EX-3.4 3 a2225650zex-3_4.htm EX-3.4

Exhibit 3.4

 

BYLAWS

 

OF

 

ACLARIS THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

(a Delaware corporation)

 

Adopted on July 13, 2012

 



 

BYLAWS

 

OF

 

ACLARIS THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

ARTICLE I

 

OFFICES

 

Section 1.1                                   Offices. The registered office of the Corporation shall be in the State of Delaware. The Corporation may have offices at such other places, both within and without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as may be necessary or convenient to the business of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE II

 

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 2.1                                   Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held on such date, at such time and at such place (if any), either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors by resolution and stated in the notice of the meeting. At such annual meeting, the stockholders shall elect a Board of Directors and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting. In lieu of holding an annual meeting of stockholders at a designated place, the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that any annual meeting of stockholders may be held solely by means of remote communication.

 

Section 2.2                                   Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders shall be held on such date, at such time and at such place (if any), either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors by resolution and stated in the notice of the meeting. Special meetings of stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, may be called by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or the President and shall be called by the President or Secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, or at the request in writing of the stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes that all stockholders are entitled to cast at the particular meeting. Any such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting. In lieu of holding a special meeting of stockholders at a designated place, the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that any special meeting of stockholders may be held solely by means of remote communication.

 

Section 2.3                                   Notice of Meetings and Record Date.

 

(a)                                 The Corporation shall give notice of any annual or special meeting of stockholders. Notices of meetings of the stockholders shall state the place, if any, date and time thereof, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which each stockholder and proxyholder may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting. In the case of a special meeting, the notice shall state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. No business other than that specified in the notice thereof shall be transacted at any special meeting. Unless otherwise provided by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, notice shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days prior to the meeting.

 



 

(b)                                 Notice to stockholders may be given by personal delivery, mail, or, with the consent of the stockholder entitled to receive notice, by facsimile or other means of electronic transmission. If mailed, such notice shall be delivered by postage prepaid envelope directed to each stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears in the records of the Corporation and shall be deemed given when deposited in the United States mail. Notice given by electronic transmission pursuant to this subsection shall be deemed given: (1) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a facsimile telecommunication number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (2) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (3) if by posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and (4) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given by personal delivery, by mail, or by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

 

(c)                                  Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation shall be effective if given by a single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. Any stockholder who fails to object in writing to the Corporation, within 60 days of having been given written notice by the Corporation of its intention to send the single notice, shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice.

 

(d)                                 Notice of any meeting of stockholders need not be given to any stockholder if waived by such stockholder either in a writing signed by such stockholder or by electronic transmission, whether such waiver is given before or after such meeting is held. If such a waiver is given by electronic transmission, the electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder.

 

(e)                                  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, 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 shall not be more than 60 or fewer than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof 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.

 

Section 2.4                                   Presiding Officer. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or, if the Chairman of the Board is not present (or, if there is none), by the President, or, if the President is not present, by a Vice President, or, if no Vice President is present (or, if there is none), by such person who may have been chosen by the Board of Directors, or, if none of such persons is present, by a chairman to be chosen by the

 

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holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting and who are present in person or represented by proxy. The Secretary of the Corporation, or, if the Secretary is not present, an Assistant Secretary, or, if the Assistant Secretary is not present (or, if there is none), such person as may be chosen by the Board of Directors, shall act as secretary of meetings of stockholders, or, if none of such persons is present, the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting and who are present in person or represented by proxy shall choose any person present to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

Section 2.5                                   Quorum; Adjournments. The holders of a majority of the aggregate voting power of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall be necessary to, and shall constitute a quorum for, the transaction of business at all meetings of the stockholders, except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. If, however, a quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, until a quorum shall be present or represented. Even if a quorum shall be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time for good cause, without notice of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, until a date which is not more than 30 days after the date of the original meeting. At any such adjourned meeting, at which a quorum shall be present in person or represented by proxy, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of such meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 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 thereat.

 

Section 2.6                                   Voting.

 

(a)                                 At any meeting of stockholders, every stockholder having the right to vote shall be entitled to vote in person or by proxy. Except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder of record shall be entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock having voting power and registered in such stockholder’s name on the books of the Corporation.

 

(b)                                 Each person entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only so long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in

 

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law to support an irrevocable power. Proxies need not be filed with the Secretary of the Corporation until the meeting is called to order, but shall be filed before being voted.

 

(c)                                  All elections shall be determined by a plurality vote, and, except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, all other matters shall be determined by the vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and voting on such other matters.

 

Section 2.7                                   Remote Communication. For the purposes of these Bylaws, 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 proxyholders 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.

 

Section 2.8                                   Action by Consent. Any action required or permitted by law or the Certificate of Incorporation to be taken at any meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a written consent, 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 or represented by proxy and voted. A telegram, facsimile 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, provided that any such telegram, facsimile or other electronic transmission sets forth or is delivered with information from which the Corporation can determine that the telegram, facsimile or other electronic transmission was transmitted by the stockholder or proxyholder or by a person or persons authorized to act for the stockholder or proxyholder and the date on which such stockholder or proxyholder or authorized person or persons transmitted such telegram, cablegram or electronic transmission. The date on which such telegram, facsimile or electronic transmission is transmitted shall be deemed to be the date on which such consent was signed. No consent given by telegram, facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be deemed to have been delivered until such consent is reproduced in paper form and until such paper shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which the proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded, to the extent and in the manner provided by resolution of the Board of

 

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Directors of the Corporation. 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. 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.

 

ARTICLE III

 

DIRECTORS

 

Section 3.1                                   General Powers; Number; Tenure. The business of the Corporation shall be managed by its Board of Directors, which may exercise all powers of the Corporation and perform all lawful acts and things that are not by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws directed or required to be exercised or performed by the stockholders or any class or classes or series thereof. The initial number of directors shall be Two (2). Thereafter, except as may otherwise be provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, the number of directors shall be determined by the Board of Directors. The directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders, except as provided in Section 3.2 hereof, and each director elected shall hold office until such director’s successor is elected and shall qualify. Directors need not be stockholders. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, if one has been designated by the Board of Directors, or in his or her absence by the Chief Executive Officer, if any, or in his or her absence by a presiding person chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the presiding person at the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. The Chairman of the Board shall serve for such term and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 3.2                                   Vacancies. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, if any vacancies occur in the Board of Directors, or if any new directorships are created, they may be filled by vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, when one or more directors shall resign from the Board, effective at a future date, a majority of directors then in office, including those who have resigned, shall have the power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective. Each director so chosen shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is duly elected and shall qualify. If there are no directors in office, any officer or stockholder may call a special meeting of stockholders in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, at which meeting such vacancies shall be filled.

 

Section 3.3                                   Removal; Resignation.

 

(a)                                 Except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, any director, directors or the entire Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors.

 

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(b)                                 Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the President or the Secretary of the Corporation; provided, however, that if such notice is given by electronic transmission, such electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the director. Unless otherwise specified in such written notice, a resignation shall take effect upon delivery thereof to the Board of Directors or the designated officer. It shall not be necessary for a resignation to be accepted before it becomes effective.

 

Section 3.4                                   Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of each newly elected Board of Directors shall be held immediately following the annual meeting of stockholders, at the place where such meeting of stockholders has been held, or at such other place as shall be fixed by the person presiding over the meeting of the stockholders, for the purpose of election of officers and consideration of such other business as the Board of Directors considers relevant to the management of the Corporation, and no notice of such meeting shall be necessary to the newly elected directors in order legally to constitute the meeting, provided a quorum shall be present. In the event that in any year directors are elected by written consent in lieu of an annual meeting of stockholders, the Board of Directors shall meet in such year after receipt of such written consent by the Corporation, for the purpose of electing officers and considering such other business as the Board of Directors considers relevant to the management of the Corporation.

 

Section 3.5                                   Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held on such dates and at such times and places, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors, such determination to constitute the only notice of such regular meetings to which any director shall be entitled. In the absence of any such determination, such meetings shall be held, upon notice to each director in accordance with Section 3.7 of this Article III, at such times and places, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 3.6                                   Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at the call of the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer at such times and places, within or without the State of Delaware, as he or she shall designate, upon notice to each director in accordance with Section 3.7 of this Article III. Special meetings shall be called by the Secretary on like notice at the written request of a majority of the directors then in office.

 

Section 3.7                                   Notice; Waiver of Notice.

 

(a)                                 Notice of any regular (if required) or special meeting of the Board of Directors may be given by personal delivery, mail, telegram, courier service (including, without limitation, Federal Express), facsimile transmission (directed to the facsimile transmission number at which the director has consented to receive notice), electronic mail (directed to the electronic mail address at which the director has consented to receive notice), or other form of electronic transmission pursuant to which the director has consented to receive notice. If notice is given by personal delivery, by facsimile transmission, by telegram, by electronic mail, or by other form of electronic transmission pursuant to which the director has consented to receive notice, then such notice shall be given on not less than twenty-four hours’ notice to each director. If written notice is delivered by mail or courier service, then it shall be given on not less than three (3) calendar

 

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days’ notice to each director. Notice of special meetings of the Board of Directors need not state the purpose thereof, except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. Any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting, unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof or provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

 

(b)                                 Notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, need not be given to any member if waived by him or her in writing or by electronic transmission, whether before or after such meeting is held, or if he or she shall sign the minutes of such meeting or attend the meeting, except that if such director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened, then such director shall not be deemed to have waived notice of such meeting. If waiver of notice is given by electronic transmission, such electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the director.

 

Section 3.8                                   Quorum; Adjournments. At all meetings of the Board of Directors and of each committee thereof, a majority of the total number of directors constituting the whole board or such committee shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The act of a majority of the members present at any meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors or such committee, unless by express provision of applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control. In the absence of a quorum, a majority of the members present at any meeting may, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, adjourn such meeting from time to time until a quorum is present.

 

Section 3.9                                   Committees. The Board of Directors, by a vote of a majority of the whole Board of Directors, may from time to time designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more directors, with such lawfully delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers (including the power and authority to designate other committees of the Board of Directors); provided, however, that no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (i) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware to be submitted to stockholders for approval or (ii) adopting, amending, or repealing any Bylaw 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 of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members present at any meeting of such committee and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of such absent or disqualified director.

 

Section 3.10                            Committee Procedure.

 

(a)                                 Except as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors or provided by these Bylaws, each committee shall adopt its own rules governing the time, place, and method of holding its meetings and the conduct of its proceedings and shall meet as provided by such rules

 

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or by resolution of the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise provided by these Bylaws or any such rules or resolutions, notice of the time and place of each meeting of a committee shall be given to each member of such committee as provided in Section 3.7 of this Article III with respect to notices of meetings of the Board of Directors.

 

(b)                                 Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required.

 

(c)                                  Any member of any committee may be removed from such committee either with or without cause, at any time, by the Board of Directors at any meeting thereof. Any vacancy in any committee may be filled by the Board of Directors in the manner prescribed by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws for the original appointment of the members of such committee.

 

Section 3.11                            Compensation. Directors may be paid such compensation for their services as a member of the Board of Directors and may be reimbursed for any reasonable expenses incurred with respect to duties as a member of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. Any director receiving such compensation shall not be barred from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation for, and reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred with respect to, any such other services.

 

Section 3.12                            Action by Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee; provided, however, that such electronic transmissions) must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission(s) were authorized by the director. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

 

Section 3.13                            Meetings by Telephone or Similar Communications. Members of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, may participate in any meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating therein can hear each other, and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

OFFICERS

 

Section 4.1                                   Designations. The officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may choose a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Vice President or Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, one or more Assistant Secretaries and/or Assistant Treasurers and other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary or appropriate. All officers of the Corporation shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors. None of the officers of the Corporation needs to be a director of the Corporation. Any two or more offices may be held by

 

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the same person to the extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and other applicable law, unless the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws otherwise provide.

 

Section 4.2                                   Term of Office; Removal. The Board of Directors at its annual meeting after each annual meeting of stockholders shall elect a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board of Directors may also elect a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Operating Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, a Vice President or Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries and/or Assistant Treasurers, and such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary or appropriate. Each officer of the Corporation shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, except as may otherwise be expressly provided in a contract of employment duly authorized by the Board of Directors. Any officer elected by the Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office. Such removal shall not prejudice the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4.3                                   Compensation. The salaries of all officers of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such salary by reason of the fact that such officer is also a director of the Corporation.

 

Section 4.4                                   The Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general management, direction and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer shall preside, if no Chairman of the Board shall be designated, at all meetings of the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors from time to time, the Chief Executive Officer shall have the power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of stockholders of or with respect to any action of stockholders of any other corporation in which the Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which the Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation.

 

Section 4.5                                   The President. The President shall be the chief operating officer of the Corporation and shall have such powers and perform such duties as may from time to time be assigned to the President by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors. If no Chief Executive Officer shall be designated and then be serving, the President shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation, and, as such, shall have the functions, authority and duties provided for the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 4.6                                   The Vice Presidents. The Vice President, if any (or in the event there be more than one, the Vice Presidents in the order designated, or in the absence of any designation, in the order of their election), shall, in the absence of the President or in the event of his or her disability, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President and shall generally assist the Chief Executive Officer and the President and perform such other duties and have such other powers as may from time to time be assigned by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

 

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Section 4.7                                   The Secretary. The Secretary shall attend meetings of the Board of Directors and of stockholders and record all votes and the proceedings of the meetings in a book to be kept for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the committees, if requested by the Board of Directors or any such committee. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the President, under whose supervision the Secretary shall act. The Secretary shall have custody of the seal of the Corporation, and the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it, and, when so affixed, the seal may be attested by the signature of the Secretary or of an Assistant Secretary. The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing thereof by such officer’s signature.

 

Section 4.8                                   The Assistant Secretary. The Assistant Secretary, if any (or in the event there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order designated, or in the absence of any designation, in the order of their election), shall, in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of his or her disability, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4.9                                   The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and other valuable effects, including securities, and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may from time to time be designated by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors, at regular meetings of the Board, or whenever they may require it, an account of all his or her transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.

 

Section 4.10                            The Assistant Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurer, if any (or in the event there shall be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order designated, or in the absence of any designation, in the order of their election), shall, in the absence of the Treasurer or in the event of his or her disability, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE V

 

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS

 

Section 5.1                                   Indemnification.

 

(a)                                 Subject to Section 5.3 of this Article V, the Corporation shall indemnify, to the full extent that it shall have power under applicable law to do so and in a manner permitted by such law, any person who is made or threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved (as a witness or otherwise) in any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (hereinafter, a “Proceeding”), by reason

 

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of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or, while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of Corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (collectively, “Another Enterprise”) (such person hereinafter, a “Mandatory Indemnitee”).

 

(b)                                 The Corporation may indemnify, to the Ml extent that it shall have power under applicable law to do so and in a manner permitted by such law, any person who is made or threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved (as a witness or otherwise) in any Proceeding, by reason of the fact that such person is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation, or, while serving as an employee or agent of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of Another Enterprise (such person hereinafter, a “Permissive Indemnitee”).

 

Section 5.2                                   Advancement of Expenses.

 

(a)                                 Subject to Section 5.3 of this Article V, with respect to any Mandatory hrdemnitee, the Corporation shall pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by such person in defending any such Proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however, that any advancement of expenses shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”) by such person to repay all amounts advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such person is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Article V or otherwise.

 

(b)                                 With respect to any Permissive Indemnitee, the Corporation may, in its discretion and upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Corporation deems appropriate, pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by such person in defending any such Proceeding in advance of its final disposition.

 

Section 5.3                                   Actions Initiated Against the Corporation. Anything in Section 5.1 (a) or Section 5.2(a) of this Article V to the contrary notwithstanding, except as provided in Section 5.5(b) of this Article V, with respect to a Proceeding initiated against the Corporation by a director or officer of the Corporation (whether initiated by such person in such capacity or in any other capacity, including as a director, officer, employee or agent of Another Enterprise), the Corporation shall not be required to indemnify or to advance expenses (including attorneys’ fees) to such person in connection with prosecuting such Proceeding (or part thereof) or in defending any counterclaim, cross-claim, affirmative defense, or like claim of the Corporation in such Proceeding (or part thereof) unless such Proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

Section 5.4                                   Contract Rights. With respect to any Mandatory Indemnitee, the rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in Sections 5.1(a) and 5.2(a) of this Article V shall be contract rights. Any amendment, repeal, or modification of, or adoption of any provision inconsistent with, this Article V (or any provision hereof) shall not adversely affect any right to indemnification or advancement of expenses granted to any person pursuant hereto with respect to any act or omission of such person occurring prior to the time of such

 

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amendment, repeal, modification, or adoption (regardless of whether the Proceeding relating to such acts or omissions is commenced before or after the time of such amendment, repeal, modification, or adoption).

 

Section 5.5                                   Claims.

 

(a)                                 If (i) a claim under Section 5.1(a) of this Article V with respect to any right to indemnification is not paid in full by the Corporation (following the final disposition of the Proceeding) within 60 days after a written demand has been received by the Corporation or (ii) a claim under Section 5.2(a) of this Article V with respect to any right to the advancement of expenses is not paid in full by the Corporation within 20 days after a written demand has been received by the Corporation, then the person seeking to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses, as the case may be, may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim.

 

(b)                                 If successful in whole or in part in any suit brought pursuant to Section 5.5(a) of this Article V, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses (whether pursuant to the terms of an undertaking or otherwise), the person seeking to enforce a right to indemnification or an advancement of expenses hereunder or the person from whom the Corporation sought to recover an advancement of expenses, as the case may be, shall be entitled to be paid by the Corporation the reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees) of prosecuting or defending such suit.

 

(c)                                  In any suit brought by a person seeking to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not a suit brought by a person seeking to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses hereunder), it shall be a defense that the person seeking to enforce a right to indemnification has not met any applicable standard for indemnification under applicable law. With respect to any suit brought by a person seeking to enforce a right to indemnification or right to advancement of expenses hereunder or any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses (whether pursuant to the terms of an undertaking or otherwise), neither (i) the failure of the Corporation to have made a determination prior to commencement of such suit that indemnification of such person is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standards of conduct under applicable law, nor (ii) an actual determination by the Corporation that such person has not met such applicable standards of conduct, shall create a presumption that such person has not met the applicable standards of conduct or, in a case brought by such person seeking to enforce a right to indemnification, be a defense to such suit.

 

(d)                                 In any suit brought by a person seeking to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses (whether pursuant to the terms of an undertaking or otherwise), the burden shall be on the Corporation to prove that the person seeking to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses or the person from whom the Corporation seeks to recover an advancement of’expenses is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such an advancement of expenses, under this Article V or otherwise.

 

Section 5.6                                   Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification. Any indemnification required or permitted under this Article V (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the

 

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Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met all applicable standards of conduct set forth in this Article V and Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer of the Corporation at the time of such determination, (i) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum; (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum; (iii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or (iv) by the stockholders. Such determination shall be made, with respect to any person who is not a director or officer of the Corporation at the time of such determination, in the manner determined by the Board of Directors (including in such manner as may be set forth in any general or specific action of the Board of Directors applicable to indemnification claims by such person) or in the manner set forth in any agreement to which such person and the Corporation are parties.

 

Section 5.7                                   Non-Exclusive Rights. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided in this Article V shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any person may be entitled under any Bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be such director, officer, employee, or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such person.

 

Section 5.8                                   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 the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of Another Enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article V or otherwise.

 

Section 5.9                                   Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Article V shall be held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article V (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph or clause containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article V (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph or clause containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable.

 

Section 5.10                            Miscellaneous. For purposes of this Article Y: (a) references to serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of Another Enterprise shall include any service as a director or officer of the Corporation that imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director or officer with respect to an employee benefit plan; (b) references to serving at the request of the Corporation as an employee or agent of Another Enterprise shall include any service as an employee or agent of the Corporation that imposes duties on, or involves services

 

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by, such employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan; (c) a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; and (d) references to a director of Another Enterprise shall include, in the case of any entity that is not managed by a board of directors, such other position, such as manager or trustee or member of the governing body of such entity, that entails responsibility for the management and direction of such entity’s affairs, including, without limitation, general partner of any partnership (general or limited) and manager or managing member of any limited liability company.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

AFFILIATED TRANSACTIONS AND INTERESTED DIRECTORS

 

Section 6.1                                   Affiliated Transactions. No contract or transaction between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association or other organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction or solely because his, her or their votes are counted for such purpose, if:

 

(a)                                 The material facts as to his or her relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors or the committee, and the Board of Directors or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; or

 

(b)                                 The material facts as to his or her relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or

 

(c)                                  The contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the Board of Directors, a committee thereof, or the stockholders.

 

Section 6.2                                   Determining Quorum. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

STOCK CERTIFICATES

 

Section 7.1                                   Form; Signatures.

 

(a)                                 Shares of any or all of the Corporation’s classes or series of capital stock may be evidenced by certificates for shares of stock, in such form as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe, or may be issued in uncertificated form. The issuance of shares in uncertificated form shall not affect shares already represented by a certificate until the certificate

 

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is surrendered to the Corporation. Except as expressly provided by law, there shall be no differences in the rights and obligations of stockholders based on whether or not their shares are represented by certificates. The Corporation shall issue to any holder who so requests a share certificate representing shares registered in the holder’s name, signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President and the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, exhibiting the number and class (and series, if any) of shares owned by such stockholder, and bearing the seal of the Corporation. Such signatures and seal may be facsimiles. In case any officer who has signed, or whose facsimile signature was placed on, a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before such certificate is issued, it may nevertheless be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer at the date of its issue.

 

(b)                                 All stock certificates representing shares of capital stock that are subject to restrictions on transfer or to other restrictions may have imprinted thereon such notation to such effect as may be determined by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 7.2                                   Transfers. Transfers of stock of the Corporation shall be made on the books of the Corporation only upon surrender to the Corporation of a certificate (if any) for the shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment, or authority to transfer; provided, however, that such succession, assignment, or transfer is not prohibited by the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, applicable law, or contract. Thereupon, the Corporation shall issue a new certificate (if requested) to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate (if any), and record the transaction upon its books.

 

Section 7.3                                   Registered Stockholders.

 

(a)                                 Except as otherwise provided by law, the Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person who is registered on its books as the owner of shares of its capital stock to receive dividends or other distributions, to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and assessments any person who is registered on its books as the owner of shares of its capital stock. The Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or legal claim to or interest in such shares on the part of any other person.

 

(b)                                 If a stockholder desires that notices and/or dividends shall be sent to a name or address other than the name or address appearing on the stock ledger maintained by the Corporation (or by the transfer agent or registrar, if any), such stockholder shall have the duty to notify the Corporation (or the transfer agent or registrar, if any) in writing, of such desire. Such written notice shall specify the alternate name or address to be used.

 

Section 7.4                                   Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation which is claimed to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his or her legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as it shall require and/or to give the Corporation a bond in such sum, or other security in such form, as

 

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it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate claimed to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 8.1                                   Books and Records.

 

(a)                                 Any books or records maintained by the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account, and minute books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device or method; provided, however, that the books and records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time. The Corporation shall so convert any books or records so kept upon the request of any person entitled to inspect such records pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

(b)                                 It shall be the duty of the Secretary or other officer of the Corporation who shall have charge of the stock ledger to prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the stockholder’s name. Nothing contained in this subsection (b) shall require the Corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. The stock ledger shall be the only evidence of the identity of the stockholders entitled to examine such list.

 

(c)                                  Except to the extent otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall determine from time to time whether and, if allowed, when and under what conditions and regulations the stock ledger, books, records, and accounts of the Corporation, or any of them, shall be open to inspection by the stockholders and the stockholders’ rights, if any, in respect thereof. The stock ledger shall be the only evidence of the identity of the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the books, records, or accounts of the Corporation.

 

Section 8.2                                   Voting Shares in Other Business Entities. The Chief Executive Officer or any other officer of the Corporation designated by the Board of Directors may vote any and all

 

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shares of stock or other equity interest held by the Corporation in any other corporation or other business entity, and may exercise on behalf of the Corporation any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership of such stock or other equity interest.

 

Section 8.3                                   Record Date for Distributions and Other Actions. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution, or allotment of any rights, or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion, or exchange of capital stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, except as may otherwise be provided in these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may fix a record date. Such record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing such record date is adopted, and shall not be more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

Section 8.4                                   Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be such fiscal year as the Board of Directors from time to time by resolution shall determine.

 

Section 8.5                                   Gender/Number. As used in these Bylaws, the masculine, feminine, or neuter gender, and the singular and plural number, shall each include the other whenever the context so indicates.

 

Section 8.6                                   Section Titles. The titles of the sections and subsections have been inserted as a matter of reference only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the terms and provisions hereof.

 

Section 8.7                                   Electronic Transmission. For purposes of these Bylaws, “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved, and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

 

Section 8.8                                   Amendment. These Bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed at any annual or regular meeting of the Board of Directors or at any special meeting of the Board of Directors if notice of the proposed alteration, amendment, or repeal be contained in written notice of such special meeting, or at any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation.

 

Section 8.9                                   Certificate of Incorporation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any provision contained in these Bylaws is inconsistent with or conflicts with a provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, such provision of these Bylaws shall be superseded by the inconsistent provision in the Certificate of Incorporation to the extent necessary to give effect to such provision in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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