Fortive Corp 8-K, filed Jun 11, 2021
Fortive Corp (FTV)
About this 8-K
Fortive Corp filed this 8-K on June 11, 2021, reporting on events of June 8, 2021.
Items reported
- Item 5.03: Charter or bylaw amendment, or fiscal year change
- Item 5.07: Shareholder vote results
- Item 9.01: Financial statements and exhibits
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported)
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
| (State or Other Jurisdiction Of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
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:
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of Each Class |
Trading |
Name of Each Exchange | ||
| |
|
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
| Item 5.03 | Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year. |
At the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Fortive Corporation (the “Company”) held on June 8, 2021, the Company’s shareholders approved a proposal to amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Special Meeting Amendment”) to allow holders of record who own at least 25% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock and who otherwise comply with the requirements set forth in the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended from time to time, to request that a special meeting of shareholders be called. In addition, to conform the Amended and Restated Bylaws to the Special Meeting Amendment and to specify the procedures for shareholder-requested special meetings, in each case, as further described in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2021 (the “Proxy Statement”), the Board of Directors previously approved a corresponding amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaw Amendment”), contingent upon shareholder approval of the Special Meeting Amendment at the Annual Meeting.
A Certificate of Amendment (the “Certificate of Amendment”) setting forth the Special Meeting Amendment was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and became effective on June 9, 2021.
The Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws were further amended and restated to incorporate the Bylaw Amendment (as so amended and restated, the “New Bylaws”), which New Bylaws became effective concurrently with the effectiveness of the Certificate of Amendment on June 9, 2021.
The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Certificate of Amendment and the New Bylaws attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.2, respectively, to this Current Report.
| Item 5.07 | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. |
At the Annual Meeting held on June 8, 2021, the Company’s shareholders voted on the following five proposals:
Proposal 1: To elect the eight directors named in the Proxy Statement to terms expiring at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company and until their successors are elected and qualified. Each nominee for director was elected by a vote of the shareholders as follows:
| For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non- Votes |
|||||||||||||
| Daniel L. Comas |
292,326,425 | 85,966 | 142,000 | 11,401,950 | ||||||||||||
| Feroz Dewan |
291,697,521 | 702,563 | 154,307 | 11,401,950 | ||||||||||||
| Sharmistha Dubey |
291,220,258 | 1,182,503 | 151,630 | 11,401,950 | ||||||||||||
| Rejji P. Hayes |
291,077,812 | 1,319,751 | 156,828 | 11,401,950 | ||||||||||||
| James A. Lico |
292,336,046 | 95,300 | 123,045 | 11,401,950 | ||||||||||||
| Kate D. Mitchell |
285,543,386 | 6,866,510 | 144,495 | 11,401,950 | ||||||||||||
| Jeannine Sargent |
288,807,613 | 3,601,047 | 145,731 | 11,401,950 | ||||||||||||
| Alan G. Spoon |
270,145,163 | 21,654,012 | 755,216 | 11,401,950 | ||||||||||||
Proposal 2: To ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2021. The proposal was approved by a vote of the shareholders as follows:
| For |
296,672,810 | |||
| Against |
1,770,091 | |||
| Abstain |
5,513,440 |
2
Proposal 3: To approve on an advisory basis the Company’s named executive officer compensation. The proposal was approved by a vote of the shareholders as follows:
| For |
255,155,680 | |||
| Against |
37,111,390 | |||
| Abstain |
287,321 | |||
| Broker Non-Votes |
11,401,950 |
Proposal 4: To approve an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to allow holders of at least 25% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock to call a special meeting of the shareholders. The proposal was approved by a vote of the shareholders as follows:
| For |
292,158,870 | |||
| Against |
227,153 | |||
| Abstain |
168,368 | |||
| Broker Non-Votes |
11,401,950 |
Proposal 5: To consider and act upon a shareholder proposal regarding shareholders’ ability to act by written consent. The proposal was rejected by a vote of the shareholders as follows:
| For |
114,239,205 | |||
| Against |
177,126,884 | |||
| Abstain |
1,188,302 | |||
| Broker Non-Votes |
11,401,950 |
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
(d) Exhibits.
| Exhibit No. |
Description | |
| 3.1 | Certificate of Amendment | |
| 3.2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | |
3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| FORTIVE CORPORATION | ||
| By: | /s/ Daniel B. Kim | |
| Name: Daniel B. Kim | ||
| Title: Vice President - Associate General Counsel and Secretary | ||
Date: June 11, 2021
Exhibit 3.1
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
FORTIVE CORPORATION
Pursuant to Section 242
of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
Fortive Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), does hereby certify that:
1. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate”) is hereby amended as follows:
Section 6.03 of Article VI of the Amended and Restated Certificate is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“Section 6.03 Special Meetings. Unless otherwise required by law or the terms of any resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board providing for the issuance of a class or series of the Preferred Stock, special meetings of stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, may be called by the Secretary upon a written request delivered to the Secretary by (i) the Board as set forth in the Corporation’s Bylaws, (ii) the Chairman of the Board, (iii) the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, or (iv) the holders of record who “Own” (as such term is defined in Section 2.12 of Article II of the Bylaws of the Corporation) at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and who have complied in full with the requirements set forth in the Bylaws of the Corporation. At a special meeting of stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall be specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto).”
2. The foregoing amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation on this 8th day of June, 2021.
| FORTIVE CORPORATION | ||
| By: | /s/ Daniel B. Kim | |
| Name: Daniel B. Kim | ||
| Title: VP – Associate General Counsel and Secretary | ||
Exhibit 3.2
Effective June 9, 2021
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
FORTIVE CORPORATION
(a Delaware corporation)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1.01 Registered Office. The address of the registered office of Fortive Corporation (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801. The name of the registered agent of the Corporation is The Corporation Trust Company.
Section 1.02 Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such other places 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 from time to time require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF THE STOCKHOLDERS
Section 2.01 Place of Meetings. All meetings of the stockholders shall be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated from time to time by resolution of the Board and stated in the notice of meeting.
Section 2.02 Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held at such date, time and place, if any, as shall be determined by the Board and stated in the notice of the meeting. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting previously scheduled by the Board.
Section 2.03 Special Meetings.
(a) Unless otherwise required by law or by the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, as amended and restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), and subject to the rights of the holders of preferred stock and except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of Section 2.03, a special meeting of stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, may be called by the Secretary upon a written request delivered to the Secretary by (a) the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board, (b) the Chairman of the Board or (c) the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. At such a special meeting of stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall be specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto).
(b) A special meeting of stockholders shall be called by the Secretary upon written request (a “Special Meeting Request”) of one or more holders of record who “Own” (as defined in Section 2.12(k)(4) of this Article II) at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation (the “Requisite Percentage”) and who have complied in full with the requirements set forth in these Bylaws.
(i) A Special Meeting Request must be delivered to the attention of the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation. A Special Meeting Request shall be valid only if it is signed and dated by each stockholder of record submitting the Special Meeting Request and the beneficial owners, if any, on whose behalf the Special Meeting Request is being made, or such stockholder’s or beneficial owner’s duly authorized agent (each, a “Requesting Stockholder”) collectively representing the Requisite Percentage, and includes (A) a statement of the specific purpose(s) of the special meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the special meeting; (B) as to any director nominations proposed to be presented at the special meeting and any matter (other than a director nomination) proposed to be conducted at the special meeting and as to each Requesting Stockholder, the information, statements, representations, agreements and other documents that would be required to be set forth in or included with a stockholder’s notice of a nomination pursuant to Section 2.11 of this Article II (including any nominee’s written consent to being named in the Corporation’s proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected) and/or a stockholder’s notice of business proposed to be brought before a meeting pursuant to Section 2.11 of this Article II, as applicable; (C) a representation that a Requesting Stockholder or a qualified representative thereof intends to appear in person or by proxy at the special meeting to present the nomination(s) or business to be brought before the special meeting; (D) an agreement by the Requesting Stockholders to notify the Corporation promptly in the event of any disposition prior to the date of the special meeting of shares of the Corporation owned beneficially or of record and an acknowledgement that any such disposition shall be deemed to be a revocation of such Special Meeting Request with respect to such disposed shares; and (E) documentary evidence that the Requesting Stockholders Own the Requisite Percentage; provided, however, that if the Requesting Stockholders are not the beneficial owners of the shares representing the Requisite Percentage, then to be valid, the Special Meeting Request must also include documentary evidence (or, if not simultaneously provided with the Special Meeting Request, such documentary evidence must be delivered to the Secretary within ten (10) days after the date on which the Special Meeting Request is delivered to the Secretary) that the beneficial owners on whose behalf the Special Meeting Request is made beneficially Own the Requisite Percentage. In addition, the Requesting Stockholders and the beneficial owners, if any, on whose behalf the Special Meeting Request is being made shall (x) further update and supplement the information provided in the Special Meeting Request, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided therein shall be true and correct as of the record date for the special meeting and as of the date that is fifteen (15) business days prior to the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered
to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than eight (8) days after the later of the record date for the meeting or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date and not later than fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of fifteen (15) days prior to the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof and (y) promptly provide any other information reasonably requested by the Corporation. To be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.
(ii) A Special Meeting Request shall not be valid, and a special meeting requested by stockholders shall not be held, if (A) the Special Meeting Request does not comply with this Section 2.03; (B) the Special Meeting Request relates to an item of business that is not a proper subject for stockholder action under applicable law (as determined in good faith by the Board); (C) the Special Meeting Request is delivered during the period commencing ninety (90) days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders and ending on the date of the next annual meeting; (D) an identical or substantially similar item (as determined in good faith by the Board, a “Similar Item”), other than the election of directors, was presented at an annual or special meeting of stockholders held not more than twelve (12) months before the Special Meeting Request is delivered; (E) a Similar Item was presented at an annual or special meeting of stockholders held not more than ninety (90) days before the Special Meeting Request is delivered (and, for purposes of this clause (E), the election of directors shall be deemed to be a “Similar Item” with respect to all items of business involving the election or removal of directors, changing the size of the Board and the filling of vacancies and/or newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors); (F) a Similar Item is included in the Corporation’s notice of meeting as an item of business to be brought before an annual or special meeting of stockholders that has been called but not yet held or that is called for a date within ninety (90) days of the receipt by the Corporation of a Special Meeting Request; or (G) the Special Meeting Request was made in a manner that involved a violation of Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (as defined in Section 2.11) or other applicable law.
(iii) Special meetings of stockholders called pursuant to this Section 2.03 shall be held at such place, if any, on such date, and at such time as the Board shall fix; provided, however, that the special meeting shall not be held more than ninety (90) days after receipt by the Corporation of a valid Special Meeting Request.
(iv) The Requesting Stockholders may revoke a Special Meeting Request by written revocation delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation at any time prior to the special meeting. If, at any point after sixty (60) days of the first date on which a Special Meeting Request is delivered to the Corporation, the unrevoked requests from Requesting Stockholders (whether by specific written revocation or deemed revocation pursuant to clause (D) of paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 2.03) represent in the aggregate less than the Requisite Percentage, the Board, in its discretion, may cancel the special meeting.
(v) In determining whether a special meeting of stockholders has been requested by the Requesting Stockholders representing in the aggregate at the least the Requisite Percentage, multiple Special Meeting Requests delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation will be considered together only if (A) each Special Meeting Request identifies substantially the same purpose or purposes of the special meeting and substantially the same matters proposed to be acted on at the special meeting, in each case as determined by the Board (which, if such purpose is the election or removal of directors, changing the size of the Board and/or the filling of vacancies and/or newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors, will mean that the exact same person or persons are proposed for election or removal in each relevant Stockholder Meeting Request), and (B) such Special Meeting Requests have been dated and delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation within sixty (60) days of the first date on which a Special Meeting Request is delivered to the Corporation.
(vi) If none of the Requesting Stockholders appear or send a qualified representative to present the nomination and/or business to be presented for consideration as specified in the Special Meeting Request, the Corporation need not present such nomination and/or business for a vote at the special meeting, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such nomination and/or may have been received by the Corporation.
(vii) Business transacted at any special meeting called pursuant to this paragraph (b) of Section 2.03 shall be limited to (A) the purpose(s) stated in the valid Special Meeting Request received from the Requisite Percentage of record holders and (B) any additional matters that the Board determines to include in the Corporation’s notice of the special meeting.
(c) The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled special meeting.
Section 2.04 Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of the stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board 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, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
Section 2.05 Notice of Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice of the place, if any, date, hour, and means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting shall be given by the Corporation not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the meeting (unless otherwise required by law) to every stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting. Notices of special meetings shall also specify the purpose or purposes for which the meeting has been called. Except as otherwise provided herein or permitted by applicable law, notice to stockholders shall be in writing and delivered personally or mailed (including by electronic transmission in accordance with applicable law) to the stockholders at their
address appearing on the books of the Corporation. Notice by mail is deemed given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, and notice by electronic transmission shall be deemed given pursuant Section 232(b) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). Any stockholder may waive notice of any meeting, either before or after the meeting. The attendance of any stockholder at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the stockholder 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. Any stockholder so waiving notice of the meeting shall be bound by the proceedings of the meeting in all respects as if due notice thereof had been given.
Section 2.06 List of Stockholders. The Secretary shall prepare, or have prepared, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares of each class of capital stock of the Corporation registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting at the principal place of business of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, the list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting the whole time thereof and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Except as provided by applicable law, the stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger and the list of stockholders or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
Section 2.07 Quorum. Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, at each meeting of the stockholders, a majority in voting power of the shares of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the subsequent withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the chair of the meeting shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, in the manner provided in Section 2.08, until a quorum shall be present or represented.
Section 2.08 Adjournments. Any meeting of the stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, if any, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof and the means of remote communication, if any, 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 thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.05 shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
Section 2.09 Conduct of Meetings. The Board may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of the stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. At every meeting of the stockholders, the Chair of the Board, or in his or her absence or inability to act, the Chief Executive Officer, or, in his or her absence or inability to act, the person whom the Board shall appoint, shall act as chair of, and preside at, the meeting. The Secretary or, in his or her absence or inability to act, the person whom the chair of the meeting shall appoint secretary of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the chair of any meeting of the stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chair, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the chair of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (b) the determination of when the polls shall open and close for any given matter to be voted on at the meeting; (c) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (d) 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 chair of the meeting shall determine; (e) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (f) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The chair shall have the power to adjourn any meeting of the stockholders from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.
Section 2.10 Voting; Proxy. Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any question brought before any meeting of the stockholders, other than the election of directors, shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of votes of the Corporation’s capital stock represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on such question, voting as a single class. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, and subject to Section 2.04, each stockholder represented at a meeting of the stockholders shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote for each share of the capital stock entitled to vote thereat held by such stockholder. Such votes may be cast in person or by proxy as provided in this Section 2.10. The Board, in its discretion, or the officer of the Corporation presiding at a meeting of the stockholders, in such officer’s discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.
Except as provided in Section 3.03, directors shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting of stockholders. Directors need not be stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast for properly nominated and qualified candidates at any meeting of stockholders for which (i) the Secretary of the Corporation receives a notice that a stockholder has nominated a person for election to the Board in compliance with the advance notice requirements for stockholder nominees for director set forth in Section 2.11 of these Bylaws and (ii) such nomination has not been withdrawn by such stockholder on or before the tenth day before the Corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to the stockholders. If directors are to be elected by a plurality of the votes cast, stockholders shall not be permitted to vote against a nominee. For purposes of this Section 2.10, a “majority of the votes cast” shall mean that the number of votes cast “for” a director’s election exceeds the number of votes cast “against” such director’s election. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not counted as votes cast either “for” or “against” a director’s election.
Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of the stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy filed with the Secretary before or at the time of the meeting, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless such proxy provides for a longer period
Section 2.11 Advance Notice of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals.
(a) Timely Notice. At a meeting of the stockholders, only such nominations of persons for the election of directors and such other business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, nominations or such other business must be: (i) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof, (ii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof, or (iii) otherwise properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder who: (A) is a stockholder of record of the Corporation at the time such notice of meeting is delivered and at the time the notice required hereunder is delivered to the Secretary, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (C) complies with the notice procedures and disclosure requirements set forth in this Section 2.11. In addition, any proposal of business (other than the nomination of persons for election to the Board) must be a proper matter for stockholder action. For business (including, but not limited to, director nominations) to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder or stockholders of record intending to propose the business (the “Proposing Stockholder”) must have given timely notice thereof pursuant to this Section 2.11(a) or Section 2.11(c) below, as applicable, in writing to the Secretary even if such matter is already the subject of any notice to the stockholders or Public Disclosure from the Board. To be timely, a Proposing Stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation: (x) not later than the close of business on the 90th day, nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day, in advance of the anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting if such meeting is to be held on a day that is within 30 days before or after the anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting; and (y) with respect to any other annual meeting of stockholders, not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the date of Public Disclosure of the date of such meeting. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting, or the Public Disclosure thereof, commence a new notice time period (or extend any notice time period). For purpose of timely notice at the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, a Proposing 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 February 1, 2017, nor earlier than the close of business on January 2, 2017.
(b) Stockholder Nominations. For the nomination of any person or persons for election to the Board whether at an annual meeting or a properly called special meeting of stockholders, a Proposing Stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of each nominee proposed in such notice, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of each such nominee, (iii) (A) the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned of record and beneficially by each such nominee and any affiliates or associates of such nominee (if any) and (B) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding of the type described in clause (vi)(C) or (vi)(D) of this section, but as it relates to each such nominee rather than the Proposing Stockholder, (iv) (A) if any such nominee is a party to any compensatory, payment or other financial agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation, or has received any compensation or other payment from any person or entity other than the Corporation, in each case in connection with candidacy or service as a director of the Corporation, a detailed description of such agreement, arrangement or understanding and its terms or of any such compensation received and (B) such other information concerning each such nominee as would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of such nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved) or that is otherwise required to be disclosed, under Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (v) the consent of the nominee to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected and a representation by the nominee to the effect that, if elected, the nominee will agree to and abide by all policies of the Board and, to the extent applicable to Directors, all policies of the Corporation, in each case, as may be in place at any time and from time to time, and (vi) as to the Proposing Stockholder: (A) the name and address of the Proposing Stockholder as they appear on the Corporation’s books and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made, (B) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned by the Proposing Stockholder (beneficially and of record) and owned by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made, as of the date of the Proposing Stockholder’s notice, (C) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to such nomination between or among the Proposing Stockholder and any of its affiliates or associates, and any others (including their names) acting in concert with any of the foregoing, (D) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the Proposing Stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, the Proposing Stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of the Proposing Stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation, (E) a representation that the Proposing Stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice, (F) a representation whether the Proposing Stockholder intends 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 the election of the nominee and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such election and (G) with respect to (B), (C) and (D) above, a representation that the Proposing Stockholder will promptly notify the Corporation in writing of the same as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.
(c) Other Stockholder Proposals. For all business other than director nominations, a Proposing Stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the Proposing Stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting or properly called special meeting, as the case may be: (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, (ii) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is being made, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the proposal and pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (iii) a description of all agreements, arrangements, or understandings between or among such Proposing Stockholder, or any affiliates or associates of such Proposing Stockholder, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such
business and any material interest of such Proposing Stockholder or any affiliates or associates of such Proposing Stockholder, in such business, including any anticipated benefit therefrom to such Proposing Stockholder, or any affiliates or associates of such Proposing Stockholder and (iv) the information required by Section 2.11(b)(vi) above.
(d) Proxy Rules. The foregoing notice requirements of Section 2.11(c) shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder with respect to inclusion in the proxy statement referenced below of a proposal with respect to business other than a nomination if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his, her or its intention to present such proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 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 meeting.
(e) 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 may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (x) by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof or stockholders pursuant to Section 2.03 of this Article II or (y) provided that the Board or stockholders pursuant to Section 2.03 of this Article II have 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 Section 2.11 is delivered to the 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 2.11. The proposal by stockholders of other business to be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders may be made only in accordance with Section 2.03 of this Article II. If the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.10 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 notice of the date of the special meeting at which directors are to be elected was mailed or Public Disclosure of the date of the special meeting at which directors are to be elected was made, whichever first occurs. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a special meeting, or the Public Disclosure thereof, commence a new time period (or extend any notice time period).
(f) Effect of Noncompliance. Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary: (i) no nominations shall be made or business shall be conducted at any annual meeting or special meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.11, and (ii) unless otherwise required by law, if a Proposing Stockholder intending to propose business or make nominations at an annual meeting or special meeting pursuant to this Section 2.11 does not provide the information required under this Section 2.11 to the Corporation in accordance with the applicable timing requirements set forth in these Bylaws, or the Proposing Stockholder (or a qualified representative of the Proposing Stockholder) does not appear at the meeting to present the proposed business or nominations, such business or nominations shall not be considered, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such business or nominations may have been received by the Corporation.
(g) For purposes of this Section 2.11:
(i) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(ii) “Public Disclosure” shall mean a disclosure made in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Services, The Associated Press or a comparable national news service or in a document filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Section 2.12 Inclusion of Stockholder Director Nominations in the Corporation’s Proxy Materials. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in these Bylaws, the Corporation shall include in its proxy materials for annual meetings of stockholders after the 2017 annual meeting the name, together with the Required Information (as defined below), of any person nominated for election (the “Stockholder Nominee”) to the Board of Directors by a stockholder or group of stockholders that satisfy the requirements of this Section 2.12, including qualifying as an Eligible Stockholder (as defined in subsection ([d]) below) and that expressly elects at the time of providing the written notice required by this Section 2.12 (a “Proxy Access Notice”) to have its nominee included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 2.12.
(a) Required Information. For purposes of this Section 2.12, the “Required Information” that the Corporation will include in its proxy statement is (i) the information concerning the Stockholder Nominee and the Eligible Stockholder that the Corporation determines is required to be disclosed in the Corporation’s proxy statement by the regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act; and (ii) if the Eligible Stockholder so elects, a Statement (as defined in subsection (f) below). The Corporation shall also include the name of the Stockholder Nominee in its proxy card. For the avoidance of doubt, and any other provision of these Bylaws notwithstanding, the Corporation may in its sole discretion solicit against, and include in the proxy statement its own statement(s) or other information relating to, any Eligible Stockholder and/or Stockholder Nominee, including any information provided to the Corporation with respect to the foregoing.
(b) To be timely, a stockholder’s Proxy Access Notice must be delivered to or mailed (including by courier) and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation within the time periods applicable to stockholder notices of nominations pursuant to Section 2.11. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting, or the public announcement of such an adjournment or postponement, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Proxy Access Notice.
(c) The maximum number of Stockholder Nominees (including Stockholder Nominees that were submitted by an Eligible Stockholder for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 2.12 but are either subsequently withdrawn or that the Board of Directors decides to nominate as Board of Directors’ nominees or otherwise appoint to the Board) appearing in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 2.12 with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders shall not exceed the greater of (i) one and (ii) the largest whole number that does not exceed 20% of the number of directors in office as of the last day on which a Proxy Access Notice may be delivered in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.12 (such greater number, the “Permitted Number”); provided, however, that the Permitted Number shall be reduced by:
(A) the number of such director candidates for which the Corporation shall have received one or more stockholder notices nominating director candidates pursuant to Section 2.11 of these Bylaws;
(B) the number of directors in office for whom access to the Corporation’s proxy materials was previously provided (or requested) pursuant to this Section 2.12, other than (x) any such director referred to in this clause (B) whose term of office will expire at such annual meeting and who is not seeking (or agreeing) to be nominated at such meeting for another term of office and (y) any such director who at the time of such annual meeting will have served as a director continuously through at least two annual meetings; and
(C) the number of directors in office or director candidates that in either case were elected or appointed to the Board of Directors or will be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials with respect to such annual meeting as an unopposed (by the Corporation) nominee, pursuant to an agreement, arrangement or other understanding with a stockholder or group of stockholders (other than any such agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into in connection with an acquisition of Voting Stock, by such stockholder or group of stockholders, from the Corporation), other than (x) any such director referred to in this clause (C) whose term of office will expire at such annual meeting and who is not seeking (or agreeing) to be nominated at such meeting for another term of office and (y) any such director who at the time of such annual meeting will have served as a director continuously through at least two annual meetings; provided that this clause (C) will only apply to the extent the Permitted Number, after giving effect to the reduction contemplated hereby, equals or exceeds 1;
provided, further, that in no circumstance shall the Permitted Number exceed the number of directors to be elected at the applicable annual meeting as noticed by the Corporation and in the event the Board of Directors resolves to reduce the size of the Board of Directors effective on or prior to the date of the annual meeting, the Permitted Number shall be calculated based on the number of directors in office as so reduced. An Eligible Stockholder submitting more than one Stockholder Nominee for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to this Section 2.12 shall rank such Stockholder Nominees based on the order that the Eligible Stockholder desires such Stockholder Nominees to be selected for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy statement and include such specified rank in its Proxy Access Notice. If the number of Stockholder Nominees pursuant to this Section 2.12 for an annual meeting of stockholders exceeds the Permitted Number, then the highest ranking qualifying Stockholder Nominee from each Eligible Stockholder will be selected by the Corporation for inclusion in the proxy statement until the Permitted Number is reached, going in order of the amount (largest to smallest) of the ownership position as disclosed in each Eligible Stockholder’s Proxy Access Notice. If the Permitted Number is not reached after the highest ranking Stockholder Nominee from each Eligible Stockholder has been selected, this selection process will continue as many times as necessary, following the same order each time, until the Permitted Number is reached.
(d) An “Eligible Stockholder” is one or more stockholders of record who own and have owned, or are acting on behalf of one or more beneficial owners who own and have owned (in each case as defined above), in each case continuously for at least three years as of both the date that the Proxy Access Notice is received by the Corporation pursuant to this Section 2.12, and as of the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice and to vote at the annual meeting, at least three percent of the aggregate voting power of the Voting Stock (the “Proxy Access Request Required Shares”), and who continue to own the Proxy Access Request Required Shares at all times between the date such Proxy Access Notice is received by the Corporation and the date of the applicable annual meeting, provided that the aggregate number of stockholders, and, if and to the extent that a stockholder is acting on behalf of one or more beneficial owners, of such beneficial owners, whose stock ownership is counted for the purpose of satisfying the foregoing ownership requirement shall not exceed 20. Two or more collective investment funds that are part of same family of funds by virtue of being under common management and investment control, under common management control and sponsored primarily by the same employer or a “group of investment companies” (as such term is defined in Section 12(d)(1)(G)(ii) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) (a “Qualifying Fund”) shall be treated as one stockholder for the purpose of determining the aggregate number of stockholders in this subsection (d), provided that each fund included within a Qualifying Fund otherwise meets the requirements set forth in this Section 2.12. No shares may be attributed to more than one group constituting an Eligible Stockholder under this Section 2.12 (and, for the avoidance of doubt, no stockholder may be a member of more than one group constituting an Eligible Stockholder). A record holder acting on behalf of one or more beneficial owners will not be counted separately as a stockholder with respect to the shares owned by beneficial owners on whose behalf such record holder has been directed in writing to act, but each such beneficial owner will be counted separately, subject to the other provisions of this subsection (d), for purposes of determining the number of stockholders whose holdings may be considered as part of an Eligible Stockholder’s holdings. For the avoidance of doubt, Proxy Access Request Required Shares will qualify as such if and only if the beneficial owner of such shares as of the date of the Proxy Access Notice has itself individually beneficially owned such shares continuously for the three-year period ending on that date and through the other applicable dates referred to above (in addition to the other applicable requirements being met).
(e) No later than the final date when a Proxy Access Notice pursuant to this Section 2.12 may be timely delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, an Eligible Stockholder (including each Constituent Holder) must provide the information required by Section 2.11 to the Secretary and also provide the following information in writing to the Secretary:
(i) with respect to each Constituent Holder, the name and address of, and number of shares of Voting Stock owned by, such person;
(ii) one or more written statements from the record holder of the shares (and from each intermediary through which the shares are or have been held during the requisite three-year holding period) verifying that, as of a date within 7 calendar days prior to the date the Proxy Access Notice is delivered to the Corporation, such person owns, and has owned continuously for the preceding three years, the Proxy Access Request Required Shares, and such person’s agreement to provide:
(A) within 10 days after the record date for the annual meeting, written statements from the record holder and intermediaries verifying such person’s continuous ownership of the Proxy Access Request Required Shares through the record date, together with any additional information reasonably requested to verify such person’s ownership of the Proxy Access Request Required Shares; and
(B) immediate notice if the Eligible Stockholder ceases to own any of the Proxy Access Request Required Shares prior to the date of the applicable annual meeting of stockholders;
(iii) a representation that such person:
(A) acquired the Proxy Access Request Required Shares in the ordinary course of business and not with the intent to change or influence control of the Corporation, and does not presently have any such intent;
(B) has not nominated and will not nominate for election to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting any person other than the Stockholder Nominee(s) being nominated pursuant to this Section 2.12;
(C) is not a party to any compensatory, payment or other financial agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation, and has not received any compensation or other payment from any person or entity other than the Corporation, in each case in connection with candidacy or service as a director of the Corporation, unless such person has provided a detailed description of such agreement, arrangement or understanding and its terms or of any such compensation received;
(D) has not engaged and will not engage in, and has not and will not be a “participant” in another person’s, “solicitation” within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the Exchange Act with respect to the Corporation in support of the election of any individual as a director at the annual meeting other than its Stockholder Nominee(s) or a nominee of the Board of Directors;
(E) will not distribute to any stockholder of the Corporation any form of proxy for the annual meeting other than the form distributed by the Corporation; and
(F) will provide facts, statements and other information in all communications with the Corporation and its stockholders that are and will be true and correct in all material respects and do not and will not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and will otherwise comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations in connection with any actions taken pursuant to this Section 2.12;
(iv) in the case of a nomination by a group of stockholders that together is such an Eligible Stockholder, the designation by all group members of one group member that is authorized to act on behalf of all members of the nominating stockholder group with respect to the nomination and matters related thereto, including withdrawal of the nomination; and
(v) an undertaking that such person agrees to:
(A) assume all liability stemming from, and indemnify and hold harmless the Corporation and its affiliates and each of its and their directors, officers, and employees individually against any liability, loss or damages in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether legal, administrative or investigative, against the Corporation or its affiliates or any of its or their directors, officers or employees arising out of any legal or regulatory violation arising out of the Eligible Stockholder’s communications with the stockholders of the Corporation or out of the information that the Eligible Stockholder (including such person) provided to the Corporation; and
(B) file with the Securities and Exchange Commission any solicitation by the Eligible Stockholder of stockholders of the Corporation relating to the annual meeting at which the Stockholder Nominee will be nominated.
In addition, no later than the final date when a Proxy Access Notice pursuant to this Section 2.12 may be timely delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, a Qualifying Fund whose stock ownership is counted for purposes of qualifying as an Eligible Stockholder must provide to the Secretary of the Corporation documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Board of Directors that demonstrates that the funds included within the Qualifying Fund satisfy the definition thereof. In order to be considered timely, any information required by this Section 2.12 to be provided to the Corporation must be supplemented (by delivery to the Secretary (x) no later than 10 days following the record date for the applicable annual meeting, to disclose the foregoing information as of such record date, and (y) no later than the fifth day before the annual meeting, to disclose the foregoing information as of the date that is no earlier than 10 days prior to such annual meeting. For the avoidance of doubt, the requirement to update and supplement such information shall not permit any Eligible Stockholder or other person to change or add any proposed Stockholder Nominee or be deemed to cure any defects or limit the remedies (including without limitation under these Bylaws) available to the Corporation relating to any defect.
(f) The Eligible Stockholder may provide to the Secretary of the Corporation, at the time the information required by this Section 2.12 is originally provided, a single written statement for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy statement for the annual meeting, not to exceed 500 words, in support of the candidacy of such Eligible Stockholder’s Stockholder Nominee(s) (the “Statement”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this paragraph Section 2.12, the Corporation may omit from its proxy materials any information or Statement that it, in good faith, believes is materially false or misleading, omits to state any material fact, directly or indirectly without factual foundation impugns the character, integrity or personal reputation of or makes charges concerning improper, illegal or immoral conduct or associations with respect to any person or would violate any applicable law or regulation.
(g) No later than the final date when a Proxy Access Notice pursuant to this Section 2.12 may be timely delivered to the Secretary, each Stockholder Nominee must provide to the Secretary the information required by paragraph Section 2.11 and also:
(i) provide an executed agreement, in a form deemed satisfactory by the Board of Directors or its designee (which form shall be provided by the Corporation reasonably promptly upon written request of a stockholder), that such Stockholder Nominee consents to being named in the Corporation’s proxy statement and form of proxy card (and will not agree to be named in any other person’s proxy statement or form of proxy card with respect to the Corporation) as a nominee and to serving as a director of the Corporation if elected; and
(ii) provide such additional information as necessary to permit the Board of Directors to determine if any of the matters referred to in subsection (i) below apply and to determine if such Stockholder Nominee has any direct or indirect relationship with the Corporation other than those relationships that have been deemed categorically immaterial pursuant to the
Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and the criteria for board membership set forth therein or is or has been subject to any event specified in Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K (or successor rule) of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
In the event that any information or communications provided by the Eligible Stockholder (or any Constituent Holder) or the Stockholder Nominee to the Corporation or its stockholders ceases to be true and correct in all material respects or omits a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, each Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the Secretary of the Corporation of any defect in such previously provided information and of the information that is required to correct any such defect; it being understood for the avoidance of doubt that providing any such notification shall not be deemed to cure any such defect or limit the remedies (including without limitation under these Bylaws) available to the Corporation relating to any such defect.
(h) Any Stockholder Nominee who is included in the Corporation’s proxy statement for a particular annual meeting of stockholders, but subsequently is determined not to satisfy the eligibility requirements of this Section 2.12 or any other provision of these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation or other applicable regulation any time before the annual meeting of stockholders, will not be eligible for election at the relevant annual meeting of stockholders.
(i) The Corporation shall not be required to include, pursuant to this Section 2.12, a Stockholder Nominee in its proxy materials for any annual meeting of stockholders, or, if the proxy statement already has been filed, to allow the nomination of a Stockholder Nominee (and may declare such nomination ineligible), notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation:
(i) who is not independent under the listing standards of the principal U.S. exchange upon which the common stock of the Corporation is listed, any applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in determining and disclosing independence of the Corporation’s directors, in each case as determined by the Board of Directors;
(ii) whose service as a member of the Board of Directors would violate or cause the Corporation to be in violation of these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, the rules and listing standards of the principal U.S. exchange upon which the common stock of the Corporation is traded, or any applicable law, rule or regulation;
(iii) who is a subject of a pending criminal proceeding (other than in connection with traffic violations and other similar minor offenses), has been convicted in a criminal proceeding within the past 10 years or is subject to an order of the type specified in Rule 506(d) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act;
(iv) if the Eligible Stockholder (or any Constituent Holder) or applicable Stockholder Nominee otherwise breaches or fails to comply in any material respect with its obligations pursuant to this Section 2.12 or any agreement, representation or undertaking required by this Section 2.12; or
(v) if the Eligible Stockholder ceases to be an Eligible Stockholder for any reason, including but not limited to not owning the Proxy Access Request Required Shares through the date of the applicable annual meeting.
(j) The notice requirements of this Section 2.12 shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder with respect to inclusion in the proxy statement referenced below of a proposal with respect to business other than a nomination if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his, her or its intention to present such proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 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 meeting.
(k) For the purposes of this Section 2.12:
(1) “Voting Stock” shall mean outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally for the election of directors;
(2) “Constituent Holder” shall mean any stockholder, collective investment fund included within a Qualifying Fund (as defined in subsection (d) below) or beneficial holder whose stock ownership is counted for the purposes of qualifying as holding the Proxy Access Request Required Shares (as defined in subsection (d) below) or qualifying as an Eligible Stockholder (as defined in subsection (d) below);
(3) “affiliate” and “associate” shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); provided , however , that the term “partner” as used in the definition of “associate” shall not include any limited partner that is not involved in the management of the relevant partnership; and
(4) a stockholder (including any Constituent Holder) shall be deemed to “own” only those outstanding shares of Voting Stock as to which the stockholder itself (or such Constituent Holder itself) possesses both (a) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares and (b) the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit and risk of loss on) such shares. The number of shares calculated in accordance with the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) shall be deemed not to include (and to the extent any of the following arrangements have been entered into by affiliates of the stockholder (or of any Constituent Holder), shall be reduced by) any shares (x) sold by such stockholder or Constituent Holder (or any of either’s affiliates) in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, including any short sale, (y) borrowed by such stockholder or Constituent Holder (or any of either’s affiliates) for any purposes or purchased by such stockholder or Constituent Holder (or any of either’s affiliates) pursuant to an agreement to resell, or (z) subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale, other derivative or similar agreement entered into by such stockholder or Constituent Holder (or any of either’s affiliates), whether any such instrument or agreement is to be settled with shares or with cash based on the notional amount or value of Voting Stock, in any such case which instrument or agreement has, or is intended to have, or if exercised by either party thereto would have, the purpose or effect of (i) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such stockholder’s or Constituent Holder’s (or either’s affiliate’s) full right to vote or direct the voting of any such
shares, and/or (ii) hedging, offsetting or altering to any degree gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of such shares by such stockholder or Constituent Holder (or either’s affiliate), other than any such arrangements solely involving an exchange listed multi-industry market index fund in which Voting Stock represents at the time of entry into such arrangement less than 10% of the proportionate value of such index. A stockholder (including any Constituent Holder) shall “own” shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the stockholder itself (or such Constituent Holder itself) retains the right to instruct how the shares are voted with respect to the election of directors and the right to direct the disposition thereof and possesses the full economic interest in the shares. For purposes of this Section 2.12, a stockholder’s (including any Constituent Holder’s) ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the stockholder has loaned such shares so long as such stockholder retains the power to recall such shares on no greater than 5 business days’ notice or has delegated any voting power over such shares by means of a proxy, power of attorney or other instrument or arrangement so long as such delegation is revocable at any time by the stockholder. The terms “owned,” “owning” and other variations of the word “own” shall have correlative meanings.
Section 2.13 Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the terms of any series of preferred stock permitting the holders of such series of preferred stock to act by written consent, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual meeting of the stockholders or special meeting of stockholders, and the ability of the stockholders to consent in writing to the taking of any action is hereby specifically denied.
Section 2.14 Inspectors at Meetings of Stockholders. The Board, by resolution, the Chair or Chief Executive Officer, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, shall appoint one or more inspectors, who may be employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and make a written report thereof. The Board 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 shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation. 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 have the duties prescribed by law, and shall (a) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, (b) determine the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum 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, 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 announced at the meeting. No ballot, proxies, 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 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.
ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 3.01 General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
Section 3.02 Number; Term of Office. The number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board but shall not be less than three (3) nor more than fifteen (15). The directors shall be divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as may be possible, of one-third of the total number of directors constituting the entire Board. The term of the initial Class I directors shall terminate on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2017; the term of the initial Class II directors shall terminate on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2018; and the term of the initial Class III directors shall terminate on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2019 or, in each case, upon such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. At each succeeding annual meeting of stockholders beginning with the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2017, successors to the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election and until his or her respective successor has been duly elected and qualified. If the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any additional director of any class elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in such class or from the removal from office, death, disability, resignation or disqualification of a director or other cause shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class, but in no case will a decrease in the number of directors have the effect of removing or shortening the term of any incumbent director.
If an incumbent director is not reelected, the director shall offer his or her resignation promptly to the Board. Within 90 days following certification of the election results, the Board shall act on the offered resignation. In determining whether to accept the offered resignation, the Board shall consider any recommendation of the Governance and Nominating Committee, the factors considered by that committee and any additional information and factors that the Board believes to be relevant. Any director who tenders his or her resignation pursuant to this provision shall not participate in the Governance and Nominating Committee recommendation or Board’s action regarding whether to accept the offered resignation.
Section 3.03 Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Subject to the terms of any one or more series of preferred stock entitled to elect directors, any newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the authorized number of directors and any vacancies occurring in the Board shall be filled solely by a majority of the remaining members of the Board, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. A director appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board shall hold office until the earlier of the expiration of the term of office of the director whom he or she has replaced, a successor is duly elected and qualified or the earlier of such director’s death, resignation or removal.
Section 3.04 Resignation and Removal of Directors. Any director may resign from the Board or any committee thereof at any time by notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of Corporation and, in the case of any committee, to the chair of such committee. Such resignation shall take effect at the date of receipt of such notice by the Corporation or at such later time as is therein specified, and acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Except as otherwise required by applicable law and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of shares of preferred stock then outstanding, any director or the entire Board may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the Corporation’s then outstanding capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. Any director serving on a committee of the Board may be removed from such committee at any time by the Board.
Section 3.05 Compensation. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board or a stated salary for services as a director, payable in cash or securities. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for services as committee members.
Section 3.06 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such times and at such places as may be determined from time to time by the Board or its chair.
Section 3.07 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be held at such times and at such places as may be determined by the chair or the Chief Executive Officer at least twenty-four (24) hours’ notice to each director given by one of the means specified in Section 3.10 hereof other than by mail or on at least three (3) days’ notice if given by mail. Special meetings shall be called by the chair or the Chief Executive Officer in like manner and on like notice on the written request of a majority of the directors.
Section 3.08 Telephone Meetings. Unless otherwise provided in the Certification of Incorporation or the Bylaws, the Board or Board committee meetings may be held by means of telephone conference or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and be heard. Participation by a director in a meeting pursuant to this Section 3.08 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 3.09 Adjourned Meetings. A majority of the directors present at any meeting of the Board, including an adjourned meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn and reconvene such meeting to another time and place. At least twenty-four (24) hours’ notice of any adjourned meeting of the Board 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 3.10 hereof other than by mail, or at least three (3) 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 3.10 Notices. Subject to Section 3.07, Section 3.09 and Section 3.11 hereof, whenever notice is required to be given to any director by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, such notice shall be deemed given effectively if given in person or by telephone, mail addressed to such director at such director’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, facsimile, e-mail or by other means of electronic transmission.
Section 3.11 Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice to directors is required by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof, in writing signed by, or by electronic transmission by, the director entitled to the notice, whether before or after such notice is required, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance by a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except when the director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special Board or committee meeting need be specified in any waiver of notice.
Section 3.12 Organization. At each meeting of the Board, or any committee thereof, the chair, or in his or her absence, another director selected by the Board or the committee, as applicable, shall preside. Except as provided below, the Secretary shall act as secretary at each meeting of the Board and of each committee thereof. If the Secretary is absent from any meeting of the Board or any committee thereof, an Assistant Secretary shall perform the duties of secretary at such meeting; and in the absence from any such meeting of the Secretary and Assistant Secretaries, the person presiding at the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the members of each committee of the Board may appoint any person to act as secretary of any meeting of such committee and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation may, but need not if such committee so elects, serve in such capacity.
Section 3.13 Quorum of Directors. The presence of a majority of the Board or any Board committee shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board or committee, as applicable.
Section 3.14 Action By Majority Vote. Except as otherwise expressly required by these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation or by applicable law, the vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board.
Section 3.15 Action Without Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all directors or members of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writings or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee in accordance with applicable law.
Section 3.16 Interested Directors; Quorum.
(a) No contract or other transaction between the Corporation and one or more of its directors, or between the Corporation and
any other corporation, partnership, association, or other organization in which one or more of the directors of the Corporation is a director or officer, or has a financial interest, shall be void or voidable, because the director is present at or participates in the meeting of the board or committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because such director’s vote is counted for such purpose, if:
(i) the material facts as to such director’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board or the committee, and the Board or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested Directors be less than a quorum;
(ii) the material facts as to such director’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or
(iii) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the Board, a committee thereof, or the stockholders; and
(b) Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.
Section 3.17 Committees of the Board. The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Subject to the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or quotation system on which the securities of the Corporation are listed for trading, if a member of a committee shall be absent from any meeting, or disqualified from voting thereat, the remaining member or members present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by applicable law and provided in the resolution establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it to the extent so authorized by the Board. Unless the Board provides otherwise, at all meetings of such committee, a majority of the then authorized members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the vote of a majority of the members of the committee present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the committee. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings. Unless the Board provides otherwise, each committee designated by the Board may make, alter and repeal rules and procedures for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules and procedures each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board conducts its business pursuant to this Article III. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article III, any resolution of the Board establishing or directing any committee of the Board or establishing or amending the charter of any such committee may establish requirements or procedures relating to the governance and/or operation of such committee that are different from, or in addition to, those set forth in these Bylaws and, to the extent that there is any inconsistency between these Bylaws and any such resolution or charter, the terms of such resolution or charter shall be controlling.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 4.01 Positions and Election. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers with such other titles as the Board shall determine, including one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries. The Board may appoint such other officers as it may deem appropriate. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. Officers may, but need not, be directors or stockholders of the Corporation. The salaries of all officers shall be shall be fixed by the Board.
Section 4.02 Term. Each officer of the Corporation shall hold office until such officer’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation or removal. The Board may remove any officer at any time with or without cause by the majority vote of the members of the Board.
Section 4.03 Resignation. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving written notice of his or her resignation to the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless such notice provides that the resignation is effective at some later time or upon the occurrence of some later event.
Section 4.04 Vacancies. A vacancy occurring in any office shall be filled in the same manner as provide for the election or appointment to such office.
Section 4.05 Chief Executive Officer; President. Unless the Board has designated another person as the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general charge and supervision of the business of the Corporation subject to the direction of the Board, and shall perform all duties and have all powers that are commonly incident to the office of chief executive or that are delegated to such officer by the Board. The President shall perform such other duties and shall have such other powers as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer (if the President is not the Chief Executive Officer) may from time to time prescribe.
Section 4.06 Vice Presidents. Each Vice President shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer (or the President if there is no Chief Executive Officer). The Board may assign to any Vice President the title of Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or any other title selected by the Board.
Section 4.07 Secretary; Assistant Secretary. The Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, shall attend all sessions of the Board and all meetings of the stockholders and record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that
purpose, and shall perform like duties for committees when required. He or she shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and meetings of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board. The Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Corporation and have authority to affix the seal to all documents requiring it and attest to the same.
Section 4.08 Treasurer; Assistant Treasurer. The Treasurer, or an Assistant Treasurer, shall have the custody of the corporate funds and other property of the Corporation, except as otherwise provided by the Board, and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer, or an Assistant Treasurer, shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and whenever requested by the Board, shall render an account of all his or her transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board.
Section 4.09 Delegation of Authority. The Board may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officer or agent, notwithstanding the provisions herein.
Section 4.10 Voting Securities Owned by the Corporation. Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the Chief Executive Officer, any President, any Vice President or any other officer authorized to do so by the Board and any such officer may, in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation may own securities and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed if present. The Board may, by resolution, from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.
Section 4.11 Chair of the Board. The Board, in its discretion, may choose a Chair (who shall be a director but need not be elected as an officer). The Chair of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders, the Board. The Chair of the Board shall perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned by these Bylaws or by the Board.
ARTICLE V
STOCK CERTIFICATES AND THEIR TRANSFER
Section 5.01 Certificates Representing Shares. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates; provided that the Board may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any class or series shall be uncertificated shares that may be evidenced by a book-entry system maintained by the registrar of such stock. If shares are represented by certificates, such certificates shall be in the form, other than bearer form, approved by the Board. The certificates representing shares of stock of each class shall be signed by, or in the name of, the Corporation by the chair, any vice chair, the president or any vice president, and by the secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer or any assistant treasurer. Any or all such signatures may be facsimiles. Although any officer, transfer agent or registrar whose manual or facsimile signature is affixed to such a certificate ceases to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate has been issued, it may nevertheless be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such officer, transfer agent or registrar were still such at the date of its issue.
Section 5.02 Transfers of Stock. Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these Bylaws. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the holder of record thereof, by such person’s attorney lawfully constituted in writing and, in the case of certificated shares, upon the surrender of the certificate thereof, which shall be cancelled before a new certificate or uncertificated shares shall be issued. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing from and to whom transferred.
Section 5.03 Transfer Agents and Registrars. The Board may appoint, or authorize any officer or officers to appoint, one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars.
Section 5.04 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new certificate or uncertificated shares in place of any previously issued certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon such terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe, including the presentation of reasonable evidence of such loss, theft or destructions and the giving of such indemnity and posting of such bond sufficient to indemnify the Corporation or the transfer agent or registrar against any claim that may be made against them.
Section 5.05 Dividend Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board 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 sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Section 5.06 Record Owners. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and 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, except as otherwise required by law.
ARTICLE VI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 6.01 Corporate Seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware”. The seal of the Corporation shall be in such form as shall be approved by the Board. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise, as may be prescribed by law or custom or by the Board.
Section 6.02 Fiscal Year. Except as from time to time otherwise designated by the Board, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December 31.
Section 6.03 Contracts. Except as otherwise provide in these Bylaws, the Board may authorize any officer or officers to enter into any contract or to execute or deliver any instrument on behalf of the Corporation and such authority may be general or limited to specific instances. Any officer so authorized may, unless the authorizing resolution otherwise provides, delegate such authority to one or more subordinate officers, employees or agents, and such delegation may provide for further delegation.
Section 6.04 Checks, Notes, Drafts, Etc. All checks, notes, drafts or other orders for the payment of money of the Corporation shall be signed, endorsed or accepted in the name of the Corporation by such officer, officers, person or persons as from time to time may be designated by the Board or by an officer or officers authorized by the Board to make such designation.
Section 6.05 Dividends. Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the requirements of the DGCL and the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, if any, may be declared by the Board at any regular or special meeting of the Board (or any action by written consent in lieu thereof in accordance with Section 3.16), and may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the Corporation’s capital stock. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board from time to time, in its absolute discretion, deems proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for purchasing any of the shares of capital stock, warrants, rights, options, bonds, debentures, notes, scrip or other securities or evidences of indebtedness of the Corporation, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for any proper purpose, and the Board may modify or abolish any such reserve.
Section 6.06 Conflict With Applicable Law or Certificate of Incorporation. These Bylaws are adopted subject to any applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation. Whenever these Bylaws may conflict with any applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, such conflict shall be resolved in favor of such law or the Certificate of Incorporation.
ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 7.01 Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings other Than Those by or in the Right of the Corporation. Subject to Section 7.03, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.
Section 7.02 Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings by or in the Right of the Corporation. Subject to Section 7.03, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving in any capacity, at the request of the Corporation, any another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Section 7.03 Authorization of Indemnification. Any indemnification under this Article VII (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director or officer is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 7.01 or Section 7.02, as the case may be. Such determination shall be made (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders. To the extent, however, that a present or former director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise
in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he or she shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith, without the necessity of authorization in the specific case. Any person seeking indemnification from the Corporation under this Article VII must notify the Corporation in writing as soon as practicable of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation involving such person for which indemnity will or could be sought.
Section 7.04 Good Faith Defined. For purposes of any determination under Section 7.03, to the extent permitted by law, a person shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, or, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, to have had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful, if his or her action is based on the records or books of account of the Corporation or another enterprise, or on information supplied to him or her by the officers of the Corporation or another enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Corporation or another enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Corporation or another enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Corporation or another enterprise. The term “another enterprise” as used in this Section 4 shall mean any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise of which such person is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer. The provisions of this Section 7.04 shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 7.01 or Section 7.02, as the case may be.
Section 7.05 Indemnification by a Court. Notwithstanding any contrary determination in the specific case under Section 7.03, and notwithstanding the absence of any determination thereunder, any director or officer may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware for indemnification to the extent otherwise permissible under Section 7.01 and Section 7.02. The basis of such indemnification by a court shall be a determination by such court that indemnification of the director or officer is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standards of conduct set forth in Section 7.01 or Section 7.02, as the case may be. Notice of any application for indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.05 shall be given to the Corporation promptly upon the filing of such application.
Section 7.06 Expenses Payable in Advance. Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article VII (which undertaking shall be accepted without reference to the financial ability of the person to make such repayment); provided, however, that, with respect to persons who are not directors, no advancement of expenses shall be made under this Article VII if the Corporation shall determine that (i) such person did not act in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation, or (ii) with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, such person had reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. A director or officer seeking advancement of expenses shall submit to the Corporation a written request.
Section 7.07 Non-exclusivity of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to this Article VII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any Bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, it being the policy of the Corporation that indemnification of the persons specified in Section 7.01 and Section 7.02 shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law. The provisions of this Article VII shall not be deemed to preclude the indemnification of any person who is not specified in Section 7.01 or Section 7.02 but whom the Corporation has the power or obligation to indemnify under the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or otherwise.
Section 7.08 Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of this Article VII.
Section 7.09 Certain Definitions for Purposes of Article VII. Terms used in this Article VII and defined in Section 145(h) or Section 145(i) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in such Section 145(h) or Section 145(i).
Section 7.10 Limitations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article VII, the Corporation shall not be required to indemnify any person pursuant to this Article VII in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by that person unless (1) the initiation thereof was approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or (2) the initiation thereof was in connection with successfully establishing that person’s right to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article VII. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article VII, the Corporation shall not indemnify a person to the extent such person has been reimbursed from the proceeds of insurance, and in the event the Corporation makes any indemnification payments to a person and such person is subsequently reimbursed from the proceeds of insurance, such person shall promptly refund indemnification payments to the Corporation to the extent of such insurance reimbursement.
Section 7.11 Survival of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VII shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. A right to indemnification and to advancement of expenses arising under this Article VII shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to such provision after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought.
Section 7.12 Savings Clause. If this Article VII or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each director or officer to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article VII that shall not have been invalidated.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
Section 8.01 Amendments. These Bylaws may be amended, altered, changed, adopted and repealed or new bylaws adopted by the Board or by the stockholders as expressly provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.
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