EX-3.1 2 d114300dex31.htm EX-3.1 EX-3.1

Exhibit 3.1

BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS INC.

Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

Pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. has adopted this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation restating, integrating and further amending its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (originally filed on May 9, 2008 under the name Bright Horizons Solutions Corp. as amended and restated on May 23, 2008, and amended on July 31, 2012, and further amended on January 11, 2013), which Third 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.

This Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation shall become effective on the date it is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the corporation is Bright Horizons Family Solutions 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 which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 500,000,000, consisting of 475,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), and 25,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 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, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including, but not limited to, 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 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 Certificate of Incorporation (including, but not limited to, any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the DGCL. There shall be no cumulative voting.

 

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(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 Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of record 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. Upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Common Stock will be entitled to receive all assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, subject to any preferential rights of any then outstanding Preferred Stock. 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 or dissolution or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Article IV(b)(v).

(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 fullest extent now or hereafter provided by applicable law, to adopt any such resolution or resolutions. Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate of Incorporation, 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 Certificate of Incorporation, 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 or this Certificate of Incorporation. 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 the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series adopted by the Board of Directors.

(d) No Separate Class Vote on Changes in Authorized Number of Shares of Preferred Stock. Subject to the special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms of this Certificate of Incorporation, any certificate of designations or any resolution or resolutions 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.

ARTICLE V

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

(a) Number of Directors. The number of directors constituting the Board of Directors, each of whom shall be a natural person, shall not be fewer than three nor more than 15. 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 exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.

(b) Classes of the Board of Directors. Subject to the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock to elect directors:

(1) Directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be and are divided into the following classes: the 2025 Class, the 2026 Class and the 2027 Class (each as defined below), with each class as nearly equal in number as possible; provided that such division shall terminate at the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders (each annual meeting of stockholders, an “Annual Meeting”); and

 

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(2) Commencing with the 2025 Annual Meeting, directors (other than those in the 2025 Class and 2026 Class) shall be elected for a term of one year, expiring at the next succeeding Annual Meeting; provided that (a) each director serving in the class elected at the 2022 Annual Meeting shall continue to serve for a three-year term expiring at the 2025 Annual Meeting (the “2025 Class”), (b) each director serving in the class elected at the 2023 Annual Meeting shall continue to serve for a three-year term expiring at the 2026 Annual Meeting (the “2026 Class”), and (c) each director serving in the class elected at the 2024 Annual Meeting shall serve for a three-year term expiring at the 2027 Annual Meeting (the “2027 Class”).

(c) Vacancies and Newly-Created Directorships. Vacancies and newly-created directorships shall be filled exclusively by vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, except 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 outstanding shares of Common Stock. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship occurring in the 2025 Class, 2026 Class or the 2027 Class (each of whom shall be deemed to be a member of the class of directors in which the vacancy or newly created directorship occurred) shall continue to hold office until the end of the term for which such director was elected or appointed, as applicable. In all cases, each director shall serve until such director’s successor has been duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier 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 special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors:

(1) Directors comprising the 2025 Class, the 2026 Class, and the 2027 Class 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; and

(2) From and after the election of directors at the 2027 Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors shall cease to be classified as provided in Section 141(d) of the DGCL, and the directors elected at the 2027 Annual Meeting (and each Annual Meeting thereafter) may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 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.

ARTICLE VI

LIMITATION OF 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 the directors and officers of the Corporation, no director or officer of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, as applicable. No amendment to, or modification or repeal of, this Article VI shall adversely affect any right or protection of a director or officer 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 date of this Certificate of Incorporation to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors or officers, then the liability of a director or officer, as applicable, 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. 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 no action may be taken by the stockholders by written consent.

(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 by or at the direction of the Board of Directors pursuant to a written resolution adopted by a majority of the total

 

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number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies. 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 BYLAWS AND CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

(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 (the “bylaws”) subject to the power of the stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote with respect thereto to make, alter, amend or repeal the bylaws; provided, that with respect to the powers of stockholders entitled to vote with respect thereto to make, alter, amend or repeal the bylaws, 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.

(b) Amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation. The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this 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 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 and Article X 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 Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise required by law, such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption is approved 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.

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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 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.

 

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(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;

(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 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

 

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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 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 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.

(vi) “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.

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

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

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

ARTICLE X

EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION FOR CERTAIN ACTIONS

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, solely if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, the United States District Court for the District 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 current or former director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders or any claim for aiding and abetting such alleged breach, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any current or former director, officer or other employee of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, this Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws (as each may be amended from time to time) or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, (iv) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of this Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws, or (v) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any current or former director, officer or other employee of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in the shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have been given notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article X. To the extent permitted by law, unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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ARTICLE XI

SEVERABILITY

If any provision or provisions of this 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 Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this 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 Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this 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.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be executed by the officer below this day of [], 2024.

 

BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS INC.

By: 

 

 

Name:

Title:

 

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