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): July 27, 2018
 
GENMARK DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Commission File Number: 001-34753
 
Delaware
 
27-2053069
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
5964 La Place Court
Carlsbad, California 92008
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
 
760-448-4300
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
 
o  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o  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 o
 
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 Selection 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
 





Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

On July 27, 2018, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of GenMark Diagnostics, Inc. (the “Company”), acting upon the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board (the “Governance Committee”), approved an amendment and restatement of the Company’s By-Laws (the “By-Laws”) to, among other things, amend Article I, Section 8 of the By-Laws to adopt a majority vote standard for the election of directors in uncontested director elections. The new majority vote standard is effective immediately and provides that, to be elected in an uncontested election, the votes cast for a nominee's election must exceed the votes cast against such nominee’s election. The number of votes cast with respect to a director’s election excludes abstentions with respect to that particular director’s election. In contested elections where the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, the vote standard will continue to be a plurality of votes cast, in which case stockholders will not be permitted to vote against a nominee.

          In addition, on July 27, 2018, the Board, acting upon the recommendation of the Governance Committee, approved an amendment and restatement of the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, which, among other things, provide that a director must tender his or her resignation from the Board for consideration by the Governance Committee and the Board, if he or she fails to receive the required number of votes for re-election as set forth in the Company’s By-Laws. If an incumbent director fails to receive the required vote for re-election to the Board, the Governance Committee will act on whether to accept the director’s resignation and will submit its recommendation for prompt consideration by the Board. In making its recommendation, the Governance Committee will consider all factors it deems relevant, including, without limitation, the following:

the stated reasons why stockholders withheld votes for election from such director;
the length of service and qualifications of such director;
the director’s contributions to the Company; and
the availability of other qualified candidates for director.

The Board will act on the Governance Committee’s recommendation no later than 90 days following the date of the applicable stockholders’ meeting, and, in doing so, will consider the factors evaluated by the Governance Committee and such additional information and factors the Board believes to be relevant. If the Board determines that the director’s resignation is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, the Board will promptly accept the resignation. The Company will publicly disclose the Board’s decision within four business days in a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, providing an explanation of the process by which the decision was reached, and, if applicable, the reasons for not accepting the director’s resignation. Any director who has submitted his or her resignation will not participate in the Governance Committee’s or Board’s consideration of the appropriateness of his or her continued service, except to respond to requests for information.
          
The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Company’s By-Laws and Corporate Governance Guidelines, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 3.1 and 99.1, respectively, and are incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 
(i) The following exhibits are filed with this Current Report:

 
 
 
Exhibit
Number
 
Description
3.1
 
Amended and Restated By-Laws of GenMark Diagnostics, Inc.
99.1
 
GenMark Diagnostics, Inc. Corporate Governance Guidelines






SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
GENMARK DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:
August 2, 2018
/s/ Eric Stier
 
 
Eric Stier
 
 
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 





EXHIBITS
 
 
 
 
Exhibit
Number
 
Description
 
 







Exhibit 3.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
OF
GENMARK DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
(a Delaware Corporation)


ARTICLE I

STOCKHOLDERS

SECTION 1. Annual Meetings . The annual meeting of stockholders of GenMark Diagnostics, Inc. (the “Corporation”) for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held each fiscal year at such date and time, within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors shall determine.

SECTION 2. Notice of Meetings. Written notice of all meetings of the stockholders, stating the place, date, time and purpose 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 place at which the list of stockholders may be examined, and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is to be held, shall be mailed or otherwise delivered (including pursuant to electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, except to the extent prohibited by Section 232(e) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware) to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the date of the meeting and shall otherwise comply with applicable law. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail with postage thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his or her address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Corporation. Such further notice shall be given as may be required by law. If notice is given by electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed to be given at the times provided in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Such further notice shall be given as may be required by law. Meetings may be held without notice if all stockholders entitled to vote are present, or if notice is waived by those not present in accordance with these By-laws. Any previously scheduled meeting of the stockholders may be postponed, and (unless the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation otherwise provides) any special meeting of the stockholders may be cancelled, by resolution of the Board of Directors upon public notice given prior to the date previously scheduled for such meeting of stockholders.

SECTION 3. Quorum and Adjournment. Except as otherwise provided by law or the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of stockholders shall consist of the holders of record of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, present in person or by proxy, except that when specified business is to be voted on by a class or series of stock voting as a class, the holders of a majority of the shares of such class or series shall constitute a quorum of such class or series for the transaction of such business. The Chairman of the meeting or a majority of the shares so represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time, whether or not there is such a quorum. No notice of the time and place of adjourned meetings need be given except as required by law. The stockholders present at a duly called meeting at which





a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.
SECTION 4. Organization. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman, or if none or in the Chairman’s absence the Presiding Director, or if none or in the Presiding Director's absence, the Vice-Chairman, or if none or in the Vice-Chairman’s absence the Chief Executive Officer, or in the Chief Executive Officer’s absence a Vice-President, or, if none of the foregoing is present, by a chairman to be chosen by the stockholders entitled to vote who are present in person or by proxy at the meeting. The Secretary of the Corporation, or in the Secretary’s absence an Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of every meeting, but if neither the Secretary nor an Assistant Secretary is present, the presiding officer of the meeting shall appoint any person present to act as secretary of the meeting.

SECTION 5. Voting; Proxies; Required Vote.

(a) At each meeting of stockholders, every stockholder shall be entitled to vote in person or by proxy appointed by instrument in writing, subscribed by such stockholder or by such stockholder’s duly authorized attorney in fact (but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period), and, unless the Certificate of Incorporation provides otherwise, shall have one vote for each share of stock entitled to vote registered in the name of such stockholder on the books of the Corporation on the applicable record date fixed pursuant to these By-laws. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, in all matters other than the election of directors, which shall be governed by Section 8 of this Article I, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter shall be the act of the stockholders.

(b) When specified business is to be voted on by a class or series of stock voting as a class, the affirmative vote of the majority of shares of such class or classes present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting shall be the act of such class, unless otherwise provided in the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation.

SECTION 6. Inspectors . The Board of Directors, in advance of any meeting, may, but need not, appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If an inspector or inspectors are not so appointed, the person presiding at the meeting may, but need not, appoint one or more inspectors. In case any person who may be appointed as an inspector fails to appear or act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the directors in advance of the meeting or at the meeting by the person presiding thereat. Each inspector, if any, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector at such meeting with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors, if any, shall determine the number of shares of stock outstanding and the voting power of each, the shares of stock represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, and the validity and effect of proxies, and shall receive votes, ballots or consents, hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote, count and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, determine the result, and do such acts as are proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. On request of the person presiding at the meeting, the inspector or inspectors, if any, shall make a report in writing of any challenge, question or matter determined by such inspector or inspectors and execute a certificate of any fact found by such inspector or inspectors.

SECTION 7. Notice of Stockholder Nominations and Other Business .

(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders .






(1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors 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 of Directors, or (C) by any stockholder of the Corporation who (i) was a stockholder of record of the Corporation at the time the notice provided for in this Section 7 is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation and at the time of the annual meeting, (ii) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (iii) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 7 as to such business or nomination. Clause (C) of the preceding sentence shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and included in the Corporation’s notice of meeting) before an annual meeting of stockholders.

(2) Without qualification or limitation, for any nominations or any other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (C) of paragraph (a)(1) of this Section 7, 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 of Directors, 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 earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day nor later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) 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 (30) days before or more than seventy (70) 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, if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the tenth (10th) 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.

(3) To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice delivered pursuant to this Section 7 must set forth: (A) as to each person, if any, whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director (i) all information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in contested election, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, (ii) such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected and (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; (B) if the notice relates to any business other than a nomination of a director or directors 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 By-laws 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 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 Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, if any, (ii) (a) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and 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 shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise (a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation, (c) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder 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 By-law a person shall be deemed to have a short interest in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any 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 rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (f) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner and (g) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including without limitation any such interests held by members of such stockholder’s immediate family sharing the same household, (iii) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or proposal between or among such stockholder and such beneficial owner, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing, (iv) 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, (v) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends (a) 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 or (b) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination, and (vi) 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 solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. In addition, the stockholder’s notice with respect to the election of directors must include, with respect to each nominee for election or reelection to the Board of Directors, the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 9 of this Article I. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the information required by clauses (a)(3)(C)(ii) and (a)(3)(C)(iii) of this





Section 7 shall be updated by such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, not later than 10 days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such information as of the record date.

(4) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 7 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 7 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) 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 of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (2) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who (i) is a stockholder of record of the Corporation at the time the notice provided for in this Section 7 is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation and at the time of the special meeting, (ii) is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election, and (iii) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 7 as to such nomination. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder 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)(3) hereof with respect to any nomination (including the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by this By-law) 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 (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, if the first public announcement of the date of such special meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such special meeting, 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 of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(c) General .

(1) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 7 or the Certificate of Incorporation shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to serve as directors and only such other 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 7. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, the person presiding at the meeting of stockholders shall have the power and duty (A) to determine whether a nomination or any other 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 7 (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 which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies in support of such stockholder’s nominee or proposal in compliance with such stockholder’s representation as required by





clause (a)(3)(C)(v) of this Section 7) and (B) if any proposed nomination or other business was not made or proposed in compliance with this Section 7, to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed other business shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7, 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 other business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed other 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 7, 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.

(2) For purposes of this Section 7, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a 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.

(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 7; provided however, that any references in these By-laws to the Exchange Act or the rules 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 7 (including clause (a)(1)(C) and paragraph (b) hereof), and compliance with clause (a)(1)(C) and paragraph (b) of this Section 7 shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business, as applicable (other than matters 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 7 shall be deemed to affect any rights (A) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act or (B) of the holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over the common stock of the Corporation as to dividends or upon liquidation (“Preferred Stock”) to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.

SECTION 8. Required Vote for Directors . At any meeting of stockholders for the election of one or more directors at which a quorum is present, a nominee for director shall be elected to the Board of Directors if the votes cast for such nominee's election exceed the votes cast against such nominee's election; provided, however, that directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at any meeting of stockholders for which (i) the Secretary of the Corporation receives a notice that a stockholder has nominated a person for election to the Board of Directors in compliance with the advance notice requirements for stockholder nominees for director set forth in Article I, Section 7 of these Bylaws and (ii) such nomination has not been withdrawn by such stockholder on or prior to the day next preceding the date the Corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to the stockholders. If directors are to be elected by a plurality of the votes cast, stockholders shall not be permitted to vote against a nominee.

SECTION 9. Submission of Questionnaire, Representation and Agreement . To be eligible to be a nominee for election or reelection as a director of the Corporation, a person must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Article I, Section 7 of these By-laws) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation 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 Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, (b) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed 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 Corporation, and will comply with all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation.

SECTION 10. Removal of Director . Except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to such series of Preferred Stock, the stockholders holding a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors, acting at a duly called annual meeting or a duly called special meeting of the stockholders, at which there is a proper quorum and where notice has been provided in accordance with Section 7 of this Article I, may remove a director or directors of the Corporation only with cause. Vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from such removal shall be filled in accordance with Section 12 of Article II.

ARTICLE II

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECTION 1. General Powers . The business, property and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Board of Directors. In addition to the powers and authorities by these By-laws expressly conferred upon them, the Board of Directors may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

SECTION 2. Qualification; Number; Term; Remuneration .
 
(a) Each director shall be at least 18 years of age. A director need not be a stockholder, a citizen of the United States, or a resident of the State of Delaware. The total number of directors that the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies (the “Whole Board”) shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by action of the Board of Directors, one of whom may be selected by the Board of Directors to be its Chairman.
 
(b) Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be divided into three classes designated as Class I, Class II and Class III, respectively. Directors shall be assigned to each class in accordance with a resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors. To the extent practicable, the Board of Directors shall assign an equal number of directors to Class I, Class II and Class III. At the first annual meeting of stockholders after the filing of the Certificate of Incorporation, the terms of the Class I directors shall expire and Class I directors shall be elected for a full term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election. At the second annual meeting of stockholders,





the terms of the Class II directors shall expire and Class II directors shall be elected for a full term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election. At the third annual meeting of stockholders, the terms of the Class III directors shall expire and Class III directors shall be elected for a full term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election. At each succeeding annual meeting of stockholders, directors elected to succeed the directors of the class whose terms expire at such meeting shall be elected for a full term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election. If the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any additional director of any class elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this clause (b), each director shall serve until such director’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until such director’s death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

(c) Directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and Directors who are not employees of the Corporation may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated salary as director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for committee service.

SECTION 3. Quorum and Manner of Voting . Except as otherwise provided by law or in these By-laws, a majority of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum. A majority of the directors present, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn a meeting from time to time to another time and place without notice. The vote of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. The directors present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough directors to leave less than a quorum.

SECTION 4. Places of Meetings . Meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any place within or without the State of Delaware, as may from time to time be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors, or as may be specified in the notice of meeting.

SECTION 5. Regular Meetings . Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times and places as the Board of Directors shall from time to time by resolution determine. Notice need not be given of regular meetings of the Board of Directors held at times and places fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 6. Special Meetings . Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held whenever called by the Chairman of the Board, Presiding Director, Chief Executive Officer or by a majority of the directors then in office.

SECTION 7. Notice of Meetings . A notice of the place, date and time and the purpose or purposes of each special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director by mail, personal delivery, electronic transmission or telephone at least two (2) days before the day of the meeting. Notice shall be deemed to be given at the time of mailing, but the said two (2) days’ notice need not be given to any director who consents in writing (which may be provided by electronic transmission), whether before or after the meeting, or who attends the meeting without protesting prior thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice to him or her.






SECTION 8. Chairman of the Board . Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or in Section 9 of this Article II, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, if there be one, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and shall have such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 9. Presiding Director . If at any time the Chairman of the Board shall be an executive officer or former executive officer of the Corporation or for any reason shall not be an independent director, a Presiding Director shall be selected by the independent directors from among the directors who are not executive officers or former executive officers of the Corporation and are otherwise independent. If the Chairman of the Board of Directors is not present, the Presiding Director shall chair meetings of the Board of Directors. The Presiding Director shall chair any meeting of the independent Directors and shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned to the Presiding Director by these By-laws or the Board of Directors.

SECTION 10. Organization . At all meetings of the Board of Directors, the Chairman, or if none or in the Chairman’s absence or inability to act the Presiding Director, or if none or in the Presiding Director’s absence or inability to act, the Chief Executive Officer, or in the Chief Executive Officer’s absence or inability to act any Vice-President who is a member of the Board of Directors, or if none, or in such Vice-President’s absence or inability to act a chairman chosen by the directors, shall preside. The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as secretary at all meetings of the Board of Directors when present, and, in the Secretary’s absence, the presiding officer may appoint any person to act as secretary.

SECTION 11. Resignation . Any director may resign at any time upon written notice (which may be provided by electronic transmission) to the Corporation and such resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the Chief Executive Officer or Secretary, unless otherwise specified in the resignation.

SECTION 12. Vacancies . Subject to applicable law and the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to such series of Preferred Stock, and unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors will be filled by a majority of the Board of Directors then in office, provided that a majority of the Whole Board of Directors, or a quorum, is present and any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause will be filled generally by the majority vote of the remaining directors in office, even if less than a quorum is present.

SECTION 13. Conference Telephone Meetings . Members of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

SECTION 14. Action by Written Consent . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if all the directors consent thereto in writing (which may be provided by electronic transmission), and such writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.






ARTICLE III

COMMITTEES

SECTION 1. Appointment . From time to time the Board of Directors by a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board may appoint any committee or committees for any purpose or purposes, to the extent lawful, which shall have powers as shall be determined and specified by the Board of Directors in the resolution of appointment. The Board shall have power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, or to dissolve any such committee. Nothing herein shall be deemed to prevent the Board from appointing one or more committees consisting in whole or in part of persons who are not directors of the Corporation; provided , however , that no such committee shall have or may exercise any authority of the Board.

SECTION 2. Procedures, Quorum and Manner of Acting . Each committee shall fix its own rules of procedure, and shall meet where and as provided by such rules or by resolution of the Board of Directors. Except as otherwise provided by law, the presence of a majority of the then appointed members of a committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by that committee, and in every case where a quorum is present the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the committee present shall be the act of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of any member of such committee or committees, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not constituting 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. Each committee shall keep minutes of its proceedings, and actions taken by a committee shall be reported to the Board of Directors.

SECTION 3. Action by Written Consent . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of any committee of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if all the members of the committee consent thereto in writing (which may be provided by electronic transmission), and such writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the committee.

SECTION 4. Term; Termination . In the event any person shall cease to be a director of the Corporation, such person shall simultaneously therewith cease to be a member of any committee appointed by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

SECTION 1. Election and Qualifications . The Board of Directors shall elect the officers of the Corporation, which shall include a Chief Executive Officer and a Secretary, and may include, by election or appointment, one or more Vice-Presidents (any one or more of whom may be given an additional designation of rank or function), a Treasurer and such other officers as the Board may from time to time deem proper. Each officer shall have such powers and duties as may be prescribed by these By-laws and as may be assigned by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.

SECTION 2. Term of Office and Remuneration . All officers shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and until their respective successors have been elected and qualified. Any officer may be removed from office, either with or without cause, at any time by the Board of Directors. Any vacancy





in any office arising from any cause may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Board of Directors. The remuneration of all officers of the Corporation may be fixed by the Board of Directors or in such manner as the Board of Directors shall provide.

SECTION 3. Resignation; Removal . Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice (which may be provided by electronic transmission) to the Corporation and such resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the Chief Executive Officer or Secretary, unless otherwise specified in the resignation. Any officer shall be subject to removal, with or without cause, at any time by vote of a majority of the Whole Board.

SECTION 4. Chief Executive Officer . The Chief Executive Officer shall have such duties as customarily pertain to that office. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general management and supervision of the property, business and affairs of the Corporation and over its other officers; may appoint and remove assistant officers and other agents and employees, other than officers referred to in Section 1 of this Article IV; and may execute and deliver in the name of the Corporation powers of attorney, contracts, bonds and other obligations and instruments.

SECTION 5. Vice-President . A Vice-President may execute and deliver in the name of the Corporation contracts and other obligations and instruments pertaining to the regular course of the duties of said office, and shall have such other authority as from time to time may be assigned by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

SECTION 6. Treasurer . Unless otherwise designated by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer shall be the Treasurer of the Corporation. The Treasurer shall in general have all duties incident to the position of Treasurer and such other duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

SECTION 7. Secretary . The Secretary shall in general have all the duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

SECTION 8. Assistant Officers . Any assistant officer shall have such powers and duties of the officer such assistant officer assists as such officer or the Board of Directors shall from time to time prescribe.

ARTICLE V

BOOKS AND RECORDS

SECTION 1. Location . The books and records of the Corporation may be kept at such place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors or the respective officers in charge thereof may from time to time determine. The record books containing the names and addresses of all stockholders, the number and class of shares of stock held by each and the dates when they respectively became the owners of record thereof shall be kept by the Secretary and by such officer or agent as shall be designated by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 2. Addresses of Stockholders . Notices of meetings and all other corporate notices may be delivered (a) personally or mailed to each stockholder at the stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, or (b) any other method permitted by applicable law and rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission as they presently exist or may hereafter be amended.






SECTION 3. Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record .

a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, 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 of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

b) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and which date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in this State, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board of Directors is required by this chapter, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

c) 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 the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

ARTICLE VI

STOCK

SECTION 1. Stock; Signatures . Shares of the Corporation’s stock may be evidenced by certificates for shares of stock or may be issued in uncertificated form in accordance with applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended. The Board of Directors of the Corporation 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 or the issuance of shares in uncertificated form shall not affect shares already represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Every holder of shares of stock in the Corporation that is represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate certifying the number of





shares owned by him or her in the Corporation and registered in certificated form. Stock certificates shall be signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the Chief Executive Officer or Vice-President, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. Any and all signatures on any such certificate may be facsimiles. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. The name of the holder of record of the shares represented by certificated or uncertificated shares, with the number of such shares and the date of issue, shall be entered on the books of the Corporation.

SECTION 2. Transfers of Stock . Transfers of shares of stock of the Corporation shall be made on the books of the Corporation after receipt of a request with proper evidence of succession, assignation, or authority to transfer by the record holder of such stock, or by an attorney lawfully constituted in writing, and in the case of stock represented by a certificate, upon surrender of the certificate. Subject to the foregoing, the Board of Directors may make such rules and regulations as it shall deem necessary or appropriate concerning the issue, transfer and registration of shares of stock of the Corporation, and to appoint and remove transfer agents and registrars of transfers.

SECTION 3. Fractional Shares . The Corporation may, but shall not be required to, issue certificates for fractions of a share where necessary to effect authorized transactions, or the Corporation may pay in cash the fair value of fractions of a share as of the time when those entitled to receive such fractions are determined, or it may issue scrip in registered or bearer form over the manual or facsimile signature of an officer of the Corporation or of its agent, exchangeable as therein provided for full shares, but such scrip shall not entitle the holder to any rights of a stockholder except as therein provided.

SECTION 4. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates . The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in place of any certificate, theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Board of Directors may require the owner of any lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his or her legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify the Corporation 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 any such new certificate or uncertificated shares.

ARTICLE VII

DIVIDENDS

Subject always to the provisions of law and the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall have full power to determine whether any, and, if any, what part of any, funds legally available for the payment of dividends shall be declared as dividends and paid to stockholders; the division of the whole or any part of such funds of the Corporation shall rest wholly within the lawful discretion of the Board of Directors, and it shall not be required at any time, against such discretion, to divide or pay any part of such funds among or to the stockholders as dividends or otherwise; and before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in its absolute discretion, thinks proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors shall think conducive to the interest of the Corporation, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.






ARTICLE VIII

RATIFICATION

Any transaction, questioned in any law suit on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of director, officer or stockholder, non disclosure, miscomputation, or the application of improper principles or practices of accounting, may be ratified before or after judgment, by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders, and if so ratified shall have the same force and effect as if the questioned transaction had been originally duly authorized. Such ratification shall be binding upon the Corporation and its stockholders and shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned transaction.

ARTICLE IX

CORPORATE SEAL

The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation and the year of its incorporation, and shall be in such form and contain such other words and/or figures as the Board of Directors shall determine. The corporate seal may be used by printing, engraving, lithographing, stamping or otherwise making, placing or affixing, or causing to be printed, engraved, lithographed, stamped or otherwise made, placed or affixed, upon any paper or document, by any process whatsoever, an impression, facsimile or other reproduction of said corporate seal.
ARTICLE X

FISCAL YEAR

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed, and shall be subject to change, by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE XI

WAIVER OF NOTICE

Whenever notice is required to be given by these By-laws or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by law, the person or persons entitled to said notice may consent in writing, whether before or after the time stated therein, to waive such notice requirement. Notice shall also be deemed waived by any person who attends a meeting without protesting prior thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice to him or her.
ARTICLE XII

BANK ACCOUNTS, DRAFTS, CONTRACTS, ETC.

SECTION 1. Bank Accounts and Drafts . In addition to such bank accounts as may be authorized by the Board of Directors, the primary financial officer or any person designated by said primary financial officer, whether or not an employee of the Corporation, may authorize such bank accounts to be opened or maintained in the name and on behalf of the Corporation as he or she may deem necessary or appropriate, payments from such bank accounts to be made upon and according to the check of the Corporation in accordance with the written instructions of said primary financial officer, or other person so designated by the Treasurer.






SECTION 2. Contracts . The Board of Directors may authorize any person or persons, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, to enter into or execute and deliver any and all deeds, bonds, mortgages, contracts and other obligations or instruments, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

SECTION 3. Proxies; Powers of Attorney; Other Instruments . The Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer or any other person designated by either of them shall have the power and authority to execute and deliver proxies, powers of attorney and other instruments on behalf of the Corporation in connection with the rights and powers incident to the ownership of stock by the Corporation. The Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer or any other person authorized by proxy or power of attorney executed and delivered by either of them on behalf of the Corporation may attend and vote at any meeting of stockholders of any company in which the Corporation may hold stock, and may exercise on behalf of the Corporation any and all of the rights and powers incident to the ownership of such stock at any such meeting, or otherwise as specified in the proxy or power of attorney so authorizing any such person. The Board of Directors, from time to time, may confer like powers upon any other person.

SECTION 4. Financial Reports . The Board of Directors may appoint the primary financial officer or other fiscal officer or any other officer to cause to be prepared and furnished to stockholders entitled thereto any special financial notice and/or financial statement, as the case may be, which may be required by any provision of law.
ARTICLE XIII

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

SECTION 1. The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), any person (a “Covered Person”) who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or is otherwise involved in, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative in nature (a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that such Covered Person, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was, at any time during which these By-laws are in effect (whether or not such Covered Person continues to serve in such capacity at the time any indemnification or payment of expenses pursuant hereto is sought or at the time any proceeding relating thereto exists or is brought), a director or officer of the Corporation, or has or had agreed to become a director of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust, nonprofit entity or other enterprise, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered (including, without limitation, any judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), actually and reasonably incurred by such Covered Person in connection with such proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by law, and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators, and the Corporation may enter into agreements with any such person for the purpose of providing for such indemnification. Except as provided in Section 3 of this Article XIII, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a person in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if the proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article XIII shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses (including attorneys’





fees) incurred by a Covered Person in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition, such advances to be paid by the Corporation within sixty (60) days after the receipt by the Corporation of a statement or statements from the claimant requesting such advance or advances from time to time (and subject to filing a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 2 of this Article XIII); provided, however, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Covered Person to repay all amounts advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right of appeal that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation for such expenses under this Article XIII or otherwise. The rights conferred upon Covered Persons in this Article XIII shall be contract rights that vest at the time of such person’s service to or at the request of the Corporation and such rights shall continue as to a Covered Person who has ceased to be a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators.

SECTION 2. To obtain indemnification under this Article XIII, a claimant shall submit to the Corporation a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the claimant and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the claimant is entitled to indemnification. Upon written request by a claimant for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 2 of Article XIII, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to the claimant’s entitlement thereto shall be made as follows: (a) if requested by the claimant, by Independent Counsel (as hereinafter defined), or (b) if no request is made by the claimant for a determination by Independent Counsel, (1) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined), or (2) if a quorum of the Board of Directors consisting of Disinterested Directors is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, such quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to the claimant, or (3) if a quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs, by the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel at the request of the claimant, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board of Directors unless there shall have occurred within two (2) years prior to the date of the commencement of the action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification is claimed a “Change of Control” as defined in the GenMark Diagnostics, Inc. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, in which case the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the claimant unless the claimant shall request that such selection be made by the Board of Directors. If it is so determined that the claimant is entitled to indemnification, payment to the claimant shall be made within sixty (60) days after such determination.

SECTION 3. If a claim for indemnification under Section 1 of this Article XIII is not paid in full within sixty (60) days after a written claim pursuant to Section 2 of this Article XIII has been received by the Corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter 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.  It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking has been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standard of conduct which makes it permissible under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Corporation. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, Independent Counsel or stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its





Board of Directors, Independent Counsel or stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

SECTION 4. The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred on any Covered Person by this Article XIII (a) shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such Covered Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of these By-laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or Disinterested Directors or otherwise and (b) cannot be terminated by the Corporation, the Board of Directors or the stockholders of the Corporation with respect to a Covered Person’s service occurring prior to the date of such termination. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation’s obligation 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, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity shall be reduced by any amount such person has collected as indemnification from such other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, nonprofit entity, or other enterprise; and, in the event the Corporation has fully paid such expenses, the Covered Person shall return to the Corporation any amounts subsequently received from such other source of indemnification.

SECTION 5. Any repeal, amendment, alteration or modification of the provisions of this Article XIII that in any way diminishes, limits, restricts, adversely affects or eliminates any right of an indemnitee or his or her successors to indemnification, advancement of expenses or otherwise shall be prospective only and shall not in any way diminish, limit, restrict, adversely affect or eliminate any such right with respect to any actual or alleged state of facts, occurrence, action or omission then or previously existing, or any action, suit or proceeding previously or thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part upon any such actual or alleged state of facts, occurrence, action or omission.

SECTION 6. This Article XIII shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and advance expenses to persons other than Covered Persons when and as authorized by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 7. If any provision or provisions of this Article XIII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article XIII (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Article XIII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article XIII (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Article XIII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

SECTION 8. For purposes of this Article XIII:

(1)      “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Corporation who is not and was not a party to the matter in respect of which indemnification is sought by the claimant.
(2)      “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, a member of a law firm, or an independent practitioner, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and shall include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would not have a conflict of interest in representing either the Corporation or the claimant in an action to determine the claimant’s rights under this Article XIII.





SECTION 9. Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given to the Corporation under this Article XIII shall be in writing and either delivered in person or sent by telecopy, telex, telegram, overnight mail or courier service, or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the Secretary of the Corporation and shall be effective only upon receipt by the Secretary.

ARTICLE XIV

FORUM FOR CERTAIN ACTIONS
Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be a state or federal court located within the state of Delaware, in all cases subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XIV.
ARTICLE XV

AMENDMENTS
The Board of Directors shall have power to adopt, amend or repeal these By-laws. The stockholders of the Corporation shall have the power to adopt, amend or repeal these By-laws at a duly called meeting of the stockholders; provided that notice of the proposed adoption, amendment or repeal was given in the notice of the meeting; provided , further , that , notwithstanding any other provisions of these By-laws or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, Sections 7, 8 and 10 of Article I, Sections 2 and 12 of Article II, Article XIII, Article XIV and this Article XV of these By-laws may not be amended or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation without the affirmative vote of the holders of no less than 80% of the issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or by proxy.







Exhibit 99.1

GENMARK DIAGNOSTICS, INC.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE GUIDELINES

1.      General . The Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) of GenMark Diagnostics, Inc. (the “ Company ”) has the responsibility to organize its functions and conduct its business in the manner it deems most effective and efficient, consistent with its duties of good faith, due care and loyalty. In that regard, the Board has adopted a set of flexible policies to guide its governance practices in the future. These practices, set forth below, will be regularly re-evaluated by the Board’s Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee in light of changing circumstances in order to continue serving the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Accordingly, this summary of current corporate governance guidelines is not a fixed policy or resolution by the Board, but merely a statement of current guidelines that are subject to continuing assessment and change.
2.      Role of Board . The Board serves as the representative and acts on behalf of all of the Company’s stockholders. In representing the Company’s stockholders, the basic responsibility of each director on the Board is to exercise their business judgment in good faith to act in what they reasonably believe to be the best interests of the Company. In discharging that obligation, directors should be entitled to rely on the honesty and integrity of their fellow directors and of the Company’s senior executives, outside advisors and outside auditors. The Board’s primary functions are to:
(a)      Oversee management in the conduct of the Company’s businesses;
(b)      Oversee management’s efforts to establish and maintain for the Company the highest standards of legal and ethical conduct in all of its businesses, including conformity with all applicable laws and regulations;
(c)      Review, evaluate and, where appropriate, approve, the Company’s major strategies and long-term plans and its performance against broad financial objectives;
(d)      Select, evaluate and compensate the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and other senior officers and review management succession planning;
(e)      Oversee management’s efforts to protect the Company’s assets through the maintenance of appropriate accounting, financial reporting and financial and other controls;
(f)      Provide advice and counsel to senior management;
(g)      Evaluate the overall effectiveness of the Board and its committees; and
(h)      Evaluate, select and recommend an appropriate slate of candidates for election as directors.
3.      Board Selection and Composition .
(a)      Board Selection . The Board is responsible for selecting candidates for election as directors based on the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.





(b)      Board Membership Criteria . The responsibilities of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee include reviewing with the Board from time to time the appropriate skills and characteristics required of Board members in the context of the make-up of the Board and developing criteria for identifying and evaluating candidates for the Board. These criteria include, among other things, an individual’s business experience and skills (including skills in core areas such as operations, management, technology, medical device and molecular diagnostic industry knowledge, accounting and finance, leadership, strategic planning and international markets), independence, judgment, diversity and background, integrity and ability to commit sufficient time and attention to the activities of the Board, as well as the absence of any potential conflicts with the Company’s interests. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee considers these criteria in the context of an assessment of the perceived needs of the Board as a whole and seeks to achieve diversity of occupational and personal backgrounds on the Board.
(c)      Board Independence . A majority of the Board must be comprised of directors who meet the NASDAQ Stock Exchange definition of “independence,” as determined by the Board. The Company will strive to have all of its non-management directors of the Board meet the NASDAQ Stock Exchange definition of “independence.” Under standards that the Board has adopted to assist it in assessing independence, the Board defines an “independent” director to be a person other than an executive officer or employee of the Company or any other individual having a relationship which, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. The following persons shall not be considered independent:
(A) a director who is, or at any time during the past three years was, employed by the Company;
(B) a director who accepted or who has a family member who accepted any compensation from the Company in excess of $120,000 during any period of twelve consecutive months within the three years preceding the determination of independence (other than (i) compensation for board or board committee service, (ii) compensation paid to a family member who is an employee (other than an executive officer) of the Company, or (iii) benefits under a tax-qualified retirement plan, or non-discretionary compensation), subject to our audit committee members also meeting the requirements of NASDAQ Rule 5605(c)(2);
(C) a director who is a family member of an individual who is, or at any time during the past three years was, employed by the Company as an executive officer;
(D) a director who is, or has a family member who is, a partner in, or a controlling shareholder or an executive officer of, any organization to which the Company made, or from which the Company received, payments for property or services in the current or any of the past three fiscal years that exceed 5% of the recipient’s consolidated gross revenues for that year, or $200,000, whichever is more (other than (i) payments arising solely from investments in the Company’s securities, or (ii) payments under non-discretionary charitable contribution matching programs);
(E) a director of the Company who is, or has a family member who is, employed as an executive officer of another entity where at any time during the past three years any of the executive officers of the Company serve on the compensation committee of such other entity; or
(F) a director who is, or has a family member who is, a current partner of the Company’s outside auditor, or was a partner or employee of the Company’s outside auditor who worked on the Company’s audit at any time during any of the past three years.
The Board assesses on a regular basis and at least annually the independence of each director and, based on the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, makes a





determination as to which members are independent. References to the “Company” above would include any subsidiary in a consolidated group with the Company. The terms “family member” and “executive officer” above have the same meaning specified for such terms in the NASDAQ Stock Exchange rules.
As discussed below in Section 4(a), in addition to the independence standards applicable to directors generally, the members of the Audit and the Compensation Committees are subject to additional requirements to qualify for service on these Committees, as set forth in the respective charter for each committee.
(d)      Board and Company Leadership . The Board is responsible for the selection of the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer.
(e)      Presiding Director . If at any time the Chairman of the Board shall be an executive officer or former executive officer of the Company or for any reason shall not be an independent director, an independent director shall be selected annually by the independent directors to preside at meetings of the non-management and independent directors, and may serve as the Presiding Director in performing such other functions as the Board may direct, including advising on the selection of Committee Chairs and advising management on the agenda for Board meetings. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for reviewing, at least annually, the role and responsibilities of the Presiding Director, if applicable. It is not anticipated that any independent director will be selected for more than three consecutive years as the Presiding Director.
(f)      Size of the Board . The Board, with the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, will regularly evaluate the size of the Board.
(g)      Board Orientation and Continuing Education . A thorough understanding of the Company’s business is required to enable a director to make a substantial contribution to the Board. Accordingly, all new directors will participate in an orientation program developed by the Company after their election to the Board. The orientation will include presentations by senior management to familiarize new directors with the Company’s strategic plans, its significant financial, accounting and risk management issues, its compliance programs, its code of business conduct, its principal officers, and its internal and independent auditors. Directors are encouraged to participate in continuing education. Directors should endeavor to meet at key Company locations from time to time to conduct in-depth reviews of particular segments of the Company’s operations.
(h)      Continuation of Service .
(i)      Re-Nomination . The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee assesses the contributions and independence of directors on an annual basis in accordance with the criteria set forth in each Committee’s charter to determine whether these directors should be requested to stand for reelection and continue service on the Board.
(ii)      Term Limits or Retirement Age . The Board does not believe it should establish term limits or a mandatory retirement age. While term limits and mandatory retirement can make fresh ideas and viewpoints available to the Board, these limitations can also result in the loss of directors who have been able to develop, over a period of time, an increasing insight into the Company and its operations. As an alternative to term limits and mandatory retirement, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will review each director’s continuation on the Board when he or she is considered for re-nomination. This will also allow each Director the opportunity to conveniently confirm his or her desire to continue as a member of the Board.





(iii)      Change of Responsibility of Director . When a non-employee director’s principal occupation or business association changes substantially during his or her tenure as a director, that director shall inform the Chairman of the Board and the Chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and consult with them regarding the impact (if any) of such change on the director’s ability to continue to carry out his or her duties and responsibilities effectively and, if there is a perceived adverse impact, whether continued Board service is appropriate. Where appropriate, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee shall review such change in circumstances and make its recommendation to the Board. The Board in its discretion will determine whether such member should continue to serve as a director.
(iv)      Former Chief Executive Officer . When the Chief Executive Officer resigns or retires, he or she shall tender his or her resignation from the Board to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee at that time. Whether the individual continues to serve on the Board is a matter for discussion at that time with the Board.
(v)      Number of Other Directorships . Non-management directors should not serve on more than four public company boards in addition to the Company’s Board, and no more than two public company boards in addition to the Company’s if such director serves as a fulltime CEO or CFO of a public company. Current positions in excess of these limits may be maintained unless the Board determines that doing so would impair the director’s service on the Company’s Board. Management directors should not serve on more than two public company boards in addition to the Company’s Board. Directors should advise the Chairman of the Board, the Chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and the Secretary in advance of accepting an invitation to serve on another board.
(vi)      Consideration of Stockholder Nominees . The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will review a reasonable number of candidates for director recommended by a single stockholder who has held over 0.1% of the Company’s common stock for over one year and who satisfies the notice, information and consent provisions set forth in the Company’s By-laws.  Candidates so recommended will be reviewed using the same process and standards for reviewing Board recommended candidates.
(vii)      Director Elections . In accordance with the Company's Bylaws, if none of our stockholders provides the Company notice of an intention to nominate one or more candidates to compete with the Board's nominees in a director election, or if our stockholders have withdrawn all such nominations by the day before the Company mails its notice of meeting to our stockholders, a nominee must receive more votes cast for than against his or her election or re-election in order to be elected or re-elected to the Board. The Board expects a director to tender his or her resignation if he or she fails to receive the required number of votes for re-election. The Board shall nominate for election or re-election as director only candidates who agree to tender, promptly following the annual meeting at which they are elected or re-elected as director, irrevocable resignations that will be effective upon (i) the failure to receive the required vote at the next annual meeting at which they face re-election and (ii) Board acceptance of such resignation. In addition, the Board shall fill director vacancies and new directorships only with candidates who agree to tender, promptly following their appointment to the Board, the same form of resignation tendered by other directors in accordance with this practice.
If an incumbent director fails to receive the required vote for re-election, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will act on whether to accept the director's resignation and will submit such recommendation for prompt consideration by the Board. In making its recommendation, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider all factors it deems relevant including, without limitation, the following:





The stated reasons why stockholders withheld votes for election from such director;
The length of service and qualifications of such director;
The director’s contributions to the Company; and
The availability of other qualified candidates for director.
The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee’s evaluation shall begin promptly following certification of the voting results and shall be forwarded to the Board to permit the Board to act on it no later than 90 days following the date of the stockholders’ meeting. In reviewing the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee’s recommendation, the Board shall consider the factors evaluated by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and such additional information and factors the Board believes to be relevant. If the Board determines that resignation is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, the Board shall promptly accept the resignation. The Company shall publicly disclose the Board’s decision within four business days in a Form 8-K, providing an explanation of the process by which the decision was reached and, if applicable, the reasons for not requesting the director’s resignation. Any director who is the subject of the evaluation described in this section shall not participate in Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee or Board considerations of the appropriateness of his or her continued service, except to respond to requests for information. If a majority of the members of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee are subject to this evaluation process, then the independent directors on the Board (as most recently determined by the Board pursuant to applicable listing guidelines) who are not subject to the evaluation shall appoint a special committee of the Board amongst themselves solely for the purpose of conducting the required evaluation. The special committee will make the recommendation to the Board otherwise required of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.
4.      Committee Matters .
(a)      Number, Structure and Independence of Committees . The three standing committees of the Board are the Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees. From time to time, the Board may form a new committee or disband a current committee, depending upon the circumstances. The Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees will be comprised of only directors who meet the NASDAQ Stock Exchange definition of “independence,” as determined by the Board. In addition, the charters of the Audit and Compensation Committee will set forth additional criteria, including any additional requirements under the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission, for directors to serve as members on such Committees.
(b)      Assignment of Committee Members . The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for recommending to the Board the assignment of Board members to various committees and the selection of committee Chairs. Consideration should be given to periodically rotating Committee members. However, the Board does not have a firm policy mandating rotation of committee assignments since special knowledge or experience may warrant a particular director serving for an extended period on one committee.
(c)      Frequency of Committee Meetings . Each committee meets at least four times per year, with the Audit Committee meeting at least quarterly. Committees report regularly to the full Board with respect to their activities.





(d)      Committee Agenda . The Chair of each committee, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Secretary and appropriate management liaisons, establishes the committee’s agenda for its meetings. Committee members are free to suggest the inclusion of items on the agenda.
5.      Meetings of the Board .
(a)      Agenda . The Chairman of the Board, in consultation with the Presiding Director, if applicable, the Corporate Secretary, and members of management, will establish the agenda for each Board meeting. Each director is free to suggest the inclusion of items on the agenda.
(b)      Advance Distribution of Board Materials . Information and material that are important to the Board’s understanding of the business to be conducted at each Board meeting will be distributed to the Board before the Board meets. Highly confidential or sensitive matters, and matters that arise immediately prior to Board meetings, may be presented and discussed without prior distribution of background material.
(c)      Executive Session of Independent Directors . The independent directors of the Board will meet in executive session at least three times each year. The Presiding Director will chair these meetings, or if no Presiding Director has been selected by the independent directors, then an independent director will be selected at the beginning of each executive session to preside over the meeting.
(d)      Director Attendance . Absent unusual circumstances, each director is expected to attend, in person, via telephone conference or via video conference, all Board meetings and all meetings of the committee(s) of which the director is a member, and to spend the time needed and meet as frequently as necessary to properly discharge their responsibilities. Absent unusual circumstances, each director is expected to attend the annual meeting of stockholders, in person, via telephone conference or via video conference.
(e)      Board Access to Senior Management . At all times, directors have open access to the Company’s senior management. Members of the Company’s management are invited to attend and participate in Board meetings from time to time to brief the Board and the committees on particular topics. The Board encourages senior management to bring into Board or committee meetings and other scheduled events managers who can provide additional insight into matters being considered and/or whom senior management believes have future growth potential with the Company and should be given exposure to the members of the Board.
(f)      Board Access to Independent Advisors . The Board and each committee have the authority to retain such outside counsel, experts and other advisors as they determine appropriate to assist them in the full performance of their functions, without obtaining approval from management in advance.
6.      Assessment and Leadership Development .
(a)      Evaluation and Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer . The Board, through the Compensation Committee, will conduct an annual evaluation of the performance of the Chief Executive Officer against criteria established by the Board. This evaluation will be shared with the Chief Executive Officer and will be used by the Compensation Committee in recommending to the Board the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation.
(b)      Assessing Board and Committee Performance . The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will oversee an annual evaluation of the Board’s effectiveness and performance, the results of which will be discussed with the full Board. Each of the Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees will conduct an annual self-assessment. The Corporate Governance





and Nominating Committee will also conduct an individual evaluation of each director, not less frequently than once every three years, the results of which will be shared with such individual director.
(c)      Management Development and Succession Planning . The Board is responsible for planning for the succession to the position of Chief Executive Officer and other senior management positions. To assist the Board, the Chief Executive Officer annually will provide the Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee with an assessment of senior managers and their potential to succeed him or her. The Chief Executive Officer also will make available to the Board, on a continuing basis, recommendations regarding an emergency succession plan which will address who should assume the role of Chief Executive Officer in the event that the Chief Executive Officer becomes unwilling or unable to perform his or her duties. The Chief Executive Officer also will provide the Compensation Committee with an assessment of persons considered potential successors to other senior management positions, including a review of any development plans recommended for such individuals. The results of these reviews will be reported to and discussed with the Board on a regular basis.
7.      Other Matters .
(a)      Ethics and Compliance . The Company will maintain, and the Audit Committee will oversee compliance with, a code of business conduct (known as the Code of Business Conduct) for its employees, including its executive officers, and directors. The full text of the code will be posted on the Company’s website. The Company will disclose on its website future amendments to or waivers from its code for its executive officers and directors promptly upon any such amendment or waiver. Any waiver from its code for directors or executive officers must be approved by the Audit Committee.
(b)      Related Party Transactions . The Company will maintain a policy governing the evaluation, consideration and approval of related party transactions (known as the Related Party Transaction Policy and Procedures). The Audit Committee will be responsible for reviewing and approving the Company’s Related Party Transaction Policy and Procedures.
(c)      Review of Strategic Plans . The Board will review and evaluate at least annually the long-term strategic and business plans of the Company.
(d)      Director Compensation . The form and amount of director compensation will be recommended by the Compensation Committee in accordance with the policies and principles set forth in its charter and any NASDAQ Stock Exchange or other applicable rules, and that Committee will conduct an annual review of director compensation. Changes in director compensation, if any, are recommended by the Compensation Committee, and approved by the full Board. To more closely align the interest of the directors with those of the Company’s stockholders, typically, a large portion of directors compensation will be paid in the form of options to purchase Company common stock. No additional compensation is paid to members of the Company’s management for serving on the Board.
(e)      Communications from Stockholders and other Interested Parties . The Board, or as applicable, any committee of the Board or any individual Board member or the non-management Board members as a group, will give appropriate attention to written communications on issues submitted by stockholders or other interested parties, and will respond if appropriate. Communications to directors must be in writing and sent in care of the Company’s Corporate Secretary to the Company’s headquarters address or delivered via e-mail to an e-mail address established by the Corporate Secretary’s office for this purpose. The name(s) of any specific intended Board recipient(s) should be noted in the communication. The Company shall disclose the Company mailing address and e-mail address for such communications in its proxy statement for each annual meeting and on its website.





A copy of each communication received since the date of the last quarterly Board meeting shall be distributed to each director in advance of each regularly scheduled Board meeting, except items that are unrelated to the duties and responsibilities of the Board, such as: spam, junk mail and mass mailings, business solicitations and advertisements, and communications that advocate the Company’s engaging in illegal activities or that, under community standards, contain offensive, scurrilous or abusive content.
The Company’s Corporate Secretary shall be responsible for and oversee the receipt and processing of stockholder communications to Board members. An acknowledgement of receipt shall be sent by the Corporate Secretary or Assistant Secretary to each stockholder submitting a communication. The Company’s Corporate Secretary shall retain a copy of each communication for one year from the date of its receipt by the Company.
(f)      Prohibition on Personal Loans . The Company does not extend or maintain credit, arrange for the extension of credit, or renew an extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any Board member or executive officer.
8.      Annual Review . The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for reviewing these guidelines at least annually and making recommendations for appropriate changes to the Board.
Approved: July 27, 2018