DocumentEXHIBIT-3.1
COLUMBIA FINANCIAL, INC.
AMENDED BYLAWS
ARTICLE I - STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Annual Meeting.
An annual meeting of the stockholders of Columbia Financial, Inc. (the “Corporation”) shall be held each year at such date and at such time as the Board of Directors shall in their discretion fix, which date shall be within thirteen (13) months subsequent to the last annual meeting of stockholders. The business to be conducted at the annual meeting shall include the election of directors and any other business properly brought before the meeting in accordance with these Bylaws.
Section 2. Special Meetings.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of Directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies on the Board of Directors (hereinafter the "Whole Board"). Business transacted at any special meeting shall be confined to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of such meeting.
Section 3. Notice of Meetings.
Written notice of the place, date, and time of all meetings of the stockholders shall be given, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law (meaning, here and hereinafter, as required from time to time by the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) or the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation).
When a meeting is adjourned to another place, date or time, written notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the place, date and time thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than thirty (30) days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, or if a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, written notice of the place, date, and time of the adjourned meeting shall be given in conformity herewith. At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
Section 4. Quorum.
At any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority of all of the shares of the stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or by proxy (after giving effect to the provisions of Article FOURTH of the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation), shall constitute a quorum for all purposes, unless or except to the extent that the presence of a larger number may be required by law. Where a separate vote by a class or classes is required, a majority of the shares of such class or classes present in person or represented by proxy (after giving effect to the provisions of Article FOURTH of the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation) shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter.
If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairman of the meeting or the holders of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time.
If a notice of any adjourned special meeting of stockholders is sent to all stockholders entitled to vote thereat, stating that it will be held with those present in person or by proxy constituting a quorum, then except as otherwise required by law, those present in person or by proxy at such adjourned meeting shall constitute a quorum, and all matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast at such meeting.
Section 5. Conduct of Business.
(a) The chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedures at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion. The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting.
(b) At any annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote with respect thereto and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 5(b). For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the business must relate to a proper subject matter for stockholder action and the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's notice must be delivered or mailed to and received at the principal executive office of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days prior to the date of the annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than one hundred (100) days' notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be received not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. A stockholder's notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter such stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting: (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (ii) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation's books, of the stockholder proposing such business, (iii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation's capital stock that are beneficially owned by such stockholder, (iv) a statement disclosing (A) whether such stockholder is acting with or on behalf of any other person and (B) if applicable, the identity of such person, and (v) any material interest of such stockholder in such business. Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be brought before or conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5(b). The Chairman of the Board or other person presiding over the annual meeting shall, if the facts so warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5(b) and, if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such business so determined to be not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.
At any special meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with Article I, Section 2.
(c) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws shall be eligible for election as Directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be made at a meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected only: (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or, (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election of Directors at the meeting who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 5(c). Such nominations, other than those made by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, shall be made by timely notice in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's notice shall be delivered or mailed to and received at the principal executive office of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days prior to the date of the meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than one hundred (100) days' notice or prior disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. Such stockholder's notice shall set forth: (i) as to each person whom such stockholder proposes to nominate for
election or re-election as a Director, all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of Directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including such person's written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a Director if elected); and (ii) as to the stockholder giving the notice (A) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation's books, of such stockholder and (B) the class and number of shares of the Corporation's capital stock that are beneficially owned by such stockholder and (C) a statement disclosing (1) whether such stockholder or any nominee thereof is acting with or on behalf of any other person and (2) if applicable, the identity of such person.
(d) The various requirements set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of this Section 5 shall apply to all stockholder proposals and nominations, without regard to whether such proposals or nominations are required to be included in the Corporation’s proxy statement or form of proxy.
Section 6. Proxies and Voting.
At any meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder entitled to vote may vote in person or by proxy executed in writing by the stockholders or by his or her duly authorized attorney-in-fact. Any facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this paragraph may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission. Proxies may also be given telephonically or electronically as long as the holder uses a procedure for verifying the identity of the stockholder.
Such proxy shall be filed with the Secretary of the Corporation before or at the time of the meeting. No proxy shall be valid after eleven (11) months from the date of its execution, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. A proxy is revocable by a stockholder at any time without condition or qualification unless the proxy states that it is irrevocable and the proxy is coupled with an interest. A proxy may be made irrevocable for as long as it is coupled with an interest. The interest with which a proxy may be coupled includes an interest in the stock to be voted under the proxy or another general interest in the Corporation or its assets or liabilities.
All elections shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast, and except as otherwise required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, all other matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast.
Section 7. Stock List.
A complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in his or her name, shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours for a period of at least ten (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.
The stockholder list shall also be kept at the place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then such list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. The stockholder list shall presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them.
Section 8. Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.
ARTICLE II - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. General Powers, Number and Term of Office.
The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be under the direction of its Board of Directors. The number of Directors who shall constitute the Whole Board shall be such number as the Board of Directors shall from time to time have designated, except that in the absence of such designation shall be nine. The Board of Directors shall annually elect a Chairman of the Board from among its members who shall, when present, preside at its meetings.
Section 2. Vacancies.
Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors may be filled in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 3. Regular Meetings.
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place or places, on such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been established by the Board of Directors and publicized among all Directors. A notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.
Section 4. Special Meetings.
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by a majority of the Directors then in office (rounded up to the nearest whole number), by the Chairman of the Board or the President and shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as they, or he or she, shall fix. Notice of the place, date, and time of each such special meeting shall be given each Director by whom it is not waived by mailing written notice not less than five (5) days before the meeting or by telegraphing or telefaxing or by facsimile, or similar means of transmission of the same not less than two (2) days before the meeting. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.
Section 5. Quorum.
At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum for all purposes. If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time, without further notice or waiver thereof.
Section 6. Participation in Meetings By Video Conference or Conference Telephone.
Members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of video conference, conference telephone or other electronic communication facilities through which all persons participating in the meeting can hear and speak to each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 7. Conduct of Business.
At any meeting of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in such order and manner as the Board may from time to time determine, and all matters shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation. Action may be taken by the Board of Directors without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.
Section 8. Powers.
The Board of Directors may, except as otherwise required by law, exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the unqualified power:
(1) To declare dividends from time to time in accordance with law;
(2) To purchase or otherwise acquire any property, rights or privileges on such terms as it shall determine;
(3) To authorize the creation, making and issuance, in such form as it may determine, of written obligations of every kind, negotiable or non-negotiable, secured or unsecured, and to do all things necessary in connection therewith;
(4) To remove any officer of the Corporation with or without cause, and from time to time to devolve the powers and duties of any officer upon any other person for the time being;
(5) To confer upon any officer of the Corporation the power to appoint, remove and suspend subordinate officers, employees and agents;
(6) To adopt from time to time such stock, option, stock purchase, bonus or other compensation plans for Directors, officers, employees and agents of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as it may determine;
(7) To adopt from time to time such insurance, retirement, and other benefit plans for Directors, officers, employees and agents of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as it may determine;
(8) To adopt from time to time regulations, not inconsistent with these Bylaws, for the management of the Corporation's business and affairs; and,
(9) To fix the compensation of officers and employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as it may determine.
Section 9. Compensation of Directors.
Directors, as such, may receive, pursuant to resolution of the Board of Directors, fixed fees and other compensation for their services as Directors, including, without limitation, their services as members of committees of the Board of Directors.
Section 10. Age Limitation for Directors.
Directors who are appointed to the Board of Directors after January 1, 2024 and who reach the age of 75 during their tenure on the Board of Directors may continue to serve until the annual meeting of stockholders following attainment of the age of 75, at which time they must retire from the Board of Directors. Any director
serving on the Board as of December 31, 2023 and who reaches the age of 76 during his or her tenure on the Board of Directors may continue to serve until the annual meeting of stockholders following attainment of age 76, at which time the director must retire from the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee and by a resolution approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors, may exclude a person from such age limitation for a specified period of time and for a specified valid reason. This age limitation does not apply to an advisory or divisional director.
Section 11. Integrity of Directors.
A person is not qualified to serve as director if he or she: (1) is under indictment for, or has ever been convicted of, a criminal offense involving dishonesty or breach of trust and the penalty for such offense could be imprisonment for more than one year, or (2) is a person against who a banking agency has, within the past ten years, issued a cease and desist order for conduct involving dishonesty or breach of trust and that order is final and not subject to appeal, or (3) has been found either by a regulatory agency whose decision is final and not subject to appeal or by a court to have (i) breached a fiduciary duty involving personal profit, or (ii) committed a willful violation of any law, rule or regulation governing banking, securities, commodities or insurance, or any final cease and desist order issued by a banking, securities, commodities or insurance regulatory agency or (4) is prohibited from serving as a director under Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Act.
Section 12. Advisory Directors.
The board of directors may by resolution appoint advisory directors to the board of directors, who may also serve as directors emeriti, and shall have such authority and receive such compensation and reimbursement as the board of directors shall provide. Advisory directors or directors emeriti shall not have the authority to participate by vote in the transaction of business.
ARTICLE III - COMMITTEES
Section 1. Committees of the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors, by a vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, may from time to time designate committees of the Board, with such lawfully delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers, to serve at the pleasure of the Board and shall, for these committees and any others provided for herein, elect a Director or Directors to serve as the member or members, designating, if it desires, other Directors as alternate members who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors or these Bylaws, 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: (i) 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 (ii) adopting, amending or repealing any Bylaw of the Corporation.
In the absence or disqualification of any member of any committee and any alternate member in his or her place, the member or members of the committee present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they constitute a quorum, may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.
Section 2. Conduct of Business.
Each committee may determine the procedural rules for meeting and conducting its business and shall act in accordance therewith, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law. Adequate provision shall be made for notice to members of all meetings. The quorum requirements for each such committee shall be a majority of the members of such committee and all matters shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the members present at a committee meeting at which a quorum is present. Action may be taken by any committee without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of such committee.
Section 3. Nominating Committee.
The Board of Directors shall appoint a Nominating Committee of the Board, consisting of not less than three (3) members. The Nominating Committee shall have authority: (a) to review any nominations for election to the Board of Directors made by a stockholder of the Corporation pursuant to Section 5(c)(ii) of Article I of these Bylaws in order to determine compliance with such Bylaw, and (b) to recommend to the Whole Board nominees for election to the Board of Directors to replace those Directors whose terms expire at the annual meeting of stockholders next ensuing.
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
Section 1. Executive and Other Officers.
The officers of the Corporation shall be a President and Chief Executive Officer, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers as it may deem proper. The Chairman of the Board shall be chosen from among the Directors. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.
Section 2. Chairman of the Board of Directors.
The Chairman of the Board shall, subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors, unless the Board has designated another person, when present, preside at all meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation. The Chairman of the Board shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of Chairman of the Board or which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors. He or she shall have power to sign all stock certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation which are authorized.
Section 3. President and Chief Executive Officer.
The President and Chief Executive Officer shall be the principal executive officer of the Corporation. The President and Chief Executive Officer shall have general responsibility for the management and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the offices of President and Chief Executive Officer or which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors. Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the President and Chief Executive Officer shall have power to sign all stock certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation which are authorized and shall have general supervision of all of the other officers (other than the Chairman of the Board), employees and agents of the Corporation.
Section 4. Vice President.
The Vice President or Vice Presidents shall perform the duties of the President and Chief Executive Officer in his absence or during his inability to act. In addition, the Vice Presidents shall perform the duties and exercise the powers usually incident to their respective offices and/or such other duties and powers as may be
properly assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President. A Vice President or Vice Presidents may be designated as Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President.
Section 5. Secretary.
The Secretary or Assistant Secretary shall issue notices of meetings, shall keep their minutes, shall have charge of the seal and the corporate books, shall perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as are usually incident to such office and/or such other duties and powers as are properly assigned thereto by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President. Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Secretary shall have the power to sign all stock certificates.
Section 6. Treasurer.
The Treasurer shall be the Comptroller of the Corporation and shall have the responsibility for maintaining the financial records of the Corporation. He or she shall make such disbursements of the funds of the Corporation as are authorized and shall render from time to time an account of all such transactions and of the financial condition of the Corporation. The Treasurer shall also perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall have the power to sign all stock certificates.
Section 7. Subordinate Officers.
The Corporation may have such subordinate officers as the Board of Directors may from time to time deem desirable. Each such officer shall hold office for such period and perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the President and Chief Executive Officer, or the committee or officer designated pursuant to these Bylaws may prescribe.
Section 8. Compensation.
The Board of Directors shall have power to fix the salaries and other compensation and remuneration, of whatever kind, of all officers of the Corporation. It may authorize any committee or officer, upon whom the power of appointing subordinate officers may have been conferred, to fix the salaries, compensation and remuneration of such subordinate officers.
Section 9. Election, Tenure and Removal of Officers.
The Board of Directors shall elect the officers. The Board of Directors may from time to time authorize any committee or officer to appoint subordinate officers. An officer serves for one year or until his or her successor is elected and qualified. If the Board of Directors in its judgment (or, with respect to subordinate officers, any committee or officer authorized by the Board of Directors to appoint such subordinate officers) finds that the best interests of the Corporation will be served, it may remove any officer or agent of the Corporation. The removal of an officer or agent does not prejudice any of his or her contract rights. The Board of Directors (or any committee or officer authorized by the Board of Directors) may fill a vacancy which occurs in any office for the unexpired portion of the term of that office.
ARTICLE V - STOCK
Section 1. Certificates of Stock.
Each stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, the Chairman of the Board or the President, and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or any Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, certifying the number of shares owned by him or her. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be by facsimile. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Board of Directors may
provide by resolution that some or all of the shares of any or all classes or series of the Corporation’s capital 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.
Section 2. Transfers of Stock.
The Board of Directors shall have power and authority to make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning the issuance, transfer and registration of certificates of stock or uncertificated shares of stock, and may appoint transfer agents and registrars thereof. The duties of transfer agent and registrar may be combined.
Section 3. Record Date.
In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of any meeting of stockholders, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the time for such other action as herein before described; provided, however, that 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 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 next day preceding the day on which the meeting is held, and, for determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment or rights or to exercise any rights of change, conversion or exchange of stock or for any other purpose, the record date shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts a 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 4. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.
In the event of the loss, theft or destruction of any certificate of stock, certificated or uncertificated shares may be issued in its place pursuant to such regulations as the Board of Directors may establish concerning proof of such loss, theft or destruction and concerning the giving of a satisfactory bond or bonds of indemnity.
Section 5. Regulations.
The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificated or uncertificated shares of stock shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish.
ARTICLE VI - NOTICES
Section 1. Notices.
Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or required by law, all notices required to be given to any stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand delivery to the recipient thereof, by depositing such notice in the mails, postage paid, or by sending such notice by prepaid telegram or mailgram or other courier. Any such notice shall be addressed to such stockholder, Director, officer, employee or agent at his or her last known address as the same appears on
the books of the Corporation. The time when such notice is received, if hand delivered, or dispatched, if delivered through the mails or by telegram or mailgram or other courier, shall be the time of the giving of the notice.
Section 2. Waivers.
A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder, Director, officer, employee or agent, whether 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 stockholder, Director, officer, employee or agent. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
Section 3. Electronic Notice.
(a) Electronic Transmission. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders and directors, any notice to stockholders or directors given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder or director to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder or director by written notice to the Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (1) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent and (2) such inability becomes known to the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other such action.
(b) Effective Date of Notice. Notice given pursuant to subsection (a) of this section 3 shall be deemed given: (1) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder or director has consented to receive notice; (2) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder or director has consented to receive notice; (3) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder or director of such specific posting, upon the later of (i) such posting and (ii) the giving of such separate notice; and (4) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder or director. 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 electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
(c) Form of 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.
ARTICLE VII - MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. Facsimile Signatures.
In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.
Section 2. Corporate Seal.
The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary. The Board of Directors may authorize one or more duplicate seals and provide for the custody thereof.
Section 3. Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records.
Each Director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, and each officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors so designated, or by any other person as to matters which such Director or committee member reasonably believes are within such other person's professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.
Section 4. Fiscal Year.
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as fixed by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Time Periods.
In applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.
Section 6. Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations.
Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the President or any officer of the Corporation authorized by the President shall have 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 this Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation.
ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended or repealed in the manner set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.