Governance Matters (a) The Company shall cause the Investor Designated Director to be elected or appointed on the Closing Date to the Board of Directors as well as the board of directors of the Bank (the “Bank Board”), subject to satisfaction of all legal and governance requirements regarding service as a member of the Board of Directors and the Bank Board. The Company shall recommend to its shareholders the election of the Investor Designated Director to the Board of Directors at the Company’s annual meeting, subject to satisfaction of all legal and governance requirements regarding service as a director of the Company. If the Investor no longer has the Qualifying Ownership Interest, it shall have no further rights under Sections 3.4(a), 3.4(b), 3.4(c) and 3.4(d) and, in each case, at the written request of the Board of Directors, the Investor shall use all reasonable best efforts to cause the Investor Designated Director to resign from the Board of Directors and the Bank Board as promptly as possible thereafter. The Board of Directors and the Bank Board shall cause the Investor Designated Director to be appointed to the committees of the Board of Directors and the Bank Board, as applicable, identified by the Investor, so long as the Investor Designated Director qualifies to serve on such committees subject to satisfaction of all legal and governance requirements regarding service as a committee member.
(b) For so long as the Investor owns, in the aggregate with its Affiliates, ten percent (10%) or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (as adjusted from time to time for any reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, or other like changes in the Company’s capitalization) (the “Qualifying Ownership Interest”), the Investor Designated Director shall, subject to applicable Law, be the nominee of the Company and the Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Nominating Committee”) to serve on the Board of Directors and on the Bank Board. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to have the Investor Designated Director elected as director of the Company by the shareholders of the Company and the Company shall solicit proxies for the Investor Designated Director to the same extent as it does for any of its other nominees to the Board of Directors.
(c) For so long as the Investor owns, in the aggregate with its Affiliates, the Qualifying Ownership Interest, the Investor Designated Director shall, subject to applicable Law (including the applicable rules of the NYSE), be appointed to the committees of the Board of Directors and the Bank Board (or any other committees performing similar functions of the foregoing committees) identified by the Investor.
(d) Subject to Section 3.4(a), upon the death, disability, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office of a Designated Investor Director, the Investor shall have the right to designate the replacement for the Investor Designated Director, which replacement shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company and shall satisfy all legal and governance requirements regarding service as a member of the Board of Directors and the Bank Board, as applicable. The Board of Directors shall use its reasonable best efforts to take all action required to fill the vacancy resulting therefrom with such person (including such person, subject to applicable Law, being the Company’s and the Nominating Committee’s nominee to serve on the Board of Directors, calling a special meeting of shareholders to vote on such person, using all reasonable best efforts to have such person elected as director of the Company by the shareholders of the Company and the Company soliciting proxies for such person to the same extent as it does for any of its other nominees to the Board of Directors).
(e) For so long the Investor with its Affiliates owns, in the aggregate with its Affiliates, five percent (5%) or more of the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Common Stock (as adjusted from time to time for any reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, or other like changes in the Company’s capitalization), the Company shall, subject to applicable Law, invite a person designated by the Investor and reasonably acceptable to the Board of Directors (the “Observer”) to attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and the Bank Board (including any meetings of committees thereof which the Investor Designated Director is a member) in a nonvoting observer capacity. If the Investor no longer beneficially owns the minimum number of Common Shares as specified in the first sentence of this Section 3.4(e), the Investor shall have no further rights under this Section 3.4(e). The Investor shall cause the Observer to agree to hold in confidence and trust and to act in a fiduciary manner with respect to all information provided to such Observer and the Company, the Board of Directors, the Bank Board and any committees thereof shall have the right to withhold any information and to exclude the Observer from any meeting or portion thereof (i) if doing so is, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, necessary to protect the attorney-client privilege between the Company and counsel or (ii) if the Board of Directors, the Bank Board or any committee thereof determines in good faith, after consultation with counsel, that fiduciary requirements under applicable Law would make attendance by the Observer inappropriate. The Observer shall have no right to vote on any matters presented to the Board of Directors, the Bank Board or any committee thereof.
(f) The Investor Designated Director shall be entitled to the same compensation, including fees, and the same indemnification and insurance coverage in connection with his or her role as a director as the other members of the Board of Directors or the Bank Board, as applicable, and the Investor Designated Director shall be entitled to reimbursement for documented, reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors or the Bank Board, or any committee thereof, to the same extent as the other members of the Board of Directors or the Bank Board, as applicable. The Company shall notify the Investor Designated Director of all regular meetings and special meetings of the Board of Directors or the Bank Board and of all regular and special meetings of any committee of the Board of Directors or the Bank Board of which the Investor Designated Director is a member in accordance with the applicable bylaws. The Company and the Bank shall provide the Investor Designated Director with copies of all notices, minutes, consents and other material that they provide to all other members of their respective boards of directors concurrently as such materials are provided to the other members.
(g) Each of the Company and the Bank acknowledges that the Designated Investor Director may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by the Investor and/or certain of its Affiliates (collectively, the “Investor Indemnitors”). Each of the Company and the Bank hereby agrees (1) that it is the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to the Designated Investor Director are primary and any obligation of the Investor Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by the Designated Investor Director are secondary), and (2) that it shall be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by the Designated Investor Director and shall be liable for the full amount of all expenses and liabilities incurred by the Designated Investor Director, in each case to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms of this Agreement and the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Company and the Bank (and any other agreement regarding indemnification between the Company and/or the Bank, on the one hand, and the Designated Investor Director, on the other hand), without regard to any rights the Designated Investor Director may have against any Investor Indemnitor. The Company further agrees that no advancement or payment by any Investor Indemnitor on behalf of the Designated Investor Director with respect to any claim for which the Designated Investor Director has sought indemnification from the Company shall affect the foregoing and the Investor Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Designated Investor Director against the Company. The Company agrees that the Investor Indemnitors are express third party beneficiaries of the terms of this Section 3.4(g).
(h) For the purposes of the definition of “Change in Control” under the Benefit Plans, the Company acknowledges and agrees that the Investor Designated Director shall be deemed to be an “Incumbent Director” as defined in the applicable Benefit Plans.
Corporate Governance Matters (a) Holdco and Sorin shall take all actions within their power as may be necessary to cause (i) for a period beginning as of the Cyberonics Merger Effective Time and ending on the date of the first annual meeting of the members of Holdco following the completion of the second full fiscal year of Holdco (such period, the “Initial Period”) the number of directors constituting the Holdco board of directors as of the Effective Times to be nine (9) and (ii) the Holdco board of directors during the Initial Period to be composed as follows: (A) four (4) individuals designated by Cyberonics prior to the Closing Date (each, a “Cyberonics Designee”), (B) four individuals designated by Sorin prior to the Closing Date (each, a “Sorin Designee”) and (C) one (1) director mutually agreed to by Sorin and Cyberonics, who shall meet the independence standards of the NASDAQ applicable to non-controlled domestic U.S. issuers.
(b) Sorin and Holdco shall take all corporate actions as may be necessary to cause, effective as of the Sorin Merger Effective Time and Cyberonics Merger Effective Time, as the case may be: (i) the Chief Executive Officer of Sorin as of immediately prior to the Sorin Merger Effective Time to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Sorin Merger Surviving Company immediately following the Sorin Merger Effective Time until the end of the Initial Period, (ii) the Chief Executive Officer of Cyberonics as of immediately prior to the Cyberonics Merger Effective Time to serve as the Chairman of the Holdco board of directors for the Initial Period, (iii) a Cyberonics Designee to serve as the Chairman of the audit and compensation committees of the Holdco board of directors for the Initial Period, (iv) each committee of the Holdco board of directors to have at least three (3) members and (v) a Sorin Designee to serve as a member of each committee of the Holdco board of directors during the Initial Period.
(c) For as long as the Holdco Shares are listed on the NASDAQ, Holdco shall comply with all NASDAQ corporate governance standards set forth in Rule 5600 of the NASDAQ Stock Market Rules applicable to non-controlled domestic U.S. issuers, regardless of whether Holdco is a foreign private issuer. For as long as the Holdco Shares are listed on the LSE, Holdco shall comply with all Listing Rules and any other Laws applicable to it.
(d) Prior to the Closing Date, Sorin and Holdco shall procure the passing of resolutions of the shareholders of Holdco providing for the reregistration of Holdco as a public limited company.
(e) Subject to applicable Law, Sorin and Cyberonics shall take all requisite action to cause the organizational documents of those entities that will be Subsidiaries of Holdco to be substantially in such form as agreed by Cyberonics and Sorin, effective as of the Cyberonics Merger Effective Time.
(f) As promptly as practicable after the Effective Times, the Sorin Merger Surviving Company shall take all requisite action to cause the composition of the board of directors or other governing body of each of the Subsidiaries of the Sorin Merger Surviving Company to reflect representation by directors designated by Cyberonics immediately prior to the Effective Times, on the one hand, and directors designated by Sorin immediately prior to the Effective Times, on the other hand, that is proportionate to the relative representation of directors designated by such party on the Holdco board of directors as of the Effective Times as provided in Section 5.18(a), unless otherwise mutually agreed by Sorin and Cyberonics.
(g) The Cyberonics Designees, the Sorin Designees and each of their respective successors on the Holdco board of directors during the first three (3) years following the Effective Times are express third-party beneficiaries of Sections 5.18(a) and 5.18(b).
Nominating Committee Subject to the provisions of Article X, the Nominating Committee shall consist of such number of Directors (none of whom shall be an employee of the Corporation) as may be determined from time to time by the Board. Subject to the provisions of Article X, the Committee shall review the qualifications of potential candidates for the Equity Directors and shall propose nominees for the Equity Directors who are nominated by the Board. Subject to the provisions of Article X, in making their nominations, the Nominating Committee and the Board of Directors shall take into consideration that (i) the Board of Directors shall have meaningful representation of a diversity of interests, including floor brokers, floor traders, futures commission merchants, producers, consumers, processors, distributors and merchandisers of commodities traded on Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. (the “Exchange”) or Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (the “CBOT”), participants in a variety of pits or principal groups of commodities traded on the Exchange or the CBOT and other market users or participants; (ii) at least 10% of the members of Board of Directors shall be composed of persons representing farmers, producers, merchants or exporters of principal commodities traded on the Exchange or the CBOT; and (iii) at least 20% of the members of the Board of Directors shall be composed of persons who do not possess trading privileges on either the Exchange or the CBOT, are not salaried employees of the Corporation and are not officers, principals or employees who are involved in operating the futures exchange related business of a firm entitled to members’ rates on either the Exchange or the CBOT. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Nominating Committee shall include the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation as a nominee for an Equity Director at any annual meeting of shareholders at which his or her term is scheduled to expire; provided, that if such term expiration occurs during the Transition Period, the Chief Executive Officer shall be nominated as a CME Director. Subject to the provisions of Article X, a majority of the Nominating Committee shall constitute a quorum necessary to transact business.
Sub-adviser’s Use of the Services of Others The Sub-Adviser may (at its cost except as contemplated by Section 5 of this Agreement) employ, retain, or otherwise avail itself of the services or facilities of other persons or organizations for the purpose of obtaining such statistical and other factual information, such advice regarding economic factors and trends, such advice as to occasional transactions in specific securities, or such other information, advice, or assistance as the Sub-Adviser may deem necessary, appropriate, or convenient for the discharge of its obligations hereunder or otherwise helpful to the Sub-Adviser, as appropriate, or in the discharge of Sub-Adviser's overall responsibilities with respect to the other accounts that it serves as investment manager or counselor, provided that the Sub-Adviser shall at all times retain responsibility for making investment recommendations with respect to the Fund.
Posting and Filling of Vacancies 8.1(1) When a permanent vacancy occurs within a classification covered by this agreement, which the Employer intends to fill, after the Employer applies the internal job transfer bidding procedure and the ultimate vacancy is thereby identified, such vacancy shall be advertised for ten (10) calendar days provided that nothing herein shall prevent the Employer from advertising such vacancy throughout its system or outside during the ten (10) day period. Probationary employees may, at the sole discretion of the Employer, be considered for another position outside their classification after the signing date of this agreement. The Company reserves the sole and absolute right to carry out any applicable interviewing or testing that is necessary in its opinion. All test processes will be approved by qualified Human Resources staff. An employee will only be allowed to take one test failure for each different job classification bid every four (4) months. Current employees applying for positions which involve increased driving responsibilities must meet corporate driving standards and provide with application a current driving abstract. The opinion of the Employer shall not be exercised in an arbitrary or discriminatory manner.
8.1(2) Internal Job Transfer Bidding Procedure
8.1(3) This internal job transfer bidding procedure is within a given classification as follows:
8.1(4) All employees within each classification, when requested, must submit a “standing application” to transfer to any existing alternate home base or location, shift, shift hours, days off (in order of preference), to transfer from part-time to full-time status, or to indicate that they wish no change, whichever is applicable to each individual within their current classification.
8.1(5) A copy of such standing application submitted will be furnished to the employee. Since a standing application will remain valid indefinitely until it results in action or is replaced by the employee, it is the responsibility of the employee to ensure that a standing application always reflects the employee’s current preferences.
8.1(6) (i) When a permanent classification position vacancy is to be filled, all standing applications will immediately be reviewed with the intention of awarding transfers (including any “resultant” transfers) in order of classification seniority in the following sequence, where applicable:
(a) transfer of a full-time employee from one home base or location to another or as referred to above;
(b) transfer of an employee from part-time to full- time status;
(c) transfer of part-time employees from one home base or location to another or as referred to above; and
(d) transfer of full-time employees to part-time.
Function of Committee The Committee shall concern itself with the following general matters:
a) Considering constructive criticisms of all activities so that better relations shall exist between the Employer and the employees.
b) Improving and extending services to the public.
c) Promoting safety and sanitary practices.
d) Reviewing suggestions from employees, questions of working conditions and service (but not grievances).
e) Correcting conditions which might cause grievances and misunderstandings.
Personnel File An employee, or the President of the Union, or his/her designate, with the written authority of the employee, shall be entitled to review the employee's personnel file(s), both paper and, if applicable, electronic, in the office in which the file is normally kept, in order to facilitate the investigation of a grievance. The employee or the President, as the case may be, shall give the Employer adequate notice prior to having access to such file(s).
Audit Committee (A) The Audit Committee shall be composed of five members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its own members, none of whom shall be an officer of the Company, and shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Audit Committee shall have general supervision over the Audit Division in all matters however subject to the approval of the Board of Directors; it shall consider all matters brought to its attention by the officer in charge of the Audit Division, review all reports of examination of the Company made by any governmental agency or such independent auditor employed for that purpose, and make such recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect thereto or with respect to any other matters pertaining to auditing the Company as it shall deem desirable.
(C) The Audit Committee shall meet whenever and wherever the majority of its members shall deem it to be proper for the transaction of its business, and a majority of its Committee shall constitute a quorum.
Personnel Files An employee, or his/her certified representative with the written consent of the employee, may inspect that employee's personnel file with the exception of all material obtained from other employers and agencies at the time that employee was hired. An employee shall be advised of, and entitled to read, any written statement by the employee's supervisor or departmental Management regarding his/her work performance or conduct if such statement is to be placed in his/her personnel file. The employee shall acknowledge that he/she has read such material by affixing his/her signature on the copy to be filed, with the understanding that such signature merely signifies that he/she has read the material to be filed but does not necessarily indicate agreement with its content. If the employee refuses to sign, the supervisor shall note his/her refusal on the copy to be filed along with the supervisor's signature and the signature of a witness to the employee's refusal to sign. The employee may file a grievance regarding any such document within the prescribed time limits of the grievance procedure. If the employee fails to file a grievance within the designated time limits, the document becomes part of the official file. If the employee does file a grievance within the designated time limits, said document shall not be placed in the official file nor referenced in any Performance Evaluation or Appraisal of Promotability until the grievance procedure or civil service appeal rights have been exhausted. Grievances filed under this provision shall not be subject to the Arbitration provisions of the Grievance Procedure unless they involve violation of a specific provision of this agreement. Management agrees that no properly used full paid sick leave used in the twelve months immediately prior to an Appraisal of Promotability or a Performance Evaluation will be referenced on such forms. The employee may attach his/her statement to any document within twenty (20) business days if he/she chooses not to file a grievance regarding such document or within ten (10) business days following final determination if he/she has filed a grievance regarding such document. On reviewing his/her personnel file, an employee may request and have any written warnings issued more than one year prior placed in an envelope and sealed in his/her personnel file except as such may be a part of an official permanent record. On the face of the sealed envelope it shall read "The contents herein shall be disclosed only upon written consent of the subject employee or by subpoena or other legal process from a public body of competent jurisdiction." The date the contents of the sealed envelope will be destroyed shall also appear on the face of envelope. That date shall be two (2) years from the date of issue of the documents in the sealed envelope. An employee on reviewing his/her personnel file, may request and have any written warnings or reprimand(s) issued more than two (2) years prior removed from his/her personnel file except as such may be a part of an official permanent record. All departments employing peace officers covered by the Peace Officers Bill of Rights shall comply with its provisions.
Local Negotiating Committee (a) A negotiating committee of four (4) employee representatives appointed by the union including the bargaining unit president.
(b) The Employer shall pay representatives of the Negotiating Committee their respective salaries for all time lost from regularly scheduled hours negotiating the Collective Agreement and renewals thereof, up to and including conciliation and mediation. It is agreed that the employer is not responsible for accommodation, parking, transportation and food costs associated with the employee’s participation in bargaining. Mileage allowance provisions will remain status quo at all CCACs.
