AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF
EXPONENT, INC.
(As amended and restated February 9, 2012)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1.1.Registered Office. The registered office of Exponent, Inc. (hereafter called the "Corporation”) in the State of Delaware shall be as determined by the Corporation’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) from time to time. The registered agent of the Corporation at such address shall be as determined by the Board from time to time.
Section 1.2.Principal Office. The principal office for the transaction of the business of the Corporation shall be at 149 Commonwealth Drive, Menlo Park, California, 94025. The Board is hereby granted full power and authority to change said principal office from one location to another.
Section 1.3.Other Offices. The Corporation may also have an office or offices at such other place or places, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board may from time to time determine or as the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 2.1.Annual Meetings.
(a) Annual meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of such other proper business as may come before such meetings shall be held each year on a date and at a time designated by the Board.
(b) Nominations of persons for election to the Board and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting only (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice with respect to such meeting (or any supplement thereto), (ii) by or at the direction of the Board or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of the notice provided for in this Section 2.1, who is entitled to vote at the annual meeting and who, for any annual meeting of the Corporation on or after January 1, 2012, has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.1.
(c) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (b) of this Section 2.1: (i) the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, as provided in this Section 2.1; (ii) such business must be a proper matter for stockholder action under General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware General Corporation Law”); (iii) if the stockholder, or the beneficial owner on whose behalf any such proposal or nomination is made, has provided the Corporation with a Solicitation Notice (as defined below), such stockholder or beneficial owner must, in the case of a proposal, have delivered a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to carry any such proposal, or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, have delivered a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of a percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares reasonably believed by such stockholder or beneficial holder to be sufficient to elect the nominee or nominees proposed to be nominated by such stockholder, and must, in either case, have included in such materials the Solicitation Notice; and (iv) if no Solicitation Notice relating thereto has been timely provided pursuant to this section, the stockholder or beneficial owner proposing such business or nomination must not have solicited a number of proxies sufficient to have required the delivery of such a Solicitation Notice under this section.
(d) To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days before the first anniversary (the “Anniversary”) of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days before or delayed by more than thirty (30) days after the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, or if the Corporation did not hold an annual meeting in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day before such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.
(e) Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth:
(i) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director: (A) as to each person who is not an incumbent Director of the Corporation whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a Director, (1) the name, age, business address and residence address of such person; (2) the principal occupation or employment of such person; (3) the class, series and number of securities of the Corporation that are owned of record or beneficially by such person; (4) the date or dates the securities were acquired and the investment intent of each acquisition; (5) any other information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations for proxies for elections of Directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (or any comparable successor rule or regulation under the Exchange Act); and (6) any other information relating to such person that the Board or any nominating committee of the Board reviews in considering any person for nomination as a Director, as will be provided by the Secretary of the Corporation upon request; and (B) a written consent of each proposed nominee to serve as a Director of the Corporation, if elected, and a representation that the proposed nominee (1) does not or will not have any undisclosed voting commitments or other arrangements with respect to his or her actions as a Director; and (2) will comply with these Bylaws and all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation;
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(ii) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of such business, 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 these Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment) the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and
(iii) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made: (A) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner; (B) the class and number of shares of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner; (C) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination; (D) a description of any material interests of any of these persons in the business proposed and of all agreements, arrangements and understanding between these persons and any other person (including their names) in connection with the proposal of the business by the stockholder; (E) a description of any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which any of these persons has a right to vote any shares of any securities of the Corporation; (F) a description of any derivative positions related to any class or series of securities of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by the stockholder or such beneficial owner; (G) a description of whether and the extent to which any hedging, swap or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of securities) has been made, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, or manage risk of stock price changes for, or to increase the voting power of, the stockholder or such beneficial owner with respect to any securities of the Corporation; (H) a representation that after the date of the stockholder’s notice and up to the date of the meeting, each of these persons will provide written notice to the Secretary of the Corporation as soon as practicable following a change in the number of securities of the Corporation held as described in response to subclause (B) above that equals 1% or more of the then-outstanding shares of the Corporation, and/or entry, termination, amendment or modification of the agreements, arrangements or understandings described in response to subclause (F) above that results in a change that equals 1% or more of the then-outstanding shares of the Corporation or in the economic interests underlying those agreements, arrangements or understandings; and (I) a representation whether either such stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends to (1) deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of, in the case of a proposal, at least the percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to carry the proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, a sufficient number of holders of the Corporation’s voting shares to elect such nominee or nominees (an affirmative statement of such intent, a “Solicitation Notice”) and/or (2) otherwise solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination.
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(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.1 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board made by the Corporation at least 55 days before the Anniversary, a stockholder’s notice required by this Bylaw shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary 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.
(g) Only persons nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.1 shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power and the duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting has been made 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 defectively proposed business or nomination shall not be presented for stockholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded.
(h) Nothing in this Section 2.1 shall be deemed to grant or affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act.
Section 2.2.Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the Lead Independent Director, the Board or a committee of the Board which has been duly designated by the Board and whose powers and authority, as provided in a resolution of the Board or in these Bylaws, include the power to call such meetings, and shall be called by the Chairman of the Board at the request in writing of a person or persons holding, directly or indirectly, not less than 25% of the votes entitled to be cast for the election of directors at the time any such determination is being made. Unless otherwise prescribed by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, special meetings may not be called by any other person or persons. No business may be transacted at any special meeting of stockholders other than such business as may be designated in the notice calling such meeting.
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Section 2.3.Place of Meetings. All meetings of the stockholders shall be held at such places, within or without the State of Delaware, as may from time to time be designated by the Board. If no designation is made, the meeting shall be held at the principal office of the Corporation. The Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting may be held solely by means of remote communication, as permitted by Section 211 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Section 2.4.Notice of Meetings.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein or required by law, notice of each meeting of the stockholders, whether annual or special, shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting by delivering a typewritten or printed notice thereof to such stockholder personally, or by depositing such notice in the United States mail, in a postage prepaid envelope, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, or by delivery by electronic mail or other electronic transmission in the manner provided under (and with the consent required by) Section 232 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Except as otherwise expressly required by law, no publication of any notice of a meeting of the stockholders shall be required.
(b) Every notice of a meeting of the stockholders shall state the place (if any), date and time of the meeting; the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting; and, in the case of a special meeting, shall also state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. 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.
Section 2.5.Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the person entitled to notice, or waiver by electronic mail or other electronic transmission by such person, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given to any stockholder who shall have waived such notice and such notice shall be deemed waived by any stockholder who shall attend such meeting in person or by proxy, except a stockholder who shall attend such meeting for the expresspurpose ofobjecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.Except as otherwise expressly required by law, notice of any adjourned meeting of the stockholders need not be given if the time and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than 30 days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, or if a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the place, if any, date, and time of the adjourned meeting and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, shall be given in conformity herewith.
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Section 2.6.Quorum. Except in the case of any meeting for the election of directors summarily ordered as provided by law, the holders of record of a majority in voting interest of the shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to be voted thereat, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation or any adjournment thereof. Where a separate vote by a class, series, classes, or series is required, a majority of the outstanding shares of such class, series, classes or series, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter. In the absence of a quorum at any meeting or any adjournment thereof, a majority in voting interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat or, in the absence therefrom of all the stockholders, any officer entitled to preside at, or to act as secretary of, such meeting may adjourn such meeting from time to time. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called. No business may be transacted at a meeting in the absence of a quorum other than the adjournment of such meeting, except that if a quorum is present at the commencement of a meeting, business may be transacted until the meeting is adjourned even though the withdrawal of stockholders results in less than a quorum.
Section 2.7.Proxies and Voting.
(a) Each stockholder shall, at each meeting of the stockholders, be entitled to vote in person or by proxy each share of the stock of the Corporation having voting rights on the matter in question and which shall have been held by such stockholder and registered in such stockholder’s name on the books of the Corporation:
(i) on the date fixed pursuant to Section 6.5 of these Bylaws as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting, or
(ii) if no such record date shall have been so fixed, then (a) at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice of the meeting shall be given or (b) if notice of the meeting shall be waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting shall be held.
(b) Shares of its own stock belonging to the Corporation or to another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors in such other corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes. Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the right of the Corporation to vote stock, including but not limited to its own stock, held by it in a fiduciary capacity. Persons holding stock of the Corporation in a fiduciary capacity shall be entitled to vote such stock. Persons whose stock is pledged shall be entitled to vote, unless in the transfer by the pledgor on the books of the Corporation such person shall have expressly empowered the pledgee to vote thereon, in which case only the pledgee, or the pledgee’s proxy, may represent such stock and vote thereon. Stock having voting power standing of record in the names of two or more persons, whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety or otherwise, or with respect to which two or more persons have the same fiduciary relationship, shall be voted in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
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(c) Any such voting rights may be exercised by the stockholder entitled thereto in person or by such stockholder’s proxy appointed by an instrument in writing or by transmission permitted by law filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting, subscribed by such stockholder or by such stockholder’s attorney thereunto authorized and delivered to the Secretary of the meeting; provided, however, that no proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date unless said proxy shall provide for a longer period. Any copy, facsimile communication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this paragraph may be substituted or used in lieu of the originalwriting 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.The attendance at any meeting of a stockholder who may theretofore have given a proxy shall not have the effect of revoking the same unless the stockholder shall in writing so notify the secretary of the meeting prior to the voting of the proxy.
(d) At any meeting of the stockholders all matters, except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, in these Bylaws or by applicable law, shall be decided by the vote of a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat and thereon, a quorum being present. Where a separate vote by a class, series, classes or series is required, an affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of such class, series, classes or series present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting shall be the act of such class, series, classes or series. The vote at any meeting of the stockholders on any questions need not be by ballot, unless so directed by the chairman of the meeting. On a vote by ballot each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting, or by such stockholder’s proxy, if there be such proxy, and it shall state the number of shares voted.
Section 2.8.List of Stockholders. The Secretary of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the duration thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.
Section 2.9.Organization; Conduct of Business. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, or in his or her absence, such person as the Board may designate, which person shall call to order any meeting of the stockholders and act as chairman of the meeting. The Board may adopt such rules or regulations for the conduct of meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, 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. The chairman shall have the power to adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date and time. The date and time of opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting. In the absence of the Secretary of the Corporation, the secretary of the meeting shall be such person as the chairman of the meeting appoints.
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Section 2.10. Judges. If at any meeting of the stockholders a vote by written ballot shall be taken on any question, the chairman of such meeting may appoint a judge or judges to act with respect to such vote. Each judge so appointed shall first subscribe an oath faithfully to execute the duties of a judge at such meeting with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability such judges shall decide upon the qualification of the voters and shall report the number of shares represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on such questions, shall conduct and accept the votes, and, when the voting is completed, shall ascertain and report the number of shares voted respectively for and against the question. Reports of judges shall be in writing and subscribed and delivered by them to the Secretary of the Corporation. The judges need not be stockholders of the Corporation, and any officer of the Corporation may be a judge on any question other than a vote for or against a proposal in which such officer shall have a material interest.
Section 2.11.Action by Written Consent. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice except as otherwise provided by applicable law, and without a vote, if a consent in writing setting forth the action so taken shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the state of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation's registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Every written consent shall bear the 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 60 days of the earliest dated consent delivered in the manner required by this section to the Corporation, written consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders to take action are delivered to the Corporation by delivery as aforesaid. Prompt notice of the taking of corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing.
ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 3.1.General Powers. The property, business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board.
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Section 3.2.Number and Qualification of Directors.The authorized number of directors shall be such number between five (5) and eight (8), inclusive, as shall be determined from time to time by a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board or by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total voting power of all outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation. A majority of the members of the Board shall be persons who are not employees of the Corporation. Employees on temporary leave shall not be considered candidates for non-employee director positions. The indefinite number of directors may be changed, or a definite number fixed without provision for an indefinite number, by a duly adopted amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation or by an amendment to this bylaw duly adopted by the vote or written consent of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, provided, however, that an amendment reducing the number or the minimum number of directors to a number less than five (5) cannot be adopted if the votes cast against its adoption at a meeting of the stockholders, or the shares not consenting in the case of action by written consent, are equal to more than 16-2/3% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote. No amendment may change the stated maximum number of authorized directors to a number greater than two times the stated minimum number of directors minus one. No decrease in the number of authorized directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Section 3.3.Election of Directors.
(a) The directors shall be elected by the stockholders of the Corporation at each annual meeting of stockholders or by written consent pursuant to Section 2.11 hereof.
(b) A nominee for director shall be elected to the Board if the votes cast for such nominee’s election exceed the votes cast against such nominee’s election (with abstentions and “broker non-votes” not counted as votes cast either for or against such nominee’s election); provided, however, that directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at any meeting of stockholders at which (i) the number of nominees for the board exceeds the number of open board seats; (ii) one or more nominees has been nominated pursuant to the advance notice requirements for stockholder nominees set forth in these bylaws or pursuant to the provisions of any future law, rule or regulation that require the Corporation to allow stockholder nominations in a manner other than that provided in these bylaws; and (iii) any such nomination has not been withdrawn on or before the tenth day before the Corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to the stockholders. If directors are to be elected by a plurality of the votes cast, stockholders shall not be permitted to vote against a nominee.
(c) The election of directors is subject to any provisions contained in the Certificate of Incorporation relating thereto.
(d) Each of the directors of the Corporation shall hold office until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until such director shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereafter provided.
Section 3.4.Resignations. Any director of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board or to the Secretary of the Corporation. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, or, if the time be not specified, it shall take effect immediately upon its receipt; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
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Section 3.5.Removal. Any Director or the entire Board may be removed without cause by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total voting power of all outstanding shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors, provided that when by the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation the holders of the shares of any class or series, voting as a class or series, are entitled to elect one or more directors, any director so elected may be removed only by the applicable vote of the holders of the shares of that class or series. Any reduction of the authorized number of directors does not remove any director prior to the expiration of such director's term of office.
Section 3.6.Vacancies. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any vacancy in the Board, whether because of death, resignation, disqualification, an increase in the number of directors, or any other cause, may be filled by vote of the majority of the remaining directors, although less than a quorum. The stockholders may elect a director at any time to fill any vacancy not filled by the directors. Each director so chosen or elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office until such directors successor shall have been elected and shall qualify or until such director shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner herein provided.If at any time, by reason of death, resignation, disqualification or any other cause, the Corporation should have no directors in office, then any officer 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 Delaware General Corporation Law.
Section 3.7.Place of Meeting, Etc. The Board, or any committee thereof, may hold any of its meetings at such place or places within or without the state of Delaware as the Board, or such committee, may from time to time designate or as shall be designated by the person or persons calling the meeting or in the notice or a waiver of notice of any such meeting. Directors may participate in any regular or special meeting of the Board, or such committee, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment pursuant to which all persons participating in the meeting of the Board, or such committee, can hear each other, and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 3.8.First Meeting. The Board shall meet as soon as practicable after each annual election of directors and notice of such first meeting shall not be required.
Section 3.9.Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board may be held at such times as the Board shall from time to time determine. If any day fixed for a regular meeting shall be a legal holiday at the place where the meeting is to be held, then the meeting shall be held at the same hour and place on the next succeeding business day not a legal holiday. Except as provided by law, notice of regular meetings need not be given.
Section 3.10.Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the Lead Independent Director, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Secretary or any director. Notice of all special meetings of the Board shall be given to each director as follows:
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(a) by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the address of the director as it appears in the records of the Corporation, deposited in the United States mail in the city where the principal office of the Corporation is located at least five (5) days before the date of such meeting; or
(b) by personal delivery to the address of the director as it appears in the records of the Corporation at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the time of holding such meeting;
(c) by facsimile or electronic mail to the facsimile number or electronic mail address of the director as it appears on the records of the Corporation sent at leasttwenty-four (24) hours prior to the time of holding such meeting; or
(d) by telephone at any of the telephone numbers of the director as they appear on the records of the Corporation, orally communicated to the directorat leasttwenty-four (24) hours prior to the time of holding such meeting.
Such notice may be waived by any director and any meeting shall be a legal meeting without notice having been given if all the directors shall be present thereat or if those not present shall, either before or after the meeting, sign a written waiver of notice of, or a consent to, such meeting or-shall after the meeting sign the approval of the minutes thereof. All such waivers, consents or approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or be made a part of the minutes of the meeting.
Section 3.11.Quorum and Manner of Acting. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws or by law, the presence of a majority of the total number of directors then in office shall be required to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws or by law, all matters shall be decided at any such meeting, a quorum being present, by the affirmative votes of a majority of the directors present. A majority of the directors present at any meeting, whether or not constituting a quorum, may adjourn the same from time to time until a quorum shall be present. Notice of any adjourned meeting need not be given. The directors shall act only as a Board, and the individual directors shall have no power as such. 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.
Section 3.12.Action by Written Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if a written consent thereto is signed by all members of the Board or of such committee, as the case may be, and such written consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.
Section 3.13.Compensation. The directors shall receive only such compensation for their services as directors as may be allowed by resolution of the Board. The Board may also provide that the Corporation shall reimburse each such director for any expense incurred by such director on account of such director’s attendance at any meetings of the Board or Committees of the Board. Neither the payment of such compensation nor the reimbursement of such expenses shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation or its subsidiaries in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
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Section 3.14.Emergency Bylaws. In the event of any emergency, disaster, catastrophe, or other emergency condition, as referred to in Section 110 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or other similar emergency condition, as a result of which a quorum of the Board or a standing committee of the Board cannot readily be convened for action, then the director(s) in attendance at a meeting shall constitute a quorum. Such director(s) in attendance may further take action to appoint one or more of themselves or other directors to membership on any standing or temporary committees of the Board as they shall deem necessary and appropriate.
Section 3.15.Committees of Directors. The Board may designate one or more committees, each such committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board may also designate, if it desires, other directors as alternate members who may replace any absent or disqualified member of any such committee at any meeting thereof. To the full extent permitted by law, any such committee shall have and may exercise such powers and authority as the Board may designate. Vacancies in the membership of a committee shall be filled by the Board at a regular meeting or a special meeting for that purpose. Any such committee shall keep written minutes of its meeting and report the same to the Board when required. In the absence or disqualification of any member of any such committee and any alternate member or members of any such committee present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they constitute a quorum, may, by unanimous vote, appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member. The provisions of Sections 3.9, 3.10, 3.11, and 3.12 of these Bylaws shall apply,mutatismutandis, to any such committee of the Board.
Section 3.16.Conduct of Meeting. Directors' meetings shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, if there shall be such an officer, and, if not, the Lead Independent Director, or, if neither the Chairman of the Board or the Lead Independent Director is present, by a director chosen by a majority of the directors present. The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as Secretary of the Board. In case the Secretary shall be absent from any meeting, the person presiding over the meeting may appoint any person to act as Secretary of the meeting.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 4.1.Number. The officers of the Corporation shall be a Chief Executive Officer or President or both, a Secretary and a Chief Financial Officer. The Board may also elect one or more Vice Presidents and one or more Assistant Secretaries. A person may hold more than one office providing the duties thereof can be consistently performed by the same person.
Section 4.2.Other Officers. The Board may appoint, or empower the Chief Executive Officer or President to appoint, such other officers as they shall deem necessary who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time.
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Section 4.3.Election. Each of the officers of the Corporation, except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.2 or Section 4.4 of this Article, shall be chosen annually by the Board and shall hold office until he or she shall resign or shall be removed or otherwise disqualified to serve, or his or her successor shall be elected and qualified.
Section 4.4.Removal; Vacancies. Subject to the express provisions of a contract authorized by the Board, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, at any time by the Board or by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board.
Section 4.5.The Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board, if there shall be such an officer, shall, if present, preside at all meetings of the stockholders and directors and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board or by applicable law. He or she shall be an ex-officio member of standing committees, if so provided in the resolutions of the Board appointing the members of such committees.
Section 4.6.Lead Independent Director. When the Chairman of the Board is the Chief Executive Officer or is otherwise not an “independent director” as defined under the rules of the principal market upon which shares of the Corporation’s common stock is then traded (an “Independent Director”), the Board may select a director from among the Independent Directors to serve as the Lead Independent Director. If appointed, the Lead Independent Director shall perform such duties as may be assigned to the Lead Independent Director by these Bylaws or by the Board, and in the absence ofor in the event of the Chairman of the Board's inability or refusal to act, the Lead Independent Director shall perform the duties of the Chairman of the Board, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Chairman of the Board.
Section 4.7.The Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall be the managing officer of the Corporation. Subject to the control of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall have general supervision, control and management of the affairs and business of the Corporation, and general charge and supervision of all offices, agents and employees of the Corporation; shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect; shall, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, preside at all meetings of the stockholders and Board; and in general shall exercise all powers and perform all duties incident to Chief Executive Officer and managing officer of the Corporation and such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to the Chief Executive Officer by the Board or as may be prescribed in these Bylaws.
The Chief Executive Officer may execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board to some other officer or agent of the Corporation.
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Section 4.8.The President. Subject to the control of the Board and any supervisory powers the Board may give to the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, the President of the Corporation shall, if a President is appointed, assist the Chief Executive Officer in the general supervision, direction, and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation. The President shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed for him or her by the Board, these Bylaws, the Chairman of the Board, or the Chief Executive Officer.In the absence of the Chief Executive Officer or in the event of the Chief Executive Officer's inability or refusal to act, the President shall perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 4.9.The Vice Presidents. In the absence of the Chief Executive Officer and the President or in the event of the Chief Executive Officer's and the President’s inability or refusal to act, the Vice President (or in the event there be more than one Vice President, the Vice Presidents in the order designated, or in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their election) shall perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Chief Executive Officer. The Vice Presidents shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board may from time to time prescribe.
Section 4.10.The Secretary and Assistant Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings of the Corporation and of the Board in a book to be kept for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing and special committees of the Board when required. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board or Chief Executive Officer, under whose supervision the Secretary shall act. The Secretary shall have custody of the corporate seal of the Corporation and the Secretary, or an assistant secretary, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it and, when so affixed, it may be attested by the Secretary’s signature or by the signature of such assistant secretary. The Board may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing by such officer’s signature.
The assistant secretary, or if there be more than one, the assistant secretaries in the order determined by the Board (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their election), shall, in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of the Secretary’s inability or the Secretary’s refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board may from time to time prescribe.
Section 4.11.Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct accounts of the properties and business transactions of the Corporation. The books of account shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by any director.
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The Chief Financial Officer shall deposit all monies and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Corporation with such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Chief Financial Officer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board, shall render to the Chief Executive Officer and directors, whenever they request it, an account of all of his or her transactions as Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the Corporation, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board or the Bylaws.
ARTICLE V
CONTRACTS, CHECKS, DRAFTS, BANK ACCOUNTS, ETC.
Section 5.1.Checks, Drafts, Contracts, Etc. All checks, drafts or other orders for payment of money, notes or other evidence of indebtedness payable by the Corporation and all contracts or agreements shall be signed by such person or persons and in such manner as, from time to time, shall be determined by the Board or by officers, agents, or others to whom such power shall have been delegated.
Section 5.2.Deposits. All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Board may select, or as may be selected by any officer or officers, assistant or assistants, agent or agents, or attorney or attorneys of the Corporation to whom such power shall have been delegated by the Board. For the purpose of deposit and for the purpose of collection for the account of the Corporation, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President or the Chief Financial Officer (or any other officer or officers, assistant or assistants, agent or agents, or attorney or attorneys of the Corporation who shall from time to time be determined by the Board) may endorse, assign and deliver checks, drafts and other orders for the payment of money which are payable to the order of the Corporation.
Section 5.3.General and Special Bank Accounts. The Board may from time to time authorize the opening and keeping of general and special bank accounts with such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Board may select or as may be selected by any officer or officers, assistant or assistants, agent or agents, or attorney or attorneys of the Corporation to whom such power shall have been delegated by the Board. The Board may make such special rules and regulations with respect to such bank accounts, not inconsistent with the provisions of these Bylaws, as it may deem expedient.
ARTICLE VI
SHARES AND THEIR TRANSFER
Section 6.1. Stock Certificates. The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board may establish by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the Corporation’s stock shall be issued or issuable as uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation.Certificates of stock, if any, shall be signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, and by the Chief Financial Officer, or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation. Any of or all the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a 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 such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
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Section 6.2.Transfers of Stock. Upon compliance with any provisions restricting the transfer or registration of transfer of shares of stock, if any, transfers or registrations of transfers of shares of stock of the Corporation shall be made only on the books of the Corporation bythe registered holder thereof in person or by such holder’s attorney, upon surrender for cancellation of certificates for the same number of shares, with an assignment and power of transfer endorsed thereon or attached thereto, duly executed, with such proof of the authenticity of the transfer and payment of any applicable transfer taxes as the Corporation or its agents may reasonably require, or by appropriate book-entry procedures. The person in whose name shares of stock stand on the books of the Corporation shall be deemed the owner thereof for all purposes as regards the Corporation. Whenever any transfer of shares shall be made for collateral security, and not absolutely, such fact shall be so expressed in the entry of transfer if, when the certificate or certificates shall be presented to the Corporation for transfer, both the transferor and the transferee request the Corporation to do so.
Section 6.3.Regulations. The Board may make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient, not inconsistent with these Bylaws, concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for shares of the stock of the Corporation. It may appoint, or authorize any officer or officers to appoint, one or more transfer clerks or one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars, and may require all certificates for stock to bear the signature or signatures of any of them.
Section 6.4.Lost, Stolen, Destroyed, and Mutilated Certificates. In any case of loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any certificate of stock, another may be issued in its place upon proof of such loss, theft, destruction or mutilation and upon the giving of a bond of indemnity to the Corporation in such form and in such sum as the Board may direct; provided, however, that a new certificate may be issued without requiring any bond when, in the judgment of the Board, it is proper so to do.
Section 6.5.Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action except for consenting to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which shall not precede the date the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of any meeting of stockholders, nor more than 60 days prior to the time for such other action as herein before described; provided, however, that if no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day 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 and, for determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or any other lawful action except for consenting to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the record date shall be the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts a resolution relating thereto.
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For purposes of determining the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall not be more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, as of which shall be determined the stockholders of record entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting. If no record date has been fixed by the Board and no prior action by the Board is required by the Delaware General Corporation Law, the record date 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 in the manner prescribed in Section 2.11 hereof. If no record date has been fixed by the Board and prior action by the Board is required by the Delaware General Corporation Law with respect to the proposed action, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing shall be the close of business on the day in which the Board adopts the resolutions taking such prior action.
ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 7.1.Indemnification of Officers, Directors, Employees and Agents; Insurance.
(a) 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 in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent 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, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation 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 permitted prior thereto), against all expenses, 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 and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee's heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that except as provided in paragraph (c) hereof with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or is subsequently ratified by the Board.
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(b) Right to Advancement of Expenses. The right to indemnification conferred in paragraph (a) of this section shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any proceeding for which such right to indemnification is applicable in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an "advancement of expenses");provided,however, that, if the Delaware General Corporation 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 section or otherwise.
(c) Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section shall be a contract between the Corporation and each director or officer of the Corporation who serves or served in such capacity at any time while this Article VII is in effect. Any repeal or modification of this Article VII or any repeal or modification of relevant provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law or any other applicable laws shall not in any way diminish any rights to indemnification of such director or officer or the obligations of the Corporation hereunder. If a claim under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. 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 be entitled to be paid also the expense 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 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 set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its board of 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 set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including the Board, 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 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 Section or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.
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(d) Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Section shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the Corporation's certificate of incorporation, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in an official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.
(e) Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, 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 such person against such expense, liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law, provided that such insurance is available on acceptable terms, which determination shall be made by the Board or by a committee thereof.
(f) Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation. The Corporation may, to the extent and in accordance with the terms authorized from time to time by the Board, 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 section with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation.
(g) For purposes of this Section, references to "the Corporation" shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this Section with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(h) For purposes of this Section, references to "serving at the request of the Corporation" shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner "not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation" as referred to in the Delaware General Corporation Law.
(i) Notwithstanding anything else in this Article VII, in the event that the express provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law relating to indemnification of, or advancement of expenses by the Corporation to, persons eligible for indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article VII are amended to permit broader indemnification or advancement of expenses, then the Corporation will provide such indemnification and advancement of expenses to the maximum extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.
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(j) If this Article VII or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each indemnitee of the Corporation as to costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including an action by or in the right of the Corporation, to the full extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article VII that shall not have been invalidated and to the full extent permitted by applicable law.
(k) Neither any amendment or repeal of any Section of this Article VII, nor the adoption of any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws inconsistent with this Article VII, shall adversely affect any right or protection of any director, officer, employee or other agent established pursuant to this Article VII existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision, including without limitation by eliminating or reducing the effect of this Article VII, for or in respect of any act, omission or other matter occurring, or any action or proceeding accruing or arising (or that, but for this Article VII, would accrue or arise), prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.1.Seal. The Board shall provide a corporate seal, which shall be in the form of a circle and shall bear the name of the Corporation and words and figures showing that the Corporation was incorporated in the state of Delaware and the year of incorporation.
Section 8.2.Construction; Definitions. Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction, and definitions in the Delaware General Corporation Law 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.
Section 8.3.Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board.
Section 8.4.Amendments. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws and applicable law, these Bylaws or any of them may be amended or repealed and new Bylaws may be adopted (a) by the Board, by vote of a majority of the number of directors then in office or (b) by the vote of the holders of in excess of 50% of the total voting power of all outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation at a meeting of stockholders; provided that such action may be taken at a special meeting of the Board or stockholders only if notice of such proposed amendment, repeal or adoption is given in the notice of special meeting. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, any Bylaws adopted or amended by the stockholders may be amended or repealed by the Board or the stockholders.
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Section 8.5.Voting Stock. Any person so authorized by the Board, and in the absence of such authorization, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President, shall have full power and authority on behalf of the Corporation to attend and to act and vote at any meeting of the stockholders of any corporation in which the Corporation may hold stock and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and powers which are incident to the ownership of such stock and which as the owner thereof the Corporation might have possessed and exercised if present. The Board by resolution from time to time may confer like powers upon any other person or persons.
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