BYLAWS
OF
APPLIED
DNA SCIENCES, INC.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I
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CORPORATE
OFFICES
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1
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1.1
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REGISTERED
OFFICE
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1
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1.2
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OTHER
OFFICES
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1
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ARTICLE II
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MEETINGS OF
STOCKHOLDERS
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1
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2.1
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PLACE OF
MEETINGS
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1
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2.2
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ANNUAL
MEETING
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1
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2.3
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SPECIAL
MEETING
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1
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2.4
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NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS’
MEETINGS
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2
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2.5
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MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT
OF NOTICE
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2
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2.6
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QUORUM
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3
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2.7
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ADJOURNED MEETING;
NOTICE
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3
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2.8
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ADMINISTRATION OF THE
MEETING
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3
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2.9
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VOTING
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4
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2.10
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STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN
CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING
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5
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2.11
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RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDER
NOTICE; VOTING; GIVING CONSENTS
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5
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2.12
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PROXIES
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5
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2.13
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LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO
VOTE
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6
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2.14
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NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER BUSINESS AND
NOMINATIONS
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6
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2.15
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SUBMISSION OF QUESTIONNAIRE,
REPRESENTATION AND AGREEMENT
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11
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ARTICLE III
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DIRECTORS
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11
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3.1
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POWERS
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11
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3.2
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NUMBER OF
DIRECTORS
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11
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3.3
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ELECTION, QUALIFICATION AND TERM
OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS
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11
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3.4
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RESIGNATION AND
VACANCIES
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12
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3.5
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PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY
TELEPHONE
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12
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3.6
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REGULAR
MEETINGS
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12
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3.7
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SPECIAL MEETINGS;
NOTICE
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12
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3.8
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QUORUM
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13
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3.9
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WAIVER OF
NOTICE
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13
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3.10
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BOARD ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT
WITHOUT A MEETING
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13
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3.11
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ADJOURNED MEETING;
NOTICE
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14
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3.12
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FEES AND COMPENSATION OF
DIRECTORS
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14
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3.13
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REMOVAL OF
DIRECTORS
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14
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ARTICLE IV
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COMMITTEES
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14
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4.1
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COMMITTEES OF
DIRECTORS
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14
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4.2
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COMMITTEE
MINUTES
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14
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4.3
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MEETINGS
AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES
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15
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ARTICLE
V
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OFFICERS
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15
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5.1
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15
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5.2
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16
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5.3
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SUBORDINATE
OFFICERS
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16
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5.4
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REMOVAL
AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS
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16
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5.5
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VACANCIES
IN OFFICES
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16
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5.6
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REPRESENTATION
OF SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS
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16
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5.7
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AUTHORITY
AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS
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17
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ARTICLE
VI
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RECORDS AND
REPORTS
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17
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6.1
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MAINTENANCE
AND INSPECTION OF RECORDS
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17
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6.2
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INSPECTION
BY DIRECTORS
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17
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ARTICLE
VII
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GENERAL
MATTERS
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17
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7.1
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CHECKS;
DRAFTS; EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS
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17
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7.2
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EXECUTION
OF CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS
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17
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7.3
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STOCK
CERTIFICATES; PARTLY PAID SHARES
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18
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7.4
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SPECIAL
DESIGNATION ON CERTIFICATES
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18
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7.5
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LOST
CERTIFICATES
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18
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7.6
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DIVIDENDS
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19
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7.7
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FISCAL
YEAR
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19
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7.8
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SEAL
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19
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7.9
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TRANSFER
OF STOCK
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19
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7.10
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STOCK
TRANSFER AGREEMENTS
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19
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7.11
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REGISTERED
STOCKHOLDERS
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19
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7.12
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WAIVER
OF NOTICE
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20
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ARTICLE
VIII
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NOTICE
BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION
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8.1
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NOTICE
BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION
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8.2
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DEFINITION
OF ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION
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21
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8.3
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INAPPLICABILITY
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21
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ARTICLE
IX
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INDEMNIFICATION
OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
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21
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9.1
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POWER
TO INDEMNIFY IN ACTIONS, SUITS OR PROCEEDINGS OTHER THAN THOSE BY OR IN
THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION
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21
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9.2
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POWER
TO INDEMNIFY IN ACTIONS, SUITS OR PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE
CORPORATION
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22
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9.3
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AUTHORIZATION
OF INDEMNIFICATION
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22
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9.4
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GOOD
FAITH DEFINED
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23
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9.5
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INDEMNIFICATION
BY A COURT
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23
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9.6
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EXPENSES
PAYABLE IN ADVANCE
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23
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9.7
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NONEXCLUSIVITY
OF INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF
EXPENSES
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24
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9.8
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INSURANCE
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24
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9.9
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CERTAIN
DEFINITIONS
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24
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9.10
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SURVIVAL
OF INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF
EXPENSES
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25
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9.11
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LIMITATION
ON INDEMNIFICATION
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25
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9.12
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INDEMNIFICATION
OF EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS
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25
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9.13
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EFFECT
OF AMENDMENT OR REPEAL
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25
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ARTICLE
X
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MISCELLANEOUS
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26
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10.1
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PROVISIONS
OF CERTIFICATE GOVERN
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26
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10.2
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CONSTRUCTION;
DEFINITIONS
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26
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10.3
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SEVERABILITY
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26
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10.4
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AMENDMENT
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26
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BYLAWS
OF
APPLIED
DNA SCIENCES, INC.
ARTICLE
I
CORPORATE
OFFICES
1.1 REGISTERED
OFFICE.
The
registered office of Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (the “
Company
”)
shall be fixed in the Company’s certificate of incorporation, as the same may be
amended and/or restated from time to time (as so amended and/or restated, the
“
Certificate
”).
1.2 OTHER
OFFICES.
The
Company’s Board of Directors (the “
Board
”)
may at any time establish other offices at any place or places where the Company
is qualified to do business.
ARTICLE
II
MEETINGS
OF STOCKHOLDERS
2.1 PLACE
OF MEETINGS.
Meetings
of stockholders shall be held at any place within or outside the State of
Delaware as designated by the Board. The Board 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 place of business.
2.2 ANNUAL
MEETING.
The
annual meeting of stockholders shall be held each year on a date and at a time
designated by the Board. At the annual meeting, directors shall be
elected and any other proper business may be transacted.
2.3 SPECIAL
MEETING.
Unless
otherwise required by law or the Certificate, special meetings of the
stockholders may be called at any time, for any purpose or purposes, only by
(i) the Chairman of the Board, (ii) the Chief Executive Officer or
(iii) by the Board acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of
the Board.
2.4 NOTICE
OF STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS.
All
notices of meetings of stockholders shall be sent or otherwise given in
accordance with either
Section
2.5
or
Section
8.1
of these bylaws not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty
(60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to
vote at such meeting, except as otherwise required by applicable
law. The notice shall specify the place, if any, date and hour of the
meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and
proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting,
and, in the case of a special meeting, the purposes for which the meeting is
called. Any previously scheduled meeting of stockholders may be
postponed, and, unless the Certificate provides otherwise, any special meeting
of the stockholders may be cancelled by resolution duly adopted by a majority of
the Board members then in office upon public notice given prior to the date
previously scheduled for such meeting of stockholders.
Whenever
notice is required to be given, under the DGCL, the Certificate 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 corporation is such as to require the
filing of a certificate with the Secretary of State of Delaware, 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.
Whenever
notice is required to be given, under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate
or these bylaws, to any stockholder to whom (A) notice of two
(2) consecutive annual meetings or (B) all, and at least two (2),
payments (if sent by first-class mail) of dividends or interest on securities
during a 12-month period, have been mailed addressed to such person at such
person’s address as shown on the records of the corporation and have been
returned undeliverable, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be
required. Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without
notice to such person shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had
been duly given. If any such person shall deliver to the corporation
a written notice setting forth such person’s then current address, the
requirement that notice be given to such person shall be
reinstated. In the event that the action taken by the corporation is
such as to require the filing of a certificate with the Secretary of State of
Delaware, the certificate need not state that notice was not given to persons to
whom notice was not required to be given pursuant to Section 230(b) of the
DGCL.
The
exception in
subsection
(A)
of the above paragraph to the requirement that notice be given
shall not be applicable to any notice returned as undeliverable if the notice
was given by electronic transmission.
2.5 MANNER
OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE.
Notice of
any meeting of stockholders shall be given:
(A) if
mailed, when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to
the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the Company’s
records;
(B) if
electronically transmitted, as provided in
Section 8.1
of these bylaws;
or
(C) otherwise,
when delivered.
An
affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Company or of the
transfer agent or any other agent of the Company that the notice has been given
shall, in the absence of fraud, be
prima facie
evidence of the
facts stated therein.
Notice
may be waived in accordance with
Section 7.12
of these
bylaws.
2.6 QUORUM.
The
holders of a majority of the stock 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. If,
however, such quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of the
stockholders, then either (i) the chairperson of the meeting or
(ii) 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 meeting as originally noticed.
2.7 ADJOURNED
MEETING; NOTICE.
When a
meeting is adjourned to another time or place, unless these bylaws otherwise
require, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting 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 announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is
taken. At the continuation of the adjourned meeting, the Company may
transact any business that was permitted to have been transacted at the original
meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the
adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of
the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to
vote at the meeting in accordance with the provisions of
Section 2.4
and
Section 2.5
of these
bylaws.
2.8 ADMINISTRATION
OF THE MEETING.
Meetings
of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, or in the
absence of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company. If both the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive
Officer will not be present at a meeting of stockholders, such meeting shall be
presided over by such chairman as the Board shall appoint, or, in the event that
the Board shall fail to make such appointment, any officer of the Company
appointed by the Board. The secretary of the meeting shall be the
secretary of the Company, or, in the absence of the secretary of the Company,
such person as the chairman of the meeting appoints.
The Board
shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one (1) or more
inspector(s), who may include individual(s) who serve the Company in other
capacities, including without limitation as officers, employees or agents, to
act at the meeting of stockholders and make a written report
thereof. The Board may designate one (1) or more persons as
alternate inspector(s) to replace any inspector who fails to act. If
no inspector or alternate has been appointed or is able to act at a meeting of
stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one (1) or more
inspector(s) to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before
discharging his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to faithfully execute
the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of
his or her ability. The inspector(s) or alternate(s) shall have the
duties prescribed pursuant to Section 231 of the DGCL and other applicable
law.
The Board
shall be entitled to make such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings
of stockholders as it shall deem necessary, appropriate or
convenient. Subject to such rules and regulations, if any, the
chairman of the meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe such
rules, regulations and procedures and to do all acts as, in the judgment of such
chairman, are necessary, appropriate or convenient for the proper conduct of the
meeting, including without limitation establishing an agenda of business of the
meeting, rules or regulations to maintain order, restrictions on entry to the
meeting after the time fixed for commencement thereof and the fixing of the date
and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the
stockholders will vote at a meeting (and shall announce such at the
meeting).
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
otherwise provided in the provisions of Section 213 of the DGCL (relating to the
fixing of a date for determination of stockholders of record), each stockholder
shall be entitled to that number of votes for each share of capital stock held
by such stockholder as set forth in the Certificate, or in the case of shares of
Preferred Stock, by resolution of the Board.
In all
matters, other than the election of directors and except as otherwise required
by law, the Certificate or these bylaws, the affirmative vote of a majority of
the voting power of the shares present or represented by proxy at the meeting
and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the
stockholders. 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.
The
stockholders of the Company shall not have the right to cumulate their votes for
the election of directors of the Company.
2.10 STOCKHOLDER
ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING.
Subject
to the rights of the holders of the shares of any series of Preferred Stock or
any other class of stock or series thereof having a preference over the Common
Stock as to dividend or liquidation rights, 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
DATE FOR STOCKHOLDER NOTICE; VOTING; GIVING CONSENTS.
In order
that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote
at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to
receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any
rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion
or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board
may fix, in advance, a record date, which record date shall not precede the date
on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which shall not be
more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of
such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other such
action.
If the
Board does not fix a record date in accordance with these bylaws and applicable
law:
(A) 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.
(B) The
record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the
close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating
thereto.
A
determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a
meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting;
provided
,
however
,
that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
2.12 PROXIES.
Each
stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another
person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy authorized by an
instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by law and filed with the
secretary of the Company, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after
three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer
period. A stockholder may also authorize another person or persons to
act for him, her or it as proxy in the manner(s) provided under Section 212(c)
of the DGCL or as otherwise provided under Delaware law. 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.
2.13 LIST
OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE.
The
officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Company shall prepare and
make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a
complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in
alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number
of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. 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 ten (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. If the meeting is
to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and
place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any
stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by
means of remote communication, 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. Such list
shall presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote
at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them.
2.14 NOTICE
OF STOCKHOLDER BUSINESS AND NOMINATIONS.
(A) Annual
Meetings of Stockholders.
(1) Nominations
of persons for election to the Board and the proposal of business to be
considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders
only (a) pursuant to the Company’s notice of meeting (or any supplement
thereto), (b) by or at the direction of the Board, or (c) by any stockholder of
the Company who (i) was a stockholder of record of the Company at the time
the notice provided for in this
Section 2.14
is delivered to
the Secretary of the Company, (ii) shall be entitled to vote at such
meeting, and (iii) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this
Section 2.14
as to such
nomination or business. Clause (c) shall be the exclusive means for a
stockholder to (x) submit business (other than matters properly brought under
Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereto) under the Securities Exchange Act and set
forth in the Company’s notice of meeting) or (y) make nominations before an
annual meeting of stockholders.
(2) Without
qualification, for nominations or any other business to be properly brought
before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to
Section 2.14(A)(1)(c)
, the
stockholder, in addition to any other applicable requirements, must have given
timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Company and any such
proposed business must constitute a proper matter for stockholder
action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to the
Secretary of the Company at the principal executive offices of the Company not
later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than
the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the
first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (provided, however,
that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty days
before or more than sixty (60) 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 (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later
than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to
such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public
announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the
Company). In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment
or postponement of the annual meeting of stockholders commence a new time period
(or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as
described above. To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice to the
Secretary (whether pursuant to this
Section 2.14(A)(2)
or
Section 2.14(B)
) shall set
forth:
(a) as
to each person, if any, 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 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, (ii) such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy
statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected, (iii) a
description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary
agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any
other material relationships, between or among such stockholder and beneficial
owner, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting
in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his or her
respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on
the other hand, including, without limitation all information that would be
required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K
if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose
behalf the nomination is made, if any, or any affiliate or associate thereof or
person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such
rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant;
and (iv) with respect to each nominee for election or reelection to the
Board, include a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and
agreement required by
Section
2.15
;
(b) if
the notice relates to any business (other than the nomination of persons for
election as directors) that the stockholder proposes to bring before the
meeting, (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before
the annual meeting, (ii) the reasons for conducting such business at the annual
meeting, (iii) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any
resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business
includes a proposal to amend these bylaws, the language of the proposed
amendment), (iv) any material interest in such business of such stockholder and
the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, and
(v) a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings
between such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and any other person or
persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business
by such stockholder; 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 Company’s books, and of such beneficial
owner, if any, (ii)(A) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock
of the Company that are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of
record by such stockholder and by such beneficial owner, (B) any option,
warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with
an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a
price related to any class or series of capital stock of the Company, whether or
not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying
class or series of capital stock of the Company or otherwise (a “
Derivative
Instrument
”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such
stockholder and by such beneficial owner, if any, and any other direct or
indirect opportunity held or owned beneficially by such stockholder and by such
beneficial owner, if any, to profit or share in any profit derived from any
increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Company, (C) any proxy,
contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such
stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, has a right to vote any shares of any
security of the Company, (D) any short interest in any security of the Company
(for purposes of this
Section
2.14
, a person shall be deemed to have a short interest in a security if
such person directly or indirectly, through a contract, arrangement,
understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share
in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security),
(E) any right to dividends on the shares of capital stock of the Company
owned beneficially by such stockholder or such beneficial owner, if any, which
right is separated or separable from the underlying shares, (F) any
proportionate interest in shares of capital stock of the Company or Derivative
Instrument held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in
which such stockholder or such beneficial owner, if any, is a general partner or
with respect to which such stockholder or such beneficial owner, if any,
directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, and
(G) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) to which such
stockholder or such beneficial owner, if any, is entitled to based on any
increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Company or Derivative
Instruments, if any, in each case with respect to the information required to be
included in the notice pursuant to (A) through (G) above, as of the date of such
notice and including, without limitation, any such interests held by members of
such stockholder’s or such beneficial owner’s immediate family sharing the same
household (which information shall be supplemented by such stockholder and such
beneficial owner, if any, (y) not later than 10 days after the record date for
the annual meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date and (z) 10
days before the annual meeting date, (iii) any other information relating to
such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, that would be required to be
disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in
connection with solicitation of proxies for election of directors in a contested
election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, (iv) a representation that the
stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Company entitled to vote at
such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to
propose such business or nomination, and (v) a representation whether the
stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group that
intends (a) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at
least the percentage of the Company’s outstanding capital stock required to
approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee or (b) otherwise to
solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or
nomination.
The
Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it
may reasonably require (i) to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee
to serve as a director of the Company, including with respect to qualifications
established by any committee of the Board (ii) to determine whether such nominee
qualifies as an “independent director” or “audit committee financial expert”
under applicable law, securities exchange rule or regulation, or any
publicly-disclosed corporate governance guideline or committee charter of the
Company; and (iii) that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s
understanding of the independence and qualifications, or lack thereof, of such
nominee.
(3) Notwithstanding
anything in the second sentence of
Section 2.14(A)(2)
to the
contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board
at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the
Company naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the
increased Board at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary
of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this
Section 2.14
shall
also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new
positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary of
the Company at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the
close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public
announcement is first made by the Company.
(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 Company’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 Company’s notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of the
Board or (2) provided that the Board has determined that the directors shall be
elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Company who is a stockholder
of record at the time the notice provided for in this
Section 2.14
is delivered
to the Secretary of the Company and at the time of the special meeting, who is
entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election, and who complies with
the notice procedures set forth in this
Section 2.14
. In
the event the Company 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 Company’s notice of
meeting, if the stockholder’s notice in the same form as required by
Section 2.14(A)(2)
with
respect to any nomination (including the completed and signed questionnaire,
representation and agreement required by
Section 2.15
) shall be
delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not
earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day
prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the
later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth
(10th) 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.
(1) Subject to
Section 3.13
, only
such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in
this
Section 2.14
shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders
of the Company 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 2.14
. Except
as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company,
as amended (the “
Certificate of
Incorporation
”) or these bylaws, the Chairman 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 2.14
and (b) if
any proposed nomination or business was not made or proposed in compliance with
this
Section 2.14
,
to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed
business shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this
Section 2.14
, 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 Company 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 Company. For purposes of this
Section 2.14
, to be
considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person 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 the stockholders.
(2) For purpose
of this
Section 2.14
, “public
announcement” shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow
Jones News Service, Associated Press, or comparable national news service or in
a document publicly filed by the Company 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.
(3) Nothing in
this
Section 2.14
,
shall be deemed to affect any rights (a) of stockholders to request inclusion of
proposals or nominations in the Company’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8
(or any successor thereto) promulgated under the Exchange Act or (b) of the
holders of any series of Preferred Stock to nominate and elect directors
pursuant to and to the extent provided in any applicable provisions of the
Certificate of Incorporation.
2.15 SUBMISSION
OF QUESTIONNAIRE, REPRESENTATION AND AGREEMENT.
To be
eligible to be a nominee for election or reelection as a director of the
Company, a person must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed
for delivery of notice under
Section 2.14
of these
bylaws) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company a
written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such
person and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the
nomination is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary
upon written request) and a written representation and agreement (in the form
provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such person (A) is not and
will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with,
and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how
such person, if elected as a director of the Company, will act or vote on any
issue or question (a “
Voting
Commitment
”) that has not been disclosed to the Company or (2) any Voting
Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply,
if elected as a director of the Company, with such person’s fiduciary duties
under applicable law, (B) is not and will not become a party to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Company
with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or
indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not
been disclosed therein, and (C) in such person’s individual capacity and on
behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made,
would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Company, and will comply
with all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of
interest, confidentiality and stock trading policies and guidelines of the
Company.
ARTICLE
III
DIRECTORS
3.1 POWERS.
Subject
to the provisions of the DGCL and any limitations in the Certificate, the
business and affairs of the Company shall be managed and all corporate powers
shall be exercised by or under the direction of the Board.
3.2 NUMBER
OF DIRECTORS.
The Board
shall consist of one or more members, each of whom shall be a natural person.
The authorized number of directors shall be determined from time to time by
resolution of the Board, provided the Board shall consist of at least one
(1) member. 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.
Directors
need not be stockholders unless so required by the Certificate or these bylaws.
The Certificate or these bylaws may prescribe other qualifications for
directors. Each director, including a director elected to fill a
vacancy, shall hold office until such director’s successor is elected and
qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or
removal.
3.4 RESIGNATION
AND VACANCIES.
Any
director may resign at any time upon written notice or by electronic
transmission to the Company.
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 only by a vote of a majority of the remaining members of the Board
of Directors, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, at
any meeting of the Board of Directors. A person so elected by the
Board of Directors to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold
office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her
successor shall be duly elected and qualified.
3.5 PLACE
OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE.
The Board
may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or outside the State
of Delaware.
Unless
otherwise restricted by the Certificate or these bylaws, members of the Board,
or any committee designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the
Board, or any committee, by means of conference telephone or 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 may be held without notice at such time and at such place
as shall from time to time be determined by the Board.
3.7 SPECIAL
MEETINGS; NOTICE.
Special
meetings of the Board for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by
the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, at any time when there
is no Chief Executive Officer, the President, or a majority of the authorized
number of directors. The person(s) authorized to call special
meetings of the Board may fix the place and time of the meeting.
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; or
(D) sent
by electronic mail,
directed
to each director at that director’s address, telephone number, facsimile number
or electronic mail address, 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 or (iii) sent by electronic mail, it shall be
delivered or sent 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 (4) days before the time
of the holding of the meeting. Any oral notice may be communicated
either to the director or to a person at the office of the director who the
person giving notice has reason to believe will promptly communicate such notice
to the director. 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.
3.8 QUORUM.
Except as
otherwise required by law or the Certificate, at all meetings of the Board, a
majority of the authorized number of directors (as determined pursuant to
Section 3.2 of these bylaws) shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business, except to adjourn as provided in Section 3.11 of these
bylaws. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue
to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action
taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for that
meeting. The vote of a majority of the directors present at any
meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board, except as
may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, the Certificate or these
bylaws.
3.9 WAIVER
OF NOTICE.
Whenever
notice is required to be given under any provisions of the DGCL, the Certificate
or these bylaws, a written waiver thereof, 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 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 solely 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 directors, or members of a committee
of directors, need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by
electronic transmission unless so required by the Certificate or these
bylaws.
3.10 BOARD
ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING.
Unless
otherwise restricted by the Certificate or these bylaws, any action required or
permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board, or of any committee thereof,
may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the
case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and the
writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with
the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee. Such filing
shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be
in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic
form.
3.11 ADJOURNED
MEETING; NOTICE.
If a
quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board, then a majority of 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.
3.12 FEES
AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS.
Unless
otherwise restricted by the Certificate or these bylaws, the Board shall have
the authority to fix the compensation of directors.
3.13 REMOVAL
OF DIRECTORS.
Any
director may be removed from the Board of Directors by the stockholders of the
Company only for cause, and in such case only by the affirmative vote of the
holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Company then entitled to vote in the election of
directors.
ARTICLE
IV
COMMITTEES
4.1 COMMITTEES
OF DIRECTORS.
The Board
may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more
of the directors of the Company. The Board may designate one or more
directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or
disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence
or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof
present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such
member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of
the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified
member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution
of the Board or in these bylaws, shall have and may exercise such lawfully
delegable powers and duties as the Board may confer.
4.2 COMMITTEE
MINUTES.
Each
committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report to the Board
when required.
4.3 MEETINGS
AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES.
Meetings
and actions of committees shall be governed by, and held and taken in accordance
with, the provisions of:
(A) Section
3.5 (relating to place of meetings and meetings by telephone);
(B) Section
3.6 (relating to regular meetings);
(C) Section
3.7 (relating to special meetings and notice);
(D) Section
3.8 (relating to quorum);
(E) Section
3.9 (relating to waiver of notice);
(F) Section
3.10 (relating to action without a meeting); and
(G) Section
3.11 (relating to adjournment and notice of adjournment)
of these
bylaws, with such changes in the context of those bylaws as are necessary to
substitute the committee and its members for the Board and its
members.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing:
(i) the
time of regular meetings of committees may be determined either by resolution of
the Board or by resolution of the committee;
(ii) special
meetings of committees may also be called by resolution of the Board or by
resolution of the committee; and
(iii) notice
of special meetings of committees shall also be given to all alternate members,
who shall have the right to attend all meetings of the committee. The Board may
adopt rules for the government of any committee not inconsistent with the
provisions of these bylaws.
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, a Chairman of the Board,
a vice chairman of the Board, 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.
5.2 APPOINTMENT
OF OFFICERS.
The Board
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. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor
is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or
removal. A failure to elect officers shall not dissolve or otherwise
affect the Company.
5.3 SUBORDINATE
OFFICERS.
The Board
may appoint, or empower the Chief Executive Officer or, in the absence of a
Chief Executive Officer, the President of the Company to appoint, such other
officers and agents as the business of the Company may require. Each
of such officers and agents shall hold office for such period, have such
authority, and perform such duties as are provided in these bylaws or as the
Board may from time to time determine.
5.4 REMOVAL
AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS.
Any
officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by an affirmative vote of
the majority of the Board at any regular or special meeting of the Board or,
except in the case of an officer appointed by the Board, by any officer upon
whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board.
Any
officer may resign at any time by giving written notice 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 may only be filled by the Board
or as provided in
Section
5.3
of these bylaws.
5.6 REPRESENTATION
OF SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS.
The
Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, or any other person
authorized by the Board, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive
Officer, is authorized to vote, represent, and exercise on behalf of this
Company all rights incident to any and all shares or other equity interests of
any other Company or entity standing in the name of this Company. 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.
In
addition to the foregoing authority and duties, all officers of the Company
shall respectively 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.
ARTICLE
VI
RECORDS
AND REPORTS
6.1 MAINTENANCE
AND INSPECTION OF RECORDS.
The
Company shall, either at its principal executive office or at such place or
places as designated by the Board, keep a record of its stockholders, listing
their names and addresses and the number and class of shares held by each
stockholder, a copy of these bylaws, as may be amended to date, minute books,
accounting books and other records.
Any such
records maintained by the Company 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. The Company shall so convert any records so kept upon the
request of any person entitled to inspect such records pursuant to the
provisions of the DGCL. When records are kept in such manner, a
clearly legible paper form produced from or by means of the information storage
device or method shall be admissible in evidence, and accepted for all other
purposes, to the same extent as an original paper form accurately portrays the
record.
6.2 INSPECTION
BY DIRECTORS.
Any
director shall have the right to examine the Company’s stock ledger, a list of
its stockholders, and its other books and records for a purpose reasonably
related to his or her position as a director.
ARTICLE
VII
GENERAL
MATTERS
7.1 CHECKS;
DRAFTS; EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS.
From time
to time, the Board shall determine by resolution which person or persons may
sign or endorse all checks, drafts, other orders for payment of money, notes or
other evidences of indebtedness that are issued in the name of or payable to the
Company, and only the persons so authorized shall sign or endorse those
instruments.
7.2 EXECUTION
OF CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS.
Except as
otherwise provided in these bylaws, the Board, or any officers of the Company
authorized thereby, may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents,
to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on
behalf of the Company; such authority may be general or confined to specific
instances.
7.3 STOCK
CERTIFICATES; PARTLY PAID SHARES.
The
shares of the Company shall be represented by certificates, provided that the
Board 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. Every holder of stock
represented by certificates and upon request every holder of uncertificated
shares shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the
Company by the Chairman of the Board or a vice-chairman of the Board, or the
President or vice-president, and by the Treasurer or an assistant treasurer, or
the Secretary or an assistant secretary 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 he or she were such officer, transfer agent or
registrar at the date of issue.
7.4 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, 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 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.
7.5 LOST
CERTIFICATES.
Except as
provided in this Section 7.5, 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.
7.6 DIVIDENDS.
The
Board, subject to any restrictions contained in either (a) the DGCL or
(b) the Certificate, may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of its
capital stock. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in
shares of the Company’s capital stock.
The Board
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.
7.7 FISCAL
YEAR.
The
fiscal year of the Company shall be fixed by resolution of the Board and may be
changed by the Board.
7.8 SEAL.
The
Company may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be adopted and which may be
altered by the Board. 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.
7.9 TRANSFER
OF STOCK.
Transfers
of stock shall be made only upon the transfer books of the Company kept at an
office of the Company or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares of the
stock of the Company. Except where a certificate is issued in
accordance with
Section
7.5
of these bylaws, an outstanding certificate for the number of shares
involved shall be surrendered for cancellation before a new certificate is
issued therefore. Upon surrender to the Company or the transfer agent
of the Company of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by
proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to transfer, it shall be
the duty of the Company to issue a new certificate to the person entitled
thereto, cancel the old certificate, and record the transaction in its
books.
7.10 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 or series of stock of the Company to
restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Company of any one or more
classes or series owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the
DGCL.
7.11 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 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.
7.12 WAIVER
OF NOTICE.
Whenever
notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate
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 solely 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 or these bylaws.
ARTICLE
VIII
NOTICE
BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION
8.1 NOTICE
BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION.
Without
limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to
stockholders pursuant to the DGCL, the Certificate or these bylaws, any notice
to stockholders given by the Company under any provision of the DGCL, the
Certificate or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic
transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is
given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by
written notice to the Company. Any such consent shall be deemed
revoked if:
(A) the
Company is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices
given by the Company in accordance with such consent; and
(B) such
inability becomes known to the secretary or an assistant secretary of the
Company or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of
notice.
However,
the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not
invalidate any meeting or other action.
Any
notice given pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall be deemed
given:
(i) if
by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the
stockholder has consented to receive notice;
(ii) if
by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the
stockholder has consented to receive notice;
(iii) if
by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the
stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting
and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and
(iv) if
by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the
stockholder.
An
affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary or of the transfer agent or
other agent of the Company that the notice has been given by a form of
electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence
of the facts stated therein.
8.2 DEFINITION
OF ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION.
An
“electronic transmission” means any form of communication, including without
limitation an email communication, not directly involving the physical
transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved,
and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in
paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.
8.3 INAPPLICABILITY.
Notice by
a form of electronic transmission shall not apply to Section 164 (relating to
failure to pay for stock; remedies), Section 296 (relating to adjudication of
claims; appeal), Section 311 (relating to revocation of voluntary dissolution),
Section 312 (relating to renewal, revival, extension and restoration of
certificate of incorporation) or Section 324 (relating to attachment of shares
of stock or any option, right or interest therein) of the DGCL.
ARTICLE
IX
INDEMNIFICATION
OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
9.1 POWER
TO INDEMNIFY IN ACTIONS, SUITS OR PROCEEDINGS OTHER THAN THOSE BY OR IN THE
RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION.
Subject
to
Section 9.3
of these
bylaws, the Company shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by the
DGCL, as now or hereafter 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
(other than an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason of the fact
that such person (or the legal representative of such person) is or was a
director or officer of the Company or any predecessor of the Company, or is or
was a director or officer of the Company serving at the request of the Company
as a director or officer, employee or agent of another Company, partnership,
joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan 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 action, suit or 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 action, suit or proceeding by
judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of
nolo contendere
or its
equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not
act in good faith and in a manner which 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.
9.2 POWER
TO INDEMNIFY IN ACTIONS, SUITS OR PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE
CORPORATION.
Subject
to
Section 9.3
of these
bylaws, the Company shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by the
DGCL, as now or hereafter 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 or
suit by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by
reason of the fact that such person (or the legal representative of such person)
is or was a director or officer of the Company or any predecessor 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
Company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such
action or suit 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.
9.3 AUTHORIZATION
OF INDEMNIFICATION.
Any
indemnification under this
Article IX
(unless ordered by
a court) shall be made by the Company only as authorized in the specific case
upon a determination that indemnification of the director or officer is proper
in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of
conduct set forth in
Section
9.1
or
Section
9.2
of these bylaws, as the case may be. Such determination
shall be made, with respect to a person who is either a director or officer at
the time of such determination or a former director or officer, (i) by a
majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or
proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (ii) by a committee of such
directors designated by a majority vote of such directors, even though less than
a quorum, or (iii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so
direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (iv) by the
stockholders (but only if a majority of the directors who are not parties to
such action, suit or proceeding, if they constitute a quorum of the board of
directors, presents the issue of entitlement to indemnification to the
stockholders for their determination). To the extent, however, that a
present or former director or officer of the Company has been successful on the
merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described
above, 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, without the necessity of
authorization in the specific case.
9.4 GOOD
FAITH DEFINED.
For
purposes of any determination under
Section 9.3
of these bylaws,
to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, a person shall be deemed to
have 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, or, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, to have had no reasonable cause to believe such
person’s conduct was unlawful, if such person’s action is based on the records
or books of account of the Company or another enterprise, or on information
supplied to such person by the officers of the Company or another enterprise in
the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Company or
another enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the
Company or another enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or
by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Company or
another enterprise. The term “another enterprise” as used in this
Section 9.4 shall mean any other Company or any partnership, joint venture,
trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which such person is or was
serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or
agent. The provisions of this Section 9.4 shall not be deemed to be
exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be
deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in
Section 9.1
or
Section
9.2
of these bylaws, as the
case may be.
9.5 INDEMNIFICATION
BY A COURT.
Notwithstanding
any contrary determination in the specific case under Section 9.3 of this
Article IX
, and
notwithstanding the absence of any determination thereunder, any director or
officer may apply to the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware for
indemnification to the extent otherwise permissible under
Section 9.1
and
Section 9.2
of these
bylaws. The basis of such indemnification by a court shall be a
determination by such court that indemnification of the director or officer is
proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standards
of conduct set forth in
Section
9.1
or
Section
9.2
of these bylaws, as the case may be. Neither a contrary determination
in the specific case under
Section 9.3
of these bylaws
nor the absence of any determination thereunder shall be a defense to such
application or create a presumption that the director or officer seeking
indemnification has not met any applicable standard of
conduct. Notice of any application for indemnification pursuant to
this
Section 9.5
shall
be given to the Company promptly upon the filing of such
application. If successful, in whole or in part, the director or
officer seeking indemnification shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of
prosecuting such application.
9.6 EXPENSES
PAYABLE IN ADVANCE.
To the
fullest extent not prohibited by the DGCL, or by any other applicable law,
expenses incurred by a person who is or was a director or officer in defending
any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding
shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action,
suit or proceeding;
provided
,
however
,
that if the DGCL requires, an advance of expenses incurred by any person in his
or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity) shall
be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to
repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not
entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized in this
Article IX
.
9.7 NONEXCLUSIVITY
OF INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES.
The
indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to
this
Article IX
shall
not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking
indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the
Certificate, any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested
directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and
as to action in another capacity while holding such office, it being the policy
of the Company that indemnification of the persons specified in
Section 9.1
and
Section 9.2
of these bylaws
shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law. The provisions
of this
Article IX
shall
not be deemed to preclude the indemnification of any person who is not specified
in
Section 9.1
or
Section 9.2
of these bylaws
but whom the Company has the power or obligation to indemnify under the
provisions of the DGCL, or otherwise. The Company is specifically
authorized to enter into individual contracts with any or all of its directors,
officers, employees or agents respecting indemnification and advances, to the
fullest extent not prohibited by the DGCL, or by any other applicable
law.
9.8 INSURANCE.
To the
fullest extent permitted by the DGCL or any other applicable law, 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 a director,
officer, employee or agent of the Company serving at the request of the Company
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Company, partnership, joint
venture, trust, employee benefit plan 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 or the obligation to indemnify such person against such liability
under the provisions of this
Article IX
.
9.9 CERTAIN
DEFINITIONS.
For
purposes of this
Article
IX
, 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 or officers, so that any person who is or was a director or officer of
such constituent Company, or is or was a director or officer of such constituent
Company serving at the request of such constituent Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another Company, partnership, joint venture,
trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, shall stand in the same
position under the provisions of this
Article IX
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
IX
, 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 or officer 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 IX
.
9.10 SURVIVAL
OF INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES.
The
rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this
Article IX
shall continue as
to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the
benefit of the heirs, executors, administrators and other personal and legal
representatives of such a person.
9.11 LIMITATION
ON INDEMNIFICATION.
Notwithstanding
anything contained in this
Article IX
to the contrary,
except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification (which shall be
governed by
Section 9.5
of these bylaws), the Company shall not be obligated to indemnify any director
or officer in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such
person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to
by the board of directors of the Company.
9.12 INDEMNIFICATION
OF EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS.
The
Company may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the board of
directors, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses
to employees and agents of the Company similar to those conferred in this
Article IX
to directors and
officers of the Company.
9.13 EFFECT
OF AMENDMENT OR REPEAL.
Neither
any amendment or repeal of any Section of this
Article IX
, nor the adoption
of any provision of the Certificate or the bylaws inconsistent with this
Article IX
, shall adversely
affect any right or protection of any director, officer, employee or other agent
established pursuant to this
Article IX
existing at the
time of such amendment, repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision,
including without limitation by eliminating or reducing the effect of this
Article IX
, for or in respect
of any act, omission or other matter occurring, or any action or proceeding
accruing or arising (or that, but for this
Article IX
, would accrue or
arise), prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption of an inconsistent
provision.
ARTICLE
X
MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 PROVISIONS
OF CERTIFICATE GOVERN.
In the
event of any inconsistency between the terms of these bylaws and the
Certificate, the terms of the Certificate will govern.
10.2 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 both a corporation and a natural
person.
10.3 SEVERABILITY.
In the
event that any bylaw or the application thereof becomes or is declared by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void or unenforceable, the
remaining bylaws will continue in full force and effect.
10.4 AMENDMENT.
In
furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board
of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, alter or repeal these
bylaws. The affirmative vote of at least a majority of the Board of
Directors then in office shall be required in order for the Board of Directors
to adopt, amend, alter or repeal these bylaws. No bylaw hereafter
legally amended, altered or repealed shall invalidate any prior act of the
directors or officers of the Company that would have been valid if such bylaw
had not been amended, altered or repealed.
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