UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): December 16, 2020
Stride, Inc. | ||
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
Delaware | 001-33883 | 95-4774688 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation) |
(Commission
File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
2300 Corporate Park Drive, Herndon,
Virginia |
20171 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: | (703) 483-7000 | |
K12 Inc. | ||
Former name or former address, if changed since last report |
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol |
Name of each exchange on which
registered |
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share | LRN | New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ¨
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws.
Effective December 16, 2020, Stride, Inc., formerly known as K12 Inc. (the “Company”), filed a Certificate of Amendment to the Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of K12 Inc. (the “Certificate of Amendment”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effect a change of the Company’s legal name from K12 Inc. to Stride, Inc. (the “Name Change”). The Company subsequently filed a Fifth Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Stride, Inc. (the “Restated Certificate”), reflecting the new name with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 16, 2020.
The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) approved the Name Change pursuant to Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The Name Change does not affect the rights of the Company’s stockholders and there were no other changes in the Restated Certificate. The foregoing summary of the Certificate of Amendment and Restated Certificate does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Certificate of Amendment and the Restated Certificate, which are filed as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.
In connection with the Name Change, the Board also approved the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of Stride, Inc. (the “Restated Bylaws”) to reflect the Name Change. The Restated Bylaws became effective on December 16, 2020. The foregoing summary of the Restated Bylaws does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Restated Bylaws, which are filed as Exhibit 3.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) | Exhibits |
Exhibit
No. |
Description | |
3.1 | Certificate of Amendment to the Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of K12 Inc. | |
3.2 | Fifth Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Stride, Inc. | |
3.3 | Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of Stride, Inc. | |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). |
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Stride, Inc. | |||
Date: December 16, 2020 | By: | /s/ Vincent W. Mathis | |
Name: | Vincent W. Mathis | ||
Title: |
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
Exhibit 3.1
Certificate
of Amendment
of
THE fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
of
k12 INC.
Pursuant to Section 242
of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
K12 Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), does hereby certify as follows:
FIRST: The Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended by deleting the text of Article I thereof and inserting the following in lieu thereof:
“The name of this Corporation is Stride, Inc. (the “Corporation”).”
SECOND: That the foregoing amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
THIRD: This Certificate of Amendment shall become effective at 12:02 a.m. (Eastern Time) on December 16, 2020.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, K12 Inc. has caused this Certificate of Amendment to be executed by its duly authorized officer this 14th day of December, 2020.
K12 Inc. | ||
By: | /s/ Vincent W. Mathis | |
Vincent W. Mathis | ||
Executive Vice President, General Counsel | ||
and Secretary |
Exhibit 3.2
FIFTH RESTATED
OF
STRIDE, INC.
A DELAWARE CORPORATION
Stride, Inc. (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:
1. The name of the Corporation is Stride, Inc. The Corporation was originally incorporated under the name PremierSchool.com, Inc. The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Original Certificate”) was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 28, 1999.
2. This Fifth Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Stride, Inc. has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law by the board of directors of the Corporation.
3. This Fifth Restated Certificate of Incorporation only restates and integrates and does not further amend the provisions of the Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as heretofore amended, and there is no discrepancy between the provisions of the Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as heretofore amended, and the provisions of this Fifth Restated Certificate of Incorporation. The Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as heretofore amended, is hereby restated and integrated to read in its entirety as follows:
I.
The name of this corporation is Stride, Inc. (the “Corporation”).
II.
The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19801, and the name of the registered agent of the Corporation in the State of Delaware at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.
III.
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”).
IV.
A. CLASSES OF STOCK. The Corporation is authorized to issue two classes of stock to be designated, respectively, “Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock.” The total number of shares of stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is one hundred ten million (110,000,000) shares, of which (i) one hundred million (100,000,000) shares shall be Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”) and (ii) ten million (10,000,000) shares shall be shares of Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”).
B. PREFERRED STOCK. Subject to the limitations and in the manner provided by law, the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) or a duly-authorized committee of the Board of Directors, in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, is hereby authorized to, from time to time, provide by resolution for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series and, by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware (hereinafter referred to as “Preferred Stock Designation”), setting forth such resolution, to establish the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each such series and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof. The authority of the Board of Directors with respect to each series shall include, but not be limited to, determination of the following: (i) the designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title; (ii) the number of shares of the series, which number the Board of Directors may thereafter (except where otherwise provided in the Preferred Stock Designation) increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding); provided that, in case the number of shares of any series shall be so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease shall upon the taking of any action required by applicable law resume the status which they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series as well as the number of shares authorized for issuance in each series; (iii) the amounts or rates at which dividends will be payable on, and the preferences, if any, of shares of the series in respect of dividends, and whether such dividends, if any, shall be cumulative or noncumulative; (iv) dates at which dividends, if any, shall be payable; (v) the redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series; (vi) the terms and amount of any sinking fund, if any, provided for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series; (vii) the amounts payable on, and the preferences, if any, of shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation; (viii) whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into, or exchangeable, or redeemable for, shares of any other class or series, or any other security, of the Corporation or any other Corporation, and, if so, the specification of such other class or series or such other security, the conversion or exchange price or prices or rate or rates, any adjustments thereof, the date or dates at which such shares shall be convertible or exchangeable and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange may be made; (ix) the voting rights, if any, of the Holders of shares of the series generally or upon specified events; and (x) any other rights, powers, preferences of such shares as are permitted by law.
V.
For the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and in further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Corporation, of its Board of Directors and of its stockholders or any class thereof, as the case may be, it is further provided that:
A. BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
1. POWERS; NUMBER OF DIRECTORS. The management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation shall be vested in its Board of Directors. The number of directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be fixed by the Board of Directors in the manner provided in the bylaws of the Corporation.
2. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the Corporation shall so provide. Shareholders of the Corporation shall not have the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors. Directors, whether elected at an annual meeting of stockholders or elected in the interim to fill vacancies and newly created directorships, shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her death, retirement, resignation or removal.
3. REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS. Subject to any limitation imposed by law, any director may be removed by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors.
4. VACANCIES. Any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal or other causes and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors, shall be filled by a majority of the members of the Incumbent Board then in office, even though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors, and not by the stockholders. In the event of a vacancy in the Board of Directors, the remaining directors, except as otherwise provided by law, may exercise the powers of the full Board of Directors until the vacancy is filled. Any director elected in accordance with this section shall hold office until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified. The “Incumbent Board” shall mean those directors of the Corporation who, as of the date of effectiveness of this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Effective Date”), constitute the Board of Directors of the Corporation, provided that (i) any person becoming a director subsequent to such date whose election, or nomination for election by the Corporation’s stockholders, is approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (other than an election or nomination of an individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of the directors of the Corporation, as such terms are used Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) or (ii) any person appointed by the Incumbent Board to fill a vacancy, shall also be considered a member of the Incumbent Board of the Corporation.
B. ACTION BY STOCKHOLDERS.
1. Special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation, for any purpose or purposes, shall be called by the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the holders of at least 40% of the outstanding voting power of the Corporation. Special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may not be called by any other person or persons.
2. No action shall be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation except at duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation.
3. No action shall be taken by the stockholders by written consent in lieu of a meeting.
4. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the bylaws of the Corporation.
C. BYLAWS.
1. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, adopt, alter, amend, change or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation by resolutions adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors, subject to any bylaw requiring the affirmative vote of a larger percentage of the members of the Board of Directors.
2. Stockholders may not make, adopt, alter, amend, change or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation except upon the affirmative vote of at least 66.67% of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of all outstanding shares then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
VI.
The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.
VII.
A. The personal liability of the directors of the Corporation is hereby eliminated to the fullest extent permitted by paragraph (7) of subsection (b) of Section 102 of the DGCL, as the same may be amended or supplemented.
B. If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.
C. The Corporation shall have power, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL, as the same may be amended or supplemented, to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to an action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, by reason of the fact that the person 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, trust or other enterprise from and against any and all of the expenses, liabilities or other matters referred to in or covered by said section, and the indemnification provided for herein shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person.
D. Indemnification conferred pursuant to this Article VII shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition upon receipt by the Corporation of an undertaking by or on behalf of the person receiving advancement to repay the amount advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation under this Article VII.
E. Neither any amendment or repeal of this Article VII, nor the adoption of any provision of this Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article VII, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article VII in respect of any matter occurring, or any action or proceeding accruing or arising or that, but for this Article VII, would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision.
VIII.
The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and, except as expressly provided herein, all rights conferred upon the stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment, alteration, change or repeal may be made to Article V or this Article VIII without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66.67% of the outstanding voting power of the Corporation, voting together as a single class.
***
This Fifth Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall become effective at 12:03 a.m. (Eastern Time) on December 16, 2020.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Fifth Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by Vincent W. Mathis, its Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, this 14th day of December, 2020.
By: | /s/ Vincent W. Mathis | |
Name: | Vincent W. Mathis | |
Title: | Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
Exhibit 3.3
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
OF
STRIDE, INC.
(A DELAWARE CORPORATION)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. Registered Office. The registered office of Stride, Inc. (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle.
Section 2. Other Offices. The Corporation shall also have and maintain an office or principal place of business at such place as may be fixed by the Board of Directors, and 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.
ARTICLE II
CORPORATE SEAL
Section 1. Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors may adopt a corporate seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization, and the inscription, “Corporate Seal, Delaware.” Said seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
ARTICLE III
STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS
Section 1. Location of Meetings. Meetings of stockholders shall be held at any place within or outside the State of Delaware designated by the Board of Directors. In the absence of any such designation, stockholders’ meetings shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation.
Section 2. Notice of Stockholders’ Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall be given, which notice shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. The written notice of any meeting shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting. If mailed, notice is given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.
Section 3. Annual Meetings of Stockholders.
(a) The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held each year on a date and a time designated by the Board of Directors. At each annual meeting directors shall be elected and only such other business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business (including the nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation and any other business to be considered by the stockholders) must be (i) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (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 any stockholder of the Corporation.
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(b) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a) of this Section 3, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice (a “Stockholder Notice”) shall be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty days before or more than seventy days after such anniversary date, the Stockholder Notice must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation). In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Stockholder Notice as described above. Such Stockholder Notice shall set forth: (i) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and Rule 14a-11 thereunder (and such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); (ii) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation (as subsequently amended and/or restated, the “Bylaws”), the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (iii) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (A) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, (B) the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (C) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination, (D) any material interest of the stockholder in such business and (E) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends, or is part of a group which intends to: (1) deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (2) otherwise solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination. 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.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (b) of this Section 3 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least one hundred days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 3 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
(d) For purposes of this Section 3 and Section 4, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Section 4. Special Meetings.
(a) Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute, may only be called in accordance with the provisions of the Fourth Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as subsequently amended and/or restated, the “Certificate of Incorporation”). Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to only such business brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting.
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(b) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected (1) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation or (2) provided that the Board of Directors has specified in its notice of meeting that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who provides a timely Stockholder Notice to the Secretary of the Corporation that complies with the notice procedures set forth in paragraph (b) of Section 3. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the Stockholder Notice required by this paragraph (b) of this Section 4 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth day prior to such special meeting, or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
Section 5. Compliance with Procedures. Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3 or Section 4, as applicable, shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3 or Section 4, as applicable. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to (i) determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3 or Section 4, as applicable and (ii) if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with Section 3 or Section 4, as applicable (including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made solicits (or is part of a group which solicits), or fails to so solicit (as the case may be), proxies in support of such stockholder’s proposal in compliance with such stockholder’s representation as required by clause (iii)(E) of paragraph (b) of Section 3), to declare that such defective nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted.
Section 6. Compliance with Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3 and Section 4, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, with respect to the matters set forth in Section 3 and Section 4. Nothing in either Section 3 or Section 4 shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
Section 7. Quorum, Adjournment. A majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, the holders of which are present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum and the votes present may continue to transact business until adjournment. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, a majority of the voting stock represented in person or by proxy may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. If the adjournment is for more than thirty 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 thereat.
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Section 8. Vote Required. When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of voting power held by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which by express provision of the statutes, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or a contractual right, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question. At all meetings of stockholders for the election of directors, except as otherwise set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation with respect to the right of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock or any other series or class of stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors.
Section 9. Voting Procedures. At each meeting of the stockholders, each stockholder having the right to vote may vote in person or may authorize another person or persons to act for him by proxy appointed by an instrument in writing subscribed by such stockholder and bearing a date not more than three years prior to said meeting, unless said instrument provides for a longer period. All proxies must be filed with the Secretary of the Corporation at the beginning of each meeting in order to be counted in any vote at the meeting. Each stockholder shall have one vote for each share of stock having voting power, registered in his name on the books of the Corporation on the record date set by the Board of Directors as provided in Article VII, Section 4 hereof.
Section 10. Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.
Section 11. No Stockholder Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting. Effective from and after the closing of an initial public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering the offer and sale of common stock of the corporation to the public, no stockholder action may be taken except at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and stockholders of the Corporation may not take any action by written consent in lieu of a meeting.
ARTICLE IV
DIRECTORS
Section 1. Number. The number of directors which shall constitute the whole Board shall be not less than seven (7) and not more than eleven (11). The exact number of directors shall be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors. Directors need not be stockholders of the Corporation. The provisions of this Section 1 may be amended only with the approval of 75% of the members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
Section 2. Powers. The powers of the Corporation shall be exercised, its business conducted and its property controlled by the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 3. Election and Tenure. Each director shall be elected in the manner specified in the Certificate of Incorporation and shall hold office until such time as is set forth therein.
Section 4. Vacancies. Any vacancies on the Board of Directors shall be filled only in the manner specified in the Certificate of Incorporation. A vacancy in the Board of Directors shall be deemed to exist under this Bylaw in the case of the death, disability, disqualification, removal or resignation of any director.
Section 5. Resignation. Any director may resign at any time by delivering his or her notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Secretary, such resignation to specify whether it will be effective at a particular time, upon receipt by the Secretary or at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. If no such specification is made, it shall be deemed effective at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.
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Section 6. Removal. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, or any other series or class of stock as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation, to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, and subject to any limitation imposed by applicable law, any director may be removed by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors.
Section 7. Meetings.
(a) Regular Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time or date and at any place within or without the State of Delaware which has been designated by the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors, either orally or in writing. The directors may have one or more offices and keep the books of the Corporation outside of the State of Delaware.
(b) Special Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time and place within or without the State of Delaware whenever called by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or a majority of the members of the Board of Directors.
(c) Meetings by Electronic Communications Equipment. Any member of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting 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 by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
(d) Notice of Special Meetings. Notice of the time and place of all special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given orally or in writing, by telephone, facsimile, telegraph or telex, or by electronic mail or other electronic means, during normal business hours, at least twenty-four (24) hours before the date and time of the meeting. If notice is sent by U.S. mail, it shall be sent by first class mail, postage prepaid at least three (3) days before the date of the meeting. Notice of any meeting may be waived in writing or by electronic transmission at any time before or after the meeting and will be waived by any director by attendance thereat, except when the director attends the 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.
(e) Waiver of Notice. The transaction of all business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, however called or noticed, or wherever held, shall be as valid as though had at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum be present and if, either before or after the meeting, each of the directors not present who did not receive notice shall sign a written waiver of notice or shall waive notice by electronic transmission. All such waivers shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting.
Section 8. Quorum and Voting.
(a) Except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a quorum of the Board of Directors shall consist of a majority of the number of directors then serving on the Board of Directors; provided, however, that a quorum shall in no case be less than one-third of the exact number of directors fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors; provided further, however, at any meeting, whether a quorum be present or otherwise, a majority of the directors present may adjourn from time to time until the time fixed for the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors, without notice other than by announcement at the meeting.
(b) At each meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present, all questions and business shall be determined by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present, unless a different vote be required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
Section 9. Action Without 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 committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and such writing or writings or transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
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Section 10. Fees and Compensation. Directors shall be entitled to such compensation for their services as may be approved by the Board of Directors, including, if so approved, by resolution of the Board of Directors, a fixed sum and expenses of attendance, if any, for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors and at any meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity as an officer, agent, employee, or otherwise and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 11. Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, each such committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to amending the Certificate of Incorporation, adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation of a dissolution, or amending the Bylaws of the Corporation; and, unless the resolution or the Certificate of Incorporation expressly so provide, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of stock. Each committee may keep regular minutes of its meetings and shall report the same to the Board of Directors when required.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
Section 1. Officers Designated. The officers of the Corporation shall include, if and when designated by the Board of Directors, a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Financial Officer and a Secretary, all of whom shall be appointed at the annual organizational meeting of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may also appoint other officers as are desired, including a Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Chief Operating Officer, a Controller, a Treasurer, one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers, Assistant Controllers and such other officers and agents as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(h) of this Article V. The Board of Directors may assign such additional titles to one or more of the officers as it shall deem appropriate. In the event there are two or more Vice Presidents, then the directors may, at the time of the appointing of the officers, by resolution determine the order of their rank. Any one person may hold any number of offices of the Corporation at any one time unless specifically prohibited therefrom by law.
Section 2. Compensation of Officers. The salaries and other compensation of the officers of the Corporation shall be fixed by or in the manner designated by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Tenure and Duties of Officers.
(a) Appointment, Removal and Vacancies. All officers shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and until their successors shall have been duly appointed and qualified, unless their earlier resignation or removal. Any officer appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the Board of Directors. If the office of any officer becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy may be filled by the Board of Directors.
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(b) Duties of Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, if such an officer is appointed, when present, shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall perform other duties commonly incident to the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time. If there is no Chief Executive Officer, then the Chairman of the Board of Directors shall also serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and shall have the powers and duties prescribed in paragraph (c) of this Section 3.
(c) Duties of Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and at all meetings of the Board of Directors, unless the Chairman of the Board of Directors has been appointed and is present. The Chief Executive Officer shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction and control of the business and officers of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall perform other duties commonly incident to the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time. In the absence or disability of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Operating Officer, if such officer is appointed, may assume and perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer.
(d) Duties of Vice Presidents. In the absence or disability of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Chief Operating Officer, the Vice Presidents in order of their rank as fixed by the Board of Directors, or if not ranked, the Vice President designated by the Board of Directors, if such officers are appointed, may assume and perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer. The Vice Presidents shall perform other duties commonly incident to their office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall designate from time to time.
(e) Duties of Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors and shall record all acts, proceedings, and votes thereof in the minute book of the Corporation, and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when required by the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall give notice in conformity with these Bylaws of all meetings of the stockholders and of all meetings of the Board of Directors and any committee thereof requiring notice. The Secretary shall perform all other duties provided for in these Bylaws and other duties commonly incident to the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time. The Secretary shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Corporation, and when authorized by the Board of Directors, affix the same to any instrument requiring it, and when so affixed it shall be attested by his signature or by the signature of an Assistant Secretary. The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing by his or her signature. The Chief Executive Officer may direct any Assistant Secretary to assume and perform the duties of the Secretary in the absence or disability of the Secretary, and each Assistant Secretary shall perform other duties commonly incident to the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall designate from time to time.
(f) Duties of 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 Board of Directors, at its regular meetings, or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of all his or her transactions as Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall perform other duties commonly incident to his office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall designate from time to time.
(g) Duties of Treasurer. The Chief Executive Officer may direct the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, if any shall be appointed, or the Controller or any Assistant Controller, if any shall be appointed to assume and perform the duties of the Chief Financial Officer in the absence or disability of the Chief Financial Officer, and each Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer, if any shall be appointed and each Controller and Assistant Controller, if any shall be appointed shall perform other duties commonly incident to the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall designate from time to time.
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(h) Duties of Subordinate Officers. The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Delegation of Authority. The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officer or agent, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
Section 5. Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission notice to the Board of Directors or to the Chief Executive Officer or to the Secretary. Any such resignation shall be effective when received by the person or persons to whom such notice is given, unless a later time is specified therein, in which event the resignation shall become effective at such later time. Unless otherwise specified in such notice, the acceptance of any such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation shall be without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract with the resigning officer.
Section 6. Removal. Any officer may be removed from office at any time, either with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors in office at the time, or by the unanimous written consent of the directors in office at the time, or by any committee or superior officers upon whom such power of removal may have been conferred by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VI
EXECUTION OF CORPORATE INSTRUMENTS AND
VOTING
OF SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION
Section 1. Execution of Corporate Instruments. The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, determine the method and designate the signatory officer or officers, or other person or persons, to execute on behalf of the Corporation any corporate instrument or document, or to sign on behalf of the Corporation the corporate name without limitation, or to enter into contracts on behalf of the Corporation, except where otherwise provided by law or these Bylaws, and such execution or signature shall be binding upon the Corporation.
All checks and drafts drawn on banks or other depositaries on funds to the credit of the Corporation or in special accounts of the Corporation shall be signed by the Chief Financial Officer or such person or persons as the Chief Financial Officer or the Board of Directors shall authorize so to do.
Unless authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors or within the agency power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the Corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.
Section 2. Voting of Securities Owned by the Corporation. All stock and other securities of other corporations owned or held by the Corporation for itself, or for other parties in any capacity, shall, if permitted by law, be voted, and all proxies with respect thereto shall be executed, by the person authorized so to do by resolution of the Board of Directors, or, in the absence of such authorization, by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chairman of the Board of Directors, if appointed.
ARTICLE VII
SHARES OF STOCK
Section 1. Form and Execution of Certificates. The shares of the Corporation may be certificated or uncertificated, as provided under Delaware law. Every holder of stock in the Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, if appointed, or the Chief Executive Officer or vice-president and by the Treasurer or an assistant treasurer or the Secretary or an assistant secretary, certifying the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation. Certificates for the shares of stock of the Corporation shall be in such form as is consistent with the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be facsimiles. 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 with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue.
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Section 2. Lost Certificates. A new certificate or certificates shall be issued in place of any certificate or certificates 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. The Corporation may require, as a condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, the owner of such lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate or certificates, or the owner’s legal representative, to agree to indemnify the Corporation in such manner as it shall require or to give the Corporation a surety bond in such form and amount 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 3. Transfers.
(a) Transfers of record of shares of stock of the Corporation shall be made only upon its books by the holders thereof, in person or by attorney duly authorized, and upon the surrender of a properly endorsed certificate or certificates for a like number of shares.
(b) The Corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes of stock of the Corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”).
Section 4. Fixing Record Dates. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of the 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 a record date which shall not be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty days prior to any other 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. Registered Stockholders. 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 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 the laws of Delaware.
ARTICLE VIII
OTHER SECURITIES OF THE CORPORATION
Section 1. Execution of Other Securities. All bonds, debentures and other corporate securities of the Corporation, if any, other than stock certificates (covered in Article VII, Section 1), may be signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, if appointed, the Chief Executive Officer, any vice-president or such other person as may be authorized by the Board of Directors, and the corporate seal impressed thereon or a facsimile of such seal imprinted thereon and attested by the signature of the Secretary, the Chief Financial Officer, if appointed, the Treasurer, or such other person as may be authorized by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that where any such bond, debenture or other corporate security shall be authenticated by the manual signature, or where permissible facsimile signature, of a trustee under an indenture pursuant to which such bond, debenture or other corporate security shall be issued, the signatures of the persons signing and attesting the corporate seal on such bond, debenture or other corporate security may be the imprinted facsimile of the signatures of such persons. Interest coupons appertaining to any such bond, debenture or other corporate security, authenticated by a trustee as aforesaid, shall be signed by the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or the Controller of the Corporation or such other person as may be authorized by the Board of Directors, and bear imprinted thereon the facsimile signature of such person. In case any officer who shall have signed or attested any bond, debenture or other corporate security, or whose facsimile signature shall appear thereon or on any such interest coupon, shall have ceased to be such officer before the bond, debenture or other corporate security so signed or attested shall have been delivered, such bond, debenture or other corporate security nevertheless may be adopted by the Corporation and issued and delivered as though the person who signed the same or whose facsimile signature shall have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer of the Corporation.
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ARTICLE IX
DIVIDENDS
Section 1. Declaration of Dividends. Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law, if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors pursuant to law at any regular or special meeting. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of capital stock, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.
Section 2. Dividend Reserve. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors shall think conducive to the interests of the Corporation, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.
ARTICLE X
FISCAL YEAR
Section 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of July and shall end on the thirtieth day of June of each year.
ARTICLE XI
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. Indemnification.
(a) The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), indemnify any and all persons whom it shall have power to indemnify under the DGCL from and against any and all of the expenses, liabilities or other matters referred to in or covered by the DGCL, and the indemnification provided for herein shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person.
(b) The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.
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(c) The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
(d) To the extent that a present or former director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation shall be successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section 1, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
(e) Any indemnification under paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section 1 (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section 1. Such determination shall be made (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.
(f) Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Section 1. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Board of Directors deems appropriate.
(g) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this Section 1 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.
(h) The Board of Directors may authorize the Corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this Section 1.
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(i) For purposes of this Section 1, references to “the Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Section 1 with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as the person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(j) For purposes of this Section 1, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Section 1.
(k) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Section 1 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
(l) The Court of Chancery is hereby vested with exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine all actions for advancement of expenses or indemnification brought under this Section 1 or under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. The Court of Chancery may summarily determine the Corporation’s obligation to advance expenses (including attorneys’ fees).
Section 2. Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any person by this Bylaw shall not be exclusive of any other right which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any applicable statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding office. The Corporation is specifically authorized to enter into individual contracts with any or all of its directors, officers, employees or agents respecting indemnification and advances, to the fullest extent not prohibited by the DGCL or any other applicable law.
Section 3. Amendments. Any repeal or modification of this Bylaw shall only be prospective and shall not affect the rights under this Bylaw in effect at the time of the alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that is the cause of any proceeding against any agent of the Corporation.
ARTICLE XII
NOTICES
Section 1. Notices.
(a) Notice to Stockholders. Written notice to stockholders of stockholder meetings shall be given as provided in Article III, Section 2 herein. Without limiting the manner by which notice may otherwise be given effectively to stockholders under any agreement or contract with such stockholder, and except as otherwise required by law, written notice to stockholders for purposes other than stockholder meetings may be sent by United States mail or nationally recognized overnight courier, or by facsimile, telegraph or telex or by electronic mail or other electronic means.
(b) Notice to Directors. Any notice required to be given to any director may be given by the method stated in subsection (a), or as provided for in Article IV, Section 7 of these Bylaws. If such notice is not delivered personally, it shall be sent to such address as such director shall have filed in writing with the Secretary, or, in the absence of such filing, to the last known post office address of such director.
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ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Amendments. These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed or new Bylaws may be adopted by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders only in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation. The power to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws conferred upon the Board of Directors by the Certificate of Incorporation shall not divest or limit the power of the stockholders to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws as set forth therein.
ARTICLE XIV
EXCLUSIVE FORUM SELECTION
Section 1. Exclusive Forum. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time), or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be a state court located within the State of Delaware (or, if no state court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware).