Number of Directors
The Charter and the Bylaws provide that, subject to any rights of holders of preferred stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors may be fixed from time to time pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board; provided, however, that unless approved by (i) if before the first date on which the issued and outstanding shares of Class B common stock represents less than 50% of the total voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of SES that would then be entitled to vote in the election of directors at an annual meeting of stockholders, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of capital stock of SES that would then be entitled to vote in the election of directors at an annual meeting or by written consent, or (ii) if after the first date on which the issued and outstanding shares of Class B common stock represents less than 50% of the total voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of SES that would then be entitled to vote in the election of directors at an annual meeting of stockholders, by the holders of two-thirds (2/3) of the voting power of the shares of capital stock of SES that would then be entitled to vote in the election of directors at an annual meeting of stockholders. The initial number of directors was set at seven.
Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Meetings, Nominations and Proposals
The Bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of the Board or a committee of the Board. In order to be “properly brought” before a meeting, a stockholder will have to comply with advance notice requirements and provide SES with certain information. Generally, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received at SES’s principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. The Bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. The Bylaws allow the chairman of the meeting at a meeting of the stockholders to adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings which may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the rules and regulations are not followed. These provisions may also defer, delay, or discourage a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to influence or obtain control of SES.
Limitations on Stockholder Action by Written Consent
The Charter provides that, subject to the terms of any series of SES Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of SES must be effected at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders and may not be effected by written consent in lieu of a meeting.
Amendment of the Charter and Bylaws
The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon, voting together a single class, is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation, unless the certificate of incorporation requires a greater percentage.
The Charter provides that it may be amended by SES in the manners provided therein or prescribed by statute. The Charter provides that the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of SES entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, will be required to amend or repeal, or adopt any provision of the Charter providing for the capital stock of SES, amendment of the Charter, amendment of the Bylaws, board of directors, election of directors, limitation of director liability, indemnification and special meetings of the stockholders.
If any of the Class B common stock shares are outstanding, SES will not, without the prior affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock, voting as a separate class, in addition to any other vote required by applicable law or the Charter, directly or indirectly, amend, alter, change, repeal, or adopt any provision of the Charter (1) in a manner that is inconsistent with, or otherwise alters or changes, any of the voting, conversion, dividend, or liquidation provisions of the shares of Class B common stock or other rights, powers, preferences, or privileges of the shares of Class B common stock, (2) to provide for each share of Class A common stock or any other class of common stock to have more than one vote per share or any rights to a separate class vote of the holders of shares of Class A common stock other than as provided in the Charter or required by the DGCL, or (3) to otherwise adversely impact or affect the rights, powers, preferences, or privileges of the shares of Class B common stock.
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