SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-A
For Registration of Certain Classes of Securities
Pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the
Securities Exchange Act
NRG Energy, Inc.
| Delaware | 41-1724239 | |
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| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| 901 Marquette Avenue Suite 2300 Minneapolis, MN 55402 (Address of principal executive offices) |
If this form relates to the registration of a class of
securities pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act
and is effective pursuant to:
General Instruction A.(c), please check the following box. o
If this form relates to the registration of a class of
securities pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act
and is effective pursuant to:
General Instruction A.(d), please check the following box x
Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates:
N/A (The securities will be issued pursuant to section 1145 of the United States Bankruptcy Code.)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of Each Class | Name of Each Exchange on which | ||||
| to be so Registered | Each Class is to be Registered | ||||
N/A |
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Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (Title of Class) |
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Item 1. Description of Registrant’s Securities to be Registered.
This registration statement registers under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the following securities of NRG Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), being issued pursuant to Debtors’ Second Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization, as amended or supplemented from time to time (the “Plan”), and following the filing with the State of Delaware of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate”):
| • | Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”). |
The description which follows is qualified in its entirety by the full terms of the Common Stock as set forth in the exhibits hereto, which are incorporated by this reference into this Item 1.
Description of Common Stock
Dividends. Except as otherwise provided by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) or the Certificate and subject to the rights of holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of Common Stock share ratably in all dividends and other distributions, whether upon liquidation or dissolution or otherwise.
Voting. Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL or the Certificate and subject to the rights of holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock, all of the voting power of the stockholders of the Company is vested in the holders of the Common Stock, and each holder of Common Stock has one vote for each share held by such holder on all matters voted upon by the stockholders of the Company.
Board of Directors; Classification of Directors. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate or any duly authorized certificate of designations of any series of preferred stock, directors are elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting of the stockholders at which directors are elected.
At each annual meeting of stockholders, directors of the Company are elected to hold office until the expiration of the term for which they are elected, and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified; except that if any such election is not so held, such election will take place at a stockholders’ meeting called and held in accordance with the DGCL. The directors of the Company are divided into three classes as nearly equal in size as is practicable, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. The term of office of the initial Class I directors expires at the first annual meeting of stockholders after the effective date of the Plan; the term of office of the initial Class II directors expires at the second annual meeting of stockholders after the effective date of the Plan; and the term of office of the initial Class III directors expires at the third annual meeting after the effective date of the Plan. The initial Class I, Class II and Class III directors are those directors elected by the stockholders of the Company in connection with the amendment and restatement of the Certificate and designated pursuant to the Plan. At each annual meeting after the effective date of the Plan, directors to replace those of a class whose terms expire at such annual meeting will be elected to hold office until the third succeeding annual meeting and until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified. If the number of directors is changed, any newly created directorships or decrease in directorships will be so apportioned among the classes as to make all classes as nearly equal in number as practicable.
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Other. The Common Stock is not convertible into, or exchangeable for, any other class or series of the Company’s capital stock. Holders of Common Stock have no preemptive or other rights to subscribe for or purchase additional securities of the Company. The Board of Directors is authorized to determine or alter the powers, preferences and rights and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions of any series of preferred stock that may be issued pursuant to the Certificate. The Company is subject to Section 203 of the DGCL.
Subject to the rights of holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock to act by written consent, the stockholders of the Company may not take any action by written consent in lieu of a meeting and must take any action at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders.
The affirmative vote of holders of at least two-thirds of the combined voting power of the outstanding shares of the Company eligible to vote in the election of directors is required to alter, amend or repeal provisions in the Certificate regarding indemnification, classification of directors, action by written consent and changes to voting requirements applicable to such provisions.
Shares of Common Stock are not subject to calls or assessments. No personal liability will attach to holders under the laws of the State of Delaware (the Company’s state of incorporation) or of the State of Minnesota (the state in which the Company’s principal place of business is located).
Item 2. Exhibits.
| Number | Description | |
| 1. | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Company. | |
| 2. | Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
| Date: December 10, 2003 | NRG Energy, Inc. | |||
| (Registrant) | ||||
| By: | /s/ Scott J. Davido | |||
| Name: | Scott J. Davido | |||
| Title: | Senior Vice President and | |||
| General Counsel |
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AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
NRG ENERGY, INC.
ARTICLE ONE
The name of the Corporation is NRG Energy, Inc.
ARTICLE TWO
The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.
ARTICLE THREE
The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
ARTICLE FOUR
Section 1. Authorized Shares. The total number of shares of capital stock which the Corporation has authority to issue is 510,000,000 shares, consisting of:
| (a) | 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”); and |
| (b) | 500,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (“Common Stock”). |
The Preferred Stock and the Common Stock shall have the rights, preferences and limitations set forth below.
Section 2. Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time and in one or more series. By resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the total number of Directors then in office, the Board of Directors of the Corporation is authorized to determine or alter the powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions granted to or imposed upon any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock, and within the limitations or restrictions stated in any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors adopted by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the total number of Directors then in office, originally fixing the number of shares constituting any series of Preferred Stock, to increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of any such series of Preferred Stock then outstanding) the number of shares of any such series of Preferred Stock, and to fix the
number of shares of any series of Preferred Stock. In the event that the number of shares of any series of Preferred Stock shall be so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status which such shares had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series of Preferred Stock subject to the requirements of applicable law. The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding. Any of the powers, preferences and rights of, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions granted to or imposed upon, any such series of Preferred Stock may be made dependent upon facts ascertainable outside the resolutions or resolutions providing for the issue of such Preferred Stock adopted by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the total number of Directors then in office, provided that the manner in which such facts shall operate upon the powers, preferences and rights of, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions granted to or imposed upon, such series of Preferred Stock is clearly and expressly set forth in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series of Preferred Stock adopted by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the total number of Directors then in office.
Section 3. Common Stock.
(a) Dividends and Other Distributions. Except as otherwise provided by the Delaware General Corporation Law or this Certificate of Incorporation (this “Certificate”), the holders of Common Stock, subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, shall share ratably in all dividends as may from time to time be declared by the Board of Directors of the Corporation in respect of the Common Stock out of funds legally available for the payment thereof and payable in cash, stock or otherwise, and in all other distributions (including, without limitation, the dissolution, liquidation and winding up of the Corporation), whether in respect of liquidation or dissolution (voluntary or involuntary) or otherwise, after payment of liabilities and liquidation preference on any outstanding Preferred Stock.
(b) Preemptive Rights. No holder of Common Stock shall have any preemptive rights with respect to the Common Stock or any other securities of the Corporation, or to any obligations convertible (directly or indirectly) into securities of the Corporation, whether now or hereafter authorized.
(c) Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided by the Delaware General Corporation Law or this Certificate and subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, all of the voting power of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be vested in the holders of the Common Stock, and each holder of Common Stock shall have one vote for each share held by such holder on all matters voted upon by the stockholders of the Corporation.
ARTICLE FIVE
The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.
ARTICLE SIX
Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate (including any duly authorized certificate of designation of any series of Preferred Stock), Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the
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votes of the shares entitled to vote in the election of Directors present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting of the stockholders at which Directors are elected. Elections of Directors need not be by written ballot unless the By-laws of the Corporation shall so provide.
ARTICLE SEVEN
Subject to any rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional Directors under specified circumstances, the number of Directors which shall constitute the Board of Directors shall initially be established at eleven and, thereafter, may be enlarged only with the approval of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding and may be reduced by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of Directors then in office. Newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the size of the Board of Directors shall be filled by vote of the stockholders.
ARTICLE EIGHT
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend or repeal the By-laws of the Corporation.
ARTICLE NINE
Section 1. Indemnification; Limitation of Liability.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law as it now exists or may hereafter be amended, and except as otherwise provided in the Corporation’s By-laws, (i) no Director of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages arising from a breach of fiduciary duty owed to the Corporation or its stockholders; and (ii) the Corporation shall indemnify its officers and Directors.
(b) Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a Director of the Corporation in respect of any act, omission or condition existing or event or circumstance occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE TEN
Section 1. Classification of Directors. At each annual meeting of stockholders, Directors of the Corporation shall be elected to hold office until the expiration of the term for which they are elected, and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified; except that if any such election shall be not so held, such election shall take place at a stockholders meeting called and held in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law. The Directors of the Corporation shall be divided into three classes as nearly equal in size as is practicable, hereby designated Class I, Class II and Class III. The term of office of the initial Class I Directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of the stockholders after the effective date of the Corporation’s Second Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization Pursuant to Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, dated October 10, 2003, as may be amended or supplemented from time to time (the “Plan”), the term of office of the initial Class II Directors shall expire at the second annual meeting of the stockholders after the effective date of the Plan and the term of office of the initial Class III
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Directors shall expire at the third annual meeting of the stockholders after the effective date of the Plan. For the purposes hereof, the initial Class I, Class II and Class III Directors shall be those Directors elected by the stockholders of the Corporation in connection with the amendment and restatement of this Certificate and designated pursuant to the Plan. At each annual meeting after the effective date of the Plan, Directors to replace those of a class whose terms expire at such annual meeting shall be elected to hold office until the third succeeding annual meeting and until their respective successors shall have been duly elected and qualified. If the number of Directors is hereafter changed, any newly created directorships or decrease in directorships shall be so apportioned among the classes as to make all classes as nearly equal in number as practicable.
Section 2. Removal. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to remove Directors (with or without cause) and fill the vacancies thereby created (as specified in any duly authorized certificate of designation of any series of Preferred Stock), no Director may be removed from office except for cause and the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the holders of any class or series of capital stock are entitled by the provisions of this Certificate (including any duly authorized certificate of designation of any series of Preferred Stock) to elect one or more Directors, such Director or Directors so elected may be removed with or without cause by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of that class or series entitled to vote.
Section 3. Vacancies. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to remove Directors and fill the vacancies thereby created (as specified in any duly authorized certificate of designation of any series of Preferred Stock) and subject to ARTICLE SEVEN, vacancies occurring on the Board of Directors for any reason may be filled by vote of a majority of the remaining members of the Board of Directors, although less than a quorum, at any meeting of the Board of Directors. A person so elected by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such Directors shall have been chosen and until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.
ARTICLE ELEVEN
Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the By-laws may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to any provision contained in the Delaware General Corporation Law) outside of the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or in the By-laws of the Corporation.
ARTICLE TWELVE
Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to act by written consent as specified in any duly authorized certificate of designation of any series of Preferred Stock, the stockholders of the Corporation may not take any action by written consent in lieu of a meeting, and must take any actions at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and the power of stockholders to consent in writing without a meeting is specifically denied. Except as otherwise required by law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called
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only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of the majority of the total number of Directors then in office, by the chief executive officer of the Corporation or, if there is no chief executive officer, by the most senior executive officer of the Corporation.
ARTICLE THIRTEEN
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Certificate or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of the capital stock required by law or this Certificate (including any duly authorized certificate of designation of any series of Preferred Stock), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the combined voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of the Corporation eligible to be cast in the election of Directors generally shall be required to alter, amend or repeal or ARTICLES NINE, TEN or TWELVE hereof, or this ARTICLE THIRTEEN, or any provision thereof or hereof.
ARTICLE FOURTEEN
The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders, Directors or any other person herein are granted subject to this reservation.
ARTICLE FIFTEEN
The Corporation expressly elects to be governed by Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
ARTICLE SIXTEEN
The Corporation shall not issue any class of non-voting equity securities unless and solely to the extent permitted by Section 1123(a)(6) of the United States Bankruptcy Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) as in effect on the date of filing this Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; provided, however, that this ARTICLE SIXTEEN: (a) will have no further force and effect beyond that required under Section 1123(a)(6) of the Bankruptcy Code; (b) will have such force and effect, if any, only for so long as Section 1123(a)(6) of the Bankruptcy Code is in effect and applicable to the Corporation; and (c) in all events may be amended or eliminated in accordance with applicable law from time to time in effect.
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AMENDED AND RESTATED
BY-LAWS
OF
NRG ENERGY, INC.
A Delaware Corporation
(Adopted as of December 5, 2003)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. Registered Office. The registered office of NRG Energy, Inc. (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware shall be located at 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801. The name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address shall be The Corporation Trust Company. The registered office and/or registered agent of the Corporation may be changed from time to time by action of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such other places, both within and without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held at such date and time specified by the Board of Directors for the purpose of electing Directors and conducting such other proper business as may come before the annual meeting. At the annual meeting, stockholders shall elect Directors and transact such other business as properly may be brought before the annual meeting pursuant to Section 11 of ARTICLE II hereof.
Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders may only be called in the manner provided in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 3. Place of Meetings. The Board of Directors may designate any place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the place of meeting for any annual meeting or for any special meeting. If no designation is made, or if a special meeting be otherwise called, the place of meeting shall be the principal executive office of the Corporation. If for any reason any annual meeting shall not be held during any year, the business thereof may be transacted at any special meeting of the stockholders.
Section 4. Notice. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take action at a meeting, written or printed notice stating the place, date, time and, in the case of special meetings, the purpose or purposes, of such meeting, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote on the record date, determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of ARTICLE VI. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his, her or its address as the same appears on the records of the Corporation. An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary or of the transfer agent of the Corporation that the notice required by this Section 4 has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. Whenever the giving of any notice to stockholders is required by applicable law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, a waiver thereof, given by the person entitled to said notice, whether before or after the event as to which such notice is required, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any waiver of notice unless so required by applicable law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws.
Section 5. Stockholders List. The officer having charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall make, at least 10 days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting arranged in alphabetical order, showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, the stockholder’s agent or attorney, at the stockholder’s expense, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting, (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. Except as provided by applicable law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list of stockholders or the books of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
Section 6. Quorum. The holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote at the meeting of stockholders, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders, except as otherwise provided by the Delaware General Corporation Law or by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. If a quorum is not present, the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting, and entitled to vote at the meeting, may adjourn the meeting to another time and/or place. When a specified item of business requires a vote by the holders of a class or series of shares of capital stock (if the Corporation shall then have outstanding shares of more than one class or series) voting as a class or series, the holders of a majority of the shares of such class or series shall constitute a quorum (as to such class or series) for the transaction of such item of business, except as otherwise provided by the Delaware General Corporation Law or by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
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Section 7. Adjourned Meetings. When a meeting is adjourned to another time and place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
Section 8. Vote Required. When a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of the majority in voting power of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders, unless (i) by express provisions of an applicable law, the rules and regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question, or (ii) the subject matter is the election of Directors, in which case ARTICLES SIX and TEN of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall govern and control the approval of such subject matter.
Section 9. Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided by the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, every stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall at every meeting of the stockholders be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question.
Section 10. Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for him or her by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the Corporation generally. Any proxy is suspended when the person executing the proxy is present at a meeting of stockholders and elects to vote, except that when such proxy is coupled with an interest and the fact of the interest appears on the face of the proxy, the agent named in the proxy shall have all voting and other rights referred to in the proxy, notwithstanding the presence of the person executing the proxy. At each meeting of the stockholders, and before any voting commences, all proxies filed at or before the meeting shall be submitted to and examined by the secretary or a person designated by the secretary, and no shares may be represented or voted under a proxy that has been found to be invalid or irregular.
Section 11. Business Brought Before a Meeting of the Stockholders.
(A) Annual Meetings. 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 the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of
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Directors, (ii) brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record of the Corporation at the time the notice provided for in this paragraph (A) is delivered to the secretary of the Corporation and who is entitled to vote at the meeting. For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation). In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. A stockholder’s notice to the secretary shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director (i) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and (ii) such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; (b) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the By-laws, the language of the proposed amendment), and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting; and (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of the stockholder proposing such business, (ii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by the stockholder, (iii) any material interest of the stockholder, or the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, in such business, (iv) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination, and (v) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, 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 approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (y) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination. The foregoing notice requirements shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his or her intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual
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meeting. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation. Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this paragraph (A) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation. Notwithstanding anything in these By-laws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section. The presiding officer of an annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting and in accordance with the provisions of this section; 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.
(B) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (2) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this paragraph (B) is delivered to the Corporation’s secretary, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by paragraph (A) of this Section 11 shall be delivered to the Corporation’s secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(C) General.
(1) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11 shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to serve as directors and only such business
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shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation.
(2) For purposes of this section, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable 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.
(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 11.
(4) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to affect any rights (a) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, or (b) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 12. Voting Procedures and Inspectors of Election at Meetings of Stockholders. The Board of Directors, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, may, and shall if required by applicable law, appoint one or more inspectors, who may be employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Board of Directors may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting, the person presiding at the meeting may, and shall if required by applicable law, 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 faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall (a) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, (b) determine the shares represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (c) count all votes and ballots, (d) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors, and (e) certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and their count of all votes and ballots. The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance of their duties. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, the date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be determined by the person presiding at the meeting and shall be announced at the meeting. No ballot, proxies or votes, or any revocation thereof or change thereto, shall be accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware upon application by a stockholder shall determine otherwise. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of
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stockholders, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. No person who is a candidate for office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.
Section 13. Conduct of Meetings; Organization. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. The chairman of the board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders. If the chairman of the board is not present at a meeting of the stockholders, the chief executive officer or the president (if the president is a Director and is not also the chairman of the board) shall preside at such meeting, and, if the chief executive officer or the president is not present at such meeting, a majority of the Directors present at such meeting shall elect one of their members to so preside. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the person presiding over any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and to adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such person, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the presiding officer of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the person presiding over the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The presiding officer at any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such presiding officer should so determine, such person shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure. The secretary, or in his or her absence, one of the assistant secretaries, shall act as secretary of the meeting. In case none of the officers above designated to act as the person presiding over the meeting or as secretary of the meeting, respectively, shall be present, a person presiding over the meeting or a secretary of the meeting, as the case may be, shall be designated by the Board of Directors, and in case the Board of Directors has not so acted, in the case of the designation of a person to act as secretary of the meeting, designated by the person presiding over the meeting.
Section 14. Order of Business. The order of business at all meetings of stockholders shall be as determined by the person presiding over the meeting.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 1. General Powers. Except as provided in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or
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under the direction of the Board of Directors. In addition to such powers as are herein and in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation expressly conferred upon it, the Board of Directors shall have and may exercise all the powers of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the laws of Delaware, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and these By-laws.
Section 2. Number, Election and Term of Office. The number of Directors which constitute the entire Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be such number as is specified in, and the Directors shall be elected and shall hold office only in the manner provided in, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 3. Resignation. Any Director may resign at any time upon written or electronic notice to the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect at the time therein specified, and, unless otherwise specified in such resignation, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 4. Vacancies. Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the total number of Directors may be filled only in the manner provided in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 5. Nominations.
(a) Subject to the provisions contained in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these By-laws shall be eligible to serve as Directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be made at a meeting of stockholders (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in these By-laws, who is entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors at the meeting and who shall have complied with the notice procedures set forth in Section 11 of ARTICLE II.
(b) Subject to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, no person shall be eligible to serve as a Director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 11 of ARTICLE II. The person presiding over the meeting of the stockholders shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by this section, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded. A stockholder seeking to nominate a person to serve as a Director must also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this section.
Section 6. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held without other notice than these By-laws immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of stockholders.
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Section 7. Other Meetings and Notice. Regular meetings, other than the annual meeting, of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the chief executive officer of the Corporation, the most senior executive officer of the Corporation (if there is no chief executive officer) or at least three Directors then in office, on at least 24 hours’ notice to each Director, either personally, by telephone, by mail, by telecopy or by other means of electronic transmission (notice by mail shall be deemed delivered three days after deposit in the U.S. mail).
Section 8. Quorum, Required Vote and Adjournment. A majority of the total number of Directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Unless by express provision of an applicable law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws a different vote is required, the vote of a majority of Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the Directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting. At least 24 hours’ notice of any adjourned meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given to each Director whether or not present at the time of the adjournment, if such notice shall be given by one of the means specified in Section 7 of this ARTICLE III other than by mail, or at least three days’ notice if by mail. Any business may be transacted at an adjourned meeting that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.
Section 9. Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the total number of Directors then in office, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the Directors of the Corporation, which may consider various matters and make recommendations to the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of Directors then in office, designate one or more committees and delegate to each such committee the powers of the Board of Directors: (i) to the extent required by applicable law or the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Stock Market or any national securities exchange on which the Corporation’s securities may be listed; (ii) to consider potential litigation against any Director; or (iii) to permit application of the business judgment rule if a decision by the Board of Directors is challenged or to shift the burden of proving the unfairness of a transaction approved by the Board of Directors to a plaintiff in litigation. Except as otherwise expressly authorized in the immediately preceding sentence of this Section 9 of ARTICLE III, the Board of Directors shall not delegate any authority to any committee. The Board of Directors may designate one or more Directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors upon request. Each committee designated by the Board of Directors shall be formed and function in compliance with applicable law and the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Stock Market or any national securities exchange on which any securities of the Corporation are listed.
Section 10. Committee Rules. Subject to applicable law and the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Stock Market or any national securities exchange on which any securities of the
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Corporation are listed, each committee of the Board of Directors may fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, the presence of at least a majority of the members of the committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, in the event that a member and that member’s alternate, if alternates are designated by the Board of Directors, of such committee is or are absent or disqualified, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.
Section 11. Communications Equipment. Members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may participate in and act at any meeting of such board or committee through the use of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear and speak with each other, and participation in the meeting pursuant to this section shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 12. Waiver of Notice and Presumption of Assent. Any member of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof who is present at a meeting shall be conclusively presumed to have waived notice of such meeting except when such member attends for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Such member shall be conclusively presumed to have assented to any action taken unless his or her dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless his or her written dissent to such action shall be filed with the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall be forwarded by registered mail to the secretary of the Corporation immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to any member who voted in favor of such action.
Section 13. Action by Written Consent. Unless otherwise restricted by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of such board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the board or committee.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. Number. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall consist of a chairman of the board, a chief executive officer, a president, one or more vice-presidents, a secretary, a chief financial officer and such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed necessary or desirable by the Board of Directors. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, except that neither the chief executive officer nor the president shall also hold the office of secretary. In its discretion, the Board of Directors may
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choose not to fill any office for any period as it may deem advisable, except that the offices of president and secretary shall be filled as expeditiously as possible.
Section 2. Election and Term of Office. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at its first meeting held after each annual meeting of stockholders or as soon thereafter as convenient. Vacancies may be filled or new offices created and filled at any meeting of the Board of Directors. Each officer shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal as hereinafter provided.
Section 3. Removal. Any officer or agent elected by the Board of Directors may be removed by the Board of Directors at its discretion, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.
Section 4. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise may be filled by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Compensation. Subject to applicable law and the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Stock Market or any national securities exchange on which any securities of the Corporation are listed, the compensation of all executive officers shall be approved by the Board of Directors, and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by virtue of his or her also being a Director of the Corporation.
Section 6. Chairman of the Board. The Board of Directors shall elect, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of Directors then in office, a chairman of the board. The chairman of the board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed to him or her by the Board of Directors or provided in these By-laws. If the chairman of the board is not present at a meeting of the stockholders or the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer or the president (if the president is a Director and is not also the chairman of the board) shall preside at such meeting, and, if the chief executive officer or the president is not present at such meeting, a majority of the Directors present at such meeting shall elect one of their members to so preside.
Section 7. Chief Executive Officer. The chief executive officer shall have the powers and perform the duties incident to that position. Subject to the powers of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer shall be in the general and active charge of the entire business and affairs of the Corporation, and shall be its chief policy making officer. The chief executive officer shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or provided in these By-laws. The chief executive officer is authorized to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation. Whenever the president is unable to serve, by reason of sickness, absence or otherwise, the chief executive officer shall perform all the duties and responsibilities and exercise all the powers of the president.
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Section 8. The President. The president of the Corporation shall, subject to the powers of the Board of Directors and the chief executive officer, have general charge of the business, affairs and property of the Corporation, and control over its officers, agents and employees. The president shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. The president is authorized to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation. The president shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the chief executive officer, the Board of Directors or as may be provided in these By-laws.
Section 9. Vice Presidents. The vice president, or if there shall be more than one, the vice presidents in the order determined by the Board of Directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the president, act with all of the powers and be subject to all the restrictions of the president. The vice presidents shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president or these By-laws may, from time to time, prescribe. The vice presidents may also be designated as executive vice presidents or senior vice presidents, as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
Section 10. The Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors, all meetings of the committees thereof and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings in a book or books to be kept for that purpose or shall ensure that his or her designee attends each such meeting to act in such capacity. Under the chairman of the board’s supervision, the secretary shall give, or cause to be given, all notices required to be given by these By-laws or by law; shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president or these By-laws may, from time to time, prescribe; and shall have custody of the corporate seal of the Corporation. The secretary, or an assistant secretary, shall have authority to affix the corporate seal to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by his or her signature or by the signature of such assistant secretary. The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing by his or her signature. The assistant secretary, or if there be more than one, any of the assistant secretaries, shall in the absence or disability of the secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president, or the secretary may, from time to time, prescribe.
Section 11. The Chief Financial Officer. The chief financial officer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities; shall keep full and accurate all books and accounts of the Corporation as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with applicable law or generally accepted accounting principles; shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation as may be ordered by the chief executive officer or the Board of Directors; shall cause the funds of the Corporation to be disbursed when such disbursements have been duly authorized, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements; shall render to the Board of Directors, at its regular meeting or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of the Corporation; and shall have such powers and perform such duties as
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the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president or these By-laws may, from time to time, prescribe. If required by the Board of Directors, the chief financial officer shall give the Corporation a bond (which shall be rendered every six years) in such sums and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of the office of chief financial officer and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of death, resignation, retirement or removal from office of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in the possession or under the control of the chief financial officer belonging to the Corporation.
Section 12. Other Officers, Assistant Officers and Agents. Officers, assistant officers and agents, if any, other than those whose duties are provided for in these By-laws, shall have such authority and perform such duties as may from time to time be prescribed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 13. Absence or Disability of Officers. In the case of the absence or disability of any officer of the Corporation and of any person hereby authorized to act in such officer’s place during such officer’s absence or disability, the Board of Directors may by resolution delegate the powers and duties of such officer to any other officer or to any Director, or to any other person selected by it.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. Right to Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved (including involvement as a witness) in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a Director or officer of the Corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation or, while a Director or officer of the Corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, fiduciary or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other entity or enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “indemnitee”), shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a Director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, fiduciary or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 2 of this ARTICLE V with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall not indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee except to the extent such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized in writing by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this Section 1 of this ARTICLE V shall be a contract right and shall include the
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obligation of the Corporation to pay the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (an “advance of expenses”); provided, however, that an advance of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a Director or officer shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 1 of this ARTICLE V or otherwise. For purposes of this ARTICLE V, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation shall be deemed to include any subsidiary for which nominal equity interests have been issued to a persons other than the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to the laws of such subsidiary’s jurisdiction of incorporation or organization.
Section 2. Procedure for Indemnification. Any indemnification of a Director or officer of the Corporation or advance of expenses under Section 1 of this ARTICLE V shall be made promptly, and in any event within thirty days (or, in the case of an advance of expenses, twenty days), upon the written request of the Director or officer. If the Corporation denies a written request for indemnification or advance of expenses, in whole or in part, or if payment in full pursuant to such request is not made within thirty days (or, in the case of an advance of expenses, twenty days), the right to indemnification or advances as granted by this ARTICLE V shall be enforceable by the Director or officer in any court of competent jurisdiction. Such person’s costs and expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing his or her right to indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such action shall also be indemnified by the Corporation.
Section 3. Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on its own behalf and on behalf of any person who is or was a Director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation or was serving at the request of the Corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation as a Director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, fiduciary or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other entity or enterprise against any expense, liability or loss asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expenses, liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Section 4. Amendment or Repeal. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this ARTICLE V shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any Director or officer in respect of any act, omission or condition existing or event or circumstance occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
Section 5. Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights to indemnification and to the advance of expenses conferred in this ARTICLE V and in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire hereunder or under any statute, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested Directors or otherwise.
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Section 6. Other Sources. The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or to advance expenses to any Director or officer who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of an other entity shall be reduced by any amount such Director or officer may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other entity.
Section 7. Other Indemnification and Prepayment of Expenses. This ARTICLE V shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner permitted by applicable law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Directors or officers (including employees and agents) with the same or lesser scope and effect as provided herein when and as authorized by appropriate corporate action.
Section 8. Merger or Consolidation. For purposes of this ARTICLE V, references to the “Corporation” shall include, in addition to the corporation resulting from or surviving a consolidation or merger with the Corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger with the Corporation which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its Directors or officers, so that any person who is or was a Director or officer of such constituent corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary of such constituent corporation or, while a Director or officer of such constituent corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary of such constituent corporation is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, fiduciary or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other entity or enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, shall stand in the same position under this ARTICLE V with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
Section 9. Severability. If any provision of this ARTICLE V shall be found to be invalid or limited in application by reason of any law or regulation, it shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions hereof.
ARTICLE VI
CERTIFICATES OF STOCK
Section 1. General. Every holder of stock in the Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate, signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by the president or vice president and the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation. If such a certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent or a registrar, the required signatures may be facsimiles. In case any officer or officers who have signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used on, any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Corporation whether because of death, resignation or otherwise before such certificate or certificates have been delivered by the Corporation, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the
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Corporation. All certificates for shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified. The name of the person to whom the shares represented thereby are issued, with the number of shares and date of issue, shall be entered on the books of the Corporation. Shares of stock of the Corporation shall only be transferred on the books of the Corporation by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, upon surrender to the Corporation of the certificate or certificates for such shares endorsed by the appropriate person or persons, with such evidence of the authenticity of such endorsement, transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps. In that event, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate or certificates and record the transaction on its books. Each such new certificate will be registered in such name as is requested by the holder of the surrendered certificate and shall be substantially identical in form to the surrendered certificate. The Board of Directors may appoint one or more transfer agents or registrars or both in connection with the transfer of any class or series of securities of the Corporation.
Section 2. Lost Certificates. A new certificate or certificates may be issued in place of any certificate or certificates previously issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the Corporation may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.
Section 3. Fixing a Record Date for Stockholder Meetings. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be the close of business on the next day preceding the day on which notice is first given. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
Section 4. Fixing a Record Date for Other Purposes. In order that the Corporation may determine: (i) the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment or any rights; or (ii) the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purposes of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days nor less than 10 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
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Section 5. Registered Stockholders. Prior to the surrender to the Corporation of the certificate or certificates for a share or shares of stock with a request to record the transfer of such share or shares, the Corporation may treat the registered owner as the person entitled to receive dividends, to vote, to receive notifications and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of an owner. The Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof.
Section 6. Subscriptions for Stock. Unless otherwise provided for in any subscription agreement, subscriptions for shares shall be paid in full at such time, or in such installments and at such times, as shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Any call made by the Board of Directors for payment on subscriptions shall be uniform as to all shares of the same class or as to all shares of the same series. In case of default in the payment of any installment or call when such payment is due, the Corporation may proceed to collect the amount due in the same manner as any debt due the Corporation.
ARTICLE VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Dividends. Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting, in accordance with applicable law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or any other purpose and the Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.
Section 2. Checks, Drafts or Orders. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money by or to the Corporation and all notes and other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the Corporation, and in such manner, as shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof.
Section 3. Contracts. In addition to the powers otherwise granted to officers pursuant to ARTICLE IV hereof, the Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, or any agent or agents, of the Corporation to enter into any contract or to execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
Section 4. Loans. The Corporation may lend money to, or guarantee any obligation of, or otherwise assist any officer or other employee of the Corporation or of its subsidiaries, including any officer or employee who is a Director of the Corporation or its subsidiaries,
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whenever, in the judgment of the Directors, such loan, guaranty or assistance may reasonably be expected to benefit the Corporation and would not violate applicable law. The loan, guaranty or other assistance may be with or without interest, and may be unsecured, or secured in such manner as the Board of Directors shall approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of shares of stock of the Corporation, subject to applicable law. Nothing in this Section 4 shall be deemed to deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the Corporation at common law or under any statute.
Section 5. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors may provide a corporate seal which shall be in the form of a circle and shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware.” The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
Section 7. Voting Securities Owned By Corporation. Voting securities in any other company held by the Corporation shall be voted by the chief executive officer, the president or a vice president, unless the Board of Directors specifically confers authority to vote with respect thereto, which authority may be general or confined to specific instances, upon some other person or officer. Any person authorized to vote securities shall have the power to appoint proxies, with general power of substitution.
Section 8. Inspection of Books and Records. The Board of Directors shall have power from time to time to determine to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions and regulations the accounts and books of the Corporation, or any of them, shall be open to the inspection of the stockholders; and no stockholder shall have any right to inspect any account or book or document of the Corporation, except as conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, unless and until authorized so to do by resolution of the Board of Directors or of the stockholders of the Corporation.
Section 9. Section Headings. Section headings in these By-laws are for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.
Section 10. Inconsistent Provisions. In the event that any provision of these By-laws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Exchange Act or any regulation thereunder, or any other applicable law or regulation, the provision of these By-laws shall not be given any effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full force and effect.
Section 11. Notices. Except as provided in Section 4 of ARTICLE II hereof and Section 7 of ARTICLE III hereof, all notices referred to herein shall be in writing, shall be delivered personally or by first class mail, postage prepaid, and shall be deemed to have been given when so delivered or mailed to the Corporation at its principal executive offices and to any
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stockholder at such holder’s address as it appears in the stock records of the Corporation (unless otherwise specified in a written notice to the Corporation by such holder).
Section 12. Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Unless the context requires otherwise, references in these By-laws to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as it may be amended and restated from time to time) shall also be deemed to include any duly authorized certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation that may be outstanding from time to time.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend, change, add to or repeal these By-laws by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of Directors then in office, subject to further action by stockholders. Any alteration or repeal of these By-laws by the stockholders of the Corporation shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled to vote on such alteration or repeal.
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