UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
___________________
FORM 8-K
___________________
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
March 18, 2015
___________________
THESTREET, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
Delaware | 0-25779 | 06-1515824 | ||
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
|
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
|
14 Wall Street, 15th Floor
New York, New York 10005
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(212) 321-5000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
___________________
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year
On March 18, 2015, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of TheStreet, Inc. (the “Company”) approved an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”), which became effective upon its adoption by the Board on March 18, 2015. The amendment to the Bylaws (the “Amendment”) added a new Article X to select the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for: (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) any action or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of the Company to the Company or the Company’s stockholders, (iii) any action or proceeding asserting a claim against the Company or any director, officer, employee or agent of the Company arising pursuant to, or seeking to enforce any right, obligation or remedy under, any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws (in each case, as may be amended from time to time), (iv) any action or proceeding to interpret, apply, enforce, or determine the validity of any provision or provisions of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws (in each case, as may be amended from time to time) or (v) any action or proceeding asserting a claim against the Company or any director, officer, employee or agent of the Company governed by the internal affairs doctrine.
The Amendment is designed to save the Company and its stockholders from the increased expense of defending against duplicative litigation brought in multiple courts, and also to provide that claims involving Delaware law are decided by Delaware courts.
The Bylaws, as amended, are filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated by reference herein. The foregoing summary of the Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Bylaws, as amended.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) | Exhibits |
Exhibit |
Description | |
3.1 | Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended on March 18, 2015 |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
THESTREET, INC.
| |||
Date: March 19, 2015 |
By: | /s/ John C. Ferrara | |
John C. Ferrara | |||
Chief Financial Officer |
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit |
Description | |
3.1 | Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended on March 18, 2015 |
Exhibit 3.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BY-LAWS
OF
THESTREET, INC.
A Delaware Corporation
(as amended through March 18, 2015)
Table of Contents
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I OFFICES | 1 | |||||
Section 1. | REGISTERED OFFICE | 1 | ||||
Section 2. | OTHER OFFICES | 1 | ||||
ARTICLE II MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS | 1 | |||||
Section 1. | PLACE OF MEETINGS | 1 | ||||
Section 2. | ANNUAL MEETINGS | 1 | ||||
Section 3. | SPECIAL MEETINGS | 2 | ||||
Section 4. | QUORUM | 2 | ||||
Section 5. | PROXIES | 2 | ||||
Section 6. | VOTING | 3 | ||||
Section 7. | NATURE OF BUSINESS AT MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS | 3 | ||||
Section 8. | LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE | 7 | ||||
Section 9. | STOCK LEDGER | 7 | ||||
Section 10. | RECORD DATE | 7 | ||||
Section 11. | ORGANIZATION; CONDUCT OF BUSINESS | 8 | ||||
Section 12. | INSPECTORS OF ELECTION | 8 | ||||
ARTICLE III DIRECTORS | 8 | |||||
Section 1. | NUMBER AND ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | 8 | ||||
Section 2. | VACANCIES | 9 | ||||
Section 3. | DUTIES AND POWERS | 9 | ||||
Section 4. | ORGANIZATION | 9 | ||||
Section 5. | RESIGNATIONS AND REMOVALS OF DIRECTORS | 9 | ||||
Section 6. | MEETINGS | 9 | ||||
Section 7. | QUORUM | 9 | ||||
Section 8. | ACTIONS OF BOARD | 10 | ||||
Section 9. | MEETINGS BY MEANS OF CONFERENCE TELEPHONE | 10 | ||||
Section 10. | COMMITTEES | 10 | ||||
Section 11. | COMPENSATION | 11 | ||||
Section 12. | INTERESTED DIRECTORS | 11 | ||||
ARTICLE IV OFFICERS | 11 | |||||
Section 1. | GENERAL | 11 | ||||
Section 2. | ELECTION | 12 | ||||
Section 3. | VOTING SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION | 12 |
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Table of Contents
(continued)
Page | ||||||
Section 4. | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 12 | ||||
Section 5. | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 12 | ||||
Section 6. | PRESIDENT | 13 | ||||
Section 7. | VICE PRESIDENTS | 13 | ||||
Section 8. | SECRETARY | 13 | ||||
Section 9. | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND TREASURER | 13 | ||||
Section 10. | ASSISTANT SECRETARIES | 14 | ||||
Section 11. | ASSISTANT TREASURERS | 14 | ||||
Section 12. | OTHER OFFICERS | 14 | ||||
ARTICLE V STOCK | 14 | |||||
Section 1. | FORM OF CERTIFICATES | 14 | ||||
Section 2. | SIGNATURES | 15 | ||||
Section 3. | LOST, DESTROYED, STOLEN OR MUTILATED CERTIFICATES | 15 | ||||
Section 4. | TRANSFERS | 15 | ||||
Section 5. | TRANSFER AND REGISTRY AGENTS | 16 | ||||
Section 6. | BENEFICIAL OWNERS | 16 | ||||
ARTICLE VI NOTICES | 16 | |||||
Section 1. | NOTICES | 16 | ||||
Section 2. | WAIVERS OF NOTICE | 16 | ||||
ARTICLE VII GENERAL PROVISIONS | 16 | |||||
Section 1. | DIVIDENDS | 16 | ||||
Section 2. | DISBURSEMENTS | 17 | ||||
Section 3. | FISCAL YEAR | 17 | ||||
Section 4. | CORPORATE SEAL | 17 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION | 17 | |||||
Section 1. | POWER TO INDEMNIFY IN ACTIONS, SUITS OR PROCEEDINGS OTHER THAN THOSE BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION | 17 | ||||
Section 2. | POWER TO INDEMNIFY IN ACTIONS, SUITS OR PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION | 17 | ||||
Section 3. | AUTHORIZATION OF INDEMNIFICATION | 18 | ||||
Section 4. | GOOD FAITH DEFINED | 18 | ||||
Section 5. | INDEMNIFICATION BY A COURT | 18 | ||||
Section 6. | EXPENSES PAYABLE IN ADVANCE |
ii |
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page | ||||||
Section 7. | NONEXCLUSIVITY OF INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES | 19 | ||||
Section 8. | INSURANCE | 19 | ||||
Section 9. | CERTAIN DEFINITIONS | 19 | ||||
Section 10. | SURVIVAL OF INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES | 20 | ||||
Section 11. | LIMITATION ON INDEMNIFICATION | 20 | ||||
Section 12. | INDEMNIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS | 21 | ||||
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS | 21 | |||||
Section 1. | AMENDMENTS | 21 | ||||
Section 2. | ENTIRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 21 | ||||
ARTICLE X FORUM FOR ADJUDICATION OF DISPUTES | 21 | |||||
Section 1. | FORUM FOR ADJUDICATION OF DISPUTES | 21 |
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AMENDED AND RESTATED
BY-LAWS
OF
THESTREET, INC.
(hereinafter called the “Corporation”)
ARTICLE
I
OFFICES
Section 1. REGISTERED OFFICE. The registered office of the Corporation shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware.
Section 2. OTHER OFFICES. The Corporation 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.
ARTICLE
II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. PLACE OF MEETINGS. Meetings of the stockholders for the election of directors or for any other purpose shall be held at such time and place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). In the absence of any such designation, stockholders’ meetings shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation.
Section 2. ANNUAL MEETINGS. The annual meetings of stockholders shall be held on such date and at such time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting, at which meetings the stockholders shall elect directors, and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting. The meeting may be adjourned from time to time and place to place until its business is completed. Any previously scheduled annual meeting of stockholders may be postponed by resolution of the Board of Directors upon public notice given on or prior to the date previously scheduled for such annual meeting. Written notice of the annual meeting stating the place, date and hour of the meeting shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting.
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Section 3. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Unless otherwise prescribed by law or by the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, as amended and restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), special meetings of stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, may be called by either (i) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, (ii) the President, or (iii) the Board of Directors in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation in effect as of the date hereof. Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting. At a special meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall be specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors. The meeting may be adjourned from time to time and place to place until its business is completed. Any previously scheduled annual meeting of stockholders may be postponed by resolution of the Board of Directors upon public notice given on or prior to the date previously scheduled for such annual meeting. Written notice of a special meeting stating the place, date and hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called shall be given not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting.
Section 4. QUORUM. Except as otherwise required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of the capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, then either (i) the chairman of the meeting or (ii) the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed. If the adjournment is for more than thirty 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 entitled to vote at the meeting not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting.
Section 5. PROXIES. Any stockholder entitled to vote may do so in person or by his or her proxy appointed by an instrument in writing subscribed by such stockholder or by his or her attorney thereunto authorized, delivered to the Secretary of the meeting; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless said proxy provides for a longer period. Without limiting the manner in which a stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for him or her as proxy, either of the following shall constitute a valid means by which a stockholder may grant such authority:
(a) A stockholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or persons to act for him or her as proxy. Execution may be accomplished by the stockholder or his or her authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such writing or causing his or her signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means, including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature.
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(b) A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for him or her as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a telegram or other means of 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, provided that any such telegram or other means of electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the telegram or other electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission authorizing another person or persons to act as proxy for a stockholder may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used; PROVIDED that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.
Section 6. VOTING. At all meetings of the stockholders at which a quorum is present, except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any question brought before any meeting of stockholders, other than election of directors, which shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast, shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of votes of the capital stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on such question, voting as a single class. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, or the officer of the Corporation presiding at a meeting of stockholders, in his or her discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.
Section 7. NATURE OF BUSINESS AT MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS. No person shall be eligible to serve as a director and no business may be transacted at a meeting of stockholders, unless such person is nominated, and such business is brought before the meeting, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 7.
(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders.
1. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders at an annual meeting of stockholders may be made only (a) as specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof), (b) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof) or (c) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by any stockholder of the Company (i) who is a stockholder of record (“Record Stockholder”) on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 7(a) and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such annual meeting and (ii) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 7(a); clause (c) of this sentence shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and included in the Corporation’s notice of meeting) before an annual meeting of stockholders.
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2. For nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a Record Stockholder pursuant to clause (c) of paragraph (a)(1) of this Section 7, in addition to any other applicable requirements, such Record Stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Company, and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a Record Stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Company not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within thirty (30) days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder in order to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement (as defined below) is first made of the date of the annual meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment of the annual meeting commence a new time period or extend any time period for giving of a Record Stockholder’s notice as described above.
To be in proper written form, a Record Stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth:
(A) as to each person whom the Record Stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director (1) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, and (2) such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected;
(B) as to any business that the Record Stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made;
(C) as to the Record Stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made or the business is proposed (each, a “party”):
(1) the name and address of each such party;
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(2) | (i) the class, series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record by each such party, (ii) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise (a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by each such party, and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation, (iii) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which either party has a right to vote, directly or indirectly, any shares of any security of the Corporation, (iv) any short interest in any security of the Corporation held by each such party (for purposes of this Section 7(a), a person shall be deemed to have a short interest in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security), (v) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially directly or indirectly by each such party that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (vi) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which either party is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner and (vii) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that each such party is directly or indirectly entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including without limitation any such interests held by members of each such party’s immediate family sharing the same household (which information set forth in this paragraph shall be supplemented by such stockholder or such beneficial owner, as the case may be, not later than ten (10) days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting and/or to vote at the meeting to disclose such ownership as of such record date); |
(3) | any other information relating to each such party that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act; and |
(4) | a statement whether or not each such party will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of, in the case of a proposal, at least the percentage of voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation required under applicable law to carry the proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, at least the percentage of voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation reasonably believed by the Record Stockholder or beneficial holder, as the case may be, to be sufficient to elect the nominee or nominees proposed to be nominated by the Record Stockholder (such statement, a “Solicitation Statement”). |
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3. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation, including information relevant to a determination whether such proposed nominee can be considered an independent director.
4. Only such business shall be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws. The chairperson of the meeting shall determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be transacted by the stockholders has been properly brought before the meeting and, if any proposed nomination or business has not been properly brought before the meeting, the chairperson shall declare that such proposed business or nomination shall not be presented for stockholder action at the meeting.
5. For purposes of this Article, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
6. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7(a), a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this Section 7(a). Nothing in this Section 7(a) shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
(b) Special Meeting.
1. A special meeting of the stockholders, other than those required by statute, may be called at any time only by (a) the Board of Directors, (b) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, if there be one, or (c) the President. A special meeting of the stockholders may not be called by any other person or persons.
2. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors. The notice of a special meeting shall include the purpose for which the meeting is called. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (b) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of record of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of the giving of the notice provided for in this paragraph, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and who delivers a written notice to the Secretary setting forth the information set forth in Section 7(a)(2)(A) and (C). Nominations by stockholders of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at such a special meeting of stockholders only if such stockholder of record’s notice required by the preceding sentence shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall an adjournment, or postponement of a special meeting for which notice has been given, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
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3. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors. The notice of such special meeting shall include the purpose for which the meeting is called.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7(b), a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this Section 7(b). Nothing in this Section 7(b) shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
Section 8. LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE. The officer of the Corporation who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder; Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting in the manner provided by law. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder of the Corporation who is present.
Section 9. STOCK LEDGER. The stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list required by Section 8 of this Article II or the books of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
Section 10. RECORD DATE. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and which record date: (1) in the case of determination of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders or adjournment thereof, shall not be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting; and (2) in the case of any other action, shall not be more than sixty days prior to such other action. If no record date is fixed: (1) 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 (2) the record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting..
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Section 11. ORGANIZATION; CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.
(a) The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or, if no such officer has been appointed or in his or her absence, the President of the Corporation or, in his or her absence, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, shall call to order any meeting of the stockholders and act as chairman of the meeting. In the absence of the Secretary of the Corporation, the secretary of the meeting shall be such person as the chairman of the meeting appoints.
(b) The chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including the manner of voting and the conduct of business. The chairman shall have the power to adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date and time. The date and time of opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting.
Section 12. INSPECTORS OF ELECTION. In advance of any meeting of stockholders, the Board by resolution or the Chairman or President shall appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. One or more other persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is present, ready and willing to act at a meeting of stockholders, the Chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation. 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 inspector shall have the duties prescribed by law and shall take charge of the polls and, when the vote is completed, shall make a certificate of the result of the vote taken and of such other facts as may be required by law.
ARTICLE
III
DIRECTORS
Section 1. NUMBER AND ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. The number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors, in accordance with the provisions of Article V of the Certificate of Incorporation. Except as provided in Section 2 of this Article III, directors shall be elected by the stockholders at the annual meetings of stockholders, and each director so elected shall hold office until such director’s successor is duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s death, or until such director’s earlier resignation or removal. Directors need not be stockholders.
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Section 2. VACANCIES. The filling of any vacancy on the Board of Directors that results from an increase in the number of directors shall be governed by the Certificate of Incorporation. Whenever the holders of any one or more class or classes or series of preferred stock of the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately as a class, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies and other features of such directorships shall also be governed by the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 3. DUTIES AND POWERS. The business of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-Laws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
Section 4. ORGANIZATION. At each meeting of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or, in his or her absence, a director chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall act as Chairman. The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as Secretary at each meeting of the Board of Directors. In case the Secretary shall be absent from any meeting of the Board of Directors, an Assistant Secretary shall perform the duties of Secretary at such meeting; and in the absence from any such meeting of the Secretary and all the Assistant Secretaries, the Chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as Secretary of the meeting.
Section 5. RESIGNATIONS AND REMOVALS OF DIRECTORS. Any director of the Corporation may resign at any time, by giving written notice to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President or the Secretary of the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect at the time therein specified or, if no time is specified, immediately; and, unless otherwise specified in such notice, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of shares of preferred stock then outstanding, any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause, and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors.
Section 6. MEETINGS. The Board of Directors of the Corporation may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such time and at such place as may from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors and, unless required by resolution of the Board of Directors, without notice. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Vice Chairman, if there be one, or a majority of the directors then in office. Notice thereof stating the place, date and hour of the meeting shall be given to each director either by mail not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the date of the meeting, by telephone, facsimile or telegram on twenty-four (24) hours’ notice, or on such shorter notice as the person or persons calling such meeting may deem necessary or appropriate in the circumstances.
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Section 7. QUORUM. Except as may be otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, at all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the entire Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting of the time and place of the adjourned meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
Section 8. ACTIONS OF BOARD. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all the members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.
Section 9. MEETINGS BY MEANS OF CONFERENCE TELEPHONE. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of a 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 Section 9 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 10. COMMITTEES.
(a) The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the entire Board of Directors, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. 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 any such committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, and in the absence of a designation by the Board of Directors of an alternate member to replace the absent or disqualified member, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any absent or disqualified member. Any committee, to the extent permitted by law and provided in the resolution establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation. Each committee shall keep regular minutes and report to the Board of Directors when required.
(b) Each committee may determine the procedural rules for meeting and conducting its business and shall act in accordance therewith, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law. Adequate provision shall be made for notice to members of all meetings; one-half of the members shall constitute a quorum; and all matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present. Action may be taken by any committee without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of such 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. The Board of Directors may adopt rules for the governance of any committee not inconsistent with these By-Laws.
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(c) Unless otherwise provided under applicable law, or in the certificate of incorporation, these By-Laws or the resolutions of the Board of Directors designating the committee, a committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one or more members of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee.
Section 11. COMPENSATION. 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, or such other emoluments as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for attending committee meetings.
Section 12. INTERESTED DIRECTORS. 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 of Directors or committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because such person’s or their votes are counted for such purpose if (i) the material facts as to such person’s or their 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 of Directors 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 (ii) the material facts as to such person’s or their 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 (iii) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the Board of Directors, 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 of Directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.
ARTICLE
IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. GENERAL. The officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and shall include a Chief Executive Officer, President, a Secretary and a Chief Financial Officer. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may also choose a Chairman of the Board of Directors (who must be a director) and one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurers and other officers. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, unless otherwise prohibited by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws. The officers of the Corporation need not be stockholders of the Corporation nor, except in the case of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, need such officers be directors of the Corporation.
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Section 2. ELECTION. The Board of Directors at its first meeting held after each Annual Meeting of Stockholders shall elect the officers of the Corporation 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; and all officers of the Corporation shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal. Any officer elected by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board of Directors. The salaries of all officers of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. VOTING SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION. Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, or any Vice President and any such officer may, in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation may own securities and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed if present. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.
Section 4. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, IF THERE BE ONE, SHALL PRESIDE AT ALL MEETINGS OF THE STOCKHOLDERS AND OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SHALL BE DESIGNATED BY A MAJORITY OF THE ENTIRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. EXCEPT WHERE BY LAW THE SIGNATURE OF THE PRESIDENT IS REQUIRED, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SHALL POSSESS THE SAME POWER AS THE PRESIDENT TO SIGN ALL CONTRACTS, CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS OF THE CORPORATION WHICH MAY BE AUTHORIZED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. DURING THE ABSENCE OR DISABILITY OF THE PRESIDENT, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SHALL EXERCISE ALL THE POWERS AND DISCHARGE ALL THE DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SHALL ALSO PERFORM SUCH OTHER DUTIES AND MAY EXERCISE SUCH OTHER POWERS AS FROM TIME TO TIME MAY BE ASSIGNED TO HIM OR HER BY THESE BY-LAWS OR BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Section 5. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. Subject to such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the Board of Directors to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, if such an officer is appointed, shall be the principal executive officer of the company and shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction, and control of the business and the officers of the Corporation. He or she shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and, in the absence or nonexistence of a Chairman of the Board of Directors, at all meetings of the Board of Directors, shall have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the office of chief executive officer of a Corporation and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or these By-Laws.
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Section 6. PRESIDENT. Subject to such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the Board of Directors to the Chairperson of the Board of Directors (if any) or the Chief Executive Officer, the President, if one shall have been appointed, shall have general supervision, direction, and control of the business and other officers of the Corporation. He or she shall have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the office of president of a corporation and such other powers and duties as may be prescribed or delegated by the Board of Directors or these By-Laws.
Section 7. VICE PRESIDENTS. At the request of the President or in his or her absence or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act (and if there be no Chairman of the Board of Directors), the Vice President or the Vice Presidents if there is more than one (in the order designated by the Board of Directors) shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President. Each Vice President shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors from time to time may prescribe. If there be no Chairman of the Board of Directors and no Vice President, the Board of Directors shall designate the officer of the Corporation who, in the absence of the President or in the event of the inability or refusal of the President to act, shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President.
Section 8. SECRETARY. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings of stockholders and record all the proceedings thereat in a book or books to be kept for that purpose; the Secretary shall also perform like duties for the standing committees when required. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, or President, under whose supervision the Secretary shall be. If the Secretary shall be unable or shall refuse to cause to be given notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and if there be no Assistant Secretary, then either the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer or the President may choose another officer to cause such notice to be given. The Secretary shall have custody of the seal of the Corporation and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, if there be one, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by the signature of the Secretary or by the signature of any such Assistant Secretary. The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing by his or her signature. The Secretary shall see that all books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by law to be kept or filed are properly kept or filed, as the case may be.
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Section 9. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND TREASURER.
(a) The Chief Financial Officer shall be responsible for maintaining the Corporation’s accounting records and statements, and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall also maintain adequate records of all assets, liabilities and transactions of the Corporation and shall assure that adequate audits thereof are currently and regularly made. The Chief Financial Officer shall have all such further powers and perform all such further duties as are customarily and usually associated with the position of chief financial officer, or as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. Unless a treasurer has been appointed separately in accordance with these Bylaws, the Chief Financial Officer shall also perform the duties of treasurer prescribed in paragraph (b) below.
(b) The Treasurer shall have custody of the Corporation’s funds and securities, shall deposit or cause to be deposited moneys or other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by any duly authorized officer of the Corporation, and shall have such further powers and perform such further duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President.
Section 10. ASSISTANT SECRETARIES. Except as may be otherwise provided in these By-Laws, Assistant Secretaries, if there be any, shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the President, any Vice President, if there be one, or the Secretary, and in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of his or her disability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the Secretary, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Secretary.
Section 11. ASSISTANT TREASURERS. Assistant Treasurers, if there be any, shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, if there be one, or the Treasurer, and in the absence of the Treasurer or in the event of the Treasurer’s disability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the Treasurer, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Treasurer.
Section 12. OTHER OFFICERS. Such other officers as the Board of Directors may choose shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may delegate to any other officer of the Corporation the power to choose such other officers and to prescribe their respective duties and powers.
ARTICLE
V
STOCK
Section 1. FORM OF CERTIFICATES. The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors of the Corporation may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Every holder of stock in the Corporation represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed, in the name of the Corporation, (i) by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President or a Vice President and (ii) by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by such holder of stock in the Corporation. Notwithstanding any other provision in these Bylaws, the Corporation may adopt a system of issuance, recordation and transfer of shares of the Corporation by electronic or other means not involving any issuance of certificates, including provisions for notice to purchasers in substitution for any required statements on certificates, and as may be required by applicable corporate securities laws, which system has been approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any system so adopted shall not become effective as to issued and outstanding certificated securities until the certificates therefor have been surrendered to the Corporation. The Corporation shall not have power to issue a certificate in bearer form.
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Section 2. SIGNATURES. Any or all of the signatures on a certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
Section 3. LOST, DESTROYED, STOLEN OR MUTILATED CERTIFICATES. The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such person’s legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as the Board of Directors shall require and/or to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
Section 4. TRANSFERS. Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these By-Laws. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the person named in the certificate or by such person’s attorney lawfully constituted in writing and upon the surrender of the certificate therefor, properly endorsed for transfer and payment of all necessary transfer taxes; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such surrender and endorsement or payment of taxes shall not be required in any case in which the officers of the Corporation shall determine to waive such requirement. Every certificate exchanged, returned or surrendered to the Corporation shall be marked “Cancelled,” with the date of cancellation, by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or the transfer agent thereof. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing from and to whom transferred.
Section 5. TRANSFER AND REGISTRY AGENTS. The Corporation may from time to time maintain one or more transfer offices or agencies and registry offices or agencies at such place or places as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.
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Section 6. BENEFICIAL OWNERS. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law.
ARTICLE
VI
NOTICES
Section 1. NOTICES. Whenever written notice is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, to be given to any director, member of a committee or stockholder, such notice may be given by mail, addressed to such director, member of a committee or stockholder, at such person’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail. Written notice may also be given personally or by telegram, facsimile, telex or cable. Furthermore, without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders pursuant to the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any notice shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL.
Section 2. WAIVERS OF NOTICE. (a) Whenever any notice is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, to be given to any director, member of a committee or stockholder, a waiver thereof in writing, signed, by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting, present by person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where the person 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. (b) 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 unless so required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws.
ARTICLE
VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. DIVIDENDS. Subject to the requirements of the DGCL and the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors, and may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the Corporation’s capital stock. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in its absolute discretion, deems proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for purchasing any of the shares of capital stock, warrants, rights, options, bonds, debentures, notes, scrip or other securities or evidences of indebtedness of the Corporation, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for any other proper purpose, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve.
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Section 2. DISBURSEMENTS. All checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.
Section 3. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 4. CORPORATE SEAL. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware”. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
ARTICLE
VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. POWER TO INDEMNIFY IN ACTIONS, SUITS OR PROCEEDINGS OTHER THAN THOSE BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION. Subject to Section 3 of this Article VIII, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of NOLO CONTENDERE or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that such person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.
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Section 2. POWER TO INDEMNIFY IN ACTIONS, SUITS OR PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION. Subject to Section 3 of this Article VIII, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Section 3. AUTHORIZATION OF INDEMNIFICATION. Any indemnification under this Article VIII (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director or officer is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 1 or Section 2 of this Article VIII, as the case may be. Such determination shall be made (i) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (ii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iii) by the stockholders. To the extent, however, that a director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith, without the necessity of authorization in the specific case.
Section 4. GOOD FAITH DEFINED. For purposes of any determination under Section 3 of this Article VIII, a person shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, or, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, to have had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful, if such person’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Corporation or another enterprise, or on information supplied to such person by the officers of the Corporation or another enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Corporation or another enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Corporation or another enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Corporation or another enterprise. The term “another enterprise” as used in this Section 4 shall mean any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which such person is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent. The provisions of this Section 4 shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 1 or 2 of this Article VIII, as the case may be.
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Section 5. INDEMNIFICATION BY A COURT. Notwithstanding any contrary determination in the specific case under Section 3 of this Article VIII, and notwithstanding the absence of any determination thereunder, any director or officer may apply to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or any other court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware for indemnification to the extent otherwise permissible under Sections 1 and 2 of this Article VIII. The basis of such indemnification by a court shall be a determination by such court that indemnification of the director or officer is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standards of conduct set forth in Section 1 or 2 of this Article VIII, as the case may be. Neither a contrary determination in the specific case under Section 3 of this Article VIII nor the absence of any determination thereunder shall be a defense to such application or create a presumption that the director or officer seeking indemnification has not met any applicable standard of conduct. Notice of any application for indemnification pursuant to this Section 5 shall be given to the Corporation promptly upon the filing of such application. If successful, in whole or in part, the director or officer seeking indemnification shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such application.
Section 6. EXPENSES PAYABLE IN ADVANCE. Expenses incurred by a director or officer in defending or investigating a threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article VIII.
Section 7. NONEXCLUSIVITY OF INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to this Article VIII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the Certificate of Incorporation or any By-Law, agreement, contract, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or pursuant to the direction (howsoever embodied) of any court of competent jurisdiction or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, it being the policy of the Corporation that indemnification of the persons specified in Sections 1 and 2 of this Article VIII shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law. The provisions of this Article VIII shall not be deemed to preclude the indemnification of any person who is not specified in Section 1 or 2 of this Article VIII but whom the Corporation has the power or obligation to indemnify under the provisions of the DGCL, or otherwise.
Section 8. INSURANCE. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by 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 or the obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article VIII.
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Section 9. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Article VIII, references to “the Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors or officers, so that any person who is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation, or is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article VIII with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued. For purposes of this Article VIII, references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director or officer with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Article VIII.
Section 10. SURVIVAL OF INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VIII shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
Section 11. LIMITATION ON INDEMNIFICATION. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article VIII to the contrary, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification (which shall be governed by Section 5 hereof), the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any director or officer (or his or her heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives) or advance expenses in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof):
(a) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors of the Corporation;
(b) for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of such person under any statute, insurance policy, indemnity provision, vote or otherwise, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid;
(c) for an accounting or disgorgement of profits pursuant to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, or similar provisions of federal, state or local statutory law or common law, if such person is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements); or
(d) for any reimbursement of the Corporation by such person of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by such person from the sale of securities of the Corporation, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Corporation pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Corporation of profits arising from the purchase and sale by such person of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if such person is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements).
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Section 12. INDEMNIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Corporation similar to those conferred in this Article VIII to directors and officers of the Corporation.
ARTICLE
IX
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. AMENDMENTS. These By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed, in whole or in part, or new By-Laws may be adopted by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 2. ENTIRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. As used in this Article IX and in these By-Laws generally, the term “entire Board of Directors” means the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies.
ARTICLE
X
FORUM FOR ADJUDICATION OF DISPUTES
Section 1. FORUM FOR ADJUDICATION OF DISPUTES. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks subject matter jurisdiction, any state court located within the State of Delaware or, if and only if all such state courts lack subject matter jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action or proceeding asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation arising pursuant to, or seeking to enforce any right, obligation or remedy under, any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws (in each case, as may be amended from time to time), (iv) any action or proceeding to interpret, apply, enforce, or determine the validity of any provision or provisions of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws (in each case, as may be amended from time to time) or (v) any action or proceeding asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to said court having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein.
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