Exhibit32
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS OF
NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
(A Delaware Corporation)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1.01. Registered Office. The registered office of Northrop Grumman Corporation (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware shall be at Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, and the name of the registered agent at that address shall be The Corporation Trust Company.
Section 1.02. Principal Executive Office. The principal executive office of the Corporation shall be located at 2980 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church, Virginia 22042. The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) may change the location of said principal executive office from time to time.
Section 1.03. Other Offices. The Corporation may also have an office or offices at such other place or places, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 2.01. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation shall be held on such date and at such time as the Board of Directors shall determine. At each annual meeting of stockholders, directors shall be elected in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.04 hereof and any proper business may be transacted in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.08 hereof.
Section 2.02. Special Meetings.
(a) Subject to the terms of any class or series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called by the Board of Directors (or an authorized committee thereof) or the Chairperson of the Board of Directors and shall be called by the Secretary of the Corporation following the Secretary’s receipt of written requests to call a meeting from the holders of at least 25% of the voting power (the “Required Percentage”) of the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation (the “Voting Stock”) who shall have delivered such requests in accordance with this bylaw. Except as otherwise required by law or provided by the terms of any class or series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may not be called by any other person or persons.
(b) A stockholder may not submit a written request to call a special meeting unless such stockholder is a holder of record of Voting Stock on the record date fixed to determine the stockholders entitled to request the call of a special meeting. Any stockholder seeking to call a special meeting to transact business shall, by written notice to the Secretary, request that the Board of Directors fix a record date. A written request to fix a record date shall include all of the information that must be included in a written request to call a special meeting from a stockholder who is not a Solicited Stockholder, as set forth in the succeeding paragraph (c) of this bylaw. The Board of Directors may, within 10 days of the Secretary’s receipt of a request to fix a record date, fix a record date to determine the stockholders entitled to request the call of a special meeting, which date shall not precede, and shall not be more than 10 days after, the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted. If a record date is not fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date shall be the date that the first written request to call a special meeting is received by the Secretary with respect to the proposed business to be conducted at a special meeting.
(c) Each written request for a special meeting shall include the following: (i) the signature of the stockholder of record signing such request and the date such request was signed, (ii) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, and (iii) for each written request submitted by a person or entity other than a Solicited Stockholder, as to the stockholder signing such request and the beneficial owner (if any) on whose behalf such request is made (each, a “party”):
(1) the name and address of such party;
(2) the class, series and number of shares of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by such party (which information set forth in this clause shall be supplemented by such party not later than 10 days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the special meeting to disclose such ownership as of such record date);
(3) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, warrants, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, such party, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such party with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation (which information set forth in this clause shall be supplemented by such party not later than 10 days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the special meeting to disclose such ownership as of such record date);
(4) 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 the proposal pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (such act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “Exchange Act”);
(5) any material interest of such party in one or more of the items of business proposed to be transacted at the special meeting; and
(6) a statement whether or not any such party will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of 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 (such statement, a “Solicitation Statement”).
For purposes of this bylaw, “Solicited Stockholder” means any stockholder that has provided a request in response to a solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act by way of a solicitation statement filed on Schedule 14A.
A stockholder may revoke a request to call a special meeting by written revocation delivered to the Secretary at any time prior to the special meeting; provided, however, that if any such revocation(s) are received by the Secretary after the Secretary’s receipt of written requests from the holders of the Required Percentage of Voting Stock, and as a result of such revocation(s), there no longer are unrevoked requests from the Required Percentage of Voting Stock to call a special meeting, the Board of Directors shall have the discretion to determine whether or not to proceed with the special meeting. A business proposal shall not be presented for stockholder action at any special meeting if (i) any stockholder or beneficial owner who has provided a Solicitation Statement with respect to such proposal does not act in accordance with the representations set forth therein or (ii) the business proposal appeared in a written request submitted by a stockholder who did not provide the information required by the preceding clause (c) (2) or (c)(3) of this bylaw in accordance with such clauses.
(d) The Secretary shall not accept, and shall consider ineffective, a written request from a stockholder to call a special meeting (i) that does not comply with the preceding provisions of this bylaw, (ii) that relates to an item of business that is not a proper subject for stockholder action under applicable law, (iii) if such request is delivered between the time beginning on the 61st day after the earliest date of signature on a written request that has been delivered to the Secretary relating to an identical or substantially similar item (such item, a “Similar Item”) and ending on the one-year anniversary of such earliest date, (iv) if a Similar Item will be submitted for stockholder approval at any stockholder meeting to be held on or before the 90th day after the Secretary receives such written request, or (v) if a Similar Item has been presented at the most recent annual meeting or at any special meeting held within one year prior to receipt by the Secretary of such request to call a special meeting.
(e) The Board of Directors shall determine in good faith whether the requirements set forth in subparagraphs (d) (ii) through (v) have been satisfied. Either the
Secretary or the Board of Directors shall determine in good faith whether all other requirements set forth in this bylaw have been satisfied. Any determination made pursuant to this paragraph shall be binding on the Corporation and its stockholders.
(f) The Board of Directors shall determine the place, and fix the date and time, of any special meeting called at the request of one or more stockholders, and, with respect to all other special meetings, the date and time of a special meeting shall be determined by the person or body calling the meeting. The Board of Directors may submit its own proposal or proposals for consideration at a special meeting called by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors or called at the request of one or more stockholders. The record date or record dates for a special meeting shall be fixed in accordance with Section 213 (or its successor provision) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). Business transacted at any special meeting shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice of such meeting.
Section 2.03. Place of Meetings.
(a) Each annual or special meeting of stockholders shall be held at such location as may be determined by the Board of Directors or, if no such determination is made, at such place as may be determined by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors. If no location is so determined, the annual or special meeting shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that an annual meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 2.03(b).
(b) If authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board of Directors may adopt, stockholders and proxy holders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication:
(1) participate in a meeting of stockholders; and
(2) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication; provided that (A) the Corporation implements reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxy holder, (B) the Corporation implements reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxy holders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and (C) if any stockholder or proxy holder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action is maintained by the Corporation.
Section 2.04. Notice of Meetings.
(a) Unless otherwise required by law, written notice of each annual or special meeting of stockholders stating the date and time of such meeting, the place, if any, where it is to be held, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the information required to gain access to the list of stockholders entitled to vote, if such list is to be open for examination only on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and 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, shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. The purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called may, in the case of an annual meeting, and shall, in the case of a special meeting, also be stated. If mailed, notice is given when it is deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to a stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it shall appear on the records of the Corporation.
(b) Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Certificate”) or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (i) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent, and (ii) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action. Notice given pursuant to this Section 2.04(b) shall be deemed given: (i) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice, (ii) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice, (iii) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (1) such posting and (2) the giving of such separate notice, and (iv) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. For purposes of these Bylaws, “electronic transmission” means any form of communication not directly involving the physical transmission of paper that creates a record the recipient may retain, retrieve and review and directly reproduce in paper form through an automated process.
(c) Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, but subject to Section 233(d) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereof), any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a single written
notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. Any stockholder who fails to object in writing to the Corporation, within 60 days of having been given written notice by the Corporation of its intention to send the single notice described in the preceding sentence, shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice.
Section 2.05. Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL or the Certificate or these Bylaws, a written waiver, 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 (and whether or not stating the business transacted at, or the purpose of, any meeting) shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting will 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.
Section 2.06. Adjourned Meetings. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which the stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the adjournment is for more than 30 days then notice of the place, if any, date and time of the adjourned meeting and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 213(a) of the DGCL, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting. At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
Section 2.07. Conduct of Meetings. All annual and special meetings of stockholders shall be conducted in accordance with such rules and procedures as the Board of Directors may determine subject to the requirements of applicable law and, as to matters not governed by such rules and procedures, as the chairperson of such meeting shall determine. Such rules or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairperson of such meeting, may include without limitation the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting, (b) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present, (c) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairperson of the
meeting shall determine, (d) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for commencement thereof, and (e) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairperson of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure. The chairperson of the meeting may adjourn or recess the meeting.
The chairperson of any annual or special meeting of stockholders shall be either the Chairperson of the Board of Directors or any person designated by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors. The Secretary, or in the absence of the Secretary, a person designated by the chairperson of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 2.08. Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be transacted by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (a) pursuant to the Corporation’s proxy materials with respect to such meeting, (b) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (c) by any stockholder of record of the Corporation (the “Record Stockholder”) at the time of the giving of the notice required in the following paragraph, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this section. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clause (c) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to bring nominations or business (other than business included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act) at an annual meeting of stockholders. .
For nominations or business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (c) of the foregoing paragraph, (1) the Record Stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, (2) any such business must be a proper matter for stockholder action under applicable law, and (3) the Record Stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf any such proposal or nomination is made, must have acted in accordance with the representations set forth in the Solicitation Statement required by these Bylaws. To be timely, a Record Stockholder’s notice shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 or more than 120 days prior to the one-year anniversary of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that, subject to the last sentence of this paragraph, if the annual meeting is convened more than 30 days prior to or delayed by more than 30 days after the one year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, notice by the Record Stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the later of (i) the 135th day before such annual meeting or (ii) the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Notwithstanding anything in the preceding sentence to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board made by the Corporation
at least 10 days before the last day a Record Stockholder may deliver a notice of nomination in accordance with the preceding sentence, a Record Stockholder’s notice required by this bylaw shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall an adjournment of an annual meeting, or the postponement of an annual 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 herein.
Such Record Stockholder’s notice shall set forth: (a) if such notice pertains to the nomination of directors, as to each person whom the Record Stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director (i) all information relating to such person as would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of such nominees as directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act and such person’s written consent to be named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected, and (ii) a statement whether such person, if elected, intends to tender, promptly following such person’s election, an irrevocable resignation effective upon such person’s failure to receive the required vote for reelection at any future meeting at which such person would face reelection and upon acceptance of such resignation by the Board of Directors, in accordance with the Corporation’s Principles of Corporate Governance; (b) as to any business that the Record Stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of such business, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such Record Stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (c) as to (1) the Record Stockholder giving the notice and (2) the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (each, a “party”) (i) the name and address of each such party ; (ii) the class, series and number of shares of the Corporation that are owned, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record by each such party (which information set forth in this clause shall be supplemented by such stockholder or such beneficial owner, as the case may be, not later than 10 days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting to disclose such ownership as of such record date); (iii) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination between or among such stockholder and such beneficial owner, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing; (iv) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, warrants, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, such Record Stockholder or such beneficial owners, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder and such beneficial owner, with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation (which information set forth in this clause shall be supplemented by such party not later than 10 days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the special meeting to disclose such ownership as of such record date); (v) 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; (vi) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting; and (vii) 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 the beneficial holder, as the case may be, to be sufficient to elect the nominee or nominees proposed to be nominated by such stockholder and/or intends otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination (such statement, a “Solicitation Statement”).
Only persons nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.08 shall be eligible to serve as directors at an annual meeting of stockholders and only such business shall be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.08. The chairperson of the meeting shall have the power and the duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting has been made in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such defectively proposed business or nomination shall not be presented for stockholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded.
Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with Section 2.02. The notice of such 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) by any stockholder of record of the Corporation at the time of giving of notice provided for in this paragraph, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who delivers a written notice to the Secretary setting forth the information set forth in clauses (a) and (c) of the third paragraph of this Section 2.08. Nominations by stockholders of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders only if such stockholder’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 135th day prior to such special meeting or the 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 of a special meeting, or a postponement of a special meeting for which notice has been given, commence a new time period for the giving of a Record Stockholder’s notice. A person shall not be eligible for election or reelection as a director at a special meeting unless the person is nominated (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by a Record Stockholder in accordance with the notice
procedures set forth in this Section 2.08.
For purposes of this Section 2.08, “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 with or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.08, 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 2.08. Nothing in this Section 2.08 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 2.09. Quorum. Unless or except to the extent that the presence of a larger number may be required by law, by the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are traded, the Certificate or these Bylaws, at any meeting of stockholders, the presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of record of a majority of the voting power of all the shares of the Corporation’s capital stock then issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series is required, a majority of the voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series present in person or represented by proxy shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to the vote on that matter. The chairperson of the meeting may adjourn the meeting (whether or not a quorum is present) from time to time. At any reconvened meeting following such an adjournment at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
Section 2.10. Votes Required. When a quorum is present at a meeting, a matter submitted for stockholder action shall be approved if the votes cast “for” the matter exceed the votes cast “against” such matter, unless a greater or different vote is required by statute, any applicable law or regulation (including the applicable rules of any stock exchange), the rights of any authorized class of stock, the Certificate or these Bylaws. Unless the Certificate or a resolution of the Board of Directors adopted in connection with the issuance of shares of any class or series of stock provides for a greater or lesser number of votes per share, or limits or denies voting rights, each outstanding share of stock, regardless of class, shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders.
Section 2.11. Proxies. A stockholder may vote the shares owned of record by such stockholder either in person or by proxy in any manner permitted by law, including by execution of a proxy in writing or by telex, telegraph, cable, facsimile or electronic transmission, by the stockholder or by the duly authorized officer, director, employee or agent of such stockholder. No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after 3 years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy will be irrevocable if
it states it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the Corporation generally.
Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph 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 2.12. Stockholder Action by Written Consent. (a) The holders of Common Stock of the Corporation may take action by written consent in lieu of a meeting of stockholders if, in accordance with and subject to the conditions and restrictions set forth in the Certificate and these Bylaws (as amended from time to time), (i) record holders of at least 25% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation have submitted written requests to the Secretary of the Corporation asking that the Board of Directors fix a record date to determine the stockholders entitled to deliver written consents for the action or actions proposed to be taken (the “Soliciting Stockholders”); (ii) such written requests include all of the required information with respect to such action or actions and with respect to such Soliciting Stockholder(s) and the beneficial owners (if any) on whose behalf such written requests are made; (iii) the Board of Directors fixes such a record date or has failed to do so within ten days after the Secretary certifies to the Board of Directors that he or she has received written requests from the requisite holders of Common Stock; (iv) written consents are solicited from all stockholders entitled to deliver a written consent by one or more of the Soliciting Stockholder(s), and the solicitation materials delivered by such Soliciting Stockholder(s) include a description of the action or actions proposed to be taken by written consent and, with respect to each person or entity directing such solicitation or on whose behalf such solicitation is made, a description of any material interest of such Soliciting Stockholder in the action or actions proposed to be taken by written consent, as well as any other required information; and (v) written consents setting forth the action or actions to be taken are signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and are delivered to the Corporation in the manner required by Section 228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (as amended from time to time). The holders of Common Stock of the Corporation may not act by written consent in lieu of a meeting of stockholders except (a) in accordance with the preceding sentence or (b) pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors authorizing one or more actions to be taken by written consent. Any written consent to take action in lieu of a meeting of stockholders may be revoked prior to the effectiveness of the stockholder action or actions set forth in such written consent. References in this bylaw to a written consent shall be deemed to include a telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission consenting to an action to be taken if such transmission complies with Section 228(d) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (as amended from time to time).
(b) Each written request of a Soliciting Stockholder(s) asking that the Board of Directors fix a record date to determine the stockholders entitled to deliver written consents shall include the following: (i) the signature of the stockholder of record signing such written request and the date such written request was signed; (ii) the action or actions proposed to be taken by written consent and the reasons for seeking stockholder approval of such actions; and (iii) for each written request submitted by a person or entity other than a Solicited Stockholder, as to the stockholder signing such written request and the beneficial owner (if any) on whose behalf such written request is made (each, a “party”):
(1) the name and address of such Soliciting Stockholder(s);
(2) the class, series and number of shares of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by such Soliciting Stockholder(s) (which information set forth in this clause shall be supplemented by such Soliciting Stockholder(s) not later than 10 days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to act by written consent to disclose such ownership as of such record date);
(3) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, warrants, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the Soliciting Stockholder’s written request by, or on behalf of, such Soliciting Stockholder(s), the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Soliciting Stockholder(s) with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation (which information set forth in this clause shall be supplemented by such Soliciting Stockholder(s) not later than 10 days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to act by written consent to disclose such ownership as of such record date);
(4) any other information relating to each such Soliciting Stockholder(s) 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 the proposal pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act;
(5) any material interest of such Soliciting Stockholder(s) in any of the actions to be taken by written consent;
(6) if directors are to be elected by written consent, with respect to each person proposed to be elected by written consent: (i) all information relating to such person as would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of such nominees as directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act and such person’s written consent to serve as a director if elected; and (ii) a statement whether such person, if elected, intends to tender an irrevocable resignation consistent with the Corporation’s Principles of Corporate Governance; and
(7) a statement whether or not any such Soliciting Stockholder(s) will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to all stockholders entitled to deliver a written consent (such statement hereinafter for purposes of this Section 2.12, a “Solicitation Statement”).
For purposes of this bylaw, “Solicited Stockholder” means any stockholder that has provided a written request in response to a solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act by way of a solicitation statement filed on Schedule 14A.
(c) For purposes of this bylaw and Certificate, Soliciting Stockholder(s) shall have fulfilled the requirement to solicit written consents from all stockholders entitled to deliver a written consent if they have undertaken all reasonable efforts to solicit written consents from all stockholders entitled to deliver a written consent.
(d) The Secretary shall not accept, and shall consider ineffective, a written request pursuant to Section 2.12(a)(i) asking that the Board of Directors fix a record date (i) that does not comply with the preceding provisions of this bylaw; (ii) that relates to an item of business that is not a proper subject for stockholder action under applicable law; (iii) if such written request is delivered between the time beginning on the 31st day after the earliest date of signature on a written request that has been delivered to the Secretary relating to an identical or substantially similar item (hereinafter for purposes of this Section 2.12, a “Similar Item”) and ending on the one-year anniversary of such earliest date; (iv) if a Similar Item will be submitted for stockholder approval at any stockholder meeting to be held on or before the 120th day after the Secretary receives such written request; or (v) if a Similar Item has been presented at the most recent annual meeting or at any special meeting held within one year prior to the receipt by the Secretary of such written request. The Board of Directors may fix a record date to determine the stockholders entitled to deliver written requests, whether or not the Corporation has already received one or more written requests pursuant to Section 2.12(a) of this bylaw. A written request may be revoked prior to the receipt of written requests from the holders of 25% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation.
(e) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which date shall not be more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall promptly, but in all events within 10 days after the Secretary certifies to the Board of Directors that the Secretary has received the requisite number of valid written requests in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this bylaw, adopt a resolution fixing the record date (unless a record date has previously been fixed by the Board of Directors pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 2.12(e)). If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors within such 10-day period, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing
without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by applicable law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation in the manner permitted by Section 228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (as amended from time to time). If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board of Directors is required by applicable law, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
(f) In addition to the other requirements set forth in this bylaw and the Certificate, no written consent with respect to one or more stockholder actions shall be valid or effective if the stockholders who delivered written requests asking the Board of Directors to fix a record date do not comply with (i) clause (iv) of Article ELEVENTH of the Certificate and (ii) the supplemental disclosure requirements set forth in Sections 2.12(b)(2) and (3) of this bylaw.
(g) In the event of the delivery, in the manner provided by Section 228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (as amended from time to time), to the Corporation of the requisite written consent or consents to take corporate action after giving effect to any related revocation or revocations, the Corporation shall engage independent inspector or inspectors of elections for the purpose of promptly performing a ministerial review of the validity of the consents and revocations. For the purpose of permitting the inspector or inspectors to perform such review, no action by written consent without a meeting shall be effective until such date as the independent inspector or inspectors certify to the Corporation that the consents delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law represent at least the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to take the corporate action. The action by written consent will take effect as of the date and time of the certification of the written consents and will not relate back to the date the written consents were delivered to the Corporation. In conducting the review required by this paragraph, the independent inspector or inspectors may, at the expense of the Corporation, retain legal counsel and any other necessary or appropriate professional advisors and such other personnel as they may deem necessary or appropriate to assist them and shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the opinion of such counsel or advisors. Nothing contained in this bylaw shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the Board of Directors or any stockholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any consent or revocation thereof, whether before or after such certification by the independent inspector or inspectors, or to take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive relief in such litigation). If after such review the independent inspector or inspectors shall determine that the written consent or consents are valid and that the action specified therein has been validly authorized, that fact shall forthwith be certified on the records of the Corporation kept for the purpose of recording the proceedings of meetings of stockholders, and the written consent or consents shall be filed in such records.
(h) Prompt notice of the taking of corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders entitled thereto, in accordance with Section 228(e) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (as amended from time to time) and other applicable law.
(i) The Board of Directors shall determine in good faith whether the requirements set forth in this bylaw and the Certificate have been satisfied. If the Board of Directors shall determine that any written request asking the Board of Directors to fix a record date to take action by written consent was not properly made in accordance with this bylaw or the Certificate, or if the Board of Directors shall determine that the stockholder or stockholders seeking to take such action do not otherwise comply with this bylaw and the Certificate, then the Board of Directors shall not be required to fix a record date and any such purported action by written consent shall be null and void to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. In addition to the requirements of this bylaw and the Certificate with respect to stockholders seeking to take an action by written consent, any stockholder of record seeking to have the stockholders authorize or take corporate action by written consent shall comply with all requirements of applicable law, including all requirements of the Exchange Act, with respect to such action.
Section 2.13. List of Stockholders. The Secretary of the Corporation shall, in the manner provided by law, prepare and make (or cause to be prepared and made) a complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, provided, however, that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than 10 days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the 10th day before the meeting date, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of, and the number of shares registered in the name of, each stockholder. Nothing contained in this section shall require the Corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact 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 10 days prior to the meeting in the manner provided by law. If a meeting is to be held at a place, then a list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the duration thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list will 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 will be provided with the notice of the meeting.
The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
Section 2.14. Inspectors of Election. In advance of any meeting of stockholders, the Corporation may, and to the extent required by law shall, appoint Inspectors of Election to act at such meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof. The Corporation
may designate one or more alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If such inspectors, or alternate inspectors, are not so appointed or fail or refuse to act, the chairperson of any such meeting may (and, to the extent required by law, shall) make such an appointment. The number of Inspectors of Election shall be one (1) or three (3). If there are three Inspectors of Election, the decision, act or certificate of a majority shall be effective and shall represent the decision, act or certificate of all. No such inspector need be a stockholder of the Corporation. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of inspector, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability.
The Inspectors of Election shall have such duties and responsibilities as required under Section 231 of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereof).
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 3.01. Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.02. Number. Except as otherwise fixed pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 of Article Fourth of the Certificate in connection with rights to elect additional directors under specified circumstances which may be granted to the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, the exact number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by a resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors.
Section 3.03. Lead Independent Director. If at any time the Chairperson of the Board of Directors is not independent as that term is defined under the then applicable rules and regulations of each national securities exchange upon which shares of the stock of the Corporation are listed for trading and of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the independent directors may designate from among them a Lead Independent Director having the duties and responsibilities set forth in the applicable rules of each such national securities exchange and as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors from time to time.
Section 3.04. Election and Term of Office. Except as provided in Section 3.07 hereof and subject to the right to elect additional directors under specified circumstances which may be granted, pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 of Article Fourth of the Certificate, to the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, directors shall be elected by the stockholders of the Corporation for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders following their election. A nominee for director shall be elected to the Board of Directors if the votes cast for such nominee’s election exceed the votes cast against such nominee’s election; provided, however, that directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at any meeting of stockholders for which (i) the Secretary of the Corporation receives a notice that a stockholder has nominated a person for election to the Board of Directors in compliance with Section 2.08 of these Bylaws and (ii) such nomination has not
been withdrawn by such stockholder on or before the 10th day before the Corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to the stockholders. If directors are to be elected by a plurality of the votes cast, stockholders shall not be permitted to vote against a nominee.
Section 3.05. Resignations. Any director may resign at any time by submitting a resignation to the Corporation in writing or by electronic transmission. Such resignation shall take effect at the time of its receipt by the Corporation unless such resignation is effective at a future time or upon the happening of a future event or events in which case it shall be effective at such time or upon the happening of such event or events. Unless the resignation provides otherwise, the acceptance of a resignation shall not be required to make it effective.
Section 3.06. Removal. Subject to the right to elect directors under specified circumstances which may be granted pursuant to Section 2 of Article Fourth of the Certificate to the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, any director may be removed from office with or without cause.
Section 3.07. Vacancies and Additional Directorships. Except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 2 of Article Fourth of the Certificate in connection with rights to elect additional directors under specified circumstances which may be granted to the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal or other cause shall be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors. Any director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for a term that shall end at the first annual meeting following his or her election and shall remain in office until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified or until such director’s death, resignation or removal, whichever comes first. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Section 3.08. Meetings. Promptly after, and on the same day as, each annual election of directors by the stockholders, the Board of Directors shall, if a quorum be present, meet in a meeting (the “Organizational Meeting”) to elect a Chairperson of the Board of Directors, elect a Lead Independent Directors, if any, appoint members of the standing committees of the Board of Directors, elect officers of the Corporation and conduct other business as appropriate. Additional notice of such meeting need not be given if such meeting is conducted promptly after the annual meeting to elect directors and if the meeting is held in the same location where the election of directors was conducted. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times and places as the Board of Directors shall determine and as shall be publicized among all directors.
Directors may participate in regular or special meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee designated by the Board of Directors by means of conference telephone
or other communications equipment by means of which all other persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
A special meeting of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairperson or the Lead Independent Director of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or a majority of the directors then in office and shall be held at such place, if any, on such date and at such time as the person or persons calling such meeting may fix.
Section 3.09. Notice of Meetings. A notice of each regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall not be required. Notice of special meetings shall be either (i) mailed to each director at least 5 days before the meeting, addressed to the director’s usual place of business or to his or her residence address or to an address specifically designated by the director or (ii) given by telephone, telegraph, telex, facsimile or electronic transmission not less than 24 hours before the meeting. The notice need not specify the place of the meeting (if the meeting is to be held at the Corporation’s principal executive office) nor the purpose of the meeting, unless otherwise required by law. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice of a meeting, any and all business may be transacted at a meeting of the Board of Directors. Notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors may be waived by a director in writing, or by electronic transmission, at any time before or after the meeting (and whether or not stating the business transacted at, or the purpose of, any meeting), and such a waiver shall be deemed to be equivalent to notice, and attendance of any director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the director 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.
Section 3.10. Action without Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, or by electronic transmission and such writing or writings or electronic transmission filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors 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 3.11. Quorum. At all meetings of the Board of Directors, directors constituting a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, the directors present, by majority vote and without notice or waiver thereof, may adjourn the meeting to another date, place, if any, and time. At any reconvened meeting following such an adjournment at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.
Section 3.12. Votes Required. Except as otherwise required by applicable law,
the Certificate or these Bylaws, the vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to pass any measure.
Section 3.13. Place and Conduct of Meetings. Other than the Organizational Meeting, each meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held at the location determined by the person or persons calling such meeting. At any meeting of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in such order and manner as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. The chairperson of any regular or special meeting shall be the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, or in the absence of the Chairperson a person designated by the Board of Directors. The Secretary, or in the absence of the Secretary a person designated by the chairperson of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 3.14. Fees and Compensation. Directors shall be paid such compensation as may be fixed from time to time by resolutions of the Board of Directors. Compensation may be in the form of an annual retainer fee or a fee for attendance at meetings, or both, or in such other form or on such basis as the resolutions of the Board of Directors shall fix. Directors shall be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses incurred by them in attending meetings of the Board of Directors and committees appointed by the Board of Directors and in performing compensable extraordinary services. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity, such as an officer, agent, employee, consultant or otherwise, and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 3.15. Committees of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may from time to time designate committees of the Board of Directors, with such lawfully delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and shall, for those committees and any others provided for herein, elect a director or directors to serve as the member or members, designating, if it desires, other directors as alternate members who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of any member of any committee and any alternate member in his or her place, the member or members of the committee present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they constitute a quorum, may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.
Section 3.16. Meetings of Committees. Each committee of the Board of Directors shall fix its own rules of procedure and shall act in accordance therewith, except as otherwise provided herein or required by applicable law and any resolutions of the Board of Directors governing such committee. A majority of the members of each committee shall constitute a quorum thereof, except that when a committee consists of one or two members then one member shall constitute a quorum.
Section 3.17. Subcommittees. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate or the resolutions of the Board of Directors establishing a committee, or in the charter of a committee, a committee may create one or more subcommittees, which 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.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 4.01. Designation, Election and Term of Office. The Corporation shall have a Chairperson of the Board of Directors, a Chief Executive Officer, a Secretary and a Treasurer and such other officers as the Board of Directors deems appropriate, including to the extent deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, a Chief Legal Officer and one or more Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents. These corporate officers shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the Organizational Meeting immediately following the annual meeting of stockholders and each such corporate officer shall hold office until a successor is elected or until his or her earlier resignation, death or removal. Any vacancy in any of the above corporate offices may be filled for an unexpired portion of the term by the Board of Directors at any meeting thereof. The Chief Executive Officer may, by a writing filed with the Secretary, designate titles for employees and agents, as, from time to time, may appear necessary or advisable in the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation and, in the same manner, terminate or change such titles.
Section 4.02. Chairperson of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall designate the Chairperson of the Board of Directors from among its members. The Chairperson of the Board of Directors shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as shall be delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.03. Chief Executive Officer. Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall be responsible for the general supervision, direction and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation
Section 4.04. President. The President shall perform such duties and have such responsibilities as may from time to time be delegated or assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 4.05. Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation shall be responsible to the Chief Executive Officer for the management and supervision of all financial matters and to provide for the financial stability of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall also perform such additional duties as may be assigned to the Chief Financial Officer from time to time by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 4.06. Chief Legal Officer. The Chief Legal Officer of the Corporation shall be the General Counsel who shall be responsible to the Chief Executive Officer for
the management and supervision of all legal matters. The Chief Legal Officer shall also perform such additional duties as may be assigned to the Chief Legal Officer from time to time by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 4.07. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and all committee meetings. The Secretary shall be the custodian of the corporate seal and shall have the power to affix it to all documents that the Secretary is authorized by law or the Board of Directors to sign and seal. The Secretary also shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to the Secretary from time to time by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the General Counsel.
Section 4.08. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be accountable to the Chief Financial Officer, and shall perform such duties as may be assigned to the Treasurer from time to time by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or the Senior Vice President, Finance.
Section 4.09. Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents. Executive vice presidents, senior vice presidents, vice presidents and other officers of the Corporation that are elected by the Board of Directors shall perform such duties as may be assigned to them from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 4.10. Appointed Officers. The Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may appoint one or more Corporate Staff Vice Presidents, officers of groups or divisions or assistant secretaries, assistant treasurers and such other assistant officers as the business of the Corporation may require, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as may be specified from time to time by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 4.11. Absence or Disability of an Officer. In the case of the absence or disability of an officer of the Corporation, the Board of Directors, or any officer designated by it, or the Chief Executive Officer may, for the time of the absence or disability, delegate such officer’s duties and powers to any other officer of the Corporation.
Section 4.12. Officers Holding Two or More Offices. The same person may hold any two or more of the above-mentioned offices except that the Secretary shall not be the same person as the Chief Executive Officer or the President.
Section 4.13. Compensation. The Board of Directors shall have the power to fix the compensation of all officers and employees of the Corporation and to delegate such power to a committee of the Board of Directors or to management.
Section 4.14. Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time by submitting a resignation to the Corporation in writing or by electronic transmission. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time of receipt by the Corporation unless such resignation is effective
at a future time or upon the happening of a future event or events, in which case it shall be effective at such time or upon the happening of such event or events. Unless the resignation provides otherwise, the acceptance of a resignation shall not be required to make it effective.
Section 4.15. Removal. The Board of Directors may remove any elected officer of the Corporation, with or without cause. Any appointed officer of the Corporation may be removed, with or without cause, by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.
Section 4.16. Delegation of Authority. The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officer, employee or agent, notwithstanding any provisions hereof.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS,
EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS
Section 5.01. Right to Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any pending or threatened action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that (i) he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or (ii) he or she is or was serving at the request of the Board of Directors or an executive officer (as such term is defined in Section 16 of the Exchange Act) of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (any person described in clause (i) or (ii) of this sentence, an “indemnitee”), shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), or by other applicable law as then in effect, against all expense, liability, and loss (including attorneys’ fees, costs and charges, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties, penalties, and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith. The right to indemnification provided by this Article V shall apply whether or not the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as such a director, officer, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as such a director, officer, employee or agent. Notwithstanding anything in this Article V to the contrary, except as provided in Section 5.03 with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification or advancement, the Corporation shall indemnify and/or provide advancement of expenses to an indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Corporation.
Section 5.02. Advancement of Expenses. The right to indemnification conferred in Section 5.01 shall include the right to have the expenses (including attorneys’ fees)
incurred in defending or preparing for any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition paid by the Corporation; provided, however, that if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is to be rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking containing such terms and conditions, including the requirement of security, as the Board of Directors deems appropriate (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Article V or otherwise. Except as provided in Section 5.03, and notwithstanding the foregoing,the Corporation shall not be obligated to advance fees and expenses to an indemnitee in connection with a proceeding against such person that is instituted by the Corporation pursuant to an authorization from the Board of Directors, a committee of the Board of Directors or an officer or employee of the Corporation.
Section 5.03. Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. If a claim under Section 5.01 or 5.02 is not paid in full by the Corporation within 60 days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses under Section 5.02, in which case the applicable period shall be 30 days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If the indemnitee is successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article V or otherwise shall be on the Corporation. In addition to the foregoing rights of an indemnitee, if an indemnitee becomes a party to, or is involved in,
any proceeding initiated by the Corporation or any governmental or regulatory body to require the indemnitee to repay an advancement of expenses from the Corporation or to obtain a determination from a judicial or regulatory body that indemnification is prohibited by applicable law, the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify the indemnitee for the expenses the indemnitee incurs in such suit and advance expenses to the indemnitee prior to the final disposition of such suit.
Section 5.04. Nonexclusivity of Rights. (a) The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article V shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provisions of the Certificate, Bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. (b) The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any past or present director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or any person who is or was serving at the request of the Board of Directors or an executive officer (as that term is defined in Section 16 of the Exchange Act) of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL. The Corporation may enter into contracts with any indemnitee in furtherance of the provisions of this Article and may create a trust fund, grant a security interest or use other means (including, without limitation, a letter of credit) to ensure the payment of such amounts as may be necessary to effect indemnification as provided in this Article. (c) The Corporation may without reference to Sections 5.01 through 5.04 (a) and (b) hereof, pay the expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation who is subpoenaed, interviewed or deposed as a witness or otherwise incurs expenses in connection with any civil, arbitration, criminal or administrative proceeding or governmental or internal investigation to which the Corporation is a party, target, or potentially a party or target, or of any such individual who appears as a witness at any trial, proceeding or hearing to which the Corporation is a party, if the Corporation determines that such payments will benefit the Corporation and if, at the time such expenses are incurred by such individual and paid by the Corporation, such individual is not a party, and is not threatened to be made a party, to such proceeding or investigation.
Section 5.05. Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation. The Corporation may grant additional rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, authorize one or more officers to grant additional rights for indemnification or the advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Corporation on such terms and conditions as such officers deem appropriate.
Section 5.06. Nature of Rights. The rights conferred upon indemnitees in this Article V shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the
indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article V or any amendment, alteration or repeal of the DGCL or any other applicable laws that adversely affects any right of an indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit, eliminate or impair any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal.
ARTICLE VI
STOCK
Section 6.01. Shares of Stock. The Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the capital stock of the Corporation shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation (or, if such certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed, the procedures required by the Corporation in Section 6.07 shall have been followed). To the extent shares of capital stock are represented by certificates, such certificates shall be signed by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, the President or a vice president, together with the Secretary or assistant secretary, or the Treasurer or assistant treasurer. Any or all of the signatures on any certificate may be facsimile. A stockholder that holds a certificate representing shares of any class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation for which the Board of Directors has authorized uncertificated shares may request that the Corporation cancel such certificate and issue such shares in an uncertificated form, provided that the Corporation shall not be obligated to issue any uncertificated shares of capital stock to such stockholder until such certificate representing such shares of capital stock shall have been surrendered to the Corporation (or, if such certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed, the procedures required by the Corporation in Section 6.07 shall have been followed).
With respect to certificated shares of capital stock, the Secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation or the transfer agent thereof shall mark every certificate exchanged, returned or surrendered to the Corporation with “Cancelled” and the date of cancellation.
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 shall not have power to issue a certificate in bearer form.
If the Corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional, or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate which the Corporation shall issue to
represent such class or series of stock, provided that, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.04 or Section 202 of the DGCL, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate which the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional, or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. In the case of uncertificated shares, within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated stock, the Corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to this Section 6.01, Sections 6.02(b), 6.04 and 6.05 of these Bylaws and Sections 156, 202(a) and 218(a) of the DGCL, or with respect to this section and Section 151 of the DGCL a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
Section 6.02. Issuance of Stock; Lawful Consideration.
(a) Shares of stock may be issued for such consideration, having a value not less than the par value thereof, as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. Treasury shares may be disposed of by the Corporation for such consideration as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. The consideration for subscriptions to, or the purchase of, the capital stock to be issued by the Corporation shall be paid in such form and in such manner as the Board of Directors shall determine. The Board of Directors may authorize capital stock to be issued for consideration consisting of cash, any tangible or intangible property or any benefit to the Corporation, or any combination thereof. In the absence of actual fraud in the transaction, the judgment of the Board of Directors as to the value of such consideration shall be conclusive. The capital stock so issued shall be deemed to be fully paid and nonassessable stock upon receipt by the Corporation of such consideration; provided, however, nothing contained herein shall prevent the Board of Directors from issuing partly paid shares in accordance with Section 6.02(b) and Section 156 of the DGCL.
(b) The Corporation may issue the whole or any part of its shares as partly paid and subject to call for the remainder of the consideration to be paid therefor. Upon the face or back of each stock certificate issued to represent any such partly paid shares, or upon the books and records of the Corporation in the case of uncertificated partly paid shares, the total amount of the consideration to be paid therefor and the amount paid thereon shall be stated. Upon the declaration of any dividend on fully paid shares, the Corporation shall declare a dividend upon partly paid shares of the same class, but only upon the basis of the percentage of the consideration actually paid thereon.
Section 6.03. Transfer Agents and Registrars. The Corporation may have one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars of its stock whose respective duties the Board of Directors or the Secretary may, from time to time, define. No certificate of stock shall be valid until countersigned by a transfer agent, if the Corporation has a transfer agent, or until registered by a registrar, if the Corporation has a registrar. The duties of transfer agent and registrar may be combined.
Section 6.04. Restrictions on Transfer and Ownership of Securities. A written restriction or restrictions on the transfer or registration of transfer of a security of the Corporation, or on the amount of the Corporation’s securities that may be owned by any person or group of persons, if permitted by Section 202 of the DGCL and noted conspicuously on the certificate or certificates representing the security or securities so restricted or, in the case of uncertificated shares, contained in the notice or notices sent pursuant to Section 6.02 of these Bylaws and Section 151(f) of the DGCL, may be enforced against the holder of the restricted security or securities or any successor or transferee of the holder including an executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or other fiduciary entrusted with like responsibility for the person or estate of the holder. Unless noted conspicuously on the certificate or certificates representing the security or securities so restricted or, in the case of uncertificated shares, contained in the notice or notices sent pursuant to Section 6.02 of these Bylaws and Sections 151(f) of the DGCL, a restriction, even though permitted by Section 202 of the DGCL, is ineffective except against a person with actual knowledge of the restriction.
Section 6.05. Voting Trusts and Voting Agreements. One stockholder or two or more stockholders may by agreement in writing deposit capital stock of the Corporation of an original issue with or transfer capital stock of the Corporation to any person or persons, or entity or entities authorized to act as trustee, for the purpose of vesting in such person or persons, entity or entities, who may be designated voting trustee, or voting trustees, the right to vote thereon for any period of time determined by such agreement, upon the terms and conditions stated in such agreement. The agreement may contain any other lawful provisions not inconsistent with such purpose. After the filing of a copy of the agreement in the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware, which copy shall be open to the inspection of any stockholder of the Corporation or any beneficiary of the trust under the agreement daily during business hours, certificates of stock or uncertificated stock shall be issued to the voting trustee or trustees to represent any stock of an original issue so deposited with such voting trustee or trustees, and any certificates of stock or uncertificated stock so transferred to the voting trustee or trustees shall be surrendered and cancelled and new certificates or uncertificated stock shall be issued therefor to the voting trustee or trustees. In the certificate so issued, if any, it shall be stated that it is issued pursuant to such agreement, and that fact shall also be stated in the stock ledger of the Corporation. The voting trustee or trustees may vote the stock so issued or transferred during the period specified in the agreement. Stock standing in the name of the voting trustee or trustees may be voted either in person or by proxy, and in voting the stock, the voting trustee or trustees shall incur no responsibility as stockholder, trustee or otherwise, except for their own individual malfeasance. In any case where two or more persons or entities are designated as voting trustees, and the right and method of voting any stock standing in their names at
any meeting of the Corporation are not fixed by the agreement appointing the trustees, the right to vote the stock and the manner of voting it at the meeting shall be determined by a majority of the trustees, or if they be equally divided as to the right and manner of voting the stock in any particular case, the vote of the stock in such case shall be divided equally among the trustees.
Section 6.06. Transfer of Shares. Registration of transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation may be effected on the books of the Corporation in the following manner:
(a) Certificated Shares. In the case of certificated shares, upon authorization by the registered holder of share certificates representing such shares of stock, or by his attorney authorized by a power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary or with a designated transfer agent or transfer clerk, and upon surrender to the Corporation or any transfer agent of the corporation of the certificate being transferred, which certificate shall be properly and fully endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed stock transfer power, and otherwise in proper form for transfer, and the payment of all transfer taxes thereon. Whenever a certificate is endorsed by or accompanied by a stock power executed by someone other than the person or persons named in the certificate, evidence of authority to transfer shall also be submitted with the certificate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such surrender, proper form for transfer or payment of taxes shall not be required in any case in which the officers of the Corporation determine to waive such requirement.
(b) Uncertificated Shares. In the case of uncertificated shares of stock, upon receipt of proper and duly executed transfer instructions from the registered holder of such shares, or by his attorney authorized by a power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary or with a designated transfer agent or transfer clerk, the payment of all transfer taxes thereon, and compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form. Whenever such transfer instructions are executed by someone other than the person or persons named in the books of the Corporation as the holder thereof, evidence of authority to transfer shall also be submitted with such transfer instructions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such payment of taxes or compliance shall not be required in any case in which the officers of the Corporation determine to waive such requirement.
No transfer of shares of capital stock shall be made on the books of this Corporation if such transfer is in violation of a lawful restriction noted conspicuously on the certificate. No transfer of shares of capital 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 6.07. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Share Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in place of any certificate previously 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.
Section 6.08. Stock Ledgers. Original or duplicate stock ledgers, containing the names and addresses of the stockholders of the Corporation and the number of shares of each class of stock held by them, shall be kept at the principal executive office of the Corporation or at the office of its transfer agent or registrar.
Section 6.09. Record Dates. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may, except as otherwise required by law, fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors 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 of Directors 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 of Directors, 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 of Directors may fix a new record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.09 at the adjourned meeting.
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 (other than stockholder action by written consent) 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, and which record date shall not be more than 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 of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
ARTICLE VII
SUNDRY PROVISIONS
Section 7.01. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on the 31st
day of December of each year.
Section 7.02. Seal. The seal of the Corporation shall bear the name of the Corporation, the year of incorporation and the word “Delaware.”
Section 7.03. Securities in Other Entities. Any shares of stock or other interests in other corporations, associations or entities, which may from time to time be held by the Corporation, may be represented and voted in person or by proxy, at any of the stockholders’, or other interestholders’, as applicable, meetings thereof by the Chief Executive Officer or the designee of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Executive Officer or the designee thereof may otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation with respect to such shares or interests. The Board of Directors, however, may by resolution appoint some other person or persons to vote, or otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation with respect to such shares or interests, in which case such person or persons shall be entitled to vote, or act in behalf of the Corporation with respect to, such shares or interests.
Section 7.04. Amendments. These Bylaws may be adopted, repealed, rescinded, altered or amended only as provided in Articles Fifth and Sixth of the Certificate.
Section 7.05. 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 under the DGCL.
As amended and restated, May 17, 2012.