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): May 31, 2018

 
Anika Therapeutics, Inc.
( Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter )

 

------------------------

 


Massachusetts
000-21326 04-3145961
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
Commission file number (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

32 Wiggins Avenue, Bedford, MA 01730
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (781)-457-9000

 

------------------------

 

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))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).
Emerging growth company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 

 

Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

We held our 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on May 31, 2018. The board of directors solicited proxies pursuant to a proxy statement that we filed on April 17, 2018 with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. There was no solicitation in opposition to the board’s solicitation. At the meeting, holders of common stock were asked to consider and vote upon the five proposals set forth below. A total of 13,832,356 shares of common stock were present in person or by proxy at the meeting, representing 93.8% of the voting power entitled to vote at the meeting. Each share of common stock was entitled to one vote with respect to each matter submitted to a vote at the meeting, and the voting results reported below are final.

 

PROPOSAL 1

 

Stockholders voted as follows with respect to election of each of the nominees for director identified in the proxy statement:

 

Nominee   For   Withheld   Broker Non-Votes
Dr. Joseph L. Bower     11,099,211       992,671       1,748,974  
Mr. Jeffery S. Thompson     11,610,148       481,734       1,748,974  

 

As a result of this vote, each of Dr. Bower and Mr. Thompson was elected as a Class I director to serve until the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until his successor is duly elected and qualified.

 

PROPOSAL 2

 

Stockholders voted as follows with respect to approval of the change of our state of incorporation from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to the State of Delaware:

 

For   Against   Abstained   Broker Non-Votes
  11,045,427       1,035,592       10,863       1,748,974  

 

PROPOSAL 3

 

Stockholders voted as follows with respect to approval of the increase of the number of authorized shares of our common stock from 60,000,000 to 90,000,000:

 

For   Against   Abstained   Broker Non-Votes
  10,346,273       1,692,798       52,486       1,748,974  

 

PROPOSAL 4

 

Stockholders voted as follows with respect ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2018:

 

For   Against   Abstained   Broker Non-Votes
  13,806,273       5,718       28,865        

 

PROPOSAL 5

 

Stockholders voted, on an advisory basis, as follows with respect to compensation paid to our Named Executive Officers as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion set forth in the Proxy Statement of the Meeting:

 

For   Against   Abstained   Broker Non-Votes
  9,659,649       2,392,415       39,818       1,736,760  

 

 

 

 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

 

We previously reported that our notified body, which is responsible for performing a conformity assessment for our MONOVISC product in the European Union, advised us of the suspension of our CE Mark for MONOVISC as of March 27, 2018. This suspension resulted from changes in the regulatory environment in 2017 and administrative difficulties between our notified body and us related to our providing of the notified body with certain technical information for MONOVISC. This suspension was not related to any safety or efficacy issues associated with the product.

 

On May 30, 2018, our notified body issued an updated CE Mark for MONOVISC.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)       Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.   Description
2.1   Plan of Domestication of Anika Therapeutics, Inc., as adopted by Anika Therapeutics, Inc. on March 23, 2018 and approved by the stockholders of Anika Therapeutics, Inc. on May 31, 2018
3.1   Certificate of Incorporation of Anika Therapeutics, Inc., as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 6, 2018
3.2   Bylaws of Anika Therapeutics, Inc., effective as of June 6, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be filed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  Anika Therapeutics, Inc.
       
       
Dated: June 6, 2018 By: /s/ Sylvia Cheung  
    Sylvia Cheung  
    Chief Financial Officer  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 2.1

 

PLAN OF DOMESTICATION
OF
ANIKA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

This Plan of Domestication has been adopted by Anika Therapeutics, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (the “ Company ”), as of March 23, 2018.

Whereas , the Company is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is authorized to issue 60,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”) and 1,250,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Preferred Stock ”);

Whereas , the Company wishes to change its domicile of incorporation from Massachusetts to Delaware by domesticating in Delaware on the terms set forth herein; and

Whereas , the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) has adopted a resolution approving this Plan of Domestication;

Now, therefore , the Company agrees as follows:

1.           Domestication . The Company shall reincorporate from Massachusetts to Delaware by domesticating in Delaware pursuant to Section 265 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and Section 9.20 of the Massachusetts Business Corporations Act. Following the domestication, the Company shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. The domestication of the Company in Delaware is referred to as the “ Domestication .”

2.           Stockholder Approval. T he Company shall submit this Plan of Domestication to its stockholders for approval at the Company’s 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

3.           Effective Date. The Domestication shall be effective upon the filing of a Certificate of Conversion from a Non-Delaware Corporation to a Delaware Corporation (the “ Certificate of Conversion ”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the filing of Articles of Charter Surrender with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which filings shall be made as soon as practicable after all required stockholder approvals have been obtained. The time of such effectiveness is referred to as the “ Effective Date .”

4.           Common Stock. On the Effective Date, by virtue of the Domestication and without any action on the part of the holders thereof, each share of Common Stock of the Company issued and outstanding immediately prior thereto shall be unchanged, shall continue to represent one share of Common Stock of the Company as a Delaware corporation, and shall remain issued and outstanding immediately after consummation of the Domestication.

5.           Options and Restricted Equity. On the Effective Date, by virtue of the Domestication and without any action on the part of the holders thereof, all stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units and other restricted equity outstanding and unexercised as of the Effective Date and awarded under the Company’s equity plans in effect on the Effective Date shall continue and remain in effect upon the same terms and conditions as were in effect immediately prior to the Domestication, and the Company shall continue to reserve that number of shares of Common Stock with respect to each such equity plan as was reserved by the Company prior to the Effective Date with no other changes in the terms and conditions thereof.

 

 

 

6.           Stock Certificates. On and after the Effective Date, all of the outstanding certificates that prior to that time represented shares of the Common Stock of the Company shall be deemed for all purposes to continue to evidence ownership of and to represent the shares of the Company into which the shares represented by such certificates have been converted as herein provided. The registered owner on the books and records of the Company or its transfer agent of any such outstanding stock certificate shall, until such certificate shall have been surrendered for transfer or conversion or otherwise accounted for to the Company or its transfer agent, have and be entitled to exercise any voting and other rights with respect to and to receive any dividend and other distributions upon the shares of the Company evidenced by such outstanding certificate as above provided.

7.           Succession. On the Effective Date, all of the rights, privileges, debts, liabilities, powers and property of the Company as a Massachusetts corporation shall continue to be the rights, privileges, debts, liabilities, powers and property of the Company as a Delaware corporation in the manner and as more fully set forth in Section 265 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Without limiting the foregoing, upon the Effective Date, all property, rights, privileges, franchises, patents, trademarks, licenses, registrations, agreements, contracts and other assets of every kind and description of the Company shall continue to be vested in and devolved upon the Company without further act or deed. All rights of creditors of the Company and all liens upon any property of the Company shall be preserved unimpaired, and all debts, liabilities and duties of the Company shall continue to be obligations of the Company.

8.           Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws. Immediately prior to or simultaneously with the filing of the Certificate of Conversion, the Company shall file the Certificate of Incorporation in the form of Exhibit A hereto (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, which shall become the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company as of the Effective Date. The Bylaws set forth as Exhibit B hereto (the “ Bylaws ”) shall become the Bylaws of the Company as of the Effective Date.

9.           Directors and Officers. The members of the Board and the officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Date shall continue in office following the Effective Date until the expiration of their respective terms of office and until their successors have been elected and qualified.

10.       Amendment. This Plan of Domestication may be amended by the Board at any time prior to the Effective Date, provided that an amendment made subsequent to the approval of this plan by the stockholders of the Company shall not alter or change (a) the amount or kind of shares or other securities, obligations, rights to acquire shares or other securities, cash, or other property to be received by the stockholders hereunder, (b) any term of the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, other than changes permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law comparable to those permitted by Section 10.05 of the Massachusetts Business Corporation Act, or (c) any of the terms and conditions of this Plan of Domestication if such alteration or change would adversely affect the holders of any class or series of stock of the Company in any material respect.

11.       Abandonment or Deferral. At any time before the Effective Date, this Plan of Domestication may be terminated and the Domestication may be abandoned by the Board, notwithstanding the approval of this Plan of Domestication by the stockholders of the Company or the consummation of the Domestication may be deferred for a reasonable period of time if, in the opinion of the Board, such action would be in the best interests of the Company. In the event of termination of this Plan of Domestication, this Plan of Domestication shall become void and of no effect and there shall be no liability on the part of the Company, the Board or the Company’s stockholders with respect thereto, except that the Company shall pay all expenses incurred in connection with the Domestication or in respect of this Plan of Domestication or relating thereto.

12.       This Plan of Domestication has been adopted by the Board as of March 23, 2018 .

 

 

 

In W itness W h ereof , the undersigned has caused this Plan of Domestication to be signed as of May 31, 2018.

 

  Anika Therapeutics, Inc.  
  (a Massachusetts Corporation)  
       
  By: /s/ Joseph G. Darling  
    Chief Executive Officer and President  
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit A

 

Certificate of Incorporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit B

 

Bylaws

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF

ANIKA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

A RTICLE I

 

The name of this corporation is Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”).

 

A RTICLE II

 

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19808. The name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.

 

A RTICLE III

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ General Corporation Law ”).

 

A RTICLE IV

 

A.      Classes of Stock and Authorized Shares . The Corporation is authorized to issue two classes of capital stock to be designated, respectively, Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share ( Common Stock ”), and Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share ( Preferred Stock ”). The total number of shares of capital stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is 91,250,000, of which 90,000,000 shares shall be Common Stock and 1,250,000 shares shall be Preferred Stock.

 

B.      Rights, Powers, Preferences and Restrictions of Preferred Stock . The Board of Directors is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions thereof and the filing of a certificate pursuant to the General Corporation Law (a Preferred Stock Designation ”), to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for one or more series of Preferred Stock and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting such series and the designation of such series, the voting powers, if any, of the shares of such series, and the preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series. The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting as a single class, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the General Corporation Law.

 

C.      Rights of Common Stock . The relative powers, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions granted to or imposed on the shares of Common Stock are as follows:

 

1.       General . The voting powers and dividend and liquidation rights and preferences, if any, of the holders of Common Stock are subject to and qualified by the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock of any series as may be designated by the Board of Directors upon any issuance of Preferred Stock of any series.

 

2.       Voting Rights . Except as may be otherwise provided by this Certificate of Incorporation, a Preferred Stock Designation or by applicable law, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share upon each matter presented to the stockholders of the Corporation; provided that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation or a Preferred Stock Designation that relates

solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together as a class with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation, a Preferred Stock Designation or the General Corporation Law. The number of authorized shares of Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting as a single class, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the General Corporation Law.

 

 

 

3.       Dividends . Dividends may be declared and paid on Common Stock from funds lawfully available therefor as and when determined by the Board of Directors and subject to any preferential dividend or other rights of any then outstanding Preferred Stock and to the requirements of applicable law.

 

4.       Liquidation . Upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Common Stock will be entitled to receive all assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, subject to any preferential or other rights of any then outstanding Preferred Stock.

 

A RTICLE V

 

A.      Amendment of Bylaws by Board . In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by the General Corporation Law, and subject to the terms of any Preferred Stock Designation, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized and empowered to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation.

 

B.      Amendment of Bylaws by Stockholders . In addition to the amendment of the Bylaws by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section A of this Article V , the stockholders of the Corporation also may amend the Bylaws pursuant to this Section B of this Article V ; provided, however , that, in addition to any other vote required by this Certificate of Incorporation, a Preferred Stock Designation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, the stockholders may not adopt, amend, alter or repeal Article I , II , VI or VIII or Section 7.6 of the Bylaws, or adopt any provision inconsistent therewith, unless such action is approved by the affirmative vote of at least seventy-five percent of the outstanding voting power of the then- outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon.

 

A RTICLE VI

 

A.      Authority of Board . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred by statute or by this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, the Board of Directors is hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation.

 

B.      Board Size . Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors pursuant to any Preferred Stock Designation, the total number of authorized directors constituting the Board of Directors shall consist of not less than three members nor more than nine members. The number of directors may be decreased at any time and from time to time by a majority of the directors then in office, but only to eliminate vacancies existing by reason of the death, resignation, removal or expiration of the term of one or more directors.

 

C.      Classified Board Structure . The directors, other than any who may be elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock pursuant to any Preferred Stock Designation (“ Preferred Stock Directors ”), shall be divided into three classes hereby designated Class I, Class II and Class III, as nearly equal in number as possible. No one class shall have more than one director more than any other class. The Board of Directors may assign members of the Board of Directors already in office to such classes at the time such classification becomes effective. The term of office of the initial Class I directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of the stockholders following the effectiveness of this Certificate of Incorporation (the Effective Time ”), the term of office of the initial Class II directors shall expire at the second annual meeting of the stockholders following the Effective Time, and the term of office of the initial Class III directors shall expire at the third annual meeting of the stockholders following the Effective Time. At each annual meeting of stockholders, commencing with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the Effective Time, each of the successors elected to replace the directors of a Class whose term shall have expired at such annual meeting shall be elected to hold office until the third annual meeting next succeeding his or her election and until his or her respective successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation, or removal. In case of any increase or decrease, from time to time, in the number of directors (other than any Preferred Stock Directors), the number of directors in each class shall be apportioned as nearly equal as possible so that no one class has more than one director more than any other class.

 

2

 

D.      Removal; Vacancies . Any director (other than any Preferred Stock Director) may be removed from office by the stockholders of the Corporation only for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent of the outstanding voting power of the stockholders entitled to vote thereon. Vacancies occurring on the Board of Directors for any reason and newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors and not by the stockholders. A person elected 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 be duly elected and qualified.

 

E.       Quorum; Vote Required for Action . At all meetings of the Board of Directors, the directors entitled to cast a majority of the votes of the he total number of authorized directors, whether or not there exist any vacancies, in previously authorized directorships shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the event one or more of the directors shall be disqualified to vote at any meeting, then the required quorum shall be reduced by one for each such director so disqualified; provided, however, that in no case shall less than one-third of the total number of directors constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum at any such meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. Except in cases in which this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws of the Corporation or applicable law otherwise provides, a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.

 

A RTICLE VII

 

No stockholder will be permitted to cumulate votes in any election of directors. The election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the Corporation shall so provide.

 

A RTICLE VIII

 

A.      Special Meetings . Special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by the President of the Corporation or the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Corporation. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.

 

B.      No Stockholder Action by Written Consent . Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing (or by electronic communication) by such stockholders.

 

3

 

A RTICLE IX

 

A.      The Corporation shall indemnify (and advance expenses to) its officers and directors to the full extent permitted by the General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time.

 

B.      To the fullest extent permitted by law, no director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability.

 

C.      No amendment to or repeal of this provision, nor the adoption of any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article IX , shall apply to or have any effect on (1) the liability or alleged liability of any director of the Corporation or the (2) indemnification and advancement rights of any director or officer, in each case, for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director or officer occurring prior to such amendment or repeal. If the General Corporation Law is amended to permit further elimination or limitation of the personal liability of directors or to permit greater indemnification or advancement rights of directors and officers, then the directors and officers of the Corporation shall be protected from liability (whether through exculpation, indemnification or advancement rights) to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law as so amended.

 

A RTICLE X

 

The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law and in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class of capital stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or by a Preferred Stock Designation or this Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent of the voting power of the shares of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend alter or repeal Articles V , VI , VIII or IX, or this Article X , of this Certificate of Incorporation.

 

A RTICLE XII

 

The name and mailing address of the incorporator are as follows:

 

  Name: Joseph G. Darling  
  Mailing Address: 32 Wiggins Avenue  
    Bedford, Massachusetts 01730  
       

 

* * *

 

I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , this Certificate of Incorporation has been signed on behalf of the Corporation by the sole incorporator as of June 6, 2018 and shall become effective as of 5:00 pm, Eastern daylight saving time, on June 6, 2018.

 

  /s/ Joseph G. Darling  
  Sole Incorporator  

 

 

 

4

 

Exhibit 3.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

BYLAWS

 

OF

 

ANIKA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

(Adopted as of June 6, 2018)

 

 

 

T ABLE OF C ONTENTS

 

    Page
ARTICLE I Meetings of Stockholders 1
Section 1.1. Annual Meetings 1
Section 1.2. Special Meetings 1
Section 1.3. Notice of Meetings 1
Section 1.4. Adjournments 1
Section 1.5. Quorum 1
Section 1.6. Organization 2
Section 1.7. Voting; Proxies 2
Section 1.8. Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record 2
Section 1.9. List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote 3
Section 1.10. Action by Written or Electronic Consent of Stockholders 3
Section 1.11. Inspectors of Election 3
Section 1.12. Conduct of Meetings 4
Section 1.13. Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations 4
ARTICLE II Board 7
Section 2.1. Number; Qualifications 7
Section 2.2. Classification; Resignation; Vacancies 8
Section 2.3. Removal 8
Section 2.4. Regular Meetings 8
Section 2.5. Special Meetings 8
Section 2.6. Telephonic Meetings Permitted 8
Section 2.7. Quorum; Vote Required for Action 8
Section 2.8. Organization 8
Section 2.9. Action by Unanimous Consent of Directors 8
Section 2.10. Chair and Vice Chair of the Board 9
ARTICLE III Committees 9
Section 3.1. Committees 9
Section 3.2. Committee Rules 9
ARTICLE IV Officers 9
Section 4.1. Officers 9
Section 4.2. Removal, Resignation and Vacancies 9
Section 4.3. Chief Executive Officer 10
Section 4.4. President 10
Section 4.5. Chief Operating Officer 10
Section 4.6. Chief Financial Officer 10
Section 4.7. Vice Presidents 10
Section 4.8. Treasurer 10
Section 4.9. Secretary 10
Section 4.10. Additional Matters 11
Section 4.11. Execution of Contracts and Instruments 11
ARTICLE V Stock 11
Section 5.1. Certificates 11
Section 5.2. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates 12
ARTICLE VI Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses 12
Section 6.1. Right to Indemnification 12
Section 6.2. Prepayment of Expenses 12

 

i

 

Section 6.3. Claims 12
Section 6.4. Nonexclusivity of Rights 12
Section 6.5. Other Sources 12
Section 6.6. Amendment or Repeal 13
Section 6.7. Other Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses 13
ARTICLE VII Exclusive Forum 13  
ARTICLE VIII Miscellaneous 13  
Section 8.1. Fiscal Year 13
Section 8.2. Seal 13
Section 8.3. Method of Notice 13
Section 8.4. Waiver of Notice 14
Section 8.5. Form of Records 14
Section 8.6. Amendment of Bylaws 14
Section 8.7. Registered Stockholders 14
Section 8.8. Facsimile Signature 14
Section 8.9. Interpretation 14

 

 

 

 

 

ii

 

ARTICLE I

Meetings of Stockholders

 

Section 1.1. Annual Meetings . If required by applicable law, an annual meeting of stockholders shall be held for the election of directors at such date, time and place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, as may be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors (the Board ”) of Anika Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Corporation ”) from time to time. Any other proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting.

 

Section 1.2. Special Meetings . Special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (the Certificate of Incorporation ”), may be called at any time by the President or by the Chairman of the Board. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.

 

Section 1.3. Notice of Meetings . Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice of the meeting shall be given that 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 stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.

 

Section 1.4. Adjournments . Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may adjourn from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

 

Section 1.5. Quorum . Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, at each meeting of stockholders the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of not less than majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote at the meeting shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum, then either (a) the chairperson of the meeting or (b) a majority in voting power of the stockholders so present (in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote may adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 1.4 of these Bylaws until a quorum shall attend. Shares of its own stock belonging to the Corporation or to another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation to vote stock, including its own stock, held by it in a fiduciary capacity.

 

1

 

Section 1.6. Organization . Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chief Executive Officer or, in his or her absence, by the President or, in his or her absence, by a Vice President or, in the absence of the foregoing persons, by a chairperson designated by the Board or, in the absence of such designation, by a chairperson chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

Section 1.7. Voting; Proxies . Except as otherwise provided by or pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by such stockholder that has voting power upon the matter in question. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy that is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the Secretary of the Corporation a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot. At meetings of stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present where the number of director nominees is equal to the number of positions on the Board to be filled through election and proxies are solicited for such election of directors solely by the Corporation, the affirmative vote of a majority in voting power of the shares of stock of the Corporation that are voting in the election of directors shall be required to elect. In all other meetings of stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect. All other questions presented to the stockholders at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall, unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of stock of the Corporation that are voting on the matter.

 

Section 1.8. Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record .

 

(a)                  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting. If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting, provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.

 

2

 

(b)                  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which shall not be more than sixty days prior to such other action. If no such record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

Section 1.9. List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote . The officer who has charge of the stock ledger shall prepare and make, at least ten days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting ( provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting at least ten 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 meeting or (b) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be examined by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section 1.9 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 1.10. Action by Written or Electronic Consent of Stockholders . The stockholders of the Corporation may not take any action by written or electronic consent of stockholders to action without a meeting.

 

Section 1.11. Inspectors of Election . The Corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election, who may be employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and to make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. In the event that no inspector so appointed or designated is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to execute faithfully the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspector or inspectors so appointed or designated shall (a) ascertain the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each such share, (b) determine the shares of capital stock of the Corporation 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 of capital stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting and such inspectors' count of all votes and ballots. Such certification and report shall specify such other information as may be required by law. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.

 

3

 

Section 1.12. Conduct of Meetings . The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the person presiding over the meeting. The Board may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the person presiding over any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such presiding person, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the presiding person of the meeting, may include the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (b) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (c) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the presiding person of the meeting shall determine; (d) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and

(e)     limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The presiding person at any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such presiding person should so determine, such presiding person shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

Section 1.13. Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations .

 

(a)                  Annual Meetings of Stockholders .

 

(i)                   Nominations of persons for election to the Board of the Corporation and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (A) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (B) by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof or

(C) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record of the Corporation at the time the notice provided for in this Section 1.13 is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.13 .

 

4

 

(ii)                 For any nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (C) of paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 1.13 , the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and any such proposed business (other than the nominations of persons for election to the Board) must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder's notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth day, nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day, prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting ( provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or if the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty days before or more than seventy days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation). In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder's notice as described above. Such stockholder's notice shall set forth: (A) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director (I) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act ”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and (II) such person's written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; (B) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (C) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (I) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, (II) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (III) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or proposal between or among such stockholder and/or such beneficial owner, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing, including, in the case of a nomination, the nominee, (IV) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the stockholder's notice by, or on behalf of, such stockholder and such beneficial owners, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in underlying shares of capital stock of the Corporation, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder or such beneficial owner, with respect to securities of the Corporation, (V) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination, (VI) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group that intends (x) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (y) otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination, and (VII) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in an election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The foregoing notice requirements of this Section 1.13 shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder with respect to business other than a nomination if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his, her or its intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder's proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as the Corporation may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation.

 

5

 

(iii)               Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 1.13 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of the Corporation at the annual meeting is increased effective after the time period for which nominations would otherwise be due under paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 1.13 and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least one hundred days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder's notice required by this Section 1.13 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

(b)                  Special Meetings of Stockholders . Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof or

(ii) provided that the Board has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 1.13 is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.13 . In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder's notice required by paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 1.13 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder's notice as described above.

 

(c) General .

 

(i)                   Except as otherwise expressly provided in any applicable rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act, only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.13 shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.13 . Except as otherwise provided by law, the chairperson of the meeting shall have the power and duty (A) to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.13 (including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made solicited (or is part of a group that solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies or votes in support of such stockholder's nominee or proposal in compliance with such stockholder's representation as required by clause (a)(ii)(C)(VI) of this Section 1.13 ) and (B) if any proposed nomination or business was not made or proposed in compliance with this Section 1.13 , to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.13 , unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 1.13 , to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

 

6

 

(ii)                 For purposes of this Section 1.13 , public announcement ” shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or other national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(iii)               Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.13 , a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 1.13 ; provided however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to this Section 1.13 (including paragraphs (a)(i)(C) and (b) hereof), and compliance with paragraphs (a)(i)(C) and (b) of this Section 1.13 shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than, as provided in the penultimate sentence of (a)(ii), business other than nominations brought properly under and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, as may be amended from time to time). Nothing in this Section 1.13 shall be deemed to affect any rights (A) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals or nominations in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act or (B) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

ARTICLE II

Board

 

Section 2.1. Number; Qualifications . Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board shall consist of not less than three members nor more than nine members, the number thereof to be determined from time to time by resolution of the Whole Board (as defined below). Directors need not be stockholders. For purposes of these Bylaws, the term “ Whole Board ” shall mean the total number of authorized directors, whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships.

 

7

 

Section 2.2. Classification; Resignation; Vacancies . The Board shall be divided into three classes (Class I, Class II and Class III) and shall serve staggered three-year terms as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect when such notice is given unless the notice specifies (a) a later effective date, or (b) an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events. Unless otherwise specified in the notice of resignation, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Unless otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, any newly created directorship or any vacancy occurring in the Board for any cause may be filled only by a majority of the remaining members of the Board, although such majority is less than a quorum, and each director so elected shall hold office until the expiration of the term of office of the director whom he or she has replaced or until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

 

Section 2.3. Removal . Any one or more or all of the directors may be removed, but only for cause, by the holders of at least seventy-five percent of the then issued and outstanding shares of capital stock then entitled to vote at an election of directors.

 

Section 2.4. Regular Meetings . Regular meetings of the Board may be held at such places within or without the State of Delaware and at such times as the Board may from time to time determine.

 

Section 2.5. Special Meetings . Special meetings of the Board may be held at any time or place within or without the State of Delaware whenever called by the Chief Executive Officer or by any two members of the Board. Notice of a special meeting of the Board shall be given by the person or persons calling the meeting either by first class United States mail at least three days before such special meeting, or by overnight mail, courier service, electronic transmission, or hand delivery at least 48 hours before the special meeting or such shorter period as is reasonable under the circumstances.

 

Section 2.6. Telephonic Meetings Permitted . Members of the Board, or any committee designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting thereof by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this by-law shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

Section 2.7. Quorum; Vote Required for Action . At all meetings of the Board the directors entitled to cast a majority of the votes of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the event one or more of the directors shall be disqualified to vote at any meeting, then the required quorum shall be reduced by one for each such director so disqualified; provided, however, that in no case shall less than one-third of the total number of directors constitute a quorum. Except in cases in which the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or applicable law otherwise provides, a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board.

 

Section 2.8. Organization . Meetings of the Board shall be presided over by the Board Chair (as defined in Section 2.10 ), if any, or, in the absence of a Board Chair, by another director chosen by the participating directors to act as chairperson at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence, the Board Chair or chairperson presiding at the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

Section 2.9. Action by Unanimous Consent of Directors . Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and the writing or writings or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the board or committee in accordance with applicable law.

 

8

 

Section 2.10. Chair and Vice Chair of the Board . The Board may elect one or more of its members to serve as Chair of the Board (the Board Chair ”) or as Vice Chair of the Board and may fill any vacancy in such position at such time and in such manner as the Board shall determine. The Board Chair, if any, shall preside at all meetings of the Board at which he or she is present and shall perform such duties and possess such powers as are designated by the Board. If the Board of Director appoints a Vice Chair of the Board, he or she shall, in the absence or disability of the Board Chair perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Board Chair and shall perform such other duties and possess such other powers as may from time to time be designated by the Board. The fact that a person serves as Board Chair or Vice Chair of the Board shall not make such person considered an officer of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE III

Committees

 

Section 3.1. Committees . The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of the committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by law and to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it.

 

Section 3.2. Committee Rules . Unless the Board otherwise provides, each committee designated by the Board may make, alter and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board conducts its business pursuant to Article II of these Bylaws.

 

ARTICLE IV

Officers

 

Section 4.1. Officers . The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and such other officers as the Board may from time to time determine, which may include and one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries. Each of the Corporation’s officers shall be elected by the Board, each to have such authority, functions or duties as set forth in these Bylaws or as determined by the Board. Each officer shall be chosen by the Board and shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Board and until such person’s successor shall have been duly chosen and qualified, or until such person's earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal.

 

Section 4.2. Removal, Resignation and Vacancies . Any officer of the Corporation may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board, without prejudice to the rights, if any, of such officer under any contract to which it is a party. Any officer may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect when such notice is given unless the notice specifies (a) a later effective date, or (b) an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events, such as the failure to receive the required vote for reelection as a director and the acceptance of such resignation by the Board. Unless otherwise specified in the notice of resignation, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. If any vacancy occurs in any office of the Corporation, the Board may elect a successor to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term and until a successor shall have been duly chosen and qualified.

 

9

 

Section 4.3. Chief Executive Officer . The Chief Executive Officer shall have general supervision and direction of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall be responsible for corporate policy and strategy. Unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws, all other officers of the Corporation shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer or as otherwise determined by the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall preside at meetings of the stockholders. In the absence of a separately appointed President, the Chief Executive Officer shall be the President.

 

Section 4.4. President . The President shall have such powers and duties as the Board may from time to time determine and, in the absence of a separately appointed Chief Operating Officer, shall have the powers and duties ascribed to the Chief Operating Officer. The President shall have the power to affix the signature of the Corporation to all contracts that have been authorized by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer. The President shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 4.5. Chief Operating Officer . The Chief Operating Officer shall exercise all the powers and perform the duties of the office of the chief operating officer of the Corporation, with general responsibility for the management and control of the operations of the Corporation. The Chief Operating Officer shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or as the Board may from time to time determine.

 

Section 4.6. Chief Financial Officer . The Chief Financial Officer shall exercise all the powers and perform the duties of the office of the chief financial officer and in general have overall supervision of the financial operations of the Corporation and shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the properties and business transactions of the Corporation, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital retained earnings, and shares. The Chief Financial Officer shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or as the Board may from time to time determine. In the absence of a separately appointed Treasurer, the Chief Financial Officer shall be the Treasurer.

 

Section 4.7. Vice Presidents . Each Vice President shall have such powers and duties as shall be prescribed by his or her superior officer or the Chief Executive Officer. A Vice President shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or as the Board may from time to time determine.

 

Section 4.8. Treasurer . The Treasurer shall supervise and be responsible for all the funds and securities of the Corporation, the deposit of all moneys and other valuables to the credit of the Corporation in depositories of the Corporation, borrowings and compliance with the provisions of all indentures, agreements and instruments governing such borrowings to which the Corporation is a party, the disbursement of funds of the Corporation and the investment of its funds, and in general shall perform all of the duties incident to the office of the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or as the Board may from time to time determine.

 

10

 

Section 4.9. Secretary . The powers and duties of the Secretary are to: (a) act as secretary at all meetings of the Board, of the committees of the Board and of the stockholders and to record the proceedings of such meetings in a book or books to be kept for that purpose; (b) see that all notices required to be given by the Corporation are duly given and served; (c) act as custodian of the seal of the Corporation and affix the seal or cause it to be affixed to all certificates of stock of the Corporation and to all documents, the execution of which on behalf of the Corporation under its seal is duly authorized in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws; (d) have charge of the books, records and papers of the Corporation and see that the reports, statements and other documents required by law to be kept and filed are properly kept and filed; and (e) perform all of the duties incident to the office of Secretary. The Secretary shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or as the Board may from time to time determine.

 

Section 4.10. Additional Matters . The Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer shall have the authority to designate employees of the Corporation to have the title of Assistant Vice President, Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary. Any employee so designated shall have the powers and duties determined by the officer making such designation. The persons upon whom such titles are conferred shall not be deemed officers of the Corporation unless elected by the Board.

 

Section 4.11. Execution of Contracts and Instruments . All contracts, deeds, mortgages, bonds, certificates, checks, drafts, bills of exchange, notes and other instruments or documents to be executed by or in the name of the Corporation shall be signed on the corporation’s behalf by such officer or officers, or other person or persons, as may be so authorized (a) by the Board or (b) subject to any limitations the Board may impose, by the Chief Executive Officer. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances and, if the Board or Chief Executive Officer (whichever grants authority) so authorizes or otherwise directs, may be delegated by the authorized officers to other persons. Unless otherwise provided in such resolution, any resolution of the Board or a committee thereof authorizing the Corporation to enter into any such instruments or documents or authorizing their execution by or on behalf of the Corporation shall be deemed to authorize the execution thereof on its behalf by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer or any Vice President (an Authorized Officer ”). Furthermore, each Authorized Officer shall be authorized to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation in matters arising in the ordinary course of the Corporation’s business and to the extent incident to the normal performance of such Authorized Officer’s duties.

 

ARTICLE V

Stock

 

Section 5.1. Certificates . The shares of the Corporation may be certificated or uncertificated in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law, and shall be entered in the books of the Corporation and registered as they are issued. The issue of shares in uncertificated form shall not affect shares represented by a certificate until the certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Any certificates representing shares of the Corporation’s stock shall be in such form as may be prescribed by law and by the Board, certifying the number and class of shares owned by such stockholder in the Corporation. Every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by any two authorized officers of the Corporation certifying the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation. Any of or all the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue.

 

11

 

Section 5.2. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates . The Corporation may issue (a) a new certificate of stock or (b) uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner's legal representative, to give the Corporation 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.

 

ARTICLE VI

Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses

 

Section 6.1. Right to Indemnification . The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person (a Covered Person ”) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a proceeding ”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by such Covered Person. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.3 of these Bylaws, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a Covered Person in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Covered Person only if the commencement of such proceeding (or part thereof) by the Covered Person was authorized in the specific case by the Board of the Corporation.

 

Section 6.2. Prepayment of Expenses . The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a Covered Person in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided , however , that, to the extent required by law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Covered Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VI or otherwise.

 

Section 6.3. Claims . If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such proceeding) or advancement of expenses under this Article VI is not paid in full within thirty days after a written claim therefor by the Covered Person has been received by the Corporation, the Covered Person may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by law. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the Covered Person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.

 

Section 6.4. Nonexclusivity of Rights . The rights conferred on any Covered Person by this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such Covered Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

Section 6.5. Other Sources . The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or to advance expenses to any Covered Person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity shall be reduced by any amount such Covered Person may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit enterprise.

 

12

 

Section 6.6. Amendment or Repeal . Any right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses of any Covered Person arising hereunder shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to or repeal of 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.

 

Section 6.7. Other Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses . This Article VI shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Covered Persons when and as authorized by appropriate corporate action.

 

ARTICLE VII

Exclusive Forum

 

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for all claims, including claims in the right of the Corporation, (a) that are based upon a violation of a duty by a current or former director or officer or stockholder in such capacity or (b) as to which Title 8 of the Delaware Code confers jurisdiction upon the Court of Chancery, except for, as to each of (a) and (b) above, any claim as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. If any provision or provisions of this Article VII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article VII (including each portion of any sentence of this Article VII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

ARTICLE VIII

Miscellaneous

 

Section 8.1. Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by resolution of the Board.

 

Section 8.2. Seal . The corporate seal shall have the name of the Corporation inscribed thereon and shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board.

 

Section 8.3. Method of Notice . Whenever notice is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws to be given by the Corporation to any director, committee member or stockholder, personal notice shall not be required and any such notice may be given in writing (a) by mail, addressed to such director, committee member or stockholder at his or her address as it appears on the books of the Corporation, or (b) by any other method permitted by law (including overnight courier service, facsimile, electronic mail or other means of electronic transmission) directed to the addressee at his, her or its address most recently provided to the Corporation. Any notice given by the Corporation by mail shall be deemed to have been given at the time when deposited in the United States mail. Any notice given by the Corporation by overnight courier service shall be deemed to have been given when delivered to such service. Any notice given by the Corporation by facsimile, electronic mail or other means of electronic transmission that generally can be accessed by or on behalf of the receiving party at substantially the same time as it is transmitted shall be deemed to have been given when transmitted, unless the Corporation receives a prompt reply that such transmission is undeliverable to the address to which it was directed.

 

13

 

Section 8.4. Waiver of Notice . Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of the statutes or of the Certificate of Incorporation or of these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

Section 8.5. Form of Records . Any records maintained by the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account, and minute books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device or method, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time.

 

Section 8.6. Amendment of Bylaws . Subject to any additional votes set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, these Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed or new Bylaws may be adopted by the stockholders or by the Board. Notwithstanding any provision of these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the amendment or repeal of all or any portion of Article I , II , VI or VII of these Bylaws or of this Section 8.6 by the stockholders of the Corporation shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

Section 8.7. Registered Stockholders . The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and to vote as such owner and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of another person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.

 

Section 8.8. Facsimile Signature . In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board or a committee thereof.

 

Section 8.9. Interpretation . For purposes of these Bylaws:

 

(a) headings used in these Bylaws are for convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part of these Bylaws;

 

(b) the word “day” refers to a calendar day;

 

(c) the words “include,” “included,” “includes” and “including” as used herein shall not be construed so as to exclude any other thing not referred to or described;

 

(d) the word “or” is not exclusive; and

 

(e) the definition given for any term in these Bylaws shall apply equally to both the singular and plural forms of the term defined.

 

 

14