

 

 

Name:

Amy Corn

 

 

Title:

Vice President, Secretary and
Chief Governance Officer

PITNEY BOWES INC /DE/ Reports