AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS
OF
SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
As Amended on October 27, 2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I STOCKHOLDERS 1
1.1 Place of Meetings 1
1.2 Annual Meeting 1
1.3 Special Meetings 1
1.4 Notice of Meetings 1
1.5 Voting List 1
1.6 Quorum 2
1.7 Adjournments 2
1.8 Proxies 2
1.9 Action at Meeting 3
1.10 Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations 3
1.11 Conduct of Meetings 11
1.12 Proxy Access 12
ARTICLE II DIRECTORS 20
2.1 General Powers 20
2.2 Number, Election and Qualification 20
2.3 Chairman of the Board; Vice Chairman of the Board 21
2.4 Terms of Office 21
2.5 Quorum 21
2.6 Action at Meeting 21
2.7 Removal 22
2.8 Vacancies 22
2.9 Resignation 22
2.10 Regular Meetings 22
2.11 Special Meetings 22
2.12 Notice of Special Meetings 22
2.13 Meetings by Conference Communications Equipment 22
2.14 Action by Consent 22
2.15 Committees 23
2.16 Compensation of Directors 23
2.17 Interested Transactions 23
ARTICLE III OFFICERS 24
3.1 Titles 24
3.2 Election 24
3.3 Qualification 24
3.4 Tenure 24
3.5 Resignation and Removal 24
3.6 Vacancies 24
3.7 President; Chief Executive Officer 24
3.8 Vice Presidents 25
3.9 Secretary and Assistant Secretaries 25
3.10 Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers 25
3.11 Delegation of Authority 25
ARTICLE IV CAPITAL STOCK 26
4.1 Issuance of Stock 26
4.2 Stock Certificates; Uncertificated Shares 26
4.3 Transfers 26
4.4 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates 27
4.5 Record Date 27
ARTICLE V GENERAL PROVISIONS 28
5.1 Fiscal Year 28
5.2 Corporate Seal 28
5.3 Waiver of Notice 28
5.4 Voting of Securities 28
5.5 Evidence of Authority 28
5.6 Certificate of Incorporation 29
5.7 Severability 29
5.8 Pronouns 29
5.9 Electronic Transmission 29
ARTICLE VI AMENDMENTS 29
ARTICLE VII INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT 29
7.1 Right to Indemnification 29
7.2 Prepayment of Expenses 30
7.3 Authorization of Indemnification 30
7.4 Good Faith Defined 30
7.5 Right of Claimant to Bring Suit 31
7.6 Nonexclusivity of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses 31
7.7 Insurance 31
7.8 Certain Definitions 32
7.9 Survival of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses 32
7.10 Contract Rights 32
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
1.1 Place of Meetings. All meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place, if any, as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL (the “Corporation”), the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or, if not so designated, at the principal office of the Corporation. The Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication in accordance with Section 211(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).
1.2 Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting shall be held on a date and at a time designated by the Board, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer (which date shall not be a legal holiday in the place, if any, where the meeting is to be held). The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled annual meeting of stockholders.
1.3 Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called as (and only as) provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled special meeting of stockholders. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to matters related to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting.
1.4 Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL, notice of each meeting of stockholders, whether annual or special, shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given to stockholders, any notice shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to (in a manner consistent with the DGCL) by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. The notices of all meetings shall state the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting). The notice of a special meeting shall state, in addition, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. If notice is given by mail, such notice shall be deemed given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. If notice is given by electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed given at the time specified in Section 232 of the DGCL.
1.5 Voting List. The Secretary shall prepare, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less
than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder 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, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting: (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting; or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, the list shall presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them.
1.6 Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of the capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person, present by means of remote communication in a manner, if any, authorized by the Board in its sole discretion, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; provided, however, that where a separate vote by a class or classes or series of capital stock is required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series of the capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on such matter, present in person, present by means of remote communication in a manner, if any, authorized by the Board in its sole discretion, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum of such class or classes or series entitled to take action with respect to the vote on such matter. A quorum, once established at a meeting, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum.
1.7 Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time to any other time and to any other place at which a meeting of stockholders may be held under these Bylaws by the chairman of the meeting or, if directed to be voted on by the chairman of the meeting, by the stockholders present or represented at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon, although less than a quorum. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
1.8 Proxies. Each stockholder of record entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may vote in person (including by means of remote communication in a manner, if any, authorized by the Board in its sole discretion by which stockholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting) or may authorize another person or persons to vote for such stockholder by a proxy executed or transmitted in a manner permitted by applicable law. No such proxy shall be voted upon after three years from the date of its execution, unless the proxy expressly provides for a longer period.
1.9 Action at Meeting. When a quorum is present at any meeting, any matter to be voted upon by the stockholders at such meeting shall, except as set forth in Section 2.2, be decided by the vote of the holders of shares of stock having a majority in voting power of the votes cast by the holders of all of the shares of stock present or represented by proxy at the meeting and voting affirmatively or negatively on such matter (or if there are two or more classes or series of stock entitled to vote as separate classes, then in the case of each such class or series, the holders of shares of stock having a majority in voting power of the votes cast by the holders of all of the shares of stock of that class or series present or represented by proxy at the meeting and voting affirmatively or negatively on such matter), except when a different or minimum vote is required by applicable law, regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, in which case such different or minimum vote shall be the applicable vote on the matter. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot.
1.10 Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.
(A) Annual Meetings of Stockholders.
(1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (a) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (b) by or at the direction of the Board, any committee thereof, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or (c) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record of the Corporation at the time the notice provided for in this Section 1.10 is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.10. For the avoidance of doubt, the procedures set forth in this Section 1.10 shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit proposals for other business for an annual meeting of stockholders (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or any successor rule thereto and included in the Corporation’s proxy statement that has been prepared to solicit proxies for such annual meeting).
(2) For any nominations or any other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and any such proposed business (other than the nominations of persons for election to the Board) must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action. 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 first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting and the tenth (10th) day following the day 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 (or any public announcement 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 form, such stockholder’s notice (whether given pursuant to this paragraph (A)(2) of Section 1.10 or paragraph (B) of Section 1.10) to the Secretary of the Corporation shall set forth:
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(a) | as to each person, if any, whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director to the Board |
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(i) | all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed, whether in a proxy statement, other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election contest, or as otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; |
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(ii) | such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such person and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary of the Corporation upon written request); such person’s written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary of the Corporation upon written request), (A) that such person is not and will not become party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any |
issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (B) that such person is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement, or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the Corporation, and (C) that, in such person’s individual capacity and on behalf of any affiliates on whose behalf the nomination is being made, such person would, if elected as a director, comply with all of the Corporation’s corporate governance, ethics, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines applicable generally to the Corporation’s directors and, if elected as a director of the Corporation, such person currently would be in compliance with any such policies and guidelines that have been publicly disclosed;
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(iii) | a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three (3) years, and any other material relationships, between or among the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, and their respective affiliates and associates, or any other person or persons (including their names) acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his or her respective affiliates or associates, or any other person or persons (including their names) acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, if any, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert |
therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant;
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(iv) | any information that such person would be required to disclose pursuant to clauses (ii) and (iv) – (ix) of clause (c) of this paragraph (A)(2) of Section 1.10 if such person were a stockholder purporting to make a nomination or propose business pursuant thereto; and |
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(v) | an undertaking to notify the Corporation in writing of any change in the information called for by clauses (i) — (iv) as of the record date for notice of such meeting, by notice received by the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the tenth (10th) day following such record date; |
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(b) | as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, |
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(i) | a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the complete text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and |
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(ii) | a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, and any other person or persons (including their names) acting in concert therewith in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder; and |
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(c) | as to the stockholder giving the notice, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal for other business is made, any of their respective affiliates or associates (including, if such stockholder or beneficial |
owner is an entity, as to each director, executive, managing member or control person of such entity), and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing:
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(i) | the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, such beneficial owner, if any, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing; |
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(ii) | the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder, such beneficial owner, if any, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing; |
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(iii) | a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or proposal between or among such stockholder and/or such beneficial owner, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing, including, in the case of a nomination, the nominee; |
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(iv) | a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, such stockholder and such beneficial owners, if any, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in underlying shares of capital stock of the Corporation, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or |
decrease the voting power of, such stockholder or such beneficial owner, with respect to securities of the Corporation (a “Derivative Instrument”);
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(v) | a description of any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder and such beneficial owner, if any, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing, has the right to vote any shares of any security of the Corporation; |
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(vi) | any short interest of such stockholder and such beneficial owner, if any, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing, in any security of the Corporation (for purposes of these Bylaws, a person shall be deemed to have a short interest in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security); |
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(vii) | any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, if any, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing, that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of capital stock of the Corporation; |
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(viii) | any proportionate interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or such beneficial owner, if any, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing, is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner; |
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(ix) | any performance related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder and such beneficial owner, if any, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any |
of the foregoing, is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of capital stock of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any;
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(x) | a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such annual meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to propose such business or nomination; |
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(xi) | a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing, intends or is part of a group which intends (A) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (B) otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination; |
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(xii) | any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing, required to be disclosed under the DGCL or in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal of other business and/or for the election of directors in an election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and |
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(xiii) | an undertaking by the stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, to notify the Corporation in writing of any change in the information called for by clauses (i) — (xii) above as of the record date for such meeting, by notice received by the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the tenth (10th) day following such record date. |
The Corporation may, as a condition of any such nomination being deemed properly brought before an annual meeting, require any proposed nominee to furnish (i) any information
required pursuant to any undertaking delivered pursuant to this paragraph (A)(2) of Section 1.10, and (ii) such other information as the Corporation may request. The foregoing notice requirements of this paragraph (A) of this Section 1.10 shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder with respect to business (other than any purported nomination) if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his, her or its intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor rule thereto and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. For purposes of these Bylaws, the terms “affiliate” and “associate” are used as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 1.10 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board at the annual meeting is increased effective after the time period for which nominations would otherwise be due under paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 1.10 and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 1.10 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorship positions, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
(B) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the special meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or (2) provided that the Board pursuant to Section 1.3 hereof has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who (a) is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 1.10 is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation and at the time of the special meeting, (b) is entitled to vote at the special meeting and (c) complies with the notice procedures and conditions set forth in this Section 1.10 (including the information requirements in paragraph (A) (2) of Section 1.10) as to such nomination. For the avoidance of doubt, clause (2) of the foregoing sentence of this paragraph (B) of Section 1.10 shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose nominations of persons for election to the Board at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if a stockholder’s notice meeting the requirements of paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 1.10 shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting and 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 to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of a special meeting as to which notice has been sent to stockholders, or any public announcement with respect thereto, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(C) General. (1) Except as otherwise expressly provided in any applicable rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act, only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.10 shall be eligible to be properly elected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.10. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty (a) to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.10 (including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies or votes in support of such stockholder’s nominee or proposal in compliance with such stockholder’s representation as required by clause (A)(2) (c) (xi) of this Section 1.10) and (b) if any proposed nomination or business was not made or proposed in compliance with this Section 1.10, to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1. 10, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 1.10, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder, to act for such stockholder as proxy at the annual or special meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the annual or special meeting of stockholders.
(1) For purposes of this Section 1.10, “public announcement” shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or other 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 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.10, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 1.10; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to this Section 1.10 (including paragraphs (A)(2) and (B) hereof), and compliance with paragraphs (A)(2) and (B) of this Section 1.10 shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than, as provided in the penultimate sentence of (A)(2), business (other than nominations) brought properly under and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act or any successor rule thereto, as it may be amended from time to time). Nothing in this Section 1.10 shall be deemed to affect any rights (a) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals or nominations in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a- 8 promulgated under the Exchange Act or (b) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors if and to the extent provided for under any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.
1.11 Conduct of Meetings.
(A) Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or in the Chairman’s absence by the Vice Chairman of the Board, if any, or in the Vice Chairman’s absence by the Chief Executive Officer, or in the Chief Executive Officer’s absence, by the President, or in the President’s absence by a Vice President, or in the absence of all of the foregoing persons by a chairman designated by the Board. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the Secretary’s absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
(B) The Board may adopt by resolution such rules, regulations and procedures for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation as it shall deem appropriate including, without limitation, such guidelines and procedures as it may deem appropriate in its sole discretion regarding the participation by means of remote communication of stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules, regulations and procedures as adopted by the Board, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or determined by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (1) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (2) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (3) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as shall be determined; (4) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (5) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
(C) The chairman of the meeting shall announce at the meeting the date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter voted upon at the meeting. After
the polls close, no ballots, proxies or votes or any revocations or changes thereto may be accepted unless the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall determine otherwise.
(D) In advance of any meeting of stockholders, the Board, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President shall appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. One or more other persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is present, ready and willing to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of such inspector’s duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability. The inspector shall have the duties prescribed by law and, when the vote is completed, shall make a certificate of the result of the vote taken and of such other facts as may be required by law. Every vote taken by ballots shall be counted by a duly appointed inspector or duly appointed inspectors.
1.12 Section 1.12. Proxy Access.
(A) Inclusion of Nominee in Proxy Materials. Whenever the Board solicits proxies with respect to the election of directors at an annual meeting of stockholders (following the 2016 annual meeting), subject to the provisions of this Section 1.12, the Corporation shall include in its proxy materials for such annual meeting, in addition to any persons nominated for election by the Board or a committee appointed by the Board, the name, together with the Required Information (as defined below), of any person nominated for election (a “Stockholder Nominee”) to the Board by a stockholder, or by a group of no more than twenty (20) stockholders, that has satisfied (individually or, in the case of a group, collectively) all applicable conditions and has complied with all applicable procedures set forth in this Section 1.12 (an “Eligible Stockholder,” which shall include an eligible stockholder group), and that expressly elects at the time of providing the notice required by this Section 1.12 (the “Nomination Notice”) to have its nominee included in the Corporation’s proxy materials for such annual meeting pursuant to this Section 1.12.
(B) Required Information. For purposes of this Section 1.12, the “Required Information” that the Corporation will include in its proxy materials is (1) the information concerning the Stockholder Nominee and the Eligible Stockholder that is required to be disclosed in the Corporation’s proxy statement by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated under the Exchange Act; and (2) if the Eligible Stockholder so elects, a Supporting Statement (as defined below).
(C) Delivery of Nomination Notice. To be timely, a stockholder’s Nomination Notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation no earlier than the 150th day, and not later than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the release date of the Corporation’s proxy materials for its most recent annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is called for a date that is more than thirty (30)
days before or more than thirty (30) days after the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, to be timely, the Nomination Notice must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not later than the close of business on the later of the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was made by the Corporation. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or any public announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Nomination Notice as described above.
(D) Maximum Number of Stockholder Nominees.
(1) The maximum aggregate number of Stockholder Nominees nominated by Eligible Stockholders that will be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders shall not exceed the greater of (a) two or (b) twenty percent (20%) of the number of directors in office as of the last day on which a Nomination Notice may be delivered pursuant to this Section 1.12, or if such amount is not a whole number, the closest whole number below twenty percent (20%); provided, however, that this number shall be reduced by (i) any Stockholder Nominee whose name was submitted by an Eligible Stockholder for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 1.12 but either is subsequently withdrawn or that the Board decides to nominate for election, (ii) the number of incumbent directors who were Stockholder Nominees at any of the preceding two annual meetings (including any individual covered under clause (i) above) and whose election at the upcoming annual meeting is being recommended by the Board and (iii) the number of directors in office or director nominees that in either case will be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials with respect to such annual meeting as an unopposed (by the Corporation) nominee pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or other understanding with any stockholder or group of stockholders (other than any such agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into in connection with an acquisition of capital stock, by such stockholder or group of stockholders, from the Corporation). In the event that one or more vacancies for any reason occurs on the Board after the deadline set forth in Section 1.12(C) above but before the date of the annual meeting and the Board resolves to reduce the size of the Board in connection therewith, the maximum number shall be calculated based on the number of directors in office as so reduced.
(2) Any Eligible Stockholder submitting more than one Stockholder Nominee for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 1.12 shall rank such Stockholder Nominees based on the order in which the Eligible Stockholder desires such Stockholder Nominees be selected for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials. In the event that the number of Stockholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Stockholders pursuant to this Section 1.12 exceeds the maximum number of nominees provided for pursuant to subsection (d)(i) above, the highest ranking Stockholder Nominee who meets the requirements of this Section 1.12 of each Eligible Stockholder will be selected for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials until the maximum number is reached, going in order by the number (largest to smallest) of shares of common stock of the Corporation each Eligible Stockholder disclosed as Owned (as defined below) in its respective Nomination Notice
submitted to the Corporation pursuant to this Section 1.12. If the maximum number is not reached after the highest ranking Stockholder Nominee who meets the requirements of this Section 1.12 of each Eligible Stockholder has been selected, this process will continue with the next highest ranked nominees as many times as necessary, following the same order each time, until the maximum number is reached.
(E) Ownership. For purposes of this Section 1.12, an Eligible Stockholder shall be deemed to “Own” only those outstanding shares of common stock of the Corporation as to which the stockholder possesses both (1) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares and (2) 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 (1) and (2) shall not include any shares (a) sold by such stockholder or any of its affiliates in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, including any short sale, (b) borrowed by such stockholder or any of its affiliates for any purpose, or purchased by such stockholder or any of its affiliates subject to an agreement to resell, or (c) subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale, or other derivative or similar agreement entered into by such stockholder 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 shares of common stock of the Corporation, in any such case which instrument or agreement has, or is intended to have, or if exercised would have, the purpose or effect of (1) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such stockholder’s or its affiliates’ full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares, and/or (2) hedging, offsetting or altering to any degree any gain or loss realized or realizable from maintaining the full economic ownership of such shares by such stockholder or affiliate. A stockholder shall “Own” shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the stockholder 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. A stockholder’s Ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which (1) 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 and includes with the Nomination Notice an agreement that it (a) will promptly recall such loaned shares upon being notified by the Corporation that any of its Stockholder Nominees will be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials and (b) will continue to hold such recalled shares (including the right to vote such shares) through the date of the annual meeting of stockholders; or (2) 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. The terms “Owned,” “Owning” and other variations of the word “Own” shall have correlative meanings. Whether outstanding shares of common stock of the Corporation are “Owned” for purposes of this Section 1.12 shall be determined by the Board or any committee thereof, which determination shall be conclusive and binding on the Corporation and its stockholders. For purposes of this Section 1.12, the term “affiliate” or “affiliates” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated under the Exchange Act.
(F) Eligible Stockholder. In order to make a nomination pursuant to this Section 1.12, an Eligible Stockholder or group of up to twenty (20) Eligible Stockholders must
have Owned (as defined above) continuously for at least three (3) years at least the number of shares of common stock of the Corporation that shall constitute three percent (3%) or more of the voting power of the outstanding common stock of the Corporation (the “Required Shares”) as of (a) the date on which the Nomination Notice is delivered to, or mailed to and received by, the Secretary of the Corporation in accordance with this Section 1.12, (2) the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting, and (3) the date of the annual meeting. For this purpose, two or more funds or trusts 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 (each, a “Qualifying Fund”), shall be treated as one stockholder or beneficial owner.
No person may be a member of more than one group of persons constituting an Eligible Stockholder under this Section 1.12. If a group of stockholders aggregates Ownership of shares in order to meet the requirements under this Section 1.12, (1) all shares held by each stockholder constituting their contribution to the foregoing three percent (3%) threshold must have been held by that stockholder continuously for at least three (3) years and through the date of the annual meeting, and evidence of such continuous Ownership shall be provided as specified in subsection 1.12(G) below, (2) each provision in this Section 1.12 that requires the Eligible Stockholder to provide any written statements, representations, undertakings, agreements or other instruments or to meet any other conditions shall be deemed to require each stockholder (including each individual fund) that is a member of such group to provide such statements, representations, undertakings, agreements or other instruments and to meet such other conditions (except that the members of such group may aggregate their stockholdings in order to meet the three percent (3%) Ownership requirement of the “Required Shares” definition) and (3) a breach of any obligation, agreement or representation under this Section 1.12 by any member of such group shall be deemed a breach by the Eligible Stockholder.
(G) Information to be Provided by Eligible Stockholder. Within the time period specified in this Section 1.12 for providing the Nomination Notice, an Eligible Stockholder making a nomination pursuant to this Section 1.12 must provide the following information in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation:
(1) one or more written statements from the Eligible Stockholder (and from each other record holder of the shares and intermediary through which the shares are or have been held during the requisite three (3)-year holding period) specifying the number of shares of common stock of the Corporation that the Eligible Stockholder Owns, and has continuously Owned for three (3) years preceding the date of the Nomination Notice, and the Eligible Stockholder’s agreement to provide, within five (5) business days after the later of the record date for the annual meeting and the date on which the record date is first publicly disclosed by the Corporation, written statements from the Eligible Stockholder, record holder and intermediaries verifying the Eligible Stockholder’s continuous Ownership of the Required
Shares through the record date, provided that statements meeting the requirements of Schedule 14N will be deemed to fulfill this requirement;
(2) the written consent of each Stockholder Nominee to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected, together with the information and representations that would be required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice of a nomination pursuant to Section 1.10(A)(2)(a) and Section 1.10(A)(2)(c) and the final paragraph of Section 1.10(A)(2);
(3) a copy of the Schedule 14N that has been or is concurrently being filed by such Eligible Stockholder with the Securities and Exchange Commission as required by Rule 14a-18 under the Exchange Act, as such rule may be amended;
(4) the details of any relationship that existed within the past three (3) years and that would have been described pursuant to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14N (or any successor item) if it existed on the date of submission of Schedule 14N;
(5) a representation and undertaking (a) that the Eligible Stockholder (i) did not acquire, and is not holding, securities of the Corporation for the purpose or with the effect of influencing or changing control of the Corporation; (ii) has not nominated and will not nominate for election to the Board at the annual meeting any person other than the Stockholder Nominee(s) being nominated by it pursuant to this Section 1.12, (iii) has not engaged and will not engage in, and has not and will not be a “participant” in another person’s, “solicitation” within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the Exchange Act in support of the election of any individual as a director at the annual meeting other than its Stockholder Nominee(s) or a nominee of the Board, (iv) has not distributed and will not distribute to any stockholder any form of proxy for the annual meeting other than the form distributed by the Corporation, and (v) will Own the Required Shares through the date of the annual meeting of stockholders; and (b) that the facts, statements and other information in all communications with the Corporation and its stockholders are and will be true and correct in all material respects and do not and will not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(6) in the case of a nomination by a group of stockholders that together is an Eligible Stockholder, the designation by all group members of one group member that is authorized to receive communications, notices and inquiries from the Corporation and to act on behalf of all such members with respect to the nomination and all matters related thereto, including any withdrawal of the nomination;
(7) an undertaking that the Eligible Stockholder agrees to (a) assume all liability (jointly and severally with all other group members, in the case of a group member) 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, (b) indemnify and hold harmless (jointly and severally with all other group members, in the case of a group member) 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, solicitation or other activity by the Eligible Stockholder in connection with its efforts to elect the Stockholder Nominee(s) pursuant to this Section 1.12, (c) comply with all other laws, rules and regulations applicable to any actions taken pursuant to this Section 1.12, including the nomination and any solicitation in connection with the annual meeting of stockholders, and (d) with respect to any shares held or controlled by the Eligible Stockholder, to the extent that cumulative voting would otherwise be permitted, agrees not to cumulate votes in favor of the election of any Stockholder Nominee(s) nominated by such Eligible Stockholder; and
(8) in the case of a Qualifying Fund whose share Ownership is counted for purposes of qualifying as an Eligible Stockholder, documentation from the Qualifying Fund reasonably satisfactory to the Board that demonstrates that it meets the requirements of a Qualifying Fund set forth in Section 1.12(F) above.
(H) Supporting Statement. The Eligible Stockholder may provide to the Secretary of the Corporation, at the time the information required by this Section 1.12 is provided, a written statement for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders, not to exceed five hundred (500) words, in support of the Stockholder Nominee(s)’ candidacy (the “Supporting Statement”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 1.12, the Corporation may omit from its proxy materials any information or Supporting Statement (or portion thereof) that it, in good faith, believes would violate any applicable law, rule, regulation or listing standard. Nothing in this Section 1.12 shall limit the Corporation’s ability to solicit against and include in its proxy materials its own statements relating to any Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee.
(I) Representations and Agreement of the Stockholder Nominee. Within the time period specified in this Section 1.12 for delivering the Nomination Notice, a Stockholder Nominee must deliver to the Secretary of the Corporation a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) adopting each of the representations set forth in Section 1.10(A)(2)(a) and Section 1.10(A)(2)(c) and the final paragraph of Section 1.10(A)(2). At the request of the Corporation, the Stockholder Nominee must promptly, but in any event within five (5) business days of such request, submit all completed and signed questionnaires required of the Corporation’s directors and officers. The Corporation may request such additional information (1) as may be reasonably necessary to permit the Board or any committee thereof to determine if each Stockholder Nominee is independent under the listing standards of the principal U.S. exchange upon which the Corporation’s common stock is listed, any applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board in determining and disclosing the independence of the Corporation’s directors (the “Applicable Independence Standards”) and otherwise to determine the eligibility of each Stockholder Nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation, or (2) that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of each Stockholder Nominee.
(J) True, Correct and Complete Information. In the event that any information or communications provided by any Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee 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 of the Corporation 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 such defect or limit the Corporation’s right to omit a Stockholder Nominee from its proxy materials pursuant to this Section 1.12. In addition, any person providing any information to the Corporation pursuant to this Section 1.12 shall further update and supplement such information, if necessary, so that all such information shall be true and correct as of the record date for the annual meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement (or a written certification that no such updates or supplements are necessary and that the information previously provided remains true and correct as of the applicable date) shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than five (5) business days after the later of the record date for the annual meeting and the date on which the record date is first publicly disclosed by the Corporation (in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than seven (7) business days prior to the date of the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting).
(K) Limitation on Stockholder Nominees. Any Stockholder Nominee who is included in the Corporation’s proxy materials for a particular annual meeting of stockholders but withdraws from or becomes ineligible or unavailable for election at such annual meeting will be ineligible to be a Stockholder Nominee pursuant to this Section 1.12 for the next two (2) annual meetings of stockholders.
(L) Exceptions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Corporation shall not be required to include, pursuant to this Section 1.12, any Stockholder Nominee in its proxy materials for any meeting of stockholders (1) if the Eligible Stockholder who has nominated such Stockholder Nominee has engaged in or is currently engaged in, or has been or is a “participant” in another person’s, “solicitation” within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the Exchange Act in support of the election of any individual as a director at the meeting other than its Stockholder Nominee(s) or a nominee of the Board, (2) if the Corporation receives notice pursuant to Section 1.10 that any stockholder intends to nominate any nominee for election to the Board at such meeting, (3) who is not independent under the Applicable Independence Standards, as determined by the Board or any committee thereof, (4) whose nomination or election as a member of the Board would cause the Corporation to be in violation of these By-Laws, the Certificate of Incorporation, the rules and listing standards of the principal exchanges upon which the Corporation’s shares of common stock are listed or traded, or any applicable law, rule or regulation, (5) who is or has been, within the past three
(3) years, an officer or director of a competitor, as defined in Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, (6) who is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses) or has been convicted in such a criminal proceeding within the past ten (10) years, (7) who 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, (8) if such Stockholder Nominee or the applicable Eligible Stockholder shall have provided information to the Corporation in respect to such nomination that was untrue in any material respect or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statement made, in light of the circumstances under which it was made, not misleading, as determined by the Board, (9) if such Stockholder Nominee or the applicable Eligible Stockholder otherwise contravenes any of the agreements or representations made by such Stockholder Nominee or Eligible Stockholder or fails to comply with its obligations pursuant to this Section 1.12, or (10) if the applicable Eligible Stockholder ceases to be an Eligible Stockholder for any reason, including but not limited to not Owning the Required Shares through the date of the applicable annual meeting of stockholders.
(M) Disqualifications. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, if (1) a Stockholder Nominee is included in the Corporation’s proxy materials for the annual meeting but subsequently is determined not to satisfy the eligibility requirements of this Section 1.12 or any other provision of the Corporation’s Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation, Corporate Governance Guidelines or other applicable regulation at any time before the annual meeting, (2) a Stockholder Nominee and/or the applicable Eligible Stockholder shall have breached any of its obligations, agreements or representations, or fails to comply with its or their obligations pursuant to this Section 1.12, (3) a Stockholder Nominee dies, becomes disabled or otherwise becomes ineligible for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 1.12 or unavailable for election at the annual meeting, or (4) the applicable Eligible Stockholder otherwise ceases to be an Eligible Stockholder for any reason, including but not limited to not Owning the Required Shares through the date of the applicable annual meeting of stockholders, in each case as determined by the Board, any committee thereof or the person presiding at the annual meeting, (x) the Corporation may omit or, to the extent feasible, remove the information concerning such Stockholder Nominee and the related Supporting Statement from its proxy materials and/or otherwise communicate to its stockholders that such Stockholder Nominee will not be eligible for election at the annual meeting, (y) the Corporation shall not be required to include in its proxy materials any successor or replacement nominee proposed by the applicable Eligible Stockholder or any other Eligible Stockholder and (z) the Board or the person presiding at the annual meeting shall declare such nomination to be invalid and such nomination shall be disregarded notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. In addition, if the Eligible Stockholder (or a representative thereof) does not appear at the annual meeting to present any nomination pursuant to this Section 1.12, such nomination shall be declared invalid and disregarded as provided in clause (z) above.
(N) Filing Obligation. The Eligible Stockholder (including any person who Owns shares of common stock of the Corporation that constitute part of the Eligible Stockholder’s Ownership for purposes of satisfying Section 1.12(E) hereof) shall file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission any solicitation or other communication with the Corporation’s stockholders relating to the meeting at which the Stockholder Nominee will be nominated, regardless of whether any such filing is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act or whether any exemption from filing is available for such solicitation or other communication under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS
2.1 General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which may exercise all of the powers of the Corporation except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation.
2.2 Number, Election and Qualification.
(A) The total number of directors constituting the Board shall be such number as may be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board.
(B) Except as otherwise provided by these Bylaws, each director shall be elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast (as defined herein) with respect to the director’s election at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, provided that if as of the record date for the meeting the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected in such election (a “contested election”), the directors shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of the votes cast. For purposes of this Section 2.2, a “majority of the votes cast” means that the number of votes “for” a director must exceed the number of votes “against” that director (with “abstentions” and “broker non-votes” not counted as a vote either “for” or “against” that director’s election). In order for any incumbent director to become a nominee of the Board for further service on the Board, such person must submit an irrevocable resignation, contingent on (i) that person not receiving a majority of the votes cast in an election that is not a contested election, and (ii) acceptance of that resignation by the Board in accordance with the policies and procedures adopted by the Board for such purpose. In the event an incumbent director does not receive a majority of the votes cast in an election which is not a contested election, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will make a recommendation to the Board on whether to accept or reject the resignation, or whether other action should be taken. The Board will act on the resignation, taking into account the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation, and publicly disclose its decision and the rationale within 90 days following certification of the stockholder vote. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in making its recommendation and the Board in making its decision each may consider any factors and other information that they consider appropriate and relevant. Any director who tenders his or her resignation pursuant to this Section 2.2 shall not participate in the deliberations of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee or the Board regarding whether to accept the resignation. Election of directors need not be by written ballot.
(C) Directors need not be stockholders of the Corporation.
2.3 Chairman of the Board; Vice Chairman of the Board. The Board may appoint from its members a Chairman of the Board and a Vice Chairman of the Board, neither of whom need be an employee or officer of the Corporation. If the Board appoints a Chairman of the Board, such Chairman shall perform such duties and possess such powers as are assigned by the Board and, if the Chairman of the Board is also designated as the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer, shall have the powers and duties of the Chief Executive Officer prescribed in Section 3.7 of these Bylaws. If the Board appoints a Vice Chairman of the Board, such Vice Chairman shall perform such duties and possess such powers as are assigned by the Board. Unless otherwise provided by the Board, the Chairman of the Board or, in the Chairman’s absence, the Vice Chairman of the Board, if any, shall preside at all meetings of the Board.
2.4 Terms of Office. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, each director shall serve for a term of one year, ending on the date of the next annual meeting of stockholders following the date of such director’s election or appointment; provided that the term of each director shall continue until the election and qualification of his or her successor, subject to his or her earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal.
2.5 Quorum. The greater of (a) a majority of the directors at any time in office and (b) one-third of the whole Board shall constitute a quorum of the Board. If at any meeting of the Board there shall be less than a quorum, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
2.6 Action at Meeting. Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the directors present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present shall be regarded as the act of the Board, unless a greater number is required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws.
2.7 Removal. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, directors of the Corporation may be removed as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.
2.8 Vacancies. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, any newly created directorship that results from an increase in the number of directors or any vacancy on the Board that results from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director or from any other cause shall be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by the stockholders.
2.9 Resignation. Any director may resign by delivering a resignation in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation at its principal office or to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon delivery unless it is specified to be effective at some later time or upon the happening of some later event.
2.10 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such time and place as shall be determined from time to time by the Board; provided that any
director who is absent when such a determination is made shall be given notice of the determination. A regular meeting of the Board may be held without notice immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders.
2.11 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairman of the Board, by the Chief Executive Officer, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office or by one director in the event that there is only a single director in office.
2.12 Notice of Special Meetings. Notice of the date, place and time of any special meeting of the Board shall be given to each director by the Secretary or by the officer or one of the directors calling the meeting. Notice shall be duly given to each director (a) in person or by telephone at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the meeting, (b) by sending written notice by reputable overnight courier, telecopy, facsimile or other means of electronic transmission, or delivering written notice by hand, to such director’s last known business, home or means of electronic transmission address at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the meeting, or (c) by sending written notice by first-class mail to such director’s last known business or home address at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the meeting. A notice or waiver of notice of a meeting of the Board need not specify the purposes of the meeting.
2.13 Meetings by Conference Communications Equipment. Directors may participate in meetings of the Board or any committee thereof by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
2.14 Action by Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent to the action in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee thereof. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
2.15 Committees. The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation, with such lawfully delegable powers and duties as the Board thereby confers, to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members of the committee present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board who meets the requirements for membership on the committee to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by the DGCL and provided in the resolution of the Board, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. Each such committee shall keep minutes and make such reports as the Board may from time to time request. Except as
the Board may otherwise determine, any committee may make rules for the conduct of its business, but unless otherwise provided by the committee or in such rules, its business shall be conducted as nearly as possible in the same manner as is provided in these Bylaws for the Board. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or the resolution of the Board designating the committee, a committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one or more members of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee.
2.16 Compensation of Directors. Directors may be paid such compensation for their services and such reimbursement for expenses of attendance at meetings as the Board may from time to time determine. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation or any of its parent or subsidiary entities in any other capacity and receiving compensation for such service.
2.17 Interested Transactions. No contract or transaction between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association or other organization in which one or more of the Corporation’s directors or officers are directors or officers or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board or committee thereof that authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because any such director’s or officer’s vote is counted for such purpose if: (a) the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board or the committee and the Board or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; (b) the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or (c) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the Board, a committee thereof or the stockholders. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board or of a committee that authorizes the contract or transaction.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
3.1 Titles. The officers of the Corporation may consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, a Treasurer and a Secretary and such other officers with such other titles as the Board shall from time to time determine. The Board may appoint such other officers, including one or more Vice Presidents and one or more Assistant Treasurers or Assistant Secretaries, as it may deem appropriate from time to time.
3.2 Election. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board at its first meeting following the annual meeting of stockholders.
3.3 Qualification. Subject to such rules and policies as may be adopted by the Board and in effect from time to time, no officer need be a stockholder. To the extent permitted by the DGCL, any two or more offices may be held by the same person.
3.4 Tenure. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, each officer shall hold office until such officer’s successor is duly elected and qualified, unless a different term is specified in the resolution electing or appointing such officer, or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal.
3.5 Resignation and Removal. Any officer may resign by delivering a written resignation to the Corporation at its principal office or to the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some later time or upon the happening of some later event. Any officer may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office.
3.6 Vacancies. The Board may fill any vacancy occurring in any office for any reason and may, in its discretion, leave unfilled, for such period as it may determine, any offices. Each such successor shall hold office for the unexpired term of such officer’s predecessor and until a successor is duly elected and qualified, or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal.
3.7 President; Chief Executive Officer. Unless the Board has designated another person as the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general charge and supervision of the business of the Corporation subject to the direction of the Board, and shall perform all duties and have all powers that are commonly incident to the office of chief executive or that are delegated to such officer by the Board. The President shall perform such other duties and shall have such other powers as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer (if the President is not the Chief Executive Officer) may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the Chief Executive Officer or the President (if the President is not the Chief Executive Officer), one or more Executive Vice Presidents (as authorized by resolutions of the Board) shall perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer and when so performing such duties shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Chief Executive Officer.
3.8 Vice Presidents. Each Vice President shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe. The Board may assign to any Vice President the title of Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or any other title selected by the Board.
3.9 Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary shall perform such duties and shall have such powers as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe. In addition, the Secretary shall perform such duties and have such powers as are incident to the office of the secretary, including without limitation the duty and power to give notices of all meetings of stockholders and special meetings of the Board, to attend all meetings
of stockholders and of the Board and keep a record of the proceedings thereof, to maintain a stock ledger and prepare lists of stockholders and their addresses as required, to be custodian of corporate records and the corporate seal and to affix and attest to the same on documents.
Any Assistant Secretary shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary (or if there shall be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board) shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary.
The chairman of any meeting of the Board or of stockholders may designate a temporary secretary to keep a record of any meeting.
3.10 Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers. The Treasurer shall perform such duties and shall have such powers as may from time to time be assigned by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer. In addition, the Treasurer shall perform such duties and have such powers as are incident to the office of treasurer, including without limitation the duty and power to keep and be responsible for all funds and securities of the Corporation, to deposit funds of the Corporation in depositories selected in accordance with these Bylaws, to disburse such funds as authorized by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, to make proper accounts of such funds, and to render as required by the Board statements of all such transactions and of the financial condition of the Corporation.
The Assistant Treasurers shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Treasurer may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer (or if there shall be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order determined by the Board) shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer.
3.11 Delegation of Authority. The Board may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officer or agent, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL STOCK
4.1 Issuance of Stock. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the whole or any part of any unissued balance of the authorized capital stock of the Corporation or the whole or any part of any shares of the authorized capital stock of the Corporation held in the Corporation’s treasury may be issued, sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by vote of the Board in such manner, for such lawful consideration and on such terms as the Board may determine.
4.2 Stock Certificates; Uncertificated Shares. The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the Corporation’s stock shall be uncertificated shares.
Every holder of stock of the Corporation represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate, in such form as may be prescribed by law and by the Board, representing the number of shares held by such holder registered in certificate form. Each such certificate shall be signed in a manner that complies with Section 158 of the DGCL.
Each certificate for shares of stock which are subject to any restriction on transfer pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, applicable securities laws or any agreement among any number of stockholders or among such holders and the Corporation shall have conspicuously noted on the face or back of the certificate either the full text of the restriction or a statement of the existence of such restriction.
If the Corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of each class of stock or series thereof shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of each certificate representing shares of such class or series of stock; provided that in lieu of the foregoing requirements there may be set forth on the face or back of each certificate representing shares of such class or series of stock a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of each class of stock or series thereof.
Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to Sections 151, 156, 202(a) or 218(a) of the DGCL or, with respect to Section 151 of DGCL, a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of each class of stock or series thereof.
4.3 Transfers. Shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law, the Certificate of Incorporation and in these Bylaws. Transfers of shares of stock of the Corporation shall be made only on the books of the Corporation or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares of stock of the Corporation. Subject to applicable law, shares of stock represented by certificates shall be transferred only on the books of the Corporation by the surrender to the Corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate representing such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a written assignment or power of attorney properly executed, and with such proof of authority or the authenticity of signature as the Corporation or its transfer agent may reasonably require. Except as may be otherwise required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, the Corporation shall be entitled to treat the record holder of stock as shown on its books as the owner of such stock for all purposes, including the payment of dividends and the right to vote with respect to such stock, regardless of any transfer, pledge or other disposition of such stock until the shares have been transferred on the books of the Corporation in accordance with the requirements of these Bylaws.
4.4 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new certificate or uncertificated shares in place of any previously issued certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon such terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe, including the presentation of reasonable evidence of such loss, theft or destruction and the giving of such indemnity and posting of such bond as the Board may require for the protection of the Corporation or any transfer agent or registrar.
4.5 Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. 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 may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.
In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or 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 may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no such record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.
In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date has been fixed by the Board, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board is required under the DGCL, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the
book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the Board and prior action by the Board is required under the DGCL, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
ARTICLE V
GENERAL PROVISIONS
5.1 Fiscal Year. Except as from time to time otherwise designated by the Board, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of January of each year and end on the last day of December in each year.
5.2 Corporate Seal. The corporate seal shall be in such form as shall be approved by the Board.
5.3 Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, a written waiver signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before, at or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to notice required to be given to such person. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in any such waiver. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, 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.
5.4 Voting of Securities. Except as the Board may otherwise designate, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer may waive notice, vote, consent, or appoint any person or persons to waive notice, vote or consent, on behalf of the Corporation, and act as, or appoint any person or persons to act as, proxy or attorney-in-fact for this Corporation (with or without power of substitution), with respect to the securities of any other entity which may be held by this Corporation.
5.5 Evidence of Authority. A certificate by the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, or a temporary Secretary, as to any action taken by the stockholders, directors, a committee or any officer or representative of the Corporation shall as to all persons who rely on the certificate in good faith be conclusive evidence of such action.
5.6 Certificate of Incorporation. All references in these Bylaws to the Certificate of Incorporation shall be deemed to refer to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as it may be amended and/or restated and in effect from time to time.
5.7 Severability. If any provision or provisions (or any part thereof) of these Bylaws shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason
whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of these Bylaws (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of these Bylaws containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of these Bylaws (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of these Bylaws containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.
5.8 Pronouns. All pronouns used in these Bylaws shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine or neuter, singular or plural, as the identity of the person or persons may require.
5.9 Electronic Transmission. For purposes of these Bylaws, “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved, and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.
ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, in whole or in part, or new Bylaws may be adopted, by the Board or by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of the capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereon.
ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT
7.1 Right to Indemnification. The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person (a “Covered Person”) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or has or had agreed to become a director or officer of the Corporation, or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by such Covered Person. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 7.5, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a Covered Person in connection with
a proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Covered Person only if the commencement of such proceeding (or part thereof) by the Covered Person was authorized in the specific case by the Board.
7.2 Prepayment of Expenses. The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a Covered Person in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Covered Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VII or otherwise.
7.3 Authorization of Indemnification. Any indemnification under this Article VII (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 director or officer is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth under applicable law and is otherwise consistent with applicable law. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (a) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (b) by a committee of such directors designated by a majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (c) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (d) by the stockholders. Such determination shall be made, with respect to former directors and officers, by any person or persons having the authority to act on the matter on behalf of the Corporation. To the extent, however, that a present or former director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding set forth in Section 7.1 or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith, without the necessity of authorization in the specific case.
7.4 Good Faith Defined. For purposes of any determination under Section 7.3, a person shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, or, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, to have had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful, if such person’s action was based on good faith reliance on the records or books of account of the Corporation or another enterprise, or on information supplied to such person by the officers of the Corporation or another enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Corporation or another enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Corporation or another enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Corporation or another enterprise. The term “another enterprise” as used in this Section 7.4 shall mean any other corporation or any partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which such person is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent. The provisions of this Section 7.4 shall not
be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL.
7.5 Right of Claimant to Bring Suit. If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such proceeding) or advancement of expenses under this Article VI I is not paid in full within thirty (30) days after a written claim therefor by the Covered Person has been received by the Corporation, the Covered Person may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense (including attorneys’ fees) of prosecuting such claim. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the Covered Person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law. It shall be a defense to any such action brought to enforce a right to indemnification (but not in an action brought to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the DGCL (or other applicable law) for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Corporation. Neither a contrary determination in the specific case under Section 7.3 nor the absence of any determination thereunder shall be a defense to such application or create a presumption that the claimant has not met any applicable standard of conduct.
7.6 Nonexclusivity of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to this Article VI I shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the Certificate of Incorporation, any agreement, or pursuant to any vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, it being the policy of the Corporation that, subject to the last sentence of Section 7.1, indemnification of the persons specified in Section 7.1 shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law. The provisions of this Article VII shall not be deemed to preclude the indemnification of or advancement of expenses to any person who is not specified in Section 7.1 but whom the Corporation has the power or obligation to indemnify under the provisions of the DGCL, or otherwise.
7.7 Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article VII.
7.8 Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Article VII: references to “the Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors,
officers, employees or agents so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article VII with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; 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 an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Article VII.
7.9 Survival of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VII shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person.
7.10 Contract Rights. The obligations of the Corporation under this Article VII to indemnify, and advance expenses to, a Covered Person shall be considered a contract between the Corporation and such person, and no modification or repeal of any provision of this Article VII shall affect, to the detriment of such person, such obligations of the Corporation in connection with a claim based on any act or failure to act occurring before such modification or repeal.