AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
THERMON GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
(As adopted November 3, 2020, effective as of November 3, 2020)
ARTICLE I
Offices
Section 1.1 Registered Offices. The registered office of Thermon Group Holdings, Inc. (the "Corporation") in the State of Delaware shall be located at 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware 19808, County of New Castle. The name of the Corporation's registered agent at such address shall be Corporation Service Company. The registered office and/or registered agent of the Corporation may be changed from time to time by action of the Board of Directors.
Section 1.2 Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
Section 1.3 Books. The books of the Corporation may be kept within or without of the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
Stockholders Meetings
Section 2.1 Annual Meetings.
(a) An annual meeting of stockholders shall be held for the election of directors and the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting in accordance with these Bylaws at such date, time and place, if any, as may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Corporation from time to time. The Board of Directors may for any reason postpone, adjourn, recess, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled meeting of stockholders.
(b) Only such business (other than stockholder nominations of directors, which shall be made in compliance with, and shall be exclusively governed by, Section 3.1(a) and Section 3.2) shall be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. For business to be properly brought before the meeting, it must be (i) authorized by the Board of Directors and specified in the notice, or a supplemental notice, of the meeting, (ii) otherwise brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice by the stockholder as provided for in this Section 2.1(b) and at the time of the annual meeting of stockholders, who is entitled to vote at the meeting on any such business and who has complied with the notice and other requirements set forth in these Bylaws; clause (iii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to submit such business (other than proposals properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and included in the Corporation's notice of the meeting, which proposals are not governed by these Bylaws) before an annual meeting of stockholders.
(c) For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(iii), the stockholder must have given timely written notice thereof to the Secretary of the Corporation as hereinafter provided and such proposal must otherwise be a proper subject for action by the Corporation's stockholders. To be timely, a stockholder's written notice shall set forth all information required under this Section 2.1(c) and shall be delivered or mailed to and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials or a notice of availability of proxy materials (whichever is earlier) for the immediately preceding year's annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within 30 days from the first anniversary of the immediately preceding year's annual meeting date, written notice by a stockholder in order to be timely must be received not earlier than the 120th day before the date of such annual meeting and not later than the later of the 90th day before the date of such annual meeting, as originally convened, or the close of business on the tenth day following the day
on which the first public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was made. In no event shall an adjournment, rescheduling, recess or postponement, or the public disclosure thereof, of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of stockholder's notice as described above. A stockholder's notice to the Secretary delivered pursuant to this Section 2.1(c) shall set forth:
(i) as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, (A) a description of the proposal or business (including the complete text of any resolutions to be presented at the annual meeting, and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the text of the proposed amendment) desired to be brought before the annual meeting, (B) the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (C) a complete and accurate description of any material interest in such business of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), individually or in the aggregate, including any anticipated benefit to the stockholder or the Stockholder Associated Person therefrom, and (D) all other information related to such proposed business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made by the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person in connection with the solicitation of proxies or consents in support of such proposed business by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act;
(ii) to the extent known by the stockholder giving the notice, the name and address of any other stockholder supporting the proposal of business on the date of such stockholder's notice;
(iii) as to the stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder Associated Person:
(A) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation (collectively, "Company Securities"), if any, which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and/or of record by such person, the date(s) on which such Company Securities were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition(s), and any short interest (including any opportunity to profit or share in any benefit from any decrease in the price of such stock or other security) in any Company Securities of any such person,
(B) the nominee holder for, and number of, any Company Securities owned beneficially but not of record by such person,
(C) a complete and accurate description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether written or oral) (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 the Company Securities or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of the Company Securities, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) (a "Derivative Instrument") that has been entered into as of the date of the stockholder's notice or any supplement thereto by, or on behalf of, such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person (or Proposed Nominee (as defined below)) and such beneficial owners, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in underlying Company Securities, (including those that 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 Stockholder Associated Person, with respect to Company Securities without regard to whether such transaction is required to be reported on a Schedule 13D in accordance with the Exchange Act) and any other information about such Derivative Instrument that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or is 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, if such Derivative Instruments were treated the same as Company Securities under such requirements;
(D) any rights to dividends from Company Securities owned beneficially by such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person;
(E) any proportionate interest in Company Securities or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership or similar entity in which such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person (A)
is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, or (B) is the manager, managing member or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in the manager or managing member of a limited liability company or similar entity;
(F) any substantial interest, direct or indirect (including, without limitation, any existing or prospective commercial, business or contractual relationship with the Corporation), by security holdings or otherwise, of such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, in the Corporation or any affiliate (as defined below) thereof, other than an interest arising from the ownership of Company Securities where such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person receives no extra or special benefit not shared on a pro rata basis by all other holders;
(G) a complete and accurate description of all agreements, arrangements or understandings, written or oral, and formal or informal, (A) between or among the stockholder giving the notice and any of the Stockholder Associated Persons or (B) between or among the stockholder giving the notice or any of the Stockholder Associated Persons and any other person or entity (naming each such person or entity) in connection with or related to the foregoing, including without limitation (x) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder giving the notice or Stockholder Associated Person has the right to vote any Company Securities; (y) any understanding, formal or informal, written or oral, that the stockholder giving the notice or any of the Stockholder Associated Persons may have reached with any stockholder of the Corporation (including their names) with respect to how such stockholder will vote its shares in the Corporation at any meeting of the Corporation's stockholders or take other action in support of any proposal(s), or other action to be taken, by the stockholder giving the notice or any of the Stockholder Associated Persons, and (z) any other agreements that would be required to be disclosed by the stockholder giving the notice or any Stockholder Associated Person or any other person or entity pursuant to Item 5 or Item 6 of a Schedule 13D that would be filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (regardless of whether the requirement to file a Schedule 13D is applicable to the stockholder giving the notice or any Stockholder Associated Person or other person or entity);
(H) a complete and accurate description of any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) to which any such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person may be entitled as a result of any increase or decrease in the value of Company Securities or any Derivative Instruments; and
(I) a complete and accurate description of any pending or threatened legal proceeding in which such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person is a party or participant involving the Corporation or any officer, affiliate or associate (as defined below) of the Corporation; and
(iv) as to the stockholder giving the notice or any Stockholder Associated Person with an interest or ownership referred to in clause (i) or clause (iii)(C) of this Section 2.1(c):
(A) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation's stock ledger, and the current name and business address, if different, of each such Stockholder Associated Person, and
(B) the investment strategy or objective, if any, of such stockholder and each such Stockholder Associated Person who is not an individual and a copy of the prospectus, offering memorandum or similar document, if any, provided to investors or potential investors in such stockholder and each such Stockholder Associated Person;
(v) as to the stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder Associated Person, a description of all arrangements or understandings between such person and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder and any material interest of such stockholder or such beneficial owner in such business, including any anticipated benefit to the stockholder or such beneficial owner therefrom;
(vi) as to the stockholder giving the notice, a representation that (A) such stockholder (x) is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting, (y) intends to vote such stock at such meeting, and (z) intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such business (and/or nominate any Proposed Nominees) before the meeting, and (B) if such stockholder does not appear to present such proposal(s) (or
Proposed Nominee(s)) at such meeting, the Corporation need not present such proposal(s) (or Proposed Nominee(s)) for a vote at such meeting, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation;
(vii) as to the stockholder giving the notice and/or any Stockholder Associated Person, a representation whether that such person 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(s) and/or (B) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal(s); and
(viii) as to the stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder Associated Person, any other information relating to such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person, if any, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved) pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The foregoing notice requirements of this Section 2.1(c) shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder with respect to business if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his or her intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act 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. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation (the information described in clauses (iii) through (viii), the "Proposing Stockholder Information").
Unless otherwise required by law, if a stockholder (or qualified representative) does not appear at the meeting of stockholders to present business proposed by such stockholder pursuant to this Section 2.1(c), such proposed business shall not be transacted, even though proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. No business shall be conducted at any annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this paragraph (c). The chairman of the meeting at which any business is proposed by a stockholder shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that such business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.1(c), and in such event, the business not properly before the meeting shall not be transacted.
A stockholder providing notice of any proposed business under this Section 2.1(c) shall update such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall continue to be true and correct (i) as of the record date for the meeting and (ii) as of the date that is ten business days prior to the meeting (or any postponement, adjournment or recess thereof), and such update shall be received by, the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than five business days after the record date for the meeting (in the case of an update required to be made as of the record date) and not later than seven business days prior to the date for the meeting, if practicable or, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the meeting or any adjournment, recess or postponement thereof (in the case of an update required to be made as of ten business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment, recess or postponement thereof).
If any information submitted pursuant to this Section 2.1(c) by any stockholder proposing business for consideration at a meeting of stockholders shall be inaccurate in any respect, such information may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with these Bylaws. Any such stockholder shall notify the Corporation of any inaccuracy or change in any such information within two business days of becoming aware of such inaccuracy or change. Upon written request by the Secretary, the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, any such stockholder shall provide, within seven business days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (A) written verification, reasonably satisfactory to the Board of Directors, any committee thereof or any authorized officer of the Corporation, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 2.1(c), and (B) a written update of any information (including written confirmation by such stockholder that it continues to intend to bring such nomination or other business proposal before the meeting) submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 2.1(c) as of an earlier date. If a stockholder
fails to provide such written verification within such period, the information as to which written verification was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 2.1(c).
Section 2.2 Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders may be called only as set forth in the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the "Certificate of Incorporation") of the Corporation. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation's notice of meeting.
Section 2.3 Notice of Meetings. A written notice of each annual or special meeting of stockholders shall be given stating 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, 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) and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, such notice of meeting shall be given not less than ten nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, personally, by mail or, to the extent and in the manner permitted by applicable law, electronically. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder's address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.
Section 2.4 Adjournments. Regardless of whether a quorum is present, any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be adjourned from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, if any, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the date, time and place, if any, thereof and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 2.3. If the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at an adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as the record date determined for stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting.
Section 2.5 Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of stock having a majority of the votes which could be cast by the holders of all outstanding stock entitled to vote at the meeting shall constitute a quorum at each meeting of stockholders. In the absence of a quorum, the chairman of the meeting or, in the absence of the chairman of the meeting, the stockholders so present, by the affirmative vote of the holders of stock having a majority of the votes which could be cast by all such holders, may adjourn the meeting for any reason from time to time in the manner provided in Section 2.4 of these Bylaws until a quorum is present. If a quorum is present when a meeting is convened, the subsequent withdrawal of stockholders, even though less than a quorum remains, shall not affect the ability of the remaining stockholders lawfully to transact business. In the event a quorum is present at a meeting of the stockholders, only the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting for any reason from time to time in the manner provided in Section 2.4 of these Bylaws. If a quorum is present at the original duly organized meeting of stockholders, it shall also be deemed present at an adjourned session of such meeting, unless a new record date is set for the adjourned session.
Section 2.6 Conduct; Remote Communication.
(a) Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board of Directors unless otherwise designated by the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of
Directors, 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 of the meeting, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include or address, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) the determination of when the polls shall open and close for any given matter to be voted on at the meeting (iii) maintenance of order and security at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iv) 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 the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (v) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; (vi) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants; and (g) removing any stockholder or any other individual who refuses to comply with the meeting rules, regulations and procedures as set forth by such chairman of the meeting; (h) conclusion, recess or adjournment of the meeting, regardless of whether a quorum is present in person or by proxy, to a later date and time and at a place announced at the meeting; (i) restricting the use of audio/video recording devices, cell phones and other electronic devices; and (j) complying with any state or local laws and regulations concerning safety and security. The chairman at any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such chairman of the meeting should so determine, such chairman of the meeting shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
(b) If authorized by the Board of Directors in accordance with these Bylaws and applicable law, stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication, (1) participate in a meeting of stockholders and (2) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided that (i) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder, (ii) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and (iii) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.
Section 2.7 Voting.
(a) Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by such stockholder which has voting power on the matter in question.
(b) Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot and need not be conducted by inspectors of election unless so required by Section 2.9 of these Bylaws or so determined by the holders of stock having a majority of the votes which could be cast by the holders of all outstanding stock entitled to vote which are present in person or by proxy at such meeting. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast in the election of directors. Each other question shall, unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, be decided by the vote of the holders of stock having a majority of the votes which could be cast by the holders of all stock entitled to vote on such question which are present in person or by proxy at the meeting.
(c) Stock of the Corporation standing in the name of another corporation and entitled to vote may be voted by such officer, agent or proxy as the Bylaws or other internal regulations of such other corporation may prescribe or, in the absence of such provision, as the board of directors or comparable body of such other corporation may determine.
(d) Stock of the Corporation standing in the name of a deceased person, a minor, an incompetent or a debtor in a case under Title 11, United States Code, and entitled to vote may be voted by an administrator, executor, guardian, conservator, debtor-in-possession or trustee, as the case may be, either in person or by proxy, without transfer of such shares into the name of the official or other person so voting.
(e) A stockholder whose voting stock of the Corporation is pledged shall be entitled to vote such stock unless on the transfer records of the Corporation the pledgor has expressly empowered the pledgee to vote such shares, in which case only the pledgee, or such pledgee's proxy, may represent such shares and vote thereon.
(f) If voting stock is held of record in the names of two or more persons, whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety or otherwise, or if two or more persons have the same fiduciary relationship respecting the same shares, unless the Secretary is given written notice to the contrary and is furnished with a copy of the instrument or order appointing them or creating the relationship wherein it is so provided, their acts with respect to voting shall have the following effect: (i) if only one votes, such act binds all; (ii) if more than one vote, the act of the majority so voting binds all; and (iii) if more than one votes, but the vote is evenly split on any particular matter each faction may vote such stock proportionally, or any person voting the shares, or a beneficiary, if any, may apply to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or such other court as may have jurisdiction to appoint an additional person to act with the persons so voting the stock, which shall then be voted as determined by a majority of such persons and the person appointed by the Court. If the instrument so filed shows that any such tenancy is held in unequal interests, a majority or even split for the purpose of this subsection shall be a majority or even split in interest.
(g) Stock of the Corporation belonging to the Corporation, or to another corporation a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of which are held by the Corporation, shall not be voted at any meeting of stockholders and shall not be counted in the total number of outstanding shares for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present. Nothing in this Section 2.7 shall limit the right of the Corporation to vote shares of stock of the Corporation held by it in a fiduciary capacity.
Section 2.8 Proxies.
(a) Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy filed with the Secretary before or at the time of the meeting. No such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable only if it expressly states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power or unless otherwise made irrevocable by law. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing with the Secretary an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or another duly executed proxy bearing a later date.
(b) A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy (i) by executing a writing authorizing such person or persons to act as such, which execution may be accomplished by such stockholder or such stockholder's authorized officer, director, partner, employee or agent (or, if the stock is held in a trust or estate, by a trustee, executor or administrator thereof) signing such writing or causing his or her signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means, including, but not limited to, facsimile signature, or (ii) by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic transmission (each, a "Transmission") to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such Transmission; provided that any such Transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that such Transmission was authorized by such stockholder.
(c) Any inspector or inspectors appointed pursuant to Section 2.9 of these Bylaws shall examine Transmissions to determine if they are valid. If no inspector or inspectors are so appointed, the Secretary or such other person or persons as shall be appointed from time to time by the Board of Directors shall examine
Transmissions to determine if they are valid. If it is determined that a Transmission is valid, the person or persons making that determination shall specify the information upon which such person or persons relied. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of such a writing or Transmission may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or Transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or Transmission could be used; provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or Transmission.
Section 2.9 Voting Procedures and Inspectors of Elections.
(a) If the Corporation has a class of voting stock that is (i) listed on a national securities exchange, (ii) authorized for quotation on an interdealer quotation system of a registered national securities association or (iii) held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders, the Board of Directors shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors (individually an "Inspector," and collectively the "Inspectors") to act at such meeting and make a written report thereof. The Board of Directors may designate one or more persons as alternate Inspectors to replace any Inspector who shall fail to act. If no Inspector or alternate is able to act at such meeting, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more other persons to act as Inspectors. Each Inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to execute faithfully the duties of Inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability.
(b) The Inspectors shall (i) ascertain the number of shares of stock of the Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each, (ii) determine the number of shares of stock of the Corporation present in person or by proxy at such meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period of time a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the Inspectors, and (v) certify their determination of the number of such shares present in person or by proxy at such meeting and their count of all votes and ballots. The Inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist them in the performance of their duties.
(c) The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at such meeting. No ballots, proxies or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes thereto, shall be accepted by the Inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware upon application by any stockholder shall determine otherwise.
(d) In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots, the Inspectors shall be limited to an examination of the proxies, any envelopes submitted with such proxies, any information referred to in paragraphs (b) and (c) of Section 2.8 of these Bylaws, ballots and the regular books and records of the Corporation, except that the Inspectors may consider other reliable information for the limited purpose of reconciling proxies and ballots submitted by or on behalf of banks, brokers, their nominees or similar persons which represent more votes than the holder of a proxy is authorized by a stockholder of record to cast or more votes than such stockholder holds of record. If the Inspectors consider other reliable information for the limited purpose permitted herein, the Inspectors, at the time they make their certification pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 2.9, shall specify the precise information considered by them, including the person or persons from whom such information was obtained, when and the means by which such information was obtained and the basis for the Inspectors' belief that such information is accurate and reliable.
Section 2.10 Fixing Date of Determination of Stockholders of Record.
(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, be not more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors 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 of Directors 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 of Directors in respect of a meeting, 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 of Directors 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.
(b) 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 of Directors may fix a record date, which shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no such record date is so 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 of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Section 2.11 List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The Secretary shall prepare, at least ten 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 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 days prior to the meeting: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, 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, the list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time thereof 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 stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list of stockholders or the books of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
ARTICLE III
Board of Directors
Section 3.1 Election; Resignation; Vacancies.
(a) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 3.1(a) or Section 3.2 shall be eligible for election as directors of the Corporation. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a meeting of stockholders by the Board of Directors or by any stockholder of the Corporation who (i) was a stockholder of record of the Corporation (x) at the time the notice provided for in this Section 3.1 is delivered to the Secretary, (y) on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting and (z) through the date of such annual meeting, (ii) who is entitled to vote at the annual meeting and (iii) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this paragraph (a). Any nomination by a stockholder must be made by timely written notice to the Secretary as hereinafter provided. To be timely, a stockholder's written notice shall set forth all information required under this Section 3.1(a) and shall be delivered or mailed to and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation: (i) with respect to an election to be held at an annual meeting of stockholders, not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials or a notice of availability of proxy materials (whichever is earlier) for the
immediately preceding year's annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within 30 days from the first anniversary of the immediately preceding year's annual meeting date, written notice by a stockholder in order to be timely must be received not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day before the date of such annual meeting and not later than the later of (x) the close of business on the 90th day before the date of such annual meeting, as originally convened, or the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which the first public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was made, and (ii) with respect to an election to be held at a special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors, not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which the first public disclosure of the date of such special meeting was made. The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the annual meeting (or in the case of a stockholder giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the annual meeting on behalf of such beneficial owner) shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such annual meeting. In no event shall the public disclosure of an adjournment or postponement of any annual or special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for giving of a stockholder notice as described above. A stockholder's notice to the Secretary delivered pursuant to this Section 3.1(a) shall set forth:
(i) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director (each, a "Proposed Nominee"):
(A) the name, age, business address and residence address of such Proposed Nominee;
(B) the principal occupation and employment of such Proposed Nominee;
(C) the name and address of such Proposed Nominee, if a holder of stock of the Corporation, as it appears on the Corporation's books and records,
(D) a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such Proposed Nominee completed by the Proposed Nominee in the form required by the Corporation (which form the stockholder shall request in writing from the Secretary and which the Secretary shall provide to such stockholder within ten days of receiving such request);
(E) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such Proposed Nominee being nominated, on the one hand, and the stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person, 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 Stockholder Associated Person were the "registrant" for purposes of such rule and the Proposed Nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant;
(F) the information required under Section 2.1(c)(iii)(A)-(C) with respect to the Proposed Nominee; and
(G) all information relating to the Proposed Nominee that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of the Proposed Nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder; and
(ii) as to the stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder Associated Person, the Proposing Stockholder Information with respect to such person.
Such notice shall be accompanied by a written representation and agreement, in the form required by the Corporation (which form the stockholder shall request in writing from the Secretary and which the Secretary shall provide to such stockholder within ten days of receiving such request), executed by the Proposed Nominee, that such Proposed Nominee (i) is not, and will not become a party to, any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation, including but not limited to 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, (ii) consents to being named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected, (iii) is not and will not become a party to (A) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such Proposed Nominee, 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 (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such Proposed Nominee's ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such Proposed Nominee's fiduciary duties under applicable law and (iv) would, if elected as a director of the Corporation, comply with applicable law of the principal U.S. exchange(s) upon which the stock of the Corporation is traded, all of the applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and trading and other policies and guidelines of the Corporation, as well as the applicable provisions of the Bylaws and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and applicable fiduciary duties under state law and, if elected as a director of the Corporation, currently would be in compliance with any such policies and guidelines that have been publicly disclosed; (v) intends to serve a full term if elected as a director of the Corporation; and (vi) will provide facts, statements and other information in all communications with the Corporation and its stockholders that are or will be true and correct in all material respects, and that 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 are made, not misleading;
At the request of the Board of Directors any person nominated by the Board of Directors for election as a director shall furnish to the Secretary (in accordance with any applicable time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under these Bylaws) that information required to be set forth in a stockholder's notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder's understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such Proposed Nominee, under the listing standards of each principal securities exchange upon which the stock of the Corporation is listed, any applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in determining and disclosing the independence of the Corporation's directors, including those applicable to a director's service on any of the committees of the Board of Directors.
A stockholder providing notice of any nomination of a director under this Section 3.1(a) shall update such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall continue to be true and correct (i) as of the record date for the meeting and (ii) as of the date that is ten business days prior to the meeting (or any postponement, adjournment or recess thereof), and such update shall be received by, the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than five business days after the record date for the meeting (in the case of an update required to be made as of the record date) and not later than seven business days prior to the date for the meeting, if practicable or, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the meeting or any adjournment, recess or postponement thereof (in the case of an update required to be made as of ten business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment, recess or postponement thereof).
If any information submitted pursuant to this Section 3.1(a) by any stockholder proposing individuals to nominate for election or reelection as a director at a meeting of stockholders shall be inaccurate in any respect, such information may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with these Bylaws. Any such stockholder shall notify the Corporation of any inaccuracy or change in any such information within two business days of becoming aware of such inaccuracy or change. Upon written request by the Secretary, the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, any such stockholder shall provide, within seven business days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (A) written verification, reasonably satisfactory to the Board of Directors, any committee thereof or any authorized officer of the Corporation, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 3.1(a), and (B) a written update of any information (including written confirmation by such stockholder that it continues to intend to bring such nomination or other business proposal before the meeting) submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 3.1(a) as of an earlier date. If a stockholder fails to provide such written verification within such period, the information as to which written verification was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 3.1(a).
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3.1(a) to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased, and there is no public disclosure of such action at least 90 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials or a notice of availability of proxy materials (whichever is earlier) for the immediately preceding year's annual meeting, a stockholder's notice required by this Section 3.1(a) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such public disclosure is first made by the Corporation.
No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 3.1(a). Unless otherwise required by law, if a stockholder (or qualified representative) does not appear at the meeting of stockholders to present a nomination proposed by such stockholder pursuant to this Section 3.1(a), such nomination shall be disregarded, even though proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. The chairman of the meeting at which a stockholder nomination is presented shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that such nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by this Section 3.1(a), and, in such event, the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
(b) Resignations
(i) Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary. A resignation shall take effect when the resignation is delivered to the officer to whom it is directed unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events, without any need for its acceptance. A resignation that is conditioned upon the director failing to receive a specified vote for reelection as a director may provide that it is irrevocable.
(ii) Each individual nominated for election as a director of the Corporation who consents to stand for election shall tender an irrevocable resignation in advance of the meeting for the election of directors. Such resignation shall become effective upon a determination by a majority of the remaining directors that (i) the information provided to the Corporation by such individual pursuant to Section 3.1(a) or Section 3.2(f) of these Bylaws, as applicable, was untrue in any material respect or omitted 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 or (ii) such individual, or any stockholder or group of stockholders who nominated such individual, shall have breached any obligations owed to the Corporation under these Bylaws.
(c) Any newly created directorship or any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors for any reason shall be filled as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 3.2 Proxy Access for Director Nominees
(a) Definitions. For purposes of this Section 3.2, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(i) "Compensation Arrangement" shall mean any direct or indirect compensatory, payment or other financial agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation, including, without limitation, any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with candidacy, service or action as a nominee or as a director.
(ii) "Eligible Stockholder" shall mean a person who has either (1) been a record holder of the shares of common stock of the Corporation used to satisfy the eligibility requirements in Section 3.2(d) continuously for the required three-year period or (2) provides to the Secretary of the Corporation, within the time period referred to in Section 3.2(e), evidence of continuous Ownership of such shares for such three-year period from one or more securities intermediaries.
(iii) "Maximum Number" shall mean that number of directors constituting the greater of (x) two and (y) 20% of the total number of directors of the Corporation on the last day on which a Nomination Notice may be submitted pursuant to this Section 3.2 (rounded down to the nearest whole number), which number shall be reduced as set forth in Section 3.2(c)(i).
(iv) "Minimum Number" shall mean 3% of the number of outstanding shares of common stock of the Corporation as of the most recent date for which such amount is given in any filing by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to the submission of the Nomination Notice.
(v) "Nominating Stockholder" shall mean any Eligible Stockholder or group of up to 20 stockholders (a "Nominator Group") that, collectively as a group, satisfy the requirements to qualify as an Eligible Stockholder, that (1) has (individually and collectively, in the case of a Nominator Group) satisfied all applicable conditions and complied with all applicable procedures set forth in this Section 3.2 (including, without limitation, the timely submission of a Nomination Notice that meets the requirements set forth in this Section 3.2), and (2) has nominated a Stockholder Nominee.
(vi) "Nomination Notice" shall mean all information and documents that a Nominating Stockholder is required to submit to the Secretary of the Corporation pursuant to Section 3.2(f).
(vii) "Own," "Owned" or "Owning" shall mean those outstanding shares of the Corporation's common stock with respect to which a stockholder possesses both:
(A) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares; and
(B) the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit and risk of loss on) such shares; provided, that the number of shares calculated in accordance with clauses (1) and (2) shall not include any shares:
(1) sold by such stockholder or any of its affiliates in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, including any short sale;
(2) borrowed by such stockholder or any of its affiliates for any purposes or purchased by such stockholder or any of its affiliates pursuant to an agreement to resell; or
(3) subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale, 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 outstanding capital stock of the Corporation, in any such case which instrument or agreement has, or is intended to have, or if exercised by either party thereto would have, the purpose or effect of reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such stockholder's or affiliates' full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares, and/or hedging, offsetting or altering to any degree gain or loss arising from the full economic Ownership of such shares by such stockholder or affiliate, other than any such arrangements solely involving a national or multi-national multi-industry market index.
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 the stockholder has delegated any voting power over such shares by means of a proxy, power of attorney or other instrument or arrangement which is revocable at any time by the stockholder. A stockholder's Ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the stockholder has loaned such shares provided that the stockholder has the power to recall such loaned shares within five business days' notice. The terms "Owned," "Owning" and other variations of the word "Own" shall have correlative meanings.
(viii) "Stock Exchange Rules" shall mean the rules of any stock exchange on which the Corporation's securities are traded.
(ix) "Stockholder Nominee" shall mean any person nominated for election pursuant to this Section 3.2.
(x) "Voting Commitment" shall mean any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how a person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question.
(b) Proxy Access at Annual Meeting. Subject to the provisions of this Section 3.2, if expressly requested in the relevant Nomination Notice, the Corporation shall include in its proxy statement for any annual meeting of stockholders:
(i) the name of any Stockholder Nominee, which shall also be included on the Corporation's form of proxy and ballot;
(ii) disclosure about the Stockholder Nominee and the Nominating Stockholder required under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission or other applicable law to be included in the proxy statement;
(iii) any statement included by the Nominating Stockholder in the Nomination Notice for inclusion in the proxy statement in support of the Stockholder Nominee's election to the Board of Directors (subject, without limitation, to Section 3.2(g)), if such statement does not exceed 500 words; and
(iv) any other information that the Corporation or the Board of Directors determines, in its discretion, to include in the proxy statement relating to the nomination of the Stockholder Nominee, including, without limitation, any statement in opposition to the nomination, information relating to any Compensation Arrangement and/or Voting Commitment, and any of the information provided pursuant to this Section 3.2.
For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Section 3.2 shall not apply to a special meeting of stockholders, and the Corporation shall not be required to include a director nominee of a stockholder or group of stockholders in the Corporation's proxy statement form of proxy or ballot for any special meeting of stockholders.
(c) Maximum Number of Stockholder Nominees.
(i) The Corporation shall not be required to include in the proxy statement for an annual meeting of stockholders more Stockholder Nominees than the Maximum Number. In the event that one or more vacancies for any reason occurs on the Board of Directors after the deadline set forth in Section 3.2(e) but before the date of the annual meeting and the Board of Directors 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. The Maximum Number for a particular annual meeting shall be reduced by:
(A) Stockholder Nominees whose nominations for election at such annual meeting are subsequently withdrawn;
(B) Stockholder Nominees who the Board of Directors itself decides to nominate for election at such annual meeting;
(C) the number of incumbent directors or director candidates (including, without limitation, candidates who are not Stockholder Nominees) that in either case will be included in the Corporation's proxy statement for an annual meeting of stockholders as an unopposed (by the Corporation) nominee pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or other understanding with any stockholder or group of stockholders; and
(D) the number of incumbent directors who had been Stockholder Nominees at any of the preceding two annual meetings of stockholders and whose reelection at the upcoming annual meeting is being recommended by the Board of Directors.
(ii) Any Nominating Stockholder submitting more than one Stockholder Nominee for inclusion in the Corporation's proxy materials pursuant to this Section 3.2 shall rank such Stockholder Nominees based on the order that the Nominating Stockholder desires such Stockholder Nominees to be selected for inclusion in the Corporation's proxy materials. In the event that the number of Stockholder Nominees submitted by Nominating Stockholders pursuant to this Section 3.2 exceeds the Maximum Number, the highest ranking Stockholder Nominee who meets the requirements of this Section 3.2 from each Nominating Stockholder will be selected for inclusion in the Corporation's proxy materials until the Maximum Number is reached, going in order of the amount (largest to smallest) of shares of the stock of the Corporation each Nominating Stockholder Owns, as disclosed in its respective Nomination Notice submitted to the Corporation. This selection 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.
(d) Eligible Stockholders.
(i) An Eligible Stockholder or Nominator Group may submit a nomination in accordance with this Section 3.2 only if the person or group (in the aggregate) has continuously Owned at least the Minimum Number (as adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends or similar events) of shares of the Corporation's common stock throughout the three-year period preceding and including the date of submission of the Nomination Notice, and continues to Own at least the Minimum Number of shares through the date of the annual meeting. The following shall be treated as one Eligible Stockholder or one member of a Nominator Group if such Eligible Stockholder or member of a Nominator Group shall provide together with the Nomination Notice documentation that demonstrates compliance with the following criteria:
(A) funds under common management and investment control;
(B) funds under common management and funded primarily by the same employer; or
(C) a "family of investment companies" or a "group of investment companies" (each as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended).
For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of a nomination by a Nominator Group, any and all requirements and obligations for a given Eligible Stockholder (including, without limitation, each and every fund or company that comprises the Nominator Group) that are set forth in this Section 3.2, including the minimum holding period, shall apply to each member of such group; provided, however, that the Minimum Number shall apply to the Ownership of the Nominator Group in the aggregate. Should any stockholder withdraw from a Nominator Group at any time prior to the annual meeting of stockholders, the Nominator Group shall only be deemed to Own the shares held by the remaining members of the group.
(ii) No stockholder shall be permitted to be in more than one Nominator Group, and if any stockholder appears as a member of more than one Nominator Group, or as a member of a Nominator Group and as a Nominating Stockholder without any such group, such stockholder shall be deemed to be a member of only the Nominator Group that has the largest Ownership position as reflected in the Nomination Notice and is not permitted to act as a Nominating Stockholder separate from such Nominator Group.
(e) Timely Nomination Notice. To be timely, the Nomination Notice shall have been delivered to or mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 120 nor more than 150 days in advance of the date which is the anniversary of the date the Corporation's proxy statement was released to security holders in connection with the previous year's annual meeting, except where information or documents are required to be provided after the date the Nomination Notice is first submitted, as set forth in this Section 3.2, or, if the date of the applicable annual meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date contemplated at the time of the previous year's proxy statement, not less than 90 days before the date of the applicable annual meeting, or, if later, the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting, whichever occurs first, and in no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting, or the announcement thereof, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of the Nomination Notice.
(f) Nomination Notice. The Nomination Notice shall consist of, collectively, the following information, documents and agreements which shall, for avoidance of doubt, be compiled, completed and submitted by the Nominating Stockholder or its representatives at its own cost:
(i) documentary evidence in the form of one or more written statements from the record holder of the shares (and from each intermediary through which the shares are or have been held during the requisite three-year holding period, provided that each such intermediary must be a participant in the Depository Trust Company or an affiliate of a participant in the Depository Trust Company) verifying and certifying that, as of a date within seven calendar days prior to the date of the Nomination Notice, the Nominating Stockholder Owns, and has continuously Owned for the preceding three years, the Minimum Number of shares, and the Nominating Stockholder's agreement to provide, within five business days after the record date for the annual meeting, documentary evidence in the form of written statements from the record holder and intermediaries verifying and certifying the Nominating Stockholder's continuous Ownership of the Minimum Number of shares through the record date;
(ii) an undertaking to provide immediate notice if the Nominating Stockholder ceases to Own the Minimum Number of shares prior to the date of the annual meeting;
(iii) a copy of the Schedule 14N (or any successor form) relating to the Stockholder Nominee, completed and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Nominating Stockholder as applicable, in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission rules;
(iv) the written consent of each Stockholder Nominee to being named in the Corporation's proxy statement, form of proxy and ballot as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected;
(v) a written notice of the nomination of such Stockholder Nominee that includes the following additional information, agreements, representations and warranties by the Nominating Stockholder (including, for the avoidance of doubt, each member of a Nominator Group):
(A) the information and other deliverables that would be required to be set forth in a stockholder's notice of nomination pursuant to this Section 3.2, as if the Nominating Stockholder were proposing a director nominee under that section;
(B) to the extent not included in the response to paragraph (1) above, a detailed description of all direct and indirect material compensation and other monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among the Nominating Stockholder, on the one hand, and each Stockholder Nominee, 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 (or its successor Item) if the Nominating Stockholder were the "registrant" for purposes of such item and the Stockholder Nominee, were a director or executive officer of such registrant;
(C) a detailed description of all communications by such Nominating Stockholder with any other stockholder or beneficial owner of any securities of the Corporation regarding such Stockholder Nominee;
(D) the details of any relationship that existed within the past three 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 the Schedule 14N;
(E) a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder 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;
(F) a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder has not nominated and will not nominate for election to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting any person other than such Nominating Stockholder's Stockholder Nominee(s);
(G) a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder has not engaged in and will not engage in a "solicitation" within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the Exchange Act with respect to the annual meeting, other than with respect to such Nominating Stockholder's Stockholder Nominee(s) or any nominee of the Board of Directors;
(H) a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder has not engaged in and will not engage in, other than with respect to such Nominating Stockholder's Stockholder Nominee(s) or any nominee of the Board of Directors, (1) an exempt solicitation as described in Rule 14a-2(b) under the Exchange Act, or (2) any communication, as described in Rule 14a-1(l)(2)(iv) under the Exchange Act, stating how the Nominating Stockholder intends to vote at the annual meeting and the reasons therefore;
(I) a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder will not use or distribute any proxy card other than the Corporation's proxy card in soliciting stockholders in connection with the election of a Stockholder Nominee at the annual meeting;
(J) a representation and warranty that the Stockholder Nominee's candidacy or, if elected, board membership would not violate applicable state or federal law or Stock Exchange Rules;
(K) a representation and warranty that the Stockholder Nominee: (A) qualifies as independent under the Stock Exchange Rules and any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in determining and disclosing the independence of the directors; and (B) is not and has not been subject to any event specified in Rule 506(d)(1) of Regulation D (or any successor rule) under the Securities Act of 1933 or Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K (or any successor rule) under the Exchange Act, without reference to whether the event is material to an evaluation of the ability or integrity of the Stockholder Nominee;
(L) a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder satisfies the eligibility requirements set forth in Section 3.2(d);
(M) a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder will continue to satisfy the eligibility requirements described in Section 3.2(d) through the date of the annual meeting;
(N) The details of any position of the Stockholder Nominee as an officer or director of any competitor (that is, any entity that provides products or services that compete with or are alternatives to the principal products produced or services provided by the Corporation or its affiliates) of the Corporation, within the three years preceding the submission of the Nomination Notice;
(O) if desired, a statement for inclusion in the proxy statement in support of the Stockholder Nominee's election to the Board of Directors; provided, that any such statement shall not exceed 500 words and shall fully comply with Section 14 of the Exchange Act; and
(P) in the case of a nomination by a Nominator Group, the designation by all group members of one group member that is authorized to act on behalf of all group members with respect to matters relating to the nomination, including withdrawal of the nomination;
(vi) an executed agreement (which form of agreement shall be provided to the Nominating Stockholder by the Secretary upon written request), which must be submitted within ten days of the Nominating Stockholder's first submission of the Nomination Notice, pursuant to which the Nominating Stockholder (including each member of a Nominator Group) agrees:
(A) to comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations in connection with the nomination, solicitation and election;
(B) to file any written solicitation or other communication with the Corporation's stockholders relating to one or more of the Corporation's directors or director nominees or any Stockholder Nominee with the Securities and Exchange Commission, regardless of whether any such filing is required under any rule or regulation or whether any exemption from filing is available for such materials under any rule or regulation;
(C) to assume all liability stemming from any action, suit or proceeding concerning any actual or alleged legal or regulatory violation arising out of any communication by the Nominating Stockholder or the Stockholder Nominee nominated by such Nominating Stockholder with the Corporation, its stockholders or any other person, including, without limitation, the Nomination Notice;
(D) to indemnify and hold harmless (jointly with all other members of a Nominator Group, if applicable) the Corporation and each of its directors, officers and employees individually against any liability, loss, damages, expenses or other costs (including attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (whether threatened, pending or completed), whether legal, judicial administrative or investigative, against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers or employees arising out of or relating to a failure or alleged failure of the Nominating Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee to comply with, or any breach or alleged breach of, its, or his or her, as applicable, obligations, agreements or representations under or pursuant to this Section 3.2, or otherwise arising out of any nomination, solicitation or other activity by any Eligible Stockholder or any member of a Nominator Group in connection with its efforts pursuant to this Section 3.2;
(E) to promptly (and in any event within 48 hours of discovering such misstatement or omission) notify the Corporation and any other recipient of any misstatement or omission if information included in the Nomination Notice, or any other communication by the Nominating Stockholder (including with respect to any member of a Nominator Group) with the Corporation, its stockholders or any other person in connection with the nomination or election ceases to be true and accurate in all material respects (or omits a material fact necessary to make the statements made not misleading), and promptly notify the Corporation and any other recipient of the information that is required to correct the misstatement or omission; and
(F) in the event that the Nominating Stockholder (including any member of a Nominator Group) has failed to continue to satisfy the eligibility requirements described in Section 3.2(d), to promptly notify the Corporation.
(vii) an executed questionnaire (which form of questionnaire shall be provided to the Nominating Stockholder by the Secretary upon written request), which must be submitted within ten days of the Nominating Stockholder's first submission of the Nomination Notice;
(viii) an executed agreement (which form of agreement shall be provided to the Nominating Stockholder by the Secretary upon written request), which must be submitted within ten days of the Nominating Stockholder's first submission of the Nomination Notice, by the Stockholder Nominee:
(A) to provide to the Corporation such other information as it may reasonably request;
(B) that the Stockholder Nominee has read and agrees, if elected, to serve as a member of the Board of Directors, act as a representative of all of the stockholders of the Corporation while serving as a director, comply with all of the duties of directors under applicable law and adhere to the Corporation's Corporate Governance Principles and Policies on Business Conduct and any other policies and guidelines applicable to directors as well as the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and any Stock Exchange Rules; and
(C) that the Stockholder Nominee is not and will not become a party to (1) any Compensation Arrangement in connection with such person's nomination or candidacy for director and/or such person's service or action as a director of the Corporation that has not been disclosed to the Corporation prior to or concurrently with the Nominating Stockholder's submission of the Nomination Notice, or (2) any Voting Commitment that has not been disclosed to the Corporation prior to or concurrently with the Nominating Stockholder's submission of the Nomination Notice. The information and documents required by this Section 3.2(f) shall be provided with respect to and be executed by the Nominating Stockholder (and each member of a Nominator Group), and provided with
respect to the persons specified in Instructions 1 and 2 to Items 6(c) and (d) of Schedule 14N (or any successor item) in the case of a Nominating Stockholder or any member of a Nominator Group that is an entity. The Nomination Notice shall be deemed submitted on the date on which all the information and documents referred to in this Section 3.2(f) (other than such information and documents required to be provided after the date the Nomination Notice is first submitted) have been delivered to or, if sent by mail, received by the Secretary of the Corporation. The Nominating Stockholder shall further update and supplement the Nominating Notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such Nomination Notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and any such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five business days after the record date for the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than eight business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment of postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).
(g) Exclusion or Disqualification of Stockholder Nominees.
(i) If, after the deadline for submitting a Nomination Notice as set forth in Section 3.2(e), a Nominating Stockholder becomes ineligible or withdraws its nomination or a Stockholder Nominee becomes ineligible or unwilling to serve on the Board of Directors, whether before or after the mailing of the definitive proxy statement, the Corporation:
(A) shall not be required to include in its proxy statement or on any ballot or form of proxy the Stockholder Nominee or any successor or replacement nominee proposed by the Nominating Stockholder or by any other Nominating Stockholder; and
(B) may otherwise communicate to its stockholders, including without limitation by amending or supplementing its proxy statement or ballot or form of proxy, that the Stockholder Nominee will not be included as a Stockholder Nominee in the proxy statement or on any ballot or form of proxy and will not be voted on at the annual meeting.
(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 3.2, the Corporation may omit from its proxy materials any Stockholder Nominee, and any information concerning such Stockholder Nominee (including a Nominating Stockholder's statement in support), and in such case no vote on such Stockholder Nominee will occur (notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation), and the Nominating Stockholder may not, after the last day on which a Nomination Notice would be timely, cure in any way any defect preventing the nomination of the Stockholder Nominee, if:
(A) the Corporation receives a notice that a stockholder intends to nominate a candidate for director at the annual meeting pursuant to the advance notice requirements set forth in this Section 3.2;
(B) the Nominating Stockholder has engaged in a "solicitation" within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the Exchange Act with respect to the annual meeting, other than with respect to such Nominating Stockholder's Stockholder Nominee(s) or any nominee of the Board of Directors;
(C) the Nominating Stockholder has engaged in, other than with respect to such Nominating Stockholder's Stockholder Nominee(s) or any nominee of the Board of Directors, (1) an exempt solicitation as described in Rule 14a-2(b) under the Exchange Act, or (2) any communication, as described in Rule 14a-1(l)(2)(iv) under the Exchange Act, stating how the Nominating Stockholder intends to vote at the annual meeting and the reasons therefore;
(D) the Nominating Stockholder or the designated lead group member of a Nominator Group, as applicable, or any qualified representative thereof, does not appear at the annual meeting to present the nomination submitted in accordance with this Section 3.2;
(E) the Board of Directors, acting in good faith, determines that such Stockholder Nominee's nomination or election to the Board of Directors would result in the Corporation violating or failing to be in compliance with these By-laws or the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation or any applicable law, rule or regulation to which the Corporation is subject, including the Stock Exchange Rules;
(F) the Stockholder Nominee was nominated for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to this Section 3.2 at one of the Corporation's two preceding annual meetings of stockholders and either withdrew from or became ineligible or unavailable for election at such annual meeting or received a vote of less than 25% of the shares of common stock entitled to vote for such Stockholder Nominee;
(G) the Stockholder Nominee has been, within the past three years, an officer or director of a competitor, as defined for purposes of Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, as amended; or
(H) the Nominating Stockholder has failed to continue to satisfy the eligibility requirements described in Section 3.2(d), any of the representations and warranties made in the Nomination Notice ceases to be true and accurate in all material respects (or the Nomination Notice omits a material fact necessary to make the statement made not misleading), the Stockholder Nominee becomes unwilling or unable to serve on the Board of Directors or any violation or breach occurs of any of the obligations, agreements, representations or warranties of the Nominating Stockholder or the Stockholder Nominee under this Section 3.2.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 3.2, the Corporation may omit from its proxy statement, or may supplement or correct, any information, including all or any portion of the statement in support of the Stockholder Nominee included in the Nomination Notice, if:
(A) such information is not true in all material respects or omits a material statement necessary to make the statements made not misleading;
(B) such information directly or indirectly impugns the character, integrity or personal reputation of, or directly or indirectly makes charges concerning improper, illegal or immoral conduct or associations, without factual foundation, with respect to, any individual, Corporation, partnership, association or other entity, organization or governmental authority;
(C) the inclusion of such information in the proxy statement would otherwise violate the Securities and Exchange Commission proxy rules or any other applicable law, rule or regulation; or
(D) the inclusion of such information in the proxy statement would impose a material risk of liability upon the Corporation.
(iv) The Corporation may solicit against, and include in the proxy statement its own statement relating to, any Stockholder Nominee.
(h) Interpretation. The Board of Directors (and any other person or body authorized by the Board of Directors, including, without limitation, the person presiding over the relevant annual meeting) shall have the power and authority to interpret this Section 3.2 and to make any and all determinations necessary or advisable to apply this Section 3.2 to any persons, facts or circumstances, including the power to determine (i) whether one or more stockholders or beneficial owners qualifies as an Eligible Stockholder or Nominator Group, as applicable, (ii) whether a Nomination Notice complies with this Section 3.2, (iii) whether a Stockholder Nominee satisfies the qualifications and requirements in this Section 3.2, and (iv) whether any and all requirements of this Section 3.2 have been satisfied. Any such interpretation or determination adopted in good faith by the Board of Directors (or any other person or body authorized by the Board of Directors, including, without limitation, the person presiding over
the relevant annual meeting) shall be binding on all persons, including the Corporation and its stockholders (including any beneficial owners). The person presiding over the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedures, and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
Section 3.3 Regular Meetings. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, a regular annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held, without call or notice, immediately after and, if the annual meeting of stockholders is held at a place, at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders, for the purpose of organizing the Board of Directors, electing officers and transacting any other business that may properly come before such meeting. Additional regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without call or notice at such times as shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.4 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary, and shall be called by any of the aforementioned people at the written request of any two members of the Board of Directors. Notice of a special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given by the person or persons calling the meeting at least twenty-four (24) hours before the special meeting; provided, however, that if the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer determines in good faith that holding a special meeting of the Board of Directors is necessary or advisable, the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may provide less than twenty-four (24) hours' notice. The purpose or purposes of a special meeting need not be stated in the call or notice.
Section 3.5 Organization. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or, in his or her absence, by the Chief Executive Officer, or in his or her absence, by a chairman chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. A majority of the directors present at a meeting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may adjourn such meeting to any other date, time or place without notice other than announcement at the meeting.
Section 3.6 Quorum; Vote Required for Action. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, at all meetings of the Board of Directors a majority of the whole Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Unless the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws otherwise provide, the vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.7 Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, designate one or more committees, including but not limited to an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Governance Committee, each committee to consist of one or more directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors 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 the committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by law and provided in these Bylaws or in the resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee, or an amendment to such resolution, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it.
Section 3.8 Telephonic Meetings. Directors, or any committee of directors designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 3.8 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 3.9 Board of Director Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of
the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing (which may be in counterparts) or by electronic transmission or transmissions, and the written consent or consents or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee. Such filing shall be made in paper form if the minutes of the Corporation are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form. Such action by written consent or consent by electronic transmission shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the Board of Directors or of such committee.
Section 3.10 Committee Rules. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise provides, each committee designated by the Board of Directors may make, alter and repeal rules not inconsistent with the provisions of law for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules, each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of Directors conducts its business pursuant to this Article III of these Bylaws.
Section 3.11 Reliance upon Records. Every director, and every member of any committee of the Board of Directors, shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other person as to matters the director or member reasonably believes are within such other person's professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation, including, but not limited to, such records, information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities and/or net profits of the Corporation, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of surplus or other funds from which dividends might properly be declared and paid, or with which the Corporation's capital stock might properly be purchased or redeemed.
Section 3.12 Interested Directors. A director who is directly or indirectly a party to a contract or transaction with the Corporation, or is a director or officer of or has a financial interest in any other corporation, partnership, association or other organization which is a party to a contract or transaction with the Corporation, may be counted in determining whether a quorum is present at any meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof at which such contract or transaction is considered or authorized, and such director may participate in such meeting and vote on such authorization to the extent permitted by applicable law, including Section 144 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
Section 3.13 Compensation. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors. The directors shall be paid their reasonable expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each such meeting and an annual retainer or salary for services as a director or committee member. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 3.14 Emergency Bylaw. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, this Section 3.14 shall be operative during any emergency, resulting from an attack on the United States or on a locality in which the Corporation conducts its business or customarily holds meetings of its Board of Directors or its stockholders, or during any nuclear or atomic disaster or during the existence of any catastrophe, including, but not limited to, an epidemic or pandemic, and a declaration of a national emergency by the United States government, or other similar emergency condition, irrespective of whether a quorum of the Board of Directors or a standing committee thereof can readily be convened for action (an “Emergency”).
(a) During any Emergency, any director or officer of the Corporation may call a meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof and notice of the place and time of such meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may be given only to such directors as may be feasible to reach at the time and by such means as may be feasible at the time and with such advance notice as circumstances permit in the judgment of the person calling the meeting. Neither the business to be transacted nor the purpose of any such meeting need be specified in the notice thereof.
(b) At any meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, called in accordance with this Section 3.14, the director or directors in attendance at the meeting shall constitute a quorum. Vacancies on the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, may be filled by a majority vote of the directors in attendance at the meeting. In the event that no directors are able to attend the meeting of the Board of Directors, then the Designated Officers in attendance shall serve as directors for the meeting, without any additional quorum requirement and will have full powers to act as directors of the Corporation for such meeting. For purposes of this Section 3.14, “Designated Officers” means a list of officers of the Corporation who shall be deemed to be directors of the Corporation for purposes of obtaining a quorum during an Emergency if a quorum of directors cannot otherwise be obtained during such Emergency, which officers have been designated by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, as the case may be, from time to time but in any event prior to such time or times as an Emergency may have occurred. If the Board of Directors or a committee thereof has not approved a list of Designated Officers prior to the Emergency, then the officers of the Corporation in attendance shall serve as directors for the meeting, without any additional quorum requirement and will have full powers to act as directors of the Corporation for such meeting.
(c) No director, officer or employee acting in accordance with this Section 3.14 or otherwise pursuant to Section 110 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (or any successor section) shall be liable except for willful misconduct.
(d) The Board of Directors, either before or during any Emergency, may, effective in the Emergency, change the head office or designate several alternative head offices or regional offices, or authorize the officers so to do. Without limiting any powers or emergency actions that the Board of Directors may take during an Emergency, during an Emergency, the Board of Directors may take any action that it determines to be practical and necessary to address the circumstances of the Emergency including, without limitation, taking the actions with respect to stockholder meetings and dividends as provided in Section 110(i) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
(e) At any meeting called in accordance with this Section 3.14(a), the Board of Directors may modify, amend or add to the provisions of this Section 3.14 in order to make any provision that may be practical or necessary given the circumstances of the Emergency.
(f) The provisions of this Section 3.14 shall be subject to repeal or change by further action of the Board of Directors or by action of the stockholders, but no such repeal or change shall modify the provisions of paragraph (c) hereof with regard to action taken prior to the time of such repeal or change.
(g) Nothing contained in this Section 3.14 shall be deemed exclusive of any other provisions for emergency powers consistent with other sections of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware which have been or may be adopted by corporations created under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 4.1 Executive Officers; Election; Qualification; Term of Office. The Board of Directors shall elect a Chairman of the Board of Directors from among its members and shall elect a Chief Executive Officer and a Chief Financial Officer. The Board of Directors shall also elect a Secretary and may elect a President, one or more Vice Presidents, and one or more Assistant Secretaries. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. Each officer shall hold office until the first meeting of the Board of Directors after the annual meeting of stockholders next succeeding his or her election, and until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.
Section 4.2 Resignation; Removal; Vacancies. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary. Unless otherwise stated in a notice of resignation, it shall take effect when received by the officer to whom it is directed, without any need for its
acceptance. The Board of Directors may remove any officer with or without cause at any time, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights of such officer, if any, with the Corporation. A vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term thereof by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting.
Section 4.3 Powers and Duties of Executive Officers. The officers of the Corporation shall have such powers and duties in the management of the Corporation as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may require any officer, agent or employee to give security for the faithful performance of his or her duties.
Section 4.4 Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation shall in general supervise and control all of the business affairs of the Corporation, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer may execute, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other instruments which the Board of Directors or a committee thereof has authorized to be executed, except in cases where the execution shall have been expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof to some other officer or agent of the Corporation.
Section 4.5 President. The President shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board of Directors or 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, the President shall perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer and, when so performing, shall have all the powers and be subject to all the restrictions upon the office of Chief Executive Officer.
Section 4.6 Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. The Chief Financial Officer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the Controlling Officer and the Board of Directors, at its regular meetings, or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of all such officer's transactions as Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the Corporation. If required by the Board of Directors, the Chief Financial Officer shall give the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of the office and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of such person's death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in his possession or under his control belonging to the Corporation.
Section 4.7 Secretary. In addition to such other duties, if any, as may be assigned to the Secretary by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, the Secretary shall (i) keep the minutes of proceedings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and any committee of the Board of Directors in one or more books provided for that purpose; (ii) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; (iii) be the custodian of the records and seal of the Corporation; (iv) affix or cause to be affixed the seal of the Corporation or a facsimile thereof, and attest the seal by his or her signature, to all documents the execution of which under seal is authorized by the Board of Directors; and (v) unless such duties have been delegated by the Board of Directors to a transfer agent of the Corporation, keep or cause to be kept a register of the name and address of each stockholder, as the same shall be furnished to the Secretary by such stockholder, and have general charge of the stock transfer records of the Corporation.
Section 4.8 Assistant Secretaries. Except as may be otherwise provided in these Bylaws, Assistant Secretaries, if there be any, shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, if there be one, or any Vice President, if there be one, or the Secretary, and in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of such person's disability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the Secretary, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Secretary.
Section 4.9 Vice Presidents. Except as may be otherwise provided in these Bylaws, Vice Presidents, if there be any, shall perform such duties and possess such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. The Board of Directors may assign to any Vice President the title of Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or any other such title.
Section 4.10 Other Officers. Such other officers as the Board of Directors may choose shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may delegate to any other officer of the Corporation the power to choose such other officers and to prescribe their respective duties and powers.
ARTICLE V
Stock Certificates and Transfers
Section 5.1 Certificated and Uncertificated Shares. Shares of the Corporation's stock may be certificated or uncertificated, as provided under Delaware law. All certificates of stock of the Corporation shall be numbered and shall be entered in the books of the Corporation as they are issued. The certificates shall be signed by (i) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, if any, or a Vice President, if any, and (ii) the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, and certify the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation.
Section 5.2 Signatures. Any signature required to be on a certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
Section 5.3 Lost Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates. The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as the Board of Directors shall require and/or to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
Section 5.4 Transfers of Stock. Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these Bylaws. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the record holder of such stock, or by their attorney lawfully constituted in writing, and, in the case of stock represented by a certificate, upon the surrender of the certificate.
Section 5.5 Stockholders of Record. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty days prior to any such other corporate action. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
Section 5.6 Beneficial Owners. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall not be bound to
recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law.
ARTICLE VI
Notices
Section 6.1 Manner of Notice.
(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, whenever notice is required to be given to any stockholder, director or member of any committee of the Board of Directors, such notice may be given by (i) personal delivery, (ii) depositing it, in a sealed envelope, in the United States mails, first class, postage prepaid, addressed, (iii) delivering to a company for overnight or second day mail or delivery, (iv) delivering it to a telegraph company, charges prepaid, for transmission, or by transmitting it via telecopier, or (v) any other reliable means permitted by applicable law (including, subject to Section 6.1(b), electronic transmission) to such stockholder, director or member, either at the address of such stockholder, director or member as it appears on the records of the Corporation or, in the case of such a director or member, at his or her business address; and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when it is thus personally delivered, deposited, delivered or transmitted, as the case may be. Such requirement for notice shall also be deemed satisfied, except in the case of stockholder meetings, if actual notice is received orally or by other writing by the person entitled thereto as far in advance of the event with respect to which notice is being given as the minimum notice period required by law or these Bylaws.
(b) Without limiting the foregoing, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation pursuant to these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation and shall also be deemed revoked if (1) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent and (2) such inability becomes known to the Secretary of the Corporation, the transfer agent or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, that the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action. Notice given by a form of electronic transmission in accordance with these Bylaws shall be deemed given: (i) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (ii) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (iii) if by a posting on an electronic network, together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of such posting and the giving of such separate notice; and (iv) if by another form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.
Section 6.2 Dispensation with Notice.
(a) Whenever notice is required to be given by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws to any stockholder to whom (i) notice of two consecutive annual meetings of stockholders, and all notices of meetings of stockholders to such stockholder during the period between such two consecutive annual meetings, or (ii) all, and at least two, payments (if sent by first class mail) of dividends or interest on securities of the Corporation during a 12-month period, have been mailed addressed to such stockholder at the address of such stockholder as shown on the records of the Corporation and have been returned undeliverable, the giving of such notice to such stockholder shall not be required. Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to such stockholder shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. If any such stockholder shall deliver to the Corporation a written notice setting forth the then current address of such stockholder, the requirement that notice be given to such stockholder shall be reinstated.
(b) Whenever notice is required to be given by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws to any person with whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required, and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to
such person. Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to any such person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given.
Section 6.3 Waiver of Notice. Any written waiver of notice, signed by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. 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. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, directors, or members of a committee or directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice.
ARTICLE VII
Indemnification
Section 7.1 Right to Indemnification.
(a) The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law as in effect on the date of adoption of these Bylaws or as it may thereafter be amended, any 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 is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture or other enterprise, against any and all liability and loss (including judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) suffered or incurred and expenses reasonably incurred by such person. The Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification to such of the employees and agents of the Corporation to such extent and to such effect as the Board of Directors shall determine to be appropriate and authorized by Delaware law. The Corporation shall not be required to indemnify a person in connection with a proceeding initiated by such person, including a counterclaim or crossclaim, unless the proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors.
(b) For purposes of this Article VII: (i) any reference to "other enterprise" shall include all plans, programs, policies, agreements, contracts and payroll practices and related trusts for the benefit of or relating to employees of the Corporation and its related entities ("employee benefit plans"); (ii) any reference to "fines", "penalties", "liability" and "expenses" shall include any excise taxes, penalties, claims, liabilities and reasonable expenses (including reasonable legal fees and related expenses) assessed against or incurred by a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; (iii) any reference to "serving at the request of the Corporation" shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or trustee or administrator of any employee benefit plan which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, beneficiaries, fiduciaries, administrators and service providers; (iv) any reference to serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of a partnership or trust shall include service as a partner or trustee; and (v) a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he or she 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" for purposes of this Article VII.
Section 7.2 Prepayment of Expenses. The Corporation shall pay or reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition if the Corporation has received an undertaking by the person receiving such payment or reimbursement to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VII or otherwise.
Section 7.3 Claims. If a claim for indemnification or payment of expenses under this Article VII is not paid in full within 60 days after a written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation, the claimant 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 of prosecuting such claim. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the claimant was not entitled to the requested indemnification or payment of expenses under applicable law.
Section 7.4 Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any person by this Article VII shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
Section 7.5 Other Indemnification. The Corporation's obligation, if any, to indemnify any person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee, partner or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture or other enterprise.
Section 7.6 Amendment or Repeal. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article VII shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE VIII
General
Section 8.1 Fiscal year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors. Initially, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on March 31 of each year.
Section 8.2 Seal. The corporate seal shall have the name of the Corporation inscribed thereon and shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 8.3 Definitions.
(a) 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.
(b) For purposes of these Bylaws, "public disclosure" shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or comparable national news service, or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(c) For purposes of these Bylaws, a "qualified representative" of a stockholder shall mean a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or a person 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 meeting of stockholders, which writing (or a reliable reproduction thereof) shall be produced at the meeting of stockholders.
(d) For purposes of these Bylaws, "Stockholder Associated Person" of any stockholder means (i) any person acting in concert with such stockholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder (other than a stockholder that is a depositary) and (iii) any person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such stockholder or such Stockholder Associated Person.
Section 8.4 Exclusive Forum. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum (an “Alternative Forum Consent”), the Delaware Court of Chancery shall be the sole and exclusive forum for, and shall have exclusive jurisdiction with respect to, (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, stockholder, employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, including a claim alleging the aiding and abetting of such a breach of fiduciary duty, (c) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any current or former director, officer, stockholder, employee or agent
of the Corporation arising out of or relating to any provision of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, (d) any action asserting a claim related to or involving the Corporation or any director, officer, stockholder, employee or agent of the Corporation that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the State of Delaware, or (e) any action asserting an “internal corporate claim” as that term is defined in Section 115 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware; provided, however, that, in the event that the Delaware Court of Chancery lacks subject matter jurisdiction over any such action or proceeding, the sole and exclusive forum for such action or proceeding shall be another state or federal court located within the State of Delaware. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of this Section is filed in a court other than the Delaware Court of Chancery (or any other state or federal court located within the State of Delaware, as applicable) (a “Foreign Action”) by or in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to (i) the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the Delaware Court of Chancery (or such other state or federal court located within the State of Delaware, as applicable) in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce this Section and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder. The existence of any prior Alternative Forum Consent shall not act as a waiver of the Corporation’s ongoing consent right as set forth above in this Section with respect to any current or future actions or claims. Failure to enforce the foregoing provisions would cause the Corporation irreparable harm and the Corporation shall be entitled to equitable relief, including injunctive relief and specific performance, to enforce the foregoing provisions.
Section 8.5 Amendment of Bylaws. These Bylaws may be altered or repealed, and new Bylaws made, by the majority vote of the whole Board of Directors; provided, however, that a Bylaw adopted by the holders of stock representing a majority of the votes which could be cast by the holders of all outstanding stock that prescribes the required vote for the election of directors may not be altered by the Board of Directors. The holders of stock representing a majority of the votes which could be cast by the holders of all outstanding stock may make additional Bylaws and may alter and repeal any Bylaws whether adopted by them or otherwise.