Attached files
Exhibit 3.1
BY-LAWS
OF
LSI CORPORATION
As Amended on November 8, 2011
ARTICLE I
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 Corporation Service Company.
1.2 OTHER OFFICES
The corporation may have such other offices, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the board of directors of the corporation may designate or as may from time to time be desirable in the conduct of the business of the corporation.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
2.1 PLACE OF MEETINGS
(a) Meetings of stockholders shall be held at any place, within or outside the State of Delaware, designated by the board of directors. In the absence of any such designation, stockholders’ meetings shall be held at the registered office of the corporation. The board of directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 2.1(b).
(b) If authorized by the board of directors in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the board of directors may adopt, stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "General Corporation Law of Delaware"):
(i) Participate in a meeting of stockholders; and
(ii) Be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided that (A) the corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder, (B) the corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and (C) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the corporation.
2.2 ANNUAL MEETING
The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held each year on a date and at a time designated by the board of directors. At the annual meeting, directors shall be elected and any other proper business brought before the meeting in accordance with Section 2.16(a) may be transacted.
2.3 SPECIAL MEETING
A special meeting of the stockholders may be called at any time only by a majority of the board of directors, by the chairman of the board, by the president or by the chief executive officer. A special meeting may not be called by any other person or persons. Only such business shall be transacted at a special meeting as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of a majority of the board of directors, by the chairman of the board, by the president or by the chief executive officer. Nothing contained in this Section 2.3 shall be construed as limiting, fixing or affecting the time when a meeting of stockholders called by action of the board may be held.
2.4 NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS
All notices of meetings with stockholders shall be in writing, by electronic transmission or by any other means permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, and shall be sent or otherwise given in accordance with Section 2.5 of these by-laws not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify the place, date, and hour of the meeting and 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 (i) in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called (no business other than that specified in the notice may be transacted), or (ii) in the case of an annual meeting, those matters which the board of directors, at the time of giving the notice, intends to present for action by the stockholders (but any proper matter may be presented by the board of directors or otherwise in accordance with these by-laws at the meeting for such action). Any previously scheduled meeting of stockholders may be postponed, and (unless the certificate of
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incorporation otherwise provides) any special meeting of stockholders may be cancelled, by resolution of the board of directors upon public notice given prior to the date previously scheduled for such meeting of stockholders. For purposes of these by-laws, “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, which creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.
2.5 MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE
(a) Notice of any meeting of stockholders, if mailed, is given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at the address of such stockholder as it appears on the records of the corporation.
(b) Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be effective if delivered by electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given, which consent may be express or, if permitted under and in accordance with applicable law, implied. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (i) the corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the corporation in accordance with such consent, and (ii) such inability actually becomes known to the corporate secretary or to the transfer agent or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action. Notice given pursuant to this Section 2.5(b) shall be deemed given: (1) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (2) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (3) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and (4) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.
(c) Any notice to stockholders given by the corporation under the General Corporation Law of Delaware, the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the corporation. Any stockholder who fails to object in writing to the corporation, within 60 days of having been given written notice by the corporation of its intention to send the single notice, shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice.
(d) Whenever notice is required to be given, under the General Corporation Law of Delaware, the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws, to any person with whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person. Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to any such person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. In the event that the action taken by the corporation is such as to require the filing of a
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certificate under the General Corporation Law of Delaware, the certificate shall state, if such is the fact and if notice is required, that notice was given to all persons entitled to receive notice except such persons with whom communication is unlawful.
(e) An affidavit of the corporate secretary, an assistant corporate secretary, the transfer agent of the corporation or other agent that notice of any meeting of stockholders 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 (i) the chairman of the meeting or (ii) 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 or other announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present or represented, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed. The stockholders present at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.
2.7 ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE
When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, unless these by-laws otherwise require, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any (and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person at such adjourned meeting), 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 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. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power to adjourn any meeting of stockholders for any reason, and the stockholders shall have the power to adjourn any meeting of stockholders in accordance with Section 2.6 of these by-laws.
2.8 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by (a) the chairman of the board, (b) in the absence thereof, such person as the chairman of the board of directors shall appoint, (c) in the absence thereof, or in the event that the chairman of the board shall fail to make such appointment, the chief executive officer or such person as the chief executive officer shall appoint, or (d) in the absence thereof, or in the event that the chief executive officer shall fail to make such appointment,
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any officer of the corporation elected by the board of directors. In the absence of the corporate secretary, the secretary of the meeting shall be such person as the chairman of the meeting appoints.
The board of directors shall be entitled to make such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of stockholders as it shall deem necessary, appropriate or convenient. Subject to such rules and regulations, if any, the chairman of the meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are necessary, appropriate or convenient for the proper conduct of the meeting, including without limitation establishing an agenda of business of the meeting, rules or regulations to maintain order, restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for commencement thereof and the fixing of the date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting (and shall announce such at the meeting).
2.9 VOTING
The stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.12 of these by-laws, 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).
Except as provided in the last paragraph of this Section 2.9, or 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.
At a stockholders’ meeting at which directors are to be elected, each stockholder shall be entitled to cumulate votes (i.e., cast for any candidate a number of votes greater than the number of votes which such stockholder normally is entitled to cast) if the candidates’ names have been properly placed in nomination (in accordance with these by-laws) prior to commencement of the voting and the stockholder requesting cumulative voting has given notice prior to commencement of the voting of the stockholder’s intention to cumulate votes. If cumulative voting is properly requested, each holder of stock, or of any class or classes or of a series or series thereof, who elects to cumulate votes shall be entitled to as many votes as equals the number of votes which (absent this provision as to cumulative voting) such holder of stock would be entitled to cast for the election of directors with respect to such holder’s shares of stock multiplied by the number of directors to be elected by such holder, and such holder may cast all of such votes for a single director or may distribute them among the number to be voted for, or for any two or more of them, as the holder may see fit.
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 by-laws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such
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meeting, 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 stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice unless so required by the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws.
2.11 STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING
Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, any action required by the General Corporation Law of Delaware to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the corporation, or any action that may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, and without a vote if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is 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.
Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing. If the action which is consented to is such as would have required the filing of a certificate under any section of the General Corporation Law of Delaware if such action had been voted on by stockholders at a meeting thereof, then the certificate filed under such section shall state, in lieu of any statement required by such section concerning any vote of stockholders, that written consent has been given in accordance with Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
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2.12
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RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDER NOTICE; VOTING; GIVING CONSENTS
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(a) Actions other than Written Consent. For the purpose of determining 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 the allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion, or exchange of stock, or other lawful purpose (other than the expression of consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting) the directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which, in the case of a meeting of stockholders, shall not be more than 60 days nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed, 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 and the record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose pursuant to this Section 2.12(a) 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 any 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.
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(b) 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 record date shall not be more than 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 corporate secretary, request the board of directors to fix a record date. The board of directors may, at any time within 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 first sentence of this Section 2.12(b)), which record date shall not be more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the board of directors. If no record date has been fixed by the board of directors pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 2.12(b) or otherwise within 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 place of business, or to any officer or agent of the corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded, to the attention of the corporate secretary. 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 at the close of business on the date on which the board of directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
In the event of the delivery, in the manner provided by this Section 2.12(b), to the corporation of the requisite written consent or consents to take corporate action and/or any related revocation or revocations, the corporation may engage independent inspectors of elections for the purpose of performing promptly a ministerial review of the validity of the consents and revocations. For the purpose of permitting the inspectors to perform such review, in the event such inspectors are appointed, no action by written consent without a meeting shall be effective until such date as such appointed independent inspectors certify to the corporation that the consents delivered to the corporation in accordance herewith represent at least the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to take the corporate action. Nothing contained in this Section 2.12(b) 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 any certification by any independent inspectors, or to 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).
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 written consent received in accordance with this
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Section 2.12(b), a written consent or consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take such action are delivered to the corporation in the manner prescribed herein.
2.13 PROXIES
Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by a written proxy, signed by the stockholder and filed with the corporate secretary, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three 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, electronic representation 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.
2.14 LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE
The corporation shall prepare and make, at least 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, for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (i) during ordinary business hours, at the corporation’s principal place of business; or (ii) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting. In the event that the corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Such list shall presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them.
2.15 INSPECTORS OF ELECTION
Before any meeting of stockholders, the board of directors may appoint an inspector or inspectors of election to act at the meeting or its adjournment. If no inspector of election is so appointed, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint an inspector or inspectors of election to act at the meeting. The number of inspectors shall be either one or three. If any person appointed as inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint a person to fill that vacancy. Such inspector(s) shall perform such duties as may be required under the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
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2.16 NOMINATIONS AND PROPOSALS
(a) Advance Notice of Stockholder Business.
(i) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be brought: (A) by or at the direction of the board of directors or any committee thereof, (B) pursuant to the corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), or (C) by a stockholder of the corporation who (1) is a stockholder of record at the time of the giving of the notice provided for in these by-laws and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting and (2) has timely complied in proper written form with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.16(a). In addition, for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, such business must be a proper matter for stockholder action pursuant to these by-laws and applicable law. For the avoidance of doubt, clause (C) above shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to bring business (other than business included in the corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)) before an annual meeting of stockholders.
(ii) To comply with clause (C) of Section 2.16(a)(i), a stockholder’s notice must be in writing, must set forth all information required under this Section 2.16(a) and must be timely received by the corporate secretary. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received by the corporate secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than the 45th day nor earlier than the 75th day before the one-year anniversary of the date on which the corporation first mailed its proxy materials or a notice of availability of proxy materials (whichever is earlier) for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or if the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to or delayed by more than 60 days after the one-year anniversary of the date of the previous year’s annual meeting, then notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received by the corporate secretary not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (i) the 90th day prior to such annual meeting, or (ii) the 10th day following the day on which Public Announcement (as defined below) of the date of such annual meeting is first made. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described in this Section 2.16(a)(ii).
(iii) To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the corporate secretary shall set forth as to each matter of business the stockholder intends to bring before the annual meeting: (1) a brief description of the business intended to be brought before the annual meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the by-laws of the corporation, the language of the proposed amendment) and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting; (2) the name and address, as they appear on the corporation’s books, of the stockholder proposing such business and the name and address of any Stockholder Associated
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Person (as defined below), if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; (3) the class and number of shares of the corporation that are held of record or are beneficially owned by the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person and any derivative positions held or beneficially held by the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person; (4) whether and the extent to which any hedging or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any securities of the corporation, or whether any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares) has been made, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to or manage risk or benefit from share price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any securities of the corporation; (5) any material interest of the stockholder or a Stockholder Associated Person in such business; and (6) a statement whether either such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person intends, or is part of a group that intends, (a) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to adopt the proposal, and/or (b) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholder in support of such proposal (such statement, a “Business Solicitation Statement”). In addition, to be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the corporate secretary shall be supplemented not later than 10 days following the record date to disclose the information contained in clauses (3) and (4) above as of the record date.
(iv) Without exception, no business shall be conducted at any annual meeting except business brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.16(a) and, if applicable, Section 2.16(b). In addition, business may not be brought before the annual meeting if a stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, as applicable, takes action contrary to the representations made in the Business Solicitation Statement applicable to such business. The chairman of the annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare at the annual meeting that business was not properly brought before the annual meeting and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.16(a) (including whether the stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, if any, complied with the last sentence of Section 2.16(a)(iii)), and, if the chairman should so determine, the chairman shall declare at the annual meeting that any such business not properly brought before the annual meeting shall not be transacted.
(b) Advance Notice of Director Nominations at Annual Meetings.
(i) Notwithstanding anything in these by-laws to the contrary, only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.16(b) shall be eligible for election or re-election as directors at an annual meeting of stockholders. Nominations of persons for election to the board of directors of the corporation may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (A) by or at the direction of the board of directors or any committee thereof, (B) pursuant to the corporation's notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), or (C) by a stockholder of the corporation who (1) was a stockholder of record at the time of the giving of the notice provided for in these by-laws and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting and (2) has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.16(b). In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination to be made by a
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stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the corporate secretary.
(ii) To comply with clause (C) of Section 2.16(b)(i), a nomination to be made by a stockholder must be in writing, must set forth all information required under this Section 2.16(b) and must be received by the corporate secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation at the time and in accordance with the final two sentences of Section 2.16(a)(ii).
(iii) To be in proper written form, such stockholder’s notice shall set forth or be accompanied by:
(1) as to each person (a “nominee”) whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director: (A) the name, age, business address and residence address of the nominee; (B) the principal occupation or employment of the nominee; (C) the class and number of shares of the corporation that are beneficially owned by the nominee; (D) whether and the extent to which any hedging or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of the nominee with respect to any securities of the corporation, or whether any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares) has been made, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to or manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of the nominee; (E) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nominations are to be made by the stockholder; (F) a written statement executed by the nominee acknowledging that as a director of the corporation, the nominee will owe a fiduciary duty under Delaware law with respect to the corporation and its stockholders; (G) a description of any pledges of securities of the corporation owned beneficially and of record by the nominee; and (H) any other information relating to the nominee that would be required to be disclosed about such nominee if proxies were being solicited for the election of the nominee as a director, or that is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (including without limitation the nominee’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement, if any, as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); and
(2) as to such stockholder giving notice and any Stockholder Associated Person, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, (A) the information required to be provided pursuant to clauses 2 through 6 of Section 2.16(a)(iii) above (except that the references to “business” in such clauses shall instead refer to nominations of directors for purposes of this paragraph), and (B) a statement whether either such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, if any, intends, or is part of a group that intends, (a) to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of a number of the corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to elect such nominee(s), and/or (b) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such nomination (such statement, a “Nominee Solicitation Statement”).
(iv) At the request of the board of directors, any person nominated by a stockholder for election as a director shall furnish to the corporate secretary (1) the information required to be set forth in the stockholder’s notice pursuant to Section 2.16(b)(iii) as of a date
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subsequent to the date as of which such information was provided in such notice and (2) such other information as may reasonably be required by the corporation 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 nominee; in the absence of the furnishing of such information if requested, such stockholder’s nomination shall not be considered in proper form pursuant to this Section 2.16(b).
(v) Notwithstanding anything in paragraph (b)(ii) of this Section 2.16 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the board of directors is increased effective at the annual meeting and there is no Public Announcement by the corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.16 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, 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 10th day following the day on which such Public Announcement is first made by the corporation.
(vi) Without exception, no person shall be eligible for election or re-election as a director of the corporation at an annual meeting unless nominated in accordance with this Section 2.16(b). In addition, a nominee shall not be eligible for election or re-election if a stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, as applicable, takes action contrary to the representations made in the Nominee Solicitation Statement applicable to such nominee. The chairman of the annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare at the annual meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with this Section 2.16(b), and if the chairman should so determine, the chairman shall so declare at the annual meeting, and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
(c) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Nominations of persons for election to the board of directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the corporation’s notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of the board of directors or any committee thereof or (2) by any stockholder of the corporation who complies with Section 2.16(b) as though such section applied to the special meeting, who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 2.16 is delivered to the secretary of the corporation and who is entitled to vote at the meeting upon such election. Any such stockholder may nominate up to that number of persons which is equal to the number of directors to be elected at the meeting Notwithstanding the deadlines in Section 2.16(b), the stockholder’s notice required by Section 2.16(b) shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (A) the 90th day prior to such special meeting or (B) the 10th day following the day on which a Public Announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the board of directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the Public Announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
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(d) Other Requirements and Rights. In addition to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.16, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.16; provided however, that any references in these by-laws to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to this Section 2.16 (including Sections 2.16(a)(i)(C), (b)(i)(C) and (c)), and compliance with Sections 2.16(a)(i)(C), (b)(i)(C) and (c) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business. Nothing in this Section 2.16 shall be deemed to affect any rights (a) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act or (b) of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the certificate of incorporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.16, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting to present proposed business or a proposed nomination, such proposed business shall not be transacted and any such nomination shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of any such vote may have been received by the corporation.
(e) Definitions. For purposes of this Section 2.16:
(i) “Public Announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service, included in an electronic news feed or in a document publicly filed by the corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(ii) a “Stockholder Associated Person” of any stockholder shall mean (i) any person controlling, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with, such stockholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder and on whose behalf the proposal is made or on whose behalf a director nomination is made, and (iii) any person controlling, controlled by, under common control, or acting in concert, with such person referred to in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii).
(iii) to be considered a “qualified representative of the stockholder”, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the annual or special meeting.
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ARTICLE III
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 by-laws relating to action required to be approved by the stockholders, 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
Subject to the rights of the holders of any preferred stock of the corporation to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the authorized number of directors of the corporation shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the board of directors pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the board of directors.
No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director before that director’s term of office expires.
3.3 ELECTION, QUALIFICATION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS
Except as provided in Section 3.4 and in the case of a “Contested Election” (as defined below), each director to be elected by stockholders shall be elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to that director’s election at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present. Directors need not be stockholders unless so required by the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws, 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 “majority of votes cast” means that the number of votes “for” a director’s election must exceed the number of votes “against” that director’s election. “Abstentions” and “broker non-votes” will not count as votes cast with respect to that director’s election.
If, as of the last date by which stockholders may submit notice to nominate a person for election as a director pursuant to Section 2.16, 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.
Election of directors need not be by written ballot.
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3.4 RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES
(a) Any director may resign at any time upon written notice or upon electronic transmission to the attention of the corporate secretary. 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 until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal.
(b) Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws:
(i) 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 only be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director.
(ii) Whenever the holders of any class or classes of stock or series thereof are entitled to elect one or more directors by 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.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 2.3, 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 by-laws, 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.
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 by-laws, 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.
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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, a majority of the board of directors, the president or the chief executive officer.
Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be: (a) delivered personally or orally by telephone or sent by overnight or courier service, facsimile transmission or other form of electronic transmission (such as email), addressed to each director at that director’s address as it is shown on the records of the corporation, at least 24 hours before the time of the holding of the meeting; or (b) sent by first class mail, addressed to each director at that director’s address as it is shown on the records of the corporation, at least four days before the time of the holding 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, if the meeting is to be held at the principal executive office of the corporation, the place of the meeting. Notice of any meeting may be waived in writing at any time before or after the meeting and will be waived by any director by attendance thereat.
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, by the certificate of incorporation or by these by-laws. 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 by-laws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.
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Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, 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 of a committee of directors, need be specified in any written waiver of notice unless so required by the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws.
3.10 BOARD ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING
Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws, 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. The corporate secretary shall ensure that any such writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the board 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 by-laws, the board of directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors.
3.12 REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS
Unless otherwise restricted by statute, by the certificate of incorporation or by these by-laws, 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, so long as stockholders of the corporation are entitled to cumulative voting, if less than the entire board is to be removed, no director may be removed without cause if the votes cast against the director’s removal would be sufficient to elect such director 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.
ARTICLE IV
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,
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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 he or they 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 by-laws 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 (i) 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), (ii) adopt an agreement of merger or consolidation under Sections 251 or 252 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, (iii) recommend to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the corporation’s property and assets, (iv) recommend to the stockholders a dissolution of the corporation or a revocation of a dissolution, or (v) amend the by-laws of the corporation; and, unless the board resolution establishing the committee, the by-laws 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 Article III of these by-laws, 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), with such changes in the context of those by-laws 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 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 by-laws.
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ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
5.1 OFFICERS
The officers of the corporation shall be a chief executive officer, a corporate secretary, and a chief financial officer. The corporation may also have, at the discretion of the board of directors, a chairman of the board, president, one or more vice presidents, one or more assistant corporate secretaries, a treasurer, one or more assistant treasurers, and any such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3 of these by-laws. 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 Section 5.3 or Section 5.5 of these by-laws, 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 president or chief executive officer 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 by-laws or as the board of directors may from time to time determine. Executive officers of the corporation shall only be those officers expressly designated as such by the board of directors.
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 or by sending an electronic transmission to the corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or transmission or at any later time specified in that notice or transmission; and, unless otherwise specified in that notice or transmission, 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.
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5.5 VACANCIES IN OFFICE
Any vacancy occurring in the offices of president or chief executive officer of the corporation shall be filled by the board of directors. The board of directors may fill, or may empower the president or chief executive officer to fill, any vacancy in any other office. Any officer so appointed shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform such duties as are provided in these by-laws or as the board of directors may from time to time determine.
5.6 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
The chairman of the board, if such an officer be elected, shall, if present, preside at meetings of stockholders and the board of directors and exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to the chairman of the board by the board of directors or as may be prescribed by these by-laws. If there is no president or chief executive officer, then the chairman of the board shall also be the chief executive officer of the corporation and shall have the powers and duties prescribed in Section 5.7 of these by-laws.
5.7 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 there be such an officer, 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 shall have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the chief executive officer of the corporation and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or these by-laws.
5.8 PRESIDENT
Subject to such powers as may be given by these by-laws or the board of directors to the chairman of the board or the chief executive officer, if there be such officers, the president shall have general supervision, direction and control of the business and other officers of the corporation. He shall have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the president of the corporation, and such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or these by-laws.
5.9 VICE PRESIDENTS
In the absence or disability of the president and chief executive officer, 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 and chief executive officer. 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 by-laws, the president, chief executive officer or the chairman of the board.
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5.10 CORPORATE SECRETARY
The corporate 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, whether regular or special (and, if special, how authorized and the notice given), 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 corporate 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 by-laws. The corporate secretary 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 by-laws.
5.11 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 shall disburse the funds of the corporation as may be ordered by the board of directors, shall render to the president, chief executive and directors, whenever they request it, an account of all his 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 by-laws.
5.12 REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS
The chairman of the board, the president, chief executive officer, any vice president, the treasurer, the corporate secretary or assistant corporate secretary, or any other person authorized by the board of directors, the president, the chief executive officer 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 such person having the authority.
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5.13 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 or the stockholders.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNITY
6.1 THIRD PARTY ACTIONS
The corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent authorized by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended or interpreted (but, in the case of any such amendment or interpretation, only to the extent that such amendment or interpretation permits the corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than were permitted prior thereto), any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or is involved in (as a party, witness or otherwise), any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”) (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or that such director or officer 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 (each person holding any such office or acting in any such capacity, an “Indemnitee”), against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement (if such settlement is approved in advance by the corporation, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) actually and reasonably incurred by such director or officer in connection with such Proceeding if such director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with the respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the corporation, or, with the respect to any criminal Proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful.
6.2 ACTIONS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION
The corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent authorized by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended or interpreted (but, in the case of any such amendment or interpretation, only to the extent that such amendment or interpretation permits the corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than were permitted prior thereto), any Indemnitee who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a
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party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he or she is or was acting as an Indemnitee, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
6.3 SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE
To the extent that an Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any Proceeding referred to in Section 6.1 and Section 6.2, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
6.4 DETERMINATION OF CONDUCT
Any indemnification under Section 6.1 and Section 6.2 (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that the indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 6.1 and Section 6.2. To obtain indemnification under this Article VI, a claimant shall submit to the corporation a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the claimant and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the claimant is entitled to indemnification. Upon written request by a claimant for indemnification pursuant to the preceding sentence, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to the claimant’s entitlement thereto shall be made as follows: (a) if requested by the claimant, by Independent Counsel (as hereinafter defined); or (b) if no request is made by the claimant for a determination by Independent Counsel, (1) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined), even though less than a quorum, (2) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a vote of Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no Disinterested Directors, or if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders (but only if a majority of the Disinterested Directors, if they constitute a quorum of the board of directors, presents the issue of entitlement to indemnification to the stockholders for their determination). In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel at the request of the claimant, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the board of directors unless there shall have occurred within two years prior to the date of the commencement of the Proceeding for which indemnification is claimed a Change of Control (as hereinafter defined), in which case the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the claimant unless the claimant shall request that such selection be made by the
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board of directors. If it is so determined that the claimant is entitled to indemnification, payment to the claimant shall be made within 10 days after such determination.
6.5 RIGHT OF CLAIMANT TO BRING SUIT
If a claim under Section 6.1 or Section 6.2 is not paid in full by the corporation within 30 days after a written claim has been received by the corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense (including attorneys’ fees) of prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending a Proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking has been tendered to the corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct that make it permissible under the General Corporation Law of Delaware for the corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed. The burden of proving such a defense shall be on the corporation. Neither the failure of the corporation (including its board of directors, Independent Counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper under the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the General Corporation Law of Delaware, nor an actual determination by the corporation (including its board of directors, Independent Counsel, or its stockholders) that the claimant had not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6.4 that the claimant is entitled to indemnification, the corporation shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this section. The corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant this section that the procedures and presumptions of Section 6.4 are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in such proceeding that the corporation is bound by all such procedures and presumptions.
6.6 PAYMENT OF EXPENSES IN ADVANCE
Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal Proceeding shall be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this Article VI. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the corporation shall not be required to advance such expenses to an Indemnitee who is a party to a Proceeding brought by the corporation and approved by a majority of the board of directors of the corporation then in office, which alleges willful misappropriation of corporate assets by such Indemnitee, disclosure of confidential information in violation of such Indemnitee's fiduciary or contractual obligations to the corporation or any other willful and deliberate breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee's duty to the corporation or its stockholders.
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6.7 INDEMNITY NOT EXCLUSIVE
The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided or granted pursuant to this Article VI shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the certificate of incorporation, any 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.
6.8 INSURANCE INDEMNIFICATION
The corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was an Indemnitee against any liability asserted against, or incurred by, such person by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or that such director or officer 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, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article VI.
6.9 DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Article VI:
(a) 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 and officers, so that any person who is or was a director 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 and subject to the provisions of this Article VI (including, without limitation the provisions of Section 6.4) 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.
(b) To assure indemnification under this Article VI of all Indemnitees who are determined by the corporation or otherwise to be or to have been “fiduciaries” of any employee benefit plan of the corporation which may exist from time to time, references to an “other enterprise” shall be deemed to include such an employee benefit plan, including without limitation, any plan of the corporation which is governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the corporation shall be deemed to have requested a person to serve on an employee benefit plan where the performance by such person of his or her duties to the corporation also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, such person to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan.
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(c) References to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan.
(d) 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.
(e) 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 this Article VI.
(f) A “Change of Control” shall mean:
(i) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of either (a) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation (the “Outstanding Corporation Common Stock”) or (b) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Corporation Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this part (i), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (a) any acquisition directly from the corporation or any acquisition from other stockholders where (i) such acquisition was approved in advance by the board of directors of the corporation and (ii) such acquisition would not constitute a change of control under part (iii) of this definition, (b) any acquisition by the corporation, (c) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the corporation or any corporation controlled by the corporation or (d) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (a), (b) and (c) of part (iii) of this definition; or
(ii) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the board of directors (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the board of directors; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the board of directors; or
(iii) Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the corporation (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (a) all or substantially
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all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Corporation Common Stock and Outstanding Corporation Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the corporation or all or substantially all of the corporation’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the Outstanding Corporation Common Stock and Outstanding Corporation Voting Securities, as the case may be, (b) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the corporation or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination and (c) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the board of directors, providing for such Business Combination; or
(iv) Approval by the stockholders of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the corporation.
(g) “Disinterested Director” means a director of the corporation who is not and was not a party to the matter in respect of which indemnification is sought by the claimant.
(h) “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, a member of a law firm, or an independent practitioner, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and shall include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would not have a conflict of interest in representing either the corporation or the claimant in an action to determine the claimant’s rights under this Article VI.
6.10 INDEMNITY FUND
Upon resolution passed by the board of directors, the corporation may establish a trust or other designated account, grant a security interest or use other means (including, without limitation, a letter of credit), to ensure the payment of certain of its obligations arising under this Article VI and/or agreements which may be entered into between the corporation and its officers and directors from time to time.
6.11 INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHER PERSONS
The provisions of this Article VI shall not be deemed to preclude the indemnification of any person who is not an Indemnitee (as defined in Section 6.1), but whom the corporation has the power
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or obligation to indemnify under the provisions of the General Corporation Law of Delaware or otherwise. The corporation may, in its sole discretion, indemnify an employee, trustee or other agent as permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware. The corporation shall indemnify an employee, trustee or other agent where required by law.
6.12 SAVING CLAUSE
If this Article VI or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then: (a) the corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each Indemnitee against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any Proceeding, whether internal or external, including a grand jury proceeding and an action or suit brought by or in the right of the corporation, to the full extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article that shall not have been invalidated, or by any other applicable law, and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Article containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
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6.13
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CONTINUATION OF INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES
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The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VI shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
6.14 CONTRACTUAL RIGHT; EFFECT OF AMENDMENT
The right to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred in this Article VI shall be a contract between the corporation and each Indemnitee who serves in such capacity at any time while these by-laws are in effect, and any repeal or modification of this Article VI shall not affect any rights, protections or obligations hereunder of any Indemnitee in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
6.15 LIMITATION ON INDEMNIFICATION
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article VI to the contrary, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification (which shall be governed by Section 6.5 hereof), the corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the board of directors of the corporation.
6.16 NO DUPLICATION OF PAYMENTS
The corporation shall not be liable under this Article to make any payment in connection with any claim made against the Indemnitee to the extent the Indemnitee has otherwise actually
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received payment (under any insurance policy, agreement, vote, or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.
6.17 NOTICE
Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given to the corporation under this Article shall be in writing and either delivered personally or sent by overnight or courier service, facsimile transmission or other form of electronic transmission (such as email), or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the corporate secretary and shall be effective only upon receipt by the corporate secretary.
ARTICLE VII
RECORDS AND REPORTS
7.1 MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF RECORDS
The corporation shall, either at its principal executive office 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 by-laws as amended to date, accounting books, and other records.
Any stockholder of record, in person or by attorney or other agent, shall, upon written demand under oath stating the purpose thereof, have the right during the usual hours for business to inspect for any proper purpose the corporation’s stock ledger, a list of its stockholders, and its other books and records and to make copies or extracts therefrom. A proper purpose shall mean a purpose reasonably related to such person’s interest as a stockholder. In every instance where an attorney or other agent is the person who seeks the right to inspection, the demand under oath shall be accompanied by a power of attorney or such other writing that authorizes the attorney or other agent to so act on behalf of the stockholder. The demand under oath shall be directed to the corporation at its registered office in Delaware or at its principal place of business.
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 such person’s 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 be deem just and proper.
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ARTICLE VIII
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 by-laws, may authorize any officer or officers, employee or employees, 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 the 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. Every holder of stock represented by certificates 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 president or vice-president, and by the chief financial officer, treasurer or an assistant treasurer, or the corporate secretary or an assistant corporate secretary 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, 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 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
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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 theretofore 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 such 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 by-laws. Without limiting the generality of this provision, the singular number includes the plural, the plural number includes the singular, and the term “person” includes any individual, corporation (including any non-profit corporation), general or limited partnership and limited liability company.
8.7 DIVIDENDS
The board of directors of the corporation, subject to any restrictions contained in the General Corporation Law of Delaware or the certificate of incorporation, 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.
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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 (or, with respect to uncertificated shares, by delivery of duly executed instructions or in any other lawful manner permitted by the corporation), it shall be the duty of the corporation to issue a new certificate or uncertificated shares to the person entitled thereto, cancel any 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 IX
AMENDMENTS
The by-laws 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 by-laws upon the directors. The fact that such power has
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been so conferred upon the directors shall not divest the stockholders of the power, nor limit their power to adopt, amend or repeal by-laws.
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