UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (date of earliest event reported):
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
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(Commission File No.) |
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
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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:
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
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Trading Symbol(s) |
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Name of each exchange on which registered |
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 5.03 |
Amendment to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year. |
As described in Item 5.07 below, on November 17, 2022, the stockholders of Extreme Networks, Inc. (“Extreme” or the “Company”) approved an amendment and restatement (the “Amended and Restated Charter”) of the Company’s restated certificate of incorporation (the “Existing Charter”) to institute a simple majority voting standard, which such Amended and Restated Charter was filed by the Company with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on November 17, 2022 and became effective the same day. The new simple majority voting standard eliminates certain provisions from the Existing Charter requiring a supermajority vote of stockholders for stockholders to amend certain provisions of the Existing Charter and certain provisions of Extreme’s amended and restated bylaws (the “Existing Bylaws”). In addition to eliminating the supermajority vote of stockholders for purposes of amending certain provisions of the Existing Charter and amending the Existing Bylaws, the Amended and Restated Charter also eliminates certain other obsolete provisions in the Existing Charter, including language relating to governance matters prior to the Company’s initial public offering and the classification of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), which expired in 2013.
The Board had also previously approved, contingent upon the approval and effectiveness of the Amended and Restated Charter, amendments to the Existing Bylaws (the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”), which such Amended and Restated Bylaws became effective upon the filing and effectiveness of the Amended and Restated Charter. The Amended and Restated Bylaws include, among other updates:
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Elimination of the supermajority vote requirement to amend the Company’s bylaws; |
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Clarification that the Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel annual or special meetings of the stockholders; |
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Revisions for adjournment logistics based on recent changes to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”); |
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Clarification language relating to the establishing of quorum and withdrawals from meetings after a meeting has begun; |
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Updates to refer to recently revised universal proxy rules and to set forth changes to the stockholder proxy solicitation process; |
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Updates relating to stockholder lists based on recent DGCL changes; |
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Other clean up or clarification revisions, including updates to the exclusive forum language and other certain defined terms, as well as the elimination of various obsolete provisions. |
The foregoing description of the Amended and Restated Charter and the Amended and Restated Bylaws are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Amended and Restated Charter and Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.07 |
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. |
(a) On November 17, 2022, Extreme Networks, Inc. (the “Company”) held its annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). There were 131,227,279 shares entitled to be voted and 119,457,763 shares were voted in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting.
(b) The following proposals were considered and voted on by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting and the results below were certified by the Inspector of Elections:
Proposal 1 – The following seven director nominees were elected for a one-year term:
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For |
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Withheld |
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Broker Non-Votes |
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Charles P. Carinalli |
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100,929,617 |
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4,421,288 |
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14,106,858 |
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Kathleen M. Holmgren |
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102,417,509 |
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2,933,396 |
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14,106,858 |
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Rajendra Khanna |
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104,735,608 |
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615,297 |
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14,106,858 |
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Edward H. Kennedy |
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103,680,754 |
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1,670,151 |
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14,106,858 |
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Edward B. Meyercord |
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103,706,371 |
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1,644,534 |
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14,106,858 |
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John C. Shoemaker |
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101,346,717 |
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4,004,188 |
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14,106,858 |
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Ingrid J. Burton |
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102,527,782 |
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2,823,123 |
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14,106,858 |
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Proposal 2 – The compensation of the Company’s named executive officers was approved, on an advisory basis:
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For |
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Against |
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Abstain |
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Broker Non-Votes |
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Votes |
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102,844,321 |
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1,893,505 |
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613,079 |
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14,106,858 |
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Proposal 3 – The appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as independent auditors for the Company for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023 was ratified:
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For |
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Against |
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Abstain |
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Votes |
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118,911,291 |
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123,889 |
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422,583 |
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Proposal 4 – The Amendment and Restatement of the Company’s Amended and Restated 2013 Equity Incentive Plan was approved:
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For |
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Against |
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Abstain |
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Broker Non-Votes |
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Votes |
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90,312,172 |
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14,516,045 |
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522,688 |
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14,106,858 |
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Proposal 5 – The Amendment and Restatement of the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation to adopt simple majority voting provisions was approved:
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For |
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Against |
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Abstain |
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Broker Non-Votes |
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Votes |
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104,685,229 |
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227,037 |
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438,639 |
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14,106,858 |
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Item 9.01 |
Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit Number |
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Description |
3.1 |
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3.2 |
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104 |
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Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
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.
Date: November 18, 2022
EXTREME NETWORKS, INC. |
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By: |
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/s/ KATAYOUN (“KATY”) MOTIEY |
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Katayoun (“Katy”) Motiey |
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Chief Administrative and Sustainability Officer |
Exhibit 3.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
EXTREME NETWORKS, INC.
(Pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware)
Extreme Networks, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware on January 7, 1999 (the
“Corporation”), certifies as follows:
1.The Corporation’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation was duly adopted by the Board of Directors and the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
2.The Corporation was incorporated in Delaware pursuant to a Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 7, 1999.
3.The Corporation’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation is amended and restated to read in full as follows:
First: |
The name of the Corporation is Extreme Networks, Inc. |
Second: |
The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company. |
Third: |
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law. |
A. |
The Corporation is authorized to issue a total of 752,000,000 shares of stock in two classes designated respectively “Preferred Stock” and “Common Stock.” The total number of shares of all series of Preferred Stock that the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is 2,000,000 and the total number of shares of Common Stock that the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is 750,000,000. All of the authorized shares shall have a par value of $0.001. |
The shares of Preferred Stock may be divided into such number of series as the Board of Directors may determine. The Board of Directors is authorized to determine and alter the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to and imposed upon the Preferred Stock or any series thereof with respect to any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock, and to fix the number of shares of any such series of Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors, within the limits and
restrictions stated in any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors originally fixing the number of shares constituting any series, may increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series subsequent to the issue of shares of that series.
Fifth: |
The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and for further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Corporation and of its directors and stockholders: |
A. |
The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon them by statute or by this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation. |
B. |
The directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide. |
C. |
Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders. |
D. |
Special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors (whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the time any such resolution is presented to the Board of Directors for adoption). |
A. |
The number of directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors (whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the time any such resolution is presented to the Board of Directors for adoption). Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, a vacancy resulting from the removal of a director by the stockholders as provided in Section C below may be filled at a special meeting of the stockholders held for that purpose. All directors shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which elected, and until their respective successors are elected, except in the case of the death, resignation, or removal of any director. |
B. |
Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation or other cause (other than removal from office |
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by a vote of the stockholders) may be filled only by a majority vote of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, and directors so chosen shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which elected, and until their respective successors are elected, except in the case of the death, resignation, or removal of any director. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. |
C. |
Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, any directors, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, but only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. Vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from such removal may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by the stockholders as provided in Section A above. Directors so chosen shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which elected, and until their respective successors are elected, except in the case of the death, resignation, or removal of any director. |
Seventh: |
The Board of Directors is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws of the Corporation. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of Bylaws of the Corporation by the Board of Directors shall require the approval of a majority of the total number of authorized directors (whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the time any resolution providing for adoption, amendment or repeal is presented to the Board). The stockholders shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation. |
Eighth: |
A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involved intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. |
If the Delaware General Corporation Law is hereafter amended to authorize the further elimination or limitation of the liability of a director, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as so amended.
Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article EIGHTH by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.
Ninth: |
The Corporation reserves the right to amend or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation in the manner prescribed by the laws of the State |
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of Delaware and all rights conferred upon stockholders are granted subject to this reservation. |
4.This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation on this 17th day of November 2022.
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EXTREME NETWORKS, INC. |
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By: |
/s/ Edward B. Meyercord |
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Edward B. Meyercord |
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President and Chief Executive Officer |
5
Exhibit 3.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
EXTREME NETWORKS, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page |
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ARTICLE I STOCKHOLDERS |
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Section 1.1 |
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Annual Meeting |
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1 |
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Section 1.2 |
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Special Meetings |
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1 |
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Section 1.3 |
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Notice of Meetings |
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1 |
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Section 1.4 |
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Adjournment |
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2 |
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Section 1.5 |
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Quorum |
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2 |
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Section 1.6 |
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Conduct of the Stockholders’ Meeting |
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2 |
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Section 1.7 |
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Conduct of Business |
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2 |
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Section 1.8 |
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Notice of Stockholder Business for Annual Meetings |
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3 |
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Section 1.9 |
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Voting and Proxies |
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6 |
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Section 1.10 |
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Stock List |
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6 |
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ARTICLE II BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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Section 2.1 |
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Number and Term of Office |
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7 |
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Section 2.2 |
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Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships |
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7 |
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Section 2.3 |
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Removal |
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7 |
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Section 2.4 |
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Regular Meetings |
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7 |
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Section 2.5 |
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Special Meetings |
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7 |
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Section 2.6 |
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Quorum |
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7 |
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Section 2.7 |
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Participation in Meetings |
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8 |
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Section 2.8 |
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Conduct of Business |
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8 |
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Section 2.9 |
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Powers |
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8 |
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Section 2.10 |
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Compensation of Directors |
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8 |
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Section 2.11 |
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Nomination of Director Candidates |
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Section 2.12 |
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Submission of Questionnaire, Representation and Agreement |
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ARTICLE III COMMITTEES |
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Section 3.1 |
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Committees of the Board of Directors |
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13 |
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Section 3.2 |
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Conduct of Business |
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13 |
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ARTICLE IV OFFICERS |
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Section 4.1 |
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Generally |
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Section 4.2 |
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Chair of the Board |
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13 |
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Section 4.3 |
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President |
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13 |
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Section 4.4 |
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Vice President |
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Section 4.5 |
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Treasurer / Chief Financial Officer |
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14 |
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Section 4.6 |
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Secretary |
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Section 4.7 |
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Delegation of Authority |
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Section 4.8 |
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Removal |
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Section 4.9 |
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Action With Respect to Securities of Other Corporations |
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ARTICLE V STOCK |
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Section 5.1 |
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Certificates of Stock |
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Section 5.2 |
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Transfers of Stock |
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15 |
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Section 5.3 |
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Record Date |
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15 |
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Section 5.4 |
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Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates |
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15 |
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Section 5.5 |
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Regulations |
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15 |
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ARTICLE VI NOTICES |
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Section 6.1 |
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Notices |
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15 |
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Section 6.2 |
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Waivers |
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15 |
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ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS |
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Section 7.1 |
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Electronic and Facsimile Signatures |
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16 |
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Section 7.2 |
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Corporate Seal |
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16 |
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Section 7.3 |
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Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records |
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16 |
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Section 7.4 |
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Fiscal Year |
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16 |
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Section 7.5 |
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Time Periods |
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16 |
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Section 7.6 |
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Exclusive Form |
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16 |
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ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS |
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Section 8.1 |
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Right to Indemnification |
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Section 8.2 |
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Right of Claimant to Bring Suit |
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18 |
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Section 8.3 |
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Non-Exclusivity of Rights |
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18 |
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Section 8.4 |
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Indemnification Contracts |
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18 |
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Section 8.5 |
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Insurance |
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18 |
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Section 8.6 |
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Effect of Amendment |
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18 |
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ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS |
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Section 9.1 |
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Amendment of Bylaws |
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ii
EXTREME NETWORKS, INC.
A DELAWARE CORPORATION
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1.1 Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of the stockholders of Extreme Networks, Inc. (the “Corporation”), for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors” or the “Board”) shall each year fix. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled annual meeting of stockholders.
Section 1.2 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by the Board of Directors, for any purpose or purposes prescribed in the notice of the meeting, pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors (whether or not there exists any vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the time any such resolution is presented to the Board of Directors for adoption and shall be held at such place, on such date and at such time as the Board may fix; provided, however, that the Board shall call a special meeting of stockholders upon request by the holders of not less than twenty five percent (25%) of all shares entitled to cast votes at the meeting, voting together as a single class, only for the purposes set forth in Section 2.3. Business transacted at special meetings shall be confined to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice.
Upon request in writing sent by registered mail to the President or Chief Executive Officer by any stockholder or stockholders entitled to request a special meeting of stockholders pursuant to this Section 1.2 and Section 2.3, and containing the information required pursuant to Sections 1.8(c) and 2.11, the Board of Directors shall determine a place and time for such meeting, which time shall be not less than 120 nor more than 130 days after the receipt of such request, and a record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting shall be fixed by the Board of Directors, in advance, which shall not be more than 60 days nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. Following such receipt of a request and determination by the Secretary of the validity thereof, it shall be the duty of the Secretary to present the request to the Board of Directors, and upon Board action as provided in this Section 1.2, to cause notice to be given to the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, in the manner set forth in Section 1.3, hereof, that a meeting will be held at the place and time so determined, for such purposes, as well as any purpose or purposes determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with this Section 1.2. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled special meeting of the stockholders.
Section 1.3 Notice of Meetings. Written notice of the place, date, and time of all meetings of the stockholders shall be given either personally or by mail or electronic transmission in accordance with Section 232 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) or other written communication, not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law (meaning, here and hereinafter, as required from time to time by the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”). Notice by electronic transmission shall be deemed given as provided in Section 232 of the DGCL provided that any notice by electronic transmission shall include a prominent legend that the communication is an important notice regarding the Corporation. For purposes of the bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”), “electronic transmission” means any form of communication not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.
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Section 1.4 Adjournment. Any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned to any other time and to any other place at which a meeting of stockholders may be held under these Bylaws by the holders of a majority of the shares of stock present or represented at the meeting and entitled to vote, although less than a quorum, or, if no stockholder is present, by any officer entitled to preside at or to act as Secretary of such meeting or as provided in Section 1.5. When a meeting is adjourned to another place, date or time, written notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the date, time and place, if any, or means of remote communications, if any, thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken or are provided in any other manner permitted by the DGCL; provided, however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than 30 days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, or if a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, written notice of the place, date, and time of the adjourned meeting shall be given in conformity herewith. At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
Section 1.5 Quorum. At any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority of all of the shares of the stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for all purposes, unless or except to the extent that the presence of a larger number may be required by law. A quorum, once established at a meeting, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum.
If a quorum of stockholders shall fail to attend any meeting, the chair of the meeting or the holders of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time.
Section 1.6 Conduct of the Stockholders’ Meeting. At every meeting of the stockholders, the Chair, if there is such an officer, or if not, the President, or in his or her absence, the Vice President designated by the President, or in the absence of such designation, any Vice President, or in the absence of the President or any Vice President, a chair chosen by the majority of the voting shares represented in person or by proxy, shall act as chair of such meeting (references to the “Chair” herein shall refer to any person acting as the chair of a meeting in accordance with this Section 1.6). The Secretary or, in his or her absence, a person designated by the Chair, shall act as secretary of such meeting. Unless otherwise approved by the Chair, attendance at the stockholders’ meeting is restricted to stockholders of record, persons authorized in accordance with Section 1.8 of these Bylaws to act by proxy, and officers of the Corporation.
Section 1.7 Conduct of Business. The Chair shall call the meeting to order, establish the agenda, and conduct the business of the meeting in accordance therewith or, at the Chair’s discretion, it may be conducted otherwise in accordance with the wishes of the stockholders in attendance. The opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting.
The Chair shall also conduct the meeting in an orderly manner, rule on the precedence of and procedure on, motions and other procedural matters, and exercise discretion with respect to such procedural matters with fairness and good faith toward all those entitled to take part. The Chair may impose reasonable limits on the amount of time taken up at the meeting on discussion in general or on remarks by any one stockholder. Should any person in attendance become unruly or obstruct the meeting proceedings, the Chair shall have the power to have such person removed from participation. Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at a meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.7 and Section 1.8 and Sections 2.11 and 2.12 and no business shall be conducted at a special meeting except for that specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors. The Chair of a meeting shall, if the facts warrant,
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determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting and in accordance with the foregoing Sections, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.
Section 1.8 Notice of Stockholder Business for Annual Meetings.
(a)At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be (i) specified in a notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (ii) if not specified in a notice of meeting, otherwise brought before the meeting by the Board of Directors or the Chair or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder present in person who (A) (1) was a record owner of shares of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 1.8 and at the time of the meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (3) has complied with this Section 1.8 in all applicable respects or (B) properly made such proposal in accordance with Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (as so amended and inclusive of such rules and regulations, the “Exchange Act”). The foregoing clause (iii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose business to be brought before an annual meeting of the stockholders. For purposes of this Section 1.8, “present in person” shall mean that the stockholder proposing that the business be brought before the annual meeting of the Corporation, or a qualified representative of such proposing stockholder, appear at such annual meeting. A “qualified representative” of such proposing stockholder shall be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or any other person 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. Stockholders seeking to nominate persons for election to the Board of Directors must comply with Sections 2.11 and 2.12 and this Section 1.8 shall not be applicable to nominations except as expressly provided in Sections 2.11 and 2.12.
(b)Without qualification, for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must (i) provide Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary and (ii) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 1.8. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not later than the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or, if later, the 10th day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was first made by the Corporation (such notice within such time periods, “Timely Notice”). In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of Timely Notice as described above.
(c)To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 1.8, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth:
(i) As to each Proposing Person (as defined below), (A) the name and address of such Proposing Person (including, if applicable, the name and address that appear on the Corporation’s books and records); and (B) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned of record or beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by such Proposing Person, except that such Proposing Person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of the Corporation as to which such Proposing Person
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has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) and (B) are referred to as “Stockholder Information”);
(ii)As to each Proposing Person, (A) the full notional amount of any securities that, directly or indirectly, underlie any “derivative security” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(c) under the Exchange Act) that constitutes a “call equivalent position” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(b) under the Exchange Act) (“Synthetic Equity Position”) and that is, directly or indirectly, held or maintained by such Proposing Person with respect to any shares of any class or series of shares of the Corporation; provided that, for the purposes of the definition of “Synthetic Equity Position,” the term “derivative security” shall also include any security or instrument that would not otherwise constitute a “derivative security” as a result of any feature that would make any conversion, exercise or similar right or privilege of such security or instrument becoming determinable only at some future date or upon the happening of a future occurrence, in which case the determination of the amount of securities into which such security or instrument would be convertible or exercisable shall be made assuming that such security or instrument is immediately convertible or exercisable at the time of such determination; provided, further, that any Proposing Person satisfying the requirements of Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (other than a Proposing Person that so satisfies Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act solely by reason of Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E)) shall not be deemed to hold or maintain the notional amount of any securities that underlie a Synthetic Equity Position held by such Proposing Person as a hedge with respect to a bona fide derivatives trade or position of such Proposing Person arising in the ordinary course of such Proposing Person's business as a derivatives dealer, (B) any rights to dividends on the shares of any class or series of shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (C) any material pending or threatened legal proceeding in which such Proposing Person is a party or material participant involving the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any affiliate of the Corporation, (D) any other material relationship between such Proposing Person, on the one hand, and the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation, on the other hand, (E) any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement of such Proposing Person with the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement), (F) a representation that such Proposing Person intends or is part of a group which intends to deliver a proxy statement 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 otherwise solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal and (G) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies or consents by such Proposing Person in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (G) are referred to as “Disclosable Interests”); provided, however, that Disclosable Interests shall not include any such disclosures with respect to the ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these Bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner; and
(iii)As to each item of business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting and any material interest in such business of each Proposing Person, (B) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), and (C) a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings (x) between or among any of the Proposing Persons or (y) between or among any Proposing Person and any other record or beneficial holder(s) or persons(s) who have a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future of the shares of any class or series of the Corporation (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder; and (D) any other information
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relating to such item of business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that the disclosures required by this paragraph (iii) shall not include any disclosures with respect to any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these Bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner.
For purposes of this Section 1.8, the term “Proposing Person” shall mean (i) the stockholder providing the notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, (ii) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the business proposed to be brought before the annual meeting is made, and (iii) any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A) with such stockholder in such solicitation.
(d)A Proposing Person shall update and supplement its notice to the Corporation of its intent to propose business at an annual meeting, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 1.8 shall be true and correct as of the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than 5 business days after the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than 8 business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this Section 1.8(d) or any other Section of these Bylaws shall not limit the Corporation’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any proposal or to submit any new proposal, including by changing or adding matters, business or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders.
(e)Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting that is not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 1.8. The Chair of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that the business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 1.8, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.
(f)This Section 1.8 is expressly intended to apply to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders other than any proposal made in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and included in the Corporation’s proxy statement. In addition to the requirements of this Section 1.8 with respect to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, each Proposing Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such business. Nothing in this Section 1.8 shall be deemed to affect the rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
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(g)For purposes of these Bylaws, “public disclosure” 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 Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Section 1.9 Voting and Proxies. Each stockholder shall have one vote for each share of stock entitled to vote held of record by such stockholder and a proportionate vote for each fractional share so held, unless otherwise provided by law. Each stockholder of record entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may vote in person or may authorize any other person or persons to vote or act for him or her by written proxy executed by the stockholder or his or her authorized agent or by a transmission permitted by law, including Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act, and delivered to the Secretary. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this Section may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile transmission or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.
Any stockholder directly or indirectly soliciting proxies from other stockholders must use a proxy card color other than white, which shall be reserved for the exclusive use by the Board of Directors.
All voting, including on the election of directors, but excepting where otherwise required by law, may be by a voice vote; provided, however, that upon demand therefor by a stockholder entitled to vote or his or her proxy, a stock vote shall be taken. Every stock vote shall be taken by ballots, each of which shall state the name of the stockholder or proxy voting and such other information as may be required under the procedure established for the meeting. Every vote taken by ballots shall be counted by an inspector or inspectors appointed by the Chair. The Corporation may, and to the extent required by law, shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as an alternate inspector to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting may, and to the extent required by law, shall, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to faithfully execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability.
All elections shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast, and all other matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively on the matter, except when a different vote is required by express provision of law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
Section 1.10 Stock List. The Corporation shall prepare, no later than the tenth day before each meeting of stockholders, a complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in his or her name, which such list shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours for a period of 10 days ending on the day before the meeting date, at the principal place of business of the Corporation.
The stock list shall also be kept at the place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder who is present. This list shall presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them.
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ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 2.1 Number and Term of Office. The number of directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors (whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the time any such resolution is presented to the Board for adoption). All directors shall be elected or appointed for terms expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders. All directors shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which elected and until their respective successors are elected, except in the case of the death, resignation or removal of any director.
Section 2.2 Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or other cause (other than removal from office by a vote of the stockholders pursuant to Section 2.3) may be filled only by a majority vote of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director, and directors so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Section 2.3 Removal. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, any directors, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, but only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. Vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from such removal may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by the stockholders at a special meeting of stockholders called for that purpose provided that the request for such meeting is made in compliance with Section 1.2 and Sections 2.11 and 2.12. Directors so chosen shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which elected, and until their respective successors are elected, or their earlier death, resignation or removal.
Section 2.4 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place or places, on such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been established by the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors. A notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.
Section 2.5 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by a majority of the total number of authorized directors (whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the time of adopting resolutions (or a written consent) calling any such meeting) or by the Chief Executive Officer or President and shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as they or he or she shall fix. Notice of the place, date, and time of each such special meeting shall be given to each director by whom it is not waived by mailing written notice not fewer than 5 days before the meeting or by electronically transmitting or personally delivering the same not fewer than 24 hours before the meeting. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.
Section 2.6 Quorum. At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the total number of authorized directors shall constitute a quorum for all purposes. If a quorum of directors shall fail to attend any meeting, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time, without further notice or waiver thereof.
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Section 2.7 Participation in Meetings by Conference Telephone. Members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone, videoconference or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 2.8 Conduct of Business. At any meeting of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in such order and manner as the Board may from time to time determine, and all matters shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the directors present, except as otherwise provided herein or requited by law. Action may be taken by the Board of Directors without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.
Section 2.9 Powers. The Board of Directors may, except as otherwise required by law, exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the unqualified power:
(a)To declare dividends from time to time in accordance with law;
(b)To purchase or otherwise acquire any property, rights or privileges on such terms as it shall determine;
(c)To authorize the creation, making and issuance, in such form as it may determine, of written obligations of every kind, negotiable or non-negotiable, secured or unsecured, and to do all things necessary in connection therewith;
(d)To remove any officer of the Corporation with or without cause, and from time to time to devolve the powers and duties of any officer upon any other person for the time being;
(e)To confer upon any officer of the Corporation the power to appoint, remove and suspend subordinate officers, employees and agents;
(f)To adopt from time to time such stock, option, stock purchase, bonus or other compensation plans for directors, officers, employees and agents of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as it may determine;
(g)To adopt from time to time such insurance, retirement, and other benefit plans for directors, officers, employees and agents of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as it may determine; and
(h)To adopt from time to time regulations, not inconsistent with these Bylaws, for the management of the Corporation's business and affairs.
Section 2.10 Compensation of Directors. Directors, as such, may receive, pursuant to resolution of the Board of Directors, fixed fees and other compensation for their services as directors, including, without limitation, their services as members of committees of the Board of Directors.
Section 2.11 Nomination of Director Candidates.
(a)Nominations of any person for election to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting or at any special meeting (but only if the election of directors is a matter specified in the notice of
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meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling such special meeting and, if such person is a stockholder, only if in compliance with Sections 1.2 and 2.3) may be made at such meeting only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, including by any committee or persons authorized to do so by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws, or (ii) by a stockholder present in person who (A) was a record owner of shares of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in Sections 1.2 and 2.3 and this Section 2.11 and at the time of the meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (C) has complied with this Section 2.11 and Section 2.12 as to such notice and nomination. For purposes of this Section 2.11, “present in person” shall mean that the stockholder nominating any person for election to the Board of Directors at the meeting of the Corporation, or a qualified representative of such stockholder, appear at such meeting. A “qualified representative” of such proposing stockholder shall be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or any other person 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. The foregoing clause (ii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting or special meeting.
(b)(i) Without qualification, for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting, the stockholder must (1) provide Timely Notice (as defined in Section 1.8) thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary, (2) provide the information, agreements and questionnaires with respect to such stockholder and its candidate for nomination as required to be set forth by this Section 2.11 and Section 2.12 and (3) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.11 and Section 2.12.
(ii) Without qualification, if the election of directors is a matter specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling a special meeting, then for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board of Directors at a special meeting, the stockholder must (1) comply with Sections 1.2 and 2.3, (2) provide timely notice thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (3) provide the information with respect to such stockholder and its candidate for nomination as required by this Section 2.11 and Section 2.12 and (4) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.11. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice for nominations to be made at a special meeting must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or, if later, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public disclosure (as defined in Section 1.8) of the date of such special meeting was first made.
(iii) In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(iv) In no event may a Nominating Person (as defined below) provide Timely Notice with respect to a greater number of director candidates than are subject to election by stockholders at the applicable meeting. If the Corporation shall, subsequent to such notice, increase the number of directors subject to election at the meeting, such notice as to any additional nominees shall be due on the later of (1) the conclusion of the time period for Timely Notice, (2) the date set forth in Section 2.11(b)(ii) or (3) the tenth day following the date of public disclosure (as defined in Section 1.8) of such increase.
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(c)To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 2.11, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth:
(i) As to each Nominating Person, the Stockholder Information (as defined in Section 1.8(c)(i), except that for purposes of this Section 2.11 the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 1.8(c)(i));
(ii) As to each Nominating Person, any Disclosable Interests (as defined in Section 1.8(c)(ii), except that for purposes of this Section 2.11 the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 1.8(c)(ii) and the disclosure with respect to the business to be brought before the meeting in Section 1.8(c)(ii) shall be made with respect to the election of directors at the meeting); and provided that, in lieu of including the information set forth in Section 1.8(c)(ii)(G), the Nominating Person’s notice for purposes of this Section 2.11 shall include a representation as to whether the Nominating Person intends or is part of a group which intends (x) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to elect any nominee, (y) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination or nominations or (z) to solicit proxies in support of any proposed nominee in accordance with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act; and
(iii) As to each candidate whom a Nominating Person proposes to nominate for election as a director, (A) all information with respect to such candidate for nomination that would be required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice pursuant to this Section 2.11 and Section 2.12 if such candidate for nomination were a Nominating Person, (B) all information relating to such candidate for nomination that is required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14(a) under the Exchange Act (including such candidate’s written consent to being named in a proxy statement and accompanying proxy cards relating to the Corporation’s next meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected), (C) a description of any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement between or among any Nominating Person, on the one hand, and each candidate for nomination or his or her respective associates or any other participants in such solicitation, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K if such Nominating Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the candidate for nomination were a director or executive officer of such registrant (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (C) are referred to as “Nominee Information”), and (D) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement as provided in Section 2.12(a).
For purposes of this Section 2.11, the term “Nominating Person” shall mean (i) the stockholder providing the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting, (ii) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting is made, and (iii) any other participant in such solicitation.
(d)A stockholder providing notice of any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall be true and correct as of the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight
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(8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this Section 2.11(d) or any other Section of these Bylaws shall not limit the Corporation’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any nomination or to submit any new nomination.
(e)In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.11 with respect to any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting, each Nominating Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such nominations. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.11, unless otherwise required by law, (i) no Nominating Person shall solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Corporation’s nominees unless such Nominating Person has complied with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act in connection with the solicitation of such proxies, including the provision to the Corporation of notices required thereunder in a timely manner and (ii) if any Nominating Person (1) provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) subsequently fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) and Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act, including the provision to the Corporation of notices required thereunder in a timely manner, or fails to timely provide reasonable evidence sufficient to satisfy the Corporation that such Nominating Person has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act in accordance with the following sentence, then the Corporation shall disregard any proxies or votes solicited for the Nominating Person’s candidates. If any Nominating Person provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act, such Nominating Person shall deliver to the Corporation, no later than seven (7) business days prior to the applicable meeting, reasonable evidence that it has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act.
(f)No stockholder, other than stockholders requesting a special meeting pursuant to Section 1.2, shall be permitted to submit nominations at any special meeting of the stockholders pursuant to Section 1.2.
Section 2.12 Submission of Questionnaire, Representation and Agreement.
(a)To be eligible to be a candidate for election as a director of the Corporation at an annual or special meeting, a candidate must be nominated in the manner prescribed in Section 2.11 and the candidate for nomination, whether nominated by the Board of Directors or by a stockholder of record, must have previously delivered (in accordance with the time period prescribed for delivery in a notice to such candidate given by or on behalf of the Board of Directors), to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (i) a completed written questionnaire (in a form provided by the Corporation) with respect to the background, qualifications, stock ownership and independence of such proposed nominee, and such additional information with respect to such proposed nominee as would be required to be provided by the Corporation pursuant to Schedule 14A if such proposed nominee were a participant in the solicitation of proxies by the Corporation in connection with such annual or special meeting and (ii) a written representation and agreement (in form provided by the Corporation) that such candidate for nomination (A) is not and, if elected as a director during his or her term of office, will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given and will not give any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such proposed nominee, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) or (2)
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any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such proposed nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such proposed nominee’s fiduciary duties under law, (B) is not, and will not become a party to, any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation or reimbursement for service as a director that has not been disclosed therein, (C) if elected as a director of the Corporation, will comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and trading and other policies and guidelines of the Corporation applicable to directors and in effect during such person’s term in office as a director (and, if requested by any candidate for nomination, the Secretary shall provide to such candidate for nomination all such policies and guidelines then in effect), and (D) if elected as director of the Corporation, intends to serve the entire term until the next meeting at which such candidate would face re-election.
(b)The Board of Directors may also require any proposed candidate for nomination as a Director to furnish such other information as may reasonably be requested by the Board of Directors in writing prior to the meeting of stockholders at which such candidate’s nomination is to be acted upon in order for the Board of Directors to determine the eligibility of such candidate for nomination to be an independent director of the Corporation in accordance with the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.
(c)A candidate for nomination as a director shall further update and supplement the materials delivered pursuant to this Section 2.12, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided pursuant to this Section 2.12 shall be true and correct as of the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (or any other office specified by the Corporation in any public announcement) not later than five (5) business days after the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this Section 2.12(c) or any other Section of these Bylaws shall not limit the Corporation’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any proposal or to submit any new proposal, including by changing or adding nominees, matters, business or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders.
(d)No candidate shall be eligible for nomination as a director of the Corporation unless such candidate for nomination and the Nominating Person seeking to place such candidate’s name in nomination has complied with Section 2.11 and this Section 2.12, as applicable. The Chair of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that a nomination was not properly made in accordance with Sections 1.2, 2.3, 2.11 and this Section 2.12, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare such determination to the meeting, the defective nomination shall be disregarded and any ballots cast for the candidate in question (but in the case of any form of ballot listing other qualified nominees, only the ballots cast for the nominee in question) shall be void and of no force or effect.
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(e)Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no candidate for nomination shall be eligible to be seated as a director of the Corporation unless nominated and elected in accordance with Sections 1.2, 2.3, 2.11 and this Section 2.12.
ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
Section 3.1 Committees of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, by a vote of a majority of the whole Board, may from time to time designate committees of the Board, with such lawfully delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers, to serve at the pleasure of the Board and shall, for those committees and any others provided for herein, elect a director or directors to serve as the member or members, designating, if it desires, other directors as alternate members who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Any committee so designated may exercise the power and authority of the Board of Directors to declare a dividend, to authorize the issuance of stock or to adopt a certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to Section 253 of the DGCL if the resolution which designates the committee or a supplemental resolution of the Board of Directors shall so provide. In the absence or disqualification of any member of any committee and any alternate member in his or her place, the member or members of the committee present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they constitute a quorum, may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.
Section 3.2 Conduct of Business. Each committee may determine the procedural rules for meeting and conducting its business and shall act in accordance therewith, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law. Adequate provision shall be made for notice to members of all meetings; one-half of the authorized members shall constitute a quorum unless the committee shall consist of one or two members, in which event one member shall constitute a quorum; and all matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present. Action may be taken by any committee without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of such committee.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 4.1 Generally. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, a Chair of the Board and such other officers as may from time to time be appointed by the Board of Directors. Officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors, which shall consider that subject at its first meeting after every annual meeting of stockholders. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal. The Chair of the Board, if there shall be such an officer, and the President shall each be members of the Board of Directors. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.
Section 4.2 Chair of the Board. The Chair of the Board, who may but need not be an officer of the Corporation, shall, if present, preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors, and exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may be from time to time assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors or prescribed by these Bylaws.
Section 4.3 President. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors, he or she shall have the responsibility for the general management and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of chief
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executive or which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors. He or she shall have power to sign all stock certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation which are authorized and shall have general supervision and direction of all of the other officers, employees and agents of the Corporation.
Section 4.4 Vice President. Each Vice President shall have such powers and duties as may be delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors. One Vice President shall be designated by the Board to perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President in the event of the President’s absence or disability.
Section 4.5 Treasurer / Chief Financial Officer. The Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the properties and business transactions of the Corporation, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital retained earnings, and shares. The books of account shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by any director.
The Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Corporation with such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. He or she shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, shall render to the President, the Chief Executive Officer, or the directors, upon request, an account of all his or her transactions as Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the Corporation, and shall have other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Bylaws.
Section 4.6 Secretary. The Secretary shall issue all authorized notices for, and shall keep, or cause to be kept, minutes of all meetings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors, and all committees of the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall have the authority to designate and appoint assistant secretaries to assist in the administration and performance of his or her duties. He or she shall have charge of the corporate books and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
Section 4.7 Delegation of Authority. The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officers or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
Section 4.8 Removal. Any officer of the Corporation may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.9 Action With Respect to Securities of Other Corporations. Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the President or any officer of the Corporation authorized by the President shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of stockholders of or with respect to any action of stockholders of any other corporation in which this Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation.
ARTICLE V
STOCK
Section 5.1 Certificates of Stock. The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any class or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares; provided, however, that no such resolution shall apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Each stockholder, and, upon written request to the Corporation’s transfer agent, any stockholder of uncertificated shares, shall be entitled to a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, the President or a
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Vice President, and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, certifying the number of shares owned by him or her. Any of or all the signatures on the certificate may be facsimile.
Section 5.2 Transfers of Stock. Transfers of stock shall be made only upon the transfer books of the Corporation kept at an office of the Corporation or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares of the stock of the Corporation. Except where a certificate is issued in accordance with Section 5.4, (i) in the case of shares represented by a certificate, an outstanding certificate for the number of shares involved shall be surrendered for cancellation before a new certificate is issued therefor and (ii) in the case of uncertificated shares, receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered owner thereof shall be required before a new certificate is issued therefor.
Section 5.3 Record Date. The Board of Directors may fix a record date, which shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than 60 nor fewer than 10 days before the date of any meeting of the stockholders, for determining the stockholders entitled to notice thereof or to vote thereat (the record date for notice thereof and for voting thereat need not be the same). A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting unless the Board of Directors fixes new record date(s) for the adjourned meeting. The Board of Directors may also fix a record date, which shall not be more than 60 days prior to the time of such action, for determining the stockholders who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or to exercise any rights with respect to any change, conversion or exchange of stock or with respect to any other lawful action.
Section 5.4 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In the event of the loss, theft or destruction of any certificate of stock, the Corporation may issue a new certificate in its place, or it may issue uncertificated shares if the shares represented by such certificate have been designated as uncertificated shares in a resolution adopted pursuant to Section 5.1, and upon such regulations as the Board of Directors may establish concerning proof of such loss, theft or destruction and concerning the giving of a satisfactory bond or bonds of indemnity.
Section 5.5 Regulations. The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificates of stock shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish.
ARTICLE VI
NOTICES
Section 6.1 Notices. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or required by law, all notices required to be given to any stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand delivery to the recipient thereof, by depositing such notice in the mails, postage paid, or by sending such notice by electronic transmission. Any such notice shall be addressed to such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent at his or her last known address (or e-mail address) as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. The time when such notice shall be deemed to be given shall be the time such notice is received by such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent, or by any person accepting such notice on behalf of such person, if hand delivered, or the time such notice is dispatched, if delivered through the mails or by electronic transmission.
Section 6.2 Waivers. A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver.
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ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.1 Electronic and Facsimile Signatures. Any document, including, without limitation, any consent, agreement, certificate or instrument, required by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws to be executed by any officer, director, stockholder, employee or agent of the Corporation may be executed using a facsimile or other form of electronic signature to the fullest extent permitted by law. All other contracts, agreements, certificates or instruments to be executed on behalf of the Corporation may be executed using a facsimile or other form of electronic signature to fullest extent permitted by law.
Section 7.2 Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary. If and when so directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer.
Section 7.3 Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records. Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, and each officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Corporation, including reports made to the Corporation by any of its officers, by an independent certified public accountant, or by an appraiser selected with reasonable care.
Section 7.4 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as fixed by the Board of Directors.
Section 7.5 Time Periods. In applying any provision of these Bylaws which require that an act be done or not done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.
Section 7.6 Exclusive Forum. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, (a) (i) any derivative action, suit or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, other employee or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws (as either may be amended or restated from time to time) or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court of Chancery”) or (iv) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the law of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, the federal district court for the District of Delaware or other state courts of the State of Delaware; and (b) subject to the preceding provisions of this Section 7.6, the federal district courts of the United States (the “Federal Courts”) shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause or causes of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including all causes of action asserted against any defendant to such complaint. If any provision or provisions of this Section 7.6 shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Section 7.6 (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Section 7.6 containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall
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not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope of the first sentence of this Section 7.6, is filed in a court other than the Court of Chancery, the state and federal courts in the State of Delaware, or the Federal Courts, as applicable, (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery, state and federal courts of the State of Delaware, or the Federal Courts, as applicable, in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the first sentence of this Section 7.6 and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 7.6. This provision is intended to benefit and may be enforced by the Corporation, its officers and directors, the underwriters to any offering giving rise to such complaint, and any other professional or entity whose profession gives authority to a statement made by that person or entity and who has prepared or certified any part of the documents underlying the offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 7.6 shall not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which the federal courts of the United States have exclusive jurisdiction.
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Section 8.1 Right to Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (“proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director, officer or employee of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer or employee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as the same 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 the DGCL permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment) against all expenses, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and amounts expended in seeking indemnification granted to such person under law, these Bylaws or any agreement with the Corporation) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer or employee and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 8.2, the Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnity in connection with an action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if (a) such indemnification is expressly required to be made by law, (b) the action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors, (c) such indemnification is provided by the Corporation, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Corporation under the DGCL, or (d) the action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) is brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under an indemnity agreement or any other statute or law or otherwise as required under Section 145 of the DGCL. Such right shall be a contract right and shall include the right to have expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding paid by the Corporation in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, unless the DGCL then so prohibits, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer of the Corporation in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is tendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without limitation. service to an employee benefit plan) in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding, shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it should be
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determined ultimately that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 8.1 or otherwise.
Section 8.2 Right of Claimant to Bring Suit. If a claim for indemnification under Section 8.1 is not paid in full by the Corporation within 90 days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if such suit is not frivolous or brought in bad faith, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expenses incurred in prosecuting such claim (including attorneys’ fees). The burden of proving such claim shall be on the claimant. It shall be a defense of the Corporation’s 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, if any, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the DGCL for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its 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 DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
Section 8.3 Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any person in Sections 8.1 and 8.2 shall not be exclusive of any other right which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
Section 8.4 Indemnification Contracts. The Board of Directors is authorized to enter into a contract with any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or any person serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including employee benefit plans, providing for indemnification rights equivalent to or, if the Board of Directors so determines, greater than, those provided for in this Article VIII.
Section 8.5 Insurance. The Corporation shall maintain insurance to the extent reasonably available, at its expense, to protect itself and any such director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or any person serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including employee benefit plans against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
Section 8.6 Effect of Amendment. Any amendment, repeal or modification of any provision of this Article VIII by the stockholders and the directors of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director or officer of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
Section 9.1 Amendment of Bylaws. The Board of Directors is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws of the Corporation by the Board of Directors shall require the approval of a majority of the total number of authorized directors (whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the
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time any resolution providing for adoption, amendment or repeal is presented to the Board). The stockholders shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation.
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