HUBG 8-K
Hub Group, Inc. (HUBG)
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
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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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. |
On February 23, 2023, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Hub Group, Inc. (the “Company”) amended and restated the Company’s Amended and Restated By-Laws (the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”). The amendments revise Article IV to eliminate the requirement that the Chairman of the Board also be the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and make related conforming changes. The Amended and Restated By-Laws also incorporate ministerial, clarifying and conforming changes to the roles of other officers of the Company.
The foregoing summary of the Amended and Restated By-Laws above does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete copy of the By-laws, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.
| ITEM 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
| Exhibit No. |
Description of Exhibit | |
| 3.1 | Amended and Restated By-Laws of Hub Group, Inc., effective as of February 23, 2023 | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File – the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document | |
SIGNATURE
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.
| HUB GROUP, INC. | ||||||
| Date: February 28, 2023 | By: | /s/ Thomas P. LaFrance | ||||
| Thomas P. LaFrance | ||||||
| Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | ||||||
Exhibit 3.1
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Effective February 23, 2023 |
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF HUB GROUP, INC
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. The registered office of the Corporation shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware. The Corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Time and Place of Meetings. All meetings of the stockholders for the election of directors or for any other purpose shall be held at such time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated by the Board of Directors. In the absence of a designation of a place for any such meeting by the Board of Directors, each such meeting shall be held at the principal office of the Corporation.
Section 2. Annual Meetings. An annual meeting of stockholders shall be held for the purpose of electing directors and transacting such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting. The date of the annual meeting shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by law, shall be called in the manner prescribed in the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”).
Section 4. Notice of Meetings. Written notice of each meeting of the stockholders stating the place, date and time of the meeting shall be given not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice of any special meeting of stockholders shall state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, an annual or special meeting of stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice.
Section 5. Quorum; Adjournment. The holders of one third (1/3) of the shares of capital stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at such meeting of the stockholders for the transaction of business, except as otherwise required by these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Delaware General Corporation Law as from time to time in effect (the “Delaware Law”). If a quorum is not represented, the holders of the stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereat shall have power, by a majority of the votes cast by shares represented in person or by proxy, to adjourn the meeting to another time and/or place, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, except as
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hereinafter provided, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting, at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. Withdrawal of stockholders from any meeting shall not cause the failure of a duly constituted quorum at such meeting.
Section 6. Voting. At all meetings of the stockholders, each stockholder shall be entitled to vote, in person, or by proxy appointed in an instrument in writing subscribed by the stockholder or otherwise appointed in accordance with Section 212 of the Delaware Law, each share of voting stock owned by such stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting. Each issued and outstanding share of Class A Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one (1) vote on all matters and each issued and outstanding share of Class B Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to the number of votes set forth in Article Fourth Section 4 of the Certificate of Incorporation on all matters, unless otherwise provided in the Delaware Law or the Certificate of Incorporation. When a quorum is present, other than the election of directors, an action to be taken by vote of the stockholders shall be authorized by a majority of the votes cast by shares represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at such meeting, unless a greater vote is required by the Delaware Law or the Certificate of Incorporation. When a quorum is present, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shares represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of directors at such meeting. Any stockholder who is in attendance at a meeting of stockholders either in person or by proxy, but who abstains from the vote on any matter, shall not be deemed present or represented at such meeting for purposes of the preceding two sentences with respect to such vote, but shall be deemed present or represented at such meeting for all other purposes. The Corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof, in accordance with Delaware Law.
Section 7. Informal Action by Stockholders. Any action required to be taken at a meeting of the stockholders, or any other action which may be taken at a meeting of the stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing.
Section 8. Advisory Stockholder Votes. In order for stockholders to adopt or approve any precatory proposal submitted to them for the purpose of requesting the Board of Directors to take certain actions, the affirmative vote of the holders of shares of capital stock having at least a majority of the vote which could be cast by the holders of all shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereupon, voting as a single class, must be voted in favor of the proposal in accordance with Section 6 of this Article II.
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ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 1. General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed and controlled by or under the direction of its Board of Directors, which may exercise all such powers of, and do all such acts and things as may be done by, the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
Section 2. Number, Qualification and Tenure. The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall consist of such number of members as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. Within the limit specified in the Certificate of Incorporation, the number of directors shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. The number of directors initially shall be fixed at three (3). The directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders, except as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, and each director elected shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, termination, resignation or removal from office. Directors need not be stockholders.
Section 3. Vacancies and Newly-Created Directorships. Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and each director so chosen shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, termination, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office. If there are no directors in office, then an election of directors may be held in the manner provided by law.
Section 4. Place of Meetings. The Board of Directors may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware.
Section 5. Meetings. The Board of Directors shall hold a regular meeting, to be known as the annual meeting, immediately following each annual meeting of the stockholders. Other regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such time and place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board. No notice of regular meetings need be given, other than by announcement at the immediately preceding regular meeting. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairman of the Board or Vice Chairman, if any, or the Chief Executive Officer or by the Secretary on the written request of a majority of the Board of Directors. Notice of any special meeting of the Board shall be given at least twenty-four hours prior thereto, either in writing, or telephonically if confirmed promptly in writing, to each director at the address shown for such director on the records of the Corporation.
Section 6. Waiver of Notice; Business and Purpose. Notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors may be waived in writing signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice either before or after the time of the meeting. The attendance of a director at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened and at the beginning of the meeting records such objection with the person acting as secretary of the meeting and does not thereafter vote on any action taken at the meeting. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting, unless specifically required by the Delaware Law.
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Section 7. Quorum and Manner of Acting. At all meetings of the Board of Directors a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. 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, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by the Delaware Law or by the Certificate of Incorporation. Withdrawal of directors from any meeting shall not cause the failure of a duly constituted quorum at such meeting. A director who is in attendance at a meeting of the Board of Directors but who abstains from the vote on any matter shall not be deemed present at such meeting for purposes of the preceding sentence with respect to such vote, but shall be deemed present at such meeting for all other purposes.
Section 8. Nomination of Directors and Presentation of Business at Stockholder Meetings.
| A. | Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) by any stockholder who was a stockholder of record at the time of the giving of notice provided for in this Section 8, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 8. |
| B. | For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a) of this Section 8, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 60 days nor more than 90 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 30 days or delayed by more than 60 days from such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 90th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business or the later of (i) the 60th day prior to such annual meeting or (ii) the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth (i) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); (ii) 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 |
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| meeting, 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; (iii) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (1) the name and address of such stockholder as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner and (2) the class and number of shares of stock of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner. Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of this paragraph (b) to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors 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 70 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice 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 10th day following the day on which the public announcement is first made by the Corporation. |
| C. | Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders with regard to which the Board of Directors has determined that directors are to be elected (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder who is a stockholder of record at the time of the giving of notice provided for in this Section 8, who shall be entitled to vote for the election of directors at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 8. 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 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 setting forth the information and complying with the form described in paragraph (b) of this Section 8 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the 90th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the late of (i) the 60th day prior to such special meeting or (ii) the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. |
| D. | Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 8 shall be eligible 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 8. The Chairman of the meeting of stockholders shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 8 and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Section 8, to declare that such defective nominations or proposal shall be disregarded. |
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| E. | For purposes of this Section 8, “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 by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. |
| F. | Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8, (i) if any class or series of stock has the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, such directors shall be nominated and elected pursuant to the terms of such class or series of stock; and (ii) 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 8. Nothing in this Section 8 shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act. |
Section 9. Organization. The Chairman of the Board, if elected, shall act as chairman at all meetings of the Board of Directors. If the Chairman of the Board is not elected or, if elected, is not present, the Vice Chairman, if any, or if no such Vice Chairman is present, a director chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall act as chairman at such meeting of the Board of Directors.
Section 10. Committees.
| A. | Executive Committee. The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the whole Board of Directors, may designate one or more directors to constitute an Executive Committee, to serve as such, unless the resolution designating the Executive Committee is sooner amended or rescinded by the Board of Directors, until the next annual meeting of the Board of Directors or until their respective successors are designated. The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the whole Board of Directors, may also designate additional directors as alternate members of the Executive Committee to serve as members of the Executive Committee in the place and stead of any regular member or members thereof who may be unable to attend a meeting or otherwise unavailable to act as a member of the Executive Committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member and all alternate members who may serve in the place and stead of such member, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another director to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. |
Except as expressly limited by Delaware Law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the Executive Committee shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation between the
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meetings of the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee shall keep a record of its acts and proceedings, which shall form a part of the records of the Corporation in the custody of the Secretary, and all actions of the Executive Committee shall be reported to the Board of Directors at the next meeting of the Board of Directors.
Meetings of the Executive Committee may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, the Chief Executive Officer or any two of its members. No notice of meetings need be given. A majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and, except as expressly limited by this section, the act of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Executive Committee. Except as expressly provided in this Section, the Executive Committee shall fix its own rules of procedure.
| B. | Audit Committee. The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the whole Board of Directors, may designate two or more directors to constitute an Audit Committee, to serve as such, unless the resolution designating the Audit Committee is sooner amended or rescinded by the Board of Directors, until the next annual meeting of the Board of Directors or until their respective successors are designated. The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the whole Board of Directors, may also designate additional directors as alternate members of the Audit Committee to serve as members of the Audit Committee in the place and stead of any regular member or members thereof who may be unable to attend a meeting or otherwise unavailable to act as a member of the Audit Committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member and all alternate members who may serve in the place and stead of such member, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another director to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Each member of the Audit Committee shall be independent of management of the Corporation and free from any relationship that, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment as a member of the Audit Committee. |
Except as expressly limited by Delaware Law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the Audit Committee shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors to establish auditing procedures for the Corporation and to appoint and oversee the Corporation’s independent public accountants to the fullest extent. The Audit Committee shall keep a record of its acts and proceedings, which shall form a part of the records of the Corporation in the custody of the Secretary, and all actions of the Audit Committee shall be reported to the Board of Directors at the next meeting of the Board of Directors.
Meetings of the Audit Committee may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or any two of its members. Two days’ written or telephonic notice of meetings shall be given. A majority of the members of the Audit Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and, except as expressly limited by this section, the act of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Audit Committee. Except as expressly provided in this Section, the Audit Committee shall fix its own rules of procedure.
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| C. | Executive Compensation Committee. The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the whole Board of Directors, may designate two or more directors to constitute an Executive Compensation Committee, to serve as such, unless the resolution designating the Executive Compensation Committee is sooner amended or rescinded by the Board of Directors, until the next annual meeting of the Board of Directors or until their respective successors are designated. The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the whole Board of Directors, may also designate additional directors as alternate members of the Executive Compensation Committee to serve as members of the Executive Compensation Committee in the place and stead of any regular member or members thereof who may be unable to attend a meeting or otherwise unavailable to act as a member of the Executive Compensation Committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member and all alternate members who may serve in the place and stead of such member, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another director to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Each member of the Executive Compensation Committee shall be a “disinterested person” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(c)(2)(i) promulgated under the Exchange Act. |
Except as expressly limited by Delaware Law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the Executive Compensation Committee shall have and may exercise such powers as the Board of Directors may determine and specify by resolution. The Executive Compensation Committee shall keep a record of its acts and proceedings, which shall form a part of the records of the Corporation in the custody of the Secretary, and all actions of the Executive Compensation Committee shall be reported to the Board of Directors at the next meeting of the Board of Directors.
Meetings of the Executive Compensation Committee may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or any two of its members. Two days’ written or telephonic notice of meetings shall be given. A majority of the members of the Executive Compensation Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and, except as expressly limited by this section, the act of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Executive Compensation Committee. Except as expressly provided in this Section, the Executive Compensation Committee shall fix its own rules of procedure.
| D. | Other Committees. The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the whole Board of Directors, may designate one or more other committees, each such committee to consist of two or more directors. Except as expressly limited by Delaware Law or the Certificate of Incorporation, any such committee shall have and may exercise such powers as the Board of Directors may determine and specify in the resolution designating such committee. The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the whole Board of Directors, also may designate one or more additional directors as alternate members of any such committee to replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee, and at any time may change the membership of any committee or amend or rescind the resolution designating the |
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| committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member or alternate member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another director to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member, provided that the director so appointed meets any qualifications stated in the resolution designating the committee. Each committee shall keep a record of proceedings and report the same to the Board of Directors to such extent and in such form as the Board of Directors may require. Unless otherwise provided in the resolution designating a committee, a majority of all of the members of any such committee may select its Chairman, fix its rules or procedure, fix the time and place of its meetings and specify what notice of meetings, if any, shall be given. |
Section 11. Action without Meeting. Unless otherwise specifically prohibited by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, 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, execute a consent thereto in writing setting forth the action so taken, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee.
Section 12. Attendance by Telephone. Members of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, may participate in and act at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or such committee, as the case may be, through the use of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in such meeting shall constitute attendance and presence in person at the meeting of the person or persons so participating.
Section 13. Compensation. By resolution of the Board of Directors, irrespective of any personal interest of any of the members, the directors may be paid their reasonable expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum of attendance at meetings or a stated salary as directors. These payments shall not preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. Enumeration. The officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and shall include a Chief Executive Officer, one or more Presidents, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board of Directors may also elect a Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman, one or more Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers and such other officers and agents as it may deem appropriate. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.
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Section 2. Term of Office. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Board of Directors and shall hold office until their successors are elected and qualified, or until their earlier death, termination, resignation or removal from office. Any officer or agent of the Corporation may be removed at any time by the Board of Directors, with or without cause. Any vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, termination, removal, disqualification or otherwise, may be filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term.
Section 3. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board, when and if elected, shall preside at meetings of the Board of Directors and of stockholders and shall have such other functions, authority and duties as authorized by these Bylaws or as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board, if any, shall be a member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
Section 4. Vice Chairman. The Vice Chairman, if any, in the absence of the Chairman or in the event of the Chairman’s inability or refusal to act, shall have the authority to perform the duties of the Chairman and such other duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board. The Vice Chairman, if any, shall be a member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
Section 5. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation, and, as such, shall have general supervision, direction and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, and shall have such other functions, authority and duties as customarily appertain to the office of the chief executive of a business corporation or as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 6. President. The President shall perform such duties and have such other powers as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 7. President-Chicago Region. The President-Chicago Region, if any, shall perform such duties and have such other powers as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 8. Vice President. Each Vice President shall perform such duties and have such other powers as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President.
Section 9. Secretary. The Secretary shall: (a) keep a record of all proceedings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and any committees thereof in one of more books provided for that purpose; (b) give, or cause to be given, all notices that are required by law or these Bylaws to be given by the Secretary; (c) be custodian of the corporate records and, if the Corporation has a corporate seal, of the seal of the Corporation; (d) have authority to affix the seal of the Corporation to all instruments the execution of which requires such seal and to attest such affixing of the seal; (e) keep a register of the post office address of each stockholder which shall be furnished to the Secretary by such stockholder; (f) sign, with the Chairman or the Vice Chairman, if any, or Chief Executive Officer, President or any Vice President, or any other officer thereunto authorized by the Board of Directors, any certificates for shares of the Corporation, or any deeds, mortgages,
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bonds, contracts or other instruments which the Board of Directors has authorized to be executed by the signature of more than one officer; (g) have general charge of the stock transfer books of the Corporation; (h) have authority to certify as true and correct, copies of the Bylaws, or resolutions of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and committees thereof, and of other documents of the Corporation; and (i) in general, perform the duties incident to the office of secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest such affixing of the seal.
Section 10. Assistant Secretary. The Assistant Secretary, or if there shall be more than one, each Assistant Secretary in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of the Secretary’s inability or refusal to act, shall have the authority to perform the duties of the Secretary, subject to such limitations thereon as may be imposed by the Board of Directors, and such other duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary.
Section 11. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be the principal accounting and financial officer of the Corporation. The Treasurer shall: (a) have charge of and be responsible for the maintenance of adequate books of account for the Corporation; (b) have charge and custody of all funds and securities of the Corporation, and be responsible therefor and for the receipt and disbursement thereof; and (c) perform the duties incident to the office of treasurer and such other duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. The Treasurer may sign with the Chairman or the Vice Chairman, if any, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President, or any other officer thereunto authorized by the Board of Directors, certificates for shares of the Corporation. If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall give a bond for the faithful discharge of his or her duties in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the Board of Directors may determine.
Section 12. Assistant Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurer, or if there shall be more than one, each Assistant Treasurer, in the absence of the Treasurer or in the event of the Treasurer’s inability or refusal to act, shall have the authority to perform the duties of the Treasurer, subject to such limitations thereon as may be imposed by the Board of Directors, and such other duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Treasurer.
Section 13. Other Officers and Agents. Any officer or agent who is elected or appointed from time to time by the Board of Directors and whose duties are not specified in these Bylaws shall perform such duties and have such powers as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President.
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ARTICLE V
CERTIFICATES OF STOCK
Section 1. Form. The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates; provided, however, the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the Corporation’s stock shall be uncertificated shares. Each certificate for shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified. Certificates of stock in the Corporation, shall be signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation. Where a certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent, other than the Corporation or an employee of the Corporation, or by a registrar, the signatures of one or more officers of the Corporation may be facsimiles. 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, the certificate may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such officer, transfer agent or registrar were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of its issue.
Section 2. Transfer. Upon surrender to the Corporation or the transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in place of any certificate therefor issued by the Corporation to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction in its stock transfer books.
Section 3. Replacement. In case of the loss, destruction, mutilation or theft of a certificate for any stock of the Corporation, a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation may be issued upon the surrender of the mutilated certificate or, in the case of loss, destruction or theft of a certificate, upon satisfactory proof of such loss, destruction or theft and upon such terms as the Board of Directors may prescribe. The Board of Directors may in its discretion require the owner of the lost, destroyed or stolen certificate, or his legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond, in such sum and in such form and with such surety or sureties as it may direct, to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against it with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, destroyed or stolen.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS
Section 1. Third Party Actions. 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, including all appeals (other than an action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer, of the Corporation (and the Corporation, in the discretion of the Board of Directors, may so indemnify a person by reason of the fact that he is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation in any other capacity for or on behalf of the Corporation), against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, decrees, fines, penalties, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner which he 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 conduct was unlawful; provided, however, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify
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an officer or director in connection with an action, suit or proceeding initiated by such person only if such action, suit or proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors. 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 or in a manner which he 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 conduct was unlawful.
Section 2. Actions By or in the Right of the Corporation. 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, including all appeals, by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of the Corporation (and the Corporation, in the discretion of the Board of Directors, may so indemnify a person by reason of the fact that he is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation in any other capacity for or on behalf of the Corporation), against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he 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 finally adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought, or any other court of competent jurisdiction, 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 as such court shall deem proper. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify an officer or director in connection with an action, suit or proceeding initiated by such person only if such action, suit or proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Indemnity if Successful. To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 1 or 2 of this Article, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.
Section 4. Standard of Conduct. Except in a situation governed by Section 3 of this Article, any indemnification under Section 1 or 2 of this Article (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 director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 1 or 2, as applicable, of this Article. Such determination shall be made (i) by a majority vote of directors acting at a meeting at which a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding is present, or (ii) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iii) by the stockholders. The determination required by clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 4 may in either event be made by written consent of the majority required by each clause.
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Section 5. Expenses. Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) of each officer and director hereunder indemnified actually and reasonably incurred in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding or threat thereof 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 such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by employees and agents may be so paid upon the receipt of the aforesaid undertaking and such terms and conditions, if any, as the Board of Directors deems appropriate.
Section 6. Nonexclusivity. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, other Sections of this Article shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may now or hereafter be entitled under any law, bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.
Section 7. 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, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of the Delaware Law.
Section 8. Definitions. For purposes of this Article, references to “the Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had the power and authority to indemnify any or all of its directors, officers, employees and agents, so that any person who was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation in any other capacity, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have had with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued as such corporation was constituted immediately prior to such merger.
For purposes of this Article, references to “other capacities” shall include serving as a trustee or agent for any employee benefit plan; 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 services by such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries. A person who acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Article.
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Section 9. Severability. If any provision hereof is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect in such jurisdiction, and the remaining provisions hereof shall be liberally construed to effectuate the provisions hereof, and the invalidity of any provision hereof in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
Section 10. Amendment. The right to indemnification conferred by this Article shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each person referred to herein until amended or repealed, but no amendment to or repeal of these provisions shall apply to or have any effect on the right to indemnification of any person with respect to any liability or alleged liability of such person for or with respect to any act or omission of such person occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.
ARTICLE VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Corporation Seal. The corporate seal, if any, of the Corporation shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board of Directors. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.
Section 3. Notices and Mailing. Except as otherwise provided by Delaware Law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, all notices required to be given by any provision of these Bylaws shall be deemed to have been given (i) when received, if given in person, (ii) on the date of acknowledgment of receipt, if sent by telex, facsimile or other wire transmission, (iii) one day after delivery, properly addressed, to a reputable courier for same day or overnight delivery, or (iv) three days after being deposited, properly addressed, in the U.S. mail, certified or registered mail, postage prepaid.
Section 4. Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given under the Delaware Law or the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.
Section 5. Interpretation. In these Bylaws, unless a clear contrary intention appears, the singular number includes the plural number and vice versa, and reference to either gender includes the other gender.
Section 6. Forum for Adjudication of Certain Disputes. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum (an “Alternative Forum Consent”), the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, stockholder, employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director, officer, stockholder, employee or agent of the Corporation arising out of or relating to any provision of the Delaware Law or the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director, officer, stockholder, employee or agent of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the State of Delaware; provided, however, that, in the event that the Court of Chancery
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of the State of Delaware lacks subject matter jurisdiction over any such action or proceeding, the sole and exclusive forum for such action or proceeding shall be another state or federal court located within the State of Delaware, in each such case, unless the Court of Chancery (or such other state or federal court located within the State of Delaware, as applicable) has dismissed a prior action by the same plaintiff asserting the same claims because such court lacked personal jurisdiction over an indispensable party named as a defendant therein. Failure to enforce the foregoing provisions would cause the Corporation irreparable harm and the Corporation shall be entitled to equitable relief, including injunctive relief and specific performance, to enforce the foregoing provisions. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 6 of Article VII. The existence of any prior Alternative Forum Consent shall not act as a waiver of the Corporation’s ongoing consent right as set forth above in this Section 6 of Article VII with respect to any current or future actions or claims.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed or new Bylaws may be adopted by the Board of Directors. The fact that the power to amend, alter, repeal or adopt the Bylaws has been conferred upon the Board of Directors shall not divest the stockholders of the same powers; provided, that any alteration, repeal or amendment of Article II, Section 8, Article III, Section 8 or this Article VIII by the stockholders shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of shares of capital stock having at least 80% of the vote which could be cast by the holders of all shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereupon, voting as a single class, at a duly constituted meeting of stockholders called expressly for such purpose.
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