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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): November 16, 2022

 

Solid Power, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Delaware   001-40284   86-1888095
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

 

486 S. Pierce Avenue, Suite E

Louisville, Colorado

  80027
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

(303) 219-0720

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Not Applicable

(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(s)
 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share   SLDP   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of common stock at an exercise price of $11.50   SLDPW   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) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2).

 

Emerging growth company x

 

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.

 

Solid Power, Inc. Amended and Restated Bylaws

 

On November 16, 2022, in connection with the effectiveness of new Securities and Exchange Commission rules regarding universal proxy cards, certain recent changes to the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) and a periodic review of the bylaws of Solid Power, Inc. (the “Company”), the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) adopted amended and restated bylaws (the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”), effective immediately. Among other things, the amendments effected by the Amended and Restated Bylaws:

 

·modify the provisions relating to adjournment procedures and lists of stockholders entitled to vote at stockholder meetings, in each case, to reflect recent amendments to the DGCL;
·modify the provisions regarding the ability of certain officers of the Company to call or present business before a special meeting of stockholders;
·remove provisions regarding the lock-up of certain shares, as such lock-up period has expired;
·enhance procedural mechanics and disclosure requirements in connection with stockholder nominations of directors and submission of stockholder proposals (other than proposals to be included in the Company’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) made in connection with annual and special meetings of stockholders, including, without limitation, as follows:
orequiring additional background information and disclosures regarding proposing shareholders, proposed nominees and business, and other persons related to a shareholder’s solicitation of proxies;
oaddressing matters relating to Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act (the “Universal Proxy Rules”) (e.g., providing the Company a remedy if a stockholder fails to satisfy the Universal Proxy Rule requirements, requiring stockholders intending to use the Universal Proxy Rules to notify the Company of any change in such intent within two business days and to provide reasonable evidence of the satisfaction of the requirements under the Universal Proxy Rules at least five business days before the applicable meeting); and
orequiring that proposed nominees be available for interviews with the Board or a committee of the Board;
·require that a shareholder directly or indirectly soliciting proxies from other shareholders use a proxy card color other than white; and
·make various other updates, including ministerial, clarifying, and conforming changes.

 

The foregoing summary of the amendments effected by the Amended and Restated Bylaws does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Amended and Restated Bylaws, which are filed as Exhibit 3.1 hereto and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.
     

See the Exhibit index below, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Exhibit No.

  Description
   
3.1   Solid Power, Inc. Amended and Restated Bylaws, as of November 16, 2022
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

 

 

 

 

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.

 

Dated: November 21, 2022

 

  SOLID POWER, INC.
     
  By:

/s/ James Liebscher 

    Name: James Liebscher
    Title: Chief Legal Officer and Secretary

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF

SOLID POWER, INC.

(effective November 16, 2022)

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

 

ARTICLE I - CORPORATE OFFICES 1

 

1.1REGISTERED OFFICE 1
1.2OTHER OFFICES 1

 

ARTICLE II - MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS 1

 

2.1PLACE OF MEETINGS 1
2.2ANNUAL MEETING 1
2.3SPECIAL MEETING 1
2.4ADVANCE NOTICE PROCEDURES 2
2.5NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS 12
2.6QUORUM 13
2.7ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE 13
2.8CONDUCT OF BUSINESS 13
2.9VOTING 14
2.10STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING 14
2.11RECORD DATES 14
2.12PROXIES 15
2.13LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE 15
2.14INSPECTORS OF ELECTION 16

 

ARTICLE III - DIRECTORS 16

 

3.1POWERS 16
3.2NUMBER OF DIRECTORS 16
3.3ELECTION, QUALIFICATION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS 16
3.4RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES 17
3.5PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE 17
3.6REGULAR MEETINGS 17
3.7SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE 17
3.8QUORUM; VOTING 18
3.9BOARD ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING 18
3.10FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS 19
3.11REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS 19

 

ARTICLE IV - COMMITTEES 19

 

4.1COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS 19
4.2COMMITTEE MINUTES 19
4.3MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES 19
4.4SUBCOMMITTEES 20

 

ARTICLE V - OFFICERS 20

 

5.1OFFICERS 20
5.2APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS 20

 

-i-

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

Page

 

5.3SUBORDINATE OFFICERS 21
5.4REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS 21
5.5VACANCIES IN OFFICES 21
5.6REPRESENTATION OF SECURITIES OF OTHER ENTITIES 21
5.7AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS 21

 

ARTICLE VI - STOCK  22

 

6.1STOCK CERTIFICATES; PARTLY PAID SHARES 22
6.2SPECIAL DESIGNATION ON CERTIFICATES 22
6.3LOST CERTIFICATES 23
6.4DIVIDENDS 23
6.5TRANSFER OF STOCK 23
6.6STOCK TRANSFER AGREEMENTS 23
6.7REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS 23

 

ARTICLE VII - MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE AND WAIVER  24

 

7.1NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS 24
7.2NOTICE TO STOCKHOLDERS SHARING AN ADDRESS 24
7.3NOTICE TO PERSON WITH WHOM COMMUNICATION IS UNLAWFUL 24
7.4WAIVER OF NOTICE 24

 

ARTICLE VIII - INDEMNIFICATION  25

 

8.1Indemnification of Directors and Officers in Third Party Proceedings 25
8.2Indemnification of Directors and Officers in Actions by or in the Right of the COMPANY 25
8.3Successful Defense 25
8.4Indemnification of Others 26
8.5Advanced Payment of Expenses 26
8.6Limitation on Indemnification 27
8.7Determination; Claim 27
8.8Non-Exclusivity of Rights 27
8.9Insurance 28
8.10Survival 28
8.11Effect of Repeal or Modification 28
8.12Certain Definitions 28

 

ARTICLE IX - GENERAL MATTERS  29

 

9.1EXECUTION OF CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS 29
9.2FISCAL YEAR 29
9.3SEAL 29
9.4CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS 29
9.5FORUM SELECTION 29
9.6SEVERABILITY 30

 

ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS  30

 

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BYLAWS OF

SOLID POWER, INC.

 

ARTICLE I - CORPORATE OFFICES

 

1.1               REGISTERED OFFICE

 

The registered office of Solid Power, Inc. (the “Company”) shall be fixed in the Company’s certificate of incorporation, as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

1.2               OTHER OFFICES

 

The Company may at any time establish other offices.

 

ARTICLE II - MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

2.1               PLACE OF MEETINGS

 

Meetings of stockholders shall be held at a place, if any, within or outside the State of Delaware, determined by the board of directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”). The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). In the absence of any such designation or determination, stockholders’ meetings shall be held at the Company’s principal executive office.

 

2.2               ANNUAL MEETING

 

The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held each year. The Board of Directors shall designate the date and time of the annual meeting. At the annual meeting, directors shall be elected and any other proper business, brought in accordance with Section 2.4 of these bylaws, may be transacted. The Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board may cancel, postpone or reschedule any previously scheduled annual meeting at any time, before or after the notice for such meeting has been sent to the stockholders. For the purposes of these bylaws, the term “Whole Board” shall mean the total number of authorized directorships whether or not there exist any vacancies or other unfilled seats in previously authorized directorships.

 

2.3               SPECIAL MEETING

 

(a)                A special meeting of the stockholders, other than as required by statute, may be called at any time by (i) the Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board or (ii) the chairperson of the Board of Directors, but a special meeting may not be called by any other person or persons and any power of stockholders to call a special meeting of stockholders is specifically denied. The Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board may cancel, postpone or reschedule any previously scheduled special meeting at any time, before or after the notice for such meeting has been sent to the stockholders.

 

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(b)                The notice of a special meeting shall include the purpose for which the meeting is called. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of a majority of the Whole Board or the chairperson of the Board of Directors. Nothing contained in this Section 2.3(b) shall be construed as limiting, fixing or affecting the time when a meeting of stockholders called by action of the Board of Directors may be held.

 

2.4               ADVANCE NOTICE PROCEDURES

 

(a)                Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

 

(i)                 Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors or the proposal of other business to be transacted by the stockholders at an annual meeting of stockholders may be made only: (1) pursuant to the Company’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) with respect to such annual meeting given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof); (2) as otherwise properly brought before such annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof); (3) as may be provided in the certificate of designations for any class or series of preferred stock; or (4) by any stockholder of the Company who (A) is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of the notice contemplated by Section 2.4(a)(ii); (B) is a stockholder of record on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of the annual meeting; (C) is a stockholder of record on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting; (D) is a stockholder of record at the time of the annual meeting; and (E) complies with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.4(a). For the avoidance of doubt, compliance with the foregoing clause (4) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations, or to propose any other business (other than a proposal included in the Company’s proxy materials pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (such act, and inclusive of the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “1934 Act”)), at an annual meeting of stockholders.

 

(ii)               In addition to any other applicable requirements, for nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting of stockholders by a stockholder pursuant to clause (4) of Section 2.4(a)(i), the stockholder must have given timely notice in proper written form to the secretary and any such nomination or proposed business must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received by the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company no earlier than 8:00 a.m., local time, on the 120th day and no later than 5:00 p.m., local time, on the 90th day prior to the day of the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders. However, if no annual meeting of stockholders was held in the preceding year, or if the date of the applicable annual meeting has been changed by more than 25 days from the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, then to be timely such notice must be received by the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company no earlier than 8:00 a.m., local time, on the 120th day prior to the day of the annual meeting and no later than 5:00 p.m., local time, on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the annual meeting was first made by the Company. In no event will the adjournment, rescheduling or postponement of any annual meeting, or any announcement thereof, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. If the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least 10 days before the last day that a stockholder may deliver a notice of nomination pursuant to the foregoing provisions, then a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.4(a)(ii) will also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it is received by the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company no later than 5:00 p.m., local time, on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made. “Public announcement” means disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act.

 

- 2 -

 

 

(iii)             To be in proper written form, the notice of any stockholder of record giving notice under this Section 2.4 (each, a “Noticing Party”) to the secretary must set forth:

 

(1)                as to each person whom the Noticing Party proposes to nominate for election as a director (each, a “Proposed Nominee”), if any:

 

(A)              the name, age, business address, residence address and principal occupation or employment of such Proposed Nominee; the class and number of shares of the Company that are held of record or are beneficially owned by such Proposed Nominee and a description of any Derivative Instruments (defined below) held or beneficially owned thereby or of any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares), written or oral, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, or to manage the risk or benefit from, changes in the price of any securities of the Company, or maintain, increase or decrease the voting power of such Proposed Nominee; and all information relating to such Proposed Nominee or such Proposed Nominee’s respective affiliates and associates (each as defined below) that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or filing required to be made by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person (defined below) in connection with the solicitations of proxies for the election of directors in a contested election or otherwise required pursuant to the Section 14 of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Proxy Rules”);

 

(B)              such Proposed Nominee’s written consent to being named in such Noticing Party’s proxy statement as a nominee of such Noticing Party and to serving as a director of the Company if elected;

 

(C)              a reasonably detailed description of any direct or indirect compensatory, payment, indemnification or other financial agreement, arrangement or understanding (including the amount of any payment or payments received or receivable thereunder), written or oral, that such Proposed Nominee has, or has had within the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such Proposed Nominee and or any of such Proposed Nominee’s affiliates or associates, on the one hand, and any Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person, on the other hand, including all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K as if such Noticing Party and any Stockholder Associated Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and such Proposed Nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant (a “Third-Party Compensation Arrangement”); and

 

(D)              a description of any business or personal interests that could reasonably be expected to place such Proposed Nominee in a potential conflict of interest with the Company or its affiliates.

 

(2)                as to any other business that the Noticing Party proposes to bring before the annual meeting:

 

- 3 -

 

 

(A)              a reasonably brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting;

 

(B)              the text of the proposal or business (including the complete text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the text of the proposed amendment);

 

(C)              the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting; and

 

(D)              all other information relating to such business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person, in connection with the solicitation of proxies in support of such proposed business by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person, pursuant to the Proxy Rules.

 

(3)                as to such Noticing Party and each Stockholder Associated Person:

 

(A)              the name and address of such Noticing Party and each Stockholder Associated Person (including, as applicable, as they appear on the Company’s books and records);

 

(B)              for each class or series, the number of shares of stock of the Company that are, directly or indirectly, held of record or are beneficially owned (specifying the type of ownership) by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person (including any right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the fulfillment of a condition), the date or dates on which such shares were acquired, and the investment intent of such acquisition;

 

(C)              the name of each nominee holder for, and number of, any securities of the Company owned beneficially but not of record by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person and any pledge by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any of such securities;

 

(D)              a complete and accurate description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, written or oral, (including, regardless of the form of settlement, any derivative, long or short positions, profit interests, forwards, futures, swaps, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into by or on behalf of such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to the Company’s securities, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding, written or oral, that has been made the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit from changes in the price of any securities of the Company, or maintain, increase or decrease the voting power of such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to the Company’s securities, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in underlying shares of capital stock of the Company and without regard to whether such agreement, arrangement or understanding, written or oral, is required to be reported on a Schedule 13D, 13F or 13G in accordance with the 1934 Act (any of the foregoing, a “Derivative Instrument”);

 

- 4 -

 

 

(E)               any substantial interest, direct or indirect (including any existing or prospective commercial, business or contractual relationship with the Company or any affiliate thereof), by security holdings or otherwise, of such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person in the Company or any affiliate thereof, other than an interest arising from the ownership of Company securities where such Noticing Party or such Stockholder Associated Person receives no extra or special benefit not shared on a pro rata basis by all other holders of the same class or series;

 

(F)               a complete and accurate description of all agreements, arrangements or understandings, written or oral: (1) between or among such Noticing Party and any Stockholder Associated Person, or (2) between or among such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person and any other person or entity (naming each such person or entity), in each case, relating to the Company or its securities or the voting thereof, including (x) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person, directly or indirectly, has a right to vote any security of the Company (other than any revocable proxy given in response to a solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 14(a) of the 1934 Act by way of a solicitation statement filed on Schedule 14A) and (y) any understanding, written or oral, that such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person may have reached with any stockholder of the Company (including the name of such stockholder) with respect to how such stockholder will vote such stockholder’s shares in the Company at any meeting of the Company’s stockholders or take other action in support of any Proposed Nominee or other business, or other action to be taken, by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person;

 

(G)              any rights to dividends on the Company’s securities owned beneficially by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person that are separated or separable from the underlying security;

 

(H)              any proportionate interest in the Company’s securities or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership, limited liability company or similar entity in which such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person: (1) is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner of such general or limited partnership, or (2) is the manager, managing member or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in the manager or managing member of such limited liability company or similar entity;

 

(I)                 any significant equity interests or any Derivative Instruments in any principal competitor of the Company that are held by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person;

 

(J)                 any direct or indirect interest of such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person in any agreement, arrangement or understanding, written or oral, with the Company, any affiliate of the Company or any principal competitor of the Company (in each case, including any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement);

 

(K)              a description of any material interest of such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person in the business proposed by such Noticing Party, if any, or the election of any Proposed Nominee;

 

(L)               a written representation and undertaking that (1) neither such Noticing Party nor any Stockholder Associated Person has breached any agreement, arrangement or understanding, written or oral, with the Company except as disclosed to the Company pursuant hereto and (2) such Noticing Party and each Stockholder Associated Person has complied, and will comply, with all applicable requirements of state law and the 1934 Act with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.4;

 

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(M)             a complete and accurate description of any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person is entitled to, based on any increase or decrease in the value of the Company’s securities or Derivative Instruments, including, without limitation, any such interests held by members of the immediate family of such Noticing Party or Stockholder Associated Person sharing the same household;

 

(N)              (1) a description of the investment strategy or objective, if any, of such Noticing Party who is not an individual, and (2) a copy of any presentation, document or marketing material provided to third parties (including investors and potential investors) to solicit an investment in the Noticing Party that contains or describes the Noticing Party’s investment thesis, or plans or proposals, with respect to the Company;

 

(O)              all information that would be required to be set forth in a Schedule 13D filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(a) under the 1934 Act or an amendment pursuant to Rule 13d-2(a) under the 1934 Act if such a statement were required to be filed under the 1934 Act by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person, or such Noticing Party’s or any Stockholder Associated Person’s associates, with respect to the Company (regardless of whether such person or entity is actually required to file a Schedule 13D), including a description of any agreement that would be required to be disclosed by such Noticing Party, any Stockholder Associated Person or any of their respective associates pursuant to Item 5 or Item 6 of Schedule 13D;

 

(P)               a certification that such Noticing Party and each Stockholder Associated Person has complied with all applicable federal, state and other legal requirements in connection with such Noticing Party’s or Stockholder Associated Person’s acquisition of shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company and such Noticing Party’s or Stockholder Associated Person’s acts or omissions as a stockholder of the Company, if such Noticing Party or Stockholder Associated Person is or has been a stockholder of the Company;

 

(Q)              (1) if the Noticing Party (or the beneficial owner(s) on whose behalf such Noticing Party is submitting a notice to the Company) is not a natural person, the identity of each natural person associated with such Noticing Party (or beneficial owner(s)) responsible for the formulation of and decision to propose the business or nomination to be brought before the meeting (such person or persons, the “Responsible Person”), the manner in which such Responsible Person was selected, any fiduciary duties owed by such Responsible Person to the equity holders or other beneficiaries of such Noticing Party (or beneficial owner(s)), the qualifications and background of such Responsible Person and any material interests or relationships of such Responsible Person that are not shared generally by any other record or beneficial holder of the shares of any class or series of the capital stock of the Company and that reasonably could have influenced the decision of such Noticing Party (or beneficial owner(s)) to propose such business or nomination to be brought before the meeting and (2) if the Noticing Party (or the beneficial owner(s) on whose behalf such Noticing Party is submitting a notice to the Company) is a natural person, the qualifications and background of such natural person and any material interests or relationships of such natural person that are not shared generally by any other record or beneficial holder of the shares of any class or series of the capital stock of the Company and that reasonably could have influenced the decision of such Noticing Party (or beneficial owner(s)) to propose such business or nomination to be brought before the meeting; and

 

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(R)              any other information relating to such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person, or such Noticing Party’s or any Stockholder Associated Person’s associates, or Proposed Nominee or proposed business, that in each case, would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies in support of such Proposed Nominee (in a contested election of directors) or proposal pursuant to the Proxy Rules; provided, however, that the disclosures described in the foregoing subclauses (A) through (R) 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 Noticing Party 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.

 

(4)                a written representation and undertaking that the Noticing Party is a holder of record of stock of the Company as of the date of submission of the notice and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to bring such nomination or other business before the meeting, and an acknowledgment that, unless otherwise required by law, if such Noticing Party (or a Qualified Representative of such Noticing Party) does not appear in person at the meeting to present a nomination or other proposed business, such nomination will be disregarded or such proposed business will not be transacted, as the case may be, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such nomination or business may have been received by the Company and counted for purposes of determining a quorum. For purposes of this Section 2.4, to be considered a “Qualified Representative” of the Noticing Party, a person must be (1) a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such Noticing Party or (2) a person authorized by a writing executed by such Noticing Party (or a reliable reproduction or electronic transmission of the writing) delivered by such Noticing Party to the Company prior to the making of any nomination or proposal at a stockholder meeting stating that such person is authorized to act for such Noticing Party as proxy at the meeting of stockholders, which writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, must be produced at the meeting of stockholders;

 

(5)                a complete and accurate description of any pending or, to such Noticing Party’s knowledge, threatened legal proceeding in which such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person is a party or participant involving the Company or, to such Noticing Party’s knowledge, any current or former officer, director, affiliate or associate of the Company;

 

(6)                identification of the names and addresses of other stockholders (including beneficial owners) known by such Noticing Party to support the nomination(s) or other business proposal(s) submitted by such Noticing Party and, to the extent known, the class and number of all shares of the Company’s capital stock owned beneficially or of record by such other stockholder(s) or other beneficial owner(s); and

 

(7)                a written representation that such Noticing Party and any Stockholder Associated Person intends, or is part of a group that intends, to (1) solicit proxies in support of the election of any Proposed Nominee in accordance with Rule 14a-19 under the 1934 Act or (2) engage in a solicitation (within the meaning of 1934 Act Rule 14a-1(l)) with respect to the nomination or other business, as applicable, and if so, the name of each participant (as defined in Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the 1934 Act) in such solicitation.

 

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(b)                Special Meetings of Stockholders. Except to the extent required by the DGCL, and subject to Section 2.3(a), special meetings of stockholders may be called only in accordance with the Company’s certificate of incorporation and these bylaws. Only such business will be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as has been brought before the special meeting pursuant to the Company’s notice of meeting. If the election of directors is included as business to be brought before a special meeting in the Company’s notice of meeting, then nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at such special meeting may be made by any stockholder who (i) is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of the notice contemplated by this Section 2.4(b); (ii) is a stockholder of record on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of the special meeting; (iii) is a stockholder of record on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting; (iv) is a stockholder of record at the time of the special meeting; and (v) complies with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.4(b). For nominations to be properly brought by a stockholder before a special meeting pursuant to this Section 2.4(b), the stockholder’s notice must be received by the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company no earlier than 8:00 a.m., local time, on the 120th day prior to the day of the special meeting and no later than 5:00 p.m., local time, on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the special meeting was first made. In no event will any adjournment, rescheduling 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. A stockholder’s notice to the secretary must comply with the applicable notice requirements of Section 2.4(a)(iii).

 

(c)                Other Requirements.

 

(i)                 To be eligible to be a nominee by any Noticing Party for election as a director of the Company, the Proposed Nominee must provide to the secretary, in accordance with the applicable time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Section 2.4(a)(ii) or Section 2.4(b):

 

(1)                a signed written questionnaire, completed by the Proposed Nominee in the form required by the Company (which form such Noticing Party shall request in writing from the secretary prior to submitting notice and which the secretary shall provide to such Noticing Party within 10 days after receiving such request), containing information regarding such Proposed Nominee’s background and qualifications and such other information as may reasonably be required by the Company to determine the eligibility of such Proposed Nominee to serve as a director of the Company or to serve as an independent director of the Company;

 

(2)                a written representation and agreement completed by such Proposed Nominee in the form required by the Company (which form such Noticing Party shall request in writing from the secretary prior to submitting notice and which the secretary shall provide to such Noticing Party within 10 days after receiving such request) providing that, unless previously disclosed to the Company, such Proposed Nominee is not, and will not become, a party to any voting agreement, arrangement, commitment, assurance or understanding with any person or entity as to how such Proposed Nominee, if elected as a director, will vote on any issue or question that could limit or interfere with such Proposed Nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Company, with such Proposed Nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law;

 

(3)                a written representation and undertaking that, unless previously disclosed to the Company, such Proposed Nominee is not, and will not become, a party to any Third-Party Compensation Arrangement;

 

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(4)                a written representation and undertaking that, if elected as a director, such Proposed Nominee would be in compliance, and will continue to comply, with all applicable rules of any securities exchange upon which the Company’s securities are listed, certificate of incorporation, these bylaws, all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, ethics, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and trading policies and all other guidelines and policies of the Company generally applicable to directors (which other guidelines and policies will be provided to such Proposed Nominee within five business days after the secretary receives any written request therefor from such Proposed Nominee), and all applicable fiduciary duties under state law;

 

(5)                a written representation and undertaking that such Proposed Nominee, if elected, intends to serve a full term on the Board of Directors;

 

(6)                a written representation and undertaking that such Proposed Nominee will provide facts, statements and other information in all communications with the Company and its stockholders that are or will be true and correct and that do not and will not omit to state any fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; and

 

(7)                a written representation and undertaking that such Proposed Nominee will tender his or her resignation as a director of the Company if the Board of Directors determines that such Proposed Nominee failed to comply with the provisions of this Section 2.4(c)(i) in any material respect, provides such Proposed Nominee notice of any such determination and, if such non-compliance may be cured, such Proposed Nominee fails to cure such non-compliance within 10 business days after delivery of such notice to such Proposed Nominee.

 

(ii)               At the request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated by the Board of Directors for election as a director must furnish to the secretary the information that is required to be set forth in a Noticing Party’s notice of nomination that pertains to such Proposed Nominee.

 

(iii)             No person will be eligible to be nominated by a Noticing Party for election as a director of the Company unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.4. No business proposed by a Noticing Party will be conducted at a stockholder meeting except pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act and in accordance with this Section 2.4.

 

(iv)              The chairperson of the applicable meeting of stockholders will, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by these bylaws or that business was not properly brought before the meeting. If the chairperson of the meeting should so determine, then the chairperson of the meeting will so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination will be disregarded or such business will not be transacted, as the case may be.

 

(v)                Without limiting this Section 2.4, a Noticing Party must also comply with all applicable requirements of the 1934 Act with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.4, it being understood that (1) any references in these bylaws to the 1934 Act are not intended to, and will not, limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to this Section 2.4; and (2) compliance with clause (4) of Section 2.4(a)(i) and with Section 2.4(b) are the exclusive means for a Noticing Party to make nominations or submit other business (other than as provided in Section 2.4(c)(vii)).

 

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(vi)              Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.4, the notice requirements set forth in these bylaws with respect to the proposal of any business pursuant to this Section 2.4 will be deemed to be satisfied by a Noticing Party if (1) such Noticing Party has submitted a proposal to the Company in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act; and (2) such Noticing Party’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Company to solicit proxies for the meeting of stockholders. Subject to Rule 14a-8 and other applicable rules and regulations under the 1934 Act, nothing in these bylaws will be construed to permit any Noticing Party, or give any Noticing Party the right, to include or have disseminated or described in the Company’s proxy statement any nomination of a director or any other business proposal.

 

(d)                Additional Information.

 

(i)                 In addition to the information required pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.4, the Company may require any Noticing Party to furnish such other information as the Company may reasonably require to determine the eligibility or suitability of a Proposed Nominee to serve as a director of the Company or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such Proposed Nominee, under the listing standards of each securities exchange upon which the Company’s securities are listed, any applicable rules of the SEC, any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in selecting nominees for election as a director and for determining and disclosing the independence of the Company’s directors, including those applicable to a director’s service on any of the committees of the Board of Directors, or the requirements of any other laws or regulations applicable to the Company. If requested by the Company, any supplemental information required under this paragraph shall be provided by a Noticing Party within 10 days after it has been requested by the Company.

 

(ii)               The Board of Directors may require any Proposed Nominee to submit to interviews with the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, and such Proposed Nominee shall make himself or herself available for any such interviews within 10 days following any reasonable request therefor from the Board of Directors or any committee thereof.

 

(e)                General

 

(i)                 The number of nominees a Noticing Party may nominate for election at a meeting may not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such meeting, and for the avoidance of doubt, no Noticing Party shall be entitled to make additional or substitute nominations following the expiration of the time periods set forth in Section 2.4(a)(ii) or Section 2.4(b), as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.4, unless otherwise required by law, if the Noticing Party proposing a nominee for director or business to be conducted at a meeting does not appear at the meeting of stockholders of the Company to present such nomination or propose such business, such Proposed Nominee shall be disregarded or such proposed business shall not be transacted, as applicable, and no vote shall be taken with respect to such nomination or proposed business, notwithstanding that proxies with respect to such vote may have been received by the Company.

 

(ii)               A Noticing Party shall update such Noticing Party’s notice provided under the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.4, if necessary, such that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of (A) the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the meeting and (B) the date that is 10 business days prior to the meeting (or any postponement, rescheduling or adjournment thereof), and such update shall (1) be received by the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company (x) not later than the close of business five business days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of such meeting (in the case of an update required to be made under clause (A)) and (y) not later than the close of business seven business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any postponement, rescheduling or adjournment thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been postponed, rescheduled or adjourned) (in the case of an update required to be made pursuant to clause (B)), (2) be made only to the extent that information has changed since such Noticing Party’s prior submission and (3) clearly identify the information that has changed since such Noticing Party’s prior submission. For the avoidance of doubt, any information provided pursuant to this Section 2.4(e)(ii) shall not be deemed to cure any deficiencies or inaccuracies in a notice previously delivered pursuant to this Section 2.4 and shall not extend the time period for the delivery of notice pursuant to this Section 2.4. If a Noticing Party fails to provide such written update within such period, the information as to which such written update relates may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 2.4.

 

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(iii)             If any information submitted pursuant to this Section 2.4 by any Noticing Party nominating individuals for election as a director or proposing business for consideration at a stockholder meeting shall be inaccurate in any material respect (as determined by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof), such information shall be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 2.4. Any such Noticing Party shall notify the secretary in writing at the principal executive offices of the Company of any inaccuracy or change in any information submitted pursuant to this Section 2.4 (including if any Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person no longer intends to solicit proxies in accordance with the representation made pursuant to Section 2.4(a)(iii)(7) within two business days after becoming aware of such inaccuracy or change, and any such notification shall clearly identify the inaccuracy or change, it being understood that no such notification may cure any deficiencies or inaccuracies with respect to any prior submission by such Noticing Party. Upon written request of the secretary on behalf of the Board of Directors (or a duly authorized committee thereof), any such Noticing Party shall provide, within seven business days after delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (A) written verification, reasonably satisfactory to the Board of Directors, any committee thereof or any authorized officer of the Company, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by such Noticing Party pursuant to this Section 2.4 and (B) a written affirmation of any information submitted by such Noticing Party pursuant to this Section 2.4 as of an earlier date. If a Noticing Party fails to provide such written verification or affirmation within such period, the information as to which written verification or affirmation was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 2.4.

 

(iv)              If (A) any Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) under the 1934 Act with respect to any Proposed Nominee and (B) (1) such Noticing Party or Stockholder Associated Person subsequently either (x) notifies the Company that such Noticing Party or Stockholder Associated Person no longer intends to solicit proxies in support of the election of such Proposed Nominee in accordance with Rule 14a-19(b) under the 1934 Act or (y) fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) or Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the 1934 Act and (2) no other Noticing Party or Stockholder Associated Person that has provided notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) under the 1934 Act with respect to such Proposed Nominee (x) to the Company’s knowledge, still intends to solicit proxies in support of the election of such Proposed Nominee in accordance with Rule 14a-19(b) under the 1934 Act and (y) has complied with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) and Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the 1934 Act, then the nomination of such Proposed Nominee shall be disregarded and no vote on the election of such Proposed Nominee shall occur (notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Company). Upon request by the Company, if any Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) under the 1934 Act, such Noticing Party shall deliver to the secretary, no later than five business days prior to the applicable meeting date, reasonable evidence that the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the 1934 Act have been satisfied.

 

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(v)                In addition to complying with the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.4, a Noticing Party shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and the 1934 Act with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.4. Nothing in this Section 2.4 shall be deemed to affect any rights of a (A) Noticing Party to request inclusion of proposals in the Company’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act, (B) Noticing Party to request inclusion of nominees in the Company’s proxy statement pursuant to the Proxy Rules or (C) the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the certificate of incorporation.

 

(vi)              Any written notice, supplement, update or other information required to be delivered by a Noticing Party to the Company pursuant to this Section 2.4 must be given by personal delivery, by overnight courier or by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to the secretary at the Company’s principal executive offices.

 

(vii)            For purposes of these bylaws, (A) “affiliate” and “associate” each shall have the respective meanings set forth in Rule 12b-2 under the 1934 Act; (B) “beneficial owner” or “beneficially owned” shall have the meaning set forth for such terms in Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act; (C) “close of business” shall mean 5:00 p.m. local time on any calendar day, whether or not the day is a business day; and (D) “Stockholder Associated Person” shall mean, with respect to a Noticing Party and if different from such Noticing Party, any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Company on whose behalf such Noticing Party is providing notice of any nomination or other business proposed, (1) any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Noticing Party or beneficial owner(s), (2) any member of the immediate family of such Noticing Party or beneficial owner(s) sharing the same household, (3) any person or entity who is a member of a “group” (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the 1934 Act (or any successor provision at law)) with, or is otherwise known by such Noticing Party or other Stockholder Associated Person to be acting in concert with, such Noticing Party, such beneficial owner(s) or any other Stockholder Associated Person with respect to the stock of the Company, (4)  any affiliate or associate of such Noticing Party, such beneficial owner(s) or any other Stockholder Associated Person, (5) if such Noticing Party or any such beneficial owner is not a natural person, any Responsible Person, (6) any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A) with such Noticing Party, such beneficial owner(s) or any other Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any proposed business or nominations, as applicable, (7) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Company owned of record by such Noticing Party or any other Stockholder Associated Person (other than a stockholder that is a depositary) and (8) any Proposed Nominee.

 

2.5               NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

 

Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice of the meeting shall be given which shall state the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Except as otherwise provided in the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting.

 

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2.6               QUORUM

 

The holders of a majority of the voting power of the capital stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the stockholders. Where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or series or classes or series, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter, except as otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws.

 

If, however, such quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, then either (a) the chairperson of the meeting, or (b) the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present or represented, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the original meeting.

 

2.7               ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE

 

When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, by holders of a majority of the voting power of the capital stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, though less than a quorum, or by any officer entitled to preside at or to act as secretary of such meeting, and unless these bylaws otherwise require, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting (including an adjournment taken to address a technical failure to convene or continue a meeting using remote communication) if the time, place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are (a) announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, (b) displayed during the time scheduled for the meeting, on the same electronic network used to enable stockholders and proxy holders to participate in the meeting by means of remote communication or (c) set forth in the notice of meeting given in accordance with these bylaws. At the adjourned meeting, the Company may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 213(a) of the DGCL and Section 2.11 of these bylaws, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

 

2.8               CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

 

The chairperson of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of business and discussion as seem to the chairperson in order. The chairperson of any meeting of stockholders shall be designated by the Board of Directors; in the absence of such designation, the chairperson of the Board of Directors, if any, or the chief executive officer (in the absence of the chairperson of the Board of Directors) or the president (in the absence of the chairperson of the Board of Directors and the chief executive officer), or in their absence any other executive officer of the Company, shall serve as chairperson of the stockholder meeting. The chairperson of any meeting of stockholders shall have the power to adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date or time, whether or not a quorum is present.

 

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2.9               VOTING

 

The stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.11 of these bylaws, subject to Section 217 (relating to voting rights of fiduciaries, pledgors and joint owners of stock) and Section 218 (relating to voting trusts and other voting agreements) of the DGCL.

 

Except as may be otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder as of the applicable record date.

 

Except as otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws or the rules of the stock exchange on which the Company’s securities are listed, in all matters other than the election of directors, the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the shares cast affirmatively or negatively shall be the act of the stockholders with respect to each such matter and broker non-votes and abstentions will be considered for purposes of establishing a quorum, but will not be considered as votes cast for or against any matter. Except as otherwise required by law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the voting power of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. Where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, in all matters other than the election of directors, the affirmative vote of the majority of the voting power of the shares of such class or series or classes or series cast affirmatively or negatively at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of such class or series or classes or series with respect to each such matter (and broker non-votes and abstentions will not be considered as votes cast for or against any such matter), except as otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws or the rules of the stock exchange on which the securities of the Company are listed.

 

2.10           STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING

 

Subject to the rights of holders of preferred stock of the Company, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Company must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Company and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.

 

2.11           RECORD DATES

 

In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination.

 

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If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.

 

A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the provisions of Section 213 of the DGCL and this Section 2.11 at the adjourned meeting.

 

In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders 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 record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

2.12           PROXIES

 

Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders, or such stockholder’s authorized officer, director, employee or agent, may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy authorized by a document or by a transmission permitted by law filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after one (1) year from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section 212 of the DGCL. Any stockholder directly or indirectly soliciting proxies from other stockholders may use any proxy card color other than white, which shall be reserved for exclusive use of the Board.

 

2.13           LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE

 

The Company shall prepare, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting; provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than 10 days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. The Company shall not be required to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the Company’s principal place of business. In the event that the Company determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Company may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Company.

 

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2.14           INSPECTORS OF ELECTION

 

Before any meeting of stockholders, the Company shall appoint an inspector or inspectors of election to act at the meeting or its adjournment. The Company may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act.

 

Such inspectors shall:

 

(a)                ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each;

 

(b)                determine the shares represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots;

 

(c)                count all votes and ballots;

 

(d)                determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors; and

 

(e)                certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting, and their count of all votes and ballots.

The inspectors of election shall perform their duties impartially, in good faith, to the best of their ability and as expeditiously as is practical. If there are multiple inspectors of election, the decision, act or certificate of a majority is effective in all respects as the decision, act or certificate of all. Any report or certificate made by the inspectors of election is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

 

ARTICLE III - DIRECTORS

 

3.1               POWERS

 

The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise provided in the DGCL or the certificate of incorporation.

 

3.2               NUMBER OF DIRECTORS

 

The Board of Directors shall consist of one or more members, each of whom shall be a natural person. Unless the certificate of incorporation fixes the number of directors, the number of directors shall be determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the Whole Board. No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director before that director’s term of office expires.

 

3.3               ELECTION, QUALIFICATION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS

 

Except as provided in Section 3.4 of these bylaws, each director, including a director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship, shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which elected and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Directors need not be stockholders unless so required by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws. The certificate of incorporation or these bylaws may prescribe other qualifications for directors.

 

If so provided in the certificate of incorporation, the directors of the Company shall be divided into three classes.

 

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3.4               RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES

 

Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Company. A resignation is effective when the resignation is delivered unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events. A resignation which is conditioned upon the director failing to receive a specified vote for reelection as a director may provide that it is irrevocable. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, when one or more directors resign from the Board of Directors, effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws or permitted in the specific case by resolution of the Board of Directors, and subject to the rights of holders of preferred stock, vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors elected by all of the stockholders having the right to vote as a single class may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and not by stockholders. If the directors are divided into classes, a person so chosen to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

 

3.5               PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE

 

The Board of Directors may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or outside the State of Delaware.

Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, members of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors by means of conference telephone or other 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 the meeting.

 

3.6               REGULAR MEETINGS

 

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

 

3.7               SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE

 

Special meetings of the Board of Directors for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the chairperson of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president, the secretary or a majority of the Whole Board.

 

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Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be:

 

(a)                delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone;

 

(b)                sent by United States first-class mail, postage prepaid;

 

(c)                sent by facsimile;

 

(d)                sent by electronic mail; or

 

(e)                otherwise given by electronic transmission (as defined in Section 232 of the DGCL),

 

directed to each director at that director’s address, telephone number, facsimile number, electronic mail address or other contact for notice by electronic transmission, as the case may be, as shown on the Company’s records.

 

If the notice is (i) delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone, (ii) sent by facsimile, (iii) sent by electronic mail or (iv) otherwise given by electronic transmission, it shall be delivered, sent or otherwise directed to each director, as applicable, at least 24 hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. If the notice is sent by United States mail, it shall be deposited in the United States mail at least four days before the time of the holding of the meeting. Any oral notice of the time and place of the meeting may be communicated to the director in lieu of written notice if such notice is communicated at least 24 hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. The notice need not specify the place of the meeting (if the meeting is to be held at the Company’s principal executive office) nor the purpose of the meeting, unless required by statute.

 

3.8               QUORUM; VOTING

 

At all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, then the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.

 

The affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws.

 

If the certificate of incorporation provides that one or more directors shall have more or less than one vote per director on any matter, except as may otherwise be expressly provided herein or therein and denoted with the phrase “notwithstanding the final paragraph of Section 3.8 of the bylaws” or language to similar effect, every reference in these bylaws to a majority or other proportion of the directors shall refer to a majority or other proportion of the votes of the directors.

 

3.9               BOARD ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING

 

Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission. Any person (whether or not then a director) may provide, whether through instruction to an agent or otherwise, that a consent to action will be effective at a future time (including a time determined upon the happening of an event), no later than 60 days after such instruction is given or such provision is made and such consent shall be deemed to have been given for purposes of this Section 3.9 at such effective time so long as such person is then a director and did not revoke the consent prior to such time. Any such consent shall be revocable prior to its becoming effective.

 

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3.10           FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

 

Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors.

 

3.11           REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS

 

Any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed from office by stockholders of the Company in the manner specified in the certificate of incorporation and applicable law. No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director prior to the expiration of such director’s term of office.

 

ARTICLE IV - COMMITTEES

 

4.1               COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS

 

The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the Whole Board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Company. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board 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 or in these bylaws, 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 Company, and may authorize the seal of the Company to be affixed to all papers that may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority to (a) approve or adopt, or recommend to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, or (b) adopt, amend or repeal any bylaw of the Company.

 

4.2               COMMITTEE MINUTES

 

Each committee and subcommittee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings.

 

4.3               MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES

 

Meetings and actions of committees and subcommittees shall be governed by, and held and taken in accordance with, the provisions of:

 

(a)                Section 3.5 (place of meetings and meetings by telephone);

 

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(b)                Section 3.6 (regular meetings);

 

(c)                Section 3.7 (special meetings and notice);

 

(d)                Section 3.8 (quorum; voting);

 

(e)                Section 3.9 (action without a meeting); and

 

(f)                 Section 7.4 (waiver of notice)

 

with such changes in the context of those bylaws as are necessary to substitute the committee or subcommittee and its members for the Board of Directors and its members. However, (i) the time and place of regular meetings of committees or subcommittees may be determined either by resolution of the Board of Directors or by resolution of the committee or subcommittee; (ii) special meetings of committees or subcommittees may also be called by resolution of the Board of Directors or the committee or the subcommittee; and (iii) notice of special meetings of committees and subcommittees shall also be given to all alternate members who shall have the right to attend all meetings of the committee or subcommittee. The Board of Directors may adopt rules for the government of any committee not inconsistent with the provisions of these bylaws.

 

Any provision in the certificate of incorporation providing that one or more directors shall have more or less than one vote per director on any matter shall apply to voting in any committee or subcommittee, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws.

 

4.4               SUBCOMMITTEES

 

Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws or the resolutions of the Board of Directors designating the committee, a committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one or more members of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee.

 

ARTICLE V - OFFICERS

 

5.1               OFFICERS

 

The officers of the Company shall be a president and a secretary. The Company may also have, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, a chairperson of the Board of Directors, a vice chairperson of the Board of Directors, a chief executive officer, a chief financial officer or treasurer, one or more vice presidents, one or more assistant vice presidents, one or more assistant treasurers, one or more assistant secretaries and any such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, but no officer may act in more than one capacity where action of two or more officers is required.

 

5.2               APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS

 

The Board of Directors shall appoint the officers of the Company, except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3 of these bylaws, subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment.

 

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5.3               SUBORDINATE OFFICERS

 

The Board of Directors may appoint, or empower any officer to appoint, such other officers as the business of the Company may require. Each of such officers shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform such duties as are provided in these bylaws or as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors, any duly authorized committee or subcommittee thereof or by any officer who has been conferred such power of determination.

 

5.4               REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS

 

Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Board of Directors or, for the avoidance of doubt, any duly authorized committee or subcommittee thereof or by any officer who has been conferred such power of removal.

 

Any officer may resign at any time by giving notice, in writing or by electronic transmission, to the Company. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice. Unless otherwise specified in the notice of resignation, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Company under any contract to which the officer is a party.

 

5.5               VACANCIES IN OFFICES

 

Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Company shall be filled by the Board of Directors or as provided in Section 5.3.

 

5.6               REPRESENTATION OF SECURITIES OF OTHER ENTITIES

 

The chairperson of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president, any vice president, the treasurer, the secretary or assistant secretary of this Company or any other person authorized by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer, the president or a vice president, is authorized to vote, represent and exercise on behalf of this Company all rights incident to any and all shares or other securities of any other entity or entities, and all rights incident to any management authority conferred on the Company in accordance with the governing documents of any entity or entities, standing in the name of this Company, including the right to act by written consent. The authority granted herein may be exercised either by such person directly or by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by such person having the authority.

 

5.7               AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS

 

Each officer of the Company shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the business of the Company as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors, any duly authorized committee or subcommittee thereof or by any officer who has been conferred such power of designation, and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to such office, subject to the control of the Board of Directors.

 

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ARTICLE VI - STOCK

 

6.1               STOCK CERTIFICATES; PARTLY PAID SHARES

 

The shares of the Company shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Company. Unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors, every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of, the Company by any two officers of the Company representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. 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 has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Company with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. The Company shall not have power to issue a certificate in bearer form.

 

The Company may issue the whole or any part of its shares as partly paid and subject to call for the remainder of the consideration to be paid therefor. Upon the face or back of each stock certificate issued to represent any such partly-paid shares, or upon the books and records of the Company in the case of uncertificated partly-paid shares, the total amount of the consideration to be paid therefor and the amount paid thereon shall be stated. Upon the declaration of any dividend on fully-paid shares, the Company shall declare a dividend upon partly-paid shares of the same class, but only upon the basis of the percentage of the consideration actually paid thereon.

 

6.2               SPECIAL DESIGNATION ON CERTIFICATES

 

If the Company is authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, then the powers, the designations, the preferences and the 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 shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate that the Company shall issue to represent such class or series of stock; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the DGCL, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate that the Company shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, a statement that the Company 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. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated stock, the registered owner thereof shall be given a notice, in writing or by electronic transmission, containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to this Section 6.2 or Sections 156, 202(a), 218(a) or 364 of the DGCL or with respect to this Section 6.2 a statement that the Company 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. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated stock and the rights and obligations of the holders of certificates representing stock of the same class and series shall be identical.

 

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6.3               LOST CERTIFICATES

 

Except as provided in this Section 6.3, no new certificates for shares shall be issued to replace a previously issued certificate unless the latter is surrendered to the Company and cancelled at the same time. The Company may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Company may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Company a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.

 

6.4               DIVIDENDS

 

The Board of Directors, subject to any restrictions contained in the certificate of incorporation or applicable law, may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of the Company’s capital stock. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the Company’s capital stock, subject to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation. The Board of Directors may set apart out of any of the funds of the Company available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve.

 

6.5               TRANSFER OF STOCK

 

Transfers of record of shares of stock of the Company shall be made only upon its books by the holders thereof, in person or by an attorney duly authorized, and, if such stock is certificated, upon the surrender of a certificate or certificates for a like number of shares, properly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to transfer.

 

6.6               STOCK TRANSFER AGREEMENTS

 

The Company 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 Company to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Company of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.

 

6.7               REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS

 

The Company:

 

(a)                shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and notices and to vote as such owner; and

 

(b)                shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of another person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.

 

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ARTICLE VII - MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE AND WAIVER

 

 

7.1               NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

 

Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be given in the manner set forth in the DGCL.

 

7.2               NOTICE TO STOCKHOLDERS SHARING AN ADDRESS

 

Except as otherwise prohibited under the DGCL, without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Company under the provisions of the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Company. Any stockholder who fails to object in writing to the Company, within 60 days of having been given written notice by the Company of its intention to send the single notice, shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice. This Section 7.2 shall not apply to Sections 164, 296, 311, 312 or 324 of the DGCL.

 

7.3               NOTICE TO PERSON WITH WHOM COMMUNICATION IS UNLAWFUL

 

Whenever notice is required to be given, under the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, to any person with whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person. Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to any such person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. In the event that the action taken by the Company is such as to require the filing of a certificate under the DGCL, the certificate shall state, if such is the fact and if notice is required, that notice was given to all persons entitled to receive notice except such persons with whom communication is unlawful.

 

7.4               WAIVER OF NOTICE

 

Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws.

 

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ARTICLE VIII - INDEMNIFICATION

 

8.1               Indemnification of Directors and Officers in Third Party Proceedings

 

Subject to the other provisions of this Article VIII, the Company shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as now or hereinafter in effect, 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 (a “Proceeding”) (other than an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is or was a director or officer of the Company serving at the request of the Company 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 such person in connection with such Proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any 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 such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

8.2               Indemnification of Directors and Officers in Actions by or in the Right of the COMPANY

 

Subject to the other provisions of this Article VIII, the Company shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as now or hereinafter in effect, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is or was a director or officer of the Company serving at the request of the Company 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 such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such Proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company; 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 Company 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 the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

8.3               Successful Defense

 

To the extent that a present or former director or officer (for purposes of this Section 8.3 only, as such term is defined in Section 145(c)(1) of the DGCL) of the Company has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2, 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. The Company may indemnify any other person who is not a present or former director or officer of the Company against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person to the extent he or she has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any suit or proceeding described in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

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8.4               Indemnification of Others

 

Subject to the other provisions of this Article VIII, the Company shall have power to indemnify its employees and agents, or any other persons, to the extent not prohibited by the DGCL or other applicable law. The Board of Directors shall have the power to delegate to any person or persons identified in subsections (1) through (4) of Section 145(d) of the DGCL the determination of whether employees or agents shall be indemnified.

 

8.5               Advanced Payment of Expenses

 

Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by an officer or director of the Company in defending any Proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding upon receipt of a written request therefor (together with documentation reasonably evidencing such expenses) and an undertaking by or on behalf of the person to repay such amounts if it shall ultimately be determined that the person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VIII or the DGCL. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents of the Company or by persons serving at the request of the Company as directors, officers, employees or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Company deems appropriate. The right to advancement of expenses shall not apply to any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to these bylaws, but shall apply to any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) referenced in Section 8.6(b) or 8.6(c) prior to a determination that the person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise determined pursuant to Section 8.8, no advance shall be made by the Company to an officer of the Company (except by reason of the fact that such officer is or was a director of the Company, in which event this paragraph shall not apply) in any Proceeding if a determination is reasonably and promptly made (a) by a vote of the directors who are not parties to such Proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (b) by a committee of such directors designated by the vote of the majority of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (c) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, that facts known to the decision-making party at the time such determination is made demonstrate clearly and convincingly that such person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such person did not believe to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.

 

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8.6               Limitation on Indemnification

 

Subject to the requirements in Section 8.3 and the DGCL, the Company shall not be obligated to indemnify any person pursuant to this Article VIII in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding):

 

(a)                for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of such person under any statute, insurance policy, indemnity provision, vote or otherwise, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid;

 

(b)                for an accounting or disgorgement of profits pursuant to Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act, or similar provisions of federal, state or local statutory law or common law, if such person is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements);

 

(c)                for any reimbursement of the Company by such person of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by such person from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the 1934 Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by such person of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if such person is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements);

 

(d)                initiated by such person, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by such person against the Company or its directors, officers, employees, agents or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board of Directors authorized the Proceeding (or the relevant part of the Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law, (iii) otherwise required to be made under Section 8.7 or (iv) otherwise required by applicable law; or

 

(e)                if prohibited by applicable law.

 

8.7               Determination; Claim

 

If a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article VIII is not paid in full within 90 days after receipt by the Company of the written request therefor, the claimant shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of competent jurisdiction of his or her entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of expenses. The Company shall indemnify such person against any and all expenses that are actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any action for indemnification or advancement of expenses from the Company under this Article VIII, to the extent such person is successful in such action, and to the extent not prohibited by law. In any such suit, the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proving that the claimant is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses.

 

8.8               Non-Exclusivity of Rights

 

The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VIII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the certificate of incorporation or any statute, 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. The Company is specifically authorized to enter into individual contracts with any or all of its directors, officers, employees or agents respecting indemnification and advancement of expenses, to the fullest extent not prohibited by the DGCL or other applicable law.

 

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8.9               Insurance

 

The Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company 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 Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of the DGCL.

 

8.10           Survival

 

The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this Article VIII 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 a person.

 

8.11           Effect of Repeal or Modification

 

A right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising under a provision of the certificate of incorporation or a bylaw shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to or repeal or elimination of the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought, unless the provision in effect at the time of such act or omission explicitly authorizes such elimination or impairment after such action or omission has occurred.

 

8.12           Certain Definitions

 

For purposes of this Article VIII, references to the “Company” shall include, in addition to the resulting company, any constituent company (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent company, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent company 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 Article VIII with respect to the resulting or surviving company as such person would have with respect to such constituent company if its separate existence had continued. For purposes of this Article VIII, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Article VIII.

 

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ARTICLE IX - GENERAL MATTERS

 

9.1               EXECUTION OF CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS

 

Except as otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any document or instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Company; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Unless so 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 Company by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.

 

9.2               FISCAL YEAR

 

The fiscal year of the Company shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors and may be changed by the Board of Directors.

 

9.3               SEAL

 

The Company may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be adopted and which may be altered by the Board of Directors. The Company may use the corporate seal by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.

 

9.4               CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS

 

Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction, and definitions in the DGCL shall govern the construction of these bylaws. Without limiting the generality of this provision, the singular number includes the plural, the plural number includes the singular, and the term “person” includes a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, and a natural person. Any reference in these bylaws to a section of the DGCL shall be deemed to refer to such section as amended from time to time and any successor provisions thereto.

 

9.5               FORUM SELECTION

 

Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another State court in Delaware or the federal district court for the District of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, stockholder, officer or other employee of the Company to the Company or the Company’s stockholders, (c) any action arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time) or (d) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except for, as to each of (a) through (d) above, any claim as to which such court determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of such court (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of such court within 10 days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than such court or for which such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction.

 

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Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act against any person in connection with any offering of the Company’s securities, including, without limitation and for the avoidance of doubt, any auditor, underwriter, expert, control person, or other defendant.

 

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Company shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 9.5. This provision shall be enforceable by any party to a complaint covered by the provisions of this Section 9.5. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing contained in this Section 9.5 shall apply to any action brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the 1934 Act or any successor thereto.

 

9.6               SEVERABILITY

 

To the extent any provision of these bylaws would be, in the absence of this Section 9.6, invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, such provision shall be severable from the other provisions of these bylaws, and all provisions of these bylaws shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by these bylaws, including, to the maximum extent possible, the provision that would be otherwise invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

 

ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS

 

These bylaws may be adopted, amended or repealed by the stockholders entitled to vote; provided, however, that the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the total voting power of outstanding voting securities, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders of the Company to alter, amend or repeal, or adopt any bylaw inconsistent with, the following provisions of these bylaws: Article II, Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.4 and 3.11 of Article III, Article VIII, Section 9.5 of Article IX or this Article X (including, without limitation, any such Article or Section as renumbered as a result of any amendment, alteration, change, repeal, or adoption of any other Bylaw). The Board of Directors shall also have the power to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws; provided, however, that a bylaw amendment adopted by stockholders which specifies the votes that shall be necessary for the election of directors shall not be further amended or repealed by the Board of Directors.

 

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