AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
OF
ARMADA WATER ASSETS, INC.
(the “Corporation”)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I Stockholders | 1 |
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SECTION 1. | Generally. | 1 |
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SECTION 2. | Notice of Stockholder Meetings; Business and Nominations | 1 |
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SECTION 3. | Special Meetings | 7 |
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SECTION 4. | Notice of Meetings; Adjournments | 8 |
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SECTION 5. | Quorum | 9 |
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SECTION 6. | Voting and Proxies | 9 |
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SECTION 7. | Action at Meeting | 9 |
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SECTION 8. | Stockholder Lists | 9 |
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SECTION 9. | Conduct of Meeting | 10 |
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SECTION 10. | Inspectors of Elections | 10 |
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SECTION 11. | Action Without Meeting | 11 |
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SECTION 12. | Miscellaneous | 11 |
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ARTICLE II Directors | 11 |
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SECTION 1. | Powers | 11 |
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SECTION 2. | Number and Terms | 11 |
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SECTION 3. | Qualification | 11 |
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SECTION 4. | Vacancies | 12 |
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SECTION 5. | Removal | 12 |
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SECTION 6. | Resignation | 12 |
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SECTION 7. | Regular Meetings | 12 |
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SECTION 8. | Special Meetings | 12 |
SECTION 9. | Notice of Meetings | 12 |
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SECTION 10. | Quorum | 13 |
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SECTION 11. | Action at Meeting | 13 |
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SECTION 12. | Action by Consent | 13 |
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SECTION 13. | Manner of Participation | 13 |
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SECTION 14. | Committees | 13 |
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SECTION 15. | Operating Divisions | 14 |
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SECTION 16. | Compensation of Directors | 14 |
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ARTICLE III Officers | 14 |
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SECTION 1. | Enumeration | 14 |
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SECTION 2. | Election | 14 |
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SECTION 3. | Salaries | 14 |
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SECTION 4. | Qualification | 14 |
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SECTION 5. | Tenure | 15 |
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SECTION 6. | Resignation | 15 |
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SECTION 7. | Removal | 15 |
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SECTION 8. | Absence or Disability | 15 |
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SECTION 9. | Vacancies | 15 |
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SECTION 10. | Chairman of the Board | 15 |
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SECTION 11. | Chief Executive Officer | 15 |
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SECTION 12. | President | 15 |
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SECTION 13. | Vice Presidents and Assistant Vice Presidents | 16 |
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SECTION 14. | Chief Financial Officer | 16 |
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SECTION 15. | Secretary and Assistant Secretaries | 16 |
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SECTION 16. | Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers | 16 |
SECTION 17. | Other Powers and Duties | 16 |
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ARTICLE IV Capital Stock | 17 |
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SECTION 1. | Certificates of Stock | 17 |
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SECTION 2. | Transfers | 17 |
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SECTION 3. | Record Holders | 17 |
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SECTION 4. | Record Date | 18 |
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SECTION 5. | Replacement of Certificates | 18 |
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ARTICLE V Indemnification and Advancement | 18 |
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SECTION 1. | Right to Indemnification | 18 |
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SECTION 2. | Right to Advancement of Expenses | 19 |
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SECTION 3. | Discretionary Payment of Expenses | 19 |
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SECTION 4. | Right of Indemnitees to Bring Suit | 19 |
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SECTION 5. | Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation | 20 |
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SECTION 6. | Non-Exclusivity of Rights | 20 |
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SECTION 7. | Insurance and Funding | 20 |
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SECTION 8. | Indemnity Agreements | 20 |
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SECTION 9. | Nature of Rights | 21 |
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SECTION 10. | Severability | 21 |
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ARTICLE VI Miscellaneous Provisions | 21 |
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SECTION 1. | Fiscal Year | 21 |
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SECTION 2. | Seal | 21 |
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SECTION 3. | Execution of Instruments | 21 |
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SECTION 4. | Corporate Records | 21 |
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SECTION 5. | Amendment of By-Laws | 22 |
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SECTION 6. | Notices | 22 |
ARTICLE I
Stockholders
SECTION 1. Generally.
(a) Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders (any such meeting being referred to in these By-Laws as an “Annual Meeting”) shall be held at the hour, date and place, if any, within or without the United States which is fixed by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”), which time, date and place may subsequently be changed at any time by vote of the Board of Directors.
(b) Registered Office. The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Nevada shall be as stated in the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation (as the same may hereafter be amended and/or restated, the “Articles”), or as determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with Nevada law. The Corporation may have other offices, both within and without the State of Nevada, as the Board of Directors from time to time shall determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
(c) Books and 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 maintained on any 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 applicable law.
SECTION 2. Notice of Stockholder Meetings; Business and Nominations.
(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders.
(1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be brought before an Annual Meeting only (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Article I, Section 2, who is entitled to vote at the meeting, and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Article I, Section 2 as to such nomination or business. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clause (iii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to bring nominations or business properly before an Annual Meeting (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 (or any successor rule) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “Exchange Act”)), and such stockholder must comply with the notice and other procedures set forth in this Article I, Section 2 to bring such nominations or business properly before an Annual Meeting. In addition to the other requirements set forth in this Article I, Section 2, for any proposal of business (other than the nomination of persons for election to the Board of Directors) to be considered at an Annual Meeting, it must be a proper subject for action by stockholders of the Corporation under Nevada law.
(2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an Annual Meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of Article I, Section 2(a)(1), the stockholder must (i) have given Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, (ii) have provided any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Article I, Section 2 and (iii) together with the beneficial owner(s), if any, on whose behalf the nomination or business proposal is made, have acted in accordance with the representations set forth in the Solicitation Statement (as defined below) required by this Article I, Section 2. To be timely, a stockholder’s written notice shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s Annual Meeting; provided, however, that in the event the Annual Meeting is first convened more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, or if no Annual Meeting were held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be received by the Secretary of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the scheduled date of such Annual Meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made (such notice within such time periods shall be referred to as “Timely Notice”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided herein, for the first Annual Meeting following the effective date (x) of the Corporation’s first registration statement submitted with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and (y) the listing of the Corporation’s Common Stock on a national securities exchange, a stockholder’s notice shall be timely if received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the scheduled date of such Annual Meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such Annual Meeting is first made or sent by the Corporation. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an Annual Meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Such stockholder’s Timely Notice shall set forth:
(A) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a Director, all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a Director if elected); provided that the Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as the Corporation may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a Director of the Corporation;
(B) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the By-Laws or the Articles, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, and any material interest or any substantial interest (within the meaning of Item 5 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in such business of each Proposing Person (as defined below);
(C) (i) the name and address of the stockholder giving the notice, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and the names and addresses of the other Proposing Persons (if any) and (ii) as to each Proposing Person, the following information: (a) the class or series and number of all shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially or of record by such Proposing Person or any of its affiliates or associates (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act), including any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation as to which such Proposing Person or any of its affiliates or associates has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future, (b) all Synthetic Equity Interests (as defined below) in which such Proposing Person or any of its affiliates or associates, directly or indirectly, holds an interest, including a description of the material terms of each such Synthetic Equity Interest, including, without limitation, identification of the counterparty to each such Synthetic Equity Interest and disclosure, for each such Synthetic Equity Interest, as to (x) whether or not such Synthetic Equity Interest conveys any voting rights, directly or indirectly, in such shares to such Proposing Person, (y) whether or not such Synthetic Equity Interest is required to be, or is capable of being, settled through delivery of such shares and (z) whether or not such Proposing Person and/or, to the extent known, the counterparty to such Synthetic Equity Interest has entered into other transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such Synthetic Equity Interest, (c) any proxy (other than a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Exchange Act), agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such Proposing Person has or shares a right to, directly or indirectly, vote any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, (d) any rights to dividends or other distributions on the shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, and (e) any performance-related fees (other than an asset based fee) that such Proposing Person, directly or indirectly, is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or any Synthetic Equity Interests (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (a) through (e) are referred to, collectively, as “Material Ownership Interests”), (iii) a description of the material terms of all agreements, arrangements or understandings (whether or not in writing) entered into by any Proposing Person or any of its affiliates or associates with any other person for the purpose of acquiring, holding, disposing or voting of any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation and (iv) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in an election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;
(D) (i) a representation describing all agreements, arrangements or understandings by and among any of the Proposing Persons, or by and among any Proposing Persons and any other person (including with any proposed nominee(s)), pertaining to the nomination(s) or other business proposed to be brought before the meeting of stockholders (which description shall identify the name of each other person who is party to such an agreement, arrangement or understanding), and (ii) identification of the names and addresses of other stockholders (including beneficial owners) known by any of the Proposing Persons to support such nominations or other business proposal(s), and to the extent known the class and number of all shares of the Corporation’s capital stock owned beneficially or of record by such other stockholder(s) or other beneficial owner(s); and
(E) a statement whether or not the stockholder giving the notice and/or the other Proposing Person(s), if any, will (i) deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of, in the case of a business proposal, at least the percentage of voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation required under applicable law to approve the proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, at least the percentage of voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation reasonably believed by such Proposing Person to be sufficient to elect the nominee or nominees proposed to be nominated by such stockholder and/or (ii) otherwise solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination (such statement, the “Solicitation Statement”).
For purposes of this Article I of these By-Laws, the term “Proposing Person” shall mean the following persons: (i) the stockholder of record providing the notice of nominations or business proposed to be brought before a stockholders’ meeting, and (ii) the beneficial owner(s), if different, on whose behalf the nominations or business proposed to be brought before a stockholders’ meeting is made. For purposes of this Article I, Section 2, the term “Synthetic Equity Interest” shall mean any transaction, agreement or arrangement (or series of transactions, agreements or arrangements), including, without limitation, any derivative, swap, hedge, repurchase or so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, the purpose or effect of which is to, directly or indirectly: (a) give a person or entity economic benefit and/or risk similar to ownership of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, in whole or in part, including due to the fact that such transaction, agreement or arrangement provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit or avoid a loss from any increase or decrease in the value of any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, (b) mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk of or manage the risk of share price changes for, any person or entity with respect to any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, (c) otherwise provide in any manner the opportunity to profit or avoid a loss from any decrease in the value of any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, or (d) increase or decrease the voting power of any person or entity with respect to any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation.
(3) A stockholder providing Timely Notice of nominations or business proposed to be brought before an Annual Meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information (including, without limitation, the Material Ownership Interests information) provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Article I, Section 2 shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to such Annual Meeting, and such update and supplement shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the fifth (5th) business day after the record date for the Annual Meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than the close of business on the eighth (8th) business day prior to the date of the Annual Meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting).
(4) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of Article I, Section 2(a)(2) to the contrary, in the event that the number of Directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for Director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the Corporation at least ten (10) days before the last day a stockholder may deliver a notice of nomination in accordance with the second sentence of Article I, Section 2(a)(2), a stockholder’s notice required by this Article I, Section 2 shall also be considered Timely Notice, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be received by the Secretary of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
(5) Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations for persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which Directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or (ii) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that Directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Article I, Section 2 is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Article I, Section 2. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more Directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of Directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by this Article I, Section 2(a)(2) shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(b) General.
(1) Except as otherwise expressly provided in any applicable rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act, only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the provisions of this Article I, Section 2 shall be eligible for election and to serve as Directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Article I, Section 2. The Board of Directors or a designated committee thereof shall have the power to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made in accordance with the provisions of this Article I, Section 2. If, prior to the meeting, neither the Board of Directors nor such designated committee makes a determination as to whether any stockholder proposal or nomination was made in accordance with the provisions of this Article I, Section 2, the presiding officer (as defined below) of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether the stockholder proposal or nomination was made in accordance with the provisions of this Article I, Section 2. If the Board of Directors or a designated committee thereof or the presiding officer, as applicable, determines that any stockholder proposal or nomination was not made in accordance with the provisions of this Article I, Section 2, such proposal or nomination shall be disregarded and shall not be presented for action at the meeting.
(2) Except as otherwise required by any applicable law or rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act, nothing in this Article I, Section 2 shall obligate the Corporation or the Board of Directors to include in any proxy statement or other stockholder communication distributed on behalf of the Corporation or the Board of Directors information with respect to any nominee for Director or any other matter of business submitted by a stockholder.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in these By-laws to the contrary: (i) no nominations shall be made or business shall be conducted at any Annual Meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article I, Section 2(a), and (ii) unless otherwise required by law, if a Proposing Person intending to propose business or make nominations at an Annual Meeting pursuant to this Article I, Section 2 does not provide the information required under this Article I, Section 2 by Timely Notice, or the Proposing Person (or a qualified representative of the Proposing Person) does not appear at the meeting to present the proposed business or nominations, such business or nominations shall not be considered, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such business or nominations may have been received by the Corporation. The requirements of this Article I, Section 2 shall apply to any business or nominations to be brought before an Annual Meeting by a stockholder whether such business or nominations are to be included in the Corporation's proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act or presented to stockholders by means of an independently financed proxy solicitation. For purposes of this Article I, Section 2, to be considered a qualified representative of the Proposing Person, a person must be authorized by a written instrument executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such written instrument or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the written instrument or electronic transmission, to the presiding officer at the meeting of stockholders.
(4) For purposes of this Article I, Section 2, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(5) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article I, Section 2, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Article I, Section 2. Nothing in this Article I, Section 2 shall be deemed to affect any rights of (i) stockholders to have proposals included in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor rule) under the Exchange Act and, to the extent required by such rule, have such proposals considered and voted on at an Annual Meeting or (ii) the holders of any series of Preferred Stock as specified in the Articles (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock).
(6) In addition to the requirements set forth elsewhere in these By-Laws, to be eligible to be a nominee for election or re-election as a Director of the Corporation pursuant to a nomination under clause (iii) of Article I, Section 2(a)(1) and under clause (ii) of Article I, Section 2(a)(5), such proposed nominee or a person on such proposed nominee’s behalf must deliver, in accordance with the time periods for delivery of Timely Notice under Article I, Section 2(a)(2) and under clause (ii) of Article I, Section 2(a)(5), to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation a completed and signed questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such proposed nominee and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request) and a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such proposed nominee (i) is not and will not become a party to (A) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such proposed nominee, if elected as a Director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such proposed nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (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 that has not been disclosed to the Corporation, and (iii) in such proposed nominee’s individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a Director of the Corporation, and will comply with, all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, code of conduct and ethics, conflict of interest, confidentiality, corporate opportunities, trading and any other policies and guidelines of the Corporation applicable to the Board of Directors.
(7) The requirements of this Article I, Section 2 are included to provide the Corporation notice of a stockholder's intention to bring business or nominations before an Annual Meeting and shall in no event be construed as imposing upon any stockholder the requirement to seek approval from the Corporation as a condition precedent to bringing any such business or make such nominations before an Annual Meeting.
SECTION 3. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise required by statute and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called by the Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors to be held at such date, time and place either within or without the State of Nevada as may be stated in the notice of the meeting. A special meeting of stockholders shall be called by the Secretary upon the written request, stating the purpose of the meeting, of stockholders who together own of record at least ten percent (10%) in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote at such meeting. The Board of Directors may postpone or reschedule any previously scheduled special meeting of stockholders. Only those matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered or acted upon at a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation.
SECTION 4. Notice of Meetings; Adjournments.
(a) A notice of each Annual Meeting stating the hour, date and place, if any, of such Annual Meeting, the means of remote or electronic communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) shall be given not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the Annual Meeting, to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting by delivering such notice to such stockholder or by mailing it, postage prepaid, addressed to such stockholder at the address of such stockholder as it appears on the Corporation’s stock transfer books. Without limiting the manner by which notice may otherwise be given to stockholders, any notice to stockholders may be given by electronic transmission.
(b) Notice of all special meetings of stockholders shall be given in the same manner as provided for Annual Meetings, except that the notice of all special meetings shall state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting has been called.
(c) Notice of an Annual Meeting or special meeting of stockholders need not be given to a stockholder if a waiver of notice is executed, or waiver of notice by electronic transmission is provided, before or after such meeting by such stockholder or if such stockholder attends such meeting, unless such attendance is for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting was not lawfully called or convened.
(d) The Board of Directors may postpone and reschedule any previously scheduled Annual Meeting or special meeting of stockholders, regardless of whether any notice or public disclosure with respect to any such meeting has been sent or made pursuant to Article I, Section 2 or otherwise.
(e) When any meeting is convened, the presiding officer may adjourn the meeting. When any Annual Meeting or special meeting of stockholders is adjourned to another hour, date or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting other than an announcement at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken of the hour, date and place, if any, to which the meeting is adjourned and the means of remote or electronic communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting; provided, however, that if the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting, or, if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.
SECTION 5. Quorum. A majority in voting power of the shares entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of stockholders. If less than a quorum is present at a meeting, the holders of voting stock representing a majority of the voting power present at the meeting or the presiding officer may adjourn the meeting from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice, except as provided in Article I, Section 4. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed. 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 6. Voting and Proxies. Stockholders shall have one vote for each share of stock entitled to vote owned by them of record according to the stock ledger of the Corporation as of the record date, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Articles. Stockholders may vote either (i) in person, (ii) by written proxy or (iii) by electronic transmission. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission permitted by Nevada law may be substituted for or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission. Proxies shall be filed in accordance with the procedures established for the meeting of stockholders. Except as otherwise limited therein or as otherwise provided by law, proxies authorizing a person to vote at a specific meeting shall entitle the persons authorized thereby to vote at any adjournment or postponement of such meeting, but they shall not be valid after final adjournment of such meeting.
SECTION 7. Action at Meeting. When a quorum is present at any meeting of stockholders, any matter before any such meeting (other than an election of a Director or Directors) shall be decided by a majority of the votes properly cast on such matter, except where a different vote is required by law, by the Articles, by these By-Laws, by the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, in which case, such different vote shall apply. For purposes of this Article I, Section 7, “abstentions” and “broker non-votes” shall not be counted as a vote cast either “for” or “against” the matter.
SECTION 8. Stockholder Lists. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every Annual Meeting or special meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date), 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 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 meeting or (ii) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be examined by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote or electronic communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Article I, Section 8 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
SECTION 9. Conduct of Meeting. 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 at the meeting by the person presiding over the meeting. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the person presiding over any meeting of stockholders (referred to herein as the “presiding officer”) shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of the presiding officer, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the presiding officer, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the presiding officer shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The presiding officer at any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if the presiding officer should so determine, the presiding officer shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the presiding officer, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
SECTION 10. Inspectors of Elections. The Corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and to make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the presiding officer shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Any inspector may, but need not, be an officer, employee or agent of the Corporation. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall perform such duties as are required by Nevada law, including the counting of all votes and ballots. The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance of the duties of the inspectors. The presiding officer may review all determinations made by the inspectors, and in so doing the presiding officer shall be entitled to exercise his or her sole judgment and discretion and he or she shall not be bound by any determinations made by the inspectors. All determinations by the inspectors and, if applicable, the presiding officer, shall be subject to further review by any court of competent jurisdiction.
SECTION 11. Action Without Meeting. Except as otherwise provided in the Articles, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called Annual Meeting or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation or may be effected by written consent of the requisite holders of stock who would have been entitled to vote upon and approve the action if a meeting were held. In no instance where action is taken by such written consent need a meeting of the stockholders be called or noticed. The Board of Directors may fix a record date to determine the stockholders entitled to sign the written consent. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting: (i) when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by Nevada law, shall be the earliest date that a stockholder signed the written consent; and (ii) when prior action by the Board of Directors is required by Nevada law, shall be the date in which the Board of Directors adopts a resolution to submit the matter to stockholders for approval. All written consents shall be filed with the minutes of the proceeding of the stockholders and shall be effective, as determined by the Board of Directors, upon receipt of such written consent, or counterparts thereof, executed by stockholders owning in the aggregate the required number of shares necessary to approve the action presented.
SECTION 12. Miscellaneous. Except as otherwise provided by law, only persons in whose names shares stand on the stock ledger of the Corporation on the record date fixed in accordance with these By-Laws shall be entitled to vote. Unless otherwise directed by the presiding officer, voting shall be by ballots, each of which shall state the name of the stockholder or the stockholder's proxy voting the shares and such other information as may be required under the procedure established for the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law or by an express provision in the Articles of Incorporation, or of any certificate of designation for a series of Preferred Stock, each full share is entitled to one vote and, when a quorum is present at the commencement of any stockholders' meeting, a matter (other than the election of Directors) is approved if the votes cast, in person or by proxy, favoring the action exceed the votes cast against the action. Fractional shares shall not be entitled to any voting rights whatsoever.
ARTICLE II
Directors
SECTION 1. Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors except as otherwise provided by the Articles or required by law.
SECTION 2. Number and Terms. The number of Directors of the Corporation shall be fixed solely and exclusively by resolution duly adopted from time to time by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 3. Qualification. No Director need be a stockholder of the Corporation.
SECTION 4. Vacancies. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect Directors and to fill vacancies in the Board of Directors relating thereto, any and all vacancies in the Board of Directors, however occurring, including, without limitation, by reason of an increase in size of the Board of Directors, or the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of a Director, shall be filled solely and exclusively by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Directors then in office, even if less than a quorum of the Board of Directors, and not by the stockholders. Any Director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the Director for which the vacancy was created or occurred and until such Director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation, death or removal.
SECTION 5. Removal. Any Director (including persons elected by Directors to fill vacancies in the Board of Directors) may be removed from office only upon the affirmative vote or written consent of the Board of Directors (excluding the Director to be removed) followed by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty six and two thirds percent (66 2/3%) in voting power of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of Directors.
SECTION 6. Resignation. A Director may resign at any time by giving written notice, or notice by electronic transmission, to the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. A resignation shall be effective upon receipt, unless the resignation otherwise provides.
SECTION 7. Regular Meetings. The regular annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held, without notice other than this Article II, Section 7, on the same date and at the same place as the Annual Meeting following the close of such meeting of stockholders. Other regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such hour, date and place, within or without the State of Nevada, as the Board of Directors may by resolution from time to time determine and publicized among all Directors.
SECTION 8. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called, orally or in writing or by electronic transmission, by or at the request of two (2) Directors, the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. The person calling any such special meeting of the Board of Directors may fix the hour, date and place thereof.
SECTION 9. Notice of Meetings. Notice of the hour, date and place of all special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given to each Director by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or by the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, the Chief Executive Officer , or the President or such other officer designated by the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given to each Director in person, by telephone, or by facsimile, electronic mail or other form of electronic communication, sent to his or her business or home address, at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the meeting, or by written notice mailed to his or her business or home address, at least three (3) business days in advance of the meeting. Such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when hand-delivered to such address, read to such Director by telephone, deposited in the mail so addressed, with postage thereon prepaid if mailed, dispatched or transmitted if sent by facsimile transmission or by electronic mail or other form of electronic communications. A written waiver of notice signed, or an electronic waiver given, before or after a meeting by a Director and filed with the records of the meeting shall be deemed to be equivalent to notice of the meeting. The attendance of a Director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a Director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because such meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Except as otherwise required by law, by the Articles or by these By-Laws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.
SECTION 10. Quorum. At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but if less than a quorum is present at a meeting, a majority of the Directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. Any business which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed may be transacted at such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present.
SECTION 11. Action at Meeting. At any meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present, the vote of a majority of the Directors present shall constitute action by the Board of Directors, unless otherwise required by law, by the Articles or by these By-Laws.
SECTION 12. Action by Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if, before or after the action, all members of the Board of Directors consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the records of the meetings of the Board of Directors. 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. Such consent shall be treated as a resolution of the Board of Directors for all purposes.
SECTION 13. Manner of Participation. Directors may participate in meetings of the Board of Directors by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all Directors participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting in accordance herewith shall constitute presence in person at such meeting for purposes of these By-Laws.
SECTION 14. Committees. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each consisting of two (2) or more Directors, including, without limitation, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee and an Audit Committee, and may delegate thereto some or all of its powers except those which by law, by the Articles or by these By-Laws may not be delegated. Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine, any such committee may make rules for the conduct of its business, but unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors or in such rules, its business shall be conducted so far as possible in the same manner as is provided by these By-Laws for the Board of Directors. All members of such committees shall hold such offices at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may abolish any such committee at any time. Any committee to which the Board of Directors delegates any of its powers or duties shall keep records of its meetings and shall report its action to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may designate one or more Directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of the committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.
SECTION 15. Operating Divisions. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the Board of Directors, establish one or more operating divisions of the Corporation, and may confer on the employees of the Corporation assigned to any such operating division the title of President, Vice President and any other titles deemed appropriate. The Board of Directors may at any time discontinue any such operating division or title. The designation of any such titles for employees assigned to operating divisions of the Corporation shall not be permitted to conflict in any way with any executive or administrative authority established from time to time by or for the Corporation. Any employee designated as an officer of an operating division shall have authority, responsibilities and duties with respect to such operating division corresponding to those normally vested in the comparable officer of the Corporation by these By-Laws, subject to such limitations as may be imposed by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 16. Compensation of Directors. Directors shall receive such compensation for their services as shall be determined by the Board of Directors, or a designated committee thereof, provided that Directors who are serving the Corporation as employees and who receive compensation for their services as such, shall not receive any salary or other compensation for their services as Directors of the Corporation.
ARTICLE III
Officers
SECTION 1. Enumeration. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers, including, without limitation, a Chairman of the Board of Directors, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, and one or more Vice Presidents (including Executive Vice Presidents or Senior Vice Presidents), Assistant Vice Presidents and Assistant Secretaries, as the Board of Directors may determine.
SECTION 2. Election. At the regular annual meeting of the Board of Directors following the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Board of Directors shall elect the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Secretary and the Treasurer and such other officers as the Board determines is in the best interest of the Corporation. Other officers may be elected by the Board of Directors at such regular annual meeting of the Board of Directors or at any other regular or special meeting.
SECTION 3. Salaries. The salaries of all of the officers of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 4. Qualification. No officer need be a stockholder or a Director. Any person may occupy more than one office of the Corporation at any time.
SECTION 5. Tenure. Except as otherwise provided by the Articles or by these By-Laws, each of the officers of the Corporation shall hold office until the regular annual meeting of the Board of Directors following the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal.
SECTION 6. Resignation. Any officer may resign by delivering his or her written resignation to the Corporation addressed to the Chief Executive officer, the President or the Secretary, and such resignation shall be effective upon receipt, unless the resignation otherwise provides.
SECTION 7. Removal. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Board of Directors may remove any officer with or without cause by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors then in office.
SECTION 8. Absence or Disability. In the event of the absence or disability of any officer, the Board of Directors may designate another officer to act temporarily in place of such absent or disabled officer.
SECTION 9. Vacancies. Any vacancy in any office may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 10. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall be chosen from the membership of the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.
SECTION 11. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, and shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation. He or she shall be the senior most executive officer having general supervision and direction of the affairs of a business corporation and, unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors, shall execute in the name of the Corporation all contracts and other documents requiring the signature of the Corporation. He or she shall also have such powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.
Unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall have full power and authority on behalf of the Corporation to attend and act and vote at any meeting of the stockholders of any corporation in which the Corporation may hold stock, and at any such meeting, he or she shall possess and may exercise any and all the rights and powers incident to the ownership of such stock which the Corporation, as the owner thereof, might have possessed and exercised if present. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.
SECTION 12. President. The President shall be the Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation and shall have such management authority as is designated by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that in the absence of such designation, the President shall have control over the day-to-day business activities and decisions of the Corporation. If a Chief Executive Officer is not elected, or in his or her absence, the President shall perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer.
SECTION 13. Vice Presidents and Assistant Vice Presidents. Any Vice President (including any Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President) and any Assistant Vice President shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President may from time to time designate.
SECTION 14. Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer, if one is elected, shall, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors and except as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President may otherwise provide, have general charge of the financial affairs of the Corporation and shall cause to be kept accurate books of account. He or she shall have such other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President.
SECTION 15. Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary shall record all the proceedings of the meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors (including committees of the Board of Directors) in books kept for that purpose. In his or her absence from any such meeting, a temporary secretary chosen at the meeting shall record the proceedings thereof. The Secretary shall have charge of the stock ledger (which may, however, be kept by any transfer or other agent of the Corporation). The Secretary shall have custody of the seal of the Corporation, and the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, shall have authority to affix it to any instrument requiring it, and, when so affixed, the seal may be attested by his or her signature or that of an Assistant Secretary. The Secretary shall have such other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President. In the absence of the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary may perform his or her duties and responsibilities. Any Assistant Secretary shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President may from time to time designate.
SECTION 16. Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers. The Treasurer shall have custody of all moneys and securities of the Corporation as are authorized and shall render from time to time an account of all such transactions. The Treasurer shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as are commonly incident to the officer of Treasurer, or as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. In the absence of the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer may perform his or her duties and responsibilities. Any Assistant Treasurer shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President may from time to time designate.
SECTION 17. Other Powers and Duties. Subject to these By-Laws and to such limitations as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe, the officers of the Corporation shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, as well as such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President.
ARTICLE IV
Capital Stock
SECTION 1. Certificates of Stock. The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates in such form as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors. Such certificate shall be signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President and by the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. The Corporation seal and the signatures by the Corporation’s officers, the transfer agent or the registrar may be facsimiles. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed on such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the time of its issue. Every certificate for shares of stock which are subject to any restriction on transfer and every certificate issued when the Corporation is authorized to issue more than one class or series of stock shall contain such legend with respect thereto as is required by law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided in these By-Laws, the Board of Directors of the Corporation may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares (except that the foregoing shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation), and by the approval and adoption of these By-Laws the Board of Directors has determined that all classes or series of the Corporation’s stock may be uncertificated, whether upon original issuance, re-issuance, or subsequent transfer.
SECTION 2. Transfers. Subject to any restrictions on transfer pursuant to applicable federal or state securities law or as otherwise agreed to in writing and unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, shares of stock that are represented by a certificate may be transferred on the books of the Corporation by the surrender to the Corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate theretofore properly endorsed or accompanied by a written assignment or power of attorney properly executed, with transfer stamps (if necessary) affixed, and with such proof of the authenticity of signature as the Corporation or its transfer agent may reasonably require. Shares of stock that are not represented by a certificate may be transferred on the books of the Corporation by submitting to the Corporation or its transfer agent such evidence of transfer and following such other procedures as the Corporation or its transfer agent may require.
SECTION 3. Record Holders. Except as may otherwise be required by law, by the Articles or by these By-Laws, the Corporation shall be entitled to treat the record holder of stock as shown on its books as the owner of such stock for all purposes, including the payment of dividends and the right to vote with respect thereto, regardless of any transfer, pledge or other disposition of such stock, until the shares have been transferred on the books of the Corporation in accordance with the requirements of these By-Laws.
SECTION 4. Record Date.
(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. The Board of Directors may also prescribe a period not exceeding sixty (60) days prior to any meeting of the stockholders during which no transfer of stock on the books of the Corporation may be made. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at 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 entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no such record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
SECTION 5. Replacement of Certificates. In case of the alleged loss, destruction or mutilation of a certificate of stock of the Corporation, a duplicate certificate may be issued in place thereof, upon such terms as the Corporation may prescribe.
ARTICLE V
Indemnification and Advancement
SECTION 1. Right to Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved (including, without limitation, as a witness) in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a Director or an officer of the Corporation or, while a Director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a Director, officer, or trustee of another corporation, or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “Indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a Director, officer or trustee or in any other capacity while serving as a Director, officer or trustee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by Nevada law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that, except with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification or an advancement of expenses or as otherwise required by law, the Corporation shall not be required to indemnify or advance expenses to any such Indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2. Right to Advancement of Expenses. In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Article V, Section 1, an Indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however, that, if Nevada law requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an Indemnitee in his or her capacity as a Director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such Indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such Indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Article V, Section 2 or otherwise.
SECTION 3. Discretionary Payment of Expenses. Any indemnification under Article V, Sections 1 and 2, unless inconsistent with Nevada law, may be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon determination that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances by (a) the Board of Directors by majority vote of a quorum consisting of Directors who were not parties to the act, suit or proceeding; (b) independent legal counsel in a written opinion if a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Directors who were not parties to the act, suit or proceeding so orders; or (c) independent legal counsel in a written opinion if a quorum consisting of Directors who were not parties to the act, suit or proceeding cannot be obtained.
SECTION 4. Right of Indemnitees to Bring Suit. If a claim under Article V, Sections 1 or 2 is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty (60) days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, or if a claim for an advancement of expense is not paid in full within thirty (30) days after a statement or statements requesting such amounts to be advanced has been received by the Corporation, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. To the fullest extent permitted by law, if successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Indemnitee shall also be entitled to be paid the expenses of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification in accordance with Nevada law. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct in accordance with Nevada law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the Indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article V or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.
SECTION 5. Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article V with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of Directors and officers of the Corporation.
SECTION 6. Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article V shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the Articles as amended from time to time, these By-Laws, any agreement, any vote of stockholders or disinterested Directors or otherwise.
SECTION 7. Insurance and Funding. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any Director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under Nevada law. The Corporation may make other financial arrangements which include a trust fund, program of self-insurance, grant a security interest or other lien on any assets of the Corporation, establish a letter of credit, guaranty or surety, as permitted under Nevada law, to ensure the payment of such sums as may become necessary to effect the indemnification as provided in this Article V.
SECTION 8. Indemnity Agreements. The Corporation may enter into indemnity agreements with any Director or officer of the Corporation, with any employee or agent of the Corporation as the Board of Directors may designate and with any officer, director, employee or agent of subsidiaries and affiliates of the Corporation as the Board of Directors may designate, such indemnity agreements to provide in substance that the Corporation will indemnify such persons as contemplated by this Article V, and to include any other substantive or procedural provisions regarding indemnification as are not inconsistent with Nevada law.
SECTION 9. Nature of Rights. The rights conferred upon Indemnitees in this Article V shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a Director, officer, employee, agent or trustee and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article V that adversely affects any right of an Indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit, eliminate, or impair any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or to advance expenses to any Indemnitee who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity shall be reduced by any amount such Indemnitee may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit enterprise.
SECTION 10. Severability. If any word, clause, provision or provisions of this Article V shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article V (including, without limitation, each portion of any section of this Article V containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article V (including, without limitation, each such portion of any section of this Article V containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
ARTICLE VI
Miscellaneous Provisions
SECTION 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2. Seal. The Board of Directors shall have power to adopt and alter the seal of the Corporation.
SECTION 3. Execution of Instruments. All deeds, leases, transfers, contracts, bonds, notes and other obligations to be entered into by the Corporation in the ordinary course of its business without Director action may be executed on behalf of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, if one is elected, the Secretary, the Treasurer or any other officer, employee or agent of the Corporation as the Board of Directors or appropriate committee of the Board may authorize.
SECTION 4. Corporate Records. The original or attested copies of the Articles, By-Laws and records of all meetings of the incorporators, stockholders and the Board of Directors and the stock transfer books, which shall contain the names of all stockholders, their record addresses and the amount of stock held by each, may be kept outside the State of Nevada and shall be kept at the principal office of the Corporation, at an office of its counsel, at an office of its transfer agent or at such other place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 5. Amendment of By-Laws.
(a) Amendment by Directors. Except as provided otherwise by law, these By-Laws may be amended or repealed by the Board of Directors.
(b) Amendment by Stockholders. These By-Laws may be amended or repealed at any Annual Meeting, or special meeting of stockholders called for such purpose in accordance with these By-Laws, by the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, voting together as a single class. Notwithstanding the foregoing, stockholder approval for the amendment of these By-Laws shall not be required unless mandated by the Articles or other applicable law.
SECTION 6. Notices. If mailed, notice to stockholders shall be deemed given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.