NXT 8-K
Nextpower Inc. (NXT)
8-K
2026-08-19
For: 2026-08-18
View Original
Added on
August 19, 2026
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 18, 2026
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||||||||||||
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (510) 270-2500
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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| 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 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.
As described in Item 5.07 below, the stockholders of Nextpower Inc. (the “Company”) approved, upon the recommendation of the Company’s Board of Directors, an amendment and restatement of the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation at the annual meeting of stockholders on August 18, 2026 (the “Annual Meeting”) to eliminate the Company’s legacy Class B common stock and other outdated provisions and to rename the Company’s Class A common stock to “Common Stock” and make conforming changes (the “Amendments”), as described in more detail in the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 7, 2026 (the “Proxy Statement”). On August 19, 2026, the Company filed the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), which reflects the Amendments as approved by the stockholders, with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation became effective immediately upon its filing. On August 18, 2026, the Company’s Board of Directors also approved an amendment and restatement of the Company’s bylaws (the “Third Amended and Restated Bylaws”) to conform certain outdated provisions to the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, effective as of August 19, 2026.
The foregoing description does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws, which are attached as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
On August 18, 2026, the Company held the Annual Meeting via virtual webcast. At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s stockholders voted on four proposals, each of which is described in more detail in the Company’s Proxy Statement. A total of 142,523,682 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock were present or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting, representing 93.97% of the voting power of the shares of Class A common stock outstanding as of the close of business on June 22, 2026, the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Holders of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock were each entitled to one vote for each share held as of the close of business on the record date.
The following are the voting results on the four proposals considered and voted upon at the Annual Meeting, all of which are described in the Proxy Statement.
Proposal 1. Election of Directors
The following nominees were elected to serve as the Class I directors until the Company’s 2029 annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are duly qualified, or, if sooner, until the director’s earlier death, resignation or removal, based on the following results of voting:
| Nominee | For | Withhold | Broker Non-Votes | |||||||||||||||||
| Mark Menezes | 109,631,706 | 26,777,244 | 6,114,732 | |||||||||||||||||
| Daniel Shugar | 134,266,300 | 2,142,650 | 6,114,732 | |||||||||||||||||
| William Watkins | 105,335,206 | 31,073,744 | 6,114,732 | |||||||||||||||||
| Howard Wenger | 133,530,088 | 2,878,862 | 6,114,732 | |||||||||||||||||
Proposal 2. Ratification of the Selection of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2027 was ratified based on the following results of voting:
| Votes For | Votes Against | Abstentions | Broker Non-Votes | |||||||||||||||||
| 141,745,434 | 262,528 | 515,720 | N/A | |||||||||||||||||
Proposal 3. Approval, on an Advisory Basis, of the Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers
The results of the advisory vote regarding the Company’s fiscal year 2026 executive compensation as disclosed in the Proxy Statement were as follows:
| Votes For | Votes Against | Abstentions | Broker Non-Votes | |||||||||||||||||
| 126,004,320 | 8,785,239 | 1,619,391 | 6,114,732 | |||||||||||||||||
Proposal 4. Amendments to Our Second Amended & Restated Certificate of Incorporation
The results of the vote to approve the Amendments were as follows:
| Votes For | Votes Against | Abstentions | Broker Non-Votes | |||||||||||||||||
| 136,317,821 | 51,693 | 39,436 | 6,144,732 | |||||||||||||||||
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit No. | Description | ||||
| 3.1 | |||||
| 3.2 | |||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | ||||
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Nextpower Inc. | |||||
| By: | /s/ Lindsey Wiedmann | ||||
| Lindsey Wiedmann | |||||
Chief Legal & Compliance Officer | |||||
Date: August 19, 2026
Exhibit 3.1
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF NEXTPOWER INC.
Nextpower Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies as follows:
1. | The name of the Corporation is Nextpower Inc. and was formerly incorporated under the name Nextracker Inc. The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 19, 2022. | |||||||
| 2. | The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 8, 2023. | |||||||
| 3. | The Second Amended and Restated Certificate of the Corporation was filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on November 12, 2025 (the “Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”). | |||||||
| 4. | The Corporation is filing this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as the same may be further amended and/or restated (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation (as defined below), this “Certificate of Incorporation”), which restates and further amends the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and has been duly adopted by all necessary action of the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) and stockholders of the Corporation, pursuant to Section 242 and Section 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended and/or supplemented from time to time (the “DGCL”). | |||||||
| 5. | This Certificate of Incorporation shall be effective on the date of filing with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. | |||||||
| 6. | The text of the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows: | |||||||
ARTICLE I
The name of the corporation (hereinafter the “Corporation”) is Nextpower Inc.
ARTICLE II
The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, New Castle County, Wilmington, Delaware 19801. The name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.
ARTICLE III
The purpose of 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, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended and/or supplemented from time to time (the "DGCL").
ARTICLE IV
Section 4.01 Authorized Capital Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is 950,000,000 (nine hundred fifty million) shares of which 900,000,000 shall be a single class of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and 50,000,000 shares shall be a single class of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”). Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, the number of authorized shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the holders of Common Stock and Preferred Stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL or any successor provision thereof, and no vote of the holders of any of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock voting separately as a class or series shall be required therefor.
Section 4.02 Common Stock. The terms of the Common Stock set forth below shall be subject to the express terms of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding.
(a) Voting Rights. Except as otherwise required by applicable law or this certificate of incorporation (as amended and/or restated from time to time, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation (as defined below), collectively, the "Certificate of Incorporation"), the holders of Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of the Corporation’s stockholders generally. Except as otherwise required by applicable law or this Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as a single class (or, if any holders of shares of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, as a single class with such holders of Preferred Stock) on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
(b) Dividends. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends or distributions, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive, as, if and when declared by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board") out of the funds of the Corporation legally available therefor, such dividends (payable in cash, shares of stock of the Corporation, property or assets of the Corporation or otherwise) as the Board may from time to time in its sole discretion determine.
(c) Liquidation. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, after the payment or provision for the payment of any debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or other class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Common Stock with respect to the distribution of assets upon any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders shall be distributed among and paid to the holders of Common Stock ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them respectively.
Section 4.03 Preferred Stock. The Board is authorized, by resolution or resolutions, to provide, out of the authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for the issuance from time to time of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series and, by filing a certificate of designation (a “Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation”) pursuant to the applicable provisions of the DGCL, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, with such powers (including voting powers, if any), designations, preferences, participating, optional or other rights, if any, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, as are
stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance thereof adopted by the Board, including, but not limited to, determination of any of the following:
(a) the distinctive designation of the series, whether by number, letter or title, and the number of shares which will constitute the series;
(b) the dividend rate, if any, and the times of payment of dividends, if any, on the shares of the series, whether such dividends will be cumulative and, if so, from what date or dates, and the relation which such dividends, if any, shall bear to the dividends payable on any other class or classes or series of stock;
(c) the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions on which, the shares of the series may be redeemed at the option of the Corporation or the holder thereof or upon the happening of a specified event;
(d) whether or not the shares of the series will be entitled to the benefit of a retirement or sinking fund to be applied to the purchase or redemption of such shares and, if so entitled, the amount of such fund and the terms and provisions relative to the operation thereof;
(e) the amounts payable on, and the preferences, if any, of the shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation or upon the happening of any other specified event;
(f) whether or not the shares of the series will be convertible into, or exchangeable for, at the option of either the holder or the Corporation or upon the happening of a specified event, shares of any other class or classes or series of stock of the Corporation and, if so convertible or exchangeable, the conversion price or prices, or the rates of exchange, and any adjustments thereof, at which such conversion or exchange may be made, and any other terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange;
(g) whether or not the shares of the series will have priority over or be on a parity with or be junior to the shares of any other class or classes or series of stock of the Corporation in any respect, or will be entitled to the benefit of limitations restricting the issuance of shares of any other class or classes or series of stock of the Corporation, restricting the payment of dividends on or the making of other distributions in respect of shares of any other class or classes or series of stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the shares of the series as to dividends or distributions, or restricting the purchase or redemption of the shares of any such junior class or classes or series of stock of the Corporation, and the terms of any such restriction;
(h) whether or not the shares of the series will have voting rights or powers and, if so, the terms of such voting rights and powers; and
(i) any other powers, preferences and rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions of the series.
Except as otherwise required by law, holders of any series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to only such voting rights and powers, if any, as shall expressly be granted thereto by this Certificate of Incorporation. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Certificate of Incorporation, no vote of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock shall be a prerequisite to the issuance of any shares of any series of the Preferred Stock so authorized in accordance with this Certificate of Incorporation. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation 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 as a class or together with the holders of one or more other such series as a separate class, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation or pursuant to the DGCL. Unless otherwise provided by this Certificate of Incorporation, the Board may, by resolution or resolutions, increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series of Preferred Stock established by a Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation pursuant to this Article IV and the DGCL and, if the number of
shares of such series shall be so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status that they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series.
ARTICLE V
Section 5.01 General Powers. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law or this Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board.
Section 5.02 Number of Directors. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors, the total number of directors shall be as determined from time to time exclusively by the Board; provided, that in no event shall the total number of directors be fewer than three (3) nor more than fifteen (15). Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the amended and restated bylaws of the Corporation (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time bylaws (the “Bylaws”)) shall so require.
Section 5.03 Classified Board: Term of Office. The directors (other than those directors elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more other such series, as the case may be) shall be divided into three classes designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of such directors. Each director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third annual meeting of stockholders next following the annual meeting at which such director was elected. If the number of such directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any such additional director of any class elected to fill a newly created directorship resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors remove or shorten the term of any incumbent director. Each director shall hold office until the annual meeting at which his or her term expires and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, removal or disqualification.
Section 5.04 Quorum. A majority of the total authorized number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by the Board.
Section 5.05 Vacancies; Newly Created Directorships. Except as otherwise provided by this Certificate of Incorporation, any vacancy resulting from the death, resignation, removal or disqualification of a director or other cause, or any newly created directorship in the Board, shall be filled only by an affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director, and, unless otherwise determined by the Board, shall not be filled by the stockholders of the Corporation. Except as otherwise provided by this Certificate of Incorporation, a director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors of the class to which he or she has been appointed and until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, removal or disqualification.
Section 5.06 Removal of Directors. Except as otherwise provided by law or this Certificate of Incorporation, directors may be removed only for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon.
Section 5.07 Voting Rights of Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more such other series of Preferred Stock, to elect directors, the election, term of office, removal, filling of vacancies (including filling any newly created directorships) any and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of the other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, during any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock have the right to elect additional directors, then upon commencement and for the duration of the period during which such right continues: (i) the then otherwise total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by such specified number of directors, and the holders of such Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional
directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to such provisions, and (ii) each such additional director shall serve until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s right to hold such office terminates pursuant to such provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to his or her earlier death, resignation, removal or disqualification. Except as otherwise provided by the Board in the Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation, whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to the provisions of such stock, the terms of office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of such stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, removal or disqualification of such additional directors, shall forthwith terminate, and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be reduced accordingly.
ARTICLE VI
In furtherance and not in limitation of the rights, powers, privileges and discretionary authority granted or conferred by the DGCL or other statutes or laws of the State of Delaware, the Board is expressly authorized and empowered, without the assent or vote of the stockholders, to adopt, amend and repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws of the Corporation by the Board shall require the approval by the majority of the total authorized number of directors. The stockholders shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation: provided, however, that the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders of the Corporation to alter, amend or repeal, in whole or in part, any provision of the Bylaws or to adopt any provision inconsistent therewith.
ARTICLE VII
Except as otherwise required by law, and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation maybe called only by (i) the Secretary of the Corporation at the direction of a majority of the directors then in office, or (ii) the Chairperson of the Board and shall be called by the Secretary of the Corporation upon receipt of the written request of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding stock entitled to vote thereon, and special meetings may not be called by any other person or persons. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice.
ARTICLE VIII
To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as it now exists or may hereafter be amended, a director or officer of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty owed to the Corporation or its stockholders. Any repeal or amendment or modification of this Article VIII (including by changes in applicable law), or the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article VIII, shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in applicable law permits the Corporation to provide a broader limitation on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and shall not adversely affect any limitation on the personal liability of any director or officer of the Corporation with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to the time of such repeal or amendment or modification or adoption of such inconsistent provision. If any provision of the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors and officers, then the liability of directors and officers shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended. For purposes of this Article VIII, “officer” shall have the meaning provided in Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended.
ARTICLE IX
Subject to the rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding to act by written consent as provided in any Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation, any action required or permitted to be taken by stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders.
ARTICLE X
Section 10.01 Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative is or was, at any time during which this Certificate of Incorporation is in effect (whether or not such person continues to serve in such capacity at the time any indemnification or payment of expenses pursuant hereto is sought or at the time any proceeding relating thereto exists or is brought), a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was at any such time serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans maintained or sponsored by the Corporation (hereinafter, an “Indemnitee”), whether the basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent, shall be (and shall be deemed to have a contractual right to be) indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation (and any successor of the Corporation by merger or otherwise) to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended or modified from time to time (but, in the case of any such amendment or modification, only to the extent that such amendment or modification permits the Corporation to provide greater indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment or modification), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that the Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized in the first instance by the Board.
Section 10.02 Advancement of Expenses. The right to indemnification conferred upon Indemnitees in this Article X shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation (and any successor of the Corporation by merger or otherwise) the reasonable expenses incurred in defending any such Proceeding in advance of its final disposition, such advances to be paid by the Corporation within twenty (20) days after the receipt by the Corporation of a statement or statements from the claimant requesting such advance or advances from time to time; provided, however, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right of appeal that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Article X or otherwise.
Section 10.03 Nature of Rights: Other Sources. The rights conferred upon Indemnitees in this Article X shall be contract rights between the Corporation and each Indemnitee to whom such rights are extended that vest at the commencement of such person’s service to or at the request of the Corporation and all such rights shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation or ceased to serve at the Corporation’s request as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, as described herein, and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. The Corporation hereby acknowledges that certain Indemnitees may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance (other than directors’ and officers’ liability insurance or similar insurance obtained or maintained by or on behalf of the Corporation, its affiliates or any of the foregoing’ s
respective subsidiaries) from persons or entities other than the Corporation (collectively, the “Other Indemnitors”). The Corporation hereby agrees (i) that it is the indemnitor of first resort of the Indemnitees (i.e., its obligations to an Indemnitee hereunder are primary and any obligation of the Other Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by such Indemnitee are secondary), (ii) that it shall be required to advance the full amount of reasonable expenses incurred by an Indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms hereof, without regard to any rights an Indemnitee may have against the Other Indemnitors, and (iii) that it irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the Other Indemnitors from any and all claims against the Other Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. The Corporation further agrees that no advancement or payment by the Other Indemnitors on behalf of an Indemnitee with respect to any claim for which such Indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Corporation hereunder shall affect the foregoing and the Other Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of such Indemnitee against the Corporation. For the avoidance of doubt, no person or entity providing directors’ or officers’ liability insurance or similar insurance obtained or maintained by or on behalf of the Corporation, any of its affiliates or any of the foregoing’s respective subsidiaries, including any person or entity providing such insurance obtained or maintained as contemplated by Section 10.08, shall be an Other Indemnitor.
Section 10.04 Claims. To obtain indemnification under this Article X, a claimant shall submit to the Corporation a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the claimant and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the claimant is entitled to indemnification. Upon written request by a claimant for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 10.04, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to the claimant’s entitlement thereto shall be made as follows: (i) if requested by the claimant, by Independent Counsel (as hereinafter defined), or (ii) if no request is made by the claimant for a determination by Independent Counsel, (a) by a majority vote of Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined), even though less than a quorum, (b) if there are no such Disinterested Directors, or if a majority of the Disinterested Directors so directs, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to the claimant, or (c) if a majority of Disinterested Directors so directs, by a majority of the voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding shares of voting stock entitled to vote thereon. In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board. If it is so determined that the claimant is entitled to indemnification, payment to the claimant shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination.
Section 10.05 Enforcement. If a claim under Section 10.01 of this Article X is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty (60) days after a written claim pursuant to Section 10.04 of this Article X has been received by the Corporation, or if a claim under Section 10.02 of this Article X is not paid in full by the Corporation within twenty (20) days after a written statement or statements therefore and undertaking in accordance with Section 10.2 therefor has been made, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the reasonable expense of prosecuting such claim incurred thereby to the fullest extent permitted by law. It shall be a defense to any such action that in the case of a claim for indemnification, the claimant has not met the standard of conduct which makes it permissible under the DGCL for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board, Disinterested Directors, Independent Counsel or stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board, Disinterested Directors, Independent Counsel or stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
Section 10.06 Procedures. If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 10.04 of this Article X that the claimant is entitled to indemnification, the Corporation shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to Section 10.05 of this Article X. The Corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to Section 10.05 of this Article X that the procedures and
presumptions of this Article X are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in such proceeding that the Corporation is bound by all the provisions of this Article X.
Section 10.07 Non-Exclusive Rights. The right to indemnification and the payment of reasonable expenses incurred in defending a Proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Article X: (i) shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or Disinterested Directors or otherwise and (ii) cannot be terminated by the Corporation, the Board or the stockholders of the Corporation with respect to any act or omission that is the subject of the Proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought prior to the date of such termination. Any amendment, modification, alteration or repeal of this Article X (by merger, consolidation or otherwise) that in any way diminishes, limits, restricts, adversely affects or eliminates any right of an Indemnitee or his or her successors to indemnification, advancement of expenses or otherwise shall be prospective only and shall not, without the written consent of the Indemnitee, in any way diminish, limit, restrict, adversely affect or eliminate any such right with respect to any actual or alleged state of facts, occurrence, action or omission then or previously existing, or any action, suit or proceeding previously or thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part upon any such actual or alleged state of facts, occurrence, action or omission.
Section 10.08 Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
Section 10.09 Additional Rights. The Board may grant rights to indemnification, and rights to be paid by the Corporation the reasonable expenses incurred in connection with any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition, to any current or former employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article X with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of current or former directors and officers of the Corporation.
Section 10.10 Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Article X shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article X (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Article X containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article X (including, without limitation, each such portion of any Section of this Article X containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
Section 10.11 Definitions; Construction. For purposes of this Article X “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Corporation who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by the claimant; and “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, a member of a law firm, or an independent practitioner, that is experienced in matters of corporate law and shall include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would not have a conflict of interest in representing either the Corporation or the claimant in an action to determine the claimant’s rights under this Article X. Any reference to an officer of the Corporation in this Article X shall be deemed to refer exclusively to the officers appointed as such pursuant to the Bylaws by the Board or by an officer to whom the Board has delegated the power to appoint officers, and any reference to an officer of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be deemed to refer exclusively to an officer appointed by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of such other entity pursuant to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws (or equivalent organizational documents) of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise. The fact that any person who is or was an employee of the Corporation or an employee of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise has been given or has used the title of “vice president” or any other title that could be construed to suggest or imply that such person is or may be an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall not result in such person being constituted as, or being deemed to be, an officer of the
Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise for purposes of this Article X.
Section 10.12 Notices. Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given to the Corporation under this Article X shall be in writing and either delivered in person or sent by fax, email, overnight mail or courier service, or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the Secretary of the Corporation and shall be effective only upon receipt by the Secretary.
ARTICLE XI
Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another state court in Delaware or the federal district court for the District of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation, (c) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or of this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or (d) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, but subject to the foregoing provisions of this Article XI, the federal district courts of the United States shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any action, suit or proceeding asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including all causes of action asserted against any defendant named in such complaint. The provisions of this Article XI do not apply to claims arising under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any claim for which the federal district courts of the United States have exclusive jurisdiction. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to have consented to the provisions of this Article XI.
ARTICLE XII
If any provision or provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any Article (or section or subsection thereof) of this Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each such portion of any Article (or any section or subsection thereof) of this Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service to or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.
ARTICLE XIII
The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Certificate of Incorporation and the DGCL, and all rights, preferences and privileges herein conferred upon stockholders by and pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation in its current form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Article XIII. Notwithstanding the foregoing and notwithstanding any other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to greater or additional vote or consent required hereunder (including any vote of the holders of any particular class or classes or series of stock required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the
voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal Section 4.03 of Article IV, Articles V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, XI, and this Article XIII.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by a duly authorized officer as of this 19th date of August, 2026.
| NEXTPOWER INC. | |||||
| By: | /s/ Charles Boynton | ||||
| Name: | Charles Boynton | ||||
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||||
Exhibit 3.2
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
NEXTPOWER INC.
(Adopted as of August 19, 2026)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1.01 Registered Office. The address of the registered office of Nextpower Inc. (hereinafter the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware, and the name of its registered agent at such address, shall be as set forth in the 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”).
Section 1.02 Other Offices. The Corporation may have a principal or other office or offices at such other place or places, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as shall be necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Corporation.
ARTICLE II
STOCKHOLDERS
Section 2.01 Place of Meetings. All meetings of stockholders shall be held at the principal office of the Corporation or at such other place, if any, within or without the State of Delaware, or solely by means of remote communication in accordance with Section 2.13 of these Bylaws and applicable law, as may be designated by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting.
Section 2.02 Annual Meetings. If required by applicable law, an annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting shall be held on such day and at such hour, as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors and designated in the notice of meeting. The Board of Directors may postpone, adjourn, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled annual meeting of stockholders.
Section 2.03 Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders may only be called in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. Special meetings of stockholders shall be held on such day and at such hour, as shall be designated in the notice of meeting. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting. The Corporation may postpone, adjourn, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled special meeting of stockholders.
Section 2.04 Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law, notice, stating the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders not physically present may be deemed to be present and vote at such meeting, 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, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. Notice may be given either personally, by courier service, by electronic mail, by other form of electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or by mail. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail with postage thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Corporation. If
delivered by courier service, such notice shall be deemed to be given at the earlier of when the notice is received or left at such stockholder’s address. If notice is given by electronic mail or other electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed to be given at the times provided in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Such further notice shall be given as may be required by law.
Section 2.05 Quorum; Adjournment of Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding capital stock entitled to vote at the meeting, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders, except that when specified business is to be voted on by a class or series or classes or series of stock voting as a separate class, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of such class or series or classes or series shall constitute a quorum of such class or series or classes or series with respect to the vote on such business. The chairperson of the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time, whether or not there is such a quorum, and notice of an adjourned meeting need not be given (including an adjournment taken to address a technical failure to convene or continue a meeting using remote communication) if the time 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 or represented by proxy and vote at such adjourned meeting are (a) announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, (b) displayed during the time scheduled for the meeting, on the same electronic network used to enable stockholders and proxy holders to participate in the meeting by means of remote communication or (c) set forth in the notice of meeting given in accordance with these Bylaws. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. The stockholders present at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.
Section 2.06 Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy in any manner provided by applicable law, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after one (1) year from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the Secretary a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date. Any stockholder directly or indirectly soliciting proxies from other stockholders may use any proxy card color other than white, which shall be reserved for exclusive use of the Board of Directors.
Section 2.07 Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.
(a) Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
(i) At any annual meeting of the stockholders, only such nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and only other business shall be considered or conducted, as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. For nominations to be properly made at an annual meeting, and proposals of other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting, nominations and proposals of other business must be: (A) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) delivered pursuant to Section 2.04 of these Bylaws, given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof, (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof, (C) by any stockholder of the Corporation who (1) was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in these Bylaws and at the time of the annual meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (3) complies with the notice procedures set forth in these Bylaws as to such business or nomination. Compliance with the foregoing clause (C) of this Section 2.07(a)(i) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or to propose any other business (other than a proposal included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act (defined below)), at an annual meeting of stockholders.
(ii) In addition to any other applicable requirements, for nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting of stockholders by a stockholder pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)(C) of this Bylaw, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary and any such
nomination or proposed business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day and not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in 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 stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the date of such annual meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than one-hundred (100) days prior to the date of such annual meeting or no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. To be in proper written form, the notice of any stockholder of record giving notice (each, a “Noticing Party”) to the Secretary (whether given pursuant to this paragraph (a)(ii) or paragraph (b)) must:
(A) set forth, as to such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person (defined below), on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made: (1) the name and address of such Noticing Party and each Stockholder Associated Person, as they appear on the Corporation’s books and records, if applicable, (2) (a) the class, series and number of shares of each class or series of capital stock (if any) of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially or of record (specifying the type of ownership) by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person (including any right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the fulfillment of a condition), the date or dates on which such shares were acquired, and the investment intent of such acquisition, (b) the name of each nominee holder for, and number of, any securities of the Corporation owned beneficially but not of record by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person, and any pledge by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any of such securities, (c) a complete and accurate description of any Derivative Instrument (defined below) that has been entered into by, or on behalf of, such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person, (d) any substantial interest, direct or indirect (including any existing or prospective commercial, business or contractual relationship with the Corporation), by security holdings or otherwise, of such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person in the Corporation or any affiliate thereof, other than an interest arising from the ownership of Corporation securities where such Noticing Party or such Stockholder Associated Person receives no extra or special benefit not shared on a pro rata basis by all other holders of the same class or series, (e) a complete and accurate description of all agreements, arrangements or understandings, written or oral, (I) between or among such Noticing Party and any Stockholder Associated Person, or (II) between or among such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person and any other person or entity (naming each such person or entity), in each case, relating to the Corporation or its securities or the voting thereof, including (x) any proxy, agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person, directly or indirectly, has a right to vote any security of the Corporation (other than any revocable proxy given in response to a solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act by way of a solicitation statement filed on Schedule 14A) and (y) any agreement, arrangement or understanding, written or oral, that such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person has with any stockholder of the Corporation (including the name of such stockholder) with respect to how such stockholder will vote such stockholder’s shares in the Corporation at any meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders or take other action in support of the election of any Proposed Nominee (defined below) or other business, or other action to be taken, by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person, (f) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (g) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership, limited liability company or similar entity in which such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person: (I) is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner of such general or limited partnership, or (II) is the manager, managing member or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in the manager or managing member of such limited liability company or similar entity, (h) any significant equity interests or any Derivative Instruments in any principal competitor of the Corporation held by such Noticing Party and Stockholder Associated Person, (i) any direct or
indirect interest of such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person in any agreement, arrangement or understanding 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), (j) a description of any material interest of such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person in the business proposed by such Noticing Party, if any, or the election of a Proposed Nominee, (k) a written representation and undertaking that (I) neither such Noticing Party nor any Stockholder Associated Person has breached any agreement or understanding with the Corporation except as disclosed to the Corporation pursuant hereto and (II) such Noticing Party and each Stockholder Associated Person has complied, and will comply, with all applicable requirements of state law and the Exchange Act with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.07, (l) a complete and accurate description of any performance-related fees (other than asset-based fees) to which such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person may be entitled as a result of any increase or decrease in the value of the Corporation’s securities or any Derivative Instruments, including any such fees to which members of the immediate family of such Stockholder Associated Person sharing the same household may be entitled, (m) (I) a description of the investment strategy or objective, if any, of such Noticing Party who is not an individual, and (II) a copy of any presentation, document or marketing material provided to third parties (including investors and potential investors) to solicit an investment in the Noticing Party that contains or describes the Noticing Party’s or such Stockholder Associated Person’s investment thesis, plans or proposals, with respect to the Corporation , (n) all information that would be required to be set forth in a Schedule 13D filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(a) under the Exchange Act or an amendment pursuant to Rule 13d-2(a) under the Exchange Act if such a statement were required to be filed under the Exchange Act by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person, or such Noticing Party’s or any Stockholder Associated Person’s associates, with respect to the Corporation (regardless of whether such person or entity is actually required to file a Schedule 13D), including a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding that would be required to be disclosed by such Noticing Party, any Stockholder Associated Person or any of their respective associates pursuant to Item 5 or Item 6 of Schedule 13D, (o) a certification that such Noticing Party and each Stockholder Associated Person has complied with all applicable federal, state and other legal requirements in connection with such Noticing Party’s or Stockholder Associated Person’s acquisition of shares of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation and such Noticing Party’s or Stockholder Associated Person’s acts or omissions as a stockholder of the Corporation, if such Stockholder Associated Person is or has been a stockholder of the Corporation, and (p) (I) if the Noticing Party (or the beneficial owner(s) on whose behalf such Noticing Party is submitting a notice to the Corporation) is not a natural person, the identity of each natural person associated with such Noticing Party (or beneficial owner(s)) responsible for the formulation of and decision to propose the business or nomination to be brought before the meeting (such person or persons, the “Responsible Person”), the manner in which such Responsible Person was selected, any fiduciary duties owed by such Responsible Person to the equity holders or other beneficiaries of such Noticing Party (or beneficial owner(s)), the qualifications and background of such Responsible Person and any material interests or relationships of such Responsible Person that are not shared generally by any other record or beneficial holder of the shares of any class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation and that reasonably could have influenced the decision of such Noticing Party (or beneficial owner(s)) to propose such business or nomination to be brought before the meeting and (II) if the Noticing Party (or the beneficial owner(s) on whose behalf such Noticing Party is submitting a notice to the Corporation) is a natural person, the qualifications and background of such natural person and any material interests or relationships of such natural person that are not shared generally by any other record or beneficial holder of the shares of any class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation and that reasonably could have influenced the decision of such Noticing Party (or beneficial owner(s)) to propose such business or nomination to be brought before the meeting, (3) all other information relating to such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person, or such Noticing Party’s or any Stockholder Associated Person’s associates, or Proposed Nominee or proposed business, that, in each case, would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies in support of such Proposed Nominee (in a contested election of directors) or proposal pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act (collectively, the “Proxy Rules”); provided, however, that the disclosures described in the foregoing subclauses (a) through (p) shall not include any such disclosures with respect to the ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Noticing Party 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, (4) a written representation and undertaking that the Noticing Party is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation as of the date of submission of the notice and intends to appear in person or cause a Qualified Representative of such Noticing Party to appear in
person at the meeting to bring such nomination or other business before the meeting, and an acknowledgment that, unless otherwise required by law, if such Noticing Party (or a Qualified Representative of such Noticing Party) does not appear in person at the meeting to present a nomination or other proposed business, such nomination will be disregarded or such proposed business will not be transacted, as the case may be, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such nomination or business may have been received by the Corporation and counted for purposes of determining a quorum, (5) a complete and accurate description of any pending or, to such Noticing Party’s knowledge, threatened legal proceeding in which such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person is a party or participant involving or relating to the Corporation or, to such Noticing Party’s knowledge, any current or former officer, director, affiliate or associate of the Corporation, (6) identification of the names and addresses of other stockholders (including beneficial owners) known by such Noticing Party to support the nomination(s) or other business proposal(s) submitted by such Noticing Party and, to the extent known, the class and number of all shares of the Corporation’s capital stock owned beneficially or of record by such other stockholder(s) or other beneficial owner(s), and (7) a written representation that such Noticing Party and any Stockholder Associated Person intends, or is part of a group that intends, to (I) solicit proxies in support of the election of any Proposed Nominee in accordance with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act or (II) engage in a solicitation (within the meaning of Exchange Act Rule 14a-1(l)) with respect to the nomination or other business, as applicable, and if so, the name of each participant (as defined in Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in such solicitation;
(B) set forth, as to any business other than director nominations: (1) a reasonably brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, (2) the text of the proposal or business (including the complete text of any resolutions proposed for consideration, and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the text of such proposed amendment), and (3) all other information relating to such business that that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person, in connection with solicitations of proxies in support of such proposed business by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person, pursuant to the Proxy Rules; and
(C) set forth, as to each person whom the Noticing Party proposes to nominate for election as a director (each a “Proposed Nominee”), if any: (1) the name, age, business address, residential address and principal occupation or employment of such Proposed Nominee; (2) such Proposed Nominee’s written consent to being named in such Noticing Party’s proxy statement as a nominee of such Noticing Party and to serving as a director if elected; (3) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings, written or oral, during the past three (3) years, and any other material relationships, between or among such Proposed Nominee and or any of such Proposed Nominee’s affiliates or associates (each as defined below), on the one hand, and any Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person, on the other hand, including all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K as if such Noticing Party and any Stockholder Associated Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and such Proposed Nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant (a “Third-Party Compensation Arrangement”); (4) a description of any business or personal interests that could reasonably be expected to place such nominee in a potential conflict of interest with the Corporation or its subsidiaries; and (5) and all such information relating to such Proposed Nominee or such Proposed Nominee’s respective affiliates and associates that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person in connection with solicitations of proxies for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to the Proxy Rules.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (a)(ii) of this Bylaw to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased effective after the time period for which nominations would otherwise be due under paragraph (a)(ii) of this Bylaw and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least one-hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by these Bylaws shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new directorships created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation. For purposes of these Bylaws, “public
announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto). Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) (A) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof, (B) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who (1) is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in these Bylaws and at the time of the special meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (3) complies with the notice procedures set forth in these Bylaws as to such nomination. The immediately preceding sentence shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations before a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected or appointed. In the event that the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) only if the stockholder’s notice required by paragraph (a)(ii) of this Bylaw with respect to any nomination (including the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 2.08 of these Bylaws) shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of such special meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such special meeting is less than one hundred (100) days prior to the date of such special meeting, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which the Corporation first makes a public announcement of the date of the special meeting at which directors are to be elected. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described in the immediately preceding sentence.
(c) Additional Information.
(i) In addition to the information required pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.07, the Corporation may require any Noticing Party to furnish such other information as the Corporation may reasonably require to determine the eligibility or suitability of a Proposed Nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such Proposed Nominee, under the listing standards of each securities exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed, any applicable rules of the SEC, any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in selecting nominees for election as a director and for determining and disclosing the independence of the Corporation’s directors, including those applicable to a director’s service on any of the committees of the Board of Directors, or the requirements of any other laws or regulations applicable to the Corporation. If requested by the Corporation, any supplemental information required under this paragraph shall be provided by a Noticing Party within ten (10) days after it has been requested by the Corporation.
(ii) The Board of Directors may require any Proposed Nominee to submit to interviews with the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, and such Proposed Nominee shall make himself or herself available for any such interviews within ten (10) days following any reasonable request therefor from the Board of Directors or any committee thereof.
(d) General.
(i) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the chairperson of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the
meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and, if the chairperson of the meeting determines that any proposed nomination or business was not properly brought before the meeting, the chairperson shall declare to the meeting that such nomination shall be disregarded or such business shall not be transacted, and no vote shall be taken with respect to such nomination or proposed business, in each case, notwithstanding that proxies with respect to such vote may have been received by the Corporation; provided, that nothing herein shall limit the power and authority of the Board of Directors to make any such determinations in advance of any meeting of stockholders.
(ii) The number of nominees a Noticing Party may nominate for election at a stockholder meeting may not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such meeting, and for the avoidance of doubt, no Noticing Party shall be entitled to make additional or substitute nominations following the expiration of the time periods set forth in Section 2.07(a). Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.07, unless otherwise required by law, if the Noticing Party (or a Qualified Representative of the Noticing Party) proposing a nominee for director or business to be conducted at a meeting does not appear at the meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present such nomination or propose such business, such proposed nomination shall be disregarded or such proposed business shall not be transacted, as applicable, and no vote shall be taken with respect to such nomination or proposed business, notwithstanding that proxies with respect to such vote may have been received by the Corporation.
(iii) A Noticing Party shall update such Noticing Party’s notice provided under the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.07, if necessary, such that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of (A) the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the meeting and (B) the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting (or any postponement, rescheduling or adjournment thereof), and such update shall (1) be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (x) not later than the close of business five (5) business days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of such meeting (in the case of an update required to be made under clause (A)) and (y) not later than the close of business seven (7) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any postponement, rescheduling or adjournment thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been postponed, rescheduled or adjourned) (in the case of an update required to be made pursuant to clause (B)) and (2) clearly identify the inaccuracy or change. For the avoidance of doubt, any information provided pursuant to this Section 2.07(d)(iii) shall not be deemed to cure any deficiencies or inaccuracies in a notice previously delivered pursuant to this Section 2.07 and shall not extend the time period for the delivery of notice pursuant to this Section 2.07. If a Noticing Party fails to provide such written update within such period, the information as to which such written update relates may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 2.07.
(iv) If any information submitted pursuant to this Section 2.07 by any Noticing Party nominating individuals for election or reelection as a director or proposing business for consideration at a stockholder meeting shall be inaccurate in any material respect (as determined by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof), such information shall be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 2.07. Any such Noticing Party shall notify the Secretary in writing at the principal executive offices of the Corporation of any inaccuracy or change in any information submitted pursuant to this Section 2.07 (including if any Noticing Party or Stockholder Associated Person no longer intends to solicit proxies) within two (2) business days after becoming aware of such inaccuracy or change, and any such notification shall clearly identify the inaccuracy or change, it being understood that no such notification may cure any deficiencies or inaccuracies with respect to any prior submission by such Noticing Party. Upon written request of the Secretary on behalf of the Board of Directors (or a duly authorized committee thereof), any such Noticing Party shall provide, within seven (7) business days after delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (A) written verification, reasonably satisfactory to the Board of Directors, any committee thereof or any authorized officer of the Corporation, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by such Noticing Party pursuant to this Section 2.07 and (B) a written affirmation of any information submitted by such Noticing Party pursuant to this Section 2.07 as of an earlier date. If a Noticing Party fails to provide such written verification or affirmation within such period, the information as to which written verification or affirmation was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 2.07.
(v) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if (A) any Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act with respect to any Proposed Nominee and (B) (1) such Noticing Party or Stockholder Associated Person subsequently either (x) notifies the Corporation that such Noticing Party or Stockholder Associated Person no longer intends to solicit proxies in support of the election or reelection of such Proposed Nominee in accordance with Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act or (y) fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) or Rule 14a- 19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act (or fails to timely provide reasonable evidence sufficient to satisfy the Corporation that such Noticing Party or Stockholder Associated Person has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act in accordance with the following sentence) and (2) no other Noticing Party or Stockholder Associated Person that has provided notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act with respect to such Proposed Nominee (x) to the Corporation’s knowledge, still intends to solicit proxies in support of the election or reelection of such Proposed Nominee in accordance with Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act and (y) has complied with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) and Rule 14a- 19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act and the requirements set forth in the following sentence, then the nomination of such Proposed Nominee shall be disregarded and no vote on the election of such Proposed Nominee shall occur (notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation). Upon request by the Corporation, if any Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act, such Noticing Party shall deliver to the Secretary, no later than five (5) business days prior to the applicable meeting date, reasonable evidence that the requirements of Rule 14a- 19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act have been satisfied.
(vi) In addition to complying with the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.07, a Noticing Party shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and the Exchange Act with respect to the matters set forth in this 2.07. Nothing in this Section 2.07 shall be deemed to affect any rights of (A) a Noticing Party to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, (B) a Noticing Party to request inclusion of nominees in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to the Proxy Rules or (C) the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.
(vii) Any written notice, supplement, update or other information required to be delivered by a Noticing Party to the Corporation pursuant to this Section 2.07 must be given by personal delivery, by overnight courier or by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to the Secretary at the Corporation’s principal executive offices.
(viii) For purposes of these Bylaws, (A) “affiliate” and “associate” each shall have the respective meanings set forth in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act; (B) “beneficial owner” or “beneficially owned” shall have the meaning set forth for such terms in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act; (C) “close of business” shall mean 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on any calendar day, whether or not the day is a business day; (D) “Derivative Instrument” shall mean any agreement, arrangement or understanding, written or oral (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, hedging transactions, forwards, futures, swaps, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, repurchase agreements or arrangements, borrowed or loaned shares and so-called “stock borrowing” agreements or arrangements), the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss, manage risk or benefit from changes in the price of any securities of the Corporation, or maintain, increase or decrease voting power with respect to securities of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in underlying shares of capital stock of the Corporation; (E) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, inclusive of the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (F) “Qualified Representative” shall mean, with respect to a Noticing Party, (1) a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such Noticing Party or (2) a person authorized by a writing executed by such Noticing Party (or a reliable reproduction or electronic transmission of the writing) delivered by such Noticing Party to the Corporation prior to the making of any nomination or proposal at a stockholder meeting stating that such person is authorized to act for such Noticing Party as proxy at the meeting of stockholders, which writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, must be produced at the meeting of stockholders; and (G) “Stockholder Associated Person” shall mean, with respect to a Noticing Party and if different from such Noticing Party, any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation on whose behalf such Noticing Party is providing notice of any nomination or other business proposed, (1) any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by
or under common control with such Noticing Party or beneficial owner(s), (2) any member of the immediate family of such Noticing Party or beneficial owner(s) sharing the same household, (3) any person or entity who is a member of a “group” (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act (or any successor provision at law)) with, or is otherwise known by such Noticing Party or other Stockholder Associated Person to be acting in concert with, such Noticing Party, such beneficial owner(s) or any other Stockholder Associated Person with respect to the stock of the Corporation, (4) any affiliate or associate of such Noticing Party, such beneficial owner(s) or any other Stockholder Associated Person, (5) if such Noticing Party or any such beneficial owner is not a natural person, any Responsible Person, (6) any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A) with such Noticing Party, such beneficial owner(s) or any other Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any proposed business or nominations, as applicable, (7) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record by such Noticing Party or any other Stockholder Associated Person (other than a stockholder that is a depositary) and (8) any Proposed Nominee.
Section 2.08 Submission of Questionnaire, Representation and Agreement. To be eligible to be a nominee for election or reelection as a director of the Corporation and qualified to serve as a director, the Proposed Nominee must deliver (such delivery to be made, in the case of a person nominated for election as a director of the Corporation pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)(C) or paragraph (b) of Section 2.07 of these Bylaws, in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Section 2.07 of these Bylaws) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation a signed written questionnaire completed by the Proposed Nominee with respect to the background and qualifications of such Proposed Nominee, such other information as may be reasonably required by the Corporation to determine eligibility of such Proposed Nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation or to serve as an independent director of the Corporation, and the background of any other persons or entities on whose behalf the nomination is being made pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)(C) or paragraph (b) Section 2.07 of these Bylaws in the form required by the Corporation (which form such Noticing Party shall request in writing from the Secretary and which the Secretary shall provide within ten (10) days after receiving such written request), and a written representation and agreement completed by such Proposed Nominee in the form required by the Corporation (which form such Noticing Party shall request in writing from the Secretary and which the Secretary shall provide within ten (10) days after receiving such written request) that such Proposed Nominee (A) is not and will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such Proposed Nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (B) is not and will not become a party to any Third-Party Compensation Arrangement that has not been disclosed to the Corporation, (C) in such Proposed Nominee’s individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with all applicable rules of any securities exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, ethics, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation generally applicable to directors (which other guidelines and policies will be provided to such Proposed Nominee within five (5) business days after the Secretary receives any written request therefor from such Proposed Nominee) and all applicable fiduciary duties under state law, (D) if elected, intends to serve a full term on the Board of Directors, (E) will provide facts, statements and other information in all communications with the Corporation and its stockholders that are or will be true and correct and that do not and will not omit to state any fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, and (F) will tender his or her resignation as a director of the Corporation if the Board of Directors determines that such Proposed Nominee failed to comply with the provisions of this Section 2.08 in any material respect, provides such Proposed Nominee notice of any such determination and, if such non-compliance may be cured, such Proposed Nominee fails to cure such non-compliance within ten (10) business days after delivery of such notice to such Proposed Nominee.
Section 2.09 Required Vote. At all meetings of the stockholders at which directors are to be elected and a quorum is present, a plurality of the votes cast by stockholders entitled to vote for the election of such directors shall be sufficient to elect such directors. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or any regulation
applicable to the Corporation, its stockholders or its securities (in which case such vote as prescribed by applicable law shall be the applicable vote on the matter), in all matters other than the election of directors, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter shall be the act of the stockholders.
Section 2.10 Inspectors of Elections. The Corporation may, and to the extent required by applicable law shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election, which inspector or inspectors may include individuals who serve the Corporation in other capacities, including as officers, employees, agents or representatives, to act at the meetings of stockholders and make a written report thereof. One or more persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate has been appointed to act or 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. Each inspector, before discharging his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall have the duties prescribed by law.
Section 2.11 Action Without a Meeting. Unless prohibited by the Certificate of Incorporation, any action permitted or required to be taken at a meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by or on behalf of the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law. Prompt notice of the taking of corporate action without a meeting by less than a unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for notice of such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of the holders to take the action were delivered to the Corporation.
Section 2.12 Conduct of Meetings. The chairperson of any stockholders meeting shall be the Chairperson of the Board unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors. 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 by the chairperson of the meeting. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules, regulations and procedures for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules, regulations and procedures as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairperson of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such presiding person, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairperson of the meeting, may include the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules, regulations and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairperson of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairperson of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
Section 2.13 Remote Meetings. If authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board of Directors may adopt, stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication:
(a) participate in a meeting of stockholders; and
(b) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication; provided, that (i) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by
means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder, (ii) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and (iii) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.
ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 3.01 General Powers. Except as otherwise provided in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or the Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.02 Number of Directors. The total number of directors shall be fixed from time to time in the manner provided by the Certificate of Incorporation. No decrease in the total number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Section 3.03 Quorum; Required Vote. Except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, a majority of the total number of directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, but in no event shall less than one-third of the total number of directors (including any vacancies or unfilled newly created directorships) constitute a quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the vote of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.04 Telephonic Participation. All or any one or more directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof 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 such communications equipment shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 3.05 Place of Meetings. The Board of Directors may hold its meetings at such place or places, if any, within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Section 3.06 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such time and place, if any, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors. After there has been such determination, and notice thereof has been given to each member of the Board of Directors, regular meetings may be held without further notice being given.
Section 3.07 Special Meetings. Subject to the notice requirements of Section 3.08, special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held whenever called by the Chairperson of the Board, if any, or by a majority of the directors.
Section 3.08 Notice. Notice of any special meeting of directors shall be given to each director at his or her business or residence in writing by hand delivery, overnight mail or courier service, facsimile, electronic mail or other electronic transmission, or orally in person or by telephone. If by overnight mail or courier service, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when the notice is delivered to the overnight mail or courier service company at least twenty-four (24) hours before such meeting. If by facsimile, electronic mail or other electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when the notice is transmitted at least twelve (12) hours before such meeting. If given orally in person or by telephone or by hand delivery, the notice shall be given at least twelve (12) hours prior to the time set for the meeting. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice of such meeting.
Section 3.09 Resignation. Any director of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission thereof to the Corporation. The resignation of any director shall be effective when the resignation is delivered, unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events; and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 3.10 Vacancies on Board of Directors; Newly Created Directorships. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any vacancy resulting from the death, resignation, removal or disqualification of any director or other cause, or any newly created directorship, shall be filled only by an affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by the stockholders of the Corporation. Except as otherwise provided by these Bylaws, a director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors of the class to which he or she has been appointed and until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, removal or disqualification.
Section 3.11 Executive and Other Committees. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees of the Board of Directors, including an Executive Committee, to exercise, subject to applicable provisions of law, all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation when the Board of Directors is not in session. The Executive Committee and each such other committee shall consist of two (2) or more directors of the Corporation and, subject to applicable law and any other law, rule or regulation applicable to the Corporation (including the rules and regulations of any securities exchange on which the Corporation’s shares are listed). The Board of Directors may designate one (1) or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Except to the extent restricted by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any such committee, to the extent provided by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, these Bylaws or the designating resolution, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors. In the absence or disqualification of any member of such committee or committees, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not constituting a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Each committee shall keep written minutes of its proceedings and shall report such proceedings to the Board of Directors when required.
Each committee of the Board of Directors may fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such rules, except as may otherwise be provided by in these Bylaws or by resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee. Notice of such meetings shall be given to each member of the committee in the manner provided for in Section 3.08 of these Bylaws. Each committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and the Board of Directors shall have power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, or to dissolve any such committee. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or the resolution of the Board of Directors designating the committee, a committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one or more members of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee. Except as otherwise expressly provided in these Bylaws or the by resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee, every reference to a committee or to a member of a committee in these Bylaws shall apply to any subcommittee or member of a subcommittee mutatis mutandis.
Section 3.12 Action Without Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission. After an action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes or proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee in the same paper or electronic form as the minutes are maintained.
Section 3.13 Fees and Compensation. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including fees, reimbursement of expenses and equity compensation, of directors for services to the Corporation in
any capacity, including for attendance of meetings of the Board of Directors or participation on any committees. Directors who are officers or employees of the Corporation may receive, if the Board of Directors desires, compensation for service as directors. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 4.01 Officers. The elected officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and may include a Chairperson of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, one or more Presidents, a Chief Financial Officer, and a Secretary, all of whom shall be elected by the Board of Directors. The Chairperson of the Board, if any, shall be chosen from among the directors. All officers elected by the Board of Directors shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this Article IV. Such officers shall also have such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board of Directors or by any committee thereof. In addition, the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may from time to time elect, or the Chief Executive Officer may appoint, such other officers (including one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Treasurers and Controllers) and such agents, as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the Corporation. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, but no officer may act in more than one capacity where action of two or more officers is required. Such other officers and agents shall have such duties and shall hold their offices for such terms as shall be provided in these Bylaws or as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or such committee or by the Chief Executive Officer, as the case may be.
Section 4.02 Term of Office. The principal officers of the Corporation shall hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly chosen and shall qualify, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, removal or disqualification.
Section 4.03 Removal. Any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, at any time, by the Board of Directors. Any officer or agent appointed by the Chief Executive Officer may also be removed by him or her whenever, in his or her judgment, the best interests of the Corporation would be served thereby. No elected officer shall have any contractual rights against the Corporation for compensation by virtue of such election beyond the date of the election of his or her successor or his or her earlier death, resignation, removal or disqualification, whichever event shall first occur, except as otherwise provided in an employment contract or under an employee deferred compensation plan.
Section 4.04 Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission thereof to the Corporation. The resignation of any officer shall be effective when the resignation is delivered, unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events; and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 4.05 Vacancies. A vacancy in any office may be filled in the manner prescribed in these Bylaws for appointment to such office.
Section 4.06 Powers and Duties. Subject to the control of the Board of Directors, the officers shall each have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Corporation as from time to time may be prescribed by the Board of Directors and as may be delegated by the Chief Executive Officer without limiting the foregoing:
(a) Chairperson of the Board. The Chairperson of the Board, if any, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and he or she shall have and perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.
(b) Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction and control of the business and officers of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and, in the absence of a Chairperson of the Board, at all meetings of the Board of Directors. Unless there shall have been elected one or more Presidents of the Corporation, the Chief Executive Officer shall be the President of the Corporation.
(c) President. Each President shall have such general powers and duties of supervision and management as shall be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.
(d) Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate account of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation. He or she shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositaries as may be designated by the Board of Directors. He or she shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, the Chairperson of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or a President, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements. He or she shall render to the Chairperson of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, each President and the Board of Directors at the regular meetings of the Board of Directors, or whenever they may request it, an account of all his or her transactions as Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the Corporation. If required by the Board of Directors, he or she shall give the Corporation a bond for the faithful discharge of his or her duties in such amount and with such surety as the Board of Directors shall prescribe. The Chief Executive Officer may direct the Treasurer or any assistant Treasurer to assume and perform the duties of the Chief Financial Officer in the absence or disability of the Chief Financial Officer, and the Treasurer or any assistant Treasurer shall perform other duties commonly incident to his or her office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall designate from time to time.
(e) Secretary. The Secretary, if present, shall act as secretary at all meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof and of the stockholders and keep the minutes thereof in a book or books to be provided for that purpose. He or she shall see that all notices required to be given by the Corporation are duly given and served; he or she shall have charge of the stock records of the Corporation; he or she shall see that all reports, statements and other documents required by law are properly kept and filed; and in general, he or she shall perform all the duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.
Section 4.07 Salaries. The salaries of the principal officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof appointed for such purpose, and the salaries of any other officers may be fixed by the Chief Executive Officer; provided that such salaries of any other officers fixed by the Chief Executive Officer must be approved by a majority of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof appointed for such purpose.
ARTICLE V
ARTICLE V CAPITAL STOCK
Section 5.01 Certificated and Uncertificated Stock; Transfers.
(a) Subject to clause (d) below, the shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates; provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the Corporation’s stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation.
(b) The shares of the stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these Bylaws. In the case of certificated shares of stock, transfers shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the holder thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, upon surrender for cancellation of certificate(s) for at least the same number of shares, with an assignment and power of transfer
endorsed thereon or attached thereto, duly executed, with such proof of the authenticity of the signature as the Corporation or its agents may reasonably require. In the case of uncertificated shares of stock, transfers shall be made on the books of the Corporation only upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered holder of the shares or by such person’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and upon compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing from and to whom transferred.
(c) Every holder of stock in the Corporation represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by any two authorized officers certifying the number and class of shares of stock of the Corporation owned by such holder. Unless the Board of Directors by resolution directs otherwise, the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, any President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation shall be authorized to sign stock certificates. Any or all of the signatures on such certificates may be an electronic signature. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose electronic signature has been placed upon a certificate has 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 he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Bylaws, at all times that the Corporation’s stock is listed on a stock exchange, the shares of the stock of the Corporation shall comply with all direct registration system eligibility requirements established by such exchange, including any requirement that shares of the Corporation’s stock be eligible for issue in uncertificated or book-entry form. All issuances and transfers of shares of the Corporation’s stock shall be entered on the books of the Corporation with all information necessary to comply with such direct registration system eligibility requirements, including the name and address of the person to whom the shares of stock are issued, the number of shares of stock issued and the date of issue. The Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to make such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or proper concerning the issue, transfer and registration of shares of stock of the Corporation in both the certificated and uncertificated form.
Section 5.02 Lost, Stolen, Mutilated or Destroyed Certificates. As a condition to the issue of a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued and alleged to have been lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed, the Corporation may require the owner of any such certificate, or such owner’s legal representatives, to give the Corporation a bond in such sum and in such form as it may direct or to otherwise indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft, mutilation or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares. Proper evidence of such loss, theft, mutilation or destruction shall be procured for the Corporation, if required. The Corporation may authorize the issuance of such new certificate without any bond when in its judgment it is proper to do so.
Section 5.03 Record Owners. The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders of the Corporation and the Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its stock ledger as the owner of shares to receive dividends, to vote and to receive notice, and otherwise to exercise all of the rights and powers of an owner of such shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise required by law.
Section 5.04 Transfer and Registry Agents. The Corporation may from time to time maintain one or more transfer offices or agencies and registry offices or agencies at such place or places as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 5.05 List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The officer of the Corporation who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make or have prepared and made, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days
before the meeting date, 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. Nothing in this Section 5.05 shall require the Corporation 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 at least ten (10) days ending on the day before the meeting date: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business 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.
Section 5.06 Record Date.
(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which record date, unless otherwise required by law, shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors 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 of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no such record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, then the record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice of such meeting 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.
(b) 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 of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no such record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
(c) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors 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 of Directors and which record date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting has been fixed by the Board of Directors (i) when no prior action of the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law, and (ii) if prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENTS
Section 6.01 Amendments by Stockholders. These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed and new Bylaws may be added by the stockholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of the stock entitled to vote thereon at any annual meeting of the stockholders or at any special meeting thereof if notice of the proposed alteration, amendment, repeal or addition is contained in the notice of such special meeting.
Section 6.02 Amendments by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may adopt, amend or repeal these Bylaws as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 7.01 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 7.02 Voting of Securities Owned by the Corporation. The Board of Directors may authorize any person on behalf of the Corporation to attend and vote at any meeting of security holders of any entity in which the Corporation holds securities and to exercise, on behalf of the Corporation, any and all of the rights and powers incident to the ownership of such securities, including the authority to execute and deliver proxies, powers of attorney and consents on behalf of the Corporation. Unless the Board of Directors directs otherwise, each of the Chairperson, the Chief Executive Officer and any President shall have the powers specified in the preceding provisions of this Section 7.02.
Section 7.03 Dividends. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may, out of funds legally available therefor, declare dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation as and when they deem expedient, in accordance with law. Before declaring any dividend there may be set apart out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the directors from time to time in their discretion may deem proper for working capital or as a reserve fund to meet contingencies or for equalizing dividends or for such other purposes as the directors may deem conducive to the interests of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may abolish any such reserve at any time.
Section 7.04 Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such 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 annual, regular or special meeting of the stockholders or the Board of Directors or committee thereof need be specified in any waiver of notice of such meeting.
Section 7.05 Contracts. Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any contracts or other instruments may be executed and delivered in the name and on the behalf of the Corporation by such officer or officers of the Corporation as the Board of Directors may from time to time direct. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances as the Board of Directors may determine. Subject to any restrictions imposed by the Board of Directors, the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, each President, the Chief Financial Officer or any Vice President may execute bonds, contracts, deeds, leases and other instruments to be made or executed for or on behalf of the Corporation. Subject to any restrictions imposed by the Board of Directors or the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, each President, the Chief Financial Officer or any Vice President of the Corporation may delegate contractual powers to others under his or her jurisdiction, it being understood, however, that any such delegation of power shall not relieve such officer of responsibility with respect to the exercise of such delegated power.
Section 7.06 Severability. To the extent any provision of these Bylaws would be, in the absence of this Section 7.06, invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, such provision shall be severable from the other provisions of these Bylaws, and all provisions of these Bylaws shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by these Bylaws, including, to the maximum extent possible, the provision that would be otherwise invalid, illegal or unenforceable.