Document
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 24, 2016 (June 21, 2016)
|
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| GameStop Corp. | |
| (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|
| | | | |
Delaware | | 1-32637 | | 20-2733559 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | | (Commission File Number) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
625 Westport Parkway
Grapevine, TX 76051
(817) 424-2000
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or By-laws; Change in Fiscal Year.
On June 21, 2016, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of GameStop Corp. (the “Company”) approved and adopted the Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (the “Revised Bylaws”). The Revised Bylaws amended and restated the prior bylaws (the “Old Bylaws”) in their entirety. The Revised Bylaws include, among other things, revisions that: (i) include a forum selection provision that requires certain types of litigation involving the Company to be brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; (ii) augment advance notice provisions requiring stockholders to provide additional disclosure and advance notice of their intention to present a director nomination or bring other business at an upcoming stockholders meeting; (iii) explicitly permit electronic communications in the context of voting, meetings, and notices; and (iv) eliminate the requirement to issue physical stock certificates.
The Old Bylaws did not contain any forum selection provision. As a result, under the Old Bylaws the Company risked uncertainty and expense from concurrent multi-jurisdictional litigation. The Revised Bylaws address this risk by including forum selection provision to specify that the Delaware Court of Chancery is the sole forum for (i) derivative actions on behalf of the Company; (ii) claims asserting a breach of fiduciary duty against the directors or officers of the Company; (iii) claims against the Company pursuant to Delaware law or the Company’s organizational documents; or (iv) claims against the Company governed by the internal affairs doctrine.
The Board determined that adoption of the forum selection provision is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders for a number of reasons, including, among others, the importance of preventing the unnecessary diversion of corporate resources to address costly, wasteful and duplicative multi-forum litigation, facilitating increased consistency and predictability in litigation outcomes for the benefit of the Company and its stockholders and recent statutory developments in Delaware and case law developments in other jurisdictions upholding the Board’s authority to adopt such bylaws and their validity. The Board also determined that the amendment preserves the ability of the Company to consent to an alternative forum and, importantly, preserves the ability of stockholders to bring, subject to applicable law, the kinds of litigation addressed by the amendment.
The Revised Bylaws also include augmented advance notice provisions for advance notice of stockholder proposals and director nominations. The Revised Bylaws amend the Old Bylaws to (i) modify and expand the disclosure stockholders must provide when submitting proposals; (ii) modify the description of timely notice; and (iii) expand the disclosure stockholders must provide when submitting director nominations for consideration. Pursuant to the Revised Bylaws, advance notice of stockholder proposals and director nominations must be received by the Company no earlier than the 120th day prior to the annual meeting and no later than the 90th day prior to the annual meeting. The notice must include disclosures regarding the proposing stockholder’s ownership and voting interests in Company securities and derivative positions held in Company securities as well as descriptions of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between the proposing stockholder and any other person in connection with the proposal for business. For director nominations, the notice also must include detailed disclosures regarding any arrangements or understandings, material compensation agreements during the past three years and material relationships between or among the proposing stockholder and the director nominee or any of their respective affiliates.
The foregoing description of the Revised Bylaws, is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company effective June 21, 2016, which are filed as Exhibit 3.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
Annual Meeting Results
On June 21, 2016, the Company held its annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). At the Annual Meeting, 10 Directors were voted on for re-election and three additional proposals were voted on, with the final results set forth below.
1. The Company’s stockholders elected each of the 10 nominees for director for a one-year term with the vote specified below:
|
| | | | | | | | |
Nominee | | Votes For | | Votes Against | | Abstentions | | Broker Non-Votes |
Daniel A. DeMatteo | | 80,624,121 | | 799,579 | | 43,715 | | 8,399,226 |
Jerome L. Davis | | 81,102,462 | | 319,059 | | 45,894 | | 8,399,226 |
Thomas N. Kelly Jr. | | 81,227,193 | | 195,738 | | 44,484 | | 8,399,226 |
Shane S. Kim | | 81,225,990 | | 197,947 | | 43,478 | | 8,399,226 |
Steven R. Koonin | | 81,104,770 | | 315,607 | | 47,038 | | 8,399,226 |
J. Paul Raines | | 81,044,226 | | 378,205 | | 44,984 | | 8,399,226 |
Stephanie M. Shern | | 79,143,765 | | 2,278,802 | | 44,848 | | 8,399,226 |
Gerald R. Szczepanski | | 79,260,661 | | 2,160,100 | | 46,654 | | 8,399,226 |
Kathy P. Vrabeck | | 81,213,584 | | 207,857 | | 45,974 | | 8,399,226 |
Lawrence S. Zilavy | | 81,118,385 | | 301,413 | | 47,617 | | 8,399,226 |
2. The Company’s stockholders approved, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers of the Company, by the following vote:
|
| | | | | | |
Votes For | | Votes Against | | Abstentions | | Broker Non-Votes |
75,635,745 | | 5,421,695 | | 409,975 | | 8,399,226 |
3. The Company’s stockholders approved, by the following vote, to ratify the Audit Committee's appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the Company's fiscal year ending January 28, 2017:
|
| | | | | | |
Votes For | | Votes Against | | Abstentions | | Broker Non-Votes |
89,534,529 | | 213,475 | | 118,638 | | — |
4. The Company’s stockholders failed to approve, by the following vote, an amendment and restatement of our certificate of incorporation to change the shareholder voting requirement for removal of directors from a supermajority (80%) of shares of common stock and only for cause, to a simple majority of shares of common stock with or without cause, and to make other technical and conforming changes:
|
| | | | | | |
Votes For | | Votes Against | | Abstentions | | Broker Non-Votes |
81,279,181 | | 146,406 | | 41,828 | | 8,399,226 |
The affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote thereon was required to approve the proposed amendment and restatement of our certificate of incorporation. Abstentions and broker non-votes had the effect of votes “against” the proposed amendments. As a result of the vote disclosed above, the proposed amendments were not approved by stockholders of the Company. However, as previously announced, in light of a ruling by the Delaware Chancery Court, the Company will continue to not attempt to enforce the foregoing “only for-cause” director removal provision effective as of February 23, 2016.
Item 9.01. Financial Statement and Exhibits.
(c) The following exhibits are filed with this Form 8-K:
|
| | |
| 3.2 | Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws of GameStop Corp., effective June 21, 2016. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
|
| | |
| GAMESTOP CORP. |
| (Registrant) |
| | |
| | |
Date: June 24, 2016 | By: | /s/ ROBERT A. LLOYD |
| | Name: Robert A. Lloyd Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit
Exhibit 3.2
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
BY-LAWS
OF
GAMESTOP CORP.
ARTICLE I.
OFFICES
SECTION 1. Registered Office. The registered office of GameStop Corp. (the “Corporation”) within the State of Delaware shall be established and maintained at the location of the registered agent of the Corporation.
SECTION 2. Other Offices. The Corporation may also have an office or offices and keep the books and records of the Corporation, except as otherwise may be required by law, in such other place or places, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II.
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 1. Place of Meetings. All meetings of holders of shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be held at the office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware or at such other place, within or without the State of Delaware, as may from time to time be fixed by the Board or specified or fixed in the respective notices or waivers of notice thereof.
SECTION 2. Annual Meetings. An annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting (an “Annual Meeting”) shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as the Board shall each year fix, which date shall be within thirteen (13) months of the last annual meeting of stockholders or, if no such meeting has been held, the date of incorporation.
SECTION 3. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise required by law, a special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or by the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the then authorized number of directors. Any special meeting of the stockholders shall be held on such date, at such time and at such place within or without the State of Delaware as the Board or the officer calling the meeting may designate. At a special meeting of the stockholders, no business shall be transacted and no corporate action shall be taken other than that stated in the notice of the meeting.
SECTION 4. Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise may be required by law, notice of each meeting of stockholders, whether an Annual Meeting or a special meeting, shall be in writing, shall state the purpose or purposes of the meeting, the place, date and hour of the meeting and, unless it is an Annual Meeting, shall indicate that the notice is being issued by or at the direction of the person or persons calling the meeting, and a copy thereof shall be delivered personally or sent by mail, facsimile transmission or e-mail, not less than 10 or more than 60 days before the date of said meeting, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. If mailed or delivered by facsimile number or e-mail, such notice shall be directed to such stockholder at his mailing address, facsimile number or e-mail address, as applicable, as it appears on the stock records of the Corporation, unless he shall have filed with the Secretary of the Corporation a written request that notices to him be mailed or delivered by facsimile transmission or e-mail to some other mailing address, facsimile number or e-mail address, as applicable, in which case it shall be directed to him at such other mailing address, facsimile number or e-mail address, as applicable. Notice of an adjourned meeting need not be given if the time and place to which the meeting is to be adjourned was announced at the meeting at which the adjournment was taken, unless (i) the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or (ii) the Board shall fix a new record date for such adjourned meeting after the adjournment.
SECTION 5. Quorum. At each meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the holders of shares having a majority of the voting power of the capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat shall be present or represented by proxy to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, except as otherwise provided by law. Where a separate vote by a class or classes is required, a majority of the shares of such class or classes in person or represented by proxy shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum.
SECTION 6. Adjournments. In the absence of a quorum at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment or adjournments thereof, the Chairman of the Board or holders of shares having a majority of the voting power of the capital stock present or represented by proxy at the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present or represented by proxy. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented by proxy, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called if a quorum had been present or represented by proxy thereat.
SECTION 7. Order of Business. (a) At any Annual Meeting, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the Annual Meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board, or (ii) by any stockholder who complies with the procedures set forth in this Section 7.
(b) For business properly to be brought before an Annual Meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form 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 less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding Annual Meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the Annual Meeting is called for a date that is not within 25 days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be received not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such notice of the date of the Annual Meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made, whichever first occurs. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth in writing as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the Annual Meeting: (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the Annual Meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the Annual Meeting; (ii) a description of all contracts, arrangements, understandings and relationships between such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, on the one hand, and any other person or persons (including their names), on the other hand, in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder, and the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration); (iii) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of the stockholder proposing such business; (iv) (A) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, owned of record by such stockholder and beneficially owned by such beneficial owner and the time period such shares have been held; (B) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise (a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation, (C) any proxy, agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Corporation or has granted any such right to any person or persons, (D) any short interest in any security of the Corporation (for purposes of these By-Laws a person shall be deemed to have a short interest in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any agreement, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in value of the subject security), (E) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (F) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, (G) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including without limitation any such interests held by members of such stockholder’s immediate family sharing the same household (which information shall be updated or supplemented by such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, not later than 10 days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date), (H) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (I) any material pending or threatened legal proceeding in which such stockholder or beneficial owner is a party or material participant involving the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any affiliate of the Corporation, and (J) any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement of such stockholder or beneficial owner with the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any principal competitor of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement); (v) a representation that such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, intend to be present in person at the meeting, (vi) a representation that such stockholder and such beneficial owner, if any, intend to continue to hold the reported shares, Derivative Instruments or other interests through the date of the Corporation’s next annual meeting of stockholders, and (vii) such additional information, documents, instruments, agreements and consents as may be deemed useful to the Board and (vii) any material interest of the stockholder in such business. For purposes of satisfying the requirements of clause (iv) of this paragraph with respect to a beneficial owner, the beneficial owner shall supply to the Corporation either (A) a statement from the record holder of the shares, Derivative Instruments or other interests verifying the holdings of the beneficial owner and indicating the length of time the shares, Derivative Instruments or other interests have been held by such beneficial owner, or (B) a current Schedule 13D, Schedule 13G, Form 3, Form 4 or Form 5 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission reflecting the holdings of the beneficial owner, together with a statement of the length of time that the shares, Derivative Instruments or other interests have been held. If a recommendation is submitted by a group of two or more stockholders, the information regarding the recommending stockholders and beneficial owners, if any, must be submitted with respect to each stockholder in the group and any beneficial owners. A stockholder providing notice pursuant to this Section 7 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 7 shall be true and correct as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the annual meeting or special meeting and such update and supplement shall be delivered to or be 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 determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the annual meeting or special meeting. 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 7. The chairman of an Annual Meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the Annual Meeting that business was not properly brought before the Annual Meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7 and, if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the Annual Meeting and any such business not properly brought before the Annual Meeting shall not be transacted.
SECTION 8. Proxies and Voting. Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) or these By-Laws, any question brought before any meeting of stockholders, other than the election of directors, shall be
decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the votes of shares of capital stock represented and entitled to vote thereat, voting as a single class. The term “Certificate of Incorporation” as used in these By-Laws includes any Certificate of Designation filed by the Corporation with respect to any series of preferred stock of the Corporation. Every reference in these By-Laws to a majority or other proportion of shares, or a majority or other proportion of the votes of shares, of capital stock shall refer to such majority or other proportion of the votes to which such shares of capital stock are entitled as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. At any meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder entitled to vote may vote in person or by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by law filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting. Any copy, e-mail of a PDF document, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this Section 8 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, e-mail of a PDF document, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission. 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 therefore by a stockholder entitled to vote or by 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.
SECTION 9. Inspectors. For each election of directors by the stockholders and in any other case in which it shall be advisable, in the opinion of the Board, that the voting upon any matter shall be conducted by inspectors of election, the Board shall appoint an inspector or inspectors of election. If, for any such election of directors or the voting upon any such other matter, any inspector appointed by the Board shall be unwilling or unable to serve, or if the Board shall fail to appoint inspectors, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint the necessary inspector or inspectors. The inspector(s) so appointed, before entering upon the discharge of their duties, shall be sworn faithfully to execute the duties of inspectors with strict impartiality, and according to the best of their ability, and the oath so taken shall be subscribed by them. Such inspectors shall determine the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each of the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, and the validity and effect of proxies, and shall receive votes, ballots or consents, hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote, count and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, determine the result, and do such acts as are proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. On request of the chairman of the meeting or any stockholder entitled to vote thereat, the inspectors shall make a report in writing of any challenge, question or matter determined by them and shall execute a certificate of any fact found by them. No director or candidate for the office of director shall act as an inspector of election of directors. Inspectors need not be stockholders.
SECTION 10. Remote Participation in Meetings. If so provided in the notice of the meeting or by the presiding officer, stockholders may participate in any stockholders’ meeting by conference telephone, similar communications equipment or other electronic communications technology in a fashion pursuant to which the stockholders have the opportunity to read or hear the proceedings substantially concurrently with their occurrence, vote on matters submitted to the stockholders and pose questions to the participants in the meeting. Stockholders so participating will be deemed present at the meeting.
ARTICLE III.
DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. Powers. The business of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board. The Board 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:
(1) To declare dividends from time to time in accordance with law;
(2) To purchase or otherwise acquire any property, rights or privileges on such terms as it shall determine;
(3) 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;
(4) 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;
(5) To confer upon any officer of the Corporation the power to appoint, remove and suspend subordinate officers, employees and agents;
(6) 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;
(7) 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
(8) To adopt from time to time regulations, not inconsistent with these By-laws, for the management of the Corporation’s business and affairs.
SECTION 2. Terms and Vacancies. The authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation. The entire Board shall be elected annually at each annual meeting of stockholders, as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
SECTION 3. Nominations of Directors; Election. (a) Nominations for the election of directors may be made by the Board or a committee
appointed by the Board, or by any stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors who complies with the procedures set forth in this Section 3. Directors shall be at least 21 years of age. Directors need not be stockholders.
(b) All nominations by stockholders shall be made pursuant to timely notice in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall 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 anniversary date of the immediately preceding Annual Meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the Annual Meeting is called for a date that is not within 25 days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made, whichever occurs first. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. To be in proper written form, such stockholder’s notice shall set forth in writing (i) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, (A) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, without limitation, such person’s written consent to being a nominee and to serving as a director if elected (B) a description of all direct and indirect compensation, economic interests and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each recommended nominee, and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, if any, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the recommended nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant, (C) a description of all relationships between the proposed nominee and the recommending stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, and of any agreements, arrangements and understandings between the recommending stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, and the recommended nominee regarding the nomination, and (D) a description of all relationships between the recommended nominee and any of the Corporation’s competitors, customers, suppliers, labor unions (if any) and any other persons with special interests regarding the Corporation; and (ii) as to the stockholder giving the notice, the (A) name and address, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of such stockholder, (B) (1) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, owned of record by such stockholder and beneficially by such beneficial owner and the time period that such shares have been held, (2) any Derivative Instrument directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation, (3) any proxy, agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Corporation or has granted any such right to any person or persons, (4) any short interest in any security of the Corporation, (5) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (6) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, (7) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including without limitation any such interests held by members of such stockholder’s immediate family sharing the same household (which information shall be updated or supplemented by such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, not later than 10 days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date), (8) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (9) any material pending or threatened legal proceeding in which such stockholder or beneficial owner is a party or material participant involving the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any affiliate of the Corporation, and (10) any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement of such stockholder or beneficial owner with the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any principal competitor of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement); (C) a representation that such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, intend to be present in person at the meeting, (D) a representation that such stockholder and such beneficial owner, if any, intend to continue to hold the reported shares, Derivative Instruments or other interests through the date of the Corporation’s next annual meeting of stockholders, (E) a completed and signed questionnaire and consent required in clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 3(c), prepared with respect to and signed by such stockholder and beneficial owner, and (F) such additional information, documents, instruments, agreements and consents as may be deemed useful to the Board. For purposes of satisfying the requirements of clause (ii)(B) of this paragraph with respect to a beneficial owner, the beneficial owner shall supply to the Corporation either (i) a statement from the record holder of the shares, Derivative Instruments or other interests verifying the holdings of the beneficial owner and indicating the length of time the shares, Derivative Instruments or other interests have been held by such beneficial owner, or (ii) a current Schedule 13D, Schedule 13G, Form 3, Form 4 or Form 5 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission reflecting the holdings of the beneficial owner, together with a statement of the length of time that the shares, Derivative Instruments or other interests have been held. If a recommendation is submitted by a group of two or more stockholders, the information regarding the recommending stockholders and beneficial owners, if any, must be submitted with respect to each stockholder in the group and any beneficial owners. A stockholder providing notice pursuant to this Section 3 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 3 shall be true and correct as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the annual meeting or special meeting and such update and supplement shall be delivered to or be 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 determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the annual meeting or special meeting. At the request of the Board, any person nominated by the Board for election as a director shall furnish to the Secretary of the Corporation the information required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee.
(c) To be eligible for consideration to be nominated for election or reelection as a director of the Corporation, the notice required pursuant to Section 3 must be accompanied by (i) a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such recommended nominee and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request) and (ii) the written consent of each recommended nominee to: (A) provide, within such time period specified by the Corporation, such information concerning the recommended nominee as may reasonably be required by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the “Governance Committee”) and/or Board to determine the eligibility of such recommended nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation, that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such proposed nominee, and (B) a background check to confirm the qualifications and character of the recommended nominee and to make such other determinations as the Governance Committee or the Board may deem appropriate or necessary, and (iii) the written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) of the recommended nominee that he or she (A) is not and will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (B) is not a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding that the nominee has with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed therein and that he or she will promptly disclose to the secretary any such agreement, arrangement, or understanding that arises at any time during the nominee’s service on the Board, and (C) in such person’s individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation.
(d) A person is not eligible to serve as a director if he or she: (i) is under indictment for, or has ever been convicted of, a criminal offense, involving dishonesty or breach of trust and the penalty for such offense could be imprisonment for more than one year; (ii) is a person against whom a federal or state bank regulatory agency has, within the past ten years, issued a cease and desist order for conduct involving dishonesty or breach of trust and that order is final and not subject to appeal; (iii) has been found either by any federal or state regulatory agency whose decision is final and not subject to appeal, or by a court to have (A) committed a willful violation of any law, rule or regulation governing banking, securities, commodities or insurance, or any final cease and desist order issued by a banking, securities, commodities or insurance regulatory agency; or (B) breached a fiduciary duty involving personal profit; or (iv) has been nominated by a person who would be disqualified from serving as a Director of this Corporation under this Article III.
(e) At any meeting of stockholders for the election of one or more directors at which a quorum is present, each director shall be elected by vote of a majority of the votes cast with respect to the director, provided that if the number of nominees for director exceeds the number of directors to be elected, the directors shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote at the election. For purposes of this Section 3(e), a majority of the votes cast means that the number of shares voted “for” a director exceeds the number of shares voted “against” that director. Votes cast shall not include (i) a share whose ballot is marked as “withheld”, (ii) a share otherwise present at the meeting but for which there is an abstention, and (iii) a share otherwise present at the meeting as to which the shareholder gives no authority or direction. If a director then serving on the Board does not receive the required majority, the director shall tender his or her resignation to the Board. Within ninety (90) days after the date of the certification of election results, the Governance Committee will make a recommendation to the Board on whether to accept or reject the resignation, or whether other action should be taken, and the Board will act on the tendered resignation, taking into account the Governance Committee’s recommendation, and publicly disclose its decision and the rationale behind it. The Governance Committee in making its recommendation, and the Board in making its decision, may each consider any factors or other information that it considers appropriate and relevant. The director who tenders his or her resignation shall not participate in the recommendation of the Governance Committee or the decision of the Board with respect to such resignation. For the avoidance of doubt, if such resignation is accepted by the Board, the Board may fill such vacancy in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) of Article FIFTH of the Certificate of Incorporation.
SECTION 4. Place of Meetings. The Board may hold meetings, both regular and special, at the Corporation’s office in the State of Delaware or at such other places in or outside of the State of Delaware, as the Board may from time to time determine or as shall be specified or fixed in the notice or waiver of notice of any such meeting.
SECTION 5. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board shall be held in accordance with a yearly meeting schedule as determined by the Board; or such meetings may be held on such other days and at such other times as the Board may from time to time determine.
SECTION 6. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by a majority of the directors then in office (rounded up to the nearest whole number) or by the Chairman of the Board and shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as they or he shall fix.
SECTION 7. Notice of Meetings. Notice of each special meeting of the Board stating the time, place and purposes thereof, shall be (i) mailed to each director not less than 120 hours prior to the meeting, addressed to him at his residence or usual place of business, or (ii) shall be sent to him by e-mail or facsimile transmission so addressed, or shall be given personally or by telephone, on 24 hours’ notice.
SECTION 8. Quorum and Manner of Acting. The presence of at least a majority of the authorized number of directors shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. Except where a different vote is required by these By-laws or otherwise, the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum shall be present shall be the act of the Board. Any action required
or permitted to be taken by the Board may be taken without a meeting if all the directors consent in writing to the adoption of a resolution authorizing the action. The resolution and the written consents thereto by the directors shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board. Any one or more directors may participate in any meeting of the Board by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall be deemed to constitute presence in person at a meeting of the Board.
SECTION 9. Resignation. Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Corporation; provided, however, that written notice to the Board, the Chairman of the Board, the President of the Corporation or the Secretary of the Corporation shall be deemed to constitute notice to the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect upon receipt of such notice or at any later time specified therein and, unless otherwise specified therein, acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
SECTION 10. Compensation of Directors. The Board may provide for the payment to any of the directors of a specified amount for services as director or member of a committee of the Board, or of a specified amount for attendance at each regular or special Board meeting or committee meeting, or of both, and all directors shall be reimbursed for expenses of attendance at any such meeting; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
ARTICLE IV.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
SECTION 1. Appointment and Powers of Executive Committee. The Board may, by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the authorized number of directors, designate an Executive Committee of the Board, which shall consist of such number of members as the Board shall determine. Except as provided by Delaware law, any committee so designated may exercise the power and authority of the Board to declare dividends, to authorize the issuance of stock or to adopt a certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to Section 253 of the Delaware General Corporation Law if the resolution that designates the committee or a supplemental resolution of the Board shall so provide. Except as provided by Delaware law, during the interval between the meetings of the Board, the Executive Committee shall possess and may exercise all the powers of the Board in the management and direction of all the business and affairs of the Corporation (except the matters hereinafter assigned to any other Committee of the Board), in such manner as the Executive Committee shall deem in the best interests of the Corporation in all cases in which specific directions shall not have been given by the Board. The Executive Committee may determine its manner of acting and fix the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board shall otherwise provide. A majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by the committee and the act of a majority of the members of the committee present at a meeting at which a quorum shall be present shall be the act of the committee. Either the Chairman of the Board or the Chairman of the Executive Committee may call the meetings of the Executive Committee.
SECTION 2. Appointment and Powers of Audit Committee. The Board may, by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the authorized number of directors, designate an Audit Committee of the Board, which shall consist of such number of members as the Board shall determine. The Audit Committee shall (i) make recommendations to the Board as to the independent accountants to be appointed by the Board; (ii) review with the independent accountants the scope of their examinations; (iii) receive the reports of the independent accountants and meet with representatives of such accountants for the purpose of reviewing and considering questions relating to their examination and such reports; (iv) review, either directly or through the independent accountants, the internal accounting and auditing procedures of the Corporation; (v) review related party transactions and (vi) perform such other functions as may be assigned to it from time to time by the Board. The Audit Committee may determine its manner of acting and fix the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board shall otherwise provide. A majority of the members of the Audit Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by the committee and the act of a majority of the members of the committee present at a meeting at which a quorum shall be present shall be the act of the committee.
SECTION 3. Compensation Committee; Other Committees. The Board may, by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the authorized number of directors, designate members of the Board to constitute a Compensation Committee and such other committees of the Board as the Board may determine. Such committees shall in each case consist of such number of directors as the Board may determine, and shall have and may exercise, to the extent permitted by law, such powers as the Board may delegate to them in the respective resolutions appointing them. Each such committee may determine its manner of acting and fix the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board shall otherwise provide. A majority of the members of any such committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by the committee and the act of a majority of the members of such committee present at a meeting at which a quorum shall be present shall be the act of the committee.
SECTION 4. Action by Consent; Participation by Telephone or Similar Equipment. Unless the Board shall otherwise provide, any action required or permitted to be taken by any committee may be taken without a meeting if all members of the committee consent in writing to the adoption of a resolution authorizing the action. The resolution and the written consents thereto by the members of the committee shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the committee. Unless the Board shall otherwise provide, any one or more members of any such committee may participate in any meeting of the committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting of the committee.
SECTION 5. Changes in Committees; Resignations; Removals. The Board shall have power, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the authorized number of directors, at any time to change the members of, to fill vacancies in, and to discharge any committee of the Board. Any
member of any such committee may resign at any time by giving notice to the Corporation; provided, however, that notice to the Board, the Chairman of the Board, the President of the Corporation, the chairman of such committee or the Secretary of the Corporation shall be deemed to constitute notice to the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect upon receipt of such notice or at any later time specified therein; and, unless otherwise specified therein, acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any member of any such committee may be removed at any time, either with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the authorized number of directors at any meeting of the Board called for that purpose.
ARTICLE V.
OFFICERS
SECTION 1. Number and Qualification. The Corporation shall have such officers as may be necessary or desirable for the business of the Corporation. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Operating Officer, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers as may from time to time be appointed by the Board. Officers shall be elected by the Board, 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. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. The failure to elect a Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, President, Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer shall not affect the existence of the Corporation.
SECTION 2. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall be responsible for implementing all orders and resolutions of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall also be a director and shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and directors at which he or she is present and shall have such other powers and duties as the Board or any other duly authorized committee shall from time to time designate.
SECTION 3. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general and active responsibility for the management of the business of the Corporation and shall perform such duties as are conferred upon him or her by these By-Laws or as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Chairman of the Board or the Board. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and directors.
SECTION 4. Chief Operating Officer. The Chief Operating Officer shall have general supervision and control over the day-to-day business and management of the corporation, subject to the control of the Chief Executive Officer and the Board, and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect.
SECTION 5. President. Subject to the provisions of these By-laws and to the direction of the Board, the President shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of President or which are delegated to him or her by the Board. 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. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, the President shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and directors.
SECTION 6. Vice President. Each Vice President shall have such powers and duties as may be delegated to him or her by the Board. 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 7. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the responsibility for maintaining the financial records of the Corporation. He or she shall make such disbursements of the funds of the Corporation as are authorized and shall render from time to time an account of all such transactions and of the financial condition of the Corporation. The Treasurer shall also perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 8. Secretary. The Secretary shall issue all authorized notices for, and shall keep minutes of, all meetings of the stockholders and the Board. He or she shall have charge of the corporate books and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 9. Delegation of Authority. The Board may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officers or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
SECTION 10. Removal. Any officer of the Corporation may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board.
SECTION 11. Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Corporation; provided, however, that notice to the Board, Chairman of the Board, the President or the Secretary shall be deemed to constitute notice to the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect upon receipt of such notice or at any later time specified therein; and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
SECTION 12. Vacancies. Any vacancy among the officers, whether caused by death, resignation, removal or any other cause, shall be filled in the manner prescribed for election or appointment to such office.
SECTION 13. Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations. Unless otherwise directed by the Board, the Chairman of the Board or any officer of the Corporation authorized by the Chairman of the Board 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.
SECTION 14. Bonds of Officers. If required by the Board, any officer of the Corporation shall give a bond for the faithful discharge of his duties in such amount and with such surety or sureties as the Board may require.
SECTION 15. Compensation. The salaries of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Board, unless and until the Board appoints a Compensation Committee.
SECTION 16. Officers of Operating Companies or Divisions. The Chairman of the Board shall have the power to appoint, remove and prescribe the terms of office, responsibilities, duties and salaries of, the officers of the operating companies or divisions, other than those who are officers of the Corporation.
ARTICLE VI.
CONTRACTS, CHECKS, LOANS, DEPOSITS, ETC.
SECTION 1. Contracts. The Board may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, to enter into any contract or to execute and deliver any instrument, which authorization may be general or confined to specific instances; and, unless so authorized by the Board, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the Corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable pecuniarily for any purpose or for any amount.
SECTION 2. Checks, etc. All checks, drafts, bills of exchange or other orders for the payment of money out of the funds of the Corporation, and all notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Corporation, shall be signed in the name and on behalf of the Corporation in such manner as shall from time to time be authorized by the Board, which authorization may be general or confined to specific instances.
SECTION 3. Loans. No loan shall be contracted on behalf of the Corporation, and no negotiable paper shall be issued in its name, unless authorized by the Board, which authorization may be general or confined to specific instances. All bonds, debentures, notes and other obligations or evidences of indebtedness of the Corporation issued for such loans shall be made, executed and delivered as the Board shall authorize.
SECTION 4. Deposits. All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositors as may be selected by or in the manner designated by the Board. The Board or its designees may make such special rules and regulations with respect to such bank accounts, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, as them may deem advisable.
ARTICLE VII.
CAPITAL STOCK
SECTION 1. Certificates of Stock. Each stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, the Chairman of the Board, President or a 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 unless and until the Board adopts a resolution permitting shares to be uncertificated. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be by facsimile.
SECTION 2. Stock List. 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, shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, 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.
SECTION 3. 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 uncertificated shares are issued or a certificate is issued in accordance with Section 5 of Article VII of these By-laws, an outstanding certificate for the number of shares involved shall be surrendered for cancellation before a new certificate is issued therefor.
SECTION 4. Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of any meeting of stockholders, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the time for such other action as hereinbefore described; provided, however, that if no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held, and, for determining
stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of rights or to exercise any rights of change, conversion or exchange of stock or for any other purpose, the record date shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts a resolution relating thereto.
A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall be not more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted. Any stockholder of record seeking to have the stockholders authorize or take corporate action by written consent shall, by written notice to the Secretary, request the Board to fix a record date. The Board shall promptly, but in all events within 10 days after the date on which such a request is received, adopt a resolution fixing the record date (unless a record date has previously been fixed by the Board pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 4). If no record date has been fixed by the Board within 10 days after the date on which such request is received, and no prior action by the Board is required by the Delaware General Corporation Law, the record date shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation in the manner prescribed by Article II, Section 10 hereof. If no record date has been fixed by the Board and prior action by the Board is required by the Delaware General Corporation Law with respect to the proposed action by written consent of the stockholders, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
SECTION 5. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In the event of the loss, theft or destruction of any certificate of stock, another certificate or uncertificated shares may be issued in its place pursuant to such regulations as the Board may establish concerning proof of such loss, theft or destruction and concerning the giving of satisfactory bond or bonds of indemnity.
SECTION 6. Uncertificated Shares of Stock. Any or all classes and series of stock, or any part thereof, may be issued as uncertificated stock except that such a provision shall not apply to stock represented by a certificate until the certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated stock, the Corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates by Section 1 of this Article. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the rights and obligations of the holders of stock represented by certificates and the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated stock of the same class and series shall be identical.
SECTION 7. Regulations. The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificates of stock shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board may establish.
ARTICLE VIII.
NOTICES
SECTION 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 with a recognized overnight delivery service or by sending such notice by e-mail or by facsimile transmission. Any such notice shall be addressed to such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent at his or her last known address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. The time when such notice is received, if hand delivered, or dispatched, if delivered through the mails or by overnight delivery service, or by e-mail or facsimile, shall be the time of the giving of the notice.
SECTION 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.
ARTICLE IX.
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 1. Facsimile and E-mail Signatures. In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these By-laws, facsimile and e-mail (in PDF) signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board or a committee thereof.
SECTION 2. Corporate Seal. The Board 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 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 3. Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records. Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board, 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 and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board so designated, or by any other person as to matters which such director or committee member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.
SECTION 4. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as fixed by the Board.
SECTION 5. Time Periods. In applying any provision of these By-laws which requires that an act be done or not be 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.
ARTICLE X.
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
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 in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter, a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or an officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter, an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, 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 (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 3 of this Article X with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of the Corporation.
SECTION 2. Right to Advancement of Expenses. The right to indemnification conferred in Section 1 of this Article X shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter, an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however, that, if the Delaware General Corporation Law requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter, 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 (hereinafter, a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 2 or otherwise. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in Sections 1 and 2 of this Article X shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators.
SECTION 3. Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. If a claim under Section 1 or 2 of this Article X is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty (60) days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty (20) days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article X or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.
SECTION 4. Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article X shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire by any statute, the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
SECTION 5. Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any 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 Delaware General Corporation Law.
SECTION 6. Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article X with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation.
ARTICLE XI.
AMENDMENTS
The Board is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal these By-laws. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of these By-laws by the Board shall require the approval of a majority of the entire Board. The stockholders shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal these By-laws; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to adopt, amend or repeal any provision of these By-laws.
ARTICLE XII.
FORUM SELECTION
Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery (the “Chancery Court”) of the State of Delaware (or, in the event that the Chancery Court does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware or other state courts of the State of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought by or in the name of the Corporation, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or to the Corporation’s stockholders, (c) any action arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, or (d) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of, and to have consented to, the provisions of this Article XII.