Attached files
| file | filename |
|---|---|
| EX-32.2 - EX-32.2 - OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC | opy10-kexx32212312020.htm |
| EX-32.1 - EX-32.1 - OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC | opy10-kexx32112312020.htm |
| EX-31.2 - EX-31.2 - OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC | opy10-kexx31212312020.htm |
| EX-31.1 - EX-31.1 - OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC | opy10-kexx31112312020.htm |
| EX-23.1 - EX-23.1 - OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC | opy10-kexx23112312020.htm |
| EX-22 - EX-22 - OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC | opy10-kexx2212312020.htm |
| EX-21 - EX-21 - OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC | opy10-kexx2112312020.htm |
| 10-K - 10-K - OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC | opy-20201231.htm |
A/72840460.7
Exhibit 3.2
OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
BY-LAWS, as amended through February 25, 2021
ARTICLE I
General
1.1Offices. The registered office of Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. (the “Company”) shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware. The Company may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Company may require.
1.2Seal. The Company may have one or more different corporate seals, which the Board of Directors may from time to time adopt or change, on which the name of the Company shall appear.
1.3Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Company shall be the period from January 1 through December 31 unless changed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE II
Stockholders
2.1Place of Meetings. Each meeting of the stockholders shall be held upon notice as hereinafter provided, at such place, either within or without of the State of Delaware, or solely by means of remote communication as the Board of Directors shall have determined and as shall be stated in the relevant notice of meeting.
2.2Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held each year on such date and at such time as the Board of Directors may determine. At each annual meeting the stockholders entitled to vote shall elect such members of the Board of Directors as are standing for election, by plurality vote and they may transact such other corporate business as may properly be brought before the meeting. At the annual meeting any business may be transacted, irrespective of whether the notice calling such meeting shall have contained a reference thereto, except where notice is required by law, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (as amended and in effect from time to time, the “Charter”), or these by-laws.
2.3Quorum. At all meetings of the stockholders, the presence, in person or remotely or represented by proxy, of at least two (2) stockholders holding a majority in voting power of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, shall constitute a quorum requisite for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by law, the Charter or these by-laws. Whether or not there is such a quorum at any meeting, the chairman of the meeting or the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or remotely or by proxy, by a majority vote, may adjourn the meeting from time to time without
1
notice other than announcement at the meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. At such adjourned meeting, at which the requisite amount of voting stock shall be represented, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted if the meeting had been held as originally called. The stockholders present in person or remotely or by proxy 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.
2.4Right to Vote; Proxies. Subject to the provisions of the Charter, each holder of a share or shares of capital stock of the Company having the right to vote at any meeting shall be entitled to one vote for each such share of stock held by him. Any stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders may vote either in person by written ballot (including a ballot submitted by electronic transmission provided that any such electronic transmission either sets forth or is submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder) or by proxy, but no proxy that is dated more than three years prior to the meeting at which it is offered shall confer the right to vote thereat unless the proxy provides that it shall be effective for a longer period. A proxy may be granted by a writing executed by the stockholder or his authorized agent or by transmission or authorization of transmission of an electronic transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization, or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission, subject to the conditions set forth in Section 212 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as it may be amended from time to time (the “DGCL”).
2.5Voting. At all meetings of stockholders, except as otherwise expressly provided for by statute, the Charter or these by-laws, (i) in all matters other than the election of directors, the affirmative vote of a majority in voting power of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on such matter shall be the act of the stockholders, and (ii) members of the Board of Directors, as are standing for election, shall be elected by a plurality vote.
2.6Notice of Annual Meetings. Notice of the annual meeting of the stockholders shall be given, which shall state the time and place, if any, of the meeting, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting at such address as appears on the stock books of the Company at least ten (10) days (and not more than sixty (60) days) prior to the meeting. The Board of Directors may postpone any annual meeting of the stockholders at its discretion, even after notice thereof has been mailed or provided by electronic transmission. It shall be the duty of every stockholder to furnish to the Secretary of the Company or to the transfer agent, if any, of the class of stock owned by him and his post-office or email address, and to notify the Secretary of any change therein. Notice need not be given to any stockholder who submits a written or electronic waiver of notice given by him before or after the time stated therein. Attendance of a stockholder at a meeting of stockholders shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the stockholder attends the 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 or electronic waiver of notice.
2
2.8Stockholders’ List. A complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each stockholder, and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder, shall be prepared by the officer who has charge of the stock ledger and shall be open to examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least ten (10) days before such meeting (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during the ordinary business hours at the principal office of the Company. Said list shall be open to examination during the whole time of said meeting, at the place of said meeting, or, if the meeting held is by remote communication, on a reasonably accessible electronic network and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.
2.8Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise provided by statute, may be called only by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, a majority of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. Any such person or persons may postpone any special meeting of the stockholders at its or their discretion, even after notice thereof has been mailed or provided by electronic transmission.
2.9Notice of Special Meetings. Notice of a special meeting of stockholders, in the form of a writing or electronic transmission, stating the time and place, if any, the means of remote communication, if any, and object thereof shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before such meeting, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, at such address as appears on the books of the Company. No business may be transacted at such meeting except that referred to in said notice, or in a supplemental notice given also in compliance with the provisions hereof, or such other business as may be germane or supplementary to that stated in said notice or notices. Notice need not be given to any stockholder who submits a written or electronic waiver of notice signed by him before or after the time stated therein. Attendance of a stockholder at a meeting of stockholders shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the stockholder attends the 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.
2.10Inspectors.
(a)If required by law, one or more inspectors shall be appointed by the Board of Directors in advance of any meeting of the stockholders to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of the stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at such meeting. Before discharging his duties as an inspector, each inspector shall take and sign an oath to execute his duties with strict impartiality and to the best of his ability. At the meeting for which the inspector or inspectors are appointed, he or they shall ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, determine the shares represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, count all votes and ballots, retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors and certify the determination of the shares represented and the count of all votes and ballots.
(b)At any time at which the Company has a class of voting stock that is (i) listed on a national securities exchange, or (ii) held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders, the provisions of Section 231 of the DGCL with respect to inspectors of election and voting procedures shall apply, in lieu of the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section 2.10.
3
2.11Procedures. Nominations for the Board of Directors and other business may be brought before a meeting of stockholders solely by holders of those classes of stock entitled to voting rights as set forth in the Charter, and solely in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.11. For such nominations for the Board of Directors or for such other business to be properly brought by a stockholder before a meeting of stockholders, the stockholder must first have given timely written notice thereof to the Secretary of the Company. To be timely, a notice of nominations or other business to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders must be delivered to the Secretary not less than 90 nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the Company’s annual meeting of the preceding year, or if the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary, such notice must be delivered not earlier than 90 days prior to such annual meeting and not later than the later of (i) 60 days prior to the annual meeting or (ii) 10 days following the date on which public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is first made by the Company. With respect to special meetings of stockholders, such notice must be delivered to the Secretary not more than 120 days prior to such meeting and not later than the later of (i) 90 days prior to such meeting or (ii) 10 days following the date on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Company. Such notice must contain the name and address of the stockholder delivering the notice and a statement with respect to the amount of the Company’s stock beneficially and/or legally owned by such stockholder, the nature of any such beneficial ownership of such stock, the beneficial ownership of any such stock legally held by such stockholder but beneficially owned by one or more others, and the length of time for which all such stock has been beneficially and/or legally owned by such stockholder, and information about each nominee for election as a director substantially equivalent to that which would be required in a proxy statement pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, and/or a description of the proposed business to be brought before the meeting, as the case may be.
The foregoing notice requirements of this Section 2.11 shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder with respect to business other than a nomination if the stockholder has notified the Company of his, her or its intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Company to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.
ARTICLE III
Directors
3.1Number of Directors.
(a)Except as otherwise provided by law, the Charter, or these by-laws, the property and business of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board of Directors. Directors need not be stockholders, residents of Delaware, or citizens of the United States. The use of the phrase “whole board” herein refers to the total number of directors which the Company would have if there were no vacancies.
(b)The number of directors constituting the whole Board of Directors shall be as determined by resolution of the Board of Directors from time to time, with a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of eleven (11) directors. Members of the Board of Directors shall hold office until their respective successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier death, incapacity, resignation, or removal.
4
3.2Terms of Office. The directors shall be elected by ballot at the annual meeting of the stockholders and each director shall be elected to serve until his successor shall be elected and shall qualify or until his earlier resignation or removal; provided that in the event of failure to hold such meeting or to hold such election at such meeting, such election may be held at any special meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose. If the office of any director becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, disqualification, removal, or otherwise, the remaining directors, although more or less than a quorum, by a majority vote of such remaining directors may elect a successor or successors who shall hold office for the unexpired term.
3.3Resignation. Any director of the Company may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President of the Company. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, at the time of receipt if no time is specified therein and at the time of acceptance if the effectiveness of such resignation is conditioned upon its acceptance. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
3.4Removal. Any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors.
3.5Place of Meetings and Books. The Board of Directors may hold their meetings and keep the books of the Company outside the State of Delaware, at such places or, in the case of meetings, by means of remote communication, as they may from time to time determine.
3.6General Powers. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon them by these by-laws, the Board of Directors may exercise all such powers of the Company and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Charter or by these by-laws directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
3.7Committees. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Company. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of the committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by law and to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, 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 Company, and may authorize the seal of the Company to be affixed to all papers which may require it.
3.8Compensation of Directors. The Board of Directors shall have the power to fix the compensation of directors and members of committees of the Board and may delegate this authority to one or more committees. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated salary as director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Company in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for attending committee meetings.
5
3.10Regular Meetings. No notice shall be required for regular meetings of the Board of Directors for which the time and place or means of remote communication have been fixed. Written, oral, email, or any other mode of notice of the time and place or means of remote communication shall be given for special meetings in sufficient time for the convenient assembly of the directors thereat. Notice need not be given to any director who submits a written or electronic waiver of notice signed by him before or after the time stated therein. Attendance of any such person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when he 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 need be specified in any written or electronic waiver of notice.
3.10Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or the Chief Executive Officer or the President, on two (2) days notice to each director; special meetings may also be called by the Secretary in like manner and on like notice, on the written request of two or more directors.
3.11Quorum. At all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the total number of directors in office (but not less than one-third of the number of directors established by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 3.1 of these by-laws) shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of the directors present in person or via remote communication at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise specifically permitted or provided by statute, or by the Charter, or by these by-laws. If at any meeting of the Board there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum is obtained, and no further notice thereof need be given other than by announcement at said meeting that shall be so adjourned.
3.12Telephonic and other Participation in Meetings. Members of the Board of Directors or any committee designated by such board may participate in a meeting of the Board or committee by means of conference telephone or other audio or video communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this section shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
3.13Action by Consent. Unless otherwise restricted by the Charter 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 written consents or electronic transmissions thereto are signed or given by all members of the Board of Directors or of such committee, as the case may be, and such written consents or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
4.1Selection; Statutory Officers. The officers of the Company shall be chosen by the Board of Directors. There shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, and there may be a Chairman of the Board of Directors, one or more Vice Chairmen, one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries and one or more Assistant Treasurers as the Board of Directors may elect. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, except that the offices of President and Secretary shall not be held by the same person simultaneously.
6
4.2Time of Election. The officers above named shall be chosen by the Board of Directors at its first meeting after each annual meeting of stockholders. None of said officers need be a director.
4.3Additional Officers. The Board may appoint such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary, who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.
4.4Terms of Office. Each officer of the Company shall hold office until his successor is chosen and qualified, or until his earlier resignation or removal. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the Board of Directors. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Company by death, resignation, removal or otherwise shall be filled by the Board of Directors.
4.5Compensation of Officers. The Board of Directors shall have power to fix the compensation of all officers of the Company. It may authorize any officer, upon whom the power of appointing subordinate officers may have been conferred, to fix the compensation of such subordinate officers.
4.6Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and directors, and shall have such other duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Directors.
4.7Vice-Chairmen. The Vice-Chairmen shall perform such of the duties of the Chairman of the Board on behalf of the Company as may be respectively assigned to them from time to time by the Board of Directors or by the Chairman of the Board.
4.8Chief Executive Officer. Under the supervision of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall have the general control and management of its business and affairs, subject, however, to the right of the Board of Directors to confer any specific power, except such as may be by statute exclusively conferred to the Chief Executive Officer, upon any other officer or officers of the Company. The Chief Executive Officer shall perform and do all acts and things incident to the position of Chief Executive Officer and such other duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Directors.
4.9President. Unless there is a Chairman of the Board or a Chief Executive Officer, the President shall preside at all meetings of directors and stockholders. Under the supervision of the Board of Directors, the President shall have the general supervision of the Company’s business and affairs, subject, however, to the right of the Board of Directors to confer any specific power, except such as may be by statute exclusively conferred to the President, upon any other officer or officers of the Company. The President shall perform and do all acts and things incident to the position of President and such other duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.
4.10Vice-Presidents. The Vice-Presidents shall perform such of the duties of the President on behalf of the Company as may be respectively assigned to them from time to time by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. The Board of Directors may assign to any Vice President the title of Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or any other title selected by the Board of Directors.
7
4.11Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of all the funds and securities of the Company that may come into his hands as Treasurer, and the power and authority to endorse checks, drafts and other instruments for the payment of money for deposit or collection when necessary or proper and to deposit the same to the credit of the Company in such bank or banks or depository as the Board of Directors, or the officers or agents to whom the Board of Directors may delegate such authority, may designate, and he may endorse all commercial documents requiring endorsements for or on behalf of the Company. He may sign all receipts and vouchers for the payments made to the Company. He shall render an account of his transactions to the Board of Directors as often as the Board or any applicable committee shall require the same. He shall enter regularly in the books to be kept by him for that purpose full and adequate account of all moneys received and paid by him on account of the Company. He shall perform all acts incident to the position of Treasurer, subject to the control of the Board of Directors. He shall when requested, pursuant to a vote of the Board of Directors, give a bond to the Company conditioned for the faithful performance of his duties, the expense of which bond shall be borne by the Company.
4.12Secretary. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders; he shall attend to the giving and serving of all notices of the Company. Except as otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, he shall attest the seal of the Company upon all contracts and instruments executed under such seal and shall affix the seal of the Company thereto and to all certificates of shares of capital stock of the Company. He shall have charge of the stock certificate book, transfer book and stock ledger, and such other books and papers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may direct. He shall, in general, perform all the duties of Secretary, subject to the control of the Board of Directors.
4.13Assistant Secretary. The Board of Directors or any two of the officers of the Company acting jointly may appoint or remove one or more Assistant Secretaries of the Company. Any Assistant Secretary upon his appointment shall perform such duties of the Secretary, and also any and all such other duties as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Executive Vice-President or the Treasurer or the Secretary may designate.
4.14Assistant Treasurer. The Board of Directors or any two of the officers of the Company acting jointly may appoint or remove one or more Assistant Treasurers of the Company. Any Assistant Treasurer upon his appointment shall perform such of the duties of the Treasurer, and also any and all such other duties as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President or the Executive Vice-President or the Treasurer or the Secretary may designate.
4.15Subordinate Officers. The Board of Directors may select such subordinate officers as it may deem desirable. Each such officer shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform such duties as the Board of Directors may prescribe. The Board of Directors may, from time to time, authorize any officer to appoint and remove subordinate officers and to prescribe the powers and duties thereof.
8
ARTICLE V
Stock
5.1Stock. The shares of the Company’s stock may be certificated or uncertificated and shall be entered in the books of the Company and registered as they are issued. Any certificates representing shares of stock shall be in such form as the Board of Directors shall prescribe, certifying the number and class and/or series of shares of the stock of the Company owned by the stockholder. Any certificate issued to a stockholder of the Company shall be numbered and shall certify the holder’s name and number and class and/or series of shares and shall be signed by both of (i) any one of the Chairman or Vice Chairman, President or a Vice-President, and (ii) any one of the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and shall be sealed with the corporate seal of the Company and any and all signatures on the certificate, including the corporate seal may be facsimiles. If such certificate is countersigned (1) by a transfer agent other than the Company or its employee, or (2) by a registrar other than the Company or its employee, any or all of the signatures on the certificate, including the certificate of the transfer agent and registrar, and the corporate seal may be facsimiles. In case any officer or officers who shall have signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used on, any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Company, whether because of death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall have been delivered by the Company, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be adopted by the Company and be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or whose facsimile signature shall have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Company.
5.2Fractional Share Interests. The Company may, but shall not be required to, issue fractions of a share. If the Company does not issue fractions of a share, it shall (i) arrange for the disposition of fractional interests by those entitled thereto, (ii) pay in cash the fair value of fractions of a share as of the time when those entitled to receive such fractions are determined, or (iii) issue scrip or warrants in registered or bearer form that shall entitle the holder to receive a certificate for a full share upon the surrender of such scrip or warrants aggregating a full share. A certificate for a fractional share shall or an uncertificated fractional share shall, but scrip or warrants shall not unless otherwise provided therein, entitle the holder to exercise voting rights, to receive dividends thereon, and to participate in any of the assets of the Company in the event of liquidation. The Board of Directors may cause scrip or warrants to be issued subject to the conditions that they shall become void if not exchanged for certificates representing full shares or uncertificated full shares before a specified date, or subject to the conditions that the shares for which scrip or warrants are exchangeable may be sold by the Company and the proceeds thereof distributed to the holders of scrip or warrants, or subject to any other conditions that the Board of Directors may impose.
5.3Transfers of Stock. Subject to any transfer restrictions then in force, the shares of stock of the Company shall be transferable only upon its books by the holders thereof in person or by their duly authorized attorneys or legal representatives and upon such transfer the old certificates, if any, shall be surrendered to the Company by the delivery thereof to the person in charge of the stock and transfer books and ledgers or to such other person as the directors may designate by whom they shall be canceled and new certificates, if any, shall thereupon be issued. The Company shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of stock as the holder in fact thereof and accordingly shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share on the part of any other person whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof save as expressly provided by the laws of Delaware.
9
5.4Record Date. 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 for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, that shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action. If no such record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held; and the record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at 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.
5.5Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Board of Directors may appoint one or more transfer agents or transfer clerks and one or more registrars and may require all certificates of stock to bear the signature or signatures of any of them.
5.6Dividends.
(a)Power to Declare. Dividends upon the capital stock of the Company, subject to the provisions of the Charter, if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting, pursuant to law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions of the Charter and the laws of Delaware.
(b)Reserves. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Company available for dividends such sum or sums as the directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Company, or for such other purpose as the directors shall think conducive to the interest of the Company, and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.
5.7Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed Certificates. No certificates for shares of stock of the Company shall be issued in place of any certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, except upon production of such evidence of the loss, theft, or destruction and upon indemnification of the Company and its agents to such extent and in such manner as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
10
ARTICLE VI
Miscellaneous Management Provisions
6.2Checks, Drafts, and Notes. All checks, drafts, or orders for the payment of money, and all notes and acceptances of the Company shall be signed by such officer or officers, or such agent or agents, as the Board of Directors may designate.
6.2Notices.
(a)Notices to directors may, and notices to stockholders shall, be in writing and (i) delivered personally, (ii) mailed to the directors or stockholders at their addresses appearing on the books of the Company or (iii) delivered by a form of electronic transmission which is consented to by the stockholder or the director to whom the notice is given. Notice by mail shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be mailed. Notice by electronic transmission shall be deemed to be given (i) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder or the director has consented to receive notice, (ii) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder or the director has consented to receive notice, (iii) if a posting on an electronic network together with a separate notice to the stockholder or the director of such specified posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice and (iv) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder or the director. Notice to directors may also be given by telegram, telecopy, email or orally, by telephone or in person.
(b)Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of any applicable statute or of the Charter or of these by-laws, a waiver of notice, given by the person or persons entitled to said notice, or a waiver of notice by electronic transmission by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein or the meeting or action to which such notice relates, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. 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.
6.3Conflict of Interest. No contract or transaction between the Company and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the Company and any other corporation, partnership, association, or other organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or board committee that authorized the contract or transaction, or solely because his or their votes are counted for such purpose, if: (i) the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors or the committee and the board or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; or (ii) the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders of the Company entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of such stockholders; or (iii) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Company as of the time it is authorized, approved, or ratified, by the Board of Directors, a committee or the stockholders. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee that authorizes the contract or transaction.
11
6.4Voting of Securities owned by the Company. Subject always to the specific directions of the Board of Directors, (i) any shares or other securities issued by any other corporation and owned or controlled by the Company may be voted in person at any meeting of security holders of such other corporation by the Chief Executive Officer or the President of the Company if he is present at such meeting, or in his absence by the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company if he is present at such meeting, and (ii) whenever, in the judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or President, it is desirable for the Company to execute a proxy or written consent in respect to any shares or other securities issued by any other corporation and owned by the Company, such proxy or consent shall be executed in the name of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer or President, without the necessity of any authorization by the Board of Directors, affixation of corporate seal or countersignature or attestation by another officer, provided that if the Chief Executive Officer or President is unable to execute such proxy or consent by reason of sickness, absence from the United States or other similar cause, the Treasurer, the Secretary or any other officer authorized by the Board of Directors may execute such proxy or consent. Any person or persons designated in the manner above stated as the proxy or proxies of the Company shall have full right, power and authority to vote the shares or other securities issued by such other corporation and owned by the Company the same as such shares or other securities might be voted by the Company.
ARTICLE VII
Indemnification
7.1Right to Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”), by reason of being or having been a director or officer of the Company or serving or having served at the request of the Company as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “Indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action or failure to act in an official capacity as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto) (as used in this Article VII, the “Delaware Law”), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, trustee, officer, employee, or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors, and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 7.2 hereof with respect to Proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Company shall indemnify any such Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee only if such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article VII shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Company the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending any such Proceeding in advance of its final disposition (an “Advancement of Expenses”); provided, however, that, if the Delaware Law so requires, an Advancement of Expenses incurred by an Indemnitee shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking (an “Undertaking”), by or on behalf of such Indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (a “Final
12
Adjudication”) that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Article VII or otherwise.
7.2Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. If (a) a claim for indemnification under Section 7.1 hereof (following the final disposition of such Proceeding) is not paid in full by the Company within sixty (60) days after a written claim has been received by the Company, or (b) a claim for an Advancement of Expenses under Section 7.1 hereof is not paid in full by the Company within twenty (20) days after the written claim has been received by the Company, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Company to recover an Advancement of Expenses pursuant to the terms of an Undertaking, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit to the fullest extent permitted by law. In (i) any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to an Advancement of Expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit by the Company to recover an Advancement of Expenses pursuant to the terms of an Undertaking the Company shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a Final Adjudication that, the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware Law. Neither the failure of the Company (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware Law, nor an actual determination by the Company (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the Indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an Advancement of Expenses hereunder, or by the Company to recover an Advancement of Expenses pursuant to the terms of an Undertaking, the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such Advancement of Expenses, under this Article VII or otherwise shall be on the Company.
7.3Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights to indemnification and to the Advancement of Expenses conferred in this Article VII shall not be exclusive of any other right that any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the Charter, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
7.4Insurance. The Company may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under this Article VII or under the Delaware Law.
7.5Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Company. The Company may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification, and to the Advancement of Expenses, to any employee or agent of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article VII with respect to the indemnification and Advancement of Expenses of directors and officers of the Company.
7.6Amendment or Repeal. Any repeal or modification of the provisions of this Article VII shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any Indemnitee in respect of any proceeding (regardless of when such proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) arising out of, or related to, any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
13
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
8.1Amendments. The by-laws of the Company may be altered, amended or repealed by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders at any meeting of the stockholders by the vote of the holders of the majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at such meeting, in accordance with the provisions of the Charter and the laws of Delaware.
14