EX-3.2 4 tm2126636d13_ex3-2.htm EXHIBIT 3.2

Exhibit 3.2

 

BYLAWS

 

OF

 

DYNASTY FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

(the “Corporation”)

 

Article I

 

Stockholders

 

Section 1.1       Annual Meetings. An annual meeting of stockholders shall be held for the election of directors at such date, time and place either within or without the State of Delaware, or may not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication, as may be designated by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) from time to time. Any other proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting.

 

Section 1.2       Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders may be called at any time by the Chairperson of the Board, if any, the Chief Executive Officer or the Board, to be held at such date, time and place either within or without the State of Delaware, or may not be held at any place, but may instead be held by means of remote communication, as may be stated in the notice of the meeting.

 

Section 1.3       Notice of Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall be given which shall state the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise provided by law, the written notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. In addition, if stockholders have consented to receive notices by a form of electronic transmission, then such notice, by facsimile telecommunication, or by electronic mail, shall be deemed to be given when directed to a number or an electronic mail address, respectively, at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice. If such notice is transmitted by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, such notice shall be deemed to be given upon the later of (a) such posting, and (b) the giving of such separate notice. If such notice is transmitted by any other form of electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed to be given when directed to the stockholder. Notice shall be deemed to have been given to all stockholders of record who share an address if notice is given in accordance with the “householding” rules set forth in the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and Section 233 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. For purposes of these bylaws, “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form through an automated process.

 

 

 

Section 1.4       Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time, to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

Section 1.5       Quorum. At each meeting of stockholders, except where otherwise provided by law or the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote on a matter at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum of the holders of any class of stock entitled to vote on a matter, either (a) the holders of such class so present or represented may, by a majority in voting power thereof, adjourn the meeting of such class from time to time in the manner provided by Section 1.4 of these bylaws until a quorum of such class shall be so present or represented or (b) the Chairperson of the meeting may on his or her own motion adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided by Section 1.4 of these bylaws until a quorum of such class shall be so present and represented without the approval of the stockholders who are present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote, without notice other than announcement at the meeting. Shares of its own capital stock belonging on the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting to the Corporation or to another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation to vote stock, including but not limited to its own stock, held by it in a fiduciary capacity.

 

Section 1.6       Organization. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairperson of the Board, if any, or in the absence of the Chairperson of the Board by the Chief Executive Officer, or in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer by the President, or in the absence of the President by a Vice President, or in the absence of the foregoing persons by a chairperson designated by the Board, or in the absence of such designation by a chairperson chosen at the meeting. The Secretary, or in the absence of the Secretary an Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the absence of the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

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The order of business at each such meeting shall be as determined by the chairperson of the meeting. The chairperson of the meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts and things as are necessary or desirable for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, the establishment of procedures for the maintenance of order and safety, limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments on the affairs of the Corporation, restrictions on entry to such meeting after the time prescribed for the commencement thereof and the opening and closing of the voting polls, for each item on which a vote is to be taken.

 

Section 1.7       Voting; Proxies. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by such stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question. 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 proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power, regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the Corporation generally. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or another duly executed proxy bearing a later date with the Secretary of the Corporation. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot unless the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of all classes of stock entitled to vote thereon present in person or represented by proxy at such meeting shall so determine. Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. In all other matters, unless otherwise provided by law or by the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws or the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders. Where a separate vote by class or classes is required, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of such class or classes present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting shall be the act of such class or classes, except as otherwise provided by law or by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws. For purposes of this Section 1.7, votes cast “for” or “against” and “abstentions” with respect to such matter shall be counted as shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote on such matter, while “broker non-votes” (or other shares of stock of the Corporation similarly not entitled to vote) shall not be counted as shares entitled to vote on such matter.

 

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Section 1.8       Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board 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, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and 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. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.8 at the adjourned meeting.

 

In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board 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, and which date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date has been fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board is required by 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 the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the Board and prior action by the Board is required by 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 day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

 

In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders 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 may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

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Section 1.9       List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The Secretary shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting; provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Nothing in this Section 1.9 shall require the Corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic content information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting: (a) 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 (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. 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 a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be examined by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then such 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.

 

Section 1.10     Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of a Meeting. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or by law, any action required by law to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, or any action which 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, only if a unanimous written consent or consents signed by all of the stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to (a) its registered office in the State of Delaware by hand or by certified mail or registered mail, return receipt requested, (b) its principal place of business, or (c) an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. 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 sixty (60) days of the earliest dated consent delivered in the manner required by this bylaw to the Corporation, written consents signed by the rest of holders to take action are delivered to the Corporation in the manner required by this bylaw.

 

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An electronic transmission consenting to an action to be taken and transmitted by a stockholder, member or proxyholder, or by a person or persons authorized to act for a stockholder, member or proxyholder, shall be deemed to be written, signed and dated for the purposes of this Section 1.10, provided that any such electronic transmission sets forth or is delivered with information from which the Corporation can determine (a) that the electronic transmission was transmitted by the stockholder, member or proxyholder or by a person or persons authorized to act for the stockholder, member or proxyholder and (b) the date on which such stockholder, member or proxyholder or authorized person or persons transmitted such electronic transmission. The date on which such electronic transmission is transmitted shall be deemed to be the date on which such consent was signed. Any copy, facsimile or other reliable reproduction of a consent in writing may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing for any and all purposes for which the original writing could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing.

 

Section 1.11     Inspectors. Prior to any meeting of stockholders, the Board or the Chief Executive Officer shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at such meeting and make a written report thereof and may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at the meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors 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, determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors and certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and their count of all votes and ballots. The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons to assist them in the performance of their duties. The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting. No ballot, proxy or vote, nor any revocation thereof or change thereto, shall be accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the polls. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots, the inspectors shall be limited to an examination of the proxies, any envelopes submitted therewith, any information provided by a stockholder who submits a proxy by electronic transmission from which it can be determined that the proxy was authorized by the stockholder, any written ballot or, if authorized by the Board, a ballot submitted by electronic transmission together with any information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder, any information provided in a record of a vote if such vote was taken at the meeting by means of remote communication along with any information used to verify that any person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder, ballots and the regular books and records of the corporation, and they may also consider other reliable information for the limited purpose of reconciling proxies and ballots submitted by or on behalf of banks, brokers, their nominees or similar persons which represent more votes than the holder of a proxy is authorized by the record owner to cast or more votes than the stockholder holds of record. If the inspectors consider other reliable information for such purpose, they shall, at the time they make their certification, specify the precise information considered by them, including the person or persons from whom they obtained the information, when the information was obtained, the means by which the information was obtained and the basis for the inspectors’ belief that such information is accurate and reliable.

 

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Section 1.12     Advance Notice of Stockholder Nominees for Directors and Other Stockholder Proposals.

 

(a)            The matters to be considered and brought before any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation shall be limited to only such matters, including the nomination and election of directors, as shall be brought properly before such meeting in compliance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.12.

 

(b)            For any matter to be brought properly before any annual meeting of stockholders, the matter must be (i) specified in the notice of the annual meeting given by or at the direction of the Board, (ii) otherwise brought before the annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board, or (iii) brought before the annual meeting by a stockholder (x) who is a stockholder of record of the Corporation on the date the Stockholder Notice provided for in this Section 1.12 is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, (y) who is entitled to vote at the annual meeting and (z) who complies with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.12.

 

(c)            In addition to any other requirements under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these bylaws, written notice (the “Stockholder Notice”) of any nomination or other proposal to be brought before the annual meeting by a stockholder must be timely and any proposal, other than a nomination, must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action.

 

To be timely, the Stockholder Notice must be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal place of business of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) nor more than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary date of the annual meeting for the preceding year (for these purposes, the annual meeting for the year 2022 shall be deemed to have occurred on May 15, 2022); provided, however, that if (and only if) the annual meeting is not scheduled to be held within a period that commences thirty (30) days before such anniversary date and ends thirty (30) days after such anniversary date (an annual meeting date outside such period being referred to herein as an “Other Meeting Date”), the Stockholder Notice shall be considered timely if it is given in the manner provided herein by the later of the close of business on (i) the date ninety (90) days prior to such Other Meeting Date or (ii) the tenth day following the date such Other Meeting Date is first publicly announced or disclosed. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 1.12 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board is increased and either all of the nominees for director or the size of the increased Board is not publicly announced or disclosed by the Corporation at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a Stockholder Notice shall also be considered timely hereunder, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal place of business of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the first date all of such nominees or the size of the increased Board shall have been publicly announced or disclosed.

 

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(d)            A Stockholder Notice must contain the following information:

 

(i)             whether the stockholder is providing the notice at the request of a beneficial holder of shares;

 

(ii)            whether the stockholder, any such beneficial holder or any nominee has any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, or has received any financial assistance, funding or other consideration from, any other person with respect to the investment by the stockholder or such beneficial holder in the Corporation or the matter the Stockholder Notice relates to, and the details thereof, including the name of such other person (the stockholder, any beneficial holder on whose behalf the notice is being delivered, any nominees listed in the notice and any persons with whom such agreement, arrangement or understanding exists or from whom such assistance has been obtained are hereinafter collectively referred to as “Interested Persons”);

 

(iii)            the name and address of each Interested Person;

 

(iv)            a complete listing of the record and beneficial ownership positions (including number or amount) of all equity securities and debt instruments, whether held in the form of loans or capital market instruments, of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries held by each Interested Person;

 

(v)             whether and the extent to which any hedging, derivative or other transaction is in place or has been entered into within the six months preceding the date of delivery of the Stockholder Notice by or for the benefit of any Interested Person with respect to the Corporation or its subsidiaries or any of their respective securities, debt instruments or credit ratings, the effect or intent of which transaction is to give rise to gain or loss as a result of changes in the trading price of such securities or debt instruments or changes in the credit ratings for the Corporation, its subsidiaries or any of their respective securities or debt instruments (or, more generally, changes in the perceived creditworthiness of the Corporation or its subsidiaries), or to increase or decrease the voting power of such Interested Person, and if so, a summary of the material terms thereof;

 

(vi)            a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation that would be entitled to vote at the meeting and intends to appear in person (or have a qualified representative appear on his or her behalf in person) at the meeting to propose the matter set forth in the Stockholder Notice;

 

(vii)           if the Stockholder Notice relates to the nomination of directors, (x) the information regarding each nominee required by paragraphs (a), (e) and (f) of Item 401 of Regulation S-K adopted by the SEC (or the corresponding provisions of any successor regulation), (y) each nominee’s signed consent to serve as a director of the Corporation if elected, and (z) whether each nominee is eligible for consideration as an independent director under the relevant standards contemplated by Item 407(a) of Regulation S-K adopted by the SEC (or the corresponding provisions of any successor regulation); and

 

(viii)          if the Stockholder Notice relates to a matter other than the nomination of directors, (x) the text of the proposal to be presented, including the text of any resolutions to be proposed for consideration by stockholders, and (y) a brief written statement of the reasons why such stockholder favors the proposal.

 

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As used herein, “beneficially owned” has the meaning provided in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act. The Stockholder Notice shall be updated not later than the earlier of (i) ten (10) days after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and (ii) the business day before the date the meeting will be held, to provide any material changes in the foregoing information as of the record date. The Corporation may also require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information, including completion of the Corporation’s directors questionnaire, as it may reasonably require to determine whether the nominee would be considered “independent” as a director or as a member of the audit, compensation or other committee of the Board under the various rules and standards applicable to the Corporation.

 

(e)            For any matter to be brought properly before a special meeting of stockholders, the matter must be set forth in the Corporation’s notice of the meeting given by or at the direction of the Board. In the event that the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more persons to the Board, any stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of the meeting, if a notice in the form of, and containing the same information required to be included in, a Stockholder Notice pursuant to subsections (c) and (d) of this Section 1.12 shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal place of business of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board to be elected at such meeting is publicly announced or disclosed. Such notice shall be updated not later than the earlier of (i) ten (10) days after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting and (ii) the business day before the date the special meeting will be held, to provide any material changes in the foregoing information as of the record date.

 

(f)            For purposes of this Section 1.12, a matter shall be deemed to have been “publicly announced or disclosed” if such matter is disclosed in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the SEC.

 

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(g)            Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the following procedures shall be eligible for election as directors of the Corporation at any annual meeting of stockholders, or at any special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors as set forth in the Corporation’s notice of such special meeting, except as may be otherwise provided by any stockholder agreement between the Corporation and any stockholders that may be in effect from time to time (as amended or supplemented in accordance with its terms, the “Stockholder Agreement”) or the terms of one or more series of Preferred Stock with respect to the rights of holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board at any annual meeting of stockholders, or at any special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors as set forth in the Corporation’s notice of such special meeting, may be made (i) by or at the direction of a majority of the independent directors of the Board, who will have met in executive session or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation (x) who is a stockholder of record entitled to vote in the election of directors on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 1.12 and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting and (y) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.12. In no event shall the postponement or adjournment of an annual or special meeting already publicly noticed, or any announcement of such postponement or adjournment, commence a new period (or extend any time period) for the giving of notice as provided in this Section 1.12.

 

(h)            The person presiding at any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall have the power and duty to determine whether notice of nominees and other matters proposed to be brought before a meeting has been duly given in the manner provided in this Section 1.12 and, if not so given, shall direct and declare at the meeting that such nominees and other matters are not properly before the meeting and shall not be considered. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.12, if the stockholder or a qualified representative of the stockholder does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present any such nomination, or make any such proposal, such nomination or proposal shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Section 1.12 shall not (i) apply to stockholder proposals made in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act that are included in the Corporation’s proxy statement for an annual meeting pursuant to the Exchange Act, or (ii) affect any rights set forth in any Stockholder Agreement.

 

Article II

 

Board

 

Section 2.1       Powers; Number; Qualifications. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, except as may be otherwise provided by law or in the certificate of incorporation. The Board shall consist of one or more members, each of whom shall be a natural person, the number thereof to be determined from time to time by the Board, subject to any Stockholder Agreement. Directors need not be stockholders. 

 

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Section 2.2       Election; Term of Office; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies. The Board shall initially consist of the persons named as directors in the certificate of incorporation or elected by the incorporator of the Corporation, and each director so elected shall hold office until the first annual meeting of stockholders or until his or her successor is elected and qualified. At the first annual meeting of stockholders and at each annual meeting thereafter, the stockholders shall elect directors each of whom shall hold office for a term of one year or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, subject to such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Board or to the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect at the time it is delivered unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events. Unless otherwise specified therein no acceptance of such resignation shall be necessary to make it effective. Subject to any Stockholder Agreement, any director or the entire Board may be removed, with cause, by the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, subject to any Stockholder Agreement, vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director. Any director elected or appointed to fill a vacancy shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the stockholders and his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal.

 

Section 2.3       Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board may be held at such places within or without the State of Delaware and at such times as the Board may from time to time determine, and if so determined notice thereof need not be given.

 

Section 2.4       Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be held at any time or place within or without the State of Delaware whenever called by the Chairperson of the Board, if any, by the Chief Executive Officer, by the Secretary or by any two directors. Reasonable notice thereof shall be given by the person or persons calling the meeting.

 

Section 2.5       Participation in Meetings by Conference Telephone Permitted. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, members of the Board, or any committee designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board or of such committee, as the case may be, by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this bylaw shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

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Section 2.6       Quorum; Vote Required for Action. At all meetings of the Board, a majority of the entire Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board unless the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws shall require a vote of a greater number. In case at any meeting of the Board a quorum shall not be present, the members of the Board present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present.

 

Section 2.7       Organization. Meetings of the Board shall be presided over by the Chairperson of the Board, if any, or in the absence of the Chairperson of the Board by the Chief Executive Officer, or in their absence by a chairperson chosen at the meeting. The Secretary, or in the absence of the Secretary an Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the absence of the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

Section 2.8       Action by Directors Without a Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the 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.

 

Section 2.9       Compensation of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors.

 

Article III

 

Committees

 

Section 3.1       Committees. The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation, subject to the obligations of the Corporation set forth in any Stockholder Agreement. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board 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 or in these bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board 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 which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by law to be submitted to stockholders for approval, (b) adopting, amending or repealing these bylaws or (c) indemnifying directors.

 

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Section 3.2       Committee Rules. Unless the Board otherwise provides, each committee designated by the Board may adopt, amend and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of a provision by the Board or a provision in the rules of such committee to the contrary, a majority of the entire authorized number of members of such committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, the vote of a majority of the members present at a meeting at the time of such vote if a quorum is then present shall be the act of such committee, and in other respects each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board conducts its business pursuant to Article II of these bylaws.

 

Article IV

 

Officers

 

Section 4.1       Officers; Election. Subject to any Stockholder Agreement, the elected officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by the Board and may include a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer and a Secretary. Subject to any Stockholder Agreement, the Board may, if it so determines, elect from among its members a Chairperson of the Board. In addition, the Board may also elect, or the Chief Executive Officer may appoint, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries, a Treasurer and one or more Assistant Treasurers and such other officers as the Board may deem desirable or appropriate and may give any of them such further designations or alternate titles as it considers desirable. Any number of offices may be held by the same person unless the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws otherwise provide.

 

Section 4.2       Term of Office; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies. Unless otherwise provided in the resolution of the Board electing any officer, each officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal. Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice or electronic transmission to the Board or to the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect at the time it is delivered unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events. Unless otherwise specified therein no acceptance of such resignation shall be necessary to make it effective. Subject to any Stockholder Agreement, the Board may remove any officer with or without cause at any time. Any such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights of such officer, if any, with the Corporation, but the election of an officer shall not of itself create contractual rights. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation by death, resignation, removal or otherwise, may be filled by the Board at any regular or special meeting.

 

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Section 4.3       Powers and Duties. The officers of the Corporation shall have such powers and duties in the management of the Corporation as shall be stated in these bylaws or in a resolution of the Board which is not inconsistent with these bylaws and, to the extent not so stated, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board. The Board may require any officer, agent or employee to give security for the faithful performance of his or her duties.

 

Section 4.4       Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general supervision over the business of the Corporation and other duties incident to the office of Chief Executive Officer, and any other duties as may from time to time be assigned to the Chief Executive Officer by the Board and subject to the control of the Board in each case.

 

Section 4.5       President. The President shall act in a general executive capacity and shall assist the Chief Executive Officer in the administration and operation of the Corporation’s business and general supervision of its policies and affairs and shall, in general, perform all duties incident to the office of President of a corporation and such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to the President by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 4.6       Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall act in an executive financial capacity. The Chief Financial Officer shall assist the Chief Executive Officer and the President in the general supervision of the Corporation’s financial policies and affairs. The Chief Financial Officer shall, in general, perform all duties incident to the office of Chief Financial Officer of a corporation and such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to the Chief Financial Officer by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 4.7       Secretary. The Secretary shall record all the proceedings of the meetings of the Board and of the stockholders in a book to be kept for that purpose and perform like duties for committees of the Board, when required. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all special meetings of the Board and all meetings of the stockholders and, in general, perform all duties incident to the office of secretary of a corporation and such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to the Secretary by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Article V

 

Stock

 

Section 5.1       Stock Certificates and Uncertificated Shares. The shares of stock in the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the Corporation’s stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate theretofore issued 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 Chairperson of the Board, if any, or the Chief Executive Officer or the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Corporation, representing the number of shares of stock registered in certificate form owned by such holder. Any of, or all the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile if permitted by applicable law. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. The Corporation may not issue stock certificates in bearer form.

 

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Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated shares and the rights and obligations of the holders of certificates representing stock of the same class and series shall be identical.

 

Section 5.2       Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates. 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.

 

Article VI

 

Indemnification

 

Section 6.1       Indemnification. The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless to the fullest extent permitted by law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that such person or such person’s testator or intestate is or was a director, officer or employee of the Corporation or, while a director, officer or employee of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “Indemnitee”), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that, except for claims for indemnification (following the final disposition of such Proceeding), the Corporation shall indemnify any such Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee only if such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.

 

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Section 6.2       Advancement of Expenses. The Corporation shall pay the expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred by an Indemnitee in appearing at, participating in or defending any such Proceeding in advance of its final disposition, upon delivery to the Corporation of 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 that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified or entitled to advancement of expenses under this Section 6.2 or otherwise. Payment of such expenses incurred by such Indemnitee may be made by the Corporation subject to such terms and conditions the Chief Legal and Governance Officer of the Corporation in his or her reasonable discretion deems appropriate.

 

Section 6.3       Non-Exclusivity. The provision of indemnification to or the advancement of expenses and costs to any Indemnitee under this bylaw, or the entitlement of any Indemnitee to indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs under this bylaw, shall not limit or restrict in any way the power of the Corporation to indemnify or advance expenses and costs to such Indemnitee in any other way permitted by law, or be deemed exclusive of, or invalidate, any right to which any Indemnitee seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs may be entitled under any law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such Indemnitee’s official capacity as an officer, director or employee of the Corporation and as to action in any other capacity while holding office. The Corporation is specifically authorized to enter into individual contracts with any or all of its directors, officers or employees with respect to indemnification and advances, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

Section 6.4       Other Indemnification. The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or advance expenses and costs to any Indemnitee who was or is serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.

 

Section 6.5       Continuance. The provision of indemnification to or the advancement of expenses and costs to any Indemnitee under this bylaw, or the entitlement of any Indemnitee to indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs under this bylaw, shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer or employee of the Corporation with regard to acts or omissions of such Indemnitee occurring or alleged to have occurred while such Indemnitee was so engaged. Any amendment, repeal or modification of this bylaw shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

 

Section 6.6       Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability asserted against such person in any such capacity, 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 law and this bylaw.

 

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Article VII

 

Miscellaneous

 

Section 7.1       Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by the Board.

 

Section 7.2       Seal. The Corporation may have a corporate seal which shall have the name of the Corporation inscribed thereon and shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board. The corporate seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.

 

Section 7.3       Waiver of Notice of Meetings of Stockholders, Directors and Committees. Whenever notice is required to be given by law or under any provision of the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, 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. 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 stockholders, directors or members of a committee of directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws.

 

Section 7.4       Interested Directors; Quorum. No contract or transaction between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the Corporation 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 or committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because such director’s or officer’s votes are counted for such purpose, if: (a) the material facts as to director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board or the committee, and the Board or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; or (b) the material facts as to director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or (c) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the Board, a committee thereof or the stockholders. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.

 

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Section 7.5       Form of Records. Any records maintained by the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account and minute books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device, or method, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time. The Corporation shall so convert any records so kept upon the request of any person entitled to inspect such records in accordance with law.

 

Section 7.6       Amendment of Bylaws. Subject to the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws may be amended or repealed, and new bylaws adopted, by the Board, but the stockholders entitled to vote may adopt additional bylaws and may amend or repeal any bylaw whether or not adopted by them. No bylaws hereafter made or adopted, nor any repeal of or amendment thereto, shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that was valid at the time it was taken. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment, alteration or repeal of Section 7.6 shall adversely affect any right or protection existing under these bylaws immediately prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal, including any right or protection of a present or former director, officer or employee thereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as any Stockholder Agreement remains in Effect, the Board shall not approve any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of these bylaws, or the adoption of any new bylaws, that would be contrary to or inconsistent with the then applicable terms of such Stockholder Agreement without the prior written consent of the parties thereto.

 

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