UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
|
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification Number) |
(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including
area code: (
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
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 October 2, 2025, Neptune Insurance Holdings Inc. (the “Company”) filed its second amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and its second amended and restated bylaws (the “Bylaws”) became effective, in connection with the closing of the initial public offering of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”). As described in the final prospectus, dated September 30, 2025 (the “Prospectus”), relating to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-289995), as amended, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 1, 2025, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Company’s board of directors and stockholders previously approved the amendment and restatement of these documents to be effective immediately prior to closing of the Company’s initial public offering. A description of certain provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws is set forth in the section titled “Description of Capital Stock” in the Prospectus.
The foregoing description of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws is qualified in its entirety by reference to (1) the Certificate of Incorporation filed as Exhibit 3.1 hereto and (2) the Bylaws filed as Exhibit 3.2 hereto, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits.
| Exhibit No. | Description | |
| 3.1 | Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Neptune Insurance Holdings Inc. | |
| 3.2 | Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Neptune Insurance Holdings Inc. | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| NEPTUNE INSURANCE HOLDINGS INC. | ||
| Date: October 7, 2025 | By: | /s/ Trevor Burgess |
| Trevor Burgess | ||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||
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Exhibit 3.1
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
NEPTUNE INSURANCE HOLDINGS INC.
Neptune Insurance Holdings Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), does hereby certify as follows:
(A) The name of this Corporation is Neptune Insurance Holdings Inc. Its original certificate of incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 20, 2025. The Corporation filed an amended and restated certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 10, 2025 (the “First Amended and Restated Certificate”).
(B) This second amended and restated certificate of incorporation (this “Second Amended and Restated Certificate”) was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of this Corporation and by the stockholders in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, with the approval of the stockholders of this Corporation having been given by written consent without a meeting in accordance with Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
(C) The text of the First Amended and Restated Certificate is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
Article I
The name of this Corporation is Neptune Insurance Holdings Inc.
Article II
The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 8 The Green Ste R, in the city of Dover, county of Kent, 19901. The name of its registered agent at such address is Resident Agents Inc.
Article III
The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).
Article IV
Section 4.1 Total Authorized
4.1.1 The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Corporation has authority to issue is 500,000,000 shares, consisting of (i) 480,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Common Stock”), 428,422,036 shares of which are designated as Class A Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”) and 51,577,964 shares of which are designated as Class B Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock”), and (ii) 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).
4.1.2 Immediately upon the effectiveness of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate for filing by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Effective Time”), each share of the Corporation’s common stock issued and outstanding or held as treasury stock immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall, automatically and without further action by any stockholder, be reclassified as, and shall become, one (1) share of Class A Common Stock. Any stock certificate that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock shall from and after the Effective Time be deemed to represent shares of Class A Common Stock, without the need for surrender or exchange thereof.
4.1.3 The number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of capital stock representing a majority of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL, and no vote of the holders of the Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor.
Section 4.2 Preferred Stock
4.2.1 The Corporation’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware, by resolution or resolutions adopted from time to time, to provide for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and, by filing a certificate of designation pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware (the “Certificate of Designation”), to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, to fix the designation, vesting, powers (including voting powers), preferences and relative, participating, optional, or other rights (and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions thereof) of the shares of each such series, and to increase (but not above the total number of authorized shares of the class) or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any such series. The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may also be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, without a separate vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock or any series thereof, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL, unless a vote of any such holders is required pursuant to the terms of any Certificate of Designation designating a series of Preferred Stock.
4.2.2 Except as otherwise expressly provided in any Certificate of Designation designating any series of Preferred Stock pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Article IV, (i) any new series of Preferred Stock may be designated, fixed, and determined as provided herein by the Board without approval of the holders of Common Stock or the holders of Preferred Stock, or any series thereof, and (ii) any such new series may have powers, preferences, and rights, including, without limitation, voting rights, dividend rights, liquidation rights, redemption rights, and conversion rights, senior to, junior to, or pari passu with the rights of the Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, or any future class or series of Preferred Stock or Common Stock.
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Section 4.3 Rights of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock.
4.3.1 Except as otherwise provided in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or required by applicable law, shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall have the same rights and powers, rank equally (including as to dividends and distributions, and upon any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Corporation), share ratably, and be identical in all respects and as to all matters.
4.3.2 Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or as provided by law, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall (a) at all times vote together as a single class on all matters (including the election of directors) submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation, (b) be entitled to notice of any stockholders’ meeting in accordance with the Bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”), and (c) be entitled to vote upon such matters and in such manner as may be provided by applicable law; provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Certificate of Designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together as a class with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Certificate of Designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock). Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or required by applicable law, each holder of Class A Common Stock shall have the right to one (1) vote per share of Class A Common Stock held of record by such holder as of the applicable record date and each holder of Class B Common Stock shall have the right to ten (10) votes per share of Class B Common Stock held of record by such holder as of the applicable record date.
4.3.3 Shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall be treated equally, identically, and ratably, on a per share basis, with respect to any dividends or distributions as may be declared and paid from time to time by the Board out of any assets of the Corporation legally available therefor; provided, however, that in the event a dividend is paid in the form of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares), then holders of Class A Common Stock shall receive shares of Class A Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares, as the case may be) and holders of Class B Common Stock shall receive shares of Class B Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares, as the case may be), with holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock receiving, on a per share basis, an identical number of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may pay or make a disparate dividend or distribution per share of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock (whether in the amount of such dividend or distribution payable per share, the form in which such dividend or distribution is payable, the timing of the payment, or otherwise) if such disparate dividend or distribution is approved in advance by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class.
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4.3.4 Shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock may not be subdivided, combined, or reclassified unless the shares of the other class are concurrently therewith proportionately subdivided, combined, or reclassified in a manner that maintains the same proportionate equity ownership between the holders of the outstanding Class A Common Stock and the holders of the outstanding Class B Common Stock on the record date for such subdivision, combination, or reclassification; provided, however, that shares of one such class may be subdivided, combined, or reclassified in a different or disproportionate manner if such subdivision, combination, or reclassification is approved in advance by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class.
4.3.5 Subject to any preferential or other rights of any holders of Preferred Stock then outstanding, upon the liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock will be entitled to receive ratably all assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders unless disparate or different treatment of the shares of each such class with respect to distributions upon any such liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is approved in advance by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class.
4.3.6 In the case of any distribution or payment in respect of the shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock upon the merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into any other entity, or in the case of any other transaction having an effect on stockholders substantially similar to that resulting from a merger or consolidation, such distribution or payment shall be made ratably on a per share basis among the holders of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock as a single class; provided, however, that shares of one such class may receive different or disproportionate distributions or payments in connection with such merger, consolidation, or other transaction if (a) the only difference in the per share distribution to the holders of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock is that any securities distributed to the holder of a share Class B Common Stock have ten (10) times the voting power of any securities distributed to the holder of a share of Class A Common Stock, or (b) such merger, consolidation, or other transaction is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class.
Article V
Section 5.1 Each share of Class B Common Stock shall be convertible into one (1) fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock at the option of the holder thereof at any time upon written notice to the Corporation. Before any holder of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to convert any of such holder’s shares of such Class B Common Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock, such holder shall deliver an instruction and the certificate or certificates therefor (if any), duly endorsed, to the principal corporate office of the Corporation or of any transfer agent for the Class B Common Stock, and shall give written notice to the Corporation at its principal corporate office of such holder’s election to convert the same and shall state therein the name or names in which the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on conversion thereof are to be registered on the books of the Corporation. The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, register on the Corporation’s books ownership of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to which such record holder of Class B Common Stock, or to which the nominee or nominees of such record holder, shall be entitled as aforesaid. Such conversion shall be deemed to have occurred immediately prior to the close of business on the date such notice of the election to convert is received by the Corporation or, if the notice of conversion specifies a different future effective time, including a time determined by the happening of a future event, such conversion shall be deemed to have occurred at such time, or on the happening of such event, and the person or persons entitled to receive the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Class A Common Stock as of such time.
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Section 5.2 Each share of Class B Common Stock will automatically, without further action by the Corporation or the holder thereof, convert into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock (i) on the occurrence of a Transfer, other than a Permitted Transfer, of such share of Class B Common Stock, or (ii) on the Final Conversion Date. After the Final Conversion Date, the reissuance of all shares of Class B Common Stock shall be prohibited, and any shares of Class B Common Stock issued prior to the Final Conversion Date shall be retired and cancelled in accordance with Section 243 of the DGCL and the filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware required thereby.
Section 5.3 The Corporation may, from time to time, establish such policies and procedures, not in violation of applicable law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws, relating to the administration of the conversion of shares of Class B Common Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock as it may deem necessary or advisable. If the Corporation has reason to believe that a Transfer of Class B Common Stock that is not a Permitted Transfer has occurred, the Corporation shall promptly notify the purported transferor initiating such Transfer in writing and may request that such purported transferor furnish affidavits or other evidence to the Corporation as it reasonably deems necessary to determine whether a Transfer that is not a Permitted Transfer has occurred. The transferor will have ten (10) days from receipt of such notice to either (i) furnish sufficient (as determined in good faith by the Board) evidence to the Corporation (in the manner provided in the request) to enable the Corporation to determine that the Transfer was a Permitted Transfer, or (ii) rescind or otherwise reverse the Transfer such that ownership and/or Voting Control, as applicable, of such shares is restored to the transferor on the same basis as if such Transfer had not been given effect, in which case no Transfer of such shares of Class B Common Stock shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of this Article V as a result thereof. If (1) after the expiration of such ten (10)-day period, the Corporation determines in good faith that neither condition (i) nor (ii) has been satisfied, or (2) at any time, the transferor notifies the Corporation that a Transfer is not a Permitted Transfer, then any such shares of Class B Common Stock, to the extent not previously converted, will automatically and immediately, without further action by the Corporation or the holder thereof, convert into an equal number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Class A Common Stock, effective as of the time of such Transfer, and such conversion shall be registered on the books and records of the Corporation.
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Section 5.4 In connection with any action of stockholders taken at a meeting or by written consent (if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under this Certificate of Incorporation), the stock ledger of the Corporation shall be presumptive evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders and the classes of shares held by each such stockholder and the number of shares of each class held by such stockholder.
Section 5.5 The Corporation shall not (by amendment, merger, consolidation, or otherwise), without first obtaining the approval (by vote or written consent, as provided by law) of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, voting as a single class, amend, alter, repeal, or waive this Article V; provided, however, that from and after the Final Conversion Date, this Article V may be amended, altered, repealed, or waived in accordance with Article XIII.
Section 5.6 Certain Definitions.
“Disability” shall mean, with respect to Founder, the permanent and total disability of Founder such that Founder is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death within 12 months or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months as determined by a licensed medical practitioner jointly selected by a majority of the independent directors of the Board and Founder. If Founder is incapable of selecting a licensed medical practitioner, then Founder’s spouse shall make the selection on behalf of Founder, or in the absence or incapacity of Founder’s spouse, Founder’s adult children by majority vote shall make the selection on behalf of Founder, or in the absence of adult children of Founder or their inability to act by majority vote, a natural person then acting as the successor trustee of a revocable living trust which was created by Founder and which holds in the aggregate more shares of all classes of capital stock of the Corporation than any other revocable living trust created by Founder shall make the selection on behalf of Founder, or in the absence of any such successor trustee, the legal guardian or conservator of the estate of Founder shall make the selection on behalf of Founder.
“Family Member” shall mean, with respect to a natural person, the spouse, domestic partner or spousal equivalent, parents, grandparents, lineal descendants, siblings, and lineal descendants of siblings of such natural person. Lineal descendants shall include adopted persons, but only so long as they are adopted during minority. Family Member shall further include any other of such natural person’s family members as defined in Rule 701 of the Securities Act.
“Final Conversion Date” shall mean the earliest of:
| (i) | 12 months following the death or Disability of Founder; or |
| (ii) | upon the first trading day on or after such date that the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock represent less than % of the aggregate shares of the then-outstanding Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock; |
provided that, the Final Conversion Date may be extended to a date that is up to 18 months after the date contemplated by the foregoing clause (i) or (ii), as applicable, upon affirmative approval of a majority of the independent directors then serving on the Board.
“Founder” shall mean Trevor Burgess.
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“Founder’s Estate” shall mean the estate of Founder or any Family Member thereof, so long as a Permitted Holder retains sole dispositive power and Voting Control with respect to the shares of Class B Common Stock held by such estate.
“Parent” of an entity shall mean any entity that directly or indirectly owns or controls a majority of the voting power of the voting securities of such entity.
“Permitted Entity” shall mean a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by Founder or his Permitted Transferees, in each case, so long as a Permitted Holder retains sole dispositive power and Voting Control with respect to the shares of Class B Common Stock held by such corporation, partnership, or limited liability company.
“Permitted Foundation” shall mean any charitable organization, private foundation, supporting organization, donor advised or donor directed fund, or any other charitable fund or similar entity that is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code, which is established by Founder, so long as a Permitted Holder retains sole dispositive power and Voting Control with respect to the shares of Class B Common Stock held by such organization.
“Permitted Holder” shall mean Founder, his Family Members, or a trustee of a Permitted Trust described in clause (i), (iii), or (iv) of the definition thereof.
“Permitted IRA” shall mean an Individual Retirement Account, as defined in Section 408(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), or a pension, profit sharing, stock bonus, or other type of plan or trust of which Founder or his Permitted Transferees are participants or beneficiaries and which satisfies the requirements for qualification under Section 401 of the Code, so long as a Permitted Holder retains sole dispositive power and Voting Control with respect to the shares of Class B Common Stock held by such Individual Retirement Account.
“Permitted Transfer” shall mean, and be restricted to, any Transfer of a share of Class B Common Stock by Founder or any Permitted Transferee to: (i) a Family Member of Founder, (ii) a Permitted Entity, (iii) a Permitted Foundation, (iv) a Permitted IRA, (v) a Permitted Trust, or (vi) Founder’s Estate.
“Permitted Transferee” shall mean a transferee of shares of Class B Common Stock received in a Permitted Transfer.
“Permitted Trust” shall mean with respect to Founder: (i) a trust for the benefit of Founder, provided Founder or his Permitted Transferees do not receive consideration in exchange for the Transfer (other than as a settlor or beneficiary of such trust); (ii) a trust for the benefit of persons other than Founder, provided Founder or his Permitted Transferees do not receive consideration in exchange for the Transfer (other than as a settlor or beneficiary of such trust); (iii) a trust under the terms of which Founder or his Family Members have retained a “qualified interest” within the meaning of Section 2702(b)(1) of the Code and/or a reversionary interest; or (iv) any revocable or irrevocable trust for the primary benefit of Founder or one or more of Founder’s Family Members or the spouses of such Family Members, in each case, so long as a Permitted Holder retains sole dispositive power and Voting Control with respect to the shares of Class B Common Stock held by such trust.
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“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Transfer” of a share of Class B Common Stock shall mean any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, or other transfer or disposition of such share or any legal or beneficial interest in such share, whether or not for value and whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, including, without limitation, a transfer of a share of Class B Common Stock to a broker or other nominee (regardless of whether there is a corresponding change in beneficial ownership), or the transfer of, or entering into a binding agreement with respect to, Voting Control over such share by proxy or otherwise; provided, however, that the following shall not be considered a “Transfer” within the meaning of this Section 5.5:
(a) the granting of a revocable proxy to officers or directors of the Corporation at the request of the Board in connection with actions to be taken at an annual or special meeting of stockholders;
(b) entering into a voting trust, agreement, or arrangement (with or without granting a proxy) solely with stockholders who are holders of Class B Common Stock that (i) is disclosed either in a Schedule 13D filed with the SEC or in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, (ii) either has a term not exceeding one (1) year or is terminable by the holder of the shares subject thereto at any time, and (iii) does not involve any payment of cash, securities, property, or other consideration to the holder of the shares subject thereto other than the mutual promise to vote shares in a designated manner;
(c) entering into a voting trust, agreement, or arrangement (with or without granting a proxy) pursuant to a written agreement to which the Corporation is a party;
(d) the fact that, as of the Effective Time or at any time after the Effective Time, the spouse of any holder of Class B Common Stock possesses or obtains an interest in such holder’s shares of Class B Common Stock arising solely by reason of the application of the community property laws of any jurisdiction, so long as no other event or circumstance shall exist or have occurred that constitutes a Transfer of such shares of Class B Common Stock (including a Transfer by operation of law pursuant to a qualified domestic order or in connection with a divorce settlement or any other court order);
(e) in connection with a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into any other entity that has been approved by the Board, or in the case of any other transaction having an effect on stockholders substantially similar to that resulting from a merger or consolidation that has been approved by the Board, the entering into a support, voting, tender, or similar agreement or arrangement (in each case, with or without the grant of a proxy) that has also been approved by the Board; or
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(f) the pledge of a share or shares of Class B Common Stock that creates a security interest in such pledged share or shares pursuant to a bona fide loan or indebtedness transaction, in each case with a third party lender that makes such loan in the ordinary course of its business, so long as a Permitted Holder continues to exercise Voting Control over such pledged share or shares; provided, however, that a foreclosure on such pledged share or shares or other action that would result in a Transfer of such pledged share or shares to the pledgee shall not be a Permitted Transfer.
A Transfer shall also be deemed to have occurred with respect to a share of Class B Common Stock beneficially held by an entity that is a Permitted Trust, Permitted IRA, Permitted Entity, or Permitted Foundation, if there occurs any act or circumstance that causes such entity to no longer be a Permitted Trust, Permitted IRA, Permitted Entity, or Permitted Foundation or if there occurs a Transfer on a cumulative basis, from and after the Effective Time, of a majority of the voting power of the voting securities of such entity or any direct or indirect Parent of such entity, other than a Transfer to parties that are, as of the Effective Time, holders of voting securities of any such entity or Parent of such entity.
“Voting Control” shall mean, with respect to a share of Class B Common Stock, the power (whether exclusive or shared) to vote or direct the voting of such share by proxy, voting agreement, or otherwise.
“Voting Threshold Date” shall mean the first date falling after 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the date on which the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock represent less than a majority of the total voting power of the then outstanding shares of the Corporation then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
Section 5.7 In the event any shares of Class B Common Stock are converted into shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to this Article V, the shares of Class B Common Stock so converted shall be retired and shall not be reissued by the Corporation.
Section 5.8 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 5.1 or Section 5.2, if the date on which any share of Class B Common Stock is converted into Class A Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.1 or Section 5.2 occurs after the record date for the determination of the holders of Class B Common Stock entitled to receive any dividend or distribution to be paid on the shares of Class B Common Stock, the holder of such share of Class B Common Stock as of such record date will be entitled to receive such dividend or distribution on such payment date; provided, that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, to the extent that any such dividend or distribution is payable in shares of Class B Common Stock, such dividend or distribution in respect of such share of Class B Common Stock shall be deemed to have been declared, and shall be payable in, shares of Class A Common Stock and no shares of Class B Common Stock shall be issued in payment thereof.
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Section 5.9 The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available, out of its authorized and unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting conversions of shares of Class B Common Stock into Class A Common Stock, such number of duly authorized shares of Class A Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then-outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock. If at any time the number of authorized and unissued shares of Class A Common Stock shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then-outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, the Corporation shall promptly take such corporate action as may be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purpose, including, without limitation, obtaining the requisite stockholder approval of any necessary amendment to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate. All shares of Class A Common Stock which are so issuable shall, when issued, be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares. The Corporation shall take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all such shares of Class A Common Stock may be so issued without violation of any applicable law or regulation.
Article VI
Section 6.1 The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, except as otherwise provided by law. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon them by statute or by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation pursuant to applicable law.
Section 6.2 Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the total number of directors constituting the Whole Board shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board. For purposes of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, the term “Whole Board” shall mean the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships.
Section 6.3 Subject to the special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the directors shall be divided, with respect to the time for which they severally hold office, into three classes designated as Class I, Class II, and Class III, respectively (the “Classified Board”). The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to such classes of the Classified Board, which assignments shall become effective at the same time the Classified Board becomes effective. Directors shall be assigned to each class in accordance with a resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board, with the number of directors in each class to be divided as nearly equal as reasonably possible. The initial term of office of the Class I directors shall expire at the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders following the closing of the Corporation’s initial public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of Common Stock to the public (the “Initial Public Offering Closing”), the initial term of office of the Class II directors shall expire at the Corporation’s second annual meeting of stockholders following the Initial Public Offering Closing, and the initial term of office of the Class III directors shall expire at the Corporation’s third annual meeting of stockholders following the Initial Public Offering Closing. At each annual meeting of stockholders following the Initial Public Offering Closing, directors elected to succeed those directors of the class whose terms then expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election. In the event of any increase or decrease in the authorized number of directors (a) each director then serving as such shall nevertheless continue as a director of the class of which the director is a member and (b) the newly created or eliminated directorships resulting from such increase or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board among the three classes of directors so as to ensure that no one class has more than one director more than any other class. To the extent possible, any newly created directorships shall be added to those classes whose terms of office are to expire at the latest dates following such allocation, and any newly eliminated directorships shall be subtracted from those classes whose terms of office are to expire at the earliest dates following such allocation, unless otherwise provided from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board. No decrease in the authorized number of directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
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Section 6.4 Each director shall hold office until the annual meeting at which such director’s term expires and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified, or until such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification, or removal. Any director may resign at any time upon notice to the Corporation given in writing or by any electronic transmission permitted by the Bylaws. Subject to the special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, no director may be removed from the Board except for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors voting together as a single class.
Section 6.5 Subject to the special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, any vacancy occurring in the Board for any cause, and any newly created directorship resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors, shall, unless (a) the Board determines by resolution that any such vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled by the stockholders or (b) as otherwise provided by law, be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum and even if by a sole remaining director, and not by the stockholders. Any director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders at which the term of office of the class to which the director has been assigned expires or until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification, or removal.
Section 6.6 Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws shall so provide.
Article VII
To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as the same exists or as may hereafter be amended, no director or officer of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer. If the DGCL is hereafter amended to authorize corporate action further limiting or eliminating the personal liability of directors or officers, then the liability of the directors or officers of the Corporation shall be limited or eliminated to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended from time to time. Any amendment or repeal of this Article VII, or the adoption of any provision of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate inconsistent with this Article VII, shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director or officer of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment or repeal or adoption of such inconsistent provision with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such amendment or repeal or adoption of such inconsistent provision.
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Article VIII
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws, prior to the Voting Threshold Date, the Corporation elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.
Article IX
The Board shall have the power to adopt, amend, or repeal the Bylaws. Any adoption, amendment, or repeal of the Bylaws by the Board shall require the approval of a majority of the Whole Board. The stockholders shall also have power to adopt, amend, or repeal the Bylaws. Prior to the Voting Threshold Date, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock issued pursuant to a Certificate of Designation), such adoption, amendment, or repeal of the Bylaws by the stockholders shall require the affirmative vote of a majority in voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. From and after the Voting Threshold Date, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock issued pursuant to a Certificate of Designation), such adoption, amendment, or repeal of the Bylaws by the stockholders shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
Article X
Section 10.1 Subject to the rights of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, from and after the Voting Threshold Date, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders. Prior to the Voting Threshold Date, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation at a meeting may be effected by consent in writing, by remote communication or electronic transmission of such stockholders in compliance with Section 228 of the DGCL, without prior notice and without a vote, if such consent or consents, setting forth the action so taken, are: (i) signed by the holders of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation representing 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 of stock of the Corporation then outstanding and entitled to vote thereon were present and voted, and (ii) delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law.
Section 10.2 Special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Board acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board, and may not be called by any other person or persons. Only such business shall be considered at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been stated in the notice for such meeting.
Section 10.3 Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner and to the extent provided in the Bylaws.
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Article XI
Section 11.1 Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks subject matter jurisdiction, any state court located within the State of Delaware or, if and only if all such state courts lack subject matter jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) and any appellate court therefrom, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall be the sole and exclusive forum for: (a) any derivative action, suit, or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation; (b) any action, suit, or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, employee, agent, or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, or any action asserting a claim for aiding and abetting any such breach of fiduciary duty; (c) any action, suit, or proceeding asserting a claim against the Corporation or any current or former director, officer, or employee of the Corporation arising out of or pursuant to, or seeking to enforce any right, obligation, or remedy under, or to interpret, apply, or determine the validity of, any provision of the DGCL, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, or the Bylaws (as each may be amended from time to time); (d) any action, suit, or proceeding as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (e) any action, suit, or proceeding asserting a claim against the Corporation or any current or former director, officer, or employee of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in all cases subject to the court having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. If any action, suit, or proceeding the subject matter of which is within the scope of the preceding sentence is filed in a court other than the courts in the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in the State of Delaware in connection with any action, suit, or proceeding brought in any such court to enforce the provisions of the preceding sentence and (y) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder. This Section 11.1 shall not apply to actions, suits, or proceedings brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
Section 11.2 Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act, including all causes of action asserted against any defendant to such complaint. For the avoidance of doubt, this provision is intended to benefit and may be enforced by the Corporation, its directors and officers, the underwriters to any offering giving rise to such complaint, and any other professional or entity whose profession gives authority to a statement made by that person or entity and who has prepared or certified any part of the documents underlying such offering.
Section 11.3 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 to have consented to the provisions of this Article XI.
Section 11.4 Failure to enforce the foregoing provisions of this Article XI 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.
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Article XII
Section 12.1 If any provision of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate shall be held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, then such provision shall nonetheless be enforced to the maximum extent possible consistent with such holding and the remaining provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including without limitation, all portions of any section of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, that are not themselves invalid, illegal, or unenforceable) shall remain in full force and effect.
Article XIII
Section 13.1 The Corporation reserves the right to amend or repeal any provision contained in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate in the manner prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware and all rights conferred upon stockholders are granted subject to this reservation; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Certificate of Designation) or any provision of law that might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of the stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Certificate of Designation), and subject to Section 4.2, from and after the Voting Threshold Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend or repeal or adopt any provision inconsistent with this Article XIII or Section 4.1.3 and Section 4.2, Article V, Article VI, Article VII, Article IX, Article X, Article XI, or Article XII (the “Specified Provisions”); provided, further, if two-thirds (2/3) of the Whole Board has approved such amendment or repeal of, or any provision inconsistent with, the Specified Provisions, then only the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend, repeal, or adopt any provision inconsistent with, the Specified Provisions.
***
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Neptune Insurance Holdings Inc. has caused this Second Amended and Restated Certificate to be signed by Trevor Burgess, a duly authorized officer of the Corporation, on this 2nd day of October, 2025.
| /s/ Trevor Burgess | |
| Trevor Burgess | |
| Chief Executive Officer | |
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Exhibit 3.2
NEPTUNE INSURANCE HOLDINGS INC.
a Delaware Corporation
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
As adopted on September 19, 2025
(Effective as of October 2, 2025)
NEPTUNE INSURANCE HOLDINGS InC.
a Delaware Corporation
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
Table of Contents
| Page | ||
| Article I : STOCKHOLDERS | 1 | |
| Section 1.1 | Annual Meetings | 1 |
| Section 1.2 | Special Meetings | 1 |
| Section 1.3 | Notice of Meetings | 1 |
| Section 1.4 | Adjournments | 2 |
| Section 1.5 | Quorum | 2 |
| Section 1.6 | Organization; Conduct of Meetings | 2 |
| Section 1.7 | Voting; Proxies | 3 |
| Section 1.8 | Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record | 4 |
| Section 1.9 | List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote | 4 |
| Section 1.10 | Inspectors of Elections | 5 |
| Section 1.11 | Notice of Stockholder Business; Nominations | 6 |
| Section 1.12 | Delivery to the Corporation | 16 |
| Article II : BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 16 | |
| Section 2.1 | Number; Qualifications | 16 |
| Section 2.2 | Election; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies | 16 |
| Section 2.3 | Regular Meetings | 16 |
| Section 2.4 | Special Meetings | 16 |
| Section 2.5 | Remote Meetings Permitted | 17 |
| Section 2.6 | Quorum; Vote Required for Action | 17 |
| Section 2.7 | Organization | 17 |
| Section 2.8 | Unanimous Action by Directors in Lieu of a Meeting | 17 |
| Section 2.9 | Powers | 17 |
| Section 2.10 | Compensation of Directors | 17 |
| Section 2.11 | Confidentiality | 17 |
| Section 2.12 | Emergency Bylaws | 18 |
| Article III : COMMITTEES | 18 | |
| Section 3.1 | Committees | 18 |
| Section 3.2 | Committee Rules | 18 |
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| Article IV : OFFICERS; CHAIRPERSON | 19 | |
| Section 4.1 | Generally | 19 |
| Section 4.2 | Chief Executive Officer | 19 |
| Section 4.3 | Chairperson of the Board | 19 |
| Section 4.4 | President | 20 |
| Section 4.5 | Vice President | 20 |
| Section 4.6 | Chief Financial Officer | 20 |
| Section 4.7 | Treasurer | 20 |
| Section 4.8 | Secretary | 20 |
| Section 4.9 | Delegation of Authority | 20 |
| Section 4.10 | Removal | 20 |
| Article V : STOCK | 21 | |
| Section 5.1 | Certificates; Uncertificated Shares | 21 |
| Section 5.2 | Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates or Uncertificated Shares | 21 |
| Section 5.3 | Other Regulations | 21 |
| Article VI : INDEMNIFICATION | 22 | |
| Section 6.1 | Indemnification of Officers and Directors | 22 |
| Section 6.2 | Advance of Expenses | 22 |
| Section 6.3 | Non-Exclusivity of Rights | 22 |
| Section 6.4 | Indemnification of Others; Additional Rights | 23 |
| Section 6.5 | Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit | 23 |
| Section 6.6 | Successful Defense | 23 |
| Section 6.7 | Nature of Rights; Amendment or Repeal | 24 |
| Section 6.8 | Insurance | 24 |
| Article VII : NOTICES | 24 | |
| Section 7.1 | Notice | 24 |
| Section 7.2 | Waiver of Notice | 25 |
| Article VIII : MISCELLANEOUS | 25 | |
| Section 8.1 | Fiscal Year | 25 |
| Section 8.2 | Seal | 25 |
| Section 8.3 | Form of Records | 25 |
| Section 8.4 | Reliance Upon Books and Records | 25 |
| Section 8.5 | Certificate of Incorporation Governs | 25 |
| Section 8.6 | Severability | 26 |
| Section 8.7 | Time Periods | 26 |
| Article IX : AMENDMENT | 26 | |
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NEPTUNE INSURANCE HOLDINGS INC.
a Delaware Corporation
sECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
As adopted on September 19, 2025
(Effective as of October 2, 2025)
Article I: STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1.1 Annual Meetings. If required by applicable law, an annual meeting of stockholders shall be held for the election of directors and such other proper business at such date and time as the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Neptune Insurance Holdings Inc. (the “Corporation”) shall each year fix. The meeting may be held either at a place, within or without the State of Delaware as permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) as the Board (or its designee) shall fix, or solely by means of remote communication as the Board in its sole discretion may determine. Any proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting.
Section 1.2 Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes shall be called in the manner set forth in the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”). The special meeting may be held either at a place, within or without the State of Delaware as permitted by the DGCL, as the Board (or its designee) shall fix, or solely by means of remote communication as the Board in its sole discretion may determine. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of the meeting.
Section 1.3 Notice of Meetings. Notice of all meetings of stockholders shall be given in accordance with applicable law (including, without limitation, as set forth in Section 7.1.1 of these Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation (these “Bylaws”)) stating the date, time and place, if any, of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting). In the case of a special meeting, such notice shall also set forth the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise required by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be given not less than ten (10), nor more than sixty (60), days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting.
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Section 1.4 Adjournments. Notwithstanding Section 1.5 of these Bylaws, the chairperson of the meeting of stockholders shall have the power to adjourn the meeting to another time, date, and place (if any) regardless of whether a quorum is present, at any time and for any reason. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time (including an adjournment taken to address a technical failure to convene or continue a meeting using remote communication), and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time, date, and place (if any) thereof and the means of remote communication (if any) by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, or are provided in any other manner permitted by the DGCL; provided, however, that if the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If, after the adjournment, a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 213(a) of the DGCL, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. To the fullest extent permitted by law, if a quorum is present at the original meeting, it shall also be deemed present at the adjourned meeting. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may postpone, reschedule, or cancel at any time and for any reason any previously scheduled special or annual meeting of stockholders before it (or any adjournment) is to be held, regardless of whether any notice or public disclosure with respect to any such meeting (or adjournment) has been sent or made pursuant to Section 1.3 hereof or otherwise, in which case (if the meeting is not canceled) notice shall be provided to the stockholders of the new date, time, and place, if any, of the meeting as provided in Section 1.3 above.
Section 1.5 Quorum. Except as otherwise required by applicable law or as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, at each meeting of stockholders the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; provided, however, that where a separate vote by a class or classes or series of stock is required by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on such matter, present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to the vote on such matter. If there is no quorum present (in person or represented by proxy) at any meeting of stockholders, the chairperson of the meeting or the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote thereat who are present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting may adjourn the meeting. A quorum, once established at a meeting, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum, including, to the fullest extent permitted by law, at any adjournment thereof (unless a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting).
Section 1.6 Organization; Conduct of Meetings.
1.6.1 Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by (a) such person as the Board may designate, or (b) in such person’s absence, the Chairperson of the Board, or (c) in such person’s absence, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or (d) in such person’s absence, the President of the Corporation, or (e) in the absence of such person, by a Vice President. Such person shall be chairperson of the meeting. The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in such person’s absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
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1.6.2 The Board may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it deems appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations, the chairperson of the meeting will have the right and authority to convene and (for any reason) to recess the meeting (if not adjourned in accordance with Section 1.4 of these Bylaws), to prescribe rules, regulations, and procedures, and to take all actions that, in the chairperson’s judgment, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations, or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the chairperson of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (b) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (c) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies, their Qualified Representative (as defined below), or such other persons as the chairperson of the meeting shall determine; (d) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; (e) limitations on the time (if any) allotted to questions or comments by participants; (f) restricting the use of audio/video recording devices and cell phones; and (g) complying with any state and local laws and regulations concerning safety and security. The Board or, at a meeting of stockholders (but subject to any rules and regulations adopted by, and the supervision of, the Board), the chairperson of the meeting, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall have the power to determine that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and to disregard any such matter or business, notwithstanding that proxies or votes in respect thereof may have been received by the Corporation, which shall be disregarded. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the chairperson of the meeting, meetings of stockholders are not required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
Section 1.7 Voting; Proxies. Each stockholder of record entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy. Such a proxy may be prepared, transmitted, and delivered in any manner permitted by applicable law. Except as may be required in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. At all meetings of stockholders at which a quorum is present, every matter other than the election of directors shall be decided by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively with respect thereto (or if there are two or more classes or series of stock entitled to vote as separate classes, then in the case of each class or series, a majority of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively with respect thereto by the holders thereof); provided, however, that, if a different or minimum vote is provided by applicable law, rule, or regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, such different or minimum vote will be the applicable vote on the matter. Any stockholder directly or indirectly soliciting proxies from other stockholders must use a proxy card color other than white, which will be reserved for exclusive use by the Board.
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Section 1.8 Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.
In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board and which shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no such record date is fixed by the Board, then the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Section 1.9 List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The Corporation shall prepare, no later than the tenth (10th) day before each meeting of stockholders, a complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth (10th) day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. The Corporation shall not be required to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, for a period of ten (10) days ending on the day before the meeting date, (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network as permitted by applicable law (provided that the information required to gain access to the list is provided with the notice of the meeting), or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal executive offices of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to the identity of the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section 1.9 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting.
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Section 1.10 Inspectors of Elections.
1.10.1 Applicability. Unless otherwise required by the Certificate of Incorporation or by applicable law, the following provisions of this Section 1.10 will apply only if and when the Corporation has a class of voting stock that is: (a) listed on a national securities exchange; (b) authorized for quotation on an interdealer quotation system of a registered national securities association; or (c) held of record by more than two thousand (2,000) stockholders. In all other cases, observance of the provisions of this Section 1.10 will be optional, and at the discretion of the Board.
1.10.2 Appointment. The Corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chairperson of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting.
1.10.3 Inspector’s Oath. Each inspector of election, before entering upon the discharge of such inspector’s duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability.
1.10.4 Duties of Inspectors. At a meeting of stockholders, the inspectors of election shall (a) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each share, (b) determine the shares represented at a meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (c) count all votes and ballots, (d) determine and retain for a reasonable period of time a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors, and (e) certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting, and their count of all votes and ballots. The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance of the duties of the inspectors.
1.10.5 Opening and Closing of Polls. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting. No ballot, proxies or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes thereto, shall be accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, upon application by a stockholder, shall determine otherwise.
1.10.6 Determinations. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots, the inspectors shall be limited to an examination of the proxies, any envelopes submitted with those proxies, any information provided pursuant to Section 211(a)(2)b.(i) or (iii) of the DGCL, or in accordance with Sections 211(e) or 212(c)(2) of the DGCL, ballots and the regular books and records of the Corporation, except that the inspectors may consider other reliable information for the limited purpose of reconciling proxies and ballots submitted by or on behalf of banks, brokers, their nominees or similar persons which represent more votes than the holder of a proxy is authorized by the record owner to cast or more votes than the stockholder holds of record. If the inspectors consider other reliable information for the limited purpose permitted herein, the inspectors at the time they make their certification of their determinations pursuant to this Section 1.10 shall specify the precise information considered by them, including the person or persons from whom they obtained the information, when the information was obtained, the means by which the information was obtained, and the basis for the inspectors’ belief that such information is accurate and reliable.
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Section 1.11 Notice of Stockholder Business; Nominations.
1.11.1 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
(a) Nominations of persons for election to the Board and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only: (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of such meeting (or any supplement thereto), (ii) by or at the direction of the Board or any duly authorized committee thereof, or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of the notice provided for in this Section 1.11 and at the time of the annual meeting of stockholders, who is entitled to vote at such meeting and who complies with the requirements set forth in this Section 1.11 in all applicable respects (the “Record Stockholder”). For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clause (iii) will be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or propose business (other than business included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (such act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “Exchange Act”)), at an annual meeting of stockholders, and such stockholder must fully comply with the requirements set forth in this Section 1.11 to bring such nominations or other business properly before an annual meeting.
(b) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a Record Stockholder pursuant to Section 1.11.1(a) of these Bylaws:
(i) the Record Stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and have provided any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and as required by this Section 1.11;
(ii) such business (other than the nomination of persons for election to the Board) must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action under applicable law;
(iii) each Proposing Person (as defined below) must have complied with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including, without limitation, the applicable requirements of Rule 14a-19), as such rules and regulations may be amended from time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including any SEC Staff interpretations relating thereto;
(iv) if a Solicitation Notice (as defined below) has been timely received by the Corporation, the Proposing Person will promptly (and in any event not later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the second (2nd) business day) after such Proposing Person (or any group of which such person is a part) has solicited the holders of the applicable percentage of voting shares provided in Section 1.11.1(b)(Z)(xiii) (or, in the case of 1.11.1(b)(Z)(xiii)(ii)(b), conducted an exempt solicitation pursuant to Rule 14a-2(b)(2) promulgated under the Exchange Act), provide the Corporation with reasonable evidence, which may take the form of a statement and documentation from a proxy solicitor, demonstrating that the necessary steps have been taken to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to the holders of the applicable percentage of voting shares provided in Section 1.11.1(b)(Z)(xiii) (or, in the case of 1.11.1(b)(Z)(xiii)(ii)(b), reasonable evidence demonstrating that such solicitation was eligible for exemption pursuant to Rule 14a-2(b)(2) promulgated under the Exchange Act); and
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(v) if no Solicitation Notice has been timely provided pursuant to this Section 1.11, no Proposing Person (and no group of which any Proposing Person is a part) will have solicited the holders of the applicable percentage of voting shares provided in Section 1.11.1(b)(Z)(xiii) or conducted an exempt solicitation pursuant to Rule 14a-2(b)(2) promulgated under the Exchange Act.
To be timely, a Record Stockholder’s notice must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (except in the case of the Corporation’s first annual meeting following its initial public offering, for which such notice will be timely if delivered in the same time period as if such meeting were a special meeting governed by Section 1.11.2 of these Bylaws); provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held during the preceding year or the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before, or more than sixty (60) days after, such anniversary date, notice by the Record Stockholder to be timely must be so received (A) no earlier than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and (B) no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which Public Announcement (as defined below) of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event will an adjournment or postponement (or the public announcement thereof) of an annual meeting for which notice has been given, or the public announcement thereof has been made, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for providing the Record Stockholder’s notice. Such Record Stockholder’s notice must set forth:
(X) as to each person whom the Record Stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director (in addition to the matters set forth in paragraph (Z) below):
(i) the name, age, business address, and residence address of such person;
(ii) the principal occupation or employment of such person;
(iii) the class or series and number of shares of each class or series of stock of the Corporation that are beneficially owned or owned of record by such person or his or her affiliates or associates;
(iv) the date or dates such shares were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition, as well as evidence of such date(s);
(v) a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such person, completed and executed by such person, which questionnaire will be provided by the Secretary upon written request of any Record Stockholder within five (5) business days of such written request;
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(vi) a written representation and agreement, in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request of any Record Stockholder within five (5) business days of such written request, (a) that such person (1) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding (whether written or oral) with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or 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, (2) is not and will not become a party to 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 that has not been disclosed to the Corporation, (3) will act, if elected as a director of the Corporation, in the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders and not in the interests of individual constituencies, (4) consents to being named as a nominee in a proxy statement and form of proxy relating to the meeting at which directors are to be elected and agrees to serve if elected as a director, and (5) intends to serve a full term until the next meeting at which such candidate would face re-election if elected as a director of the Corporation, and (b) whether such person would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and intends to comply, with all applicable rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation and the Policies (as defined below);
(vii) all other information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed or provided to the Corporation in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved and whether or not proxies are being or will be solicited), or would be otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act;
(viii) whether such person would qualify as an independent director under the requirements of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation and the Policies;
(ix) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements, and understandings during the past three (3) years, and any other material relationships, between or among any Proposing Person, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and such proposed nominee’s respective affiliates and associates, on the other hand, including all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to the U.S. federal securities laws or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including Item 404 under Regulation S-K) if the Proposing Person were the “registrant” for purposes thereof and the proposed nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant;
(x) a description of any position of such person as an officer or director of, or any material relationship with, any principal competitor of the Corporation within the past three (3) years;
(xi) the date or dates of first contact between any Proposing Person and such proposed nominee with respect to (A) the Corporation or (B) any proposed nomination of any person or persons for election or re-election to the Board; and
(xii) a description of any business or personal interests that could place such proposed nominee in a potential conflict of interest with the Corporation or any of its affiliates and how such proposed nominee, if elected, intends to mitigate or reconcile any such potential conflict of interest.
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(Y) as to any business other than the nomination of persons for election to the Board that the Record Stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting (in addition to the matters set forth in paragraph (Z) below):
(i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting;
(ii) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws, the text of the proposed amendment);
(iii) the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting; and
(iv) any material interest in such business of such Proposing Person, including any anticipated benefit to any Proposing Person therefrom.
(Z) as to each Proposing Person:
(i) the current name and address of each Proposing Person, including, if applicable, their name and address as they appear on the Corporation’s stock ledger, if different;
(ii) the class or series and number of shares of each class or series of stock of the Corporation that are directly or indirectly owned of record or beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by such Proposing Person, including any shares of any class or series of the Corporation as to which such Proposing Person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future;
(iii) whether and the extent to which any of the following is held directly or indirectly by, on behalf of, or for the benefit such Proposing Person (x) any Derivative Instrument (as defined below), (y) any rights to dividends on the shares of any class or series of shares of the Corporation that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, or (z) any Short Interest (as defined below), in each case, including the date thereof, the class, series, and number of securities involved therein, the material economic or voting terms thereof, and the identities of all persons party thereto;
(iv) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership or limited liability company in which such Proposing Person is, directly or indirectly, a general partner, managing member, or manager or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, managing member, or manager of such general or limited partnership or limited liability company;
(v) any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement with the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation, or any principal competitor of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement, or consulting agreement);
(vi) a description of any of the following that are held directly or indirectly by, on behalf of or for the benefit of such Proposing Person: (x) any significant equity interests in any principal competitor of the Corporation or (y) any Derivative Instruments or Short Interests in any principal competitor of the Corporation (including, in the case of any Derivative Instrument or Short Interest, the date thereof, the class, series, and number of securities involved therein, the material economic or voting terms thereof, and the identities of all persons party thereto);
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(vii) any other material relationship between such Proposing Person, on the one hand, and the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation, or any principal competitor of the Corporation, on the other hand;
(viii) all information that would be required to be set forth in a Schedule 13D filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(a) or an amendment pursuant to Rule 13d-2(a) if such a statement were required to be filed under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder by such Proposing Person, regardless of whether the requirement to file a Schedule 13D is applicable;
(ix) any other information relating to each Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies or consents by such Proposing Person in support of the business or nomination proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder;
(x) to the extent known by a Proposing Person, the names and addresses of any stockholder or beneficial owner that has provided or will provide financial support or material assistance in support of the nomination or business and a description of the nature of such support or assistance;
(xi) a description of any agreement, arrangement, or understanding between or among any Proposing Person and any other person or persons (including their names) with respect to, relating to, or in connection with such nomination or other business;
(xii) a representation that the Record Stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting at the time of giving notice and whether such Record Stockholder (or a Qualified Representative thereof) intends to appear at the meeting to propose such business or nomination;
(xiii) a representation whether any Proposing Person intends (or is part of a group that intends) to (i) deliver, or make available, a proxy statement or form of proxy to holders of, in the case of a proposal of business other than a nomination, at least the percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to carry the proposal or (ii) in the case of a nomination or nominations, (a) solicit proxies in support of any proposed nominee in accordance with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act or (b) conduct an exempt solicitation pursuant to Rule 14a-2(b)(2) promulgated under the Exchange Act, and, in each case, the name of each “participant” (as defined in Item 4 of Schedule 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) (an affirmative statement of such intent being a “Solicitation Notice”); and
(xiv) any proxy, contract, arrangement, or relationship pursuant to which the Proposing Person has a right to vote, directly or indirectly, any shares or any other securities of the Corporation, other than a revocable proxy given in response to a proxy solicitation made to more than ten (10) persons.
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The disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (Z)(ii), (Z)(iii), (Z)(iv) and (Z)(vi) will not include any information with respect to the ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company, or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these Bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner.
A stockholder providing written notice required by this Section 1.11 must update and supplement such notice, and any other information provided to the Corporation, in writing (and such update must clearly identify the information that has changed since the prior submission), so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice is true and correct in all material respects as of (i) the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting and (ii) 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the tenth (10th) business day prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. In the case of an update pursuant to clause (i) of the foregoing sentence, such update must be received by the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the fifth (5th) business day after the later of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting or the public announcement of such record date, and in the case of an update pursuant to clause (ii) of the foregoing sentence, such update must be received by the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the eighth (8th) business day prior to the date for the meeting, and, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (or, if there are fewer than eight (8) business days between the date for the meeting, or the date of the immediately preceding adjournment or postponement thereof, and the date for the adjourned or postponed meeting, not later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the day prior to such adjourned or postponed meeting). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Proposing Person no longer plans to solicit proxies in accordance with its representation pursuant to Section 1.11.1(b)(Z)(xiii) or the requirements of Rule 14a-19(b)(3), the Record Stockholder must inform the Corporation of this change by delivering a writing to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation no later than two (2) business days after the occurrence of such change. For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph will not limit the Corporation’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder, or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any proposal or nomination or to submit any new proposal, including by changing or adding nominees, matters, business, and/or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of stockholders.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in Section 1.11 or any other provision of the Bylaws to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board is increased and there is no Public Announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board at least ten (10) days prior to the last day a stockholder may deliver a notice of nomination in accordance with Section 1.11.1(b), a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 1.11 and that complies with the requirements in this Section 1.11, other than the timing requirements in Section 1.11.1(b), will also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it is received by the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive office of the Corporation no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such Public Announcement is first made by the Corporation.
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(d) Notwithstanding anything in Section 1.11 or any other provision of the Bylaws to the contrary, any person who a majority of the Whole Board (as defined below) determines, in good faith, violated Section 2.11 of these Bylaws or a Board Confidentiality Policy (as defined below) while serving as a director of the Corporation in the preceding five (5) years will be ineligible to be nominated to serve as a member of the Board, absent a prior waiver for such nomination approved by two-thirds of the Whole Board.
1.11.2 Special Meetings of Stockholders.
(a) Only such business will be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as has been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of such meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of such meeting (1) by or at the direction of the Board or any duly authorized committee thereof or (2) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice of the special meeting and at the time of the special meeting, who will be entitled to vote at the meeting, and who complies with the requirements set forth in this Section 1.11 in all applicable respects. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board, for nominations to be properly brought before such meeting by a stockholder (or a Qualified Representative thereof) pursuant to Section 1.11.2(a)(2) of these Bylaws:
(i) the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation setting forth such information, representations, certifications, and agreements required by Section 1.11.1 and provide any updates or supplements to such notice as required by this Section 1.11, in each case, as would be required in the case of stockholder nominations of persons for election to the Board at an annual meeting of stockholders;
(ii) each Proposing Person must have complied with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including, without limitation, the applicable requirements of Rule 14a-19), as such rules and regulations may be amended from time to time by the SEC, including any SEC Staff interpretations relating thereto; and
(iii) if a Solicitation Notice has been timely received by the Corporation, the Proposing Person must promptly (and in any event not later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the second (2nd) business day) after such Proposing Person (or any group of which such person is a part) has solicited proxies in support of any proposed nominee in accordance with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act (or, in the case of Section 1.11.1(b)(Z)(xiii)(ii)(b), conducted an exempt solicitation pursuant to Rule 14a-2(b)(2) promulgated under the Exchange Act), provide the Corporation with reasonable evidence, which may take the form of a statement and documentation from a proxy solicitor, demonstrating that the requirements of Rule 14a-19 have been satisfied (or, in the case of 1.11.1(b)(Z)(xiii)(ii)(b), reasonable evidence demonstrating that such solicitation was eligible for exemption pursuant to Rule 14a-2(b)(2) promulgated under the Exchange Act).
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(b) To be timely, the stockholder’s notice required by Section 1.11.2(a) of these Bylaws must be received by the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (i) no earlier than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and (ii) no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which Public Announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board to be elected at such meeting. In no event will an adjournment or postponement (or the public announcement thereof) of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for providing such notice.
1.11.3 General.
(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided in any applicable rule or regulation under the Exchange Act, only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.11 will be eligible for election or re-election as a director at a meeting of stockholders and only such business will be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as has been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures and requirements set forth in this Section 1.11. Except as otherwise required by applicable law or these Bylaws, the Board or, at a meeting of stockholders (but subject to any rules and regulation adopted by, and the supervision of, the Board) the chairperson of the meeting will have the power to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures and requirements set forth in this Section 1.11 (including satisfying the information requirements set forth herein with accurate and complete information and complying with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations referred to herein) and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance herewith, or a Proposing Person does not act in accordance with the representations required in this Section 1.11, to declare that such business or nomination will not be presented for stockholder action at the meeting and will be disregarded (and such nominee disqualified from standing for election or re-election), or that such business will not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies or votes in respect of such nomination or such business may have been solicited or received by the Corporation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Bylaws, unless otherwise required by applicable law, if any Proposing Person (i) provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act with respect to any proposed nominee and (ii) subsequently (x) fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act in accordance with the following sentence or (y) fails to inform the Corporation that they no longer plan to solicit proxies in accordance with the requirements of Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act by delivering a written notice to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation within two (2) business days after the occurrence of such change, then the nomination of each such proposed nominee will be disregarded (and such nominee disqualified from standing for election or re-election), notwithstanding that proxies or votes in respect of the election of such proposed nominees may have been solicited or received by the Corporation. If any Proposing Person provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act, such Proposing Person must deliver reasonable evidence sufficient to demonstrate that it has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act, which evidence must be received by the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the fifth (5th) business day prior to the applicable meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.11, unless otherwise required by law, if the Record Stockholder (or a Qualified Representative of the Record Stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or proposed business, such nomination will be disregarded (and such nominee disqualified from standing for election or re-election) and such proposed business will not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies or votes in respect of such vote may have been solicited or received by the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.11, unless otherwise permitted by applicable law, no stockholder will solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Corporation’s nominees unless such stockholder has complied with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act in connection with the solicitation of such proxies, including the provision to the Corporation of notices required thereunder in a timely manner.
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(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.11, a stockholder must also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth herein, and any failure to comply with such requirements will be deemed a failure to comply with this Section 1.11. Nothing in this Section 1.11 will be deemed to affect any rights of (i) stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act (provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder are not intended to and will not limit the requirements applicable to proposals and/or nominations to be considered pursuant to Section 1.11.1(a)(iii)) or (ii) the holders of any series of Common Stock or Preferred Stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.
(c) The Corporation may also, as a condition to any nomination or business being deemed properly brought before a meeting of stockholders, require any stockholder, Proposing Person, or any proposed nominee to deliver to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, within five (5) business days of any such request, such other information as may reasonably be requested by the Corporation, including (i) such other information as may be reasonably required by the Board, in its sole discretion, to determine (a) the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation, and (b) whether such proposed nominee qualifies as an “independent director” or “audit committee financial expert” under applicable law or securities exchange rule or regulation and (ii) such other information that the Board determines, in its sole discretion, could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such proposed nominee.
(d) The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at an annual meeting of stockholders or a special meeting of stockholders (or in the case of a stockholder giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at an annual meeting of stockholders or special meeting of stockholders on behalf of such beneficial owner) cannot exceed the number of directors to be elected at such annual meeting. A stockholder may not designate any substitute nominees unless the stockholder provides timely notice of such substitute nominee(s) in accordance with Section 1.11.1(b), in the case of an annual meeting, or Section 1.11.2, in the case of a special meeting (and such notice contains all of the information, representations, questionnaires, and certifications with respect to such substitute nominee(s) that are required by these Bylaws with respect to nominees for director).
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(e) For purposes of this Section 1.11 the following definitions will apply:
(i) “affiliate” and “associate” have the meanings ascribed thereto in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; provided, however, that the term “partner” as used in the definition of “associate” will not include any limited partner that is not involved in the management of the relevant partnership;
(ii) “business day” means any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday, or day on which commercial banks are required or authorized to be closed in Dover, Delaware.
(iii) “Derivative Instrument” means any derivative interest in the Corporation’s equity securities, including without limitation any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, cash-settled equity swap, total return swap, synthetic equity position, or similar derivative arrangement or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether settled in cash or stock or other property or securities;
(iv) “Policies” means all publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, stock ownership requirements, confidentiality, and training policies and guidelines of the Corporation applicable to directors;
(v) “Proposing Person” means (1) the Record Stockholder providing the notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting or nomination of persons for election to the Board at any stockholder meeting, (2) any beneficial owner on whose behalf the proposal or nomination is made, and (3) any affiliate of either of the foregoing;
(vi) “Public Announcement” means disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the SEC pursuant to Section 13, 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;
(vii) a “Qualified Representative” of a stockholder means a person who is (i) a duly authorized officer, manager, trustee, or partner of such stockholder or (ii) authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as a proxy at the meeting of stockholders, which writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction thereof, must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the fifth (5th) business day prior to the meeting of stockholders; and
(viii) “Short Interest” means any short interest in any security of the Corporation that a person directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship, or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of the subject security or any other agreement, arrangement, or understanding (including without limitation any borrowing or lending of shares) the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to or manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of, such person with respect to any share of stock of the Corporation.
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Section 1.12 Delivery to the Corporation. Irrespective of Section 116 of the DGCL, whenever this Article I requires one or more persons (including a record or beneficial owner of stock) to deliver a document or information to the Corporation or any officer, employee, or agent thereof (including any notice, request, questionnaire, revocation, representation, letter, or other document or agreement), such document or information must be in writing exclusively (and not in an electronic transmission) and delivered exclusively by hand (including, without limitation, overnight courier service) or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.
Article II: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 2.1 Number; Qualifications. The total number of directors constituting the Whole Board shall be fixed from time to time in the manner set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation and the term “Whole Board” shall have the meaning specified in the Certificate of Incorporation. No decrease in the authorized number of directors constituting the Whole Board will shorten the term of any incumbent director. Directors need not be stockholders of the Corporation.
Section 2.2 Election; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies. Election of directors need not be by written ballot. Each director shall hold office until the annual meeting at which such director’s term expires and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification, or removal. Any director may resign by delivering a resignation in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation at its principal office or to the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Secretary. Such resignation will be effective upon delivery unless it is specified to be effective at a later time or upon the happening of an event. Subject to the special rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, directors may be removed only as provided by the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. All vacancies occurring in the Board and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors shall be filled in the manner set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 2.3 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board may be held at such places (if any), within or without the State of Delaware, and at such times as the Board may from time to time determine. Notice of regular meetings need not be given if the date, times, and places (if any) thereof are fixed by resolution of the Board.
Section 2.4 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or a majority of the members of the Board then in office and may be held at any time, date, or place (if any), within or without the State of Delaware, as the person or persons calling the meeting may fix. Notice of the time, date, and place (if any) of such meeting must be given, orally, in writing, or by electronic transmission (including electronic mail), by or at the direction of the person or persons calling the meeting to all directors at least four (4) days before the meeting if the notice is mailed, or at least twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting if such notice is given personally or by telephone, hand delivery, electronic mail, or other means of electronic transmission; provided, however, that if, under the circumstances, the person or persons calling a special meeting determine(s), in good faith, that more immediate action is necessary or appropriate, notice may delivered on the day of such special meeting. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.
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Section 2.5 Remote Meetings Permitted. Members of the Board, or any committee of the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board or such committee, as applicable, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to conference telephone or other communications equipment shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 2.6 Quorum; Vote Required for Action. At all meetings of the Board, a majority of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A majority of directors present, whether or not a quorum exists, may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time. Except as otherwise provided herein or in the Certificate of Incorporation, or required by applicable law, the vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board.
Section 2.7 Organization. Meetings of the Board will be presided over by (a) the Chairperson of the Board, or (b) in such person’s absence, by the Chief Executive Officer, if a director, or (c) in such person’s absence or if such person is not a director, by a director chosen by the Board at the meeting. The Secretary will act as secretary of the meeting, but in such person’s absence, the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 2.8 Unanimous Action by Directors in Lieu of a Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission. After an action is taken, the consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee, as applicable. Such filing will be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and will be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
Section 2.9 Powers. The Board may exercise all of the powers of the Corporation except as otherwise provided by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws.
Section 2.10 Compensation of Directors. Members of the Board, as such, may receive, pursuant to a resolution of the Board, fees and other compensation for their services as directors, including without limitation their services as members of committees of the Board.
Section 2.11 Confidentiality. Each director (i) must maintain the confidentiality of any non-public information learned in their capacities as directors, including communications among Board members in their capacities as directors and (ii) must not share any such information with any third-party person or entity who has not entered into a specific written agreement with the Corporation providing otherwise with respect to such information. The Board may adopt a board confidentiality policy further implementing and interpreting this bylaw (a “Board Confidentiality Policy”). All directors are required to comply with this bylaw and any such Board Confidentiality Policy unless such director has entered into a specific written agreement with the Corporation, in either case as approved by the Board, providing otherwise with respect to such confidential information.
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Section 2.12 Emergency Bylaws. This Section 2.12 shall be operative during any emergency condition as contemplated by Section 110 of the DGCL (an “Emergency”), notwithstanding any different or conflicting provisions in these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, or the DGCL. In the event of any Emergency, or other similar emergency condition, the director or directors in attendance at a meeting of the Board or a standing committee thereof shall constitute a quorum. Such director or directors in attendance may further take action to appoint one or more of themselves or other directors to membership on any standing or temporary committees of the Board as they deem necessary and appropriate. In the event that no directors are able to attend a meeting of the Board or any committee thereof in an Emergency, then the Designated Officers in attendance shall serve as directors, or committee members, as the case may be, for the meeting and will have full powers to act as directors, or committee members, as the case may be, of the Corporation. Except as the Board may otherwise determine, during any Emergency, the Corporation and its directors and officers, may exercise any authority and take any action or measure contemplated by Section 110 of the DGCL. For purposes of this Section 2.12, the term “Designated Officer” means an officer identified on a numbered list of officers of the Corporation who shall be deemed to be, in the order in which they appear on the list up until a quorum is obtained, directors of the Corporation, or members of a committee of the Board, as the case may be, for purposes of obtaining a quorum during an Emergency, if a quorum of directors or committee members, as the case may be, cannot otherwise be obtained during such Emergency, which list of Designated Officers will be approved by the Board from time to time but in any event prior to such time or times as an Emergency may have occurred.
Article III: COMMITTEES
Section 3.1 Committees. The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of the committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting of such committee who are not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in a resolution of the Board, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (a) approving, adopting, or recommending to the stockholders any action or matter (other than the election or removal of members of the Board) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval or (b) adopting, amending, or repealing any bylaw of the Corporation.
Section 3.2 Committee Rules. Each committee will keep records of its proceedings and make such reports as the Board may from time to time request. Unless the Board otherwise provides, each committee designated by the Board may make, alter, and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules, each committee will conduct its business in the same manner as the Board conducts its business pursuant to Article II of these Bylaws. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or the resolution of the Board designating the committee, any committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one or more members of the committee, and may delegate to any such subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee.
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Article IV: OFFICERS; CHAIRPERSON
Section 4.1 Generally. The officers of the Corporation will consist of a Chief Executive Officer (who may also be the Chairperson of the Board or the President), a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer and may consist of such other officers, including, without limitation, a Chief Financial Officer and one or more Vice Presidents, as may from time to time be appointed by the Board. All officers shall be elected by the Board; provided, however, that the Board may empower the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation to appoint any officer other than the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, or the Treasurer. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, each officer shall hold office until such officer’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until such officer’s earlier resignation, death, disqualification, or removal. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. Any officer may resign by delivering a resignation in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation at its principal office or to the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Secretary. Such resignation will be effective upon delivery unless it is specified to be effective at some later time or upon the happening of some later event. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation by death, resignation, removal, or otherwise may be filled by the Board for the unexpired portion of the term and until a successor is duly elected and qualified. The Board may, in its discretion, leave unfilled any offices for such period as it may determine.
Section 4.2 Chief Executive Officer. Subject to the control of the Board and such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the Board, the powers and duties of the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation are:
(a) to act as the general manager and, subject to the control of the Board, to have general supervision, direction, and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation;
(b) to affix the signature of the Corporation to all deeds, conveyances, mortgages, guarantees, leases, obligations, bonds, certificates, and other papers and instruments in writing which have been authorized by the Board or which, in the judgment of the Chief Executive Officer, should be executed on behalf of the Corporation;
(c) to sign certificates for shares of stock of the Corporation (if any); and
(d) subject to the direction of the Board, to have general charge of the property of the Corporation and to supervise and control all officers, agents, and employees of the Corporation.
Section 4.3 Chairperson of the Board. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.7 of these Bylaws, the Chairperson of the Board will have the power to preside at all meetings of the Board and will have such other powers and duties as provided in these Bylaws and as the Board may from time to time prescribe. The Chairperson of the Board will not be deemed an officer of the Corporation unless otherwise determined by the Board.
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Section 4.4 President. The Board shall have the power to designate one individual as the President and the same or a different individual as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of the Board, and subject to the supervisory powers of the Chief Executive Officer (if the Chief Executive Officer is an officer other than the President), and subject to such supervisory powers and authority as may be given by the Board to the Chairperson of the Board, and/or to any other officer, the President will have the responsibility for the general management and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation and the general supervision and direction of all of the officers, employees, and agents of the Corporation (other than the Chief Executive Officer, if the Chief Executive Officer is an officer other than the President) and will perform all duties and have all powers that are commonly incident to the office of President or as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe.
Section 4.5 Vice President. Each Vice President will have all such powers and duties as are commonly incident to the office of Vice President or as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe. A Vice President may be designated by the Board to perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chief Executive Officer or President in the event of the Chief Executive Officer’s or President’s absence or disability.
Section 4.6 Chief Financial Officer. The person holding the office of Chief Financial Officer will be the Treasurer of the Corporation unless the Board designates another officer as the Treasurer of the Corporation. Subject to the direction of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer will perform all duties and have all powers that are commonly incident to the office of Chief Financial Officer, or as the Board or Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe.
Section 4.7 Treasurer. The person holding the office of Treasurer will have custody of all monies and securities of the Corporation. The Treasurer will make such disbursements of the funds of the Corporation as are authorized and will render from time to time an account of all such transactions. The Treasurer will also perform such other duties and have such other powers as are commonly incident to the office of Treasurer, or as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe.
Section 4.8 Secretary. The Secretary will issue or cause to be issued all authorized notices for, and will keep, or cause to be kept, minutes of all meetings of the stockholders and the Board. The Secretary will have charge of the corporate minute books and similar records and will perform such other duties and have such other powers as are commonly incident to the office of Secretary, or as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe.
Section 4.9 Delegation of Authority. The Board may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer of the Corporation to any other officers or agents of the Corporation.
Section 4.10 Removal. Any officer of the Corporation shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board or any duly authorized agent thereof; provided, that if the Board has empowered the Chief Executive Officer to appoint any officer of the Corporation, then such officer may also be removed by the Chief Executive Officer. Such removal will be without prejudice to the contractual rights of such officer, if any, with the Corporation.
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Article V: STOCK
Section 5.1 Certificates; Uncertificated Shares. The shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be uncertificated shares; provided, however, that the resolution of the Board that the shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be uncertificated shares shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation (or the transfer agent or registrar, as the case may be). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be certificated shares. 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, including, without limitation, the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer (if any), the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (if any) of the Corporation, representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile or electronic signature. In case any officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile or electronic 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 an officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue.
Section 5.2 Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates or Uncertificated Shares. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate previously issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen, or destroyed, 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 and its transfer agent (or other applicable third party acting in such capacity) against any claim that may be made against the Corporation or such applicable third party on account of the alleged loss, theft, or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.
Section 5.3 Other Regulations. Subject to applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, and these Bylaws, the issue, transfer, conversion, and registration of shares represented by certificates and of uncertificated shares will be governed by such other regulations as the Board may establish.
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Article VI: INDEMNIFICATION
Section 6.1 Indemnification of Officers and Directors. Each person who was or is made a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, or is involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, investigative, preliminary, formal or informal, or any other type whatsoever, including any arbitration or other alternative dispute resolution and including any appeal of the foregoing (a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that such person (or a person of whom such person is the legal representative), is or was a member of the Board or is or was an officer of the Corporation designated by the Board to be entitled to the indemnification and advancement rights set forth in this Article VI (for purposes of this Article VI, an “officer” of the Corporation) or, while serving in such capacity, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent, or trustee of another corporation, or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans (each, an “Indemnitee”), will be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expenses, liability, and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Indemnitee in connection therewith, provided such Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner that the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. Such indemnification will continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a member of the Board or officer of the Corporation and will inure to the benefit of such Indemnitees’ heirs, executors, and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to Section 6.5 of these Bylaws, with respect to an indemnity sought in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by an Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by an Indemnitee against the Corporation or its directors, officers, employees, or other indemnitees, the Corporation will only provide an indemnification if (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding)) prior to its initiation, (ii) such payment arises in connection with any mandatory counterclaim or cross-claim or affirmative defense brought or raised by Indemnitee in any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding), or (iii) such indemnification is authorized by an agreement approved by the Board or the Corporation provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Corporation under applicable law.
Section 6.2 Advance of Expenses. Except as otherwise provided in a written indemnification agreement between the Corporation and an Indemnitee, the Corporation will pay all reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Indemnitee in defending any Proceeding as they are incurred or otherwise in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that the advancement of such expenses (i.e., payment of such expenses as incurred or otherwise in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding) will be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such Indemnitee, to repay such amounts if it is ultimately determined by final judicial decision from which there is no appeal that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VI or otherwise.
Section 6.3 Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any person in this Article VI hall not be exclusive of any other right that such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote or consent of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. Additionally, nothing in this Article VI shall limit the ability of the Corporation, in its discretion, to indemnify or advance expenses to persons whom the Corporation is not obligated to indemnify or advance expenses to pursuant to this Article VI.
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Section 6.4 Indemnification of Others; Additional Rights. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any person who is or was a member of the Board, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation, or any person serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent, or trustee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including employee benefit plans. Such rights may be greater than those provided in this Article VI.
Section 6.5 Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. The following will apply to the extent not in conflict with any indemnification right provided for in Section 6.4 of these Bylaws.
6.5.1 Right to Bring Suit. If a claim under Section 6.1 or Section 6.2 of these Bylaws is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty (60) days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period will be twenty (20) days, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If the Indemnitee is successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Indemnitee also will be entitled to be paid, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses), it will be a defense that the Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in applicable law. In any suit brought by the Corporation to recover advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation will be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that the Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in applicable law.
6.5.2 Effect of Determination. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its board of directors, any committee or subgroup of the board of directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct required by applicable law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its board of directors, any committee or subgroup of the board of directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, will create a presumption that the Indemnitee has or has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
6.5.3 Burden of Proof. In any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VI, or otherwise, will be on the Corporation.
Section 6.6 Successful Defense. To the extent that an Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any Proceeding (or in defense of any claim, issue, or matter therein), such Indemnitee will be indemnified under this Section 6.6 against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such defense. Indemnification under this Section 6.6 will not be subject to satisfaction of a standard of conduct, and the Corporation may not assert the failure to satisfy a standard of conduct as a basis to deny indemnification or recover amounts advanced, including in a suit brought pursuant to Section 6.5 of these Bylaws (notwithstanding anything to the contrary therein); provided, however, that, any Indemnitee who is not a current or former member of the Board or officer (as such term is defined in the final sentence of Section 145(c)(1) of the DGCL) will be entitled to indemnification under Section 6.1 of these Bylaws and this Section 6.6 only if such Indemnitee has satisfied the applicable standard of conduct required for indemnification under Section 145(a) or Section 145(b) of the DGCL.
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Section 6.7 Nature of Rights; Amendment or Repeal. The rights conferred upon Indemnitees in this Article VI are contract rights and such rights will continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a member of the Board or officer of the Corporation and will inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors, and administrators. Any amendment, repeal, or modification of any provision of this Article VI that adversely affects any right of an Indemnitee or an Indemnitee’s successors will be prospective only, and will not adversely affect any right or protection conferred on a person pursuant to this Article VI with respect to any Proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment, repeal, or modification.
Section 6.8 Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any member of the Board, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise against any expense, liability, or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability, or loss under the DGCL.
Article VII : NOTICES
Section 7.1 Notice.
7.1.1 Form and Delivery. Except as otherwise specifically required by applicable law, notice may be given in writing directed to a stockholder’s mailing address as it appears on the records of the Corporation and shall be given: (a) if mailed, when notice is deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid; and (b) if delivered by courier service, the earlier of when the notice is received or left at such stockholder’s address. So long as the Corporation is subject to the SEC’s proxy rules set forth in Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, notice must be given in the manner required by such rules. To the extent permitted by such rules, or if the Corporation is not subject to Regulation 14A, notice may be given by electronic mail directed to the stockholder’s electronic mail address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, and if so given, shall be deemed given when directed to such stockholder’s electronic mail address unless the stockholder has notified the Corporation in writing or by electronic transmission of an objection to receiving notice by electronic mail or such notice is prohibited by Section 232(e) of the DGCL. If notice is given by electronic mail, such notice shall comply with the applicable provisions of Sections 232(a) and 232(d) of the DGCL. Notice may be given by other forms of electronic transmission with the consent of a stockholder in the manner permitted by Section 232(b) of the DGCL and shall be deemed given as provided therein.
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7.1.2 Affidavit of Giving Notice. An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (if any) or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given in writing or by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
Section 7.2 Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a written waiver of notice, signed by the person entitled to notice, or waiver by electronic transmission by such person, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, directors, or members of a committee of directors need be specified in any waiver of notice.
Article VIII: MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.1 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation will be determined by resolution of the Board.
Section 8.2 Seal. The Board may provide for a corporate seal, which may have the name of the Corporation inscribed thereon and will otherwise be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board.
Section 8.3 Form of Records. Any records administered by or on behalf of the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account and minute books, may be kept on or by means of, or be in the form of any other information storage device, method, or one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases) electronic or otherwise, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time and otherwise comply with the DGCL. The Corporation shall so convert any records so kept upon the request of any person entitled to inspect such records pursuant to any provision of the DGCL.
Section 8.4 Reliance Upon Books and Records. A member of the Board, or a member of any committee designated by the Board shall, in the performance of such person’s duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books and records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports, or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board, or by any other person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.
Section 8.5 Certificate of Incorporation Governs. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation shall govern.
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Section 8.6 Severability. If any provision of these Bylaws is held to be invalid, illegal, unenforceable, or in conflict with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, then such provision will nonetheless be enforced to the maximum extent possible consistent with such holding and the remaining provisions of these Bylaws (including, without limitation, all portions of any section of these Bylaws containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal, unenforceable, or in conflict with the Certificate of Incorporation, that are not themselves invalid, illegal, unenforceable, or in conflict with the Certificate of Incorporation) will remain in full force and effect.
Section 8.7 Time Periods. In applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days will be used (unless otherwise specified herein), the day of the doing of the act will be excluded, and the day of the event will be included.
Article IX: CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES
Section 9.1 Corporate Opportunities.
9.1.1 In recognition and anticipation that certain members of the Board who are not employees of the Corporation (the “Non-Employee Directors”) and their respective Affiliates may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, the provisions of this Article IX are set forth to address certain classes or categories of business opportunities as they may involve the Corporation, the Non-Employee Directors, or their respective Affiliates (collectively, the “Identified Persons” and, individually, an “Identified Person”).
9.1.2 To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation hereby renounces any interest or expectancy in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity that may be a corporate opportunity for an Identified Person and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, except as provided in this Article IX.
9.1.3 The Corporation does not renounce its interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any Non-Employee Director (including any Non-Employee Director who serves as an officer of the Corporation) if such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation, and the provisions of this Article IX shall not apply to any such corporate opportunity. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the provisions of this Article IX shall not release any Person who is or was an employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries from any obligations or duties that such Person may have pursuant to any other agreement that such Person may have with the Corporation or its subsidiaries.
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9.1.4 In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article IX, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to be a potential corporate opportunity for the Corporation if it is a business opportunity that (1) the Corporation is neither financially or legally able, nor contractually permitted to undertake; (2) from its nature, is not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to the Corporation; or (3) is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.
9.1.5 For purposes of this Article IX, (1) “Affiliate” shall mean (i) in respect of a Non-Employee Director, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by such Non-Employee Director and, to the extent such Non-Employee Director is serving as a member of the Board at the request of any investment fund or investment vehicle (or manager, adviser or sponsor thereof) (an “Investor”), such Investor and any other Person, directly or indirectly, affiliated with, or managed, advised or sponsored by, such Investor (in each case, other than the Corporation and any entity that is controlled by the Corporation), and (ii) in respect of the Corporation, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Corporation; and (2) “Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, association, or any other entity.
9.1.6 To the fullest extent permitted by law, any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in any shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article IX.
Article X: AMENDMENT
Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws, any alteration, amendment, or repeal of these Bylaws, and any adoption of new Bylaws, shall require the approval of the Board or the stockholders of the Corporation as expressly provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.
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