Exhibit 3.2
AMENDED & RESTATED
BYLAWS
OF
MINDSPEED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||||
ARTICLE 1 CORPORATE OFFICES | 1 | |||||||
1.1 | Registered Office | 1 | ||||||
1.2 | Other Offices | 1 | ||||||
ARTICLE 2 MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS | 1 | |||||||
2.1 | Place of Meetings | 1 | ||||||
2.2 | Annual Meeting | 1 | ||||||
2.3 | Special Meeting | 1 | ||||||
2.4 | Notice of Stockholders’ Meetings | 2 | ||||||
2.5 | Manner of Giving Notice; Affidavit of Notice | 2 | ||||||
2.6 | Validation of Meetings; Waiver of Notice; Consent | 2 | ||||||
2.7 | Quorum | 3 | ||||||
2.8 | Adjourned Meeting; Notice | 3 | ||||||
2.9 | Voting | 3 | ||||||
2.10 | Stockholder Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting | 4 | ||||||
2.11 | Record Date for Stockholder Notice, Voting or Giving Consents | 4 | ||||||
2.12 | Proxies | 5 | ||||||
2.13 | List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote | 6 | ||||||
2.14 | Conduct of Meeting of Stockholders | 6 | ||||||
ARTICLE 3 DIRECTORS | 7 | |||||||
3.1 | Powers | 7 | ||||||
3.2 | Number of Directors | 7 | ||||||
3.3 | Election and Term of Office of Directors | 7 | ||||||
3.4 | Resignation, Removal and Vacancies | 7 | ||||||
3.5 | Place of Meetings; Meetings by Telephone | 8 | ||||||
3.6 | Regular Meetings | 8 | ||||||
3.7 | Special Meetings; Notice | 8 | ||||||
3.8 | Quorum | 9 | ||||||
3.9 | Waiver of Notice | 9 | ||||||
3.10 | Board Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting | 9 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page | ||||||||
ARTICLE 4 COMMITTEES | 10 | |||||||
4.1 | Committees of Directors | 10 | ||||||
4.2 | Meetings and Action of Committees | 10 | ||||||
ARTICLE 5 OFFICERS | 11 | |||||||
5.1 | Officers | 11 | ||||||
5.2 | Election of Officers | 11 | ||||||
5.3 | Subordinate Officers | 11 | ||||||
5.4 | Removal and Resignation of Officers; Vacancies in Offices | 11 | ||||||
5.5 | Powers and Duties of Officers Generally | 12 | ||||||
5.6 | Duties of the Chairperson of the Board | 12 | ||||||
5.7 | Duties of the Chief Executive Officer | 12 | ||||||
5.8 | Duties of the President | 13 | ||||||
5.9 | Duties of the Vice Presidents | 13 | ||||||
5.10 | Duties of the Secretary | 13 | ||||||
5.11 | Duties of the Chief Financial Officer | 13 | ||||||
5.12 | Duties of the Assistant Secretary | 14 | ||||||
5.13 | Duties of the Assistant Treasurer | 14 | ||||||
5.14 | Salaries | 14 | ||||||
ARTICLE 6 INDEMNIFICATION | 14 | |||||||
ARTICLE 7 RECORDS AND REPORTS | 19 | |||||||
7.1 | Maintenance and Inspection of Share Register and Other Books and Records | 19 | ||||||
ARTICLE 8 STOCK AND STOCK CERTIFICATES | 19 | |||||||
8.1 | Stock Certificates; Partly Paid Shares | 19 | ||||||
8.2 | Special Designation on Certificates | 20 | ||||||
8.3 | Lost Certificates | 20 | ||||||
8.4 | Transfer of Stock; Legal Restrictions on Transfer | 20 | ||||||
8.5 | Stock Transfer Agreements | 20 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page | ||||||||
8.6 | Registered Stockholders | 21 | ||||||
ARTICLE 9 GENERAL MATTERS | 21 | |||||||
9.1 | Checks; Drafts; Evidences of Indebtedness | 21 | ||||||
9.2 | Corporate Contracts and Instruments; How Executed | 21 | ||||||
9.3 | Fiscal Year | 21 | ||||||
9.4 | Seal | 21 | ||||||
9.5 | Representation of Shares of Other Corporations | 21 | ||||||
9.6 | Construction; Definitions | 22 | ||||||
ARTICLE 10 AMENDMENTS | 22 | |||||||
10.1 | Amendments | 22 |
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AMENDED & RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
MINDSPEED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
ARTICLE 1
CORPORATE OFFICES
1.1 | Registered Office |
The address of the registered office of the corporation in the State of Delaware shall be at the location originally designated upon formation of the corporation or at a location otherwise designated by the Board of Directors. The corporation’s registered agent shall be the agent originally designated upon formation of the corporation or an agent otherwise designated by the Board of Directors.
1.2 | Other Offices |
The corporation may also have offices in such other places, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors or principal executive officer from time to time may designate or the business of the corporation may from time to time require.
ARTICLE 2
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
2.1 | Place of Meetings |
Meetings of stockholders shall be held at any place within or outside the State of Delaware designated by the Board of Directors. In the absence of any such designation, stockholders’ meetings shall be held at the principal executive office of the corporation. Alternatively, the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but shall instead be held solely by means of remote communication as and to the extent permitted under Section 211 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
2.2 | Annual Meeting |
The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held on such date and at such time as may be designated by the Board of Directors. At the meeting, stockholders shall elect directors and transact any other business as may be properly brought before the meeting.
2.3 | Special Meeting |
A special meeting of the stockholders may be called only by the chairperson of the Board of Directors, the president or the secretary, or a resolution approved by the Board of Directors. In addition, a special meeting may be called in accordance with these Bylaws by one or more stockholders holding shares in the aggregate entitled to cast not less than 10% of the votes at that meeting. If a special meeting is called by any person or persons other than the Board of Directors, the chairperson of the Board of Directors, the president or the secretary, then the
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request shall be in writing, specifying the time of such meeting and the specific nature and scope of the business proposed to be transacted, and shall be delivered personally or sent by registered mail to the chairperson of the Board of Directors or the president or the secretary. The officer receiving the request shall cause notice to be promptly given to the stockholders entitled to vote, in accordance with the provisions of Sections 2.4 and 2.5, that a meeting will be held at the time requested by the person or persons calling the meeting, so long as that time is not less than 35 nor more than 60 days after the receipt of the request. If the notice is not given within 10 days after receipt of the request, then the person or persons requesting the meeting may give the notice proposed by the stockholder(s) to the corporation in accordance with Sections 2.4 and 2.5. Nothing contained in this paragraph shall be construed as limiting, fixing or affecting the time when a meeting of stockholders called by action of the Board of Directors may be held.
2.4 | Notice of Stockholders’ Meetings |
Except as may be otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or required by law, all notices of meetings of the stockholders shall be in writing and shall be sent or otherwise given in accordance with Section 2.5 not fewer than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, except for any notice of a meeting to act on a plan of merger or consolidation or on the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the corporation’s property and assets (including its goodwill and corporate franchises), which shall be given not fewer than 20 nor more than 60 days in advance of such meeting. The notice shall specify the place (if any), date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communication (if any), by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.
2.5 | Manner of Giving Notice; Affidavit of Notice |
Written notice of any meeting of stockholders, if mailed, is given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at the address of such stockholder as it appears on the records of the corporation. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders under the General Corporation Law of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or otherwise may be given by a form of electronic transmission that satisfies the requirements of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
An affidavit of the secretary, an assistant secretary, the transfer agent or other agent of the corporation that the notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
2.6 | Validation of Meetings; Waiver of Notice; Consent |
Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a written waiver thereof signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting,
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except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting and does object, at the beginning of the meeting or upon arrival of such person, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission, unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation.
2.7 | Quorum |
The holders of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on the matter at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, except as otherwise provided by the General Corporation Law of Delaware or by the Certificate of Incorporation, provided, however, that where a separate vote by a class or series is required with respect to the matter, a majority of the outstanding shares of such class or series, present in person or represented by proxy, shall also be required for a quorum with respect to the matter. If, however, such quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, then the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present or represented. Once a share is represented for any purpose at a meeting other than solely to object to holding the meeting or transacting business, it shall be deemed present for the remainder of the meeting and any adjournment (unless a new record date is or must be set for the adjourned meeting), notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.
2.8 | Adjourned Meeting; Notice |
The chairperson of the meeting or the holders of a majority of the stock so represented may in his, her or their discretion adjourn the meeting from time to time, whether or not there is such a quorum. When a meeting is adjourned, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place (if any) thereof, and the means of remote communications (if any), by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. At the adjourned meeting the corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting.
2.9 | Voting |
The stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.11, subject to the provisions of Sections 217 and 218 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware (relating to voting rights of fiduciaries, pledgors and joint owners of stock and to voting trusts and other voting agreements).
Except as may be otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, (i) each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder, (ii) directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of
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the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors, and (iii) every matter other than the election of directors shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote on the matter that are present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and are voted for or against the matter.
2.10 | Stockholder Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting |
Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required by the General Corporation Law of Delaware to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of a corporation, or any action that may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted, provided, however, that an action by written consent to elect directors, unless such action is unanimous, may be in lieu of the holding of an annual meeting only if all the directorships to which directors could be elected at an annual meeting held at the effective time of such action are vacant and are filled by such action.
Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent, and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to in such consent unless written consents signed by the requisite number of stockholders required to take the action are delivered to the corporation within 60 days of the earliest dated consent delivered to the corporation in the manner required by this Section 2.10. Delivery to the corporation shall be by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, principal place of business or secretary or assistant secretary, if any, and, except for deliveries to the corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware, may be by electronic transmission to the extent permitted by Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, including to the extent and in the manner provided by resolution of the Board of Directors. Any such consent shall be inserted in the minute book as if it were the minutes of a meeting of the stockholders.
Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders to take action were delivered to the corporation.
2.11 | Record Date for Stockholder Notice, Voting or Giving Consents |
In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, entitled to express consent to an action in writing without a meeting, entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or 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. Such record date shall not (i) precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, (ii) be more than 60 or
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fewer than 10 days before the date of such meeting, (iii) be more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date for an action by written consent in lieu of a meeting is adopted by the Board of Directors, or (iv) be more than 60 days prior to any other action.
If the Board of Directors does not so fix a record date:
(i) The record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice 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;
(ii) The record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the corporation; or
(iii) The record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
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.
2.12 | Proxies |
Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by a written proxy or by an electronic transmission indicating such proxy, signed by the stockholder and filed with the secretary of the corporation, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy with respect to a specific meeting shall entitle the proxy holder to vote at any reconvened meeting following adjournment of such meeting, but shall not be valid after the final adjournment of such meeting. A proxy shall be deemed signed if the stockholder’s name is placed on the proxy or the electronic transmission indicating such proxy (whether by manual signature, typewriting, telegraphic transmission or otherwise) by the stockholder or the stockholder’s attorney-in-fact. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section 212(e) of the General Corporation Law of Delaware. A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic transmission to the intended holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service or similar agent duly authorized by the intended proxy holder to receive such transmission, provided that any such telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission must set forth (or be accompanied by 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 the
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writing or transmission by which a stockholder has authorized another person to act as proxy for such stockholder may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or 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.
2.13 | List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote |
The officer of the corporation who has charge of the stock ledger of the corporation shall prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Nothing contained in this Section 2.13 shall require the corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the corporation. In the event that the corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to the identity of the stockholders entitled to examine the list or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
2.14 | Conduct of Meeting of Stockholders |
The chairperson of the Board of Directors, or in the chairperson’s absence, the chief executive officer, or in the absence of the chief executive officer, the secretary, or in the absence of the secretary, any executive vice president, or in the absence of an executive vice president, a chairperson chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall act as chairperson of the meetings of the stockholders. The Board of Directors shall be entitled to make such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of stockholders as it shall deem necessary, appropriate or convenient. Subject to such rules and regulations of the Board of Directors, if any, the chairperson of the meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairperson, are necessary, appropriate or convenient for the proper conduct of the meeting, including establishing an agenda or order of business for the meeting; rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; limitations on participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies and such other persons as the chairperson shall permit; restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants; and regulation of the opening and closing of the polls for balloting and matters which are to be voted on by ballot.
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ARTICLE 3
DIRECTORS
3.1 | Powers |
Subject to the provisions of General Corporation Law of Delaware and any limitations in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws relating to actions required to be approved by the stockholders or by the outstanding shares, the business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed and all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.
3.2 | Number of Directors |
The authorized number of directors of the corporation shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. In addition, subject to any agreement among stockholders, the stockholders of the corporation shall have the power to reduce the authorized number of directors by vote at a meeting or by written consent.
3.3 | Election and Term of Office of Directors |
Except as provided in Section 3.4 in connection with filling vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors, directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of stockholders and shall hold office until the next annual meeting and until the successor of such director is elected and qualified or until the death, resignation or removal of such director.
3.4 | Resignation, Removal and Vacancies |
Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the corporation. Any such resignation shall be effective upon delivery, unless the notice of resignation specifies a future effective date, and unless otherwise specified, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be a precondition to its effectiveness. A resignation that is conditioned upon the director failing to receive a specified vote for reelection as a director may provide that it is irrevocable. When one or more directors so resign and the resignation is effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have the power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office as provided in Section 3.3.
Unless otherwise restricted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, by the Certification of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the stockholders may enter into voting agreements that restrict their rights to remove directors or that obligate them to vote to remove directors only as permitted by such agreement.
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No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director before that director’s term of office expires.
Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws:
(i) Vacancies for any reason and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, or by the stockholders at an annual meeting or at a special meeting called by the Board of Directors for that purpose; or
(ii) Whenever the holders of any class or series of stock are entitled to elect one or more directors by the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, vacancies and newly created directorships of such class or series may, unless otherwise set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation, be filled by a majority of the directors elected by such class or series then in office, by a sole remaining director so elected, or by the stockholders of such class or series at an annual meeting or at a special meeting called by the Board of Directors for that purpose (or by written consent of such stockholders in lieu of such a meeting).
Directors appointed to fill vacancies and newly created directorships shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until the successor of such director is elected and qualified or until the death, resignation or removal of such director.
3.5 | Place of Meetings; Meetings by Telephone |
The Board of Directors may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or outside the State of Delaware. Members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee meeting, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
3.6 | Regular Meetings |
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held on such dates and at such times and places as the Board of Directors may determine by resolution. Such regularly scheduled meetings may be held without further notice to the directors.
3.7 | Special Meetings; Notice |
Special meetings of the Board of Directors for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the chairperson of the Board of Directors, the president, the secretary, or any two directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held upon four days’ notice by mail or 24 hours’ notice delivered personally, by telephone (including a voice messaging system or other system or technology designed to record and communicate messages), or by other form of electronic transmission. Any oral notice given personally or by telephone may be communicated either to the director or to a person at the office of the director who the person giving the notice has reason to believe will promptly communicate it to the director. A notice, or waiver of notice, need not specify the purpose of any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors.
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3.8 | Quorum |
A majority of the total number of directors fixed or determined by or in the manner provided in these Bylaws, or, if one or more vacancies exist on the Board of Directors, a majority of the total number of directors then serving on the Board of Directors, provided, however, that such number may be not less than one-third of the total authorized number of directors fixed or determined by or in the manner provided in these Bylaws, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, except as may otherwise be specifically provided by the General Corporation Law of Delaware or the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. The vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors unless the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws shall require a vote of a greater number. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, then the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present. A director of the corporation who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, or at a meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors, at which any action is taken shall be deemed to have assented to the action taken unless (i) the director objects at the beginning of the meeting, or promptly upon the director’s arrival, to holding the meeting or transacting any business at such meeting, (ii) the director’s dissent or abstention from the action taken is entered in the minutes of the meeting, or (iii) the director delivers written notice of the director’s dissent or abstention to the presiding officer of the meeting before its adjournment. The right of dissent or abstention is not available to a director who votes in favor of the action taken.
3.9 | Waiver of Notice |
Whenever notice is required to be given to a director under any provision of the General Corporation Law of Delaware or of the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Without limiting the manner by which such waiver may otherwise be delivered effectively, such waiver shall be deemed delivered if made by electronic transmission. Attendance of a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting and does object, at the beginning of the meeting or upon the director’s arrival, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the directors, or members of a committee of directors, need be specified in any written waiver of notice unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
3.10 | Board Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting |
Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic
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transmission and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or 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.
ARTICLE 4
COMMITTEES
4.1 | Committees of Directors |
The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, with each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In case of the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members 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. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors or in these Bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation, subject to the limitations contained in the General Corporate Law of Delaware. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or the resolution of the Board of Directors designating the committee, a committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one or more members of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee.
4.2 | Meetings and Action of Committees |
Meetings and actions of committees shall be governed by, and held and taken in accordance with, the provisions of Article 3, including, without limitation, Section 3.5 (Place of Meetings; Meetings by Telephone), Section 3.6 (Regular Meetings), Section 3.7 (Special Meetings; Notice), Section 3.8 (Quorum), Section 3.9 (Waiver of Notice) and Section 3.10 (Board Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting), with such changes in the context of those Bylaws as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the Board of Directors and its members, provided, however, that the time of regular meetings of committees may also be called by resolution of the Board of Directors and that notice of special meetings of committees shall also be given to all alternate members, who shall have the right to attend all meetings of the committee. Unless the Board of Directors adopts rules for the governance of a committee, then each committee may adopt its own governance rules, provided that such rules shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
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ARTICLE 5
OFFICERS
5.1 | Officers |
The officers of the corporation shall be a president and/or chief executive officer, and a secretary. The corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, a chairperson of the Board of Directors, a chief financial officer, a treasurer, one or more vice presidents, assistant vice presidents, assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers, and any such other officers as may be appointed by the Board of Directors or in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. Each officer shall hold office until such officer’s successor is elected and qualified or until such officer’s earlier resignation or removal.
5.2 | Election of Officers |
The officers of the corporation, except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3, shall be appointed by the Board of Directors.
5.3 | Subordinate Officers |
The Board of Directors may appoint, or empower the chief executive officer, the president or another officer to appoint or remove, such other officers and agents as the business of the corporation may require, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as are provided in these Bylaws or as the Board of Directors (or, if so empowered, the chief executive officer, the president or another officer) may from time to time determine.
5.4 | Removal and Resignation of Officers; Vacancies in Offices |
Any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors or by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board of Directors.
Any officer may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in the notice, provided that the Board of Directors (or if so empowered pursuant to Section 5.3, the chief executive officer, the president or another officer) may treat a resignation given with a future effective date as an immediate resignation. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights (if any) of the corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.
Any vacancy occurring in any office of the corporation may be filled by the Board of Directors (or if so empowered pursuant to Section 5.3, the chief executive officer, the president or another officer).
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5.5 | Powers and Duties of Officers Generally |
The officers of the corporation shall have such powers and duties in the management of the corporation as shall be stated in these Bylaws or in a resolution of the Board of Directors that are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and, to the extent not so stated, as generally pertain to their respective offices and as are necessary to conduct customary management and operation of the corporation, subject to the control of the Board of Directors. A secretary or such other officer appointed to do so by the Board of Directors shall have the duty to record the proceedings of the meetings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and any committees in a book to be kept for that purpose.
5.6 | Duties of the Chairperson of the Board |
The chairperson of the Board of Directors, if one is elected, shall, if present, preside at meetings of the Board of Directors and exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Board of Directors or as may be prescribed by these Bylaws. The chairperson shall not be considered an officer of the corporation, unless so designated by the Board of Directors.
5.7 | Duties of the Chief Executive Officer |
Subject to the control of the Board of Directors and such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the Board of Directors, the powers and duties of the chief executive officer of the corporation are:
(i) To act as the general manager and, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, to have general supervision, direction and control of the business and affairs of the corporation;
(ii) To preside at all meetings of the stockholders and, in the absence or nonexistence of a chairperson of the Board of Directors or a chair otherwise designated by the Board of Directors at a meeting, at all meetings of the Board of Directors; and
(iii) To affix the signature of the corporation to all deeds, conveyances, mortgages, guarantees, leases, obligations, bonds, certificates and other papers and instruments in writing that have been authorized by the Board of Directors; to sign certificates for shares of stock of the corporation; and, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, to have general charge of the property of the corporation and to supervise and direct all officers, agents and employees of the corporation.
The president shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation unless the Board of Directors shall designate another officer to be the chief executive officer. If there is no president, and the Board of Directors has not designated any other officer to be the chief executive officer, then the chairperson of the Board of Directors shall be the chief executive officer.
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5.8 | Duties of the President |
Subject to the supervisory powers of the chief executive officer, if there is such an officer and the president is not such officer, and subject to the control of the Board of Directors, the president shall have general supervision, direction and control of the business and the subordinate officers of the corporation. The president shall have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the office of president of a corporation, including signing authority similar to the chief executive officer, and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws. If no president is appointed, the chief executive officer shall have the power and authority conferred to the president under these Bylaws.
5.9 | Duties of the Vice Presidents |
In the absence or disability of the president, the vice presidents (if any) in order of their rank as fixed by the Board of Directors or, if not ranked, a vice president designated by the Board of Directors, shall perform all the duties of the president, and when so acting shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions upon, the president. The vice presidents shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed for them respectively by the Board of Directors, these Bylaws, the chief executive officer or the president.
5.10 | Duties of the Secretary |
The secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, a book of minutes or record of proceedings of all meetings and actions of directors, committees of directors and stockholders.
The secretary may give, or cause to be given, notice of meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors required to be given by law or by these Bylaws. He or she shall keep the seal of the corporation (if any) in safe custody and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, these Bylaws, the chief executive officer or the president.
5.11 | Duties of the Chief Financial Officer |
The chief financial officer shall be the principal financial officer, and, unless such duty is conferred to another officer by the Board of Directors, the chief accounting officer, of the corporation. The chief financial officer shall have general direction of and supervision over the financial and, if applicable, accounting affairs of the corporation. The chief financial officer shall render to the chief executive officer and the Board of Directors, at regular meetings of the Board of Directors, or whenever they may require it, an account of the financial condition of the corporation. The chief financial officer shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, these Bylaws, the chief executive officer or the president.
The chief financial officer shall also be the treasurer of the corporation unless otherwise designated by the Board of Directors.
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5.12 | Duties of the Assistant Secretary |
The assistant secretary or, if there is more than one, the assistant secretaries, in the order determined by the Board of Directors (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their election), shall, in the absence of the secretary or in the event of the inability or refusal of such officer to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the secretary and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, these Bylaws, the chief executive officer or the president.
5.13 | Duties of the Assistant Treasurer |
The assistant treasurer or, if there is more than one, the assistant treasurers, in the order determined by the Board of Directors (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their election), shall, in the absence of the treasurer or in the event of the inability or refusal of such officer to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the treasurer and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, these Bylaws, the chief executive officer or the president.
5.14 | Salaries |
The salaries of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors or by any committee or officer to which or whom, as the case may be, the Board of Directors has delegated such authority. No officer shall be disqualified from receiving such salary by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director of the corporation.
ARTICLE 6
INDEMNIFICATION
6.1 | Indemnification of Directors and Officers (Other Than Those by or in the Right of the Corporation) |
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, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the corporation or any of its majority-owned subsidiaries, or, while serving as a director or officer of the corporation or any of its majority-owned subsidiaries, is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent (except in each of the foregoing situations to the extent any agreement, arrangement or understanding of agency contains provisions that supersede or abrogate indemnification under this bylaw) of another corporation or of any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or 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
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person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.
6.2 | Indemnification of Directors and Officers (Proceedings by or in the Right of the Corporation) |
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 or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the corporation or any of its majority-owned subsidiaries, or, while serving as a director or officer of the corporation or any of its majority-owned subsidiaries, is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent (except in each of the foregoing situations to the extent any agreement, arrangement or understanding of agency contains provisions that supersede or abrogate indemnification under this bylaw) of another corporation or of any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that 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 Court of Chancery of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit 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 Court of Chancery of Delaware or such other court shall deem proper.
6.3 | Indemnification of Employees and Agents |
The corporation shall have the power, to the maximum extent and in the manner permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, to indemnify each of its and its majority-owned subsidiaries’ employees and agents (other than directors and officers) against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding, arising by reason of the fact that such person is or was an employee or agent of the corporation or any of its majority-owned subsidiaries. For purposes of this bylaw, an “employee” or “agent” of the corporation or any of its majority-owned subsidiaries (other than a director or officer) includes any person: (i) who is or was an employee or agent of the corporation or any of its majority-owned subsidiaries; (ii) who is or was serving at the request of the corporation as an employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise; or (iii) who was an employee or agent of a corporation which was a predecessor corporation of the corporation or of another enterprise at the request of such predecessor corporation.
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6.4 | Indemnification Against Expenses in Successful Actions |
To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or any of its majority-owned subsidiaries has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of these bylaws, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of such person in connection therewith. If any such person is not wholly successful in any such action, suit or proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters therein, the corporation shall indemnify such person against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of such person in connection with each claim, issue or matter that is successfully resolved. For purposes of this paragraph and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.
6.5 | Indemnification Against Expenses as a Witness |
Notwithstanding any other provision of this bylaw, to the extent any person is a witness in, but not a party to, any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or any of its majority-owned subsidiaries, or, while serving as a director or officer of the corporation or any of its majority-owned subsidiaries, is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent (except in each of the foregoing situations to the extent any agreement, arrangement or understanding of agency contains provisions that supersede or abrogate indemnification under this bylaw) of another corporation or of any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, such person shall be indemnified against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of such person in connection therewith.
6.6 | Authorization of Indemnification |
Indemnification under Sections 6.1 and 6.2 shall be made only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director or officer is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 6.1 and 6.2. Such determination shall be made by Independent Counsel selected by the claimant in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to the claimant. Any claimant shall be entitled to be indemnified against the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such claimant in cooperating with the person or entity making the determination of entitlement to indemnification (irrespective of the determination as to the claimant’s entitlement to indemnification) and, to the extent successful, in connection with any litigation or arbitration with respect to such claim or the enforcement thereof.
6.7 | Presumption of Right to Indemnification |
If a director or officer requests pursuant to Section 6.6 that the determination as to whether the claimant is entitled to indemnification be made by or at the direction of the Board of
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Directors (in the case of a claimant who is a present or former director or officer of the corporation) or by an officer of the corporation authorized to make such determination (in the case of a claimant who is not a present or former director or officer of the corporation), the claimant shall be conclusively presumed to have been determined pursuant to Section 6.6 to be entitled to indemnification if: (i) in the case of a claimant who is a present or former director or officer of the Corporation: (a)(1) within fifteen days after the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors following receipt by the corporation of the request therefor, the Board of Directors shall not have resolved by majority vote of the Disinterested Directors to submit such determination to: (x) Independent Counsel for its determination; or (y) the stockholders for their determination at the next annual meeting, or any special meeting that may be held earlier, after such receipt; and (2) within sixty days after receipt by the corporation of the request therefor (or within ninety days after such receipt if the Board of Directors in good faith determines that additional time is required by it for the determination and, prior to expiration of such sixty-day period, notifies the claimant thereof), the Board of Directors shall not have made the determination by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors; or (b) after a resolution of the Board of Directors, timely made pursuant to clause (a)(1)(y) above, to submit the determination to the stockholders, the stockholders meeting at which the determination is to be made shall not have been held on or before the date prescribed (or on or before a later date, not to exceed sixty days beyond the original date, to which such meeting may have been postponed or adjourned on good cause by the Board of Directors acting in good faith); or (ii) in the case of a claimant who is not a present or former director or officer of the corporation, within sixty days after receipt by the corporation of the request therefor (or within ninety days after such receipt if an officer of the corporation authorized to make such determination in good faith determines that additional time is required for the determination and, prior to expiration of such sixty-day period, notifies the claimant thereof), an officer of the corporation authorized to make such determination shall not have made the determination; provided, however, that this sentence shall not apply if the claimant has misstated or failed to state a material fact in connection with his or her request for indemnification. Such presumed determination that a claimant is entitled to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made: (A) at the end of the sixty-day or ninety-day period (as the case may be) referred to in clause (i)(a)(2) or (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence; or (B) if the Board of Directors has resolved on a timely basis to submit the determination to the stockholders, on the last date within the period prescribed by law for holding such stockholders meeting (or a postponement or adjournment thereof as permitted above).
6.8 | Advancement of Expenses |
Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding to a present or former director or officer of the corporation, promptly after receipt of a request therefor stating in reasonable detail the expenses incurred, and to a person who is not a present or former director or officer of the corporation as authorized by the chief executive officer of the corporation or such other officer of the corporation as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors; provided that in each case the corporation shall have received an undertaking by or on behalf of the present or former 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 bylaw.
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6.9 | Procedures for Submissions of Claims |
The Board of Directors shall establish reasonable procedures for the submission of claims for indemnification pursuant to these bylaws, determination of the entitlement of any person thereto and review of any such determination. Such procedures shall be set forth in an appendix to these bylaws and shall be deemed for all purposes to be a part hereof.
6.10 | Certain Definitions. |
For purposes of this Article 6:
(i) “Disinterested Director” means a director of the corporation who is not and was not a party to an action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by a director, officer, employee or agent.
(ii) “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that: (a) is experienced in matters of corporation law; (b) neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent the corporation, the director, officer, employee or agent claiming indemnification or any other party to the action, suit or proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification under this bylaw, in any matter material to the corporation, the claimant or any such other party; and (c) would not, under applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, have a conflict of interest in representing either the corporation or such director, officer, employee or agent in an action to determine the corporation’s or such person’s rights under this bylaw.
6.11 | Nonexclusivity of Rights |
The indemnification and advancement of expenses herein provided, or granted pursuant hereto, shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any of those indemnified or eligible for advancement of expenses may be entitled under any 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 or officer of the corporation or any of its majority-owned subsidiaries and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person. In the event the corporation has an indemnification agreement with a director or officer of the corporation and the terms of such agreement are in conflict with the provisions of this bylaw or the procedures established under Section 6.9, then, to the extent permitted by law, the provisions of such indemnification agreement shall control. Notwithstanding any amendment, alteration or repeal of this bylaw or any of its provisions, or of any of the procedures established by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 6.9, any person who is or was a director or officer of the corporation or any of its majority-owned subsidiaries or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of any partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be entitled to indemnification in accordance with the provisions hereof and thereof with respect to any action taken or omitted prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal except to the extent otherwise required by law.
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6.12 | Limitation on Indemnification |
No indemnification shall be payable pursuant to Article 6 with respect to any action against the corporation commenced by an officer, director, employee or agent unless the Board of Directors shall have authorized the commencement thereof or unless and to the extent that this bylaw or the procedures established pursuant to Section 6.9 shall specifically provide for indemnification of expenses relating to the enforcement of rights under this bylaw and such procedures.
ARTICLE 7
RECORDS AND REPORTS
7.1 | Maintenance and Inspection of Share Register and Other Books and Records |
The corporation shall keep a record of its stockholders, listing their names and addresses and the number and class of shares held by each stockholder, a copy of these Bylaws as amended to date, accounting books and other records. Stockholders shall have the right to inspect the corporation’s stock ledger and its other books and records only to the extent required, and in accordance with, the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
ARTICLE 8
STOCK AND STOCK CERTIFICATES
8.1 | Stock Certificates; Partly Paid Shares |
No shares of the corporation shall be issued unless authorized by the Board of Directors.
The shares of the corporation shall be represented by certificates unless the Board of Directors provides by resolution that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the corporation. Every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the corporation by, the chairperson or vice-chairperson of the Board of Directors, or the president or any vice-president, and by the treasurer or an assistant treasurer, or the secretary or an assistant secretary, of the corporation representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. The Board of Directors may in its discretion appoint responsible banks or trust companies from time to time to act as transfer agents and registrars of the stock of the corporation, and, when such appointments shall have been made, no stock certificate thereafter issued shall be valid until countersigned by one of such transfer agents and registered by one of such registrars. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has 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 such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
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8.2 | Special Designation on Certificates |
The corporation may restrict the transfer, the registration of transfer and the ownership of its securities. The corporation may place legends or notations on stock certificates or notices to uncertificated stockholders indicating the restrictions, which shall be binding to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
8.3 | Lost Certificates |
Except as provided in this Section 8.3, no new certificate for shares shall be issued to replace a previously issued certificate unless the latter is surrendered to the corporation and cancelled at the same time. The corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it that is alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or the legal representative of such owner, to give the corporation a bond or an indemnity sufficient to protect 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 such new certificate or uncertificated shares.
8.4 | Transfer of Stock; Legal Restrictions on Transfer |
Subject to the other provisions of this Article 8, including those relating to uncertificated shares and restrictions on transfer, upon surrender to the corporation or the transfer agent of the corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper 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 in its books.
Except to the extent that the corporation has obtained an opinion of counsel acceptable to the corporation that transfer restrictions are not required under applicable securities laws, has otherwise satisfied itself that such transfer restrictions are not required or has provided for another acceptable form of legend, all certificates representing shares of the corporation shall bear such legends as may be required by applicable law, including without limitation a legend that reads substantially as follows:
“THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAW AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT EFFECTIVE REGISTRATIONS THEREUNDER OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO THE CORPORATION AND ITS COUNSEL, THAT SUCH REGISTRATIONS ARE NOT REQUIRED.”
8.5 | Stock Transfer Agreements |
The corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes of stock of the corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the corporation of any one or more classes or series owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
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8.6 | Registered Stockholders |
The corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and to vote as such owner, shall be entitled to hold liable for calls and assessments the person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of another person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE 9
GENERAL MATTERS
9.1 | Checks; Drafts; Evidences of Indebtedness |
From time to time, the Board of Directors shall determine by resolution which person or persons may sign or endorse all checks, drafts, other orders for payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness that are issued in the name of or payable to the corporation, and only the persons so authorized shall sign or endorse those instruments. The Board of Directors may delegate to an office the authority to make such determinations and authorizations.
9.2 | Corporate Contracts and Instruments; How Executed |
The Board of Directors, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the corporation; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Unless such power is so authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors, provided in these Bylaws, or within the agency power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.
9.3 | Fiscal Year |
The fiscal year of the corporation shall be the same as the calendar year unless otherwise fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
9.4 | Seal |
The corporation may, but is not required to, adopt a corporate seal, which shall be adopted and which may be altered by the Board of Directors, and may use the same by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.
9.5 | Representation of Shares of Other Corporations |
The chairperson of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president, any vice president, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, the secretary or any assistant secretary of the
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corporation, or any other person authorized by the Board of Directors or the president or a vice president, is authorized to vote, represent and exercise on behalf of the corporation all rights incident to any and all shares of any other corporation or corporations standing in the name of the corporation. The authority granted herein may be exercised either by such person directly or by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by such person having the authority.
9.6 | Construction; Definitions |
Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction and definitions in the General Corporation Law of Delaware shall govern the construction of these Bylaws. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the singular number includes the plural, the plural number includes the singular, the term “including” means “including but not limited to,” and the term “person” includes a corporation, limited liability company, trust partnership or other entity and a natural person.
ARTICLE 10
AMENDMENTS
10.1 | Amendments |
Subject to any voting requirements set forth in the corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, the original or other Bylaws of the corporation may be adopted, amended or repealed by the stockholders entitled to vote or, if so provided in the corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors. The fact that such power has been so conferred upon the Board of Directors shall not divest the stockholders of the power, nor limit their power to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws of the corporation in accordance with these Bylaws and applicable law.
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APPENDIX
Procedures for Submission and
Determination of Claims for Indemnification
Pursuant to Article 6 of the Bylaws.
SECTION 1. Purpose.The Procedures for Submission and Determination of Claims for Indemnification Pursuant to Article 6 of the Bylaws (these “Procedures”) are to implement the provisions of Article 6 of the Bylaws of the corporation (the “Bylaws”) in compliance with the requirement Section 6.9 thereof.
SECTION 2. Definitions. For purposes of these Procedures:
(A) All terms that are defined in Article 6 of the Bylaws shall have the meanings ascribed to them therein when used in these Procedures unless otherwise defined herein.
(B) “Expenses” include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, or being or preparing to be a witness in, a Proceeding; and shall also include such retainers as counsel may reasonably require in advance of undertaking the representation of an Indemnitee in a Proceeding.
(C) “Indemnitee” includes any present or former director or officer of the corporation who was or is, or is threatened to be made, a witness in or a party to any Proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or any of its majority-owned subsidiaries or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent (except in each of the foregoing situations to the extent any agreement, arrangement or understanding of agency contains provisions that supersede or abrogate indemnification under Article 6 of the Bylaws) of another corporation or of any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise
(D) “Proceeding” includes any action, suit, arbitration, alternative dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing or any other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, except one initiated by an Indemnitee unless the Board of Directors shall have authorized the commencement thereof.
SECTION 3. Submission and Determination of Claims.
(A) To obtain indemnification or advancement of Expenses under Article 6 of the Bylaws, an Indemnitee shall submit to the Secretary of the corporation a written request therefor, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to permit a determination as to whether and what extent the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be. The Secretary shall, promptly upon receipt of a request for indemnification, advise the Board of Directors (if the Indemnitee is a present or former director or officer of the corporation) or the officer of the corporation authorized to make the determination as to whether an Indemnitee is
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entitled to indemnification (if the Indemnitee is not a present or former director or officer of the corporation) thereof in writing if a determination in accordance with Section 6.6 of the Bylaws is required.
(B) Upon written request by an Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 3(A) of these Procedures, a determination with respect to the Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto in the specific case, if required by the bylaws, shall be made in accordance with Section 6.6 of the Bylaws, and, if it is so determined that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to the Indemnitee shall be made within ten days after such determination. The Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination, with respect to the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination.
(C) If entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 6.6 of the Bylaws, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Indemnitee (unless the Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board of Directors, in which event the immediately preceding sentence shall apply), and the Indemnitee shall give written notice to the corporation advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected unless the Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board of Directors, in which event the immediately preceding sentence shall apply). In either event, the Indemnitee or the corporation, as the case may be, may, within seven days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the corporation or to the Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection. Such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 6.10 of the Bylaws, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. If such written objection is made, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty days after the next regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting following submission by the Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 3(A) of these Procedures, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the corporation or the Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or other court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the corporation or the Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the Court or by such other person as the Court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom an objection is favorably resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 6.6 of the Bylaws. The corporation shall pay any and all reasonable fees and expenses (including without limitation any advance retainers reasonably required by counsel) of Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with acting pursuant to Section 6.6 of the Bylaws, and the corporation shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses (including without limitation any advance retainers reasonably required by counsel) incident to the procedures of Section 6.6 of the Bylaws and this Section 3(C), regardless of the manner in which Independent Counsel was selected or appointed. Upon the delivery of its opinion pursuant to Article 6 of the Bylaws or, if earlier, the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 4(A)(3) of these Procedures, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).
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(D) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification under the bylaws, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall presume that an Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under the bylaws if the Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 3(A) of these Procedures, and the corporation shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.
SECTION 4. Review and Enforcement of Determination.
(A) In the event that: (1) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 6.8 of the Bylaws; (2) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Sections 6.4 or 6.5 of the Bylaws within ten days after receipt by the corporation of written request therefor; (3) a determination is made pursuant to Section 6.6 of the Bylaws that an Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under the Bylaws; (4) the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 6.6 of the Bylaws and such determination shall not have been made and delivered in a written opinion within ninety days after receipt by the corporation of the written request for indemnification; or (5) payment of indemnification is not made within ten days after a determination has been made pursuant to Section 6.6 of the Bylaws that an Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or within ten days after such determination is deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 6.7 of the Bylaws, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court of the State of Delaware, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, of the Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, the Indemnitee, at his or her option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within one year following the date on which the Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 4(A). The corporation shall not oppose the Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.
(B) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6.6 of the Bylaws that an Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 4 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and the Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. The corporation shall have the burden of proving in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 4 that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.
(C) If a determination shall have been made or deemed to have been made pursuant to Sections 6.6 or 6.7 of the Bylaws that an Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the corporation shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 4, absent: (1) a misstatement or omission of a material fact in connection with the Indemnitee’s request for indemnification; or (2) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.
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(D) The corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 4 that the procedures and presumptions of these Procedures are not valid, binding and enforceable, and shall stipulate in any such judicial proceeding or arbitration that the corporation is bound by all the provisions of these Procedures.
(E) In the event that an Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 4, seeks to enforce the Indemnitee’s rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, Article 6 of the Bylaws or these Procedures in a judicial proceeding or arbitration, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the corporation, and shall be indemnified by the corporation against, any and all expenses (of the types described in the definition of Expenses in Section 2 of these Procedures) actually and reasonably incurred in such judicial proceeding or arbitration, but only if the Indemnitee prevails therein. If it shall be determined in such judicial proceeding or arbitration that the Indemnitee is entitled to receive part but not all of the indemnification or advancement of Expenses sought, the expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such judicial proceeding or arbitration shall be appropriately prorated.
SECTION 5. Amendments.These Procedures may be amended at any time and from time to time in the same manner as any bylaw of the corporation in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation;provided,however, that notwithstanding any amendment, alteration or repeal of these Procedures or any provision hereof, any Indemnitee shall be entitled to utilize these Procedures with respect to any claim for indemnification arising out of any action taken or omitted prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal except to the extent otherwise required by law.
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