ex_229523.htm
Exhibit 3.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS
OF
ASENSUS SURGICAL, INC.
(a Delaware corporation)
The following are the Bylaws (“Bylaws”) of ASENSUS SURGICAL, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), effective as of February 23, 2021.
Article I
OFFICES
Section 1.01 PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE. The principal executive office of the Corporation shall be located at 635 Davis Drive, Suite 300, Morrisville, NC 27560. The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) may change the location of said principal executive office.
Section 1.02 OTHER OFFICES. The Corporation may also have an office or offices at such other place or places, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as the business of the Corporation may require.
Article II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 2.01 ANNUAL MEETINGS. The annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation shall be held at a date and at such time as the Board of Directors shall determine. At each annual meeting of stockholders, directors shall be elected in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.03 hereof and any other proper business may be transacted.
Section 2.02 SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by a majority of the Board of Directors, by the Chairman of the Board or by the President. Special meetings may not be called by any other person or persons. Each special meeting shall be held at such date and time as is requested by the person or persons calling the meeting, subject to limits fixed by applicable law.
Section 2.03 PLACE OF MEETINGS. Each annual or special meeting of stockholders shall be held at such location as may be determined by the Board of Directors or, if no such determination is made, at such place as may be determined by the Chairman of the Board. If no location is so determined, any annual or special meeting shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation.
Section 2.04 NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER MEETINGS. Written notice of each annual or special meeting of stockholders (the “Meeting Notice”) shall be delivered either personally or by mail to stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting no fewer than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting. The Meeting Notice shall include the time, date and location of the meeting to which such Meeting Notice relates. The purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called may, in the case of an annual meeting, and shall, in the case of a special meeting, be set forth in the Meeting Notice. If mailed, notice is given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his address as it shall appear on the stock books of the Corporation, unless he shall have filed with the Secretary of the Corporation a written request that notices intended for him be mailed to some other address, in which case such notice shall be mailed to the address designated in such request.
Section 2.05 NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS AND STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS.
(a) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws shall be eligible to serve as directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be made at a meeting of stockholders (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 2.05, who is entitled to vote for the election of directors at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.05.
(b) Nominations by stockholders shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to or mailed and received at the Corporation’s principal executive office: (i) in the case of an annual meeting, no fewer than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the Meeting Notice for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is changed by more than 30 days from such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the earlier of the day on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or public disclosure was made; and (ii) in the case of a special meeting at which directors are to be elected, not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the earlier of the day on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or public disclosure was made.
(c) Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth: (i) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for elections 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); (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 which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder of record and by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made; and (iii) as to the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, (A) the name and address of such person and (B) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by such person. At the request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated by the Board of Directors for election as a director shall furnish to the Secretary of the Corporation that information required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee.
(d) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s Meeting Notice, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of the notice provided for in this Section 2.05, who is entitled to vote at such meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in Section 2.05(e).
(e) For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (d) of this Section 2.05, 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 to or mailed and received at the principal executive office of the Corporation no fewer than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the Meeting Notice for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the meeting is changed by more than 30 days from such anniversary date, to be timely, notice by the stockholder must be received no later than the close of business on the tenth day following the earlier of the day on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or public disclosure was made. A stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting: (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting; (ii) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of the stockholder proposing such business, and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; (iii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder of record and by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (iv) any material interest of such stockholder of record and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made in such business.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.05. Additionally, no person shall be eligible to serve as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.05. The chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that (i) the business was not properly brought before the meeting and in accordance with the procedures prescribed by this Section 2.05 or (ii) a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by these Bylaws. If the chairman of the meeting should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting, and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or the defective nomination shall be disregarded. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.05, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.05.
Section 2.06 CONDUCT OF MEETINGS. All actual and special meetings of stockholders shall be conducted in accordance with such rules and procedures as the Board of Directors may determine subject to the requirements of applicable law and, as to matters not governed by such rules and procedures, as the chairman of such meeting shall determine. The Chairman of the Board shall be the chairman of any annual or special meeting of stockholders. The Secretary, or in the absence of the Secretary, a person designated by the Chairman of the Board, shall act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 2.07 QUORUM. At any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of record of a majority of the shares then issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; provided, however, that this Section 2.07 shall not affect any different requirement which may exist under statute, pursuant to the rights of any authorized class or series of stock, or under the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended or restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), for the vote necessary for the adoption of any measure governed thereby. The stockholders present at a duly called and held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to do business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by at least a majority of the shares required to constitute a quorum.
In the absence of a quorum, the stockholders present in person or by proxy, by majority vote and without further notice, may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum is attained, but in the absence of a quorum, no other business may be transacted at that meeting, except as provided in this Section 2.07. At any reconvened meeting following such adjournment at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed.
Section 2.08 VOTES REQUIRED. The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at a duly called meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, at which a quorum is present and entitled to vote on the subject matter, shall be sufficient to take or authorize action upon any matter which may properly come before the meeting, except that the election of directors shall be by plurality vote, unless the vote of a greater or different number thereof is required by statute, by the rights of any authorized class of stock or by the Certificate of Incorporation.
Unless the Certificate of Incorporation or a resolution of the Board of Directors adopted in connection with the issuance of shares of any class or series of stock provides for a greater or lesser number of votes per share, or limits or denies voting rights, each outstanding share of stock, regardless of class or series, shall be entitled to one (1) vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders.
Section 2.09 PROXIES. Every person entitled to vote for directors or on any other matter shall have the right to do so either in person or by one or more agents authorized by a written proxy signed by the person and filed with the Secretary of the Corporation. A proxy shall be deemed signed if the stockholder’s name is placed on the proxy (whether by manual signature, typewriting, telegraphic transmission, or otherwise) by the stockholder or the stockholder’s attorney in fact. A validly executed proxy which does not state that it is irrevocable shall continue in full force and effect unless: (i) revoked by the person executing it, before the vote pursuant to that proxy, by a writing delivered to the Corporation stating that the proxy is revoked, or by a subsequent proxy executed by, or as to any meeting by attendance at such meeting and voting in person by, the person executing the proxy; or (ii) written notice of the death or incapacity of the maker of that proxy is received by the Corporation before the vote pursuant to that proxy is counted; provided, however, that no proxy shall be valid after the expiration of three (3) years from the date of the proxy, unless otherwise provided in the proxy.
A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient under applicable law to support an irrevocable power. A proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the Corporation generally.
Section 2.10 STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT. To the fullest extent permitted by law, whenever any action is required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of stockholders, by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, such action may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote of stockholders, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.
Section 2.11 RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDER NOTICE AND VOTING. For purposes of determining the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting or to vote 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 shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor fewer than ten (10) days before the date of any such meeting nor more than sixty (60) days before any such other action, and in this event only stockholders at the close of business on the record date are entitled to notice or to vote, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any shares on the books of the Corporation after the record date, except as otherwise provided in the Delaware General Corporation Law.
If the Board of Directors does not so fix a record date:
(a) The record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the day on which the meeting is held.
(b) The record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
(c) 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 2.12 LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS. The Secretary of the Corporation shall prepare and make (or cause to be prepared and made), at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of, and the number of shares registered in the name of, each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any 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, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the duration thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder present at such meeting.
Section 2.13 VOTING. The stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.12. The stockholders’ vote may be by voice vote or by ballot. Any stockholder may vote any number of his or her shares entitled to vote in favor of the proposal and refrain from voting the remaining shares or vote them against the proposal, but, if the stockholder fails to specify the number of shares which the stockholder is voting affirmatively, it will be conclusively presumed that the stockholder’s approving vote is with respect to all shares that the stockholder is entitled to vote.
Section 2.14 WAIVER OF NOTICE OR CONSENT BY ABSENT STOCKHOLDERS. The transactions of any meeting of stockholders, either annual or special, however called and noticed, and wherever held, shall be as valid as though effected at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum be present either in person or by proxy, and if, either before or after the meeting, each person entitled to vote, who was not present in person or by proxy, signs a written waiver of notice or a consent to a holding of the meeting, or an approval of the minutes. The waiver of notice, consent or approval need not specify either the business to be transacted or the purpose of any annual or special meeting of stockholders. All such waivers, consents or approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting. Attendance by a person at a meeting shall also constitute a waiver of notice of that meeting, except when the person attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting and objects, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened, and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to object to the consideration of matters required by law to be included in the notice of the meeting but not so included if that objection is expressly made at the meeting.
Section 2.15 INSPECTORS OF ELECTION. In advance of any meeting of stockholders, the Board of Directors shall appoint Inspectors of Election to act at such meeting or at any adjournment or adjournments thereof. If such Inspectors are not so appointed or fail or refuse to act, the chairman of any such meeting may (and, upon the demand of any stockholder or stockholder’s proxy, shall) make such an appointment. The number of Inspectors of Election shall be one (1) or three (3). If there are three (3) Inspectors of Election, the decision, act or certificate of a majority shall be effective and shall represent the decision, act or certificate of all. No such Inspector need be a stockholder of the Corporation.
Subject to any provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Inspectors of Election shall determine the number of shares outstanding, the voting power of each, the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum and the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies; they shall receive votes, ballots or consents, hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote, count and tabulate all votes or consents, determine when the polls shall close and determine the result; and finally, they shall do such acts as may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. On request, the Inspectors of Election shall make a report in writing to the secretary of the meeting concerning any challenge, question or other matter as may have been determined by them and shall execute and deliver to such secretary a certificate of any fact found by them.
Article III
DIRECTORS
Section 3.01 POWERS. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by and be under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall exercise all the powers of the Corporation, except those that are conferred upon or reserved to the stockholders by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
Section 3.02 NUMBER. The number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors but shall not be less than three (3) nor more than fifteen (15).
Section 3.03 ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE. The directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders, except as provided in Section 3.06, and each director shall hold office for the term for which he is elected and until his successor is elected and qualified. Directors need not be residents of the State of Delaware, stockholders of the Corporation or citizens of the United States. Unless provided otherwise by applicable law, any director may be removed at any time, with or without cause, at a special meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose.
Section 3.04 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. At the organizational meeting immediately following the annual meeting of stockholders, the directors shall elect a Chairman of the Board from among the directors who shall hold office until the corresponding meeting of the Board of Directors in the next year and until his successor shall have been elected or until his earlier resignation, removal or death. Any vacancy in such office may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term in the same manner by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting.
Section 3.05 REMOVAL. Any director may be removed from office only as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 3.06 VACANCIES AND ADDITIONAL DIRECTORSHIPS. Except as the Delaware General Corporation Law may otherwise require, and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to the filling of vacancies or new directorships in the Board of Directors, newly created directorships resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal or other cause shall be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors. Any director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the new directorship was created or the vacancy occurred and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Section 3.07 REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held: (i) immediately following the annual meeting of the stockholders; (ii) without call at such time as shall from time to time be fixed by the Board of Directors; and (iii) as called by the Chairman of the Board in accordance with applicable law.
Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held upon call by or at the direction of the Chairman of the Board, the President or any two (2) directors, except that when the Board of Directors consists of one (1) director, then the one director may call a special meeting. Except as otherwise required by law, notice of each special meeting shall be mailed to each director, addressed to him at his residence or usual place of business at least three (3) days before the day on which the meeting is to be held, or shall be sent to him at such place by telex, telegram, cable, facsimile transmission or telephoned or delivered to him personally, not later than the day before the day on which the meeting is to be held. Such notice shall state the time and place of such meeting, but need not state the purpose or purposes thereof, unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
Notice of any meeting need not be given to any director who attends such meeting in person (except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened) or who waives notice thereof in a signed writing before or after such meeting.
Section 3.08 QUORUM. At all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the fixed number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, except that when the Board of Directors consists of one (1) director, then the one director shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum, the directors present, by majority vote and without notice other than by announcement, may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present. At any reconvened meeting following such an adjournment at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed.
Section 3.09 VOTES REQUIRED. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to pass any measure.
Section 3.10 PLACE AND CONDUCT OF MEETINGS. Each regular meeting and special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held at a location determined as follows: the Board of Directors may designate any place, within or without the State of Delaware, for the holding of any meeting. If no such designation is made: (a) any meeting called by a majority of the directors shall be held at such location, within the county of the Corporation’s principal executive office, as the directors calling the meeting shall designate; and (b) any other meeting shall be held at such location, within the county of the Corporation’s principal executive office, as the Chairman of the Board may designate or, in the absence of such designation, at the Corporation’s principal executive office. Subject to the requirements of applicable law, all regular and special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be conducted in accordance with such rules and procedures as the Board of Directors may approve and, as to matters not governed by such rules and procedures, as the chairman of such meeting shall determine. The chairman of any regular or special meeting shall be the Chairman of the Board, or, in his absence, a person designated by the Board of Directors. The Secretary, or, in the absence of the Secretary, a person designated by the chairman of the meeting shall act as secretary of the meeting. Any meeting, regular or special, may be held by conference telephone or similar communication equipment, so long as all directors participating in the meeting can hear one another, and all such directors shall be deemed to be present in person at the meeting.
Section 3.11 FEES AND COMPENSATION. Directors shall be paid such compensation as may be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors: (a) for their usual and contemplated services as directors; (b) for their services as members of committees appointed by the Board of Directors, including attendance at committee meetings as well as services which may be required when committee members must consult with management staff; and (c) for extraordinary services as directors or as members of committees appointed by the Board of Directors, over and above those services for which compensation is fixed pursuant to items (a) and (b) in this Section 3.11. Compensation may be in the form of an annual retainer fee or a fee for attendance at meetings, or both, or in such other form or on such basis as the resolutions of the Board of Directors shall fix. Directors shall be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses incurred by them in attending meetings of the Board of Directors and committees appointed by the Board of Directors and in performing compensable extraordinary services. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity, such as an officer, agent, employee, consultant or otherwise, and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 3.12 COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. To the full extent permitted by applicable law, the Board of Directors may from time to time establish committees, including, but not limited to, standing or special committees and an executive committee with authority and responsibility for bookkeeping, with authority to act as signatories on Corporation bank or similar accounts and with authority to choose attorneys for the Corporation and direct litigation strategy, which shall have such duties and powers as are authorized by these Bylaws or by the Board of Directors. Committee members, and the chairman of each committee, shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board, in conjunction with the several committee chairmen, shall make recommendations to the Board of Directors for its final action concerning members to be appointed to the several committees of the Board of Directors. Any member of any committee may be removed at any time with or without cause by the Board of Directors. Vacancies which occur on any committee shall be filled by a resolution of the Board of the Directors. If any vacancy shall occur in any committee by reason of death, resignation, disqualification, removal or otherwise, the remaining members of such committee, so long as a quorum is present, may continue to act until such vacancy is filled by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, at any time deemed desirable, discontinue any standing or special committee. Members of standing committees, and their chairmen, shall be elected yearly at the regular meeting of the Board of Directors which is held immediately following the annual meeting of stockholders. The provisions of Sections 3.07, 3.08, 3.09 and 3.10 of these Bylaws shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to any such Committee of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.13 WAIVER OF NOTICE. The transactions of any meeting of the Board of Directors, however called and noticed or wherever held, shall be as valid as though had at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice if a quorum is present and if, either before or after the meeting, each of the directors not present signs a written waiver of notice, a consent to holding the meeting or an approval of the minutes. The waiver of notice or consent need not specify the purpose of the meeting. All such waivers, consents, and approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting. Notice of a meeting shall also be deemed given to any director who attends the meeting without protesting, before or at its commencement, the lack of notice to that director.
Section 3.14 ADJOURNMENT. A majority of the directors present, whether or not constituting a quorum, may adjourn any meeting to another time and place.
Section 3.15 NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT. Notice of the time and place of holding an adjourned meeting need not be given to absent directors if the time and place are fixed at the meeting adjourned.
Section 3.16 ACTION WITHOUT MEETING. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board of Directors shall individually or collectively consent in writing to that action. Such action by written consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the Board of Directors. Such written consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors.
Article IV
OFFICERS
Section 4.01 DESIGNATION, ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE. The Corporation shall have a Chairman of the Board, a President, a Treasurer or Chief Financial Officer, such senior vice presidents and vice presidents as the Board of Directors deems appropriate, a Secretary and such other officers as the Board of Directors may deem appropriate. These officers shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the organizational meeting immediately following the annual meeting of stockholders, and each such officer shall hold office until the corresponding meeting of the Board of Directors in the next year and until his successor shall have been elected and qualified or until his earlier resignation, death or removal. Any vacancy in any of the above offices may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting. Any number of offices may be held by the same person in accordance with Section 4.08 herein.
Section 4.02 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside at all meetings of the directors and shall have such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.03 PRESIDENT. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation and shall, subject to the power of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation. He shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, at all meetings of the directors. He shall have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the office of president of a corporation, and shall have such other duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.04 TREASURER OR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. The Treasurer or Chief Financial Officer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct books and records of account of the properties and business transactions of the Corporation, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital, retained earnings and shares. The books of account shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by the directors. The Treasurer or Chief Financial Officer shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Corporation with such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. He shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, shall render to the President and directors, whenever they request it, an account of all of his transactions as the Treasurer or Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the Corporation, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Bylaws.
Section 4.05 SECRETARY. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and all committees. He shall be the custodian of the corporate seal and shall affix it to all documents which he is authorized by law or the Board of Directors to sign and seal. He also shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board or President.
Section 4.06 ASSISTANT OFFICERS. The President may appoint one or more assistant secretaries and such other assistant officers as the business of the Corporation may require, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as may be specified from time to time by the President.
Section 4.07 WHEN DUTIES OF AN OFFICER MAY BE DELEGATED. In the case of absence or disability of an officer of the Corporation or for any other reason that may seem sufficient to the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors or any officer designated by it, or the President, may, for the time of the absence or disability, delegate such officer’s duties and powers to any other officer of the Corporation.
Section 4.08 OFFICERS HOLDING TWO OR MORE OFFICES. The same person may hold any two (2) or more of the above-mentioned offices.
Section 4.09 COMPENSATION. The Board of Directors shall have the power to fix the compensation of all officers and employees of the Corporation.
Section 4.10 RESIGNATIONS. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors, to the President or to the Secretary of the Corporation. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors. The acceptance of a resignation by the Corporation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 4.11 REMOVAL. Any officer of the Corporation may be removed, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors. Any assistant officer of the Corporation may be removed, with or without cause, by the President or by the Board of Directors.
Article V
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS,
EMPLOYEES AND OTHER CORPORATE AGENTS
Section 5.01 ACTION, ETC., OTHER THAN BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION. The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that he 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, trustee or agent of a subsidiary of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (all such persons being referred to hereinafter as an “Agent”), against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, that he had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
Section 5.02 ACTION, ETC., BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION. The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was an Agent against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom, unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper.
Section 5.03 DETERMINATION OF RIGHT OF INDEMNIFICATION. Any indemnification under Sections 5.01 or 5.02 (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the Agent is proper in the circumstances because the Agent has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 5.01 and 5.02 hereof, which determination is made (a) by the Board of Directors, by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (b) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, if a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (c) by the stockholders.
Section 5.04 INDEMNIFICATION AGAINST EXPENSES OF SUCCESSFUL PARTY. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article V, to the extent that an Agent has been successful on the merits or otherwise, including the dismissal of an action without prejudice or the settlement of an action without admission of liability, in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 5.01 or 5.02 hereof, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such Agent shall be indemnified against expenses, including attorneys’ fees actually and reasonably incurred by such Agent in connection therewith.
Section 5.05 ADVANCES OF EXPENSES. Except as limited by Section 5.06 of this Article V, expenses incurred by an Agent in defending any civil or criminal action, suit, or proceeding may be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding at the discretion of the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors authorizes advancement of expenses, then the Agent shall be entitled to receive such amount as the Board of Directors has authorized only upon the Agent entering into and delivering to the Board of Directors a written undertaking to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such Agent is not entitled to indemnification as authorized in this Article V. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no advance shall be made by the Corporation if a determination is reasonably and promptly made by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested directors, or (if such a quorum is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested directors so directs) by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, that, based upon the facts known to the Board of Directors or counsel at the time such determination is made, such person acted in bad faith and in a manner that such person did not believe to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the Corporation, or, with respect to any criminal proceeding, that such person believed or had reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
Section 5.06 RIGHT OF AGENT TO INDEMNIFICATION UPON APPLICATION; PROCEDURE UPON APPLICATION. Any indemnification or advance under this Article V shall be made promptly, and in any event within ninety (90) days, upon the written request of the Agent, unless, in the case of advancement, the Board of Directors has in its discretion determined not to advance expenses as provided in Section 5.05. The right to indemnification or advances as granted by this Article V shall be enforceable by the Agent in any court of competent jurisdiction, if the Board of Directors or independent legal counsel denies the claim, in whole or in part, or if no disposition of such claim is made within ninety (90) days. The Agent’s expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing his right to indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such proceeding shall also be indemnified by the Corporation.
Section 5.07 OTHER RIGHTS AND REMEDIES. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article V shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which an Agent seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any Bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be an Agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. All rights to indemnification under this Article V shall be deemed to be provided by a contract between the Corporation and the Agent who serves in such capacity at any time while these Bylaws and other relevant provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law and other applicable law, if any, are in effect. Any repeal or modification thereof shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing.
Section 5.08 INSURANCE. Upon resolution passed by the Board of Directors, the Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was an Agent against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Article V.
Section 5.09 CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS. For the purposes of this Article V, references to “the Corporation” shall include, in addition to the Corporation, all constituent corporations (including all constituents of constituents) absorbed in a consolidation or merger as well as the resulting or surviving corporation, which, if the separate existence of such constituent corporation had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its Agents, so that any Agent of such constituent corporation shall stand in the same position under the provisions of the Article V with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as that Agent would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
Section 5.10 OTHER ENTERPRISES, FINES, AND SERVING AT CORPORATION’S REQUEST. For purposes of this Article V: references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to any employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he 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” as referred to in this Article V.
Section 5.11 SAVINGS CLAUSE. If this Article V or any portion thereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each Agent as to expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether internal or external, including a grand jury proceeding and an action or suit brought by or in the right of the Corporation, to the full extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article V that shall not have been invalidated, or by any other applicable law.
Article VI
STOCK
Section 6.01 SHARES OF STOCK. The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, each of which shall represent and certify the number and class (and series, if appropriate) of shares of stock represented by such certificate in the Corporation; provided, that the Board of Directors may adopt a resolution permitting shares to be uncertificated. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated stock and the rights and obligations of the holders of certificates representing stock of the same class and series shall be identical. Every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board or a Vice-Chairman of the Board or the President or a Vice President, together with the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Chief Financial Officer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. Any or all of the signatures on any certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
Section 6.02 TRANSFER OF SHARES. Shares of stock shall be transferable on the books of the Corporation (i) in the case of certificated shares, only by the registered holder thereof, in person or by such person’s duly authorized attorney lawfully constituted in writing, upon the surrender of the certificate representing the shares to be transferred, properly endorsed, to the Corporation’s transfer agent, if the Corporation has a transfer agent, or to the Corporation’s registrar, if the Corporation has a registrar, or to the Secretary, if the Corporation has neither a transfer agent nor a registrar or (ii) in the case of uncertificated shares, upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered holder thereof or by such person’s duly authorized attorney lawfully constituted in writing, and upon payment of all necessary taxes and compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares of stock in uncertificated form; provided, however, that such surrender and endorsement, compliance or payment of taxes shall not be required in any case in which the Corporation shall determine to waive such requirement. The Board of Directors shall have power and authority to make such other rules and regulations concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates of the Corporation’s stock as it may deem expedient. With respect to certificated shares of stock, every certificate exchanged, returned or surrendered to the Corporation shall be marked “Cancelled,” with the date of cancellation, by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or the transfer agent thereof. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing from and to whom transferred.
Section 6.03 TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS. The Corporation may have one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars of its stock whose respective duties the Board of Directors or the Secretary may, from time to time, define. No certificate of stock shall be valid until countersigned by a transfer agent, if the Corporation has a transfer agent, or until registered by a registrar, if the Corporation has a registrar. The duties of transfer agent and registrar may be combined.
Section 6.04 STOCK LEDGERS. Original or duplicate stock ledgers, containing the names and addresses of the stockholders of the Corporation and the number of shares of each class of stock held by them, shall be kept at the principal executive office of the Corporation or at the office of its transfer agent or registrar.
Section 6.05 LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED CERTIFICATES. In respect of any previously issued stock certificate that is alleged to have been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Corporation shall issue either a new stock certificate or uncertificated shares in place of such lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken certificate; provided, that the holder of record of the certificate (a) makes proof in affidavit form that it has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken; (b) requests the issuance of a new certificate or uncertificated shares before the Corporation has notice that the certificate has been acquired by a purchaser for value in good faith and without notice of any adverse claims; (c) gives bond in such form as the Corporation may direct, to indemnify the Corporation, the transfer agent and registrar against any claim that may be made on account of the alleged loss, destruction or theft of a certificate; and (d) satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed by the Board of Directors. When any certificate has been lost, apparently destroyed or wrongfully taken, if the owner of record of the certificate fails to notify this Corporation within a reasonable time after notice that the certificate has been lost, destroyed or stolen, and if the proper officers or transfer agent of the Corporation register a transfer of the certificate before receiving such notification, such prior owner of record shall be precluded from asserting against the Corporation, any officer of the Corporation and the transfer agent of the Corporation, any claim for wrongful transfer of the certificate, any claim to a new certificate or any claim for rights normally accorded to stockholders of the Corporation.
Article VII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.01 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BYLAWS, CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION, AND DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. To the extent that the Certificate of Incorporation or the Delaware General Corporation Law grant to any person any rights which are restricted under these Bylaws, and the Certificate of Incorporation or the Delaware General Corporation Law preclude the Bylaws from imposing such restriction, then the extent of such rights shall be as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the case may be, and these Bylaws shall be so interpreted.
Section 7.02 AMENDMENT. These Bylaws may be amended, altered or repealed by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.
