Exhibit
CELANESE CORPORATION
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
Effective as of February 8, 2016
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1.01. Registered Office. The registered office and registered agent of the Corporation in the State of Delaware shall be as designated from time to time by the appropriate filing by the Corporation in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Corporation may also have offices in such other places in the United States or elsewhere as the Board of Directors may, from time to time, appoint or as the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 2.01. Annual Meetings. Annual meetings of stockholders may be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time and date as the Board of Directors shall determine. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as described in Section 2.11 of these By-laws in accordance with Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).
Section 2.02. Special Meetings. Subject to the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), special meetings of stockholders, unless otherwise prescribed by statute, may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board, the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors which has been duly designated by the Board of Directors and whose powers and authority, as provided in a resolution of the Board of Directors, include the power to call special meetings of stockholders and no special meetings of stockholders shall be called by any other person or persons.
Section 2.03. Notice of Stockholder Nominations and Other Business.
(A) Annual Meetings of Stockholders.
(1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business other than nominations to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only: (a) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto); (b) by or at the direction of the Chairman of the Board or the Board of Directors; (c) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who complied with the notice procedures set forth in paragraphs (A)(2) and (A)(3) of this Section 2.03 and who was a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation; or (d) by one or more Eligible Holders (as defined below) pursuant to and in accordance with Section 2.03(B).
(2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (c) of paragraph (A)(1) of this Section 2.03, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, and any such proposed business other than nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is changed by more than thirty (30) days from the anniversary date of the previous year’s meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement (as defined below) of the date of such meeting is first
made by the Corporation. Public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice.
(3) Such stockholder’s notice also shall set forth: (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director: (i) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), (ii) such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected, (iii) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant and (iv) the information required by (c)(ii) below; (b) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the By-laws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the business is being proposed; (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made or the other business is being proposed: (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books and records, and the name and address of such beneficial owner, (ii) as of the date of the notice, (A) the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner and of their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, (B) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, or any derivative or synthetic arrangement having the characteristics of a long position in any class or series of shares of the Corporation, or any contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions designed to produce economic benefits and risks that correspond substantially to the ownership of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, including due to the fact that the value of such contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions is determined by reference to the price, value or volatility of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument, contract or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of shares of the Corporation, through the delivery of cash or other property, or otherwise, and without regard to whether the stockholder of record, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, may have entered into transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such instrument, contract or right, or any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation (any of the foregoing, a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, (C) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith have any right to vote any class or series of shares of the Corporation, (D) any agreement, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, including any repurchase or similar so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, involving such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, directly or indirectly, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of any class or series of the shares of the Corporation by, manage the risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith with respect to any class or series of the shares of the Corporation, or which provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the price or value of any class or series of the shares of the Corporation (any of the foregoing, a “Short Interest”), (E) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (F) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner of such general or limited partnership, (G) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-
based fee) that such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith are entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, including without limitation any such interests held by members of the immediate family sharing the same household of such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, (H) any significant equity interests or any Derivative Instruments or Short Interests in any principal competitor of the Corporation held by such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith and (I) any direct or indirect interest of such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith in any contract with the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any principal competitor of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement); and, in each case, the stockholder’s agreement to notify the Corporation in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for such meeting such information as of the record date for the meeting, (iii) a representation that the stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such nomination or other business, (iv) all information that would be required to be set forth in a Schedule 13D filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(a) or an amendment pursuant to Rule 13d-2(a) if such a statement were required to be filed under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, if any, (v) any other information relating to such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement and form of proxy or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (vi) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends: (A) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to elect the nominee or approve or adopt the other business being proposed and/or (B) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such nomination or other business. The foregoing notice requirements shall not apply to a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his or her intention to present a stockholder proposal at an annual meeting only pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation, including information relevant to a determination as to whether such proposed nominee can be considered an independent director.
(B) Stockholder Nominations Included in the Corporation’s Proxy Materials.
(1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (B) of this Section 2.03, if expressly requested in the relevant Nomination Notice (as defined below), the Corporation shall include in its proxy statement for an annual meeting of stockholders following the 2016 annual meeting: (a) the name of each person nominated for election (the “Nominee”), which shall also be included on the Corporation’s form of proxy for the applicable annual meeting, by any Eligible Holder or group of up to 20 Eligible Holders that has (individually and collectively, in the case of a qualifying group) satisfied, as determined by the Board of Directors or its designee, acting in good faith, all applicable conditions and complied with all applicable procedures set forth in paragraph (B) of this Section 2.03 (such Eligible Holder or group of Eligible Holders being a “Nominating Stockholder”); (b) disclosure about the Nominee and the Nominating Stockholder required under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or other applicable law to be included in the proxy statement; (c) a statement included by the Nominating Stockholder in the Nomination Notice for inclusion in the proxy statement in support of the Nominee’s election to the Board of Directors (subject, without limitation, to clause (b) of paragraph (B)(5) of this Section 2.03), if such statement does not exceed 500 words; and (d) any other information that the Corporation or the Board of Directors determines, in its discretion, to include in the proxy statement relating to the nomination of the Nominee, including, without limitation, any statement in opposition to the nomination and any of the information provided pursuant to paragraph (B) of this Section 2.03. For the avoidance of doubt, and any other provision of these By-laws notwithstanding, the Corporation may in its sole discretion solicit against, and include in the proxy statement its own statements or other information relating to, any Nominating Stockholder and/or Nominee, including any information provided to the Corporation with respect to the foregoing.
(2) (a) The Corporation shall not be required to include in any proxy statement for an annual meeting of stockholders more Nominees than that number of directors constituting (i) such whole number not exceeding 33.33% of the total number of directors whose terms expire at the 2017 annual meeting, (ii) such whole number not exceeding 33.33% of the total number of directors whose terms expire at the 2018 annual meeting, and (iii) with respect to the 2019 annual
meeting and each annual meeting thereafter, the greater of (A) two directors and (B) such whole number not exceeding 20% of the total number of directors of the Corporation on the last day on which a Nomination Notice may be submitted pursuant to paragraph (B) of this Section 2.03 (such number of Nominees, subject to the following provisos, the “Maximum Number”); provided, however, that in the event that one or more vacancies for any reason occurs on the Board of Directors after the deadline set forth in paragraph (B)(4) of this Section 2.03, but before the date of the annual meeting, and the Board of Directors resolves to reduce the size of the board in connection therewith, the Maximum Number shall be calculated based on the number of directors in office as so reduced. (b) The Maximum Number for a particular annual meeting shall be reduced by: (i) the number of Nominees who are subsequently withdrawn or that the Board of Directors itself decides to nominate for election at such annual meeting, (ii) the number of such director candidates for which the Corporation has received one or more valid stockholder notices nominating director candidates pursuant to paragraph (A) of this Section 2.03 of these By-laws, (iii) the number of directors in office or director candidates that in either case will be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials with respect to such annual meeting as an unopposed (by the Corporation) nominee pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or other understanding with any stockholder or group of stockholders (other than any such agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into in connection with an acquisition of common stock of the Corporation by such stockholder or group of stockholders from the Corporation, other than any such director referred to in this clause (iii) who at the time of such annual meeting will have served as a director continuously, as a nominee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, for the preceding three annual meetings, but only to the extent the Maximum Number after such reduction with respect to this clause (iii) equals or exceeds one and (iv) the number of incumbent directors who had been Nominees with respect to any of the preceding three annual meetings of stockholders and whose reelection at the upcoming annual meeting is being recommended by the Board of Directors. (c) If, pursuant to paragraph (B) of this Section 2.03, the number of Nominees for any annual meeting of stockholders exceeds the Maximum Number then, promptly upon notice from the Corporation, each Nominating Stockholder will select one Nominee for inclusion in the proxy statement until the Maximum Number is reached, going in order of the amount (largest to smallest) of the ownership position of each Nominating Stockholders, as disclosed in each Nominating Stockholder’s Nomination Notice, with the process repeated if the Maximum Number is not reached after each Nominating Stockholder has selected one Nominee. If, after the deadline for submitting a Nomination Notice as set forth in paragraph (B)(4) of this Section 2.03, a Nominating Stockholder becomes ineligible or withdraws its nomination or a Nominee becomes unwilling to serve on the Board of Directors, whether before or after the mailing of the definitive proxy statement, then the nomination shall be disregarded, and the Corporation: (i) shall not be required to include in its proxy statement or form of proxy or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies the disregarded Nominee or any successor or replacement nominee proposed by the Nominating Stockholder or by any other Nominating Stockholder; and (ii) may otherwise communicate to its stockholders, including without limitation by amending or supplementing its proxy statement or form of proxy or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies, that the Nominee will not be included as a Nominee in the proxy statement or on any or form of proxy or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies and will not be voted on at the annual meeting.
(3) (a) An “Eligible Holder” is a person who has either (i) been a record holder of the shares of common stock used to satisfy the eligibility requirements in this Section 2.03(B) continuously for the three-year period specified in clause (b) of this paragraph or (ii) provides to the Secretary of the Corporation, within the time period referred to in paragraph (B)(4), evidence of continuous ownership of such shares for such three-year period from one or more securities intermediaries in a form that the Board of Directors or its designee, acting in good faith, determines would be deemed acceptable for purposes of a shareholder proposal under Rule 14a-8(b)(2) (or any successor thereof) promulgated under the Exchange Act.
(b) An Eligible Holder or group of up to 20 Eligible Holders may submit a nomination in accordance with paragraph (B) of this Section 2.03 only if the person or group has continuously owned at least the Minimum Number (as defined below) of shares of the Corporation’s common stock throughout the three-year period preceding and including the date of submission of the Nomination Notice, and continues to own at least the Minimum Number through the date of the annual meeting. A group of funds under common management and investment control shall be treated as one Eligible Holder if such Eligible Holder shall provide together with the Nomination Notice documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation that demonstrates that the funds are under common management and investment control. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of a nomination by a group of Eligible Holders, any and all requirements and obligations for an individual Eligible Holder that are set forth in paragraph (B) of this Section 2.03, including the minimum holding period, shall apply to each member of such group; provided, however, that the Minimum Number shall apply to the ownership of the group in the aggregate. Should any stockholder withdraw from a group of Eligible Holders at any time prior to the annual meeting of stockholders, the group of Eligible Stockholders shall only be deemed to own the shares held by the remaining members of the group.
(c) The “Minimum Number” of shares of the Corporation’s common stock means 3% of the total number of outstanding shares of the Corporation’s common stock as of the most recent date for which such amount is given in any filing by the Corporation with the SEC prior to the submission of the Nomination Notice.
(d) For purposes of paragraph (B) of this Section 2.03, an Eligible Holder “owns” only those outstanding shares of common stock of the Corporation as to which the Eligible Holder possesses both: (i) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares; and (ii) the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit and risk of loss on) such shares; provided that the number of shares calculated in accordance with clauses (i) and (ii) of this clause (d) shall not include any shares: (A) sold by such Eligible Holder or any of its affiliates in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, (B) borrowed by such Eligible Holder or any of its affiliates for any purpose or purchased by such Eligible Holder or any of its affiliates pursuant to an agreement to resell, or (C) subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale, other derivative or similar agreement entered into by such Eligible Holder or any of its affiliates, whether any such instrument or agreement is to be settled with shares or with cash based on the notional amount or value of outstanding shares of common stock of the Corporation, in any such case which instrument or agreement has, or is intended to have, the purpose or effect of: (x) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such Eligible Holder’s or any of its affiliates’ full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares, and/or (y) hedging, offsetting, or altering to any degree, gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of such shares by such Eligible Holder or any of its affiliates. An Eligible Holder “owns” shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the Eligible Holder retains the right to instruct how the shares are voted with respect to the election of directors and possesses the full economic interest in the shares. An Eligible Holder’s ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the Eligible Holder has delegated any voting power by means of a proxy, power of attorney, or other similar instrument or arrangement that is revocable at any time by the Eligible Holder. An Eligible Holder’s ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the Eligible Holder has loaned such shares provided that the Eligible Holder has the power to recall such loaned shares on five business days’ notice and has recalled such loaned shares as of the date of the Nomination Notice and holds such shares through the date of the annual meeting. The terms “owned,” “owning” and other variations of the word “own” shall have correlative meanings. Whether outstanding shares of the Corporation are “owned” for these purposes shall be determined by the Board.
(e) No person shall be permitted to be in more than one group constituting a Nominating Stockholder, and if any person appears as a member of more than one group, it shall be deemed to be a member of the group that has the largest ownership position as reflected in the Nomination Notice.
(4) To nominate a Nominee pursuant to this Section 2.03, the Nominating Stockholder must, no earlier than 150 calendar days and no later than 120 calendar days before the anniversary of the date that the Corporation mailed its proxy statement for the prior year’s annual meeting of stockholders, submit to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive office of the Corporation all of the following information and documents (collectively, the “Nomination Notice”): (a) a Schedule 14N (or any successor form) relating to the Nominee, completed and filed with the SEC by the Nominating Stockholder as applicable, in accordance with SEC’s rules; (b) a written notice of the nomination of such Nominee that includes the following additional information, agreements, representations and warranties by the Nominating Stockholder (including each group member): (i) the information required with respect to the nomination of directors pursuant to paragraph (A)(3) of this Section 2.03; (ii) the details of any relationship that existed within the past three years and that would have been described pursuant to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14N (or any successor item) if it existed on the date of submission of the Schedule 14N; (iii) a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder did not acquire, and is not holding, securities of the Corporation for the purpose or with the effect of influencing or changing control of the Corporation; (iv) a representation and warranty that the Nominee’s candidacy or, if elected, Board membership would not violate applicable state or federal law or the rules of any stock exchange on which the Corporation’s securities are traded; (v) a representation and warranty that the Nominee: (A) does not have any direct or indirect relationship with the Corporation other than those relationships that have been deemed categorically immaterial pursuant to the Corporation’s Director Independence Standards, as most recently published on the Corporation’s website, and otherwise qualifies as independent under the rules of the primary stock exchange on which the Corporation’s securities are traded; (B) meets the audit committee independence requirements under the rules of any stock exchange on which the Corporation’s securities are traded; (C) is a “non-employee director” for the purposes of Rule 16b-3 (or any successor thereof) under the Exchange Act; (D) is an “outside director” for the purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (or any successor provision); and (E) is not and has not been subject to any event specified in Rule 506(d)(1) (or any successor thereof) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933 or Item 401(f) (or any successor thereof) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act, without reference to whether the event is material to an evaluation of the ability or integrity of the Nominee; (vi) a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder satisfies the eligibility requirements set forth in paragraph (B)(3) of this Section 2.03 and has provided evidence
of ownership to the extent required by clause (a) of paragraph (B)(3) of this Section 2.03; (vii) a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder intends to continue to satisfy the eligibility requirements described in paragraph (B)(3) of this Section 2.03 through the date of the annual meeting; (viii) details of any position of the Nominee as an officer or director of any competitor (that is, any entity that produces products or provides services that compete with or are alternatives to the products produced or services provided by the Corporation or its affiliates) of the Corporation, within the three years preceding the submission of the Nomination Notice; (ix) a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder will not engage in a “solicitation” within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) (without reference to the exception in Section 14a-(l)(2)(iv)) (or any successors thereof) with respect to the annual meeting, other than with respect to the Nominee or any nominee of the Board; (x) a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder will not use any proxy card other than the Corporation’s proxy card in soliciting stockholders in connection with the election of a Nominee at the annual meeting; (xi) if desired, a statement for inclusion in the proxy statement in support of the Nominee’s election to the Board of Directors, provided that such statement shall not exceed 500 words and shall fully comply with Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Rule 14a-9 (or any successors thereof); and (xii) in the case of a nomination by a group, the designation by all group members of one group member that is authorized to act on behalf of all group members with respect to matters relating to the nomination, including withdrawal of the nomination; (c) an executed agreement, in a form deemed satisfactory by the Board of Directors or its designee, acting in good faith, pursuant to which the Nominating Stockholder (including each group member) agrees: (i) to comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations in connection with the nomination, solicitation and election; (ii) to file any written solicitation or other communication with the Corporation’s stockholders relating to one or more of the Corporation’s directors or director nominees or any Nominee with the SEC, regardless of whether any such filing is required under rule or regulation or whether any exemption from filing is available for such materials under any rule or regulation; (iii) to assume all liability stemming from an action, suit or proceeding concerning any actual or alleged legal or regulatory violation arising out of any communication by the Nominating Stockholder with the Corporation, its stockholders or any other person in connection with the nomination or election of directors, including, without limitation, the Nomination Notice; (iv) to indemnify and hold harmless (jointly with all other group members, in the case of a group member) the Corporation and its affiliates and each of its directors, officers and employees individually against any liability, loss, damages, expenses or other costs (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether legal, administrative or investigative, against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers or employees arising out of or relating to a failure or alleged failure of the Nominating Stockholder to comply with, or any breach or alleged breach of, its obligations, agreements or representations under paragraph (B) of this Section 2.03; (v) in the event that any information included in the Nomination Notice, or any other communication by the Nominating Stockholder (including with respect to any group member), with the Corporation, its stockholders or any other person in connection with the nomination or election ceases to be true and accurate in all material respects (or due to a subsequent development omits a material fact necessary to make the statements made not misleading), or that the Nominating Stockholder (including any group member) has failed to continue to satisfy the eligibility requirements described in paragraph (B)(3) of this Section 2.03, to promptly (and in any event within 48 hours of discovering such misstatement or omission) notify the Corporation and any other recipient of such communication of the misstatement or omission in such previously provided information and of the information that is required to correct the misstatement or omission; and (d) an executed agreement, in a form deemed satisfactory by the Board of Directors or its designee, acting in good faith, by the Nominee: (i) to provide to the Corporation such other information, including completion of the Corporation’s director questionnaire, as it may reasonably request; (ii) that the Nominee has read and agrees, if elected, to serve as a member of the Board of Directors, to adhere to the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and Business Conduct Policy and any other Corporation policies and guidelines applicable to directors; and (iii) that the Nominee is not and will not become a party to (A) any compensatory, payment or other financial agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity in connection with service or action as a director of the Corporation that has not been disclosed to the Corporation, (B) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity as to how the Nominee would vote or act on any issue or question as a director (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (C) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with the Nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with its fiduciary duties under applicable law. The information and documents required by this paragraph shall be: (x) provided with respect to and executed by each group member, in the case of information applicable to group members; and (y) provided with respect to the persons specified in Instruction 1 to Items 6(c) and (d) (or any successors thereof) of Schedule 14N in the case of a Nominating Stockholder or group member that is an entity. The Nomination Notice shall be deemed submitted on the date on which all the information and documents referred to in this paragraph (other than such information and documents contemplated to be provided after the date the Nomination Notice is provided) have been delivered to or, if sent by mail, received by the Secretary of the Corporation.
(5) (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in paragraph (B) of this Section 2.03, the Corporation may omit from its proxy statement any Nominee and any information concerning such Nominee (including a Nominating
Stockholder’s statement in support) and no vote on such Nominee will occur (notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation), and the Nominating Stockholder may not, after the last day on which a Nomination Notice would be timely, cure in any way any defect preventing the nomination of the Nominee, if: (i) the Nominating Stockholder or the designated lead group member, as applicable, or any qualified representative thereof, does not appear at the meeting of stockholders to present the nomination submitted pursuant to paragraph (B) of this Section 2.03 or the Nominating Stockholder withdraws its nomination; (ii) the Board of Directors, acting in good faith, determines that such Nominee’s nomination or election to the Board of Directors would result in the Corporation violating or failing to be in compliance with these By-laws or the Certificate of Incorporation or any applicable law, rule or regulation to which the Corporation is subject, including any rules or regulations of any stock exchange on which the Corporation’s securities are traded; (iii) the Nominee was nominated for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to paragraph (B) of this Section 2.03 at one of the Corporation’s two preceding annual meetings of stockholders and either withdrew or became ineligible or received a vote of less than 25% of the votes cast for such Nominee; (v) the Nominee has been, within the past three years, an officer or director of a competitor, as defined for purposes of Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, as amended; or (iv) the Corporation is notified, or the Board of Directors acting in good faith determines, that a Nominating Stockholder has failed to continue to satisfy the eligibility requirements described in paragraph (B)(3) of this Section 2.03, any of the representations and warranties made in the Nomination Notice ceases to be true and accurate in all material respects (or omits a material fact necessary to make the statement not misleading), the Nominee becomes unwilling or unable to serve on the Board of Directors or any material violation or breach occurs of the obligations, agreements, representations or warranties of the Nominating Stockholder or the Nominee under paragraph (B) of this Section 2.03.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in paragraph (B) of this Section 2.03, the Corporation may omit from its proxy statement, or may supplement or correct, any information, including all or any portion of the statement in support of the Nominee included in the Nomination Notice, if the Board of Directors in good faith determines that: (i) such information is not true in all material respects or omits a material statement necessary to make the statements made not misleading; (ii) such information directly or indirectly impugns character, integrity or personal reputation of, or directly or indirectly makes charges concerning improper, illegal or immoral conduct or associations, without factual foundation, with respect to, any person; or (iii) the inclusion of such information in the proxy statement would otherwise violate SEC’s proxy rules or any other applicable law, rule or regulation.
(C) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting: (1) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (2) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.03 and who is a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice as required by paragraphs (A)(2) and (A)(3) of this Section 2.03 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made by the Corporation of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(D) General.
(1) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in paragraphs (A) and (C) of this Section 2.03 (in the case of an annual or special meeting) or paragraph (B) of this Section 2.03 (solely in the case of an annual meeting) shall be eligible for election to serve as directors and only such other business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, the Chairman of the Board shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these By-laws (including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made or other business is being
proposed solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies in support of such stockholder’s nominee or other business in compliance with such stockholder’s representation as required by clause (d)(iv) of paragraph A(3) of this Section 2.03). If any proposed nomination or other business is not in compliance with these By-laws, the chairman of the meeting of stockholders shall have the power and duty to declare to the meeting that any such nomination or other business was not properly brought before the meeting and in accordance with the provisions of these By-laws, and that such nomination or other business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting to present a nomination or other business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such other business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 2.03, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.
(2) Whenever used in these By-laws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure: (a) in a press release released by the Corporation, provided such press release is released by the Corporation following its customary procedures, as reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable national news service, or is generally available on internet news sites, or (b) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(3) Nothing in these By-laws shall be deemed to affect any rights of the holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over the common stock of the Corporation as to dividends or upon liquidation to elect directors under specified circumstances.
(4) In addition, to be considered timely, a stockholder’s notice shall further be updated and supplemented, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for the meeting in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date, and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement set forth in this paragraph or any other Section of these By-laws shall not limit the Company’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any proposal or to submit any new proposal, including by changing or adding nominees, matters, business and/or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders.
Section 2.04. Notice of Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a timely written notice or electronic transmission, in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL, of the meeting, which shall state the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be mailed to or transmitted electronically by the Secretary of the Corporation to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat. Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, the notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting.
Section 2.05. Quorum. Unless otherwise required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of stockholders. When a quorum is once present to organize a meeting, the quorum is not broken by the subsequent withdrawal of any stockholders.
Section 2.06. Voting. At all meetings of the stockholders, each stockholder shall be entitled to vote, in person or by proxy, the shares of voting stock owned by such stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting. When a quorum is present or represented at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which, by express provision of law, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, of the Certificate
of Incorporation or of these By-laws, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, at each meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, each director shall be elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast; provided, that if as of a date that is ten (10) days in advance of the date the corporation files its definitive proxy statement (regardless of whether or not thereafter revised or supplemented) with the SEC the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, the directors, not exceeding the authorized number of directors as fixed by the Board of Directors in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation, shall be elected by a plurality of the shares represented in person or by proxy at any such meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. For purposes of this Section, a majority of the votes cast means that the number of shares voted ‘for’ a director must exceed the number of shares voted ‘against’ that director. If, for any cause, the Board of Directors shall not have been elected at an annual meeting, they may be elected as soon thereafter as convenient at a special meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose in the manner provided in these By-laws.
Section 2.07. Chairman of Meetings. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, if one is elected, or, in his absence or disability, the President of the Corporation, shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders.
Section 2.08. Secretary of Meeting. The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as Secretary at all meetings of the stockholders. In the absence or disability of the Secretary, the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President shall appoint a person to act as Secretary at such meetings.
Section 2.09. Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be 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 shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be made by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.
Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within 60 days of the date the earliest dated consent is delivered to the Corporation, a written consent or consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take action are delivered to the Corporation in the manner prescribed in the first paragraph of this Section 2.09. A telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission consenting to an action to be taken and transmitted by a stockholder or proxyholder, or by a person or persons authorized to act for a stockholder or proxyholder, shall be deemed to be written, signed and dated for the purposes of this Section 2.09 to the extent permitted by law. Any such consent shall be delivered in accordance with Section 228(d)(1) of the DGCL. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing or electronic transmission and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date of such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders or members to take the action were delivered to the Corporation as provided by law.
Any copy, facsimile or other reliable reproduction of a consent in writing may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing for any and all purposes for which the original writing could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing.
Section 2.10. Adjournment. At any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, if less than a quorum be present, a majority of the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time without notice other than announcement at the meeting until a quorum shall be present. Any business may be transacted at the adjourned meeting that might have been transacted at the meeting originally noticed. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
Section 2.11. Remote Communication. 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:
(a) participate in a meeting of stockholders; and
(b) 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
(i) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder;
(ii) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings; and
(iii) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.
ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 3.01. Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of its Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall exercise all of the powers and duties conferred by law except as provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws.
Section 3.02. Number and Term. Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, the number of directors shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall be elected by the stockholders at their annual meeting, and the term of each elected director shall be as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. Directors need not be stockholders.
Section 3.03. Resignations. Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission. The resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, and if no time is specified, at the time of its receipt by the President or Secretary. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 3.04. Removal. Directors of the Corporation may be removed in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 3.05. Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. Vacancies occurring on the Board of Directors and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall be filled in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 3.06. Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such places and times as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors or as may be specified in a notice of meeting. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the director elected by the non-employee, independent directors to serve as Lead Director (if a director has been so elected and is serving in such capacity prior to the meeting), and shall be called by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Lead Director or the Secretary if directed by the Board of Directors. Notice need not be given of regular meetings of the Board of Directors. At least one business day before each special meeting of the Board of Directors, written or oral (either in person or by telephone), notice of the time, date and place of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given to each director.
Section 3.07. Quorum, Voting and Adjournment. One-third of the total number of directors or any committee thereof shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-laws or any contract or agreement to which the Corporation is a party, the act of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. In the absence of a quorum, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn such meeting to another time and place. Notice of such adjourned meeting need not be given if the time and place of such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting so adjourned.
Section 3.08. Committees. The Board of Directors may by resolution designate one or more committees, including but not limited to an Audit Committee, each such committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee to replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval or (b) adopting, amending or repealing any bylaw of the Corporation. All committees of the Board of Directors shall keep minutes of their meetings and shall report their proceedings to the Board of Directors when requested or required by the Board of Directors.
Section 3.09. Action Without a Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, 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 any committee thereof, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed in the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form or shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
Section 3.10. Compensation. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors for their services. A director may also serve the Corporation in other capacities and receive compensation therefore.
Section 3.11. Remote Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment in which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in a meeting by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment shall constitute the presence in person at such meeting.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 4.01. Number. The officers of the Corporation shall include a President and a Secretary, both of whom shall be elected by the Board of Directors and who shall hold office for such terms as shall be determined by the Board of Directors and until their successors are elected and qualify or until their earlier resignation or removal. In addition, the Board of Directors may elect a Chairman of the Board of Directors, one or more Vice Presidents, including an Executive Vice President, a Treasurer and one or more Assistant Treasurers and one or more Assistant Secretaries, who shall hold their office for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. The initial officers shall be elected at the first meeting of the Board of Directors and, thereafter, at the annual organizational meeting of the Board of Directors. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.
Section 4.02. Other Officers and Agents. The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers and agents as it deems advisable, who shall hold their office for such terms and shall exercise and perform such powers and duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.03. Chairman. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall be a member of the Board of Directors and shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders. In addition, the Chairman of the Board of Directors shall have such powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.04. President. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. He shall exercise such duties as customarily pertain to the office of President and Chief Executive Officer, and shall have general and active management of the property, business and affairs of the Corporation, subject to the supervision and control of the Board of Directors. He shall perform such other duties as prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors or these By-laws.
In the absence, disability or refusal of the Chairman of the Board of Directors to act, or the vacancy of such office, the President shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors. Except as the Board of Directors shall otherwise authorize, the President shall execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts on behalf of the Corporation, and shall cause the seal to be affixed to any instrument requiring it and, when so affixed, the seal shall be attested by the signature of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer.
Section 4.05. Vice Presidents. Each Vice President, if any are elected, of whom one or more may be designated an Executive Vice President, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him by the President or the Board of Directors.
Section 4.06. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have custody of the corporate funds, securities, evidences of indebtedness and other valuables of the Corporation and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation. He shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation, taking proper vouchers therefore. He shall render to the President and Board of Directors, upon their request, a report of the financial condition of the Corporation. If required by the Board of Directors, he shall give the Corporation a bond for the faithful discharge of his duties in such amount and with such surety as the Board of Directors shall prescribe.
The Treasurer shall have such further powers and perform such other duties incident to the office of Treasurer as from time to time are assigned to him by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.07. Secretary. The Secretary shall: (a) cause minutes of all meetings of the stockholders and directors to be recorded and kept; (b) cause all notices required by these By-laws or otherwise to be given properly; (c) see that the minute books, stock books, and other nonfinancial books, records and papers of the Corporation are kept properly; and (d) cause all reports, statements, returns, certificates and other documents to be prepared and filed when and as required. The Secretary shall have such further powers and perform such other duties as prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.08. Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries. Each Assistant Treasurer and each Assistant Secretary, if any are elected, shall be vested with all the powers and shall perform all the duties of the Treasurer and Secretary, respectively, in the absence or disability of such officer, unless or until the Board of Directors shall otherwise determine. In addition, Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.09. Corporate Funds and Checks. The funds of the Corporation shall be kept in such depositories as shall from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors. All checks or other orders for the payment of money shall be signed by the President or the Secretary or such other person or agent as may from time to time be authorized and with such countersignature, if any, as may be required by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.10. Contracts and Other Documents. The President and the Secretary, or such other officer or officers as may from time to time be authorized by the Board of Directors or any other committee given specific authority in the premises by the Board of Directors during the intervals between the meetings of the Board of Directors, shall have power to sign and execute on behalf of the Corporation deeds, conveyances and contracts, and any and all other documents requiring execution by the Corporation.
Section 4.11. Compensation. The compensation of the officers of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors (subject to any employment agreements that may then be in effect between the Corporation and the relevant officer). None of such officers shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by reason of the fact that he is also a director of the Corporation. Nothing contained herein shall preclude any officer from serving the Corporation, or any subsidiary, in any other capacity and receiving such compensation by reason of the fact that he is also a director of the Corporation.
Section 4.12. Ownership of Stock of Another Corporation. Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the President or the Secretary, or such other officer or agent as shall be authorized by the Board of Directors, shall have the power and authority, on behalf of the Corporation, to attend and to vote at any meeting of stockholders of any corporation in which the Corporation holds stock and may exercise, on behalf of the Corporation, any and all of the rights and powers incident to the ownership of such stock at any such meeting, including the authority to execute and deliver proxies and consents on behalf of the Corporation.
Section 4.13. Delegation of Duties. In the absence, disability or refusal of any officer to exercise and perform his duties, the Board of Directors may delegate to another officer such powers or duties.
Section 4.14. Resignation and Removal. Any officer of the Corporation may be removed from office for or without cause at any time by the Board of Directors. Any officer may resign at any time in the same manner prescribed under Section 3.03 of these By-laws.
Section 4.15. Vacancies. The Board of Directors shall have power to fill vacancies occurring in any office.
ARTICLE V
STOCK
Section 5.01. Certificates of Stock. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the Corporation’s stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Notwithstanding the adoption of such a resolution by the Board of Directors, every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President or a Vice President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, certifying the number and class of shares of stock in the Corporation owned by him. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. The Board of Directors shall have the power to appoint one or more transfer agents and/or registrars for the transfer or registration of certificates of stock of any class, and may require stock certificates to be countersigned or registered by one or more of such transfer agents and/or registrars.
Section 5.02. Transfer of Shares. Shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferable upon its books by the holders thereof, in person or by their duly authorized attorneys or legal representatives, upon surrender to the Corporation by delivery thereof to the person in charge of the stock and transfer books and ledgers. Such certificates shall be cancelled and new certificates shall thereupon be issued. A record shall be made of each transfer. Whenever any transfer of shares shall be made for collateral security, and not absolutely, it shall be so expressed in the entry of the transfer if, when the certificates are presented, both the transferor and transferee request the Corporation to do so. The Board of Directors shall have power and authority to make such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or proper concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for shares of stock of the Corporation.
Section 5.03. Lost, Stolen, Destroyed or Mutilated Certificates. A new certificate of stock may be issued in the place of any certificate previously issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Board of Directors may, in their discretion, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond, in such sum as the Board of Directors may direct, in order to indemnify the Corporation against any claims that may be made against it in connection therewith. A new certificate of stock may be issued in the place of any certificate previously issued by the Corporation that has become mutilated without the posting by the owner of any bond upon the surrender by such owner of such mutilated certificate.
Section 5.04. Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record. In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date: (a) in the case of determination of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders or adjournment thereof, shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting; (b) in the case of determination of stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors; and (c) in the case of any other action, shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such other action. If no record date is fixed: (x) the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held; (y) the record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action of the Board of Directors is
required by law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the corporation in accordance with applicable law, or, if prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action; and (z) the record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
Section 5.05. Registered Stockholders. Prior to the surrender to the Corporation of the certificate or certificates for a share or shares of stock with a request to record the transfer of such share or shares, the Corporation may treat the registered owner as the person entitled to receive dividends, to vote, to receive notifications, and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of an owner. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof.
ARTICLE VI
NOTICE AND WAIVER OF NOTICE
Section 6.01. Notice. If mailed, notice to stockholders shall be deemed given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders may be given by electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL.
Section 6.02. Waiver of Notice. A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder or director, or waiver by electronic transmission by such person, whether given before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such person. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver. Attendance at any meeting (in person or by remote communication) shall constitute waiver of notice except attendance 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.
ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 7.01. Indemnification Respecting Third Party Claims.
(A) Indemnification of Directors and Officers. The Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted and in the manner required, by the laws of the State of Delaware as in effect from time to time shall indemnify in accordance with the following provisions of this Article any person who was or is made a party to or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (including any appeal thereof), whether civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory or investigative in nature (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or, if at a time when he or she was a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of, or to represent the interests of, the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, fiduciary, employee or agent (a “Subsidiary Officer”) of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise including any charitable or not-for-profit public service organization or trade association (an “Affiliated Entity”), against expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements), costs, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify against any amount paid in settlement unless the Corporation has consented to such settlement. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, that such person had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was
unlawful. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, a person shall not be entitled, as a matter of right, to indemnification pursuant to this paragraph against costs or expenses incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding commenced by such person against the Corporation or any Affiliated Entity or any person who is or was a director, officer, partner, member, fiduciary, employee or agent of the Corporation or a Subsidiary Officer of any Affiliated Entity in their capacity as such, but such indemnification may be provided by the Corporation in a specific case as permitted by Section 7.06 of this Article.
(B) Indemnification of Employees and Agents. The Corporation may indemnify any employee or agent of the Corporation in the manner and to the same or a lesser extent that it shall indemnify any director or officer under paragraph (A) above in this Section 7.01.
Section 7.02. Indemnification Respecting Derivative Claims.
(A) Indemnification of Directors and Officers. The Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted and in the manner required, by the laws of the State of Delaware as in effect from time to time shall indemnify, in accordance with the following provisions of this Article, any person who was or is made a party to or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit (including any appeal thereof) brought by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or, if at a time when he or she was a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of, or to represent the interests of, the Corporation as a Subsidiary Officer of an Affiliated Entity against expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) and costs actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless, and only to the extent that, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court in which such judgment was rendered shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses and costs as the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or such other court shall deem proper. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, a person shall not be entitled, as a matter of right, to indemnification pursuant to this paragraph against costs and expenses incurred in connection with any action or suit in the right of the Corporation commenced by such Person, but such indemnification may be provided by the Corporation in any specific case as permitted by Section 7.06 of this Article.
(B) Indemnification of Employees and Agents. The Corporation may indemnify any employee or agent of the Corporation in the manner and to the same or a lesser extent that it shall indemnify any director or officer under paragraph (A) above in this Section 7.02.
Section 7.03. Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification. Any indemnification to be provided under Section 7.01 or 7.02 of this Article (unless ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification is proper under the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in such paragraph. Such determination shall be made in accordance with any applicable procedures authorized by the Board of Directors and in accordance with the DGCL. In the event a request for indemnification is made by any person referred to in paragraph (a) of Section 7.01 or 7.02 of this Article, the Corporation shall use its best efforts to cause such determination to be made not later than 90 days after such request is made.
Section 7.04. Right to Indemnification in Certain Circumstances.
(A) Indemnification of Successful Party. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article, to the extent that a director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in any of paragraphs (A) or (B) of Section 7.01 or 7.02 of this Article, in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, or in any action, suit or proceeding brought by the director or officer to enforce rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs granted pursuant to this Article, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) and costs actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
(B) Indemnification for Service As a Witness. To the extent any person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation has served or prepared to serve as a witness in any action, suit or proceeding (whether civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory or investigative in nature), including any investigation by any legislative body or any regulatory or
self-regulatory body by which the Corporation’s business is regulated, by reason of his or her services as a director or officer of the Corporation or his or her service as a Subsidiary Officer of an Affiliated Entity at a time when he or she was a director or officer of the Corporation (assuming such person is or was serving at the request of, or to represent the interests of, the Corporation as a Subsidiary Officer of such Affiliated Entity) but excluding service as a witness in an action or suit commenced by such person (unless such expenses were incurred with the approval of the Board of Directors, a committee thereof or the Chairman, a Vice Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation), the Corporation shall indemnify such person against out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith and shall use its best efforts to provide such indemnity within 45 days after receipt by the Corporation from such person of a statement requesting such indemnification, averring such service and reasonably evidencing such expenses and costs; it being understood, however, that the Corporation shall have no obligation under this Article to compensate such person for such person’s time or efforts so expended. The Corporation may indemnify any employee or agent of the Corporation to the same or a lesser extent as it may indemnify any director or officer of the Corporation pursuant to the foregoing sentence of this paragraph.
Section 7.05. Advances of Expenses.
(A) Advances to Directors and Officers. To the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, expenses and costs, incurred by any person referred to in paragraph (a) of Section 7.01 or 7.02 of this Article in defending a civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory or investigative action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking in writing by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified in respect of such costs and expenses by the Corporation as authorized by this Article.
(B) Advances to Employees and Agents. To the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, expenses and costs incurred by any person referred to in paragraph (B) of Section 7.01 or 7.02 of this Article in defending a civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding as authorized by the Board of Directors, a committee thereof or an officer of the Corporation authorized to so act by the Board of Directors upon receipt of an undertaking in writing by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation in respect of such costs and expenses as authorized by this Article.
Section 7.06. Indemnification Not Exclusive. The provision of indemnification to or the advancement of expenses and costs to any person under this Article, or the entitlement of any person to indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs under this Article, shall not limit or restrict in any way the power of the Corporation to indemnify or advance expenses and costs to such person in any other way permitted by law or be deemed exclusive of, or invalidate, any right to which any person seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs may be entitled under any law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s capacity as an officer, director, employee or agent of the Corporation and as to action in any other capacity.
Section 7.07. Corporate Obligations; Reliance. The rights granted pursuant to this Article shall vest at the time a person becomes a director or officer of the Corporation and shall be deemed to create a binding contractual obligation on the part of the Corporation to directors and officers of the Corporation, and such persons in acting in their capacities as officers or directors of the Corporation or Subsidiary Officers of any Affiliated Entity shall be entitled to rely on such provisions of this Article, without giving notice thereof to the Corporation.
Section 7.08. Accrual of Claims; Successors. The indemnification and advancement of expenses and costs provided or permitted under the foregoing provisions of this Article shall or may, as the case may be, apply in respect of any expense, cost, judgment, fine, penalty or amount paid in settlement, whether or not the claim or cause of action in respect thereof accrued or arose before or after the effective date of such provisions of this Article. The right of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs as provided under the foregoing provisions of this Article shall continue after he or she shall have ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, distributees, executors, administrators and other legal representatives of such person. Any repeal or modification of the provisions of this Article shall be prospective only and shall not adversely affect the rights of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation hereunder at the time of any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or modification.
Section 7.09. Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of, or to represent the
interests of, the Corporation as a Subsidiary Officer of any Affiliated Entity, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article or applicable law.
Section 7.10. Definitions of Certain Terms. For purposes of this Article: (i) references to “the Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed into the Corporation in a consolidation or merger if such corporation would have been permitted (if its corporate existence had continued) under applicable law to indemnify its directors, officers, employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request, or to represent the interests of, such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of any Affiliated Entity shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued; (ii) references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; (iii) references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, fiduciary, employee or agent of the Corporation or any Affiliated Entity which service imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, partner, member, trustee, fiduciary, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and (iv) a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interest of the Corporation” as referred to in this Article.
ARTICLE VIII
EXCLUSIVE FORUM
Section 8.01. Exclusive Forum. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws (as either may be amended from time to time), or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be a state court located within the State of Delaware (or, if no state court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware).
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.01. Electronic Transmission. For purposes of these By-laws, “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved, and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.
Section 9.02. Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in charge of the Secretary. If and when so directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer.
Section 9.03. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December 31 of each year, or such other twelve consecutive months as the Board of Directors may designate.
Section 9.04. Section Headings. Section headings in these By-laws are for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.
Section 9.05. Inconsistent Provisions. In the event that any provision of these By-laws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, the DGCL or any other applicable law, the provision of these By-laws shall not be given any effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full force and effect.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS
Section 10.01. Amendments. Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation these By-laws may be amended, added to, rescinded or repealed at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of the stockholders; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any other provisions of these By-laws or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote of the stockholders, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% in voting power of all shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders to alter, amend or repeal Sections 2.02, 2.03, 3.02, 3.03, 3.04, 3.05 or this proviso of Section 10.01 of the By-laws or to adopt provisions inconsistent therewith.