| ● | any other preferences and rights and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions of the preferences and rights of the series. |
Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
The BCA authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors and officers to corporations and their shareholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors’ fiduciary duties. This provision of the BCA is substantially similar to the corresponding provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Our second amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended, include a provision that eliminates the personal liability of directors for monetary damages for actions taken as a director to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
Our second amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended, and our amended and restated bylaws, as amended, provide that we must indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by applicable law. We are also expressly authorized, under our amended and restated bylaws, as amended, to advance certain expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements and court costs) to our directors and officers and carry directors’ and officers’ insurance providing indemnification for our directors, officers and certain employees for some liabilities. We believe that these indemnification provisions and insurance are useful to attract and retain qualified directors and executive officers. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable.
The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our second amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended, and our amended and restated bylaws, as amended, may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duties. These provisions may also have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our shareholders. In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
Anti-takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of Our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Our Amended and Restated Bylaws
Several provisions of our second amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended, and amended and restated bylaws, as amended, which are summarized below, may have anti-takeover effects. These provisions are intended to avoid costly takeover battles, lessen our vulnerability to a hostile change of control and enhance the ability of our board of directors to maximize shareholder value in connection with any unsolicited offer to acquire us. However, these anti-takeover provisions, which are summarized below, could also discourage, delay or prevent (1) the merger or acquisition of us by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise that a shareholder may consider in its best interest and (2) the removal of incumbent officers and directors.
Election and Removal of Directors
Our second amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended, prohibit cumulative voting in the election of directors, and our amended and restated bylaws, as amended, require parties other than our board of directors to give advance written notice of nominations for the election of directors. These provisions may discourage, delay or prevent the removal of incumbent officers and directors.
Limited Actions by Shareholders
Our second amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended, and our amended and restated bylaws, as amended, provide that any action required or permitted to be taken by our shareholders must be effected at an annual or special meeting of shareholders or by the unanimous written consent of our shareholders. Our second amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended, and our amended and restated bylaws, as amended, provide that, subject to certain exceptions, our Chairman, President, or Secretary at the direction of the board of directors or our Secretary at the