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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): February 25, 2022

 

AEROVIRONMENT, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   001-33261   95-2705790
(State or other jurisdiction of   (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)        

 

241 18th Street South, Suite 415    
Arlington, Virginia   22202
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (805) 520-8350

 

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨    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(s) Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value AVAV The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

  

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; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

On February 25, 2022, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of AeroVironment, Inc. (the “Company”) approved and adopted effective as of such date an amendment to the Company’s Third Amended and Restated Bylaws (as amended, the “Amended Bylaws”) to provide for majority voting in uncontested elections of directors. In uncontested elections, a director nominee shall be elected only upon the vote of a majority of the total votes cast with respect to such director’s election, which means that the number of votes cast “for” a director’s election exceeds the number of votes cast “against” that director’s election, with “abstentions” and “broker non-votes” not counted as a vote cast either “for” or “against” that director’s election. Prior to the adoption of the Amended Bylaws, members of the Board were elected by a plurality of votes cast, whether or not the election was contested. The Amended Bylaws retain plurality voting for contested director elections. The foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Amended Bylaws, which are attached as Exhibit 3.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

 

In connection with the approval of the Amended Bylaws, the Board also approved changes to the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines to require incumbent directors who fail to receive a majority of votes to submit, promptly after the final certification of the election results, a letter of resignation to the Board for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall consider the offer of resignation and recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject the resignation, or whether other action should be taken. The Board shall act on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation within one hundred (100) days following the final certification of the election results and publicly disclose its decision, and the reasons for such decision if such offer of resignation is rejected, on a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Item 9.01 Exhibits

 

3.1Third Amended and Restated Bylaws, amended as of February 25, 2022.

 

104Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

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.

 

  AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
     
     
Date: March 2, 2022 By: /s/ Melissa Brown
    Melissa Brown
    VP, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

BYLAWS

 

OF

 

AEROVIRONMENT, INC.

 

Amended as of February 25, 2022

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

   

  PAGE
   
ARTICLE I. OFFICES 3
     
Section 1. REGISTERED OFFICES 3
Section 2. OTHER OFFICES 3
     
ARTICLE II. MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS 3
     
Section 1. PLACE OF MEETINGS 3
Section 2. ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS 3
Section 3. QUORUM; ADJOURNED MEETINGS AND NOTICE THEREOF 3
Section 4. VOTING 3
Section 5. PROXIES 4
Section 6. SPECIAL MEETINGS 4
Section 7. NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS 4
Section 8. FIXING DATE FOR DETERMINATION OF STOCKHOLDERS OF RECORD 4
Section 9. NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER BUSINESS AND NOMINATIONS 5
Section 10. MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF STOCKHOLDER LIST 10
Section 11. STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING 10
     
ARTICLE III. DIRECTORS 10
   
Section 1. THE NUMBER OF DIRECTORS 10
Section 2. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS 11
Section 3. VACANCIES 11
Section 4. POWERS 11
Section 5. PLACE OF DIRECTORS’ MEETINGS 11
Section 6. REGULAR MEETINGS 11
Section 7. SPECIAL MEETINGS 12
Section 8. QUORUM 12
Section 9. ACTION WITHOUT MEETING 12
Section 10. TELEPHONIC MEETINGS 12
Section 11. BOARD LEADERSHIP 12
Section 12. COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS 13
Section 13. MINUTES OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS 13
Section 14. COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS 13
     
ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS 13
     
Section 1. OFFICERS 13

  

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Section 2. ELECTION OF OFFICERS 14
Section 3. SUBORDINATE OFFICERS 14
Section 4. COMPENSATION OF OFFICERS 14
Section 5. TERM OF OFFICE; REMOVAL AND VACANCIES 14
Section 6. POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS 14
     
ARTICLE V. INDEMNIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS 14
     
ARTICLE VI. CERTIFICATES OF STOCK 14
     
Section 1. FORM AND EXECUTION OF CERTIFICATES 14
Section 2. SIGNATURES ON CERTIFICATES 15
Section 3. STATEMENT OF STOCK RIGHTS, PREFERENCES, PRIVILEGES 15
Section 4. LOST CERTIFICATES 15
Section 5. TRANSFERS OF STOCK 15
Section 6. REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS 15
     
ARTICLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS 16
     
Section 1. CHECKS 16
Section 2. FISCAL YEAR 16
Section 3. CORPORATE SEAL. 16
Section 4. MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE 16
Section 5. WAIVER OF NOTICE 16
     
ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS 16

  

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THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

BYLAWS

OF

AEROVIRONMENT, INC.

 

ARTICLE I.
offices

 

Section 1.               REGISTERED OFFICES. The registered office shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware.

 

Section 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 (the “Board”) may from time to time determine or the business of the corporation may require.

 

ARTICLE II.
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 1.               PLACE OF MEETINGS. Meetings of stockholders shall be held at any place within or outside the State of Delaware designated by the Board. In the absence of any such designation, stockholders’ meetings shall be held at the principal executive office of the corporation.

 

Section 2.              ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS. The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held each year on a date and time designated by the Board. At each annual meeting directors shall be elected, and any other proper business may be transacted.

 

Section 3.              QUORUM; ADJOURNED MEETINGS AND NOTICE THEREOF. 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.

 

Section 4.              VOTING. When a quorum is present at any meeting, in all matters other than the election of directors, the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding stock having voting power present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on a particular question shall decide such question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which by express provision of the statutes, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a different vote is required in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question. Directors shall be elected in accordance with Article III, Section 2 hereof.

 

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Section 5.               PROXIES. 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 or her 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 as provided in Article II, Section 8 hereof.

 

Section 6.              SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, may be called by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer and shall be called by the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the members of the Board. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.

 

Section 7.              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 deemed 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 8.              FIXING DATE FOR DETERMINATION OF 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 may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date: (a) in the case of determination of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders or adjournment thereof, shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting; and (b) in the case of any other action, shall not be more than sixty days prior to such other action. If no record date is fixed: (i) 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; and (ii) the record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of, or to vote at, a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

 

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Section 9.              NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER BUSINESS AND NOMINATIONS.

 

(a)           Annual Meetings.

 

(i)            Nominations of persons for election to the Board of the corporation and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (A) pursuant to the corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (B) by or at the direction of the Board or (C) by any stockholder of the corporation who (I) was a stockholder of record (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such nomination or business is proposed, only if such beneficial owner was the beneficial owner of shares of the corporation) both at the time the notice provided for in this Section 9 is given to the Secretary of the corporation and at the time of the meeting, (II) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (III) has complied with this Section 9 as to such nomination or other business. Except for proposals properly made in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (as so amended and inclusive of such rules and regulations, the “Exchange Act”), and included in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Board, the foregoing clause (C) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose business to be considered or to propose any nominations of persons for election to the Board of the corporation at an annual meeting of the stockholders.

 

(ii)           For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (C) of paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 9, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the corporation and must provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 9. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary 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 sixty days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered, or mailed and received, 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 earlier of (A) the day on which notice of the meeting was mailed or (B) the date public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the corporation (such notice within such time periods, “Timely Notice”). In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the public announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of Timely Notice as described above.

 

(iii)         To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 9, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary with respect to proposals of business shall set forth:

 

(A)         As to each Proposing Person (as defined below), (I) the name and address of such Proposing Person (including, if applicable, the name and address that appear on the corporation’s books and records); and (II) the class or series and number of shares of the corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned of record or beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by such Proposing Person, except that such Proposing Person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of the corporation as to which such Proposing Person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (I) and (II) are referred to as “Stockholder Information”);

 

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(B)         As to each Proposing Person, (I) any derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such Proposing Person, the purpose or effect of which is to give such Proposing Person economic risk similar to ownership of shares of any class or series of the corporation, including due to the fact that the value of such derivative, swap or other transactions are determined by reference to the price, value or volatility of any shares of any class or series of the corporation, or which derivative, swap or other transactions provide, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit from any increase in the price or value of shares of any class or series of the corporation (“Synthetic Equity Interests”), which Synthetic Equity Interests shall be disclosed without regard to whether (x) the derivative, swap or other transactions convey any voting rights in such shares to such Proposing Person, (y) the derivative, swap or other transactions are required to be, or are capable of being, settled through delivery of such shares or (z) such Proposing Person may have entered into other transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such derivative, swap or other transactions, (II) any proxy (other than a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act by way of a solicitation statement filed on Schedule 14A), agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such Proposing Person has or shares a right to vote any shares of any class or series of the corporation, (III) any agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship, including any repurchase or similar so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such Proposing Person, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of shares of any class or series of the corporation by, manage the risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Proposing Person with respect to the shares of any class or series of the corporation, or which provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit from any decrease in the price or value of the shares of any class or series of the corporation (“Short Interests”), (IV) any rights to dividends on the shares of any class or series of the corporation owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the corporation, (V) any performance related fees (other than an asset based fee) that such Proposing Person is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the price or value of shares of any class or series of the corporation, or any Synthetic Equity Interests or Short Interests, if any, and (VI) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies or consents by such Proposing Person with respect to the election of directors at the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (I) through (VI) are referred to as “Disclosable Interests”); provided, however, that Disclosable Interests shall not include any such disclosures with respect to the ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these Bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner; and

 

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(C)         As to each item of business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, (I) a reasonably brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting and any material interest in such business of each Proposing Person, (II) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration), and (III) a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings (x) between or among any of the Proposing Persons or (y) between or among any Proposing Person and any other person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder.

 

For purposes of this Section 9, the term “Proposing Person” shall mean (i) the stockholder providing the notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, (ii) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the business proposed to be brought before the annual meeting is made, and (iii) any affiliate or associate (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act for purposes of these Bylaws) of such stockholder or beneficial owner.

 

(iv)          To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 9, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary with respect to nominations of persons for election to the Board of the corporation shall set forth:

 

(A)         As to each Nominating Person (as defined below), the Stockholder Information (as defined in Section 9(a)(iii)(A), except that for purposes of this Section 9(a)(iv) the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 9(a)(iii)(A));

 

(B)         As to each Nominating Person, any Disclosable Interests (as defined in Section 9(a)(iii)(B), except that for purposes of this Section 9(a)(iv) the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 9(a)(iii)(B) and the disclosure in clause (VI) of Section 9(a)(iii)(B) shall be made with respect to the election of directors at the meeting);

 

(C)         As to each person whom a Nominating Person proposes to nominate for election as a director, (I) all information with respect to such proposed nominee that would be required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice pursuant to this Section 9 if such proposed nominee were a Nominating Person, (II) all information relating to such proposed nominee that is required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14(a) under the Exchange Act (including such proposed nominee’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected), (III) 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 any Nominating Person, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, his or her respective affiliates and associates, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K if such Nominating Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the proposed nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (I) through (III) are referred to as “Nominee Information”), and (IV) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement as provided in Section 9(c)(iii); and

 

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(D)         The corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information (I) as may reasonably be required by the corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the corporation in accordance with the corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines or (II) that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence or lack of independence of such proposed nominee.

 

For purposes of this Section 9, the term “Nominating Person” shall mean (i) the stockholder providing the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting, (ii) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting is made and (iii) any affiliate or associate of such stockholder or beneficial owner.

 

(b)           Special Meetings of Stockholders. 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. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the corporation’s notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board or (ii) provided that the Board has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the corporation who (A) was a stockholder of record (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such business is proposed, only if such beneficial owner was the beneficial owner of shares of the corporation) both at the time the notice provided for in this Section 9 is given to the Secretary of the corporation and at the time of the meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (C) has complied with this paragraph (b) and paragraph (a)(iv) (including the procedures to update and supplement such notice) of this Section 9 as to such nominations. In the event the corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the corporation’s notice of meeting, if (x) the stockholder’s notice required 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 (i) the ninetieth day prior to such special meeting or (ii) 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 to be elected at such meeting, (y) such stockholder’s notice includes the information required to be provided in paragraph (a)(iv) of this Section 9 and (z) such stockholder shall have provided any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 9. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. For the avoidance of doubt, for a stockholder to bring nominations before a special meeting of stockholders, such stockholder must comply with the notice and other procedures set forth in this Section 9 and this shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to bring such nominations properly before a special meeting.

 

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(c)           General.  (i)           Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 9 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 this Section 9. 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 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 this Section 9 and, if such proposed nomination or business is deemed not to have been properly made, to declare that such nomination or proposal has not been properly brought before the meeting and shall be disregarded and declared to be out of order, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the corporation.

 

(ii)           A stockholder providing notice of any nomination proposed to be made or business to be considered at a meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 9 shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and 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 (5) 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 (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or 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 (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).

 

(iii)          To be eligible to be a nominee for election as a director of the corporation, the proposed nominee must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under this Section 9) to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the corporation a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such proposed nominee (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request) and a written representation and agreement (in form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such proposed nominee (A) is not and will not become a party to (I) 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 (II) 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 duties under applicable law, (B) is not, and will not become a party to, any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the corporation and (C) in such proposed nominee’s individual capacity and on behalf of the stockholder (or the beneficial owner, if different) on whose behalf the nomination is made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the corporation, and will comply with applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the corporation.

 

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(iv)          For purposes of this Section 9, “public announcement” shall include disclosure in a press release reported by PRNewswire, Business Wire, the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news or wire 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.

 

(v)           Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 9, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 9. This Section 9 is expressly intended to apply to any business proposed to be brought before a meeting of stockholders other than any proposal made pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act. Nothing in this Section 9 shall be deemed to affect any rights (A) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (B) of the holders of any series of preferred stock of the corporation to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 10.            MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF STOCKHOLDER LIST. 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.            STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the corporation, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may not be taken without a meeting.

 

ARTICLE III.
DIRECTORS

 

Section 1.              THE NUMBER OF DIRECTORS. The number of directors which shall constitute the whole Board shall be not less than three nor more than thirteen. The actual number of directors shall be fixed from time to time solely by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors. The directors need not be stockholders. The directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders, except as provided in Section 2 of this Article, and each director elected shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified; provided, however, that unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or by law, any director or the entire Board may be removed, for cause, from the Board at any meeting of stockholders by not less than 66 2/3% of the outstanding stock of the corporation.

 

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Section 2.               ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.

 

Except as otherwise provided by express provision of the statutes, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, each director shall be elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to that director’s election at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, provided that if, as of the record date for a meeting of stockholders for which directors are to be elected, the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, the nominees receiving a plurality of the votes cast by holders of shares entitled to vote in the election at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be elected.  For purposes of this Section 2, a majority of votes cast shall mean that the number of votes cast “for” a director’s election exceeds the number of votes cast “against” that director’s election (with “abstentions” and “broker non-votes” not counted as a vote cast either “for” or “against” that director’s election). 

 

Section 3.              VACANCIES.

 

Vacancies on the Board by reason of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or otherwise, and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled solely by a vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and each director so elected shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of the class to which such director shall have been elected. If there are no directors in office, then an election of directors may be held in the manner provided by statute. If, at the time of filling any vacancy or any newly created directorship, the directors then in office shall constitute less than a majority of the whole Board (as constituted immediately prior to any such increase), the Court of Chancery may, upon application of any stockholder or stockholders holding at least ten percent of the total number of the shares at the time outstanding having the right to vote for such directors, summarily order an election to be held to fill any such vacancies or newly created directorships, or to replace the directors chosen by the directors then in office.

 

Section 4.              POWERS. The property and business of the corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of its Board. In addition to the powers and authorities by these Bylaws expressly conferred upon them, the Board may exercise all such powers of the corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

 

Section 5.              PLACE OF DIRECTORS’ MEETINGS. The directors may hold their meetings, have one or more offices and keep the books of the corporation outside of the State of Delaware.

 

Section 6.              REGULAR MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such time and place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board.

 

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Section 7.               SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairman of the Board or the President on forty-eight hours’ notice to each director, either personally, by mail, electronic mail or by telegram; special meetings shall be called by the President or the Secretary in like manner and on like notice on the written request of two directors, unless the Board consists of only one director, in which case special meetings shall be called by the President or Secretary in like manner or on like notice on the written request of the sole director.

  

Section 8.               QUORUM. At all meetings of the Board a majority of the authorized number of directors shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. If only one director is authorized, such sole director shall constitute a quorum.

 

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, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.

 

Section 10.            TELEPHONIC MEETINGS. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, members of the Board, or any committee designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board, or any committee, by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

Section 11.             BOARD LEADERSHIP.

  

(a)           Chairman of the Board. The Board shall annually elect one of its members to serve as Chairman of the Board and shall fill any vacancy in the position at such time and in such manner as the Board shall determine. The Chairman of the Board shall preside, when present, over all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board, other than meetings of the independent directors, which shall be presided over by the Lead Independent Director. The Chairman of the Board shall have such other duties and powers as set forth in these Bylaws or as may from time to time be assigned or required by the Board.

 

(b)           Lead Independent Director. The Board shall annually designate an independent director to serve as the Lead Independent Director on the Board and shall fill any vacancy in the position of Lead Independent Director, when applicable, at such time and in such manner as the independent directors of the Board shall determine, provided that the Lead Independent Director may only be selected from among the independent directors. The Lead Independent Director shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and may be removed by the Board at any time with or without cause. The Lead Independent Director shall preside, when present, at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board at which the Chairman of the Board is not present and at all meetings of the independent directors of the Board. The Lead Independent Director shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time delegate.

 

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Section 12.            COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS. The Board 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, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board 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, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; 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.

 

Section 13.             MINUTES OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required.

 

Section 14.            COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board or a stated salary as director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for attending committee meetings.

 

ARTICLE IV.
OFFICERS

 

Section 1.              OFFICERS. The officers of this corporation shall be chosen by the Board and shall include a Chief Executive Officer, President, a Secretary and a Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer. The corporation may also have at the discretion of the Board such other officers as are desired, including one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers and such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 hereof. In the event there are two or more Vice Presidents, then one or more may be designated as Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or other similar or dissimilar title. At the time of the election of officers, the directors may by resolution determine the order of their rank. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, unless the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws otherwise provide.

 

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Section 2.               ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The Board, at its first meeting after each annual meeting of stockholders, shall choose the officers of the corporation.

 

Section 3.              SUBORDINATE OFFICERS. The Board 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.

 

Section 4.              COMPENSATION OF OFFICERS. The salaries of all executive officers (within the meaning of Rule 3b-7 under the Exchange Act) and agents of the corporation shall be fixed by the Board.

 

Section 5.              TERM OF OFFICE; REMOVAL AND VACANCIES. The officers of the corporation shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualify in their stead. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board. If the office of any officer or officers becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled by the Board.

 

Section 6.               POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS. The officers of the corporation shall have such powers and duties in the management of the corporation as may be prescribed in a resolution by the Board and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board.

 

ARTICLE V.
INDEMNIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS

 

The corporation may indemnify every person who is or was a party or is or was threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was an employee or agent of the corporation or, while an employee or agent of the corporation, is or was serving at the request of the corporation as an employee or agent or trustee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against expenses (including counsel fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

ARTICLE VI.
CERTIFICATES OF STOCK

 

Section 1.              FORM AND EXECUTION OF CERTIFICATES. Shares of the corporation’s stock may be certificated or uncertificated, as provided under Delaware law. 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. Every holder of stock of the corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the corporation by, the President or a Vice President and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by such stockholder in the corporation.

 

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Section 2.              SIGNATURES ON CERTIFICATES. Any or all of the signatures on the 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 he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

 

Section 3.              STATEMENT OF STOCK RIGHTS, PREFERENCES, PRIVILEGES. If the corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualification, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate which the corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, provided that, except as otherwise provided in section 202 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate which the corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, a statement that the corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.

 

Section 4.               LOST CERTIFICATES. The Board may direct a new certificate or certificates to 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. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the Board may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as it 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.              TRANSFERS OF STOCK. 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, in the case of stock represented by a certificate, upon the surrender to the corporation, or the transfer agent of the corporation, of a certificate or certificates for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to transfer for a like number of shares.

 

Section 6.              REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS. The corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of stock as the holder in fact thereof and accordingly shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim or interest in such share on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as expressly provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

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ARTICLE VII.
GENERAL PROVISIONS

  

Section 1.              CHECKS. All checks or demands for money and notes of the corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers as the Board may from time to time designate.

 

Section 2.              FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board.

 

Section 3.              CORPORATE SEAL. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the corporation and shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board.

 

Section 4.              MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE. Whenever, under the law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, notice is required to be given to any director or stockholder, it shall not be construed to mean personal notice, but such notice may be given in writing, by mail, addressed to such director or stockholder, at his address as it appears on the records of the corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail. Notice to directors may also be given by telegram, telecopier or other means of communication permitted by law.

 

Section 5.              WAIVER OF NOTICE. Whenever any notice is required to be given under the law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof via electronic mail or in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto. 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 of directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice.

 

ARTICLE VIII.
AMENDMENTS

 

These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed or new Bylaws may be adopted by the stockholders or by the Board in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation. If the power to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws is conferred upon the Board by the Certificate of Incorporation, it shall not divest or limit the power of the stockholders to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws.

 

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