HOV 8-K
Hovnanian Enterprises Inc (HOV)
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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(State or Other
Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
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(Commission File Number)
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(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since
Last Report)
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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Title of each class
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Trading symbol(s)
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Name of each exchange on which registered
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The
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Votes For
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Votes Against
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Abstentions
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Broker Non-Votes
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|||||
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A. Hovnanian
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9,059,327
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89,557
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124,387
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1,609,784
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R. Coutts
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8,970,521
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173,070
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129,680
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1,609,784
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M. Hernandez-Kakol
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9,052,930
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90,657
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129,684
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1,609,784
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E. Kangas
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8,419,291
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724,500
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129,480
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1,609,784
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J. Marengi
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8,436,196
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707,468
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129,607
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1,609,784
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V. Pagano Jr.
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8,376,707
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766,926
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129,638
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1,609,784
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R. Sellers
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8,530,922
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615,838
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126,511
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1,609,784
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J. Sorsby
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9,026,897
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119,980
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126,394
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1,609,784
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Votes For
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Votes Against
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Abstentions
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Broker Non-Votes
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|||
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10,738,983
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15,588
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128,484
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-
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Votes For
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Votes Against
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Abstentions
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Broker Non-Votes
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8,925,527
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209,162
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138,582
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1,609,784
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Votes For One Year
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Votes For Two Years
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Votes For Three Years
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Abstentions
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Broker Non-Votes
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9,027,555
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6,087
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107,264
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132,365
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1,609,784
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(d) Exhibits
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Exhibit No.
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Description
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3.1
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104
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Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
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HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.
(Registrant)
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By:
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/s/ Elizabeth Tice
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Name: Elizabeth Tice
Title: Vice President, Corporate Counsel and
Secretary
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Exhibit 3.1
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS of
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.
As of
March 28, 2023
ARTICLE I
MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Place of Meeting and Notice. Meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may determine; provided, that, only the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place but instead shall be held solely by means of remote communication.
Section 2. Annual and Special Meetings. Annual meetings of stockholders shall be held, at a date, time and place, if any, fixed by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of meeting, to elect a Board of Directors and to transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting. Special meetings of the stockholders may be called by the Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer for any purpose and shall be called by the President or Secretary if directed by the Board of Directors or requested in writing by the holders of shares representing not less than 25% of the votes of the Corporation’s issued and outstanding capital stock. Each such stockholder request shall state the purpose of the proposed meeting.
Section 3. Notice. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, at least 10 and not more than 60 days before each meeting of stockholders, notice of the time, date and place, if any, of the meeting and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present and vote at such meetings, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting.
Section 4. Quorum. At any meeting of stockholders, the holders of record, present in person or by proxy, of a majority of the votes of the Corporation’s issued and outstanding capital stock entitled to vote at the meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws. In the absence of a quorum, any officer entitled to preside at or to act as secretary of the meeting shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum is present.
Section 5. Voting. Except as otherwise specifically provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-Laws or as otherwise required by law, with respect to all matters upon which stockholders are entitled to vote or to which stockholders are entitled to give consent, the holders of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and the holders of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock shall vote together without regard to class and all such matters shall be decided by a majority of votes of the holders voting or consenting with respect to such matters.
Section 6. Meetings by Remote Communication. At the discretion of the Board of Directors, and subject to any guidelines and procedures that the Board of Directors may adopt from time to time, stockholders and proxy holders not physically present at a meeting of the stockholders may, by means of remote communication, participate in the meeting of stockholders and may be considered present in person and may vote at the meeting of the stockholders, whether the meeting is held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication. The Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person considered present and authorized to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxy holder. The Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide the stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with the proceedings, and in the event any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of the vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.
Section 7. Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.
(A) Annual Meetings. (1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (a) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) delivered pursuant to Article I, Section 3 of these By-Laws, (b) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or (c) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote on such election or such other business at the meeting, who complied with the notice procedures set forth in subparagraphs (2), (3), (4) and (5) of this paragraph (A) of this By-Law and who was a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation.
(2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, and, in the case of business other than nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors, such other business must be a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than twenty (20) days, or delayed by more than seventy (70) days, from such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made; and provided further, that for purposes of the application of Rule 14a-4(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (or any successor provision), the date for notice specified in this paragraph (A)(2) shall be the earlier of the date calculated as hereinbefore provided or the date specified in paragraph (c)(1) of Rule 14a-4. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director (i) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including such person’s written consent to being named in the Corporation’s proxy statement as a nominee of the stockholder and to serving as a director if elected, (ii) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director of the Corporation and (iii) such person’s written representation and agreement that such person is not and will not become a party to (x) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity as to how such person would vote or act on any issue or question as a director (“Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law and (y) in such person’s individual capacity, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with, all applicable publicly disclosed confidentiality, corporate governance, conflict of interest, Regulation FD, code of conduct and ethics, and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation; (b) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these By-Laws, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (iii) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or proposal and/or the voting of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation between or among such stockholder and/or such beneficial owner, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing, including, in the case of a nomination, the nominee (collectively, “proponent persons”), (iv) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, a proponent person, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in underlying shares of capital stock of the Corporation, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for a proponent person, or increase or decrease the voting power or pecuniary or economic interest of, such proponent person, with respect to securities of the Corporation, (v) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination, (vi) a representation whether the proponent persons, intend to be or are part of a group which intends (A) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (B) otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination, (vii) a representation whether the stockholder is being financed or indemnified by any third party for making the proposal, (viii) if such stockholder or any other proponent person intends to engage in a solicitation with respect to a nomination pursuant to this Section 7, (A) a statement disclosing the name of each participant in such solicitation (as defined in Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) and (B) a representation that such stockholder or other proponent person, if any, intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required under Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act, (ix) a certification regarding whether such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, have complied with all applicable federal, state and other legal requirements in connection with the stockholder’s and/or beneficial owner’s acquisition of shares of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation and/or the stockholder’s and/or beneficial owner’s acts or omissions as a stockholder of the Corporation and (x) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in an election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. A stockholder providing notice of a proposed nomination for election to the Board of Directors or other business proposed to be brought before a meeting (whether given pursuant to this paragraph (A)(2) or paragraph (B) of this By-Law) shall update and supplement such notice from time to time to the extent necessary so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is 15 days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof; such update and supplement shall be delivered in writing to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than 5 days after the record date for the meeting (in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than 10 days prior to the date for the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of 15 days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). In addition, if any stockholder provides notice of a proposed nomination for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act, such stockholder shall deliver to the Corporation, no later than five (5) business days prior to the applicable meeting, reasonable evidence that it has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act. In addition to the other requirements of this Section 7, each person whom a stockholder proposes to nominate for election to the Board of Directors must deliver in writing (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under this Section 7) to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation a completed written questionnaire with respect to the background, qualifications, stock ownership and independence of such proposed nominee (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary of the Corporation upon written request of any stockholder of record identified by name within five (5) business days of such written request).
The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation and to determine the independence of such director under the Exchange Act and rules and regulations thereunder and applicable stock exchange rules.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 7 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the Corporation at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 7 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, unless otherwise required by law, if any stockholder provides notice of a proposed nomination for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act and subsequently fails to comply with any requirements of Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act or any other rules or regulations thereunder, as determined by the chair of the meeting, then the Corporation shall disregard any proxies or votes solicited for such nominees. In addition, any stockholder that provides notice of a proposed nomination for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act shall notify the Secretary within two (2) business days of any change in such stockholder’s intent to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to the amount of holders of shares of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required under Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act.
(5) Any stockholder directly or indirectly soliciting proxies from other stockholders must use a proxy card color other than white, which shall be reserved for the exclusive use by the Board of Directors.
(B) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting pursuant to Article I, Section 3 of these By-Laws. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or stockholders pursuant to Section 2 of these By-Laws) or (b) provided that the Board of Directors (or stockholders pursuant to Section 2 of these By-Laws) has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote on such election at the meeting, who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 7 and who is a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice as required by paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 7 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which the Corporation first makes a public announcement of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting.
(C) General. (1) Except as otherwise expressly provided in any applicable rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act, only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 7 shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 7. Except as otherwise provided by law, the chair of the meeting shall have the power and duty (a) to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 7 and, (b) if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Section 7, to declare that such defective nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 7, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.
(2) For purposes of this Section 7, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed or furnished by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(3) For purposes of this By-Law, no adjournment or postponement or notice of adjournment or postponement of any meeting shall be deemed to constitute a new notice of such meeting for purposes of this Section 7, and in order for any notification required to be delivered by a stockholder pursuant to this Section 7 to be timely, such notification must be delivered within the periods set forth above with respect to the originally scheduled meeting.
(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 7; provided however, that any references in these By-Laws to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to this Section 7 (including paragraphs (A)(1)(c) and (B) hereof), and compliance with paragraphs (A)(1)(c) and (B) of this Section 7 shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business. Nothing in this Section 7 shall apply to the right, if any, of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation) to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS
Section 1. Number. Term of Office and Removal. The Directors of the Corporation shall be up to eleven in number, the exact number to be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. Directors need not be stockholders. The Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation and each Director shall be elected to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders, or until his or her successor shall have been elected and qualified. Any Director may be removed, either with or without cause, and his or her successor elected, at any time by a vote of the stockholders at a special meeting called for such purpose. Any other vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors may be filled for the unexpired term by vote of the remaining Directors although less than a quorum.
Section 2. Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times and places as may from time to time be fixed by the Board of Directors or as may be specified in a notice of meeting. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time upon the call of the President and shall be called by the President or Secretary if directed by the Board of Directors. Members of the Board of Directors may participate in any meeting of the Board of Directors (whether regular, special or adjourned) by conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation shall constitute presence in person at the meeting. Telephonic, facsimile, or other means of electronic communication or written-notice of each special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be sent to each Director not less than two days before such meeting. A meeting of the Board of Directors may be held without notice immediately after the annual meeting of the stockholders. Notice need not be given of regular meetings of the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Quorum. One-third of the total number of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the Directors present may adjourn the Meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until such a quorum is present. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, these By-Laws or any contract or agreement to which the Corporation is a party, the act of a majority of the Directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Committee of Directors. The Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted by the Board, designate one or more committees, to have and exercise such power and authority as the Board of Directors shall specify. In the absence of disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another Director to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.
Section 5. Action by Unanimous Consent of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and the writing or writings or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee in accordance with applicable law.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other additional officers with such titles as the Board of Directors shall determine, all of whom shall be chosen by and shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. Such officers shall have the usual powers and shall perform all the usual duties incident to their respective offices. All officers shall be subject to the supervision and direction of the Board of Directors. The authority, duties or responsibilities of any officer of the Corporation may be suspended by the President with or without cause. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed by the Board of Directors with or without cause.
ARTICLE IV
INDEMNIFICATION
To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware:
(a) The Corporation shall indemnify any current or former director or officer of the Corporation and his or her heirs, executors and administrators, and may, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, indemnify any current or former employee or agent of the Corporation and his or her heirs, executors and administers, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or by his or her heirs, executors and administrators in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (brought by or in the right of the Corporation or otherwise), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal, including appeals, to which he was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party by reason of his or her current or former position with the Corporation or by reason of the fact that he is or was serving, at the request of the Corporation, as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in this Article IV, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a director or officer of the Corporation and his or her heirs, executors and administrators in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized in the specific case by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
(b) The Corporation may pay expenses incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding described in subsection (a) of this Article in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, including appeals.
(c) By action of its Board of Directors, notwithstanding any interest of the directors in the action, the Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person described in subsection (a) of this Article, in such amounts as the Board of Directors deems appropriate, against any liability asserted against him, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such Liability under the provisions of this Article or otherwise.
(d) The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to all actions, claims, suits or proceedings made or commenced after the adoption hereof, whether arising from acts or omissions to act occurring before or after its adoption. The provisions of this Article shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each director, officer, employee or agent who serves in such capacity at any time while this Article and the relevant provisions of the laws of the State of Delaware and other applicable law, if any, are in effect, and any repeal or modification thereof shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts or any action, suit or proceeding then or theretofore existing, or any action, suit or proceeding thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part on any such state of facts. The Corporation shall not, in connection with the settlement or resolution of any claim alleged against it in any action, suit or proceeding, seek or consent to entry of an order that releases, bars or otherwise affects the rights of indemnification and advancement of expenses provided in this Article.
If any provision of this Article shall be found to be invalid or limited in application by reason of any law or regulation, it shall not affect any other application of such provision or the validity of the remaining provisions hereof. The rights of indemnification and advancement of expenses provided in this Article shall neither be exclusive of, nor be deemed in limitation of, any rights to which any such officer, director, employee or agent may otherwise be entitled or permitted by contract, the Certificate of Incorporation, vote of stockholders or directors or otherwise, or as a matter of law, both as to actions in his or her official capacity and actions in any other capacity while holding such office, it being the policy of the Corporation that indemnification of the specified individuals shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law.
(e) For purposes of this Article, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves service by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries.
ARTICLE V
STOCK CERTIFICATES
The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Corporation by any two authorized officers of the Corporation certifying the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation. Any of or all the signatures on the certificate may be facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.
ARTICLE VI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Notices. Whenever any statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws require notice to be given to any Director or stockholder, such notice may be given in writing by mail, addressed to such Director or stockholder at his or her address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. Such notice shall be deemed to have been given when it is deposited in the United States mail. Notice to Directors may also be given by telephone, facsimile or other means of transmission. Electronic notice may be given to the stockholders in accordance with applicable law.
Section 2. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VII
FORUM
Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, (A)(1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (2) any action or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, other employee or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (3) any action or proceeding asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws (as either may be amended or restated) or as to which the Delaware General Corporation Law confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or (4) any action or proceeding asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the law of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, such other state or federal district court located in the State of Delaware; and (B) the federal district courts of the United States shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action or proceeding arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article VII.