Exhibit 3.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
APPLIED MICRO CIRCUITS CORPORATION
Table of Contents
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE 1 | CORPORATE OFFICES | 1 | ||||
1.1 | REGISTERED OFFICE | 1 | ||||
1.2 | OTHER OFFICES | 1 | ||||
ARTICLE 2 | MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS | 1 | ||||
2.1 | PLACE OF MEETINGS | 1 | ||||
2.2 | ANNUAL MEETING | 1 | ||||
2.3 | ADVANCE NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER NOMINEES AND OTHER BUSINESS | 1 | ||||
2.4 | SPECIAL MEETING | 6 | ||||
2.5 | NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE | 7 | ||||
2.6 | QUORUM | 7 | ||||
2.7 | ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE | 8 | ||||
2.8 | CONDUCT OF BUSINESS | 8 | ||||
2.9 | VOTING | 8 | ||||
2.10 | WAIVER OF NOTICE | 8 | ||||
2.11 | RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDER NOTICE; VOTING | 8 | ||||
2.12 | PROXIES | 9 | ||||
2.13 | RECORD DATE FOR ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT | 9 | ||||
2.14 | INSPECTORS OF WRITTEN CONSENTS | 10 | ||||
2.15 | EFFECTIVENESS OF WRITTEN CONSENTS | 10 | ||||
ARTICLE 3 | DIRECTORS | 10 | ||||
3.1 | POWERS | 10 | ||||
3.2 | NUMBER OF DIRECTORS | 10 | ||||
3.3 | ELECTION, QUALIFICATION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS | 10 | ||||
3.4 | RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES | 11 | ||||
3.5 | PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE | 12 | ||||
3.6 | REGULAR MEETINGS | 12 | ||||
3.7 | SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE | 12 | ||||
3.8 | QUORUM | 12 |
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Table of Contents
(continued)
(continued)
Page | ||||||
3.9 | WAIVER OF NOTICE | 12 | ||||
3.10 | BOARD ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING | 13 | ||||
3.11 | FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS | 13 | ||||
3.12 | APPROVAL OF LOANS TO OFFICERS | 13 | ||||
3.13 | REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS | 13 | ||||
3.14 | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 13 | ||||
ARTICLE 4 | COMMITTEES | 14 | ||||
4.1 | COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS | 14 | ||||
4.2 | COMMITTEE MINUTES | 14 | ||||
4.3 | MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES | 14 | ||||
ARTICLE 5 | OFFICERS | 15 | ||||
5.1 | OFFICERS | 15 | ||||
5.2 | APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS | 15 | ||||
5.3 | SUBORDINATE OFFICERS | 15 | ||||
5.4 | REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS | 15 | ||||
5.5 | VACANCIES IN OFFICES | 15 | ||||
5.6 | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 15 | ||||
5.7 | PRESIDENT | 16 | ||||
5.8 | VICE PRESIDENTS | 16 | ||||
5.9 | SECRETARY | 16 | ||||
5.10 | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 16 | ||||
5.11 | REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS | 17 | ||||
5.12 | AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS | 17 | ||||
ARTICLE 6 | INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND OTHER AGENTS | 17 | ||||
6.1 | INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS | 17 | ||||
6.2 | INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHERS | 17 | ||||
6.3 | PAYMENT OF EXPENSES IN ADVANCE | 18 | ||||
6.4 | INDEMNITY NOT EXCLUSIVE | 18 | ||||
6.5 | INSURANCE | 18 |
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Table of Contents
(continued)
(continued)
Page | ||||||
6.6 | CONFLICTS | 18 | ||||
ARTICLE 7 | RECORDS AND REPORTS | 18 | ||||
7.1 | MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS | 18 | ||||
7.2 | INSPECTION BY DIRECTORS | 19 | ||||
7.3 | ANNUAL STATEMENT TO STOCKHOLDERS | 19 | ||||
ARTICLE 8 | GENERAL MATTERS | 19 | ||||
8.1 | CHECKS | 19 | ||||
8.2 | EXECUTION OF CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS | 19 | ||||
8.3 | STOCK CERTIFICATES; PARTLY PAID SHARES | 19 | ||||
8.4 | SPECIAL DESIGNATION ON CERTIFICATES | 20 | ||||
8.5 | LOST CERTIFICATES | 20 | ||||
8.6 | CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS | 20 | ||||
8.7 | DIVIDENDS | 20 | ||||
8.8 | FISCAL YEAR | 21 | ||||
8.9 | SEAL | 21 | ||||
8.10 | TRANSFER OF STOCK | 21 | ||||
8.11 | STOCK TRANSFER AGREEMENTS | 21 | ||||
8.12 | REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS | 21 | ||||
ARTICLE 9 | AMENDMENTS | 21 |
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AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
APPLIED MICRO CIRCUITS CORPORATION
OF
APPLIED MICRO CIRCUITS CORPORATION
ARTICLE 1
CORPORATE OFFICES
1.1 REGISTERED OFFICE.The registered office of the corporation shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware. The name of the registered agent of the corporation at such location is Incorporating Services Limited.
1.2 OTHER OFFICES.The Board of Directors may at any time establish other offices at any place or places where the corporation is qualified to do business.
ARTICLE 2
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
2.1 PLACE OF MEETINGS.Meetings of the stockholders of the corporation may be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as provided under the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
2.2 ANNUAL MEETING.The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held on such date, time and place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, as may be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors each year. At the meeting, directors shall be elected and any other proper business may be transacted.
2.3 ADVANCE NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER NOMINEES AND OTHER BUSINESS.
(a)At an annual meeting, only such business shall be conducted as is a proper matter for stockholder action under Delaware law and as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, a matter must be: (i) brought before the annual meeting and specified pursuant to the corporation’s notice of meeting of stockholders given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; (ii) brought before the annual meeting specifically by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by any stockholder of the corporation who was a stockholder of record (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such business is proposed, only if such beneficial owner was the beneficial owner of shares of the corporation) at the time of giving the stockholder’s notice provided for in Section 2.3(b) of these Bylaws, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in Section 2.3 of these Bylaws. Clause (iii) of this Section 2.3(a) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations and submit other business (other than matters properly included in the corporation’s notice of meeting of stockholders and proxy
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statement under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “1934 Act”)) before an annual meeting of stockholders.
(b)At an annual meeting of stockholders, the following procedures shall apply in order for a matter to be properly brought before the annual meeting by a stockholder.
(i) For nominations for election as directors to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 2.3(a) of these Bylaws, the stockholder must deliver written notice to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation on a timely basis as set forth in Section 2.3(b)(iii) of these Bylaws and must update and supplement such written notice on a timely basis as set forth in Section 2.3(c) of these Bylaws. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth: (A) as to each nominee such stockholder proposes to nominate at the meeting: (1) the name, age, business address and residence address of such nominee, (2) the principal occupation or employment of such nominee, (3) the class and number of shares of each class of capital stock of the corporation which are owned of record and beneficially by such nominee, (4) the date or dates on which such shares were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition, and (5) such other information concerning such nominee as would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of such nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved) or that is otherwise required to be disclosed pursuant to Section 14 of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); and (B) the information required by Section 2.3(b)(iv) of these Bylaws. With respect to each nominee such stockholder proposes to nominate at the meeting, the written notice shall be accompanied by a questionnaire, representation and agreement as required by Section 2.3(e) of these Bylaws completed and signed by such proposed nominee. The corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such proposed nominee.
(ii) For business other than nominations for election as directors to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 2.3(a) of these Bylaws, the stockholder must deliver written notice to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation on a timely basis as set forth in Section 2.3(b)(iii) of these Bylaws and must update and supplement such written notice on a timely basis as set forth in Section 2.3(c) of these Bylaws. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth: (A) as to each matter such stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting: (1) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, (2) the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, and (3) any material interest of any Proponent (as defined below) in such business (including any anticipated benefit of such business to any Proponent, which is material to any Proponent individually or to the Proponents in the aggregate other than solely as a result of its or their ownership of the corporation’s capital stock); and (B) the information required by Section 2.3(b)(iv) of these Bylaws.
(iii) To be timely, the written notice required by Section 2.3(b)(i) or 2.3(b)(ii) of these Bylaws must be received by the secretary at the principal
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executive offices of the corporation not later than the close of business on the sixtieth (60th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that, in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than thirty (30) days prior to or delayed by more than thirty (30) days after the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, for notice by the stockholder to be timely, such stockholder’s written notice must be so received by the secretary not earlier than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the sixtieth (60th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(iv) The written notice required by Section 2.3(b)(i) or 2.3(b)(ii) of these Bylaws shall also set forth, as of the date of the notice and as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (each, a “Proponent” and collectively, the “Proponents”): (A) the name and address of each Proponent (including, if applicable, the name and address that appear on the corporation’s books); (B) the class, series and number of shares of the corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by each Proponent; (C) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether oral or in writing) with respect to such nomination or proposal between or among any Proponent and any of its affiliates or associates, and any others (including their names) acting in concert, or otherwise under the agreement, arrangement or understanding, with any of the foregoing; (D) a representation that the Proponents are holders of record or beneficial owners, as the case may be, of shares of the corporation entitled to vote at the meeting and intend to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice (with respect to a notice under Section 2.3(b)(i) of these Bylaws) or to propose the business that is specified in the notice (with respect to a notice under Section 2.3(b)(ii) of these Bylaws); (E) a representation as to whether the Proponents intend to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of a sufficient number of the corporation’s voting shares to elect such nominee or nominees (with respect to a notice under Section 2.3(b)(i) of these Bylaws) or to carry such proposal (with respect to a notice under Section 2.3(b)(ii) of these Bylaws); (F) to the extent known by any Proponent, the name and address of any other stockholder supporting the proposal on the date of such stockholder’s notice; and (G) a description of all Derivative Transactions (as defined below) by each Proponent during the previous twelve (12) month period, including the date of any such Derivative Transaction and the class, series and number of securities involved in, and the material economic terms of, any such Derivative Transaction.
For purposes of Sections 2.3 and 2.4 of these Bylaws, a “Derivative Transaction” means any agreement, arrangement, interest or understanding entered into by, on behalf of or for the benefit of any Proponent or any of its affiliates or associates, whether record or beneficial:
(w) the value of which is derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares or other securities of the corporation,
(x) which otherwise provides any direct or indirect opportunity to gain or share in any gain derived from a change in the value of securities of the corporation,
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(y) the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss or manage risk or benefit of security value or price changes, or
(z) which provides the right to vote or to increase or decrease the voting power of such Proponent or any of its affiliates or associates with respect to any securities of the corporation,
which agreement, arrangement, interest or understanding may include, without limitation, any option, warrant, debt position, note, bond, convertible security, swap, stock appreciation right, short position (for purposes hereof, a person or entity shall be deemed to have a short position in a security of the corporation if such person or entity, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, relationship, understanding or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of such security), profit interest, hedge, right to dividends, voting agreement, performance-related fee or arrangement to borrow or lend shares (whether or not subject to payment, settlement, exercise or conversion in any such class or series), and any proportionate interest of such Proponent in the securities of the corporation held, directly or indirectly, by any general or limited partnership, or any limited liability company, of which such Proponent is a general partner or managing member or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in such general partner or managing member.
(c)A stockholder providing the written notice required by Section 2.3(b)(i) or 2.3(b)(ii) of these Bylaws shall update and supplement such notice in writing, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice is true and correct in all material respects as of (i) the record date for the meeting and (ii) as of the date that is five (5) business days prior to the date of the meeting and, in the event of any adjournment or postponement thereof, five (5) business days prior to the date to which such meeting is adjourned or postponed (or such lesser number of days prior to the date of such adjourned or postponed meeting as is reasonably practicable under the circumstances). In the case of an update and supplement pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 2.3(c), such update and supplement shall be received by the secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for the meeting. In the case of an update and supplement pursuant to clause (ii) of this Section 2.3(c), 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 two (2) business days prior to the date of the meeting, and, in the event of any adjournment or postponement thereof, two (2) business days prior to the date to which such meeting is adjourned or postponed (or such lesser number of days prior to the date of such adjourned or postponed meeting as is reasonably practicable under the circumstances).
(d)Notwithstanding anything in Section 2.3(b)(iii) of these Bylaws to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for election 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 Section 2.3(b)(iii) of these Bylaws, a stockholder’s notice required by Section 2.3 of these Bylaws and which complies with the requirements in Section 2.3(b)(i) of these Bylaws, other than the timing requirements in Section 2.3(b)(iii) of these Bylaws, shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be received by the secretary
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at the principal executive offices 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.
(e)To be eligible to be a nominee for election or re-election as a director pursuant to a nomination under clause (iii) of Section 2.3(a) of these Bylaws, such nominee or a person on his or her behalf must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Section 2.3(b)(iii) or 2.3(d) of these Bylaws, as applicable) to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such 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 person (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 person, if elected as a director, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the corporation in the questionnaire or (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director, with such person’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 in the questionnaire; (iii) in such person’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, and will comply with, all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the corporation; and (iv) if elected, will tender prior to being nominated for re-election as a director pursuant to clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.3(a) of these Bylaws, an irrevocable resignation effective upon (A) such person’s failure to receive the required vote for re-election at the next meeting at which such person would face re-election and (B) acceptance of such resignation by the Board of Directors, in accordance with the corporation’s Board Guidelines (or other policy of the corporation’s Board of Directors).
(f)A person shall not be eligible for election or re-election as a director unless the person is nominated either in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.3(a) of these Bylaws. Except as otherwise required by law, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination for election as a director or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made, or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall not be presented for stockholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded. Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, unless otherwise required by law, if a stockholder intending to make a nomination for election as a director at a meeting pursuant to Section 2.3(b)(i) of these Bylaws or to propose business at a meeting pursuant to Section 2.3(b)(ii) of these Bylaws does not provide the information in the stockholder’s notice required under Section 2.3(b)(i) or 2.3(b)(ii), as applicable, within the applicable time periods specified in Section 2.3 of these Bylaws (including any update and supplement required under Section 2.3(c) of these Bylaws), or the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the
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stockholder) does not appear at the meeting to make such nomination or to propose such business, or the Proponents shall not have acted in accordance with the representation required under Section 2.3(b)(iv)(E) of these Bylaws, such nomination or proposal shall not be presented for stockholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded, as determined by the chairman of the meeting as described above, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such nominations or such business may have been solicited or received.
(g)In order to include information with respect to a stockholder proposal in the proxy statement and form of proxy for a stockholders’ meeting, a stockholder must also comply with all applicable requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. Nothing in these Bylaws 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 1934 Act; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the 1934 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to proposals or nominations for election as directors to be considered by the stockholders at any annual meeting of stockholders pursuant to Section 2.3(a)(iii) of these Bylaws.
(h)For purposes of Sections 2.3 and 2.4 of these Bylaws,
(i) “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 Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act; and
(ii) “affiliates” and “associates” shall have the meanings set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).
2.4 SPECIAL MEETING.
(a)Special meetings of the stockholders of the corporation may be called, for any purpose or purposes as is a proper matter for stockholder action under Delaware law, by (i) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, (ii) the President of the corporation, or (iii) the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors (whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the time any such resolution is presented to the Board of Directors for adoption).
(b)The Board of Directors shall determine the time and place, if any, of any special meeting of stockholders. Upon determination of the time and place, if any, of such meeting, the secretary shall cause a notice of meeting to be given to the stockholders entitled to vote, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.5 of these Bylaws. No business may be transacted at such special meeting other than as specified in the corporation’s notice of meeting.
(c)Nominations of persons for election as directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving notice provided for in these Bylaws, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting, and who delivers written notice to the secretary of the corporation setting forth the information
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required by Section 2.3(b)(i) of these Bylaws. In the event the corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors, any such stockholder of record 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 Section 2.3(b)(i) (and that includes the information and other items required by Section 2.3(b)(i)) shall be received by the secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not earlier than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (A) the sixtieth (60th) day prior to such meeting or (B) 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. The stockholder shall also update and supplement such information as required under Section 2.3(c). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(d)A stockholder must also comply with all applicable requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this Section 2.4. Nothing in these Bylaws 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 1934 Act; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the 1934 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to proposals or nominations for election as directors to be considered by the stockholders at any special meeting of stockholders pursuant to Section 2.4(c) of these Bylaws.
2.5 NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE.Except as otherwise provided by law, notice, given in writing or by electronic transmission, of each meeting of stockholders shall be given in accordance with this Section 2.5 of these Bylaws not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify the place, if any, date, and hour of the meeting, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called 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 any such meeting.
Written notice of any meeting of stockholders, if mailed, is given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his address as it appears on the records of the corporation. An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary or of the transfer agent of the corporation that the notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
2.6 QUORUM.The holders of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the certificate of incorporation. If, however, such quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, then either (a) the chairman of the meeting or (b) the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum
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is present or represented, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed.
2.7 ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE.When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, if any, unless these Bylaws otherwise require, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting the corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. 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, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
2.8 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.The chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including the manner of voting and the conduct of business.
2.9 VOTING.
(a)The stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.11 of these Bylaws, subject to the provisions of Sections 217 and 218 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware (relating to voting rights of fiduciaries, pledgors and joint owners of stock and to voting trusts and other voting agreements).
(b)Except as may be otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder.
2.10 WAIVER OF NOTICE.Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the General Corporation Law of Delaware or of the certificate of incorporation or these Bylaws, notice may be waived in writing, signed by the person entitled to notice thereof, or by electronic transmission by such person, either before or after such meeting, and will be waived by any stockholder by his attendance thereat in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or by proxy, except when the stockholder attends a 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. Any stockholder so waiving notice of such meeting shall be bound by the proceedings of any such meeting in all respects as if due notice thereof had been given.
2.11 RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDER NOTICE; VOTING.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 or 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, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action. If the Board of Directors does not so fix a record date:
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(a)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.
(b)The record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
2.12 PROXIES.Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by a written proxy, signed by the stockholder and filed with the secretary of the corporation, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be deemed signed if the stockholder’s name is placed on the proxy (whether by manual signature, typewriting, telegraphic transmission or otherwise) by the stockholder or the stockholder’s attorney-in-fact. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section 212(e) of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
2.13 RECORD DATE FOR ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT. In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, 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 date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. Any stockholder of record seeking to have the stockholders authorize or take corporate action by written consent shall, by written notice to the secretary, request the Board of Directors to fix a record date. The Board of Directors shall promptly, but in all events within ten (10) days after the date on which such a request is received, adopt a resolution fixing the record date (unless a record date has previously been fixed by the Board of Directors pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 2.13). If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 2.13 or otherwise within ten (10) days of the date on which such a request is received, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by applicable law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware, its principal executive office, or to any officer or agent of the corporation having custody of the books in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board of Directors is required by applicable law, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be the close of business on the date on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
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2.14 INSPECTORS OF WRITTEN CONSENTS. In the event of the delivery, in the manner provided by Section 2.13, to the corporation of the requisite written consents to take corporate action and/or any related revocation or revocations, the corporation shall engage independent inspectors of elections for the purpose of performing a ministerial review of the validity of the consents and revocations. For the purpose of permitting the inspectors to perform such review, no action by written consent without a meeting shall be effective until such date as the independent inspectors certify to the corporation that the consents delivered to the corporation in accordance with Section 2.13 represent at least the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to take the corporate action under applicable law, the certificate of incorporation and these Bylaws. Nothing contained in this Section 2.14 shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the Board of Directors or any stockholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any consent or revocation thereof, whether before or after such certification by the independent inspectors, or take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution, or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive relief in such litigation).
2.15 EFFECTIVENESS OF WRITTEN CONSENTS. Every written consent shall bear that date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within sixty (60) days of the earliest dated written consent received in accordance with Section 2.13, a written consent or consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take such action, under applicable law, the certificate of incorporation and these Bylaws, are delivered to the corporation in the manner prescribed in Section 2.13.
ARTICLE 3
DIRECTORS
3.1 POWERS.Subject to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of Delaware and any limitations in the certificate of incorporation or these Bylaws relating to action required to be approved by the stockholders or by the outstanding shares, the business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed and all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.
3.2 NUMBER OF DIRECTORS.The authorized number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors shall be fixed by a resolution of the Board of Directors. No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director before such director’s term of office expires.
3.3 ELECTION, QUALIFICATION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS.Except as provided in Section 3.4 of these Bylaws and in the case of a “Contested Election” (as defined below), directors shall be elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to that director’s election to hold office until the next annual meeting. Directors need not be stockholders unless so required by the certificate of incorporation or these Bylaws, wherein other qualifications for directors may be prescribed. Each director, including a director elected to fill a vacancy, shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal. For purposes of this Section 3.3, a
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“majority of votes cast” means that the number of votes “for” a director’s election must exceed the number of votes “withheld” from (or “against”) that director’s election. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not count as votes cast with respect to that director’s election.
If the number of nominees for any election of directors exceeds the number of directors to be elected (a “Contested Election”), the nominees receiving a plurality of the votes cast by holders of shares entitled to vote in the election at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be elected.
Elections of directors need not be by written ballot.
3.4 RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES.Any director may resign at any time upon written notice to the attention of the secretary of the corporation. When one or more directors so resigns and the resignation is effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office as provided in this section in the filling of other vacancies.
Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or these Bylaws:
(a)Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors elected by all of the stockholders having the right to vote as a single class may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director.
(b)Whenever the holders of any class or classes of stock or series thereof are entitled to elect one or more directors by the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, vacancies and newly created directorships of such class or classes or series may be filled by a majority of the directors elected by such class or classes or series thereof then in office, or by a sole remaining director so elected.
If at any time, by reason of death or resignation or other cause, the corporation should have no directors in office, then any officer or any stockholder or an executor, administrator, trustee or guardian of a stockholder, or other fiduciary entrusted with like responsibility for the person or estate of a stockholder, may call a special meeting of stockholders in accordance with the provisions of the certificate of incorporation or these Bylaws, or may apply to the Court of Chancery for a decree summarily ordering an election as provided in Section 211 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
If, at the time of filling any vacancy or any newly created directorship, the directors then in office constitute less than a majority of the whole board (as constituted immediately prior to any such increase), then the Court of Chancery may, upon application of any stockholder or stockholders holding at least ten (10) percent of the total number of the shares at the time outstanding having the right to vote for such directors, summarily order an election to be held to fill any such vacancies or newly created directorships, or to replace the directors chosen by the directors then in office as aforesaid, which election shall be governed by the provisions of Section 211 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware as far as applicable.
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3.5 PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE.The Board of Directors of the corporation may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or outside the State of Delaware.
Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these Bylaws, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee, by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
3.6 REGULAR MEETINGS.Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the board.
3.7 SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE.Special meetings of the Board of Directors for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the chairman of the board, the president, any vice president, the secretary or any two (2) directors.
Notice of the time and place of all special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be delivered orally or in writing, by telephone, including a voice messaging system or other system or technology designed to record and communicate messages, facsimile, telegraph or telex, or by electronic mail or other electronic means, during normal business hours, at least twenty-four (24) hours before the date and time of the meeting. If notice is sent by US mail, it shall be sent by first class mail, charges prepaid, at least four (4) days before the date of the meeting. Any oral notice given personally or by telephone may be communicated either to the director or to a person at the office of the director who the person giving the notice has reason to believe will promptly communicate it to the director. The notice need not specify the purpose or the place of the meeting, if the meeting is to be held at the principal executive office of the corporation.
3.8 QUORUM.At all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the authorized number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute or by the certificate of incorporation. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, then the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.
A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting.
3.9 WAIVER OF NOTICE.Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the General Corporation Law of Delaware or of the certificate of incorporation or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof, in writing or by electronic transmission, signed by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting,
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except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, 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 regular or special meeting of the directors, or members of a committee of directors, need be specified in any written waiver of notice unless so required by the certificate of incorporation or these Bylaws.
3.10 BOARD ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING.Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and such writing or writings or transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
3.11 FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS.Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors. No such compensation shall preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
3.12 APPROVAL OF LOANS TO OFFICERS.Except as otherwise prohibited by applicable law, the corporation may lend money to, or guarantee any obligation of, or otherwise assist any officer or other employee of the corporation or of its subsidiaries, including any officer or employee who is a director of the corporation or its subsidiaries, whenever, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, such loan, guaranty or assistance may reasonably be expected to benefit the corporation. The loan, guaranty or other assistance may be with or without interest and may be unsecured, or secured in such manner as the Board of Directors shall approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of shares of stock of the corporation. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the corporation at common law or under any statute.
3.13 REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS.Unless otherwise restricted by statute, by the certificate of incorporation or by these Bylaws, any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors; provided, however, that if the stockholders of the corporation are entitled to cumulative voting, if less than the entire Board of Directors is to be removed, no director may be removed without cause if the votes cast against his removal would be sufficient to elect him if then cumulatively voted at an election of the entire Board of Directors.
No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director prior to the expiration of such director’s term of office.
3.14 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, a chairman of the Board of Directors who shall not be considered an officer of the corporation.
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ARTICLE 4
COMMITTEES
4.1 COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS.The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole board, designate one or more committees, with each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the corporation. 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 the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors or in the Bylaws of the corporation, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation, and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority to (a) amend the certificate of incorporation (except that a committee may, to the extent authorized in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of shares of stock adopted by the Board of Directors as provided in Section 151(a) of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, fix the designations and any of the preferences or rights of such shares relating to dividends, redemption, dissolution, any distribution of assets of the corporation or the conversion into, or the exchange of such shares for, shares of any other class or classes or any other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock of the corporation or fix the number of shares of any series of stock or authorize the increase or decrease of the shares of any series), (b) adopt an agreement of merger or consolidation under Sections 251 or 252 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, (c) recommend to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the corporation’s property and assets, (d) recommend to the stockholders a dissolution of the corporation or a revocation of a dissolution, or (e) amend the Bylaws of the corporation; and, unless the board resolution establishing the committee, the Bylaws or the certificate of incorporation expressly so provide, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend, to authorize the issuance of stock, or to adopt a certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to Section 253 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
4.2 COMMITTEE MINUTES.Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required.
4.3 MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES.Meetings and actions of committees shall be governed by, and held and taken in accordance with, the provisions of Section 3.5 (place of meetings and meetings by telephone), Section 3.6 (regular meetings), Section 3.7 (special meetings and notice), Section 3.8 (quorum), Section 3.9 (waiver of notice), and Section 3.10 (action without a meeting) of these Bylaws, with such changes in the context of such provisions as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the Board of Directors and its members; provided, however, that the time of regular meetings of committees may be determined either by resolution of the Board of Directors or by resolution of the committee, that special meetings of committees may also be called by resolution of the Board of Directors and that notice of special meetings of committees shall also be given to all alternate
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members, who shall have the right to attend all meetings of the committee. The Board of Directors may adopt rules for the government of any committee not inconsistent with the provisions of these Bylaws.
ARTICLE 5
OFFICERS
5.1 OFFICERS.The officers of the corporation shall be a chief executive officer, a president, a secretary, and a chief financial officer. The corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, one or more vice presidents, one or more assistant secretaries, one or more assistant treasurers, and any such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3 of these Bylaws. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.
5.2 APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS.The officers of the corporation, except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Sections 5.3 or 5.5 of these Bylaws, shall be appointed by the Board of Directors, subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment.
5.3 SUBORDINATE OFFICERS.The Board of Directors may appoint, or empower the chief executive officer or the president to appoint, such other officers and agents as the business of the corporation may require, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform such duties as are provided in these Bylaws or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
5.4 REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS.Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by an affirmative vote of the majority of the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the board or, except in the case of an officer chosen by the Board of Directors, by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board of Directors.
Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the attention of the secretary of the corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice; and, unless otherwise specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.
5.5 VACANCIES IN OFFICES.Any vacancy occurring in any office of the corporation shall be filled by the Board of Directors.
5.6 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.Subject to such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the Board of Directors to the chairman of the board, if any, the chief executive officer of the corporation shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction, and control of the business and the officers of the corporation. He or she shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and, in the absence or nonexistence of a chairman of the board, at all meetings of the Board of Directors and shall have the general
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powers and duties of management usually vested in the office of chief executive officer of a corporation and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws.
5.7 PRESIDENT.Subject to such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the Board of Directors to the chairman of the board (if any) or the chief executive officer, the president shall have general supervision, direction, and control of the business and other officers of the corporation. He or she shall have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the office of president of a corporation and such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws.
5.8 VICE PRESIDENTS.In the absence or disability of the chief executive officer and president, the vice presidents, if any, in order of their rank as fixed by the Board of Directors or, if not ranked, a vice president designated by the Board of Directors, shall perform all the duties of the president and when so acting shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions upon, the president. The vice presidents shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed for them respectively by the Board of Directors, these Bylaws, the president or the chairman of the board.
5.9 SECRETARY.The secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office of the corporation or such other place as the Board of Directors may direct, a book of minutes of all meetings and actions of directors, committees of directors, and stockholders. The minutes shall show the time and place of each meeting, the names of those present at directors’ meetings or committee meetings, the number of shares present or represented at stockholders’ meetings, and the proceedings thereof.
The secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office of the corporation or at the office of the corporation’s transfer agent or registrar, as determined by resolution of the Board of Directors, a share register, or a duplicate share register, showing the names of all stockholders and their addresses, the number and classes of shares held by each, the number and date of certificates evidencing such shares, and the number and date of cancellation of every certificate surrendered for cancellation.
The secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors required to be given by law or by these Bylaws. He or she shall keep the seal of the corporation, if one be adopted, in safe custody and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws.
5.10 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.The chief financial officer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the properties and business transactions of the corporation, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital retained earnings, and shares. The books of account shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by any director. The chief financial officer shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the corporation with such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. He or she shall disburse the funds of the corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, shall
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render to the president, the chief executive officer, or the directors, upon request, an account of all his or her transactions as chief financial officer and of the financial condition of the corporation, and shall have other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Bylaws.
5.11 REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS.The chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, the president, any vice president, the chief financial officer, the secretary or assistant secretary of this corporation, or any other person authorized by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer or the president or a vice president, is authorized to vote, represent, and exercise on behalf of this corporation all rights incident to any and all shares of any other corporation or corporations standing in the name of this corporation. The authority granted herein may be exercised either by such person directly or by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by the person having such authority.
5.12 AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS.In addition to the foregoing authority and duties, all officers of the corporation shall respectively have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the business of the corporation as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE 6
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS,
OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND OTHER AGENTS
OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND OTHER AGENTS
6.1 INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.The corporation shall, to the maximum extent and in the manner permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, indemnify each of its directors and officers against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any proceeding, arising by reason of the fact that such person is or was an agent of the corporation. For purposes of this Section 6.1, a “director” or “officer” of the corporation includes any person (a) who is or was a director or officer of the corporation, (b) who is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or (c) who was a director or officer of a corporation which was a predecessor corporation of the corporation or of another enterprise at the request of such predecessor corporation.
6.2 INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHERS.The corporation shall have the power, to the maximum extent and in the manner permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, to indemnify each of its employees and agents (other than directors and officers) against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any proceeding, arising by reason of the fact that such person is or was an agent of the corporation. For purposes of this Section 6.2, an “employee” or “agent” of the corporation (other than a director or officer) includes any person (a) who is or was an employee or agent of the corporation, (b) who is or was serving at the request of the corporation as an employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or (c) who was an employee or agent of a corporation which was a
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predecessor corporation of the corporation or of another enterprise at the request of such predecessor corporation.
6.3 PAYMENT OF EXPENSES IN ADVANCE.Expenses incurred in defending any action or proceeding for which indemnification is required pursuant to Section 6.1 or for which indemnification is permitted pursuant to Section 6.2 following authorization thereof by the Board of Directors shall be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the indemnified party to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that the indemnified party is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Article 6.
6.4 INDEMNITY NOT EXCLUSIVE.The indemnification provided by this Article 6 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any Bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in an official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, to the extent that such additional rights to indemnification are authorized in the certificate of incorporation
6.5 INSURANCE.The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was 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 him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
6.6 CONFLICTS.No indemnification or advance shall be made under this Article 6, except where such indemnification or advance is mandated by law or the order, judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, in any circumstance where it appears:
(a)That it would be inconsistent with a provision of the certificate of incorporation, these Bylaws, or an agreement in effect at the time of the accrual of the alleged cause of the action asserted in the proceeding in which the expenses were incurred or other amounts were paid, which prohibits or otherwise limits indemnification; or
(b)That it would be inconsistent with any condition expressly imposed by a court in approving a settlement.
ARTICLE 7
RECORDS AND REPORTS
7.1 MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS.The corporation shall, either at its principal executive offices or at such place or places as designated by the Board of Directors, keep a record of its stockholders listing their names and addresses and the number and class of shares held by each stockholder, a copy of these Bylaws as amended to date, accounting books, and other records.
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7.2 INSPECTION BY DIRECTORS.Any director shall have the right to examine the corporation’s stock ledger, a list of its stockholders, and its other books and records for a purpose reasonably related to his or her position as a director. The Court of Chancery is hereby vested with the exclusive jurisdiction to determine whether a director is entitled to the inspection sought. The Court may summarily order the corporation to permit the director to inspect any and all books and records, the stock ledger, and the stock list and to make copies or extracts therefrom. The Court may, in its discretion, prescribe any limitations or conditions with reference to the inspection, or award such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.
7.3 ANNUAL STATEMENT TO STOCKHOLDERS.The Board of Directors shall present at each annual meeting, and at any special meeting of the stockholders when called for by vote of the stockholders, a full and clear statement of the business and condition of the corporation.
ARTICLE 8
GENERAL MATTERS
8.1 CHECKS.From time to time, the Board of Directors shall determine by resolution which person or persons may sign or endorse all checks, drafts, other orders for payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness that are issued in the name of or payable to the corporation, and only the persons so authorized shall sign or endorse those instruments.
8.2 EXECUTION OF CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS.The Board of Directors, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the corporation; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Unless so authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors or within the agency power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.
8.3 STOCK CERTIFICATES; PARTLY PAID SHARES.The shares of a corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that 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. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the corporation.
Notwithstanding the adoption of such a resolution by the Board of Directors, every holder of stock represented by certificates and upon request every holder of uncertificated shares shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the corporation by the chairman or vice-chairman of the Board of Directors, or the chief executive officer or the president or vice-president, and by the chief financial officer or an assistant treasurer, or the secretary or an assistant secretary of such corporation representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer,
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transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
The corporation may issue the whole or any part of its shares as partly paid and subject to call for the remainder of the consideration to be paid therefor. Upon the face or back of each stock certificate issued to represent any such partly paid shares, upon the books and records of the corporation in the case of uncertificated partly paid shares, the total amount of the consideration to be paid therefor and the amount paid thereon shall be stated. Upon the declaration of any dividend on fully paid shares, the corporation shall declare a dividend upon partly paid shares of the same class, but only upon the basis of the percentage of the consideration actually paid thereon.
8.4 SPECIAL DESIGNATION ON CERTIFICATES.If the corporation is authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, then the powers, the designations, the preferences, and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate that the corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, in lieu of the foregoing requirements there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate that the corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock a statement that the corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, the designations, the preferences, and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
8.5 LOST CERTIFICATES. Except as provided in this Section 8.5, no new certificates for shares shall be issued to replace a previously issued certificate unless the latter is surrendered to the corporation and cancelled at the same time. The corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate previously issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or the owner’s legal representative, to give the corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.
8.6 CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS.Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction, and definitions in the General Corporation Law of Delaware shall govern the construction of these Bylaws. Without limiting the generality of this provision, the singular number includes the plural, the plural number includes the singular, and the term “person” includes both a corporation and a natural person.
8.7 DIVIDENDS.The directors of the corporation, subject to any restrictions contained in (a) the General Corporation Law of Delaware or (b) the certificate of incorporation,
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may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of its capital stock. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the corporation’s capital stock.
The directors of the corporation may set apart out of any of the funds of the corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve. Such purposes shall include but not be limited to equalizing dividends, repairing or maintaining any property of the corporation, and meeting contingencies.
8.8 FISCAL YEAR.The fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors and may be changed by the Board of Directors.
8.9 SEAL.The corporation may adopt a corporate seal, which may be altered at pleasure, and may use the same by causing it or a facsimile thereof, to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.
8.10 TRANSFER OF STOCK.Upon surrender to the corporation or the transfer agent of the corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate, and record the transaction in its books.
8.11 STOCK TRANSFER AGREEMENTS.The corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes of stock of the corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the corporation of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
8.12 REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS.The corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and to vote as such owner, shall be entitled to hold liable for calls and assessments the person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of another person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.
ARTICLE 9
AMENDMENTS
The Bylaws of the corporation may be adopted, amended or repealed by the stockholders entitled to vote; provided, however, that the corporation may, in its certificate of incorporation, confer the power to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws upon the directors. The fact that such power has been so conferred upon the directors shall not divest the stockholders of the power, nor limit their power to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws.
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