AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
VARONIS SYSTEMS, INC.
(a Delaware corporation)
As Effective February 3, 2022
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1.1: Annual Meetings. If required by applicable law, an annual meeting of stockholders shall be held for the election of directors at such date and time as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) shall each year fix. The meeting may be held either at a place within or without the State of Delaware as permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), or, as the Board in its sole discretion may determine, by means of remote communication in the manner authorized by the DGCL. Any proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting.
Section 1.2: Special Meetings.
(a) Unless otherwise required by law or by the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, as amended and restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Chairperson of the Board, the Lead Independent Director (as defined below), the Chief Executive Officer, the President or by a majority of the “Whole Board,” which shall mean the total number of authorized directors, whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships, but special meetings may not be called by any other person or persons.
(b) If the special meeting of stockholders is to be called at the request of any such enumerated person or persons other than by a majority of the Whole Board at a meeting, then such person or persons shall request such meeting by delivering a written request to call such meeting to each member of the Board, and the Board shall then determine the time and date of such special meeting, which shall be held not more than one hundred twenty (120) nor less than thirty-five (35) days after the written request to call such special meeting was delivered to each member of the Board. The special meeting may be held either at a place, within or without the State of Delaware, or, as the Board in its sole discretion may determine, by means of remote communication in the manner authorized by the DGCL. Only those matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting (or any supplement thereto) may be considered or acted upon at a special meeting of stockholders.
Section 1.3: Notice of Meetings. Notice of all meetings of stockholders shall be given in writing or by electronic transmission in the manner provided by law stating the date, time and place, if any, of the meeting, 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 meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise required by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, such notice shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting.
Section 1.4: Adjournments. When any meeting is convened, the chairperson of the meeting shall have the power to adjourn the meeting to another time, date and place (if any). Any meeting of stockholders may adjourn from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time, date 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; provided, however, that if the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, then a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled special or annual meeting of stockholders before it is to be held, regardless of whether any notice or public disclosure with respect to any such meeting has been sent or made pursuant to Section 1.3 hereof or otherwise.
Section 1.5: Quorum. At each meeting of stockholders, the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, unless otherwise required by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairperson of the meeting may adjourn the meeting. In any such adjourned meeting, the holders of any shares of stock entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, unless otherwise required by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation. Shares of the Corporation’s 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 are 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 other corporation to vote any shares of the Corporation’s stock held by it in a fiduciary capacity and to count such shares for purposes of determining a quorum. The stockholders present at a duly constituted meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.
Section 1.6: Organization; Conduct of Meetings.
(a) Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by such person as the Board may designate, or, in the absence of such a person, the Chief Executive Officer or, in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chairperson of the Board or the most senior officer of the Corporation present, in that order of priority. Such person shall be chairperson of the meeting and, subject to Section 1.11 hereof, shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seems to him or her to be in order. The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in such person’s absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
(b) The Board may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of any meeting of the stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the chairperson of any meeting of the stockholders 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 appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the chairperson of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) the determination of when the polls shall open and close for any given matter to be voted on at the meeting; (iii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iv) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairperson of the meeting shall determine; (v) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (vi) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants.
Section 1.7: Voting; Proxies.
(a) Unless otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, and subject to the provisions of Section 1.8 of these Amended and Restated Bylaws, each stockholder shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share of stock held by such stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question.
(b) Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted upon after three years from its date, unless such proxy provides for a longer period. Such a proxy may be prepared, transmitted and delivered in any manner permitted by applicable law in accordance with the procedures established for the meeting, including as described in Sections 1.7(e) and 1.7(f) below.
(c) The Board, in its discretion, or the officer of the Corporation presiding at a meeting of the stockholders, in such officer's discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.
(d) Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. Unless otherwise provided by applicable law, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Amended and Restated Bylaws, every matter other than the election of directors shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of stock entitled to vote thereon that are present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting, regardless of whether such holders actually vote their shares on such matter or abstain from doing so.
(e) Without limiting the manner in which a stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy, the following shall constitute a valid means by which a stockholder may grant such authority:
(i) A stockholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy. Execution may be accomplished by the stockholder or such stockholder's authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such writing or causing such person's signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means, including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature.
(ii) A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a facsimile telecommunication (fax) or other means of electronic transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission, provided that any such fax or other means of electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the fax or other means of electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder. If it is determined that such fax or other means of electronic transmission are valid, the inspectors or, if there are no inspectors, such other persons making that determination shall specify the information on which they relied.
(f) Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission authorizing another person or persons to act as proxy for a 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, however, that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.
Section 1.8: Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.
(a) 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, unless otherwise required by law, the Board may fix, in advance, a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the 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. To the fullest extent permitted by law, a determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or 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 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 adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Section 1.9: List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote; Stock Ledger.
(a) The officer of the Corporation who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of the 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. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (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 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.
(b) The stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list required by Section 1.9(a) or the books of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of the stockholders.
Section 1.10: Inspectors of Elections.
(a) Applicability. Unless otherwise required by the Certificate of Incorporation or required by the DGCL, the following provisions of this Section 1.10 shall apply only if and when the Corporation has a class of voting stock that is: (i) listed on a national securities exchange; (ii) authorized for quotation on an automated interdealer quotation system of a registered national securities association; or (iii) held of record by more than two thousand (2,000) stockholders. In all other cases, observance of the provisions of this Section 1.10 shall be optional, and at the discretion of the Board.
(b) Appointment. In advance of any meeting of the stockholders, the Board, by resolution, the Chairperson of the Board or the President shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. One or more other persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of the stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation.
(c) Inspector’s Oath. Each inspector of election, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of inspector, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability.
(d) Duties of Inspectors. At a meeting of stockholders, the inspectors of election shall (i) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each share, (ii) determine the shares represented at a meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period of time a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors, and (v) certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting, their count of all votes and ballots and any other facts as may be required by applicable law. The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance of the duties of the inspectors.
(e) Opening and Closing of Polls. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced by the chairperson of the meeting at the meeting. No ballot, proxies or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes thereto, shall be accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the Court of Chancery upon application by a stockholder shall determine otherwise.
(f) Determinations. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots, the inspectors shall be limited to an examination of the proxies, any envelopes submitted with those proxies, any information provided in connection with proxies in accordance with Section 211(e) or Section 212(c)(2) of the DGCL, or any information provided pursuant to Section 211(a)(2)(B)(i) or (iii) of the DGCL, ballots and the regular books and records of the Corporation, except that the inspectors may consider other reliable information for the limited purpose of reconciling (or invalidating) proxies and ballots submitted by or on behalf of banks, brokers, their nominees or similar persons 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 inspectors consider other reliable information for the limited purpose permitted herein, the inspectors at the time they make their certification of their determinations pursuant to this Section 1.10 shall specify the precise information considered by them, including the person or persons from whom they obtained the information, when the information was obtained, the means by which the information was obtained and the basis for the inspectors’ belief that such information is accurate and reliable.
Section 1.11: Notice of Stockholder Business
(a) Only such business (other than nominations for election to the Board, which must comply with the provisions of Section 1.12) may be transacted at an annual meeting of Stockholders as is either (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board (or any duly authorized committee thereof), (b) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board (or any duly authorized committee thereof), or (c) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by any stockholder of the Corporation (i) who is a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 1.11 and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at such annual meeting and (ii) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.11.
(b) In addition to any other applicable requirements, for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation.
(c) To be timely, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must be delivered to or be mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business (Eastern Time) on the ninetieth (90th) day and not earlier than the close of business (Eastern Time) on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of Stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is called for a date that is more than thirty (30) days before or seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder shall be timely only if delivered to or mailed and received at
the principal executive offices of the Corporation (a) not earlier than the close of business (Eastern Time) on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and (b) not later than the later of the close of business (Eastern Time) on the ninetieth (90th) days prior to such annual meeting and the close of business (Eastern Time) on the date (10) days following the day on which such public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting is first made. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting, or the public disclosure of such an adjournment or postponement, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder's notice as described above.
(d) To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth the following information:
(1) as to each matter such stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the proposed text of any proposal regarding such business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, if such business includes a proposal to amend these Amended and Restated Bylaws, the text of the proposed amendment), and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, and
(2) as to the stockholder giving notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf such proposal is being made:
(A) the name and address of such person;
(B) the class or series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially or of record (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) by such person and any affiliates or associates of such person, except that such person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation as to which such person or any of its affiliates or associates has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future;
(C) the name of each nominee holder of shares of stock of the Corporation (if any) owned beneficially but not of record by such person or any affiliates or associates of such person, and the number of such shares of stock of the Corporation held by each such nominee holder;
(D) whether and the extent to which any derivative security (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(c) under the Exchange Act) constituting a “call equivalent position” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(b) under the Exchange Act), swap, option, warrant, stock-borrowing arrangement short interest, hedge or profit interest or other transaction has been entered into by or on behalf of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, with respect to stock of the Corporation (any such instrument, a “Synthetic Equity Position”);
(E) whether and the extent to which such Synthetic Equity Position has been made by or on behalf of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, the effect or intent of any of the foregoing being to mitigate loss to, or to manage risk or benefit of stock price changes for, such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, or to increase or decrease the voting power or pecuniary or economic interest of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, with respect to stock of the Corporation;
(F) any performance-related fee (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder or beneficial owners, directly or indirectly, is entitled to receive that is based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation or any Synthetic Equity Position;
(G) any rights to dividends or distributions on the shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation;
(H) any material pending or threatened legal proceeding in which such stockholder is a party or material participant involving the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any affiliate of the Corporation (the information in Section 1.11(d)(2)(A)-(H), the “Stockholder Information”);
(I) a description of all agreements, arrangements or understandings (whether written or oral) between or among such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with or relating to the Corporation or the proposal, including any material interest in, or anticipated benefit from the proposal to such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person;
(J) a representation that the stockholder giving notice is a stockholder of record of stock of the Corporation at the time of the giving of notice provided by Section 1.11 of these Amended and Restated Bylaws and is entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person (or by such stockholder’s qualified representative (as defined below)) or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such business before the meeting;
(K) an acknowledgement that if such stockholder giving the notice (or such stockholder’s qualified representative) does not appear at such meeting (including virtually in the case of a meeting held solely by means of remote communication) to present the proposed business the Corporation need not present such proposed business for a vote at such meeting, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation;
(L) a representation as to whether or not the stockholder giving the notice or any beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the notice is given intends (or is part of a group that intends) to (1) deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to carry the proposal (an affirmative statement of such intent being a “Solicitation Notice”) or (2) otherwise engage in a solicitation (within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the Exchange Act) with respect to the proposal, and if so, the name of each participant (as defined in Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in such solicitation;
(M) such written consent of the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the notice is given, to the public disclosure of information provided to the Corporation pursuant to this Section 1.11; and
(N) any other information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies by such person with respect to the proposed business to be brought by such person before the annual meeting pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(e) A stockholder providing notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 1.11 shall be true and correct as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of such annual meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to or mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of such annual meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). If the stockholder making a proposal pursuant to this Section 1.11, or the beneficial owner on whose behalf any such proposal is made, has provided the Corporation with a Solicitation Notice, such stockholder or beneficial owner must, in the case of a proposal, have delivered a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to carry any such proposal and must have included in such materials the Solicitation Notice. If no Solicitation Notice relating thereto has been timely provided pursuant to this Section 1.11, the stockholder or beneficial owner proposing such business or nomination must not have solicited a number of proxies sufficient to have required the delivery of such a Solicitation Notice under this Section 1.11. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.11, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder giving the notice required by this Section 1.11 (or such stockholder’s qualified representative) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a proposed item of business, such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation.
(f) No business shall be conducted at the annual meeting of stockholders except business brought before the annual meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.11. If the chairman of an annual meeting determines that business was not properly brought before the annual meeting in accordance with the foregoing procedures, the chairman shall declare to the meeting that the business was not properly brought before the meeting and such business shall not be discussed or transacted.
(g) Nothing contained in this Section 1.11 shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation's proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act (or any successor provision of law).
(h) For purposes of these Amended and Restated Bylaws, (1) “public disclosure” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and (2) “qualified representative” shall mean (1) a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of the stockholder giving the notice required by this Section 1.11 or Section 1.12 of these Amended and Restated Bylaws or (2) a person authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder (or a reliable reproduction or electronic transmission of such a writing) delivered by such stockholder to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation prior to the making of any nomination or proposal at a stockholder meeting stating that such person is authorized to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders, which writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, must be produced at least 24 hours prior to the meeting of stockholders.
Section 1.12: Notice of Nomination of Directors
(a) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the following procedures shall be eligible for election as directors of the Corporation, except as may be otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation with respect to the right of holders of preferred stock of the Corporation to nominate and elect a specified number of directors in certain circumstances. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at any annual meeting of Stockholders, or at any special meeting of Stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors, (i) by or at the direction of the Board (or any duly authorized committee thereof) or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation (A) who is a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 1.12 and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at such annual meeting or special meeting and (B) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.12.
(b) In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination to be made by a stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation.
(c) To be timely, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must be delivered to or be mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation:
(1) in the case of an annual meeting of stockholders, not later than the close of business (Eastern Time) on the ninetieth (90th) day and earlier than the close of business (Eastern Time) on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of Stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is called for a date that is more than thirty (30) days before or more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder shall be timely only if delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (a) not earlier than the close of business (Eastern Time) on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and (b) not later than the later of the close of business (Eastern Time) on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the close of business (Eastern Time) on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting is first made;
(2) in the case of a special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors, (a) not earlier than the close of business (Eastern Time) on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and (b) not later than the later of the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the close of business (Eastern Time) on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of the special meeting was first made.
In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or a special meeting called for the purpose of electing directors, or the public announcement of such an adjournment or postponement, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder's notice as described above.
(d) To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth the following information:
(1) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director:
(A) the name, age, business address and residence address of such person;
(B) the principal occupation or employment of such person;
(C) the class or series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially or of record (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by such person and any affiliates or associates of such person;
(D) the name of each nominee holder of shares of stock of the Corporation (if any) owned beneficially but not of record by such person or any affiliates or associates of such person, and the number of such shares of stock of the Corporation held by each such nominee holder;
(E) whether and the extent to which any Synthetic Equity Position has been entered into by or on behalf of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, with respect to stock of the Corporation;
(F) whether and the extent to which any such Synthetic Equity Position has been made by or on behalf of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, the effect or intent of any of the foregoing being to mitigate loss to, or to manage risk or benefit of stock price changes for, such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, or to increase or decrease the voting power or pecuniary or economic interest of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, with respect to stock of the Corporation;
(G) such person’s written representation and agreement that such person (i) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question, to the extent that such agreement, arrangement, understanding, commitment or assurance (a) could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law or with policies and guidelines of the Corporation applicable to all directors or (b) has not been disclosed to the Corporation prior to or concurrently with the stockholder’s submission of the nomination, (ii) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any
person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director of the Corporation that has not been disclosed to the Corporation in such representation and agreement and (iii) in such person’s individual capacity, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with, all applicable publicly disclosed confidentiality, corporate governance, conflict of interest, Regulation FD, code of conduct and ethics, and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation;
(H) a completed written questionnaire (in the form provided by the Corporation) with respect to the background, qualifications, stock ownership and independence of such candidate for nomination; and
(I) any other information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;
(2) as to the stockholder giving the notice, and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made:
(A) the Stockholder Information (as defined in Section 1.11);
(B) a description of all agreements, arrangements, or understandings (whether written or oral) between such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, and any proposed nominee, or any affiliates or associates of such proposed nominee;
(C) a description of all agreements, arrangements, or understandings (whether written or oral) between such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, and any other person or persons (including their names) pursuant to which the nomination(s) are being made by such person, or otherwise relating to the Corporation or their ownership of capital stock of the Corporation;
(D) any material interest of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, in such nomination, including any anticipated benefit therefrom to such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person;
(E) a representation that the stockholder giving notice is a stockholder of record of stock of the Corporation at the time of the giving of notice provided by Section 1.12 of these Amended and Restated Bylaws and is entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person (or by such stockholder’s qualified representative) or by proxy at the annual meeting or special meeting to nominate the persons named in its notice;
(F) an acknowledgement that if the stockholder giving the notice (or such stockholder’s qualified representative) does not appear at such meeting (including virtually in the case of a meeting held solely by means of remote communication) to present the stockholder’s proposed nominee(s) for election, the Corporation need not present the such nominee(s) for election, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation;
(G) a representation as to whether or not the stockholder giving the notice (or the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the notice is given) intends (or is part of a group that intends) to (1) deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of a sufficient number of the Corporation’s voting shares to elect such nominee(s) (an affirmative statement of such intent being a “Nominee Solicitation Notice”) or (2) otherwise engage in a solicitation (within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the Exchange Act) with respect to the nomination, and if so, the name of each participant (as defined in Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in such solicitation; and
(H) any other information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(3) such notice must be accompanied by a written consent of each proposed nominee to being named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected.
(e) A stockholder providing notice of any nomination proposed to be made at an annual meeting or special meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 1.12 shall be true and correct as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of such annual meeting or special meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to or mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of such annual meeting or special meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). If the stockholder, or the beneficial owner on whose behalf any such nomination is made, has provided the Corporation
with a Nominee Solicitation Notice, such stockholder or beneficial owner must have delivered a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of sixty seven percent (67%) of the Corporation’s voting shares, and must have included in such materials the Nominee Solicitation Notice. If no Solicitation Notice relating thereto has been timely provided pursuant to this Section 1.12, the stockholder or beneficial owner proposing such business or nomination must not have solicited a number of proxies sufficient to have required the delivery of such a Nominee Solicitation Notice under this Section 1.12. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.12, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder giving the notice required by this Section 1.12 (or such stockholder’s qualified representative) does not appear at the meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination, such nomination shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation.
(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.12, unless otherwise required by law, if any stockholder giving notice provided by this Section 1.12 (or the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the notice is given) (i) provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act and (ii) subsequently fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) and Rule 14a-19(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act, then the Corporation shall disregard any proxies or votes solicited for any of such stockholder’s nominee(s). Upon request by the Corporation, if any such stockholder or beneficial owner provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act, such stockholder or beneficial owner shall deliver to the Corporation, no later than five (5) business days prior to the applicable meeting, reasonable evidence that it has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act.
(g) No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.12. If the chairperson of the meeting determines that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedures, the chairperson shall declare to the meeting that the nomination was defective and such defective nomination shall be disregarded.
ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 2.1: Number; Qualifications. The Board shall consist of such minimum and maximum number of members as set out in the Certificate of Incorporation. The number of directors, unless otherwise required by law or provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of a majority of the Whole Board. No decrease in the authorized number of directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. Directors need not be stockholders of the Corporation.
Section 2.2: Election; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies.
(a) The Board shall initially consist of the person or persons then in office at the time these Amended and Restated Bylaws become effective. Directors shall be divided, with respect to the time for which they severally hold office, into three classes.
(b) Vacancies in the Board shall be filled in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.
(c) Any director of the Corporation may resign from the Board or any committee thereof at any time, by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chairperson of the Board, if there be one, the President or the Secretary of the Corporation and, in the case of a committee, to the chairperson of such committee, if there be one. Such resignation shall take effect at the time therein specified or, if no time is specified, immediately; and, unless otherwise specified in such notice, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Except as otherwise required by applicable law and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of shares of preferred stock then outstanding, any director or the entire Board may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause, and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation then entitled to vote at an election of directors voting together as a single class. Any director serving on a committee of the Board may be removed from such committee at any time by the Board.
Section 2.3: Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board and any committee thereof may be held at such places, within or without the State of Delaware, and without notice at such time and at such place as may from time to time be determined by the Board or such committee, respectively.
Section 2.4: Special Meetings of the Board and of Committees Thereof.
(a) Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairperson of the Board, the Lead Independent Director, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a majority of the members of the Board then in office and may be held at any time, date or place, within or without the State of Delaware, as the person or persons calling the meeting shall fix.
(b) Special meetings of any committee of the Board may be called by the chairperson of such committee, if there be one, the President, or the majority of the directors serving on such committee.
(c) Notice of the time, date and place of any special meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof shall be given by the person or persons calling the meeting to all directors (or, in the case of a committee, to each member of such committee) at least forty-eight (48) hours before the meeting if the notice is mailed, or at least twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting if such notice is given by telephone, fax or electronic means, or on such shorter notice as the person or persons calling such meeting may deem necessary or appropriate in the circumstances.
Section 2.5: Remote Meetings Permitted. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Amended and Restated Bylaws, members of the Board or any committee of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to conference telephone or other communications equipment shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 2.6: Quorum; Vote Required for Action. Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or quotation system on which the Corporation’s securities are listed or quoted for trading, at all meetings of the Board or any committee thereof, a majority of the entire Board or a majority of the directors constituting such committee, as the case may be, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the directors or committee members present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board or such committee, as applicable. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board or any committee thereof, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting of the time and place of the adjourned meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
Section 2.7: Organization.
(a) Meetings of the Board shall be presided over by the Chairperson of the Board, or, in the absence of the Chairperson of the Board, the Lead Independent Director, or in the absence of the Lead Independent Director, the Chief Executive Officer (if a director), or, in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, the President (if a director), or, in the absence of the President, by a chairperson chosen by the Board at the meeting.
(b) The Secretary of the Company shall act as secretary at each meeting of the Board and of each committee thereof, but in such person’s absence an Assistant Secretary shall perform the duties of secretary at such meeting; and in the absence from any such meeting of the Secretary and all the Assistant Secretaries, the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the members of each committee of the Board may appoint any person to act as secretary of any meeting of such committee and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation may, but need not if such committee so elects, serve in such capacity.
Section 2.8: Written Action by Directors. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Amended and Restated Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or such committee, respectively, in the minute books of the Corporation. 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.
Section 2.9: Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Amended and Restated Bylaws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
Section 2.10: Compensation of Directors. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board or a stated salary for service as director, payable in cash or securities. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for service as committee members.
ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
Section 3.1: Committees.
(a) The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation.
(b) Each member of a committee must meet the requirements for membership, if any, imposed by applicable law and the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or quotation system on which the securities of the Corporation are listed or quoted for trading. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of any such committee. Subject to the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or quotation system on which the securities of the Corporation are listed or quoted for trading, in the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, and in the absence of a designation by the Board of an alternate member to replace the absent or disqualified member, the member or members thereof present at any meeting of such committee who are not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.
(c) Any committee, to the extent permitted by law and provided in the resolution establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (a) approving, adopting or recommending to the stockholders any action or matter (other than the elections or removal of members of the Board) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval or (b) adopting, amending or repealing any bylaw of the Corporation.
Section 3.2: Committee Rules.
(a) Unless the Board otherwise provides, each committee designated by the Board may make, alter and repeal rules for the conduct of its business not in conflict with the provisions of this Article III. In the absence of such rules each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board conducts its business pursuant to Article II of these Amended and Restated Bylaws.
(b) Unless a certain committee has determined otherwise, all matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present.
(c) Adequate provision shall be made for notice to members of a committee of all meetings of such committee. Action may be taken by any committee without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of such 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. Each committee shall keep regular minutes and report to the Board when required.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article III, the resolution of the Board establishing any committee of the Board and/or the charter of any such committee may establish requirements or procedures relating to the governance and/or operation of such committee that are different from, or in addition to, those set forth in these Amended and Restated Bylaws and, to the extent that there is any inconsistency between these Amended and Restated Bylaws and any such resolution or charter, the terms of such resolution or charter shall be controlling.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 4.1: Generally. The officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by the Board and shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board, in its discretion, also may choose a Chairperson of the Board (who must be a director) and one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers and other officers. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, unless otherwise prohibited by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Amended and Restated Bylaws. The officers of the Corporation need not be stockholders of the Corporation nor, except in the case of the Chairperson of the Board, need such officers be directors of the Corporation.
Section 4.2: Election. The Board, at its first meeting held after each annual meeting of Stockholders, shall elect the officers of the Corporation who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board; and each officer of the Corporation shall hold office until such officer's successor is elected and qualified, or until such officer's earlier death, resignation or removal. Any officer elected by the Board may be removed at any time by the Board. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board. The salaries of all officers of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board.
Section 4.3: Voting Securities Owned by the Corporation. Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President or any other officer authorized to do so by the Board and any such officer may, in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation may own securities and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed if present. The Board may, by resolution, from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.
Section 4.4: Chairperson of the Board. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.7, the Chairperson of the Board (which may also be referred to as the “Chairman of the Board” or “Chairwoman of the Board,” as applicable) shall have the power to preside at all meetings of the Board and shall have such other powers and duties as provided in these Amended and Restated Bylaws and as the Board may from time to time prescribe. Except where by law the signature of the President is required, the Chairman of the Board shall possess the same power as the President to sign all contracts, certificates and other instruments of the Corporation which may be authorized by the Board. During the absence or disability of the President, the Chairperson of the Board shall exercise all the powers and discharge all the duties of the President. The Chairperson of the Board shall also perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned by these Amended and Restated Bylaws or by the Board.
Section 4.5: Lead Independent Director. The Board may, in its discretion, elect a Lead Independent Director from among its members that are “Independent Directors” (as defined below). He or she shall preside at all meetings of the Board at which the Chairperson of the Board is not present (and where the President is not a director and cannot fulfill such position as set forth in Section 4.6 below) and shall exercise such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board or as prescribed by these Amended and Restated Bylaws. For purposes of these Amended and Restated Bylaws, “Independent Director” has the meaning ascribed to such term under the rules of The New York Stock Exchange or other stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s common stock is primarily traded.
Section 4.6: President. The President shall, subject to the control of the Board and, if there be one, the Chairperson of the Board, have general supervision of the business of the Corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The President shall execute all bonds, mortgages, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except that the other officers of the Corporation may sign and execute documents when so authorized by these Amended and Restated Bylaws, the Board or the President. In the absence or disability of the Chairperson of the Board, or if there be none, the President shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and, provided the President is also a director, the Board. The President shall also perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned to such officer by these Amended and Restated Bylaws or by the Board.
Section 4.7: Vice President. At the request of the President or in the President's absence or in the event of the President's inability or refusal to act (and if there be no Chairperson of the Board), the Vice President, or the Vice Presidents if there are more than one (in the order designated by the Board), shall perform 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. Each Vice President shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board from time to time may prescribe. If there be no Chairperson of the Board and no Vice President, the Board shall designate the officer of the Corporation who, in the absence of the President or in the event of the inability or refusal of the President to act, shall perform 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.
Section 4.8: Treasurer (and Assistant Treasurer).
(a) The Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper
vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the President and the Board, at its regular meetings, or when the Board so requires, an account of all transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.
(b) Assistant Treasurers, if there be any, shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board, the President, any Vice President, if there be one, or the Treasurer, and in the absence of the Treasurer or in the event of the Treasurer's inability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the Treasurer, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Treasurer.
Section 4.9: Secretary (and Assistant Secretary).
(a) The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings thereat in a book or books to be kept for that purpose; the Secretary shall also perform like duties for committees of the Board when required. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board, the Chairperson of the Board or the President, under whose supervision the Secretary shall be. If the Secretary shall be unable or shall refuse to cause to be given notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board, and if there be no Assistant Secretary, then either the Board or the President may choose another officer to cause such notice to be given. The Secretary shall have custody of the seal of the Corporation and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, if there be one, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by the signature of the Secretary or by the signature of any such Assistant Secretary. The Board may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest to the affixing by such officer's signature. The Secretary shall see that all books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by law to be kept or filed are properly kept or filed, as the case may be. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Assistant Secretary should be appointed by the Board and shall have the same duties and powers as the Secretary.
(b) Assistant Secretaries, if there be any, shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board, the President, any Vice President, if there be one, or the Secretary, and in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of the Secretary's inability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the Secretary, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Secretary.
Section 4.10: Delegation of Authority. The Board may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officers or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
Section 4.11: Other Officers. Such other officers as the Board may choose shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board. The Board may delegate to any other officer of the Corporation the power to choose such other officers and to prescribe their respective duties and powers.
Section 4.12: Removal. Any officer of the Corporation shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board; provided, that, if the Board has empowered the Chief Executive Officer to appoint any Vice Presidents of the Corporation, then such Vice Presidents may be removed by the Chief Executive Officer. Such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights of such officer, if any, with the Corporation.
ARTICLE V
STOCK
Section 5.1: Form of Certificates; Uncertificated Shares. The shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be represented by a certificate, unless and until the Board of the Corporation adopts a resolution permitting shares to be uncertificated. Notwithstanding the adoption of any such resolution providing for uncertificated shares, every holder of capital stock of the Corporation theretofore represented by certificates and, upon request, every holder of uncertificated shares, shall be entitled to have a certificate for shares of capital stock of the Corporation signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, (a) the Chairperson of the Board, the Vice Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Executive Vice President, and (b) the Chief Financial Officer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, certifying the number of shares owned by such stockholder in the Corporation.
Section 5.2: Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates. The Board may direct a new certificate or uncertificated shares be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issuance of a new certificate or uncertificated shares, the Board may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner's legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as the Board shall require and/or to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as
indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.
Section 5.3: Transfers. Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by applicable law and in these Amended and Restated Bylaws. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation, and in the case of certificated shares of stock, only by the person named in the certificate or by such person's attorney lawfully constituted in writing and upon the surrender of the certificate therefor, properly endorsed for transfer and payment of all necessary transfer taxes; or, in the case of uncertificated shares of stock, upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered holder of the shares or by such person's attorney lawfully constituted in writing, and upon payment of all necessary transfer taxes and compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form; provided, however, that such surrender and endorsement, compliance or payment of taxes shall not be required in any case in which the officers of the Corporation shall determine to waive such requirement. With respect to certificated shares of stock, every certificate exchanged, returned or surrendered to the Corporation shall be marked "Cancelled," with the date of cancellation, by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or the transfer agent thereof. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing from and to whom transferred.
Section 5.4: Record Owners. 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, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a 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 any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise required by law.
Section 5.5: Transfer and Registry Agents. The Corporation may from time to time maintain one or more transfer offices or agencies and registry offices or agencies at such place or places as may be determined from time to time by the Board.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 6.1: Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings other than Those by or in the Right of the Corporation. Subject to Section 6.3 of this Article VI, 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 is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, 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 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 such person’s 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 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 such person’s conduct was unlawful.
Section 6.2: Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings by or in the Right of the Corporation. Subject to Section 6.3 of this Article VI, 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 is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust 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; 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 the State 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 or such other court shall deem proper.
Section 6.3: Authorization of Indemnification. Any indemnification under this Article VI (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that
indemnification of the present or former director or officer is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 6.1 or Section 6.2 of this Article VI, as the case may be. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (i) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by a majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (iv) by the stockholders. Such determination shall be made, with respect to former directors and officers, by any person or persons having the authority to act on the matter on behalf of the Corporation. To the extent, however, that a present or former director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described above, 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 such person in connection therewith, without the necessity of authorization in the specific case.
Section 6.4: Good Faith Defined. For purposes of any determination under Section 6.3 of this Article VI, a person shall be deemed to have 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, or, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, to have had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful, if such person’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Corporation or another enterprise, or on information supplied to such person by the officers of the Corporation or another enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Corporation or another enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Corporation or another enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Corporation or another enterprise. The provisions of this Section 6.4 shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 6.1 or Section 6.2 of this Article VI, as the case may be.
Section 6.5: Indemnification by a Court. Notwithstanding any contrary determination in the specific case under Section 6.3 of this Article VI, and notwithstanding the absence of any determination thereunder, any director or officer may apply to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or any other court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware for indemnification to the extent otherwise permissible under Section 6.1 or Section 6.2 of this Article VI. The basis of such indemnification by a court shall be a determination by such court 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 Section 6.1 or Section 6.2 of this Article VI, as the case may be. Neither a contrary determination in the specific case under Section 6.3 of this Article VI nor the absence of any determination thereunder shall be a defense to such application or create a presumption that the director or officer seeking indemnification has not met any applicable standard of conduct. Notice of any application for indemnification pursuant to this Section 6.5 shall be given to the Corporation promptly upon the filing of such application. If successful, in whole or in part, the director or officer seeking indemnification shall also be entitled to be paid the reasonable expense of prosecuting such application.
Section 6.6: Expenses Payable in Advance. Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a director or officer in defending any 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 upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such 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 VI. 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.
Section 6.7: Nonexclusivity of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VI shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the Certificate of Incorporation, these Amended and Restated Bylaws, 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, it being the policy of the Corporation that indemnification of the persons specified in Section 6.1 and Section 6.2 of this Article VI shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law. The provisions of this Article VI shall not be deemed to preclude the indemnification of any person who is not specified in Section 6.1 or Section 6.2 of this Article VI but whom the Corporation has the power or obligation to indemnify under the provisions of the DGCL, or otherwise.
Section 6.8: Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, 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 in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article VI.
Section 6.9: Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Article VI, references to “the Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors or officers, so that any person who is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation, or is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article VI with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued. The term “another enterprise” as used in this Article VI shall mean any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which such person is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent. For purposes of this Article VI, references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director or officer with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Article VI.
Section 6.10: Survival of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VI shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
Section 6.11: Limitation on Indemnification for Initiated Proceedings. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article VI to the contrary, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification (which shall be governed by Section 6.5 of this Article VI), the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any director or officer (or his or her heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives) or advance expenses in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of the Corporation.
Section 6.12: Indemnification of Employees and Agents. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Corporation similar to those conferred in this Article VI to directors and officers of the Corporation.
ARTICLE VII
NOTICES
Section 7.1: Notice. Whenever written notice is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Amended and Restated Bylaws, to be given to any director, member of a committee or stockholder, such notice may be given by mail, addressed to such director, member of a committee or stockholder, at such person's address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Amended and Restated Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission if consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed to be revoked if (i) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices by the Corporation in accordance with such consent and (ii) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, that the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action. Notice given by electronic transmission, as described above, shall be deemed given: (i) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (ii) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (iii) if by a posting on an electronic network, together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and (iv) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. Notice to directors or committee members may be given personally or by fax or by means of electronic transmission.
Section 7.2: Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Amended and Restated Bylaws, to be given to any director, member of a committee or stockholder, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person or persons entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto. Attendance of a person at a meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall
constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where the person attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting 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 annual or special meeting of stockholders or 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 law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Amended and Restated Bylaws.
ARTICLE VIII
INTERESTED DIRECTORS
Section 8.1: Interested Directors. No contract or transaction between the Corporation and one or more of its members of the Board or officers, or between the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association or other organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are members of the Board or officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board or committee thereof that authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because any such director’s or officer’s vote is counted for such purpose, if: (a) the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board or the committee, and the Board or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; or (b) the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or (c) the contract or transaction is fair to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the Board, a committee thereof, or the stockholders.
Section 8.2: Quorum. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1: Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board.
Section 9.2: Seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words "Corporate Seal, Delaware". The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
Section 9.3: Form of Records . Any records maintained by the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account and minute books, may be kept on or by means of, or be in the form of, diskettes, compact discs or any other information storage device or method, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time. The Corporation shall so convert any records so kept upon the request of any person entitled to inspect such records pursuant to any provision of the DGCL.
Section 9.4: Reliance Upon Books and Records . A member of the Board, or a member of any committee designated by the Board shall, in the performance of such person’s duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board, or by any other person as to matters the member 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.
Section 9.5: Certificate of Incorporation Governs . In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and these Amended and Restated Bylaws, the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation shall govern and prevail.
Section 9.6: Severability . If any provision of these Amended and Restated Bylaws shall be held to be invalid, illegal, unenforceable or in conflict with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, then such provision shall nonetheless be enforced to the maximum extent possible consistent with such holding and the remaining provisions of these Amended and Restated Bylaws (including without limitation, all portions of any section of these Amended and Restated Bylaws containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal, unenforceable or in conflict with the Certificate of Incorporation, that are not themselves invalid, illegal, unenforceable or in conflict with the Certificate of Incorporation) shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 9.7: Forum. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation's stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director, officer or employee of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation or Amended and Restated Bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director, officer or employee of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the State of Delaware; provided, however, that, in the event that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks jurisdiction over any such action or proceeding, the sole and exclusive forum for such action or proceeding shall be another state or federal court located within the State of Delaware. Failure to enforce the foregoing provisions would cause the Corporation irreparable harm and the Corporation shall be entitled to equitable relief, including injunctive relief and specific performance, to enforce the foregoing provisions. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 9.7.
Section 9.8: Registered Office. The registered office of the Corporation shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware.
Section 9.9: Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such other places, both within and without the State of Delaware, as the Board may from time to time determine.
Section 9.10: Dividends. Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the requirements of the DGCL and the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, if any, may be declared by the Board at any annual or special meeting of the Board (or any action by written consent in lieu thereof in accordance with Section 2.8), and may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the Corporation's capital stock. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board from time to time, in its absolute discretion, deems proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for purchasing any of the shares of capital stock, warrants, rights, options, bonds, debentures, notes, scrip or other securities or evidences of indebtedness of the Corporation, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for any proper purpose, and the Board may modify or abolish any such reserve.
Section 9.11 Disbursements. All checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board may from time to time designate.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENT
Section 10.1: Amendments. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Amended and Restated Bylaws, any amendment or repeal of these Amended and Restated Bylaws shall require the approval of the majority of the Whole Board or the stockholders of the Corporation as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.
* * * * *
Adopted as of: March 5, 2014
Last Amended as of: February 3, 2022
CERTIFICATION OF AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
VARONIS SYSTEMS, INC.
(a Delaware corporation)
I, Dov Gottlieb, certify that I am Secretary of Varonis Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), that I am duly authorized to make and deliver this certification, that the attached Amended and Restated Bylaws are a true and correct copy of the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company in effect as of the date of this certificate.
Dated: February 3, 2022
Dov Gottlieb, Secretary |