TABLE OF CONTENTS | ||
Article I: | STOCKHOLDERS | PAGE |
Section 1.1: | Location of Stockholder Meetings | 1 |
Section 1.2: | Annual Meetings | 1 |
Section 1.3: | Special Meetings | 1 |
Section 1.4: | Notice of Meetings | 3 |
Section 1.5: | Nominations and Stockholder Business | 3 |
Section 1.6: | Proxy Access for Director Nominations | 7 |
Section 1.7: | Quorum and Required Vote | 16 |
Section 1.8: | Adjournment and Notice of Adjourned Meetings | 17 |
Section 1.9: | Organization | 17 |
Section 1.10: | Voting; Proxies | 18 |
Section 1.11: | Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record | 18 |
Section 1.12: | List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote | 18 |
Section 1.13: | Inspector(s) of Elections | 19 |
Article II: | BOARD OF DIRECTORS | |
Section 2.1: | Number; Qualifications | 19 |
Section 2.2: | Election; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies | 19 |
Section 2.3: | Regular Meetings | 20 |
Section 2.4: | Special Meetings | 20 |
Section 2.5: | Waiver of Notice | 20 |
Section 2.6: | Electronic Meetings Permitted | 20 |
Section 2.7: | Quorum; Vote Required for Action | 20 |
Section 2.8: | Organization | 20 |
Section 2.9: | Action Without Meeting | 21 |
Section 2.10: | Powers | 21 |
Section 2.11: | Compensation of Directors | 21 |
Article III: | COMMITTEES | |
Section 3.1: | Committees | 21 |
Section 3.2: | Conduct of Business | 21 |
Article IV: | OFFICERS | |
Section 4.1 | Generally | 22 |
Section 4.2: | Chairman of the Board | 22 |
Section 4.3: | Chief Executive Officer | 22 |
Section 4.4: | Vice President | 22 |
Section 4.5: | Chief Financial Officer | 22 |
Section 4.6: | Treasurer | 22 |
Section 4.7: | Secretary | 22 |
Section 4.8: | Delegation of Authority | 23 |
Section 4.9: | Removal | 23 |
Article V: | STOCK | |
Section 5.1: | Certificates | 23 |
Section 5.2: | Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates | 23 |
Section 5.3: | Transfers of Stock | 23 |
Section 5.4: | Other Regulations | 23 |
Article VI: | INDEMNIFICATION | |
Section 6.1: | Indemnification of Officers and Directors | 24 |
Section 6.2: | Advancement of Expenses | 24 |
Section 6.3: | Non-Exclusivity of Rights | 24 |
Section 6.4: | Indemnification Contracts | 25 |
Section 6.5: | Effect of Amendment | 25 |
Article VII | NOTICES | |
Section 7.1: | Notices | 25 |
Section 7.2: | Waiver of Notice | 25 |
Article VIII | INTERESTED DIRECTORS | |
Section 8.1: | Interested Directors; Quorum | 25 |
Article IX | MISCELLANEOUS | |
Section 9.1: | Fiscal Year | 26 |
Section 9.2: | Seal | 26 |
Section 9.3: | Reliance Upon Books and Records | 26 |
Section 9.4: | Certificate of Incorporation Governs | 26 |
Section 9.5: | Severability | 26 |
Section 9.6: | Forum for Certain Actions | 26 |
Article X | AMENDMENTS | |
Section 10.1: | Amendments | 27 |
(a) | Special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called, for any purpose or purposes by resolution of the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Business transacted at any special meeting called pursuant to this Section 1.3(a) shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of the special meeting. |
(b) | Special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be called by the Board of Directors upon written request to the Secretary of the Corporation (a “Stockholder Special Meeting Request”) by one or more stockholders of record or beneficial owners (the “Requesting Stockholders”) that (i) own, in the aggregate, at least 25% (the “Requisite Percent”) of the Corporation’s outstanding shares entitled to vote on the matter or matters to be brought before the proposed special meeting; and (ii) comply with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.3 with respect to any matter that is a proper subject for the meeting pursuant to Section 1.3(d). Except as set forth in this Section 1.3 or as otherwise required by law, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may not be called by any other person or persons. For purposes of satisfying the Requisite Percent under this |
(c) | Any Stockholder Special Meeting Request shall (i) be in writing, signed and dated by each Requesting Stockholder, (ii) set forth the purpose of calling the special meeting and include the information required by Section 1.5(c)(i) and Section 1.5(c)(iii) (for nominations for the election to the Board of Directors) and the information required by Section 1.5(c)(ii) and Section 1.5(c)(iii) (for the proposal of business other than nominations), (iii) include an agreement by each Requesting Stockholder to promptly notify the Secretary of the Corporation in the event of any decrease in the shares owned by such Requesting Stockholder following the delivery of such Stockholder Special Meeting Request and prior to the special meeting; provided that in the event of any such decrease, such Requesting Stockholders’ special meeting request shall be deemed to have been revoked if, as a result of such decrease, the Requesting Stockholders no longer own the Requisite Percent; and (iv) be delivered personally or sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to the Secretary of the Corporation at the Corporation’s principal executive offices. After receiving a Stockholder Special Meeting Request, the Board of Directors shall determine in good faith whether the Requesting Stockholders have satisfied the requirements set forth in these Bylaws, which determination shall be conclusive and binding, and the Corporation shall notify the Requesting Stockholders of the Board of Directors’ determination. If the Board of Directors determines that the Stockholder Special Meeting Request satisfies the requirements set forth in these Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall determine the date, time and place of the special meeting; provided that such special meeting shall not be more than ninety (90) days after the date on which the Board of Directors determines that the Stockholder Special Meeting Request satisfies the requirements set forth in these Bylaws. The Board of Directors shall also set a record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such special meeting in the manner set forth in Section 1.11. The Corporation will provide the Requesting Stockholders with notice of such record date. Each Requesting Stockholder is required to update the information required by this Section 1.3(c), (i) as of a date within five (5) business days after such record date, and (ii) as of a date within five (5) business days before the date of the special meeting to which the Stockholder Special Meeting Request relates. In addition, the Requesting Stockholders shall provide such other information as the Corporation may reasonably request within ten (10) business days after such a request. |
(d) | A Stockholder Special Meeting Request shall not be valid, and the Board of Directors shall not call a special meeting if (i) the Stockholder Special Meeting Request relates to an item of business that is not a proper subject for stockholder action under applicable law, or that involves a violation of applicable law; (ii) the Stockholder Special Meeting Request relates to an item of business that is the same or substantially similar (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors) to an item of business that was presented at a meeting of the stockholders occurring within ninety (90) days preceding the earliest date of signature on the Stockholder Special Meeting Request; (iii) the Stockholder Special Meeting Request is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation during the period commencing ninety (90) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders (the “Anniversary”) and ending on the date of the next annual meeting of stockholders; (iv) two or more special meetings have been called at the request of stockholders and convened within the 12-month period ending on earliest date of signature on the Stockholder |
(e) | Any Requesting Stockholder may revoke a request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation. If, as a result of any such revocation(s), there are no longer valid, unrevoked requests from stockholders of record or beneficial owners who own, in the aggregate, the Requisite Percent, there shall be no requirement for the Board of Directors to call such special meeting or to hold such special meeting regardless of whether notice of such special meeting has been sent and/or proxies solicited for such special meeting. |
(f) | Business transacted at any special meeting requested by stockholders shall be limited to the purpose or purposes validly stated in the Stockholder Special Meeting Request for such special meeting; provided that the Board of Directors may, in their discretion, include additional matters in the notice for such special meeting and such additional business shall be transacted at such special meeting. If none of the Requesting Stockholders appear at, or send a duly authorized representative to, the special meeting to present the matters for consideration that were specified in the Stockholder Special Meeting Request, the Corporation need not present such matters for a vote at such special meeting regardless of whether proxies have been solicited with respect to such matters. The Board of Directors may adjourn, postpone, reschedule or, if in accordance with these Bylaws, cancel any special meeting previously scheduled pursuant to this Section 1.3. |
(a) | Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders: (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of such meeting (or any supplement thereto); (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time of giving the stockholder’s notice provided for in Section 1.5(b) and (c) below, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.5 or (iv) by any stockholder or beneficial owner or group of stockholders or beneficial owners that complies with Section 1.6(c) of these Bylaws. Except for nominations or proposals made in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”), and included in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors and nominations in compliance with Section 1.6 of these |
(b) | At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such nominations will be considered and such other business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 1.5(a) of these Bylaws, (i) the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation, and (ii) such other business must be a proper matter for stockholder action under the DGCL. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to the Anniversary; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than thirty (30) days prior to or delayed by more than thirty (30) days after the Anniversary, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting, or the public disclosure thereof, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary of the Corporation must set forth the information required in paragraph (c) of this Section 1.5. |
(c) | Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth: |
(i) | as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director, (A) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, including such person’s written consent to being named in a proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected and information necessary for the Board of Directors to determine whether such proposed nominee is eligible to serve as a director of the Corporation, and whether such nominee qualifies as an “independent director” or “audit committee financial expert” under applicable law, securities exchange rule or regulation, or any publicly-disclosed corporate governance guideline or committee charter of the Corporation, and (B) a statement as to whether such person, if elected and in accordance with the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, intends to tender, promptly following such person’s election or re-election, an irrevocable resignation effective upon such person’s failure to receive the required vote for re-election at the next meeting at which such person would face re-election; |
(ii) | as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, (B) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration), (C) the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, and (D) any material interest |
(iii) | as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, (A) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, (B) the class and number of shares of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner and by each associate (as defined in paragraph (g) of this Section 1.5) of the stockholder or beneficial owner as of the date of the notice, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for such meeting of the class and number of shares of the Corporation beneficially owned by such stockholder or beneficial owner and by each associate as of the record date for the meeting, (C) a representation as to whether either such stockholder or beneficial owner will engage in a solicitation with respect to such nomination or proposal and, if so, the name of each participant (as defined in Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in such solicitation and whether such person or group intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of, in the case of a proposal, at least the percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to carry the proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, a sufficient number of holders of the Corporation’s voting shares to elect such nominee or nominees, (D) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) with respect to the nomination or other business between or among such stockholder or beneficial owner and any other person, including without limitation any agreements that would be required to be described or reported pursuant to Item 5 or Item 6 of Schedule 13D (regardless of whether the requirement to file a Schedule 13D is applicable to the stockholder or beneficial owner) and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for such meeting of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares, regardless of whether settled in shares or cash) that has been entered into as of the date of the stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, such stockholder or beneficial owner, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss, manage risk or benefit from changes in the share price of any class of the Corporation’s capital stock, or increase or decrease the voting power of the stockholder or beneficial owner with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation, including the notional number of shares that are the subject of such agreement, arrangement or understanding, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for such meeting or any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting, (E) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) between or among such stockholder or beneficial owner and any other person relating to acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any shares of stock of the Corporation, including the number of shares that are the subject of such agreement, arrangement or understanding, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for such meeting |
(d) | Notwithstanding anything in Section 1.5 of these Bylaws to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the Corporation at least sixty (60) days prior to the Anniversary, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 1.5 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation. |
(e) | Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving notice provided for in these Bylaws who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.5 or (iii) in the case of a special meeting called pursuant to a valid Stockholder Special Meeting Request, by any stockholder of the Corporation pursuant to Section 1.3 above. For nominations by stockholders of persons for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting to be eligible for consideration at the meeting, the stockholder’s notice required by this Section 1.5 must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of a special meeting, or the public disclosure thereof, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws, in the case of a stockholder-requested special meeting, no stockholder may nominate a person for election to the Board of Directors or propose any other business to be considered at the meeting, except pursuant to the Stockholder Special Meeting Request delivered pursuant to Section 1.3. |
(f) | Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 1.3 (with respect to a special meeting called pursuant to a valid Stockholder Special Meeting Request), this Section 1.5 or Section 1.6 shall be eligible to be elected to serve as directors of the Corporation. Only such business shall be conducted at an annual or special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 1.3 (with respect to a special meeting called pursuant to a valid Stockholder Special Meeting Request) or this Section 1.5. Except as otherwise provided by law or these Bylaws, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any |
(g) | For purposes of these Bylaws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The term “associate” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 14a-1(a) under the Exchange Act and shares shall be treated as “beneficially owned” by a person if a person (i) beneficially owns such shares, directly or indirectly, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Regulations 13D and 13G thereunder, or (ii) has or shares pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) (A) the right to acquire such shares (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the fulfillment of a condition or both), (B) the right to vote such shares, alone or in concert with others, and/or (C) investment power with respect to such shares, including the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such shares. |
(h) | The requirements of this Section 1.5 shall not apply to a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his or her intention to present a non-binding (precatory) stockholder proposal at an annual meeting pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act. With respect to any other matter proposed to be presented pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 14a-8, (i) the notice required by this Section 1.5 shall be considered timely if delivered within the time period specified in Rule 14a-8(e) and (ii) the person proposing to have such matter presented at the meeting shall provide the information required by paragraph (c) of this Section 1.5, provided that the information required by paragraph (c) of this Section 1.5 may be satisfied by providing the information required pursuant to Rule 14a-8(b). |
(i) | Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.5, a stockholder must also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this Section 1.5. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereto) under the Exchange Act. |
(a) | The Corporation will include in its proxy statement and on its form of proxy for an annual meeting of stockholders, the name of, and the Required Information relating to, any nominee for election or reelection to the Board of Directors who satisfies the eligibility requirements of this Section 1.6 (a “Stockholder Nominee”) and who is identified in a timely delivered Stockholder Notice by an Eligible Stockholder. |
(b) | Definitions |
(i) | “Stockholder Notice” means a notice that complies with the requirements of this Section 1.6 and is given by or on behalf of an Eligible Stockholder. |
(ii) | “Eligible Stockholder” means a stockholder or beneficial owner or Stockholder Group (as defined in Section 1.6(c)(i)) that (A) Own (as defined in Section 1.6(d)), as of the date of the Stockholder Notice and as of the date of the annual meeting, a number of shares that represents at least 3% of the outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors (the “Required Shares”) and have Owned the Required Shares continuously for at least three (3) years and, (B) expressly elect at the time of the delivery of the Stockholder Notice to have one or more Stockholder Nominees included in the Corporation’s proxy materials. |
(iii) | “Required Information” means (A) the information set forth in the Schedule 14N provided with the Stockholder Notice concerning each Stockholder Nominee and the Eligible Stockholder that the Corporation determines is required to be disclosed in the Corporation’s proxy materials; and (B) if the Eligible Stockholder so elects, a written statement of the Eligible Stockholder not to exceed five hundred (500) words, in support of its Stockholder Nominee, which must be provided at the same time as the Stockholder Notice for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy statement. |
(c) | Aggregation of Stockholders |
(i) | For purposes of determining an Eligible Stockholder, the shares Owned (as defined in Section 1.6(d)) by one or more stockholders or beneficial owners that each such stockholder or beneficial owner has Owned continuously for at least three (3) years as of the date of the Stockholder Notice may be aggregated; provided that the number of stockholders or beneficial owners whose Ownership of shares is aggregated for such purpose shall not exceed twenty (20) (a “Stockholder Group”). |
(ii) | If an Eligible Stockholder consists of a Stockholder Group, the requirements for an Eligible Stockholder set forth in this Section 1.6 must be satisfied by each member of the Stockholder Group. |
(iii) | No shares may be attributed to more than one Stockholder Group and no stockholder or beneficial owner, or any affiliate of such stockholder or beneficial owner, may be a member of more than one Stockholder Group. |
(iv) | Two or more funds that are (A) under common management and investment control, (B) under common management and funded primarily by the same employer or (C) a “group of investment companies” as such term is defined in Section 12(d)(1)(G)(ii) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, shall be treated as one stockholder or beneficial owner for purposes of determining a Stockholder Group. |
(d) | Ownership of Shares |
(i) | A stockholder or beneficial owner shall be deemed to “Own” only those outstanding shares of the Corporation as to which such person possesses both (A) the full voting and investment rights and (B) the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit and risk of loss on) such shares; provided, that the number of shares calculated in accordance with clauses (A) and (B) shall not include any shares (1) sold by such person or any of its affiliates in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, including any short sale, (2) borrowed by such person or any of its affiliates for any purposes or purchased by such person or any of its affiliates pursuant to an agreement to resell, or (3) subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale or other derivative or similar agreement entered into by such person or any of its affiliates, whether any such instrument or agreement is to be settled with shares or with cash based on the notional amount or value of outstanding shares, in any such case which instrument or agreement has, or is intended to have, or if exercised would have, the purpose or effect of (x) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such person’s or its affiliates’ full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares, and/or (y) hedging, offsetting, or altering to any degree any gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of such shares by such person or its affiliate. The terms “Owned,” “Owning”, “Ownership” and other variations of the word “Own,” when used with respect to a stockholder or beneficial owner, shall have correlative meanings. |
(ii) | A stockholder or beneficial owner shall “Own” shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as such person retains the right to instruct how the shares are voted with respect to the election of directors and possesses the full economic interest in the shares. The person’s Ownership shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the person has delegated any voting power by means of a proxy, power of attorney, or other instrument or arrangement that is revocable at any time by the person. |
(iii) | A stockholder’s or beneficial owner’s Ownership shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the person has loaned such shares; provided that the person has the power to recall such loaned shares on no more than five (5) business days’ notice, the person recalls such loaned shares within five (5) business days of being notified that its Stockholder Nominee will be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials and the person holds such recalled shares through the date of the annual meeting. |
(e) | Stockholder Notice Requirements |
(i) | The information required pursuant to Section 1.5(c)(i) and (iii)(A), (D), (E), and (F) of these Bylaws. |
(ii) | The written consent of each Stockholder Nominee to being named in the Corporation’s proxy materials and to serving as a director if elected. |
(iii) | A copy of the Schedule 14N that has been or concurrently is filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act. |
(iv) | The written agreement of the Eligible Stockholder setting forth the following: |
(A) | the number of shares of the Corporation it has Owned continuously for at least three (3) years as of the date of the Stockholder Notice and an agreement to continue to own such shares through the annual meeting; |
(B) | an agreement to provide (1) on the business day preceding the annual meeting, the information required pursuant to Section 1.5(c)(i) and (iii)(A), (D), (E) and (F) as well as any information requested under this Section 1.6 through and as of the business day immediately preceding the annual meeting, (2) on the business day preceding the annual meeting, written statements from the record holder and intermediaries as required under Section 1.6(f)(i) verifying the Eligible Stockholder’s continuous Ownership of the Required Shares, through and as of the business day immediately preceding the annual meeting and (3) immediate notice to the Corporation if the Eligible Stockholder ceases to Own the Required Shares prior to the annual meeting; |
(C) | the Eligible Stockholder’s representation and warranty that the Eligible Stockholder and its affiliates (1) have not engaged and will not engage in, and have not and will not be a “participant” in another person’s “solicitation” within the meaning of Exchange Act Rule 14a-1(l), in support of the election of any individual as a director at the annual meeting other than its Stockholder Nominee or a nominee of the Board, and (2) will not distribute to any stockholder any form of proxy for the annual meeting other than the form distributed by the Corporation. |
(D) | the Eligible Stockholder’s agreement to (1) assume all liability stemming from any legal or regulatory violation arising out of the Eligible Stockholder’s communications with the stockholders of the Corporation or out of the information that the Eligible Stockholder provided to the Corporation, (2) indemnify and hold harmless the Corporation and each of its directors, officers and employees individually against any liability, loss or damages in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether legal, administrative or investigative, against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers or employees arising out of any nomination submitted by the Eligible Stockholder pursuant to this Section 1.6, and (3) comply with all laws, rules, regulations and listing standards applicable to any solicitation in connection with the annual meeting, and (4) provide to the Corporation within five (5) business days after request, but in |
(E) | in the event that the Eligible Stockholder consists of the Stockholder Group, the designation by all Stockholder Group members of one stockholder or beneficial owner that is authorized to act on behalf of all Stockholder Group members. |
(v) | To be timely under this Section 1.6, the Stockholder Notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred and fiftieth (150th) day prior to the Anniversary; provided, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than thirty (30) days prior to or delayed by more than thirty (30) days after the Anniversary, to be timely the Stockholder Notice must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day and not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which on which public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Stockholder Notice. |
(f) | Eligible Stockholder Requirements |
(i) | Within five (5) business days after the date of the Stockholder Notice, provide to the Corporation written evidence of ownership of the Required Shares reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation from the record holder(s) of the Required Shares and from each intermediary through which the Required Shares are or have been held, in each case during the requisite three-year holding period, specifying the number of shares that the Eligible Stockholder Owns, and has Owned continuously for such three-year period. |
(ii) | Include a statement in the Schedule 14N filed with the SEC certifying that the Eligible Stockholder Owns and has Owned the Required Shares in compliance with this Section 1.6. |
(iii) | File with the SEC any solicitation or other communication by or on behalf of the Eligible Stockholder relating to the annual meeting, one or more of the Corporation’s directors or director nominees or any Stockholder Nominee, regardless of whether any such filing is required under Exchange Act Regulation 14A or whether any exemption from filing is available for such solicitation or other communication under Exchange Act Regulation 14A. |
(iv) | As to any Stockholder Group, within five (5) business days after the date of the Stockholder Notice, provide documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation |
(g) | Stockholder Nominee Requirements |
(i) | Within the time period specified in Section 1.6(e)(v) for delivery of the Stockholder Notice, the Stockholder Nominee shall deliver to the Secretary a written representation and agreement (which shall be deemed part of the Stockholder Notice) signed by each Stockholder Nominee and representing and agreeing that such Stockholder Nominee: |
(A) | is not and will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement, or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such Stockholder Nominee, if elected as a director, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) other than any Voting Commitment that is disclosed to the Corporation or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such individual’s ability to comply with its fiduciary duties under applicable law; |
(B) | is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding with any person with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a Stockholder Nominee or, if elected as director, in connection with service or action as a director, in each case, that has not been disclosed to the Corporation; |
(C) | will, if elected as a director, comply with all of the Corporation’s corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines, and any other Corporation policies and guidelines applicable to directors. |
(ii) | At the request of the Corporation, the Stockholder Nominee must promptly, but in any event within five (5) business days after such request, submit all completed and signed questionnaires required of the Corporation’s directors and provide to the Corporation such other information as it may reasonably request. The Corporation may also request such additional information as necessary to permit the Board to determine if each Stockholder Nominee satisfies the requirements of this Section 1.6. |
(h) | Allowable Stockholder Nominees |
(i) | The maximum number of Stockholder Nominees that may be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 1.6 at the annual meeting shall not exceed the |
(ii) | The Permitted Number shall be reduced by: |
(A) | the number of Stockholder Nominees whose name was submitted for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 1.6 but is either subsequently withdrawn; |
(B) | the number of Stockholder Nominees that the Board of Directors decides to nominate as a Board nominee; |
(C) | directors in office who had been nominated and included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 1.6 at any of the preceding two (2) annual meetings and who are re-nominated for election by the Board of Directors; and |
(D) | any directors in office or director candidates that in either case will be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials with respect to such an annual meeting as an unopposed (by the Corporation) nominee pursuant to an agreement, arrangement or other understanding between the Corporation and a stockholder or beneficial owner or group of stockholders or beneficial owners (other than any such agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into in connection with an acquisition of stock, by such stockholder or beneficial owner or group of stockholders or beneficial owners, from the Corporation). |
(iii) | In the event that one or more vacancies for any reason occurs after the deadline in Section 1.6(e)(v) for delivery of the Stockholder Notice but before the annual meeting and the Board resolves to reduce the size of the Board in connection therewith, the Permitted Number shall be calculated based on the number of directors in office as so reduced. |
(iv) | In the event that the number of Stockholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Stockholders pursuant to this Section 1.6 exceeds the Permitted Number (as calculated in accordance with this Section 1.6(h)), the Corporation shall determine which Stockholder Nominees shall be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials in accordance with the following provisions: each Eligible Stockholder will select one Stockholder Nominee for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials until the Permitted Number is reached, going in order of the amount (largest to smallest) of shares of the Corporation each Eligible Stockholder disclosed as Owned in its respective Stockholder Notice submitted to the Corporation. If the Permitted Number is not reached after each Eligible Stockholder has selected one Stockholder Nominee, this selection process will continue as many times as necessary, following the same order each time, until the Permitted Number is reached. |
(v) | Following the determination of which Stockholder Nominee(s) shall be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials, if thereafter any Stockholder Nominee is not submitted for director election for any reason (including the Eligible Stockholder’s or the Stockholder Nominee’s failure to comply with this Section 1.6), no other nominee or nominees shall be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials in substitution thereof. |
(i) | Exclusion and Omission of Stockholder Nominees |
(i) | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 1.6, the Corporation may omit from its proxy materials any Stockholder Nominee, and such nomination shall be disregarded and no vote on such Stockholder Nominee will occur, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation, if: |
(A) | the Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee breaches any of its respective agreements, representations, or warranties set forth in the Stockholder Notice (or otherwise submitted pursuant to this Section 1.6), any of the information in the Stockholder Notice (or otherwise submitted pursuant to this Section 1.6) was not, when provided, true, correct and complete, or the requirements of this Section 1.6 have otherwise not been met; |
(B) | the Stockholder Nominee (1) is not independent under any applicable listing standards, any applicable rules of the SEC, and any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board in determining and disclosing the independence of the Corporation’s directors, (2) does not qualify as independent under audit committee independence requirements set forth under any applicable listing standards, as a “non-employee director” under Exchange Act Rule 16b-3, or as an “outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, (3) is or has been, within the past three years, an officer or director of a competitor, as defined in Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, as amended, (4) is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses) or has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses) within the past ten years or (5) is subject to any order of the type specified in Rule 506(d) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; |
(C) | the election of the Stockholder Nominee to the Board would cause the Corporation to violate its Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or any applicable law, rule, regulation or listing standard; or |
(D) | the Corporation has received a notice (whether or not subsequently withdrawn) that a stockholder or beneficial owner intends to nominate any candidate for election to the Board pursuant to the advance notice requirements for nominees for director in Section 1.5 of these Bylaws. |
(ii) | Any Stockholder Nominee who is included in the Corporation’s proxy materials for an annual meeting of stockholders but either (A) withdraws from or becomes ineligible or unavailable for election at the annual meeting for any reason, including for the failure to comply with any provision of these Bylaws (provided that in no event shall any such withdrawal, ineligibility or unavailability commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Stockholder Notice) or (B) does not receive a number of votes cast in favor of his or her election at least equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote in the election of directors, will be ineligible to be a Stockholder Nominee pursuant to this Section 1.6 for the next two (2) annual meetings. |
(j) | Additional Provisions |
(i) | The Board of Directors (and any other person or body authorized by the Board) shall have the power and authority to interpret this Section 1.6 and to make any and all determinations necessary or advisable to apply this Section 1.6 to any persons, facts or circumstances. Any such interpretation or determination adopted in good faith by the Board (or any other person or body authorized by the Board) shall be binding on all persons, including the Corporation and its stockholders (including any beneficial owners). |
(ii) | Unless otherwise required by law or otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, if the Eligible Stockholder (or a qualified representative of the Eligible Stockholder) does not appear at the annual meeting to present its Stockholder Nominee or Stockholder Nominees, such nomination or nominations shall be disregarded, and no vote on such Stockholder Nominee or Stockholder Nominees shall occur, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of the election of the Stockholder Nominee or Stockholder Nominees may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 1.6(j)(ii), to be considered a “qualified representative” of the Eligible Stockholder, a person must be authorized by a writing executed by such Eligible Stockholder (or an electronic transmission delivered by such Eligible Stockholder) to act for such Eligible Stockholder as proxy at the annual meeting and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the annual meeting. |
(iii) | In the event that any information or communications provided by the Eligible Stockholder or any Stockholder Nominees to the Corporation or its stockholders is not, when provided, or thereafter ceases to be, true, correct and complete in all material respects (including omitting a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading), such Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the Secretary and provide the information that is required to make such information or communication true, correct, complete and not misleading; it being understood that providing any such notification shall not be deemed to cure any defect or limit the Corporation’s right to omit a Stockholder Nominee from its proxy materials as provided in this Section 1.6. |
(iv) | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 1.6, the Corporation may omit from its proxy materials any information or statement (or portion of it) that it, in good faith, believes would violate any applicable law, rule, regulation or listing standard. Nothing in this Section 1.6 shall limit the Corporation’s ability to solicit against and include in its proxy materials its own statements or other information relating to any Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee. |
(a) | At all meetings of stockholders, except where otherwise provided by statute, the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (“Certificate of Incorporation”) or these Bylaws, the presence, in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote at the meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, the chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date or time. The stockholders present at a duly called or convened meeting, at which a quorum is present, may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum. |
(b) | Except as otherwise provided by statute or by applicable stock exchange or Nasdaq rules, or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, in all matters other than the election of directors, the affirmative vote of the majority of shares entitled to be cast on the matter, present in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy at the meeting and voting for or against the matter shall be the act of the stockholders. |
(c) | Except as otherwise provided by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a nominee for director shall be elected by the majority of the votes cast of the shares present in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy at the meeting at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present; provided, however, that, a nominee for director shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast of the shares present in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote generally on the election of directors if (i) the Secretary of the Corporation receives a notice that a stockholder has nominated a person for election to the Board of Directors in compliance with the requirements for stockholder nominees for directors set forth in Section 1.3 (with respect to a special meeting called pursuant to a valid Stockholder Special Meeting Request), Section 1.5 or Section 1.6 of these Bylaws, and (ii) such nomination has not been withdrawn by such stockholder or excluded pursuant to the terms of these Bylaws on or prior to the tenth (10th) day preceding the date on which the Corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to the stockholders. For purposes of the election of directors, a “majority of the votes cast” means that the number of shares voted “for” a director must exceed the number of votes cast “against” that director (a |
(d) | If a director fails to receive a Majority Vote in an election in which directors are required to be elected by the majority of the votes cast, the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors will consider whether the director has, in accordance with the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, previously submitted an irrevocable resignation contingent upon (i) his or her failure to receive a Majority Vote and (ii) acceptance by the Board of Directors of such resignation and, if so, will recommend to the Board of Directors whether to accept or reject the resignation, or whether other action should be taken. The Board of Directors will act on the Committee’s recommendation within ninety (90) days from the date of the certification of the election results and will publicly disclose its decision promptly thereafter. |
(a) | Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by such person as the Board of Directors may designate, or, in the absence of such person, the Chairman of the Board, or in his or her absence, the Chief Executive Officer, or in his or her absence, such person as may be chosen by the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting. Such person shall be chairman of the meeting. The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. |
(b) | The Board of Directors shall be entitled to make such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of stockholders as it shall deem necessary, appropriate or convenient. Subject to such |
/s/ Jacob J. Schatz | |||
Jacob J. Schatz | |||
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |