-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, EhMrDMwB/WFjDkmBvLdcx8hhcu9sNgQhn+Lb0iCGlgHaqCPnIJKbO4UKd3cVavzB ZjNuI/Tp/ink0f2NYHHssA== 0000903423-05-000750.txt : 20051003 0000903423-05-000750.hdr.sgml : 20051003 20051003172217 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000903423-05-000750 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-8 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 7 FILED AS OF DATE: 20051003 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20051003 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20051003 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000820027 IRS NUMBER: 133180631 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-8 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-128789 FILM NUMBER: 051118611 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 50606 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CENTER STREET 2: H27/52 CITY: MINNEAPOLIS STATE: MN ZIP: 55474 BUSINESS PHONE: 612-671-2711 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 50606 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CENTER STREET 2: H27/52 CITY: MINNEAPOLIS STATE: MN ZIP: 55474 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: AMERICAN EXPRESS FINANCIAL CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20030513 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: AMERICAN EXPRESS FINANCIAL ADVISORS DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19950711 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: IDS FINANCIAL CORP/MN/ DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 S-8 1 ampincentive-s8_1003.htm
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 3, 2005
Registration No. 333-      

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


 

AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

DELAWARE
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
13-3180631
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

55 Amerprise Financial Center

Minneapolis, Minnesota

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

55474

(Zip Code)

 

Ameriprise Financial 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan

(Full Title of the Plan)

 

John C. Junek, Esq.
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
55 Amerprise Financial Center

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55474
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

(612) 671-3131
(Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)


Copy to:
Arthur H. Kohn
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
One Liberty Plaza
New York, New York 10006
(212) 225-2920

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE 





Title of Securities  Amount  Proposed Maximum 
Proposed Maximum 
Amount of 
to be 
to be  Offering Price Per Share 
Aggregate Offering Price
Registration 
Registered  Registered (1)   (2) 
(2) 
Fee (2) 





Ameriprise Financial 
       
Common Stock, 
37,900,000 shares 
$36.10
$1,368,190,000 
$161,035.96
par value $.01 
       





 

 

(1)

Consists of common shares of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (“Common Stock”) to be issued pursuant to the Ameriprise Financial 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”), together with an indeterminate number of shares that may be necessary to adjust the number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan as a result of a stock split, stock dividend or similar adjustment of the outstanding Common Stock.    

 

(2)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Plan and based upon the average of the high and low prices of a share of Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on September 30, 2005.

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

 

The information specified in Part I of Form S-8 is not required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Note 1 to Part I of Form S-8 and Rule 424 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The information required in the Section 10(a) prospectus is included in the documents being maintained and delivered by Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (the “Registrant”) as required by Part I of Form S-8 and by Rule 428 under the Securities Act.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.    Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The following documents, heretofore filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are incorporated herein by reference:

(a)            The Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10, as amended, as filed with the Commission on August 19, 2005 (the “Form 10 Registration Statement”);

                
(b)            All other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Form 10 Registration Statement; and

(c)            The description of the Registrant’s Common Stock contained in the Registrant’s Form 10 Registration Statement, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

Nothing in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to incorporate information furnished but not filed with the Commission pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K.

 

 

 

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Item 4.    Description of Securities.

Not applicable

Item 5.    Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

As of  September 30, 2005, John C. Junek, Esq., Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Registrant, who has rendered the opinion attached hereto as Exhibit 5.1, beneficially owned approximatley 5,434 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock having a fair market value of approximatley $196,000.  Mr Junek is also eligible to participate in, and holds options to purchase shares of the Registrant's Common Stock granted under, the Plan.

Item 6.    Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Under Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “GCL”), a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any action, suit or proceeding, civil or criminal, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of such corporation if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in and not opposed to the best interest of the corporation and, with respect to a criminal action or proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful, except that, in the case of any action or suit by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification is permitted if the person shall be adjudged liable to the corporation other than indemnification to the extent that a court shall determine such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to.

Article VI of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides, in general, that no director of the Registrant shall be liable to the Registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of such director’s fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent that such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the GCL.

Article VI of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, provides, in general, for mandatory indemnification of directors and officers of the Registrant to the fullest extent permitted by the GCL. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in general, the Registrant shall not be obligated to indemnify a director or officer of the Registrant in respect of any proceeding instituted by such director or officer, unless such proceeding has been authorized by the board of directors of the Registrant.

The Registrant will also maintain a directors’ and officers’ insurance policy which would insure the officers and directors of the Registrant against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person or on such person’s behalf in their respective capacities as officers and directors of the Registrant, or arising out of such person’s status as an officer or director of the Registrant, whether or not the Registrant would have the power to indemnify any such officer or director against such liability under Article VI of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Bylaws.

The Plan provides for indemnification of each member of the committee responsible for administering the Plan, and each other director or employee of the Registrant to whom any duty or power relating to the administration or interpretation of the Plan has been delegated, against any cost or expense (including counsel fees) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the approval of the committee) arising out of any action, omission or determination

 

 

 

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relating to the Plan, unless, in either case, such action, omission or determination was taken or made by such member, director or employee in bad faith and without reasonable belief that it was in the best interests of the Registrant.

Item 7.    Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

Item 8.    Exhibits.

The following exhibits are filed with or incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement (numbering corresponds to Exhibit Table in Item 601 of Regulation S-K).

Exhibit No.

Document

 

4.1

Ameriprise Financial 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan

4.2           Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant

4.3

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant

 

5.1

Opinion of John C. Junek, Esq., Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Registrant, regarding the validity of the securities being registered

23.1

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Accounting Firm

23.2

Consent of John C. Junek, Esq., Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Registrant (included in Exhibit 5.1)

24.1

Power of Attorney (included on signature page)

 

Item 9.     Undertakings.

(a)            The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1)             To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(i)             To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii)             To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement; and

(iii)             To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;

 

 

 

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provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

(2)             That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3)             To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b)             The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c)             Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant wi ll, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the requirements for filing on Form S-8, and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Minneapolis, State of Minnesota, on the 3rd day of October, 2005.

 

AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.

 

/s/ John C. Junek

JOHN C. JUNEK

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

 

 

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below on this Registration Statement constitutes and appoints James D. Cracchiolo and John C. Junek, and each of them, each with full power to act as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities (unless revoked in writing) to sign any and all amendments or post-effective amendments related to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing appropriate or necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agents, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Form S-8 Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated as of the 3rd day of October, 2005.

 

SIGNATURE

TITLE

/s/ James M. Cracchiolo

 

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer and Director)

JAMES M. CRACCHIOLO

 

/s/ Walter S. Berman

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

WALTER S. BERMAN

 

 

 

 

 

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 /s/ David K. Stewart

 

 

 

Vice President and Controller (Chief Accounting Officer)

DAVID K. STEWART

 

 

/s/ Ira D. Hall

 

 

Director

IRA D. HALL

 

/s/ W. Walker Lewis

 

 

Director

W. WALKER LEWIS

 

 

/s/ Siri S. Marshall

 

 

Director

SIRI S. MARSHALL

 

 

/s/ Jeff Noddle

 

 

Director

JEFF NODDLE

 

 

/s/ Richard F. Powers III

 

 

Director

RICHARD F. POWERS III

 

 

/s/ H. Jay Sarles

 

 

Director

H. JAY SARLES

 

 

/s/ Robert F. Sharpe, Jr.

 

 

Director

ROBERT F. SHARPE, JR.

 

/s/ William H. Turner

 

 

Director

WILLIAM H. TURNER

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number

Description

Method of Filing

 

4.1

Ameriprise Financial 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan

Filed herewith

 

4.2

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant

Filed herewith


 

4.3

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant

Filed herewith


 

5.1

Opinion of John C. Junek, Esq., Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Registrant, regarding the validity of securities being registered

Filed herewith


 

23.1

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Accounting Firm

Filed herewith

 

23.2

Consent of John C. Junek, Esq., Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Registrant (included in Exhibit 5.1)

Filed herewith


 

24.1

Power of Attorney (included on signature page)

Filed herewith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EX-4.1 2 ampincentives8-ex41_1003.htm

Exhibit 4.1

 

AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL

2005 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

(As Adopted September 30, 2005)

 

 

1.

Purpose of the Plan

This Ameriprise Financial 2005 Stock Incentive Plan is intended to promote the interests of the Company and its shareholders by providing the employees and independent contractors of the Company and eligible non-employee directors of Ameriprise Financial, who are largely responsible for the management, growth and protection of the business of the Company, with incentives and rewards to encourage them to continue in the service of the Company. The Plan is designed to meet this intent by providing such employees, independent contractors and eligible non-employee directors with a proprietary interest in pursuing the long-term growth, profitability and financial success of the Company.

2.

Definitions

As used in the Plan or in any instrument governing the terms of any Incentive Award, the following definitions apply to the terms indicated below:

(a)        “Ameriprise Financial” means Ameriprise Financial, Inc., a Delaware corporation and any successor thereto.

(b)

“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of Ameriprise Financial.

 

(c)

“Cash Incentive Award” means an award granted pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan.

(d)        “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and all regulations, interpretations and administrative guidance issued thereunder.

(e)        “Committee” means the Compensation and Benefits Committee of the Board of Directors or such other committee as the Board of Directors shall appoint from time to time to administer the Plan and to otherwise exercise and perform the authority and functions assigned to the Committee under the terms of the Plan.

(f)         “Common Stock” means Ameriprise Financial’s Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, or any other security into which the common stock shall be changed pursuant to the adjustment provisions of Section 10 of the Plan.

(g)

“Company” means Ameriprise Financial and all of its Subsidiaries, collectively.

(h)            “Covered Employee” means a Participant who at the time of reference is a “covered employee” as defined in Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

 

 

 



 

 

(i)             “Deferred Compensation Plan” means the Ameriprise Financial Deferred Compensation Plan, Ameriprise Financial Deferred Share Plan for Outside Directors, Ameriprise Financial Deferred Equity Program for Independent Financial Advisors or any other plan, agreement or arrangement maintained by the Company from time to time that is established or maintained under this Plan and that provides opportunities for deferral of compensation.

(j)             “Director” means a member of the Board of Directors who is not at the time of reference an employee of the Company.

(k)

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(l)             “Fair Market Value” means, with respect to a share of Common Stock, as of the applicable date of determination (i) the average of the high and low sales prices on the immediately preceding business day of a share of Common Stock as reported on the principal securities exchange on which shares of Common Stock are then listed or admitted to trading or (ii) if not so reported, the average of the closing bid and ask prices on the immediately preceding business day as reported on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System or (iii) if not so reported, as furnished by any member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. selected by the Committee. In the event that the price of a share of Common Stock shall not be so reported, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

(m)          “Incentive Award” means one or more Stock Incentive Awards and Cash Incentive Awards, collectively.

(n)            “Incentive Pool” means an amount available to be paid to one or more Participants as Performance-Based Compensation, which amount is determined in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code.

(o)            “Option” means a stock option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 6.

(p)            “Other Stock-Based Award” means an award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 7.

(q)            “Participant” means a Director, employee or independent contractor of the Company who is eligible to participate in the Plan and to whom one or more Incentive Awards have been granted pursuant to the Plan and, following the death of any such Person, his successors, heirs, executors and administrators, as the case may be.

(r)            “Performance-Based Compensation” means compensation that satisfies the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code for deductibility of remuneration paid to Covered Employees.

 

 

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(s)            “Performance Measures” means such measures as are described in Section 9 on which performance goals are based in order to qualify certain awards granted hereunder as Performance-Based Compensation.

(t)             “Performance Percentage” means the factor determined pursuant to a Performance Schedule that is to be applied to a Target Award or Incentive Pool and that reflects actual performance compared to the Performance Target.

(u)            “Performance Period” means the period of time during which the performance goals must be met in order to determine the degree of payout and/or vesting with respect to an Incentive Award that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation. Performance Periods may be overlapping.

(v)            “Performance Schedule” means a schedule or other objective method for determining the applicable Performance Percentage to be applied to each Target Award or Incentive Pool.

(w)          “Performance Target” means performance goals and objectives with respect to a Performance Period.

(x)            “Person” means a “person” as such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, including any “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) under the Exchange Act.

(y)            “Plan” means this Ameriprise Financial 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.

(z)            “Related Employment” means the employment or performance of services by an individual for any Person other than the Company, provided, that (a) such employment or performance of services is undertaken by the individual at the request of the Company, (b) immediately prior to undertaking such employment or performance of services, the individual was employed by or performing services for the Company or was engaged in Related Employment as herein defined and (c) such employment or performance of services is in the best interests of the Company and is recognized by the Committee, in its discretion, as Related Employment.

(aa)

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(bb)         “Stock Incentive Award” means an Option or Other Stock-Based Award granted pursuant to the terms of the Plan.

(cc)          “Subsidiary” means any “subsidiary” within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

(dd)         “Substitution Awards” means Incentive Awards issued under the Plan in accordance with the terms of the Employee Benefits Agreement, by and between American

 

 

3

 

 



 

Express Company and Ameriprise Financial, dated as of September 30, 2005 (the “EBA”) in substitution of outstanding long-term incentive awards granted under the American Express Company 1998 Incentive Compensation Plan in connection with the Distribution (as defined in the EBA).

(ee)          “Target Award” means a Cash Incentive Award of a specific dollar amount or portion of an Incentive Pool, determined by the Committee, pursuant to Performance Measures as described in Section 9.

(ff)           “Voting Securities” means, at any time, Ameriprise Financial’s then outstanding voting securities.

3.

Stock Subject to the Plan and Limitations on Cash Incentive Awards

 

(a)

Stock Subject to the Plan

 

The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be covered by Incentive Awards granted under the Plan shall not exceed 37,900,000 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate. Out of such aggregate, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be covered by Options that are designated as “incentive stock options” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code shall not exceed 5 million shares of Common Stock. The shares referred to in the preceding sentences of this paragraph shall in each case be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10 and the following provisions of this Section 3. Shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan may be either authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares, or both, at the sole discretion of the Committee.

For purposes of the preceding paragraph, shares of Common Stock covered by Incentive Awards shall only be counted as used to the extent they are actually issued and delivered to a Participant (or such Participant’s permitted transferees as described in the Plan) pursuant to the Plan, and shares covered by Substitution Awards that are not counted as used pursuant to this Section 3 shall be available for use in connection with any other Incentive Awards. For purposes of clarification, in accordance with the preceding sentence if an Incentive Award is settled for cash or if shares of Common Stock are withheld to pay the exercise price of an Option or to satisfy any tax withholding requirement in connection with an Incentive Award, only the shares issued (if any), net of the shares withheld, will be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the number of shares of Common Stock that are available for delivery under the Plan. In addition, if shares of Common Stock are issued subject to conditions which may result in the forfeiture, cancellation or return of such shares to the Company, any portion of the shares forfeited, cancelled or returned shall be treated as not issued pursuant to the Plan. In addition, if shares of Common Stock owned by a Participant (or such Participant’s permitted transferees as described in the Plan) are tendered (either actually or through attestation) to the Company in payment of any obligation in connection with an Incentive Award, the number of shares tendered shall be added to the number of shares of Common Stock that are available for delivery under the Plan. In addition, if the Company uses cash received by the Company in payment of the exercise price or purchase price in connection with any Incentive Award granted pursuant to the Plan to

 

 

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repurchase shares of Common Stock from any Person, the shares so repurchased will be added to the aggregate number of shares available for delivery under the Plan. For purposes of the preceding sentence, shares of Common Stock repurchased by the Company shall be deemed to have been repurchased using such funds only to the extent that such funds have actually been previously received by the Company and that the Company promptly designates in its books and records that such repurchase was paid for with such funds. Shares of Common Stock covered by Incentive Awards granted pursuant to the Plan in connection with the assumption, replacement, conversion or adjustment of outstanding equity-based awards in the context of a corporate acquisition or merger (within the meaning of Section 303A.08 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual) shall not count as used under the Plan for purposes of this Section 3.

(b)

Individual Award Limits

Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10 and excluding Substitution Awards, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be covered by Incentive Awards granted under the Plan to any single Participant in any calendar year shall not exceed 3 million shares. The amount payable to any Participant with respect to any calendar year for all Cash Incentive Awards for which the Performance Period is not longer than one year shall not exceed $15 million. The amount payable to any Participant with respect to any calendar year for all Cash Incentive Awards for which the Performance Period is longer than one year shall not exceed $10 million. For purposes of the preceding sentences, the phrase “amount payable with respect to any calendar year” means the amount of cash, or value of other property, required to be paid based on the achievement of applicable Performance Measures during a Performance Period that ends in a calendar year, disregarding any deferral pursuant to the terms of a Deferred Compensation Plan unless the terms of the deferral are intended to comply with the requirements for performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.

4.

Administration of the Plan

The Plan shall be administered by a Committee of the Board of Directors consisting of two or more persons, each of whom qualifies as a “non-employee director” (within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act), an “outside director” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(e)(3) and as “independent” within the meaning of any applicable stock exchange or similar regulatory authority. The Committee shall, consistent with the terms of the Plan, from time to time designate those employees and independent contractors of the Company who shall be granted Incentive Awards under the Plan and the amount, type and other terms and conditions of such Incentive Awards. All of the powers and responsibilities of the Committee under the Plan may be delegated by the Committee, in writing, to any subcommittee thereof. In addition, the Committee may from time to time authorize a subcommittee consisting of one or more members of the Board of Directors (including members who are employees of the Company) or employees of Ameriprise Financial to grant Incentive Awards to persons who are not “executive officers” of Ameriprise Financial (within the meaning of Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act), subject to such restrictions and limitation as the Committee may specify. In addition, the Board of Directors may, consistent with the terms of the Plan, from time to time grant Incentive Awards to Directors.

 

 

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The Committee shall have full discretionary authority to administer the Plan, including discretionary authority to interpret and construe any and all provisions of the Plan and the terms of any Incentive Award (and any agreement evidencing any Incentive Award) granted thereunder and to adopt and amend from time to time such rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan as the Committee may deem necessary or appropriate. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee shall determine whether an authorized leave of absence, or absence in military or government service, shall constitute termination of employment and whether employment for any Person other than the Company shall constitute Related Employment for any purposes of the Plan. The employment of a Participant with the Company shall be deemed to have terminated for all purposes of the Plan if such person is employed by or provides services to a Person that is a Subsidiary of the Company and such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Company, unless the Committee determines otherwise. Decisions of the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive on all parties.

On or after the date of grant of an Incentive Award under the Plan, the Committee may (i) accelerate the date on which any such Incentive Award becomes vested, exercisable or transferable, as the case may be, (ii) extend the term of any such Incentive Award, including, without limitation, extending the period following a termination of a Participant’s employment during which any such Incentive Award may remain outstanding, (iii) waive any conditions to the vesting, exercisability or transferability, as the case may be, of any such Incentive Award or (iv) provide for the payment of dividends or dividend equivalents with respect to any such Incentive Award; provided, that the Committee shall not have any such authority to the extent that the grant of such authority would cause any tax to become due under Section 409A of the Code.

The Company shall pay any amount payable with respect to an Incentive Award in accordance with the terms of such Incentive Award, provided that the Committee may, in its discretion, defer the payment of amounts payable with respect to an Incentive Award subject to and in accordance with the terms of a Deferred Compensation Plan.

No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action, omission, or determination relating to the Plan, and Ameriprise Financial shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Committee and each other director or employee of the Company to whom any duty or power relating to the administration or interpretation of the Plan has been delegated against any cost or expense (including counsel fees) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the approval of the Committee) arising out of any action, omission or determination relating to the Plan, unless, in either case, such action, omission or determination was taken or made by such member, director or employee in bad faith and without reasonable belief that it was in the best interests of the Company.

5.

Eligibility

The Persons who shall be eligible to receive Incentive Awards pursuant to the Plan shall be those employees and independent contractors of the Company and Directors whom the Committee shall select from time to time, including those key employees (including officers of

 

 

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Ameriprise Financial, whether or not they are Directors) who are largely responsible for the management, growth and protection of the business of the Company. Each Incentive Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an instrument in writing in form and substance approved by the Committee.

6.

Options

The Committee may from time to time grant Options, subject to the following terms and conditions:

(a)

Exercise Price

The exercise price per share of Common Stock covered by any Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date on which such Option is granted, except that this sentence shall not apply to Substitution Awards. The agreement evidencing the award of each Option shall clearly identify such Option as either an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code or as not an incentive stock option.

(b)

Term and Exercise of Options

(1)            Each Option shall become vested and exercisable on such date or dates, during such period and for such number of shares of Common Stock as shall be determined by the Committee on or after the date such Option is granted; provided, however that no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date such Option is granted; and, provided, further, that each Option shall be subject to earlier termination, expiration or cancellation as provided in the Plan or in the agreement evidencing such Option.

(2)            Each Option may be exercised in whole or in part; provided, however that no partial exercise of an Option shall be for an aggregate exercise price of less than $1,000. The partial exercise of an Option shall not cause the expiration, termination or cancellation of the remaining portion thereof.

(3)            An Option shall be exercised by such methods and procedures as the Committee determines from time to time, including without limitation through net physical settlement or other method of cashless exercise.

(4)            Options may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of a Participant, only by the Participant; provided, however that the Committee may permit Options that are not incentive stock options to be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of, on a general or specific basis, subject to such conditions and limitations as the Committee may determine.

(c)

Effect of Termination of Employment or Other Relationship

 

 

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The agreement evidencing the award of each Option shall specify the consequences with respect to such Option of the termination of the employment, service as a director or other relationship between the Company and the Participant holding the Option.

(d)

Special Rules for Incentive Stock Options

(1)            The aggregate Fair Market Value of shares of Common Stock with respect to which “incentive stock options” (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code) are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year under the Plan and any other stock option plan of Ameriprise Financial or any of its “subsidiaries” (within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code) shall not exceed $100,000. Such Fair Market Value shall be determined as of the date on which each such incentive stock option is granted. In the event that the aggregate Fair Market Value of shares of Common Stock with respect to such incentive stock options exceeds $100,000, then incentive stock options granted hereunder to such Participant shall, to the extent and in the order required by regulations promulgated under the Code (or any other authority having the force of regulations), automatically be deemed to be non-qualified stock options, but all other terms and provisions of such incentive stock options shall remain unchanged. In the absence of such regulations (and authority), or in the event such regulations (or authority) require or permit a designation of the Options which shall cease to constitute incentive stock options, incentive stock options granted hereunder shall, to the extent of such excess and in the order in which they were granted, automatically be deemed to be non-qualified stock options, but all other terms and provisions of such incentive stock options shall remain unchanged.

(2) No incentive stock option may be granted to an individual if, at the time of the proposed grant, such individual owns stock possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of Ameriprise Financial or any of its “subsidiaries” (within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code), unless (i) the exercise price of such incentive stock option is at least one hundred and ten percent of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock at the time such incentive stock option is granted and (ii) such incentive stock option is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date such incentive stock option is granted.

7.

Other Stock-Based Awards

The Committee may grant equity-based or equity-related awards not otherwise described herein in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, each such Other Stock-Based Award may (i) involve the transfer of actual shares of Common Stock to Participants, either at the time of grant or thereafter, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of shares of Common Stock, (ii) be subject to performance-based and/or service-based conditions, (iii) be in the form of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, deferred share units or share-denominated performance units, (iv) be designed to comply with applicable laws of jurisdictions other than the United States and (v) be designed to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation; provided, that

 

 

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each Other Stock-Based Award shall be denominated in, or shall have a value determined by reference to, a number of shares of Common Stock that is specified at the time of the grant of such award.

8.

Cash Incentive Awards

The Committee may grant Cash Incentive Awards with respect to any Performance Period, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. Cash Incentive Awards may be settled in cash or in other property, including shares of Common Stock, provided that the term “Cash Incentive Award” shall exclude any Option or Other Stock-Based Award. Cash Incentive Awards may be designed to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Cash Incentive Award may provide for Target Awards based on allocation among Participants of an Incentive Pool.

9.

Performance-Based Compensation

 

(a)

Calculation

 

The amount payable with respect to an Incentive Award that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall be determined in any manner permitted by Section 162(m) of the Code.

(b)

Discretionary Reduction

The Committee may, in its discretion, reduce or eliminate the amount payable to any Participant with respect to an Incentive Award that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, based on such factors as the Committee may deem relevant, but the Committee may not increase any such amount above the amount established in accordance with the relevant Performance Schedule. For purposes of clarity, the Committee may exercise the discretion provided for by the foregoing sentence in a non-uniform manner among Participants.

(c)

Performance Measures

The performance goals upon which the payment or vesting of any Incentive Award (other than Options and stock appreciation rights) to a Covered Employee that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation depends shall relate to one or more of the following Performance Measures: (i) net income or operating net income (before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, amortization, and/or nonrecurring/unusual items), (ii) return on assets, return on capital, return on equity, return on economic capital, return on other measures of capital, return on sales or other financial criteria, (iv) revenue or net sales, (v) gross profit or operating gross profit, (vi) cash flow, (vii) productivity or efficiency ratios, (viii) share price or total shareholder return, (ix) earnings per share, (x) budget and expense management, (xi) customer and product measures, including market share, high value client growth, and customer growth, (xii) working capital turnover and targets, (xiii) margins, and (xiv) economic value added or other value added measurements, in any such case (x) considered absolutely or relative to historic performance or

 

 

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relative to one or more other businesses and (y) determined for the Company or any business unit or division thereof.

Within 90 days after the beginning of a Performance Period, and in any case before 25% of the Performance Period has elapsed, the Committee shall establish (a) Performance Targets for such Performance Period, (b) Target Awards for each Participant, and (c) Performance Schedules for such Performance Period.

The measurement of any Performance Measure(s) may exclude the impact of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations, extraordinary items, and other unusual or non-recurring items, and the cumulative effects of accounting changes, each as defined by generally accepted accounting principles and as identified in the Company’s audited financial statements, including the notes thereto. Any Performance Measure(s) may be used to measure the performance of the Company or a Subsidiary as a whole or any business unit of the Company or any Subsidiary or any combination thereof, as the Committee may deem appropriate, or any of the above Performance Measures as compared to the performance of a group of comparator companies, or a published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

Nothing in this Section 9 is intended to limit the Committee’s discretion to adopt conditions with respect to any Incentive Award that is not intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation that relate to performance other than the Performance Measures. In addition, the Committee may, subject to the terms of the Plan, amend previously granted Incentive Awards in a way that disqualifies them as Performance-Based Compensation.

In the event that the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder change to permit Committee discretion to alter the Performance Measures without obtaining shareholder approval of such changes, the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining shareholder approval.

10.

Adjustment Upon Certain Changes

(a) Shares Available for Grants

In the event of any change in the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding by reason of any stock dividend or split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, combination or exchange of shares or similar corporate change, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Committee may grant Incentive Awards and the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Committee may grant Incentive Awards to any individual Participant in any year shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee. In the event of any change in the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding by reason of any other similar event or transaction, the Committee may, to the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee, make such adjustments in the number and class of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Awards may be granted.

(b)

Increase or Decrease in Issued Shares Without Consideration

 

 

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Subject to any required action by the shareholders of Ameriprise Financial, in the event of any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a subdivision or consolidation of shares of Common Stock or the payment of a stock dividend (but only on the shares of Common Stock), or any other increase or decrease in the number of such shares effected without receipt or payment of consideration by the Company, the Committee may, to the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee, adjust the number of shares of Common Stock subject to each outstanding Incentive Award and the exercise price per share of Common Stock of each such Incentive Award.

(c)

Certain Mergers

Subject to any required action by the shareholders of Ameriprise Financial, in the event that Ameriprise Financial shall be the surviving corporation in any merger, consolidation or similar transaction as a result of which the holders of shares of Common Stock receive consideration consisting exclusively of securities of such surviving corporation, the Committee may, to the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee, adjust each Incentive Award outstanding on the date of such merger or consolidation so that it pertains and applies to the securities which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such Incentive Award would have received in such merger or consolidation.

(d)

Certain Other Transactions

In the event of (i) a dissolution or liquidation of Ameriprise Financial, (ii) a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (on a consolidated basis), (iii) a merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving Ameriprise Financial in which Ameriprise Financial is not the surviving corporation or (iv) a merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving Ameriprise Financial in which Ameriprise Financial is the surviving corporation but the holders of shares of Common Stock receive securities of another corporation and/or other property, including cash, the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, have the power to:

(i) cancel, effective immediately prior to the occurrence of such event, each Incentive Award (whether or not then exercisable), and, in full consideration of such cancellation, pay to the Participant to whom such Incentive Award was granted an amount in cash, for each share of Common Stock subject to such Incentive Award equal to the value, as determined by the Committee in its reasonable discretion, of such Incentive Award, provided that with respect to any outstanding Option such value shall be equal to the excess of (A) the value, as determined by the Committee in its reasonable discretion, of the property (including cash) received by the holder of a share of Common Stock as a result of such event over (B) the exercise price of such Option; or

(ii) provide for the exchange of each Incentive Award (whether or not then exercisable or vested) for an Incentive Award with respect to, as appropriate, some or all of the property which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such Incentive Award would have received in such transaction and, incident thereto, make an equitable adjustment as determined by the Committee in its reasonable discretion in the

 

 

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exercise price of the Incentive Award, or the number of shares or amount of property subject to the Incentive Award or, if appropriate, provide for a cash payment to the Participant to whom such Incentive Award was granted in partial consideration for the exchange of the Incentive Award.

(e)

Other Changes

In the event of any change in the capitalization of Ameriprise Financial or corporate change other than those specifically referred to in paragraphs (b), (c) or (d), the Committee may make such adjustments in the number and class of shares subject to Incentive Awards outstanding on the date on which such change occurs and in such other terms of such Incentive Awards as the Committee may consider appropriate.

(f)

Cash Incentive Awards

In the event of any transaction or event described in this Section 10, including without limitation any corporate change referred to in paragraph (e) hereof, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, make such adjustments in any Performance Schedule, Performance Target or Target Award, and in such other terms of any Cash Incentive Awards, as the Committee may consider appropriate in respect of such transaction or event, provided that such adjustment is consistent with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

(g)

No Other Rights

Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no Participant shall have any rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any dividend, any increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class or any dissolution, liquidation, merger or consolidation of Ameriprise Financial or any other corporation. Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no issuance by Ameriprise Financial of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares or amount of other property subject to, or the terms related to, any Incentive Award.

(h)

Savings Clause

No provision of this Section 10 shall be given effect to the extent that such provision would cause any tax to become due under Section 409A of the Code.

11.

Rights Under the Plan

No person shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock covered by or relating to any Incentive Award granted pursuant to the Plan until the date of the issuance of a stock certificate with respect to such shares. Except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 10 hereof, no adjustment of any Incentive Award shall be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date occurs prior to the date such stock certificate is issued. Nothing in this Section 11 is intended, or should be construed, to limit authority of the

 

 

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Committee to cause the Company to make payments based on the dividends that would be payable with respect to any share of Common Stock if it were issued or outstanding, or from granting rights related to such dividends.

The Company shall not have any obligation to establish any separate fund or trust or other segregation of assets to provide for payments under the Plan. To the extent any person acquires any rights to receive payments hereunder from the Company, such rights shall be no greater than those of an unsecured creditor.

12.

No Special Employment Rights; No Right to Incentive Award

(a) Nothing contained in the Plan or any Incentive Award shall confer upon any Participant any right with respect to the continuation of his employment by or service to the Company or interfere in any way with the right of the Company at any time to terminate such employment or service or to increase or decrease the compensation of the Participant from the rate in existence at the time of the grant of an Incentive Award.

(b) No person shall have any claim or right to receive an Incentive Award hereunder. The Committee’s granting of an Incentive Award to a Participant at any time shall neither require the Committee to grant an Incentive Award to such Participant or any other Participant or other person at any time nor preclude the Committee from making subsequent grants to such Participant or any other Participant or other person.

13.

Securities Matters

 

(a)         Ameriprise Financial shall be under no obligation to effect the registration pursuant to the Securities Act of any shares of Common Stock to be issued hereunder or to effect similar compliance under any state laws. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Ameriprise Financial shall not be obligated to cause to be issued or delivered any certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan unless and until Ameriprise Financial is advised by its counsel that the issuance and delivery of such certificates is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authority and the requirements of any securities exchange on which shares of Common Stock are traded. The Committee may require, as a condition to the issuance and delivery of certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock pursuant to the terms hereof, that the recipient of such shares make such covenants, agreements and representations, and that such certificates bear such legends, as the Committee deems necessary or desirable.

 

(b)         The exercise of any Option granted hereunder shall only be effective at such time as counsel to Ameriprise Financial shall have determined that the issuance and delivery of shares of Common Stock pursuant to such exercise is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authority and the requirements of any securities exchange on which shares of Common Stock are traded. Ameriprise Financial may, in its sole discretion, defer the effectiveness of an exercise of an Option hereunder or the issuance or transfer of shares of Common Stock pursuant to any Incentive Award pending or to ensure compliance under federal

 

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or state securities laws. Ameriprise Financial shall inform the Participant in writing of its decision to defer the effectiveness of the exercise of an Option or the issuance or transfer of shares of Common Stock pursuant to any Incentive Award. During the period that the effectiveness of the exercise of an Option has been deferred, the Participant may, by written notice, withdraw such exercise and obtain the refund of any amount paid with respect thereto.

 

14.

Withholding Taxes

 

(a)

Cash Remittance

 

Whenever shares of Common Stock are to be issued upon the exercise of an Option or the grant or vesting of an Incentive Award, and whenever any amount shall become payable in respect of any Incentive Award, Ameriprise Financial shall have the right to require the Participant to remit to Ameriprise Financial in cash an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state and local withholding tax requirements, if any, attributable to such exercise, grant, vesting or payment prior to the delivery of any certificate or certificates for such shares or the effectiveness of the lapse of such restrictions or making of such payment. In addition, upon the exercise or settlement of any Incentive Award in cash, or any payment with respect to any Incentive Award, Ameriprise Financial shall have the right to withhold from any payment required to be made pursuant thereto an amount sufficient to satisfy the federal, state and local withholding tax requirements, if any, attributable to such exercise, settlement or payment.

 

(b)

Stock Remittance

 

At the election of the Participant, subject to the approval of the Committee, when shares of Common Stock are to be issued upon the exercise, grant or vesting of an Incentive Award, the Participant may tender to Ameriprise Financial a number of shares of Common Stock that have been owned by the Participant for at least six months (or such other period as the Committee may determine) having a Fair Market Value at the tender date determined by the Committee to be sufficient to satisfy the minimum federal, state and local withholding tax requirements, if any, attributable to such exercise, grant or vesting but not greater than the minimum withholding obligations. Such election shall satisfy the Participant’s obligations under Section 14(a) hereof, if any.

 

(c)

Stock Withholding

 

At the election of the Participant, subject to the approval of the Committee, when shares of Common Stock are to be issued upon the exercise, grant or vesting of an Incentive Award, Ameriprise Financial shall withhold a number of such shares having a Fair Market Value at the exercise date determined by the Committee to be sufficient to satisfy the minimum federal, state and local withholding tax requirements, if any, attributable to such exercise, grant or vesting but not greater than the minimum withholding obligations. Such election shall satisfy the Participant’s obligations under Section 14(a) hereof, if any.

 

 

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15.

Amendment or Termination of the Plan

 

The Board of Directors may at any time suspend or discontinue the Plan or revise or amend it in any respect whatsoever; provided, however, that to the extent that any applicable law, regulation or rule of a stock exchange requires shareholder approval in order for any such revision or amendment to be effective, such revision or amendment shall not be effective without such approval. The preceding sentence shall not restrict the Committee’s ability to exercise its discretionary authority hereunder pursuant to Section 4 hereof, which discretion may be exercised without amendment to the Plan. No provision of this Section 15 shall be given effect to the extent that such provision would cause any tax to become due under Section 409A of the Code. Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no action hereunder may, without the consent of a Participant, reduce the Participant’s rights under any previously granted and outstanding Incentive Award. Nothing in the Plan shall limit the right of the Company to pay compensation of any kind outside the terms of the Plan.

16.

No Obligation to Exercise

 

The grant to a Participant of an Incentive Award shall impose no obligation upon such Participant to exercise such Incentive Award.

 

17.

Transfers Upon Death

 

Upon the death of a Participant, outstanding Incentive Awards granted to such Participant may be exercised only by the executors or administrators of the Participant’s estate or by any person or persons who shall have acquired such right to exercise by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. No transfer by will or the laws of descent and distribution of any Incentive Award, or the right to exercise any Incentive Award, shall be effective to bind Ameriprise Financial unless the Committee shall have been furnished with (a) written notice thereof and with a copy of the will and/or such evidence as the Committee may deem necessary to establish the validity of the transfer and (b) an agreement by the transferee to comply with all the terms and conditions of the Incentive Award that are or would have been applicable to the Participant and to be bound by the acknowledgements made by the Participant in connection with the grant of the Incentive Award.

 

Any beneficiary designation made with respect to a Substitution Award under the American Express Company 1998 Incentive Compensation Plan shall remain in effect under this Plan unless and until a new beneficiary designation that by its terms supersedes such first beneficiary designation is made in accordance with the terms of this Plan.

 

18.

Expenses and Receipts

 

The expenses of the Plan shall be paid by Ameriprise Financial. Any proceeds received by Ameriprise Financial in connection with any Incentive Award will be used for general corporate purposes.

 

 

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19.

Definition of Change in Control.

As used in any instrument governing the terms of any Incentive Award, the term “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(i)             Any Person becoming the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, a “Beneficial Owner”) of twenty-five percent or more of the combined voting power of Voting Securities; provided, however that a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur by reason of an acquisition of Voting Securities by the Company or by an employee benefit plan (or a trust forming a part thereof) maintained by the Company; and provided, further that a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because any Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of twenty-five percent or more of the outstanding Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition of Voting Securities by the Company which, by reducing the number of Voting Securities deemed to be outstanding, increases the proportional number of shares Beneficially Owned by such Person, except that a Change in Control shall occur if a Change in Control would have occurred (but for the operation of this proviso) as a result of the acquisition of Voting Securities by the Company, and after such acquisition such Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional Voting Securities following which such Person is the Beneficial Owner of twenty-five percent or more of the outstanding Voting Securities;

(ii)           The individuals who, as of September 30, 2005, are members of the Board of Directors (the "Incumbent Board"), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors; provided, however that if the election or appointment, or nomination for election by Ameriprise Financial's common stockholders, of any new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Board, such new director shall, for purposes of the Plan, thereafter be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board; provided, further, however, that no individual shall be considered a member of the Incumbent Board if such individual initially assumed office as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board of Directors (a "Proxy Contest") including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Proxy Contest; or

(iii)

The consummation of:

(A)          A merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar transaction (any of the foregoing, a “Business Combination”) with or into Ameriprise Financial or in which securities of Ameriprise Financial are issued, unless such Business Combination is a Non-Control Transaction;

(B)

A complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

(C)           The sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (on a consolidated basis) to any Person other than the Company or an employee benefit plan (or a trust forming a part thereof) maintained by the Company or by a Person which, immediately thereafter, will have all its voting securities owned

 

 

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by the holders of the Voting Securities immediately prior thereto, in substantially the same proportions.

For purposes of the Plan, a “Non-Control Transaction” is a Business Combination involving Ameriprise Financial where:

(A)          the holders of Voting Securities immediately before such Business Combination own, directly or indirectly immediately following such Business Combination more than fifty percent of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the parent corporation resulting from, or issuing its voting securities as part of, such Business Combination (the "Surviving Corporation") in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Voting Securities immediately before such Business Combination by reason of their prior ownership of Voting Securities;

(B)           the individuals who were members of the Incumbent Board immediately prior to the execution of the agreement providing for such Business Combination constitute a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Surviving Corporation, or a corporation beneficially owning a majority of the voting securities of the Surviving Corporation; and

(C)           no Person other than the Company or any employee benefit plan (or any trust forming a part thereof) maintained immediately prior to such Business Combination by the Company, is a Beneficial Owner of twenty-five percent or more of the combined voting power of the Surviving Corporation's voting securities outstanding immediately following such Business Combination.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur as a result of any event or transaction to the extent that treating such event or transaction as a Change in Control would cause any tax to become due under Section 409A of the Code.

 

20.

Governing Law

 

The Plan and the rights of all persons under the Plan shall be construed and administered in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to its conflict of law principles.

 

21.

Effective Date and Term of Plan

 

The Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors on September 30, 2005 subject to the approval of the Plan by the shareholders of Ameriprise Financial. No grants of Incentive Awards may be made under the Plan after September 30, 2015.

 

 

 

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EX-4.2 3 ampincentives8-ex42_1003.htm

Exhibit 4.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.

Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under, and by virtue of, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), does hereby certify as follows:

1.          The Corporation was originally formed by the filing of a certificate of incorporation under the name “Amex Acquisition Corporation” with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Secretary of State”) on September 29, 1983. The name of the Corporation was changed to “IDS/American Express Inc.” pursuant to a merger effective upon the filing of a certificate of merger with the Secretary of State on January 12, 1984. The name of the Corporation was further changed to “IDS Financial Services Inc.” pursuant to an amendment to the certificate of incorporation effective upon the filing of a certificate of amendment with the Secretary of State on January 30, 1985. The name of the Corporation was further changed to “IDS Financial Corporation” pursuant to an amendment to the certificate of incorporation effective upon the filing of a certificate of amendment with the Secretary of State on December 15, 1986. The name of the Corporation was further changed to “American Express Financial Corporation” pursuant to a filing of a certificate of amendment with the Secretary of State on December 5, 1994. The present name of the Corporation is “Ameriprise Financial, Inc.”, as changed pursuant to a filing of a certificate of amendment with the Secretary of State on August 1, 2005.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

2.              This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was, in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the DGCL, (a) duly proposed by resolutions adopted and declared advisable by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) acting by written consent pursuant to Section 141(f) of the DGCL, (b) approved by written consent of the holder of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation pursuant to Section 228 of the DGCL and (c) duly executed by an authorized officer of the Corporation pursuant to Section 103 of the DGCL.

3.              This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation restates, integrates and further amends the provisions of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, as heretofore amended, corrected or supplemented, and, upon filing with the Secretary of State in accordance with Section 103, shall supersede the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as heretofore amended and restated, corrected or supplemented, and shall, as it may thereafter be amended in accordance with its terms and applicable law, be the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation.

4.              Pursuant to Section 103(d) of the DGCL, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on September 30, 2005.

5.              The text of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:

ARTICLE I

NAME OF CORPORATION

The name of the Corporation is Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

 

 

 

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ARTICLE II

REGISTERED OFFICE

The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of the Corporation’s registered agent is The Corporation Trust Company.

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the DGCL.

ARTICLE IV

STOCK

Section 1.            Authorized Stock. The aggregate number of shares of stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,250,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), and 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”). The number of authorized shares of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock or any other class of 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 combined voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, and, irrespective of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL, no vote of the holders of any of the Common Stock, the Preferred Stock or any other class of stock, voting separately as a class, shall be required therefor.

 

 

 

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Section 2.

Preferred Stock.

(a)            The Preferred Stock may be issued at any time and from time to time in one or more series. The Board of Directors is hereby authorized to provide for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in series and, by filing a certificate of designation pursuant to the applicable provisions of the DGCL (hereinafter referred to as a “Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation”), to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of shares of each such series and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof.

(b)           The authority of the Board of Directors with respect to each series of Preferred Stock shall include, but not be limited to, determination of the following:

(i)

the designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;

 

(ii)

the number of shares of the series, which number the Board of Directors may thereafter (except where otherwise provided in the applicable Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation) increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding);

 

(iii)

whether dividends, if any, shall be cumulative or noncumulative and the dividend rate of the series;

 

(iv)

whether dividends, if any, shall be payable in cash, in kind or otherwise;

(v)

the dates on which dividends, if any, shall be payable;

 

(vi)

the redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;

 

(vii)

the terms and amount of any sinking fund provided for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;

 

 

 

 

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(viii)

the amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation;

(ix)

whether the shares of the series shall be convertible or exchangeable into shares of any other class or series, or any other security, of the Corporation or any other corporation, and, if so, the specification of such other class or series or such other security, the conversion or exchange price or prices or rate or rates, any adjustments thereof, the date or dates as of which such shares shall be convertible or exchangeable and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange may be made;

(x)

restrictions on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any other class or series; and

(xi)

whether or not the holders of the shares of such series shall have voting rights, in addition to the voting rights provided by law, and if so, the terms of such voting rights, which may provide, among other things and subject to the other provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, that each share of such series shall carry one vote or more or less than one vote per share, that the holders of such series shall be entitled to vote on certain matters as a separate class (which for such purpose may be comprised solely of such series or of such series and one or more other series or classes of stock of the Corporation) and that all the shares of such series entitled to vote on a particular matter shall be deemed

 

 

 

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to be voted on such matter in the manner that a specified portion of the voting power of the shares of such series or separate class are voted on such matter.

(c)            The Common Stock shall be subject to the express terms of the Preferred Stock and any series thereof.

(d)           Except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or to a Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation that alters or changes the powers, preferences, rights or other 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 series of Preferred Stock, to vote thereon as a separate class pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or a Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation or pursuant to the DGCL as currently in effect or as the same may hereafter be amended.

Section 3.            Voting in Election of Directors. Except as may be required by law or as provided in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or in a Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation, holders of Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of Directors and for all other purposes, and holders of Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any matter or receive notice of any meeting of stockholders.

Section 4.            Owner. The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the person in whose name any share of its stock is registered as the owner thereof for all purposes and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such share on the part of any other person, whether or not the Corporation shall have notice thereof, except as expressly provided by applicable law.

 

 

 

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ARTICLE V

BOARD OF DIRECTORS;

MANAGEMENT OF THE CORPORATION

 

Section 1.            Classified Board. The Directors of the Corporation, subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock, shall be classified with respect to the time for which they severally hold office, into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, as shall be provided in the By-laws of the Corporation, one class (“Class I”) whose initial term expires at the 2006 annual meeting of stockholders, another class (“Class II”) whose initial term expires at the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders, and another class (“Class III”) whose initial term expires at the 2008 annual meeting of stockholders, with each class to hold office until its successors are elected and qualified. At each annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the date of which will be fixed pursuant to the By-Laws of the Corporation, and subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock, 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 held in the third year following the year of their election.

Section 2.            Management of Business. The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation and for the purpose of creating, defining, limiting and regulating the powers of the Corporation and its Directors and stockholders:

(a)            Subject to the rights of any holders of any series of Preferred Stock, if any, to elect additional Directors under specified circumstances, the holders of a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to vote

 

 

 

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generally in the election of Directors may remove any Director or the entire Board of Directors, but only for cause.

(b)           Vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause and newly created Directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of Directors shall be filled in the manner provided in the By-Laws of the Corporation.

(c)            Advance notice of nominations for the election of Directors shall be given in the manner and to the extent provided in the By-Laws of the Corporation.

(d)           The election of Directors may be conducted in any manner approved by the Board of Directors at the time when the election is held and need not be by written ballot.

(e)            All corporate powers and authority of the Corporation (except as at the time otherwise provided by law, by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or by the By-Laws) shall be vested in and exercised by the Board of Directors.

(f)            The Board of Directors shall have the power without the assent or vote of the stockholders to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the By-Laws of the Corporation, except to the extent that the By-Laws or this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation otherwise provide. In addition to any requirements of law and any other provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the stockholders of the Corporation may adopt, amend, alter or repeal any provision of the By-Laws upon the affirmative vote of the holders of three-fourths (3/4) or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors.

 

 

 

 

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ARTICLE VI

LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS

Section 1.            General. No Director of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of his or her fiduciary duty as a Director, except to the extent that such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as currently in effect or as the same may hereafter be amended.

Section 2.            Repeal or Modification. Any repeal or modification of this Article VI by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a Director, officer or the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification. If the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware is amended after the filing of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation 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

NO STOCKHOLDER ACTIONS BY WRITTEN CONSENT

Effective as of the time the American Express Company, a New York corporation (“American Express”), distributes the Common Stock of the Corporation to American Express stockholders, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, and the ability of the stockholders to consent in writing to the taking of any action is specifically denied.

 

 

 

 

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ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENT

The Corporation reserves the right to amend or repeal any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware, and all rights herein conferred upon stockholders or Directors (in the present form of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or as hereinafter amended) are granted subject to this reservation; provided, however, that any amendment or repeal of Article VI of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection existing hereunder immediately prior to such amendment or repeal; and, provided, further, that Articles V, VI, VII or VIII of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall not be amended, altered or repealed without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least three-fourths (3/4) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors.

 

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be duly executed by an authorized officer of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. as of this 29th day of September, 2005.

AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.

By:

/s/ Paul R. Johnston

 

 

Name:  Paul R. Johnston

 

Title:  Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EX-4.3 4 ampincentives8-ex43_1003.htm

Exhibit 4.3

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.

Article I

 

Stockholders

 

Section 1.01.    Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation for the election of Directors and for the transaction of such other business as properly may come before such meeting shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, or, within the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, by remote electronic communication technologies and at such date and at such time, as may be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors and set forth in the notice or waiver of notice of the meeting.

Section 1.02.    Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer (or, in the event of his or her absence or disability, by the President or any Executive Vice President), or by the Board of Directors. A special meeting shall be called by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer (or, in the event of his or her absence or disability, by the President or any Executive Vice President), or by the Secretary of the Corporation pursuant to a resolution approved by a majority of the entire Board of Directors. Such special meetings of the stockholders shall be held at such places, within or without the State of Delaware, or, within the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, by remote electronic communication technologies, as shall be specified in the respective notices or waivers of notice thereof. Any power of the stockholders of the Corporation to call a special meeting is specifically denied.

Section 1.03.

Notice Of Meetings; Waiver.

(a)        The Secretary of the Corporation or any Assistant Secretary shall cause written notice of the place, if any, date and hour of each meeting of the stockholders, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is called, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, to be given personally by mail or by electronic transmission, or as otherwise provided in these By-Laws, not fewer than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the meeting, to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. If such notice is mailed, it shall be deemed to have been given personally to a stockholder when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his or her address as it appears on the record of stockholders of the Corporation, or, if a stockholder shall have filed with the Secretary of the Corporation a written request that notices to such stockholder be mailed to some other address, then directed to such stockholder at such other address. Such further notice shall be given as may be required by law.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

(b)           A written waiver of any notice of any annual or special meeting signed by the person entitled thereto, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in a written waiver of notice. Attendance of a stockholder at a meeting of stockholders shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the stockholder attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

(c)            For notice given by electronic transmission to a stockholder to be effective, such stockholder must consent to the Corporation’s giving notice by that particular form of electronic transmission. A stockholder may revoke consent to receive notice by electronic transmission by written notice to the Corporation. A stockholder’s consent to notice by electronic transmission is automatically revoked if the Corporation is unable to deliver two consecutive electronic transmission notices and such inability becomes known to the Secretary of the Corporation, any Assistant Secretary, the transfer agent or other person responsible for giving notice.

(d)           Notices are deemed given (i) if by facsimile, when faxed to a number where the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (ii) if by electronic mail, when mailed electronically to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive such notice; (iii) if by posting on an electronic network (such as a website or chatroom) together with a separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later to occur of (A) such posting or (B) the giving of the separate notice of such posting; or (iv) if by any other form of electronic communication, when directed to the stockholder in the manner consented to by the stockholder.

(e)            If a stockholder meeting is to be held via electronic communications and stockholders will take action at such meeting, the notice of such meeting must: (i) specify the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present and vote at such meeting; and (ii) provide the information required to access the stockholder list. A waiver of notice may be given by electronic transmission.

Section 1.04.      Quorum. Except as otherwise required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, at each meeting of stockholders the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of record of a majority in voting power of the shares entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting. Shares of its own stock belonging to the Corporation or to another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation to vote stock, including but not limited to its own stock, held by it in a fiduciary capacity.

Section 1.05.      Voting. If, pursuant to Section 5.05 of these By-Laws, a record date has been fixed, every holder of record of shares entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share outstanding in his or her name on the books of the Corporation at the close of business on such record date. If no record date has been fixed, then every holder of record of shares entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to

 

 

 

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one (1) vote for each share of stock standing in his or her name on the books of the Corporation at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice of the meeting is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at a meeting and voting for nominees in the election of directors, and in all other matters, the affirmative vote of the majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at a meeting and voting on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders.

Section 1.06.      Voting By Ballot. No vote of the stockholders on an election of Directors need be taken by written ballot or by electronic transmission unless otherwise required by law. Any vote not required to be taken by ballot or by electronic transmission may be conducted in any manner approved by the Board of Directors prior to the meeting at which such vote is taken.

Section 1.07.      Adjournment. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders present in person or by proxy shall have the power to adjourn any such meeting from time to time until a quorum is present. Notice of any adjourned meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation need not be given if the place, if any, date and hour thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, provided, however, that if the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date for the adjourned meeting is fixed pursuant to Section 5.05 of these By-Laws, a notice of the adjourned meeting, conforming to the requirements of Section 1.03 hereof, shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted on the original date of the meeting.

Section 1.08.      Proxies. Any stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of the stockholders may authorize another person or persons to vote at any such meeting and express such vote on behalf of him or her by proxy. A stockholder may authorize a valid proxy by executing a written instrument signed by such stockholder, or by causing his or her signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature, or by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic transmission to the person designated as the holder of the proxy, a proxy solicitation firm or a like authorized agent. No such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after the expiration of three (3) years from the date of such proxy, unless such proxy provides for a longer period. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the stockholder executing it, except in those cases where applicable law provides that a proxy shall be irrevocable. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing with the Secretary of the Corporation either an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or another duly executed proxy bearing a later date. Proxies by telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of a writing or transmission created pursuant to this section may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or

 

 

 

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transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.

Section 1.09.      Organization; Procedure. At every meeting of stockholders the presiding officer shall be the Chairman of the Board or, in the event of his or her absence or disability, a presiding officer chosen by the Board of Directors. The Secretary of the Corporation, or in the event of his or her absence or disability, an Assistant Secretary, if any, or if there be no Assistant Secretary, in the absence of the Secretary of the Corporation, an appointee of the presiding officer, shall act as Secretary of the meeting. The order of business and all other matters of procedure at every meeting of stockholders may be determined by such presiding officer.

Section 1.10.

Notice Of Stockholder Business And Nominations.

 

(a)

Annual Meetings Of Stockholders.

 

 

(i)

Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (A) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board, or (B) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who complies with the notice procedures set forth in clauses (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph and who was a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation.

 

(ii)

For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, pursuant to clause (B) of paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 1.10, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing or by electronic transmission to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not fewer than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting and in any event at least forty-five (45) days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the registrant first mailed its proxy materials for the prior year’s annual meeting of stockholders; PROVIDED, that if the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. In no event shall the adjournment of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth (A) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a Director all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for

 

 

 

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election of Directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or any successor provisions, including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a Director if elected; (B) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and of any beneficial owner on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (C) as to the stockholder giving the notice and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (1) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner and (2) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned of record by such stockholder and beneficially by such beneficial owner.

(iii)

Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 1.10 to the contrary, in the event that the number of Directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for Director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the Corporation at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice under this paragraph shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

(b)           Special Meetings Of Stockholders. Only such business as shall have been brought before the special meeting of the stockholders pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting pursuant to Section 1.03 of these By-Laws shall be conducted at such meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which Directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (2) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.10 and who is a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation. Nominations by stockholders of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at such special meeting of stockholders if the stockholder’s notice as required by paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 1.10 shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting.

 

 

 

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In no event shall the adjournment of a special meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(c)

General.

 

 

(i)

Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.10 shall be eligible to serve as Directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.10. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, the Chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.10 and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Section 1.10, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.

 

(ii)

For purposes of this Section 1.10, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

(iii)

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.10, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 1.10. Nothing in this Section 1.10 shall be deemed to affect any rights (A) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, or (B) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, if any, to elect Directors if so provided under any applicable Preferred Stock Certificate of Designations (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation).

Section 1.11.      Inspectors Of Elections. Preceding any meeting of the stockholders, the Board of Directors shall appoint one (1) or more persons to act as Inspectors of Elections, and may designate one (1) or more alternate inspectors. In the event no inspector or alternate is able to act, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one (1) or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of an inspector, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspector shall:

(a)           ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each;

(b)           determine the shares represented at a meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots;

 

 

 

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(c)            specify the information relied upon to determine the validity of electronic transmissions in accordance with Section 1.08 hereof;

(d)            count all votes and ballots;

(e)            determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors;

(f)            certify his or her determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting, and his or her count of all votes and ballots;

(g)           appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist in the performance of the duties of inspector; and

(h)           when determining the shares represented and the validity of proxies and ballots, be limited to an examination of the proxies, any envelopes submitted with those proxies, any information provided in accordance with Section 1.08 of these By-Laws, ballots and the regular books and records of the Corporation. The inspector may consider other reliable information for the limited purpose of reconciling proxies and ballots submitted by or on behalf of banks, brokers or their nominees or a similar person which represent more votes than the holder of a proxy is authorized by the record owner to cast or more votes than the stockholder holds of record. If the inspector considers other reliable information as outlined in this section, the inspector, at the time of his or her certification pursuant to paragraph (f) of this section, shall specify the precise information considered, the person or persons from whom the information was obtained, when this information was obtained, the means by which the information was obtained, and the basis for the inspector’s belief that such information is accurate and reliable.

Section 1.12.      Opening And Closing Of Polls. The date and time for the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter to be voted upon at a stockholder meeting shall be announced at the meeting. The inspector shall be prohibited from accepting any ballots, proxies or votes or any revocations thereof or changes thereto after the closing of the polls, unless the Delaware Court of Chancery upon application by a stockholder shall determine otherwise.

Section 1.13.      No Stockholder Action By Written Consent. Effective as of the time that the American Express Company, a New York corporation (“American Express”) distributes the Common Stock of the Corporation to American Express stockholders, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, and the ability of the stockholders to consent in writing to the taking of any action is specifically denied.

Article II

Board Of Directors

Section 2.01.           General Powers. Except as may otherwise be provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, the property, affairs and business of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors and the Board of Directors may exercise all the powers of the Corporation.

 

 

 

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Section 2.02.      Number Of Directors. Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, if any, the number of Directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board of Directors; provided, however, that the Board of Directors shall at no time consist of fewer than three (3) Directors.

Section 2.03.      Classified Board Of Directors; Election Of Directors. The Directors of the Corporation, subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock, shall be classified with respect to the time for which they severally hold office, into three (3) classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, one class (“Class I”) whose initial term expires at the 2006 annual meeting of stockholders, another class (“Class II”) whose initial term expires at the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders, and another class (“Class III”) whose initial term expires at the 2008 annual meeting of stockholders, with each class to hold office until its successors are elected and qualified. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 2.12 and 2.13 of these By-Laws, at each annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, and subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock, 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 held in the third year following the year of their election.

Section 2.04.      The Chairman Of The Board. The Directors shall elect from among the members of the Board a “Chairman of the Board”. The Chairman of the Board shall be deemed an officer of the Corporation and shall have such duties and powers as set forth in these By-Laws or as shall otherwise be conferred upon the Chairman of the Board from time to time by the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board may be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. The Chairman of the Board shall, if present, preside over all meetings of the Stockholders and of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall by resolution establish a procedure to provide for an acting Chairman of the Board in the event the most recently elected Chairman of the Board is unable to serve or act in that capacity.

Section 2.05.      Annual And Regular Meetings. The annual meeting of the Board of Directors for the purpose of electing officers and for the transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting shall be held after the annual meeting of the stockholders and may be held at such places within or without the State of Delaware and at such times as the Board may from time to time determine, and if so determined notice thereof need not be given. Notice of such annual meeting of the Board of Directors need not be given. The Board of Directors from time to time may by resolution provide for the holding of regular meetings and fix the place (which may be within or without the State of Delaware) and the date and hour of such meetings. Notice of regular meetings need not be given, provided, however, that if the Board of Directors shall fix or change the time or place of any regular meeting, notice of such action shall be mailed promptly, or sent by telephone, including a voice messaging system or other system or technology designed to record and communicate messages, telegraph, facsimile, electronic mail or other electronic means, to each Director who shall not have been present at the meeting at which such action was taken, addressed to him or her at his or her usual place of business, or shall be delivered to him or her personally. Notice of such action need not be given to any Director who attends the first regular meeting after such action is taken without protesting the lack of notice to him or her, prior to or at the commencement of such meeting, or to any Director who submits a signed waiver of notice, whether before or after such meeting.

 

 

 

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Section 2.06.      Special Meetings; Notice. Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held whenever called by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer (or, in the event of his or her absence or disability, by the President or any Executive Vice President), or by the Board of Directors pursuant to the following sentence, at such place (within or without the State of Delaware), date and hour as may be specified in the respective notices or waivers of notice of such meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors also may be held whenever called pursuant to a resolution approved by a majority of the entire Board of Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called on twenty-four (24) hours’ notice, if notice is given to each Director personally or by telephone, including a voice messaging system, or other system or technology designed to record and communicate messages, telegraph, facsimile, electronic mail or other electronic means, or on five (5) days’ notice, if notice is mailed to each Director, addressed to him or her at his or her usual place of business or to such other address as any Director may request by notice to the Secretary. Notice of any special meeting need not be given to any Director who attends such meeting without protesting the lack of notice to him or her, prior to or at the commencement of such meeting, or to any Director who submits a signed waiver of notice, whether before or after such meeting, and any business may be transacted thereat.

Section 2.07.      Quorum; Voting. At all meetings of the Board of Directors, the presence of at least a majority of the total authorized number of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except as otherwise required by law, the vote of at least a majority of the Directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.

Section 2.08.      Adjournment. A majority of the Directors present, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn any meeting of the Board of Directors to another time or place. No notice need be given of any adjourned meeting unless the time and place of the adjourned meeting are not announced at the time of adjournment, in which case notice conforming to the requirements of Section 2.05 of these By-Laws shall be given to each Director.

Section 2.09.      Action Without A Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and such writing, writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors. Such filing may be in paper form or in electronic form.

Section 2.10.      Regulations; Manner Of Acting. To the extent consistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation and these By-Laws, the Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings of the Board of Directors and for the management of the property, affairs and business of the Corporation as the Board of Directors may deem appropriate. The Directors shall act only as a Board of Directors and the individual Directors shall have no power in their individual capacities unless expressly authorized by the Board of Directors.

Section 2.11.      Action By Telephonic Communications. Members of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the

 

 

 

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meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this provision shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 2.12.      Resignations. Any Director may resign at any time by submitting an electronic transmission or by delivering a written notice of resignation, signed by such Director, to the Chairman of the Board or the Secretary. Unless otherwise specified therein, such resignation shall take effect upon delivery.

Section 2.13.      Removal Of Directors. Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, if any, to elect additional Directors under specified circumstances, any Director may be removed at any time, but only for cause, upon the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors. Any vacancy in the Board of Directors caused by any such removal may be filled at a meeting duly called by the stockholders entitled to vote for the election of the Director so removed. If such stockholders do not fill such vacancy at such meeting, such vacancy may be filled in the manner provided in Section 2.14 of these By-Laws.

Section 2.14.      Vacancies And Newly Created Directorships. Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, if any, to elect additional Directors under specified circumstances, and except as provided in Section 2.13, if any vacancies shall occur in the Board of Directors, by reason of death, resignation, removal or otherwise, or if the authorized number of Directors shall be increased, the Directors then in office shall continue to act, and such vacancies and newly created Directorships may be filled by a majority of the Directors then in office, although less than a quorum. Any Director filling a vacancy shall be of the same class as that of the Director whose death, resignation, removal or other event caused the vacancy, and any Director filling a newly created Directorship shall be of the class specified by the Board of Directors at the time the newly created Directorships were created. A Director elected to fill a vacancy or a newly created Directorship shall hold office until his or her successor has been elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

Section 2.15.      Compensation. The amount, if any, which each Director shall be entitled to receive as compensation for such Director’s services as such shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.

Section 2.16.      Reliance On Accounts And Reports, Etc. A Director, or a member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors shall, in the performance of such Director’s or member’s duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees designated by the Board of Directors, or by any other person as to the matters the Director or the member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who the Director or member reasonably believes or determines has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

 

 

 

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Article III

 

Committees

Section 3.01.      Committees. The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of Directors then in office, may designate from among its members one (1) or more committees of the Board of Directors, each committee to consist of such number of Directors as from time to time may be fixed by the Board of Directors. Any such committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. Each such committee shall have the powers and duties delegated to it by the Board of Directors, subject to the limitations set forth in applicable Delaware law. The Board of Directors may appoint a Chairman of any committee, who shall preside at meetings of any such committee. The Board of Directors may elect one or more of its members as alternate members of any such committee who may take the place of any absent member or members at any meeting of such committee, upon request of the Chairman of the Board or the Chairman of such committee.

Section 3.02.      Powers. Each committee shall have and may exercise such powers of the Board of Directors as may be provided by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors. No committee shall have the power or authority: to approve or adopt, or recommend to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the Delaware General Corporation Law to be submitted to the stockholders for approval; or to adopt, amend or repeal the By-Laws of the Corporation.

Section 3.03.      Proceedings. Each such committee may fix its own rules of procedure and may meet at such place (within or without the State of Delaware), at such time and upon such notice, if any, as it shall determine from time to time. Each such committee shall keep minutes of its proceedings and shall report such proceedings to the Board of Directors at the meeting of the Board of Directors next following any such proceedings.

Section 3.04.      Quorum and Manner of Acting. Except as may be otherwise provided in the resolution creating such committee, at all meetings of any committee, the presence of members (or alternate members) constituting a majority of the total authorized membership of such committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The act of the majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of such committee. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of any such committee may be taken without a meeting, if all members of such committee shall consent to such action in writing or by electronic transmission and such writing, writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form. The members of any such committee shall act only as a committee, and the individual members of such committee shall have no power in their individual capacities unless expressly authorized by the Board of Directors.

Section 3.05.      Action by Telephonic Communications. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, members of any committee may participate in a meeting of such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all

 

 

 

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persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this provision shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 3.06.      Absent or Disqualified Members. In the absence or disqualification of a member of any committee, if no alternate member is present to act in his or her stead, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.

Section 3.07.      Resignations. Any member (and any alternate member) of any committee may resign at any time by delivering a written notice of resignation, signed by such member, to the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board. Unless otherwise specified therein, such resignation shall take effect upon delivery.

Section 3.08.      Removal. Any member (and any alternate member) of any committee may be removed at any time, either for or without cause, by resolution adopted by a majority of the whole Board of Directors.

Section 3.09.      Vacancies. If any vacancy shall occur in any committee, by reason of disqualification, death, resignation, removal or otherwise, the remaining members (and any alternate members) shall continue to act, and any such vacancy may be filled by the Board of Directors.

Article IV

Officers

Section 4.01.      Chief Executive Officer. The Board of Directors shall select a Chief Executive Officer to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors who shall (a) supervise the carrying out of policies adopted or approved by the Board of Directors, (b) exercise a general supervision and superintendence over all the business and affairs of the Corporation, and (c) possess such other powers and perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by these By-Laws, as may from time to time be assigned by the Board of Directors and as may be incident to the office of Chief Executive Officer.

Section 4.02.      Secretary Of The Corporation. The Board of Directors shall appoint a Secretary of the Corporation to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The Secretary of the Corporation shall (a) keep minutes of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors, (b) authenticate records of the Corporation and (c) in general, have such powers and perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by these By-Laws, as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer and as may be incident to the office of Secretary of the Corporation.

Section 4.03.      Other Officers Elected By Board Of Directors. At any meeting of the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors may elect a President, Vice Presidents, a Chief Financial Officer, a Treasurer, Assistant Treasurers, Assistant Secretaries, or such other officers of the Corporation as the Board of Directors may deem necessary, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. Other officers elected by the Board of Directors shall have such powers and

 

 

 

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perform such duties as may be assigned to such officers by or pursuant to authorization of the Board of Directors or by the Chief Executive Officer.

Section 4.04.           Other Officers. The Board of Directors may authorize the Corporation to elect or appoint other officers, including Vice Presidents, Assistant Treasurers, Assistant Secretaries and other officers of the Corporation, each of whom shall serve at the pleasure of the Corporation. Officers elected or appointed by the Corporation shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned to them by the Corporation.

Section 4.05.           Removal And Resignation; Vacancies. Any officer may be removed for or without cause at any time by the Board of Directors. Any officer may resign at any time by delivering a written notice of resignation, signed by such officer, to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary. Unless otherwise specified therein, such resignation shall take effect upon delivery. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation by death, resignation, removal or otherwise, shall be filled by or pursuant to authorization of the Board of Directors.

Section 4.06.           Authority And Duties Of Officers. The officers of the Corporation shall have such authority and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be specified in these By-Laws, except that in any event each officer shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be required by law.

Article V

Capital Stock

Section 5.01.      Certificates Of Stock, Uncertificated Shares. The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the stock of the Corporation shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until each such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Notwithstanding the adoption of such a resolution by the Board of Directors, every holder of stock in the Corporation represented by certificates and upon request every holder of uncertificated shares shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of, the Corporation, by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, and by the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary of the Corporation or an Assistant Secretary, representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. Such certificate shall be in such form as the Board of Directors may determine, to the extent consistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation and these By-Laws.

Section 5.02.      Signatures; Facsimile. All signatures on the certificate referred to in Section 5.01 of these By-Laws may be in facsimile, engraved or printed form, to the extent permitted by law. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed, or whose facsimile, engraved or printed signature has been placed upon a certificate, shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

 

 

 

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Section 5.03.      Lost, Stolen Or Destroyed Certificates. The Board of Directors may direct that a new certificate be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon delivery to the Corporation of an affidavit of the owner or owners of such certificate, setting forth such allegation. The Corporation may require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his or her legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of any such new certificate.

Section 5.04.      Transfer Of Stock. Upon surrender to the Corporation or the transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate for shares, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, the Corporation shall issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books. Within a reasonable time after the transfer of uncertificated stock, the Corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to the laws of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and these By-Laws, the Board of Directors may prescribe such additional rules and regulations as it may deem appropriate relating to the issue, transfer and registration of shares of the Corporation.

Section 5.05.      Record Date. In order to determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which shall not be more than sixty (60) nor fewer than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting, provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights of the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

Section 5.06.      Registered Stockholders. Prior to due surrender of a certificate for registration of transfer, the Corporation may treat the registered owner as the person exclusively entitled to receive dividends and other distributions, to vote, to receive notice and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of the owner of the shares represented by such certificate, and the Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or legal claim to or interest in such shares on the part of any other person, whether or not the Corporation shall have notice of such claim or interests. Whenever any transfer of shares shall be made for collateral security, and not absolutely, it shall be so expressed in the entry of the transfer if, when the certificates are presented to the Corporation for transfer or uncertificated shares are requested to be transferred, both the transferor and transferee request the Corporation to do so.

 

 

 

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Section 5.07.      Transfer Agent And Registrar. The Board of Directors may appoint one (1) or more transfer agents and one (1) or more registrars, and may require all certificates representing shares to bear the signature of any such transfer agents or registrars.

Article VI

Indemnification

Section 6.01.      Nature Of Indemnity. The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (a “Proceeding”), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was or has agreed to become a Director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a Director or officer, of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, and may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to such a Proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was or has agreed to become an employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as an employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection with such Proceeding and any appeal therefrom, if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful; except that in the case of a Proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor (1) such indemnification shall be limited to expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in the defense or settlement of such Proceeding, and (2) no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper. Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to Section 6.05 of these By-Laws, the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify a Director or officer of the Corporation in respect of a Proceeding (or part thereof) instituted by such Director or officer, unless such Proceeding (or part thereof) has been authorized by the Board of Directors. The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

Section 6.02.      Successful Defense. To the extent that a present or former Director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any Proceeding referred to in Section 6.01 hereof or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein,

 

 

 

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such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.

Section 6.03.      Determination That Indemnification Is Proper. Any indemnification of a present or former Director or officer of the Corporation under Section 6.01 hereof (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation unless a determination is made that indemnification of the present or former Director or officer is not proper in the circumstances because he or she has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 6.01 hereof. Any indemnification of a present or former employee or agent of the Corporation under Section 6.01 hereof (unless ordered by a court) may be made by the Corporation upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 6.01 hereof. Any such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a Director or officer at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the Directors who are not parties to such Proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such Directors designated by majority vote of such Directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such Directors, or if such Directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.

Section 6.04.      Advance Payment Of Expenses. Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a Director or officer in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative Proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former Directors and officers or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Corporation deems appropriate. The Board of Directors may authorize the Corporation’s counsel to represent such Director, officer, employee or agent in any Proceeding, whether or not the Corporation is a party to such Proceeding.

Section 6.05.      Procedure For Indemnification Of Directors And Officers. Any indemnification of a Director or officer of the Corporation under Sections 6.01 and 6.02, or advance of costs, charges and expenses to a Director or officer under Section 6.04 of these By-Laws, shall be made promptly, and in any event within thirty (30) days, upon the written request of the Director or officer. If a determination by the Corporation that the Director or officer is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article VI is required, and the Corporation fails to respond within thirty (30) days to a written request for indemnity, the Corporation shall be deemed to have approved such request. If the Corporation denies a written request for indemnity or advancement of expenses, in whole or in part, or if payment in full pursuant to such request is not made within thirty (30) days, the right to indemnification or advances as granted by this Article VI shall be enforceable by the Director or officer in any court of competent jurisdiction. Such person’s costs and expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing his or her right to indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such Proceeding shall also be indemnified by the Corporation. It shall be a defense to any such Proceeding (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for the advance of costs, charges and expenses under Section 6.04 of these By-Laws where the required undertaking, if any, has been received by the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standard of conduct set forth in Section 6.01 of these By-Laws, but the

 

 

 

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burden of proving such defense shall be on the Corporation. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, its independent legal counsel, and its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 6.01 of these By-Laws, nor the fact that there has been an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, its independent legal counsel, and its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

Section 6.06.      Survival; Preservation Of Other Rights. The foregoing indemnification provisions shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each Director, officer, employee and agent who serves in any such capacity at any time while these provisions as well as the relevant provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law are in effect and any repeal or modification thereof shall not affect any right or obligation then existing with respect to any state of facts then or previously existing or any Proceeding previously or thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part upon any such state of facts. Such a “contract right” may not be modified retroactively without the consent of such Director, officer, employee or agent. The indemnification provided by this Article VI shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested Directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

Section 6.07.      Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was or has agreed to become a Director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a Director or officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person or on such person’s behalf in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of this Article VI.

Section 6.08.      Severability. If this Article VI or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each Director or officer and may indemnify each employee or agent of the Corporation as to costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement with respect to a Proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article VI that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

 

 

 

17

 

 

 



 

 

Article VII

Offices

Section 7.01.    Initial Registered Office. The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware shall be located at Corporation Trust Center, 1209 N. Orange Street in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle.

Section 7.02.      Other Offices. The Corporation may maintain offices or places of business at such other locations within or without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as the business of the Corporation may require.

Article VIII

General Provisions

Section 8.01.      Dividends. Subject to any applicable provisions of law and the Certificate of Incorporation, dividends upon the shares of the Corporation may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors and any such dividend may be paid in cash, property, or shares of the Corporation’s capital stock. A member of the Board of Directors, or a member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other person as to matters the Director reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation, as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities and/or net profits of the Corporation, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of surplus or other funds from which dividends might properly be declared and paid.

Section 8.02.      Execution Of Instruments. The Board of Directors may authorize, or provide for the authorization of, officers, employees or agents to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name and on behalf of the Corporation. Any such authorization must be in writing or by electronic transmission and may be general or limited to specific contracts or instruments.

Section 8.03.      Voting As Stockholder. Unless otherwise determined by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President or any Senior Vice President shall have full power and authority on behalf of the Corporation to attend any meeting of stockholders of any corporation in which the Corporation may hold stock, and to act, vote (or execute proxies to vote) and exercise in person or by proxy all other rights, powers and privileges incident to the ownership of such stock. Such officers acting on behalf of the Corporation shall have full power and authority to execute any instrument expressing consent to or dissent from any action of any such corporation without a meeting. The Board of Directors may by resolution from time to time confer such power and authority upon any other person or persons.

 

 

 

18

 

 

 



 

 

Article IX

Amendment Of By-Laws

These By-Laws may be amended, altered or repealed by resolution adopted by a majority of the Board of Directors at any special or regular meeting of the Board of Directors if, in the case of such special meeting only, notice of such amendment, alteration or repeal is contained in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting or at any regular or special meeting of the stockholders upon the affirmative vote of the holders of three-fourths (3/4) or more of the combined voting power of the outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors if, in the case of such special meeting only, notice of such amendment, alteration or repeal is contained in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.

Article X

Construction

In the event of any conflict between the provisions of these By-Laws as in effect from time to time and the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation as in effect from time to time, the provisions of such Certificate of Incorporation shall be controlling.

 

 

 

 

19

 

 

 

 

 

EX-5.1 5 ampincentives8-ex51_1003.htm

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

October 3, 2005

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, NE

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Re:

Ameriprise Financial, Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to the Ameriprise Financial 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan

 

Dear Commissioners:

 

I am the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Ameriprise Financial, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Registrant"), and I have represented the Registrant in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), relating to the registration of an aggregate of 37,900,000 shares of the Registrant’s common stock, par value $.01 per share ("Common Shares"), which may be issued under the Ameriprise Financial 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan (the "Plan").

 

In connection with this letter, I or members of my staff have examined the originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction of the Registration Statement, the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-Laws, and such other corporate documents, records, certificates, agreements, or other instruments relating to the Registrant and have made such other inquiries, all as I deemed necessary to enable me to render the opinions expressed below.

 

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to qualifications contained herein, I am of the opinion that the Common Shares have been duly and validly authorized for issuance and, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Plan, at prices in excess of the par value thereof, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

I am admitted to the practice of law only in the States of New York and California and do not purport to be expert an in the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and United States federal law.

 

I hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and the reference to me in Item 5 of the Registration Statement without admitting that I am an “expert” within the meaning of the Act, or other rules and regulations of the Commission issued thereunder with respect to any part of the Registration Statement, including this exhibit.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ John C. Junek

 

----------------------------

 

John C. Junek

 

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EX-23.1 6 ampincentives8-ex231_1003.htm

Exhibit 23.1

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the registration of 37,900,000 shares of its common stock for the Ameriprise Financial 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. of our reports dated June 3, 2005, except for Note 1, as to which the date is August 1, 2005, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. included in its Form 10, Amendment No. 3, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota

October 3, 2005

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

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-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----