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

 

October 30, 2017

Date of report (date of earliest event reported)

 


 

Surgery Partners, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware

 

001-37576

 

47-3620923

(State or other jurisdictions of
incorporation or organization)

 

(Commission
File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Nos.)

 

40 Burton Hills Boulevard, Suite 500

Nashville, Tennessee 37215

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

(615) 234-5900

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrants under any of the following provisions:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company     o

 

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.     o

 

 

 



 

Item 3.03                   Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

 

The information set forth below under Item 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated into this Item 3.03 by reference herein.

 

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

 

On October 30, 2017, the expansion of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Surgery Partners, Inc. (the “Company”) from six (6) to seven (7) directors and the appointment of Clifford G. Adlerz, the Company’s interim Chief Executive Officer, to the Board became effective. As a result, effective as of October 30, 2017, the composition of the Board is as follows:

 

Name

 

Position(s)

Brent Turner

 

Class II Director

Teresa DeLuca, M.D.

 

Class I Director

Adam Feinstein

 

Class I Director

Christopher R. Gordon

 

Class III Director

T. Devin O’Reilly

 

Class II Director, Chairman of the Board

Clifford G. Adlerz

 

Class III Director, Interim Chief Executive Officer

 

Mr. Adlerz will serve as a Class III director, which class will stand for re-election at the 2018 annual meeting of the stockholders.

 

A description of the appointment of Mr. Adlerz to the Board is set forth in Item 5.02 and Item 5.07 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 8, 2017 and under the heading Action No. 1 — Board Expansion in the Company’s definitive information statement on Schedule 14C filed on October 10, 2017, and such disclosures are incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference herein.

 

Mr. Adlerz is a limited partner of BCPE Seminole Holdings LP (“Seminole”), the Company’s controlling stockholder. Mr. Adlerz does not exercise control over the general partner of Seminole or otherwise exercise investment control over Seminole’s portfolio transactions. There is no arrangement or understanding between Mr. Adlerz and any other persons or entities pursuant to which he was appointed as a director, other than (i) the Company’s standard form of indemnification agreement, which the Company enters into with each of its directors and executive officers and (ii) Mr. Adlerz’s employment agreement, dated September 7, 2017, between the Company and Mr. Adlerz in his capacity as interim Chief Executive Officer, copies of which are filed as Exhibit 10.14 to Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on September 14, 2015 and Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 8, 2017, respectively, and are incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference herein. Mr. Adlerz is not entitled to any compensation for his service on the Board. There are no familial relationships between Mr. Adlerz and any director or executive officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. There are no transactions between the Company or any of its subsidiaries and Mr. Adlerz that require disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, subject to the transactions between Seminole and the Company described in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 1, 2017.

 

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

 

On October 30, 2017, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as amended, the “Third Amended and Restated Charter”) of the Company became effective upon its filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

 

A description of the Third Amended and Restated Charter is set forth in Item 5.07 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 8, 2017 and under the heading Action No. 2 — Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in the Company’s definitive information statement on Schedule 14C filed on October 10, 2017, and such disclosures are incorporated into this Item 5.03 by reference herein.

 

The forgoing description of the Third Amended and Restated Charter does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Third Amended and Restated Charter, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and is incorporated in to this Item 5.03 by reference herein.

 

2



 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This report may contain “forward-looking” statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in its rules, regulations and releases. These statements include, but are not limited to, board changes and related actions, the performance of the Company’s business and other non-historical statements. These statements can be identified by the use of words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “continues,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “projects,” “forecasts,” and similar expressions. All forward looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs only as of the date of this report and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the risks identified and discussed from time to time in the Company’s reports filed with the SEC, including the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2017, filed on August 9, 2017. Readers are strongly encouraged to review carefully the full cautionary statements described in these reports. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances.

 

Item 9.01              Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Surgery Partners, Inc., dated October 30, 2017.

 

3



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Surgery Partners, Inc., dated October 30, 2017.

 

4



 

SIGNATURES

 

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.

 

 

 

Surgery Partners, Inc.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Teresa F. Sparks

 

 

Teresa F. Sparks

 

 

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

Date: November 3, 2017

 

 

5


Exhibit 3.1

 

SURGERY PARTNERS, INC.

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

 

Pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, Surgery Partners, Inc. has adopted this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation restating, integrating and amending its Certificate of Incorporation (originally filed April 2, 2015 and amended and restated on September 21, 2015), which Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly proposed by the directors and adopted by the stockholders of this corporation (by written consent pursuant to Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware) in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

ARTICLE I — NAME

 

The name of the corporation is Surgery Partners, Inc. (the “Corporation”).

 

ARTICLE II — REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT

 

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

 

ARTICLE III — PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

 

ARTICLE IV — CAPITALIZATION

 

(a) Authorized Shares. The total number of shares of stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 320,310,000, consisting of 300,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), and 20,310,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”). Such stock may be issued from time to time by the Corporation for such consideration as may be fixed by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”).

 

(b) Common Stock. Subject to the powers, preferences and rights of any Preferred Stock, including any series thereof, having any preference or priority over, or rights superior to, the Common Stock and except as otherwise provided by law and this Article IV, the holders of the Common Stock shall have and possess all powers and voting and other rights pertaining to the stock of the Corporation.

 

(i) Voting. Each holder of Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote; provided, however, that to the fullest extent permitted by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall have no voting power with respect to, and shall not be entitled to vote on, any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if only the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the DGCL. There shall be no cumulative voting.

 

(ii) Dividends. Dividends may be declared and paid on the Common Stock from funds lawfully available therefor as and when determined by the Board of Directors and subject to any preferential dividend rights of any then outstanding Preferred Stock. Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL or this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of record of shares of Common Stock shall share ratably in all dividends payable in cash, stock or otherwise and other distributions, whether in respect of liquidation or dissolution (voluntary or involuntary) or otherwise.

 



 

(iii) No Preemptive Rights. The holders of the Common Stock shall have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any shares of any class of stock of the Corporation whether now or hereafter authorized.

 

(iv) No Conversion Rights. The Common Stock shall not be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same class of the Corporation’s capital stock.

 

(v) Liquidation Rights. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and of the preferential and other amounts, if any, to which the holders of Preferred Stock shall be entitled, the holders of all outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by each such stockholder. A merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into any other corporation or other entity or a sale or conveyance of all or any part of the assets of the Corporation, in any such case which shall not in fact result in the liquidation of the Corporation and the distribution of assets to its stockholders, shall not be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

 

(c) Preferred Stock. Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued in one or more series, from time to time, with each such series to consist of such number of shares and to have such voting powers relative to other classes or series of Preferred Stock, if any, or Common Stock, full or limited or no voting powers, and such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such series adopted by the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors is hereby expressly vested with the authority, to the full extent now or hereafter provided by applicable law, to adopt any such resolution or resolutions. Except as otherwise provided in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock, no vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock or Common Stock shall be a prerequisite to the designation or issuance of any shares of any series of the Preferred Stock authorized by and complying with the conditions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock, the right to have such vote being expressly waived by all present and future holders of the capital stock of the Corporation. Any shares of Preferred Stock that are redeemed, purchased or acquired by the Corporation may be reissued except as otherwise provided by law, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock. Different series of Preferred Stock shall not be construed to constitute different classes of shares for the purposes of voting by classes unless expressly provided in any certificate of designations or any resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series adopted by the Board of Directors.

 

(d) No Class Vote on Changes in Authorized Number of Shares of Preferred Stock. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, any certificate of designations or any resolution providing for the issuance of such series of stock adopted by the Board of Directors, the number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.

 

2



 

 

ARTICLE V — BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

(a) Number of Directors; Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. The number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be not fewer than three and not more than 15, each of whom shall be a natural person. Subject to the special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the precise number of directors shall be fixed from time to time (i) if prior to the date (the “Trigger Date”) that the Sponsor Entities (as defined below) cease collectively to beneficially own (directly or indirectly) fifty percent (50%) or more of the then outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (“Voting Stock”), by either (A) a majority vote of the Board of Directors or (B) the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the Corporation’s then outstanding Voting Stock and (ii) if on or after the Trigger Date, exclusively by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. Vacancies and newly-created directorships shall be filled (1) if prior to the Trigger Date, by either (X) a vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director or (Y) a vote of a majority of the then outstanding Voting Stock and (2) if on or after the Trigger Date, exclusively by a vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, except in each case, that any vacancy created by the removal of a director by the stockholders for cause shall only be filled, in addition to any other vote otherwise required by law, by vote of a majority of the then outstanding Voting Stock. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. A director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor in office, and a director chosen to fill a position resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen, subject to the election and qualification of his or her successor and to his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person; the term “control,” as used in this definition, means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and “controlled” and “controls” have meanings correlative to the foregoing. “Person” means an individual, any general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, business trust, joint stock company, joint venture, unincorporated association, cooperative or association or any other legal entity or organization of whatever nature, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity. “Sponsor Entities” means, collectively, investment funds affiliated with Bain Capital Private Equity, LP and its successors, Transferees and Affiliates. “Transferee” means, any Person who becomes a beneficial owner of Voting Stock upon having purchased such shares from the investment funds affiliated with the Sponsor Entities or their respective Affiliates, provided, however, that a purchaser of Voting Stock in an registered public offering shall not be a “Transferee.” For the purpose of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, “beneficial ownership” shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

 

(b) Classified Board of Directors. Subject to the special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the Board of Directors (other than those directors elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock) shall be classified into three classes: Class I; Class II; and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as practicable, of one-third of the total number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors and the allocation of directors among the three classes shall be determined by the Board of Directors. The term of office of the Class I Directors shall expire at the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders, the term of office of the Class II Directors shall expire at the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders and the term of office of the Class III Directors shall expire at the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders. Each director in each class shall hold office until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. At each annual meeting of stockholders beginning with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the filing of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the successors of the class of directors whose term expires at that meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in the third year following the year of their election, with each director in each such class to hold office until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. If the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible and such apportionment shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

 

(c) Removal. Subject to the special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the directors of the Corporation may be removed only for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose.

 

3



 

ARTICLE VI — LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR LIABILITY

 

To the fullest extent that the DGCL or any other law of the State of Delaware (as they exist on the date hereof or as they may hereafter be amended) permits the limitation or elimination of the liability of directors, no director of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. No amendment to, or modification or repeal of, this Article VI shall adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing hereunder with respect to any state of facts existing or act or omission occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article VI, would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal. If the DGCL is amended after the Effective Time 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 fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.

 

ARTICLE VII — MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

(a) No Action by Written Consent. From and after the Trigger Date, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation may be effected only at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.

 

(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Subject to any special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors pursuant to a written resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies, or (ii) prior to the Trigger Date, by the Secretary of the Corporation at the request of the holders of fifty percent (50%) or more of the then outstanding Voting Stock. Any business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting.

 

(c) Election of Directors by Written Ballot. Election of directors need not be by written ballot.

 

ARTICLE VIII — AMENDMENTS TO THE
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS

 

(a) Bylaws.  In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation subject to the power of the stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote with respect thereto to make, alter, amend or repeal the bylaws both before and after the Trigger Date; provided, that with respect to the powers of stockholders entitled to vote with respect thereto to make, alter, amend or repeal the bylaws, from and after the Trigger Date, in addition to any other vote otherwise required by law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote with respect thereto, voting together as a single class, shall be required to make, alter, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation.

 

(b) Amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation.  Subject to any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock, the Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the DGCL, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and notwithstanding that a lesser percentage may be permitted from time to time by applicable law, no provision of Article V, Article VI, paragraphs (a) and (b) of Article VII, Article VIII, Article IX, Article X and Article XI may be altered, amended or repealed in any respect, nor may any provision or bylaw inconsistent therewith be adopted, unless, in addition to any other vote required by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise required by law, (i) prior to the Trigger Date, such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption is approved by, in addition to any other vote otherwise required by law, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, and (ii) from and after the Trigger Date, such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption is approved by, in addition to any other vote otherwise required by law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose.

 

4



 

ARTICLE IX —  BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

 

(a) Opt Out of DGCL 203. The Corporation shall not be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.

 

(b) Limitations on Business Combinations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not engage in any business combination (as defined below), at any point in time at which the Corporation’s Common Stock is registered under Sections 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, with any interested stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three (3) years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

(i) prior to such time, the Board of Directors approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, or

 

(ii) upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock (as defined below) of the Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned by (i) persons who are directors and also officers or (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer, or

 

(iii) at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the Board of Directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least two thirds of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

(c) Definitions. For purposes of this Article IX, references to:

 

(i) “affiliate” means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another person.

 

(ii) “associate,” when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means: (i) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock; (ii) any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (iii) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person.

 

(iii) “business combination,” when used in reference to the Corporation and any interested stockholder of the Corporation, means:

 

(1) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (a) with the interested stockholder, or (b) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation paragraph (b) of this Article IX is not applicable to the surviving entity;

 

(2) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the interested stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to 10% or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of the Corporation;

 

5



 

(3) any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested stockholder, except: (a) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested stockholder became such; (b) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (c) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the interested stockholder became such; (d) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all holders of said stock; or (e) any issuance or transfer of stock by the Corporation; provided, however, that in no case under items (c)-(e) of this subsection (3) shall there be an increase in the interested stockholder’s proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the voting stock of the Corporation (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments);

 

(4) any transaction involving the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series, or securities convertible into the stock of any class or series, of the Corporation or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the interested stockholder, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares of stock not caused, directly or indirectly, by the interested stockholder; or

 

(5) any receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges, or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in subsections (1)-(4) above) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary.

 

(iv) “control,” including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract, or otherwise. A person who is the owner of 20% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Article IX, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.

 

(v) “interested stockholder” means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, or (ii) is an affiliate or associate of the Corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation at any time within the three (3) year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder, and the affiliates and associates of such person; provided, however, that the term “interested stockholder” shall not include (a) the Sponsor Entities, or (b) any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the 15% limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation; provided that such person specified in this clause (b) shall be an interested stockholder if thereafter such person acquires additional shares of voting stock of the Corporation, except as a result of further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of “owner” below but shall not include any other unissued stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

 

6



 

(i) “owner,” including the terms “own” and “owned,” when used with respect to any stock, means a person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates:

 

(1) beneficially owns such stock, directly or indirectly; or

 

(2) has (a) the right to acquire such stock (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; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (b) the right to vote such stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any stock because of such person’s right to vote such stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to ten (10) or more persons; or

 

(3) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in item (b) of subsection (2) above), or disposing of such stock with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such stock.

 

(ii) “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity.

 

(iii) “stock” means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest.

 

(iv) “voting stock” means stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

 

ARTICLE X — RENOUNCEMENT OF CORPORATE OPPORTUNITY

 

(a) Scope. The provisions of this Article X are set forth to define, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the duties of Exempted Persons (as defined below) to the Corporation with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities. “Exempted Persons” means the Sponsor Entities and all of their respective partners, principals, directors, officers, members, managers and/or employees, including any of the foregoing who serve as officers or directors of the Corporation.

 

(b) Competition and Allocation of Corporate Opportunities. The Exempted Persons shall not have any fiduciary duty to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation and its subsidiaries in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities that are from time to time presented to the Exempted Persons, even if the opportunity is one that the Corporation or its subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so, and each such Exempted Person shall have no duty to communicate or offer such business opportunity to the Corporation and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or officer or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such Exempted Person pursues or acquires such business opportunity, directs such business opportunity to another person or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business opportunity, to the Corporation or its subsidiaries.

 

(c) Certain Matters Deemed Not Corporate Opportunities. In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article X, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to belong to the Corporation if it is a business opportunity that the Corporation is not financially able or contractually permitted or legally able to undertake, or that is, from its nature, not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to it or that is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.

 

7



 

(d) Amendment of this Article. No amendment or repeal of this Article X in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) of Article VIII shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any Exempted Person for or with respect to any activities or opportunities of which such Exempted Person becomes aware prior to such amendment or repeal. This Article X shall not limit any protections or defenses available to, or indemnification or advancement rights of, any director or officer of the Corporation under this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Corporation’s bylaws or applicable law.

 

ARTICLE XI — EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION FOR CERTAIN ACTIONS

 

The Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case excluding actions in which the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware concludes that an indispensable party is not subject to the jurisdiction of the Delaware courts and can be subject to the jurisdiction of another court within the United States. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in the shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XI.

 

ARTICLE XII — SEVERABILITY

 

If any provision or provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service to or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

* * * * *

 

8



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be executed by the officer below this 30th day of October, 2017.

 

 

SURGERY PARTNERS, INC.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jennifer Baldock

 

Name: Jennifer Baldock

 

Title:   Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]