PBSV 8-K
Pharma-Bio Serv, Inc. (PBSV)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
On February 8, 2023, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Pharma-Bio Serv, Inc. (the “Company”) adopted the Amended and Restated ByLaws of the Company (the "Amended ByLaws"), effective as of such date. The Amended ByLaws modified the Company’s prior bylaws to include, among other things, the following:
| · | Article I, Section 6 (Notice Of Stockholder Business And Nominations). This section has been added in order to establish an advance notice bylaw representing the exclusive means by which a stockholder may properly present business and nominations before a stockholder meeting. The procedural requirements of the section do not affect the rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Company’s proxy statement under applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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| · | Article I, Section 7 (Stockholder Action Without Meetings). This section has been revised to (i) indicate no written consent shall be effective unless the written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take action are delivered to the corporation in the manner prescribed by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) within 60 days of the first date on which a consent is so delivered to the corporation, (ii) specify the proper method of delivery of written consents of stockholders under the DGCL and (iii) provide a mechanism for establishing a record date when stockholders seek to take action by written consent. |
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| · | Article II, Section 2 (Qualifications and Number). This section has been revised to provide that the number of directors constituting the whole Board shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by a resolution adopted by the Board. |
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| · | Article II, Section 3 (Election and Term; Vacancies). This section has been revised to provide that any newly created directorship or any vacancy occurring in the Board for any cause may be filled only by a majority of the remaining members of the Board, although such majority is less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and each director so elected shall hold office until the expiration of the term of office of the director whom he or she has replaced or until his or her successor is elected and qualified. |
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| · | Article VI (Indemnification). This section has been added in order to provide for the indemnification of directors, officers, employees and agents of the Company, including procedures for an indemnitee of the Company to enforce such indemnitee’s right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses. In addition to the Bylaws, indemnification is provided under DGCL and the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended. |
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| · | Article VII (Control Over Bylaws). This section has been revised to provide that the adoption, amendment or repeal by the stockholders of these Bylaws, or the adoption by the stockholders of any provision inconsistent with these Bylaws, shall require, in addition to any vote of the stockholders required by the certificate of incorporation or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) in voting power of the outstanding stock entitled to vote thereon. |
In addition, certain non-substantive language and conforming changes and other technical edits and updates were made to the Bylaws.
The foregoing summary of the amendments to the Company’s Bylaws is qualified in its entirety by the text of the Bylaws, which are filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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Date: February 9, 2023 | By: | /s/ Pedro J. Lasanta |
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| Pedro J. Lasanta |
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| Chief Financial Officer, Vice President Finance and Administration and Secretary |
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EXHIBIT 3.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS
OF
PHARMA-BIO SERV INC.
(a Delaware corporation)
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
1. CERTIFICATES REPRESENTING STOCK; UNCERTIFICATED SHARES. Subject to any conditions imposed by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”), the Board of Directors of the corporation may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the stock of the corporation shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the corporation. Every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the corporation by, any two duly authorized officers. Each of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, any Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, any Vice-President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary, and any Assistant Secretary of the corporation shall have the power to sign stock certificates. Any or all the signatures on any such certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue. The corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, and the Board of Directors may require the owner of the lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to give the corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify the corporation against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft, or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of any such new certificate or uncertificated shares.
2. STOCK TRANSFERS. Upon compliance with provisions restricting the transfer or registration of transfer of shares of stock, if any, transfers or registration of transfers of shares of stock of the corporation shall be made only on the stock ledger of the corporation by the registered holder thereof, or by his attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the corporation or with a transfer agent or a registrar, if any, and, in the case of shares represented by certificates, on surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares of stock properly endorsed and the payment of all taxes due thereon.
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3. RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDERS.
(a) In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of 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 by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than 60 nor less than ten 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 the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.
(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 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 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.
4. MEANING OF CERTAIN TERMS. As used herein in respect of the right to notice of a meeting of stockholders or a waiver thereof or to participate or vote thereat or to consent or dissent in writing in lieu of a meeting, as the case may be, the term “share” or “shares” or “share of stock” or “shares of stock” or “stockholder” or “stockholders” refers to an outstanding share or shares of stock and to a holder or holders of record of outstanding shares of stock when the corporation is authorized to issue only one class of shares of stock, and said reference is also intended to include any outstanding share or shares of stock and any holder or holders of record of outstanding shares of stock of any class upon which or upon whom the certificate of incorporation confers such rights where there are two or more classes or series of shares of stock or upon whom the certificate of incorporation confers such rights where there are two or more classes or series of shares of stock or upon which or upon whom the General Corporation Law confers such rights notwithstanding that the certificate of incorporation may provide for more than one class or series of shares of stock, one or more of which are limited or denied such rights thereunder; provided, however, that no such rights shall vest in the event of an increase or a decrease in the authorized number of shares of stock of any class or series which is otherwise denied voting rights under the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, except as any provision of law may otherwise require.
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5. STOCKHOLDER MEETINGS.
(a) Annual Meetings. If required by applicable law, an annual meeting of stockholders shall be held for the election of directors at such date, time and place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, as may be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors from time to time. Any other proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.
(b) Special Meetings. Unless otherwise required by law or by the certificate of incorporation, a special meeting of stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, may be called at any time only by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Board of Directors. The Board shall determine the place, if any, and fix the date and time, of any special meeting of stockholders.
(c) Notice. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice of the meeting shall be given that shall state the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for 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. Unless otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the corporation. Notice shall be otherwise given in accordance with Section 232 of the General Corporation Law.
(d) Stockholder List. The corporation shall prepare and make, not less than ten days before every meeting of stockholders (provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date), a complete list of the stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of ten 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 meeting or (ii) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the corporation. Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section 5(d) or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
(e) Conduct of Meetings. Meetings of the stockholders shall be presided over by one of the following officers in the order of seniority and if present and acting: The Chairman of the Board, if any, the Vice-Chairman of the Board, if any, the President, a Vice-President, or, if none of the foregoing is in office and present and acting, by a chairman to be chosen by the Board of Directors. The Secretary of the corporation, or in his absence, an Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of every meeting, but if neither the Secretary nor an Assistant Secretary is present the Chairman of the meeting shall appoint a secretary of the meeting.
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(f) Proxies. Every stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for him by proxy in all matters in which a stockholder is entitled to participate, whether by waiving notice of any meeting, voting or participating at a meeting, or expressing consent or dissent without a meeting. Every proxy must be signed by the stockholder or by his attorney-in-fact. No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date unless such proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed 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 proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the corporation generally.
(g) Inspectors. The directors, in advance of any meeting, may, but need not, appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If an inspector or inspectors are not appointed, the person presiding at the meeting may, but need not, appoint one or more inspectors. In case any person who may be appointed as an inspector fails to appear or act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the directors in advance of the meeting or at the meeting by the person presiding thereat. Each inspector, if any, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspectors at such meeting with strict impartially and according to the best of his ability. The inspectors, if any, shall determine the number of shares of stock outstanding and the voting power of each, the shares of stock represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, the validity and effect of proxies, and shall receive votes, ballots, or consents, hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote, count and tabulate all votes, ballots, or consents, determine the result, and do such acts as are proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. On request of the person presiding at the meeting, the inspector or inspectors, if any, shall make a report in writing of any challenge, question, or matter determined by him or them and execute a certificate of any fact found by him or them. Except as otherwise required by subsection (e) of Section 231 of the General Corporation Law, the provisions of that Section shall not apply to the corporation.
(h) Quorum. Unless otherwise provided by the certificate of incorporation or applicable law, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders for the transaction of any business.
(i) Voting. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or by applicable law, each share of stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote. Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. Any other action shall be authorized by a majority of the votes cast except where the General Corporation Law prescribes a different percentage of votes and/or a different exercise of voting power, and except as may be otherwise prescribed by the provisions of the certificate of incorporation and these Bylaws. In the election of directors, and for any other action, voting need not be by ballot.
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(j) Adjournment. The Chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the power to adjourn any such meeting of stockholders. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may adjourn from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken or are provided in any other manner permitted by the General Corporation Law. At the adjourned meeting the corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.
6. NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER BUSINESS AND NOMINATIONS.
(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders.
(1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the corporation and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (A) pursuant to the corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto); (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof; or (C) by any stockholder of the corporation who was a stockholder of record of the corporation at the time the notice provided for in this Section 6 is delivered to the Secretary of the corporation, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 6.
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(2) For any nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (C) of paragraph (a)(1) of this Section 6, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the corporation and any such proposed business (other than the nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors) must constitute 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 later than the close of business on the 90th day, nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day, prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 70 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the corporation). In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth: (A) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director (i) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (ii) such person’s written consent to being named as a nominee in any proxy statement and any associated proxy card for the corporation’s next meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and to serving as a director if elected; (B) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the bylaws of the corporation, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (C) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, including any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the corporation as to which such stockholder and such beneficial owner or any of its affiliates or associates has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future, (iii) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or proposal between or among such stockholder and/or such beneficial owner, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing (each of the foregoing, a “Stockholder Associated Person”), including, in the case of a nomination, the nominee, including any agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to any compensation or payments to be paid to any such proposed nominee(s), pertaining to the nomination(s) or other business proposed to be brought before the meeting of stockholders (which description shall identify the name of each other person who is party to such an agreement, arrangement or understanding), (iv) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, such stockholder and such beneficial owners, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in underlying shares of capital stock of the corporation, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder or such beneficial owner, with respect to securities of the corporation, (v) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination, (vi) a representation whether the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person intends or is part of a group which intends (x) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (y) otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination, (vii) in the case of a nomination, a representation whether the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person intends to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the corporation’s nominees in accordance with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act, including by soliciting the holders of shares representing at least 67% of the voting power of shares entitled to vote on the election of directors, (viii) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement and form of proxy or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in an election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (ix) a description of any proxy (other than a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Exchange Act), agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or beneficial owner has or shares a right, directly or indirectly, to vote any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the corporation, (x) a description of any rights to dividends or other distributions on the shares of any class or series of capital stock of the corporation, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially by such stockholder or beneficial owner that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the corporation, and (xi) a description of any performance-related fees (other than an asset based fee) that such stockholder or beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, is entitled to receive based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the corporation or any interests described in clause (C)(iv); and (D) the names and addresses of other stockholders and beneficial owners known by any stockholder giving the notice (and/or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made) to support such nomination or proposal, and to the extent known, the class and number of all shares of the corporation’s capital stock owned beneficially and/or of record by such other stockholder(s) and beneficial owner(s). The foregoing notice requirements of this paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 6 shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder with respect to business other than a nomination if the stockholder has notified the corporation of his, her or its intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. To be eligible to be a nominee for election as a director of the corporation, a proposed nominee must deliver (with respect to nominations made by stockholders pursuant to Section 6(a)(1)(C), in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of a stockholder’s notice under this Section 6), to the Secretary of the corporation such information as the corporation may reasonably require, including, without limitation, (I) a completed and signed written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualifications of such proposed nominee, to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the corporation and its committees (such questionnaire to be provided by the Secretary upon written request) and (II) a written representation and agreement (in the form to be provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such proposed nominee (x) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such proposed nominee, if elected as a director of the corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question that has not been disclosed to the corporation or that could limit or interfere with such proposed nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (y) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the corporation, and (z) would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the corporation, and will comply with, all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, code of conduct and ethics, conflict of interest, confidentiality, corporate opportunities, trading and any other policies and guidelines of the corporation applicable to directors.
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(3) The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election to the Board of Directors of the corporation at the annual meeting (or in the case of one or more stockholders giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees such stockholders may collectively nominate for election at the annual meeting on behalf of such beneficial owner) shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such annual meeting, and for the avoidance of doubt, no stockholder shall be entitled to make additional or substitute nominations following the expiration of the time periods set forth in the second sentence of paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 6. Notwithstanding anything in the preceding sentence or the second sentence of paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 6 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the corporation at the annual meeting is increased effective after the time period for which nominations would otherwise be due under paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 6 and there is no public announcement by the corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 6 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the corporation.
(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. 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 (1) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or (2) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 6 is delivered to the Secretary of the corporation, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 6. In the event the corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 6 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the special meeting shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors at such special meeting (or in the case of one or more stockholders giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees such stockholders may collectively nominate for election at the special meeting on behalf of such beneficial owner), and for the avoidance of doubt, no stockholder shall be entitled to make additional or substitute nominations following the expiration of the time periods set forth in this paragraph (b) to this Section 6. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(c) General.
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(1) Except as otherwise expressly provided in any applicable rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act, only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 6 shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the corporation to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 6. Except as otherwise provided by law, the chairman of the meeting (and, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, the Board of Directors) shall have the power and duty (a) to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 6 (including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made or solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies or votes in support of such stockholder’s nominee or proposal in compliance with such stockholder’s representation as required by clauses (a)(2)(C)(vi)-(vii) of this Section 6) and (b) if any proposed nomination or business was not made or proposed in compliance with this Section 6, to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that such proposal or nomination is set forth in the notice of meeting or other proxy materials and notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the corporation to present a nomination or proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that such proposal or nomination is set forth in the notice of meeting or other proxy materials and notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the corporation. For purposes of this Section 6, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.
(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these bylaws, unless otherwise required by law, if any stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf a nomination is made (A) provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act or includes the information required by Rule 14a-19(b) in a preliminary or definitive proxy statement previously filed by such person (it being understood that such notice or filing shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the notices required under these bylaws) and (B) subsequently notifies the corporation that it no longer intends to comply with Rule 14a-19(a)(2) or Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act, fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-9 promulgated under the Exchange Act, or fails to timely provide reasonable evidence sufficient to satisfy the corporation that such stockholder or such beneficial owner has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act in accordance with the following sentence, then the nomination of each such proposed nominee shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that such nomination is set forth in the notice of meeting or other proxy materials and notwithstanding that proxies or votes in respect of the election of such proposed nominees may have been received by the corporation (which proxies shall be disregarded). Upon request by the corporation, if any stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act or includes the information required by Rule 14a-19(b) in a preliminary or definitive proxy statement previously filed by such person, such stockholder or such beneficial owner shall deliver to the corporation, no later than five business days prior to the applicable meeting, reasonable evidence that it has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act.
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(3) For purposes of this Section 6, “public announcement” shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or other national news service or in a document publicly filed by the corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state and federal law, including the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including Rule 14a-19) with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 6; provided however, that any references in these bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to this Section 6 (including paragraphs (a)(1)(C) and (b) hereof), and compliance with paragraphs (a)(1)(C) and (b) of this Section 6 shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations and compliance with paragraph (a)(1)(C) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to submit other business (other than, as provided in the penultimate sentence of (a)(2), business other than nominations brought properly under and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, as may be amended from time to time). Nothing in this Section 6 shall be deemed to affect any rights (x) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals or nominations in the corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act or (y) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the certificate of incorporation.
(5) A stockholder providing notice of a proposed nomination for election to the Board of Directors or other business proposed to be brought before a meeting (given pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this Section 6 or paragraph (b) of this Section 6, as applicable) shall promptly update and supplement such notice from time to time to the extent necessary so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to clauses (a)(2)(A), (a)(2)(B), (a)(2)(C)(i)-(v), (a)(2)(C)(viii)-(xi) and (a)(2)(D) of this Section 6 shall be true and correct (x) as of the record date for notice and voting at the meeting and (y) as of the date that is 15 days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Any such update and supplement shall be delivered in writing to the Secretary of the corporation at the principal executive offices of the corporation (i) in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of any record date for the meeting that is at least 10 days prior to the meeting, not later than 5 days after such record date for the meeting and (ii) in the case of any update or supplement required to be made as of 15 days prior to the meeting or adjournment or postponement thereof, not later than 10 days prior to the date for the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this Section 6(c)(5) or any other section of these bylaws shall not limit the corporation’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any stockholder’s notice, extend any applicable deadlines under these bylaws or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted a stockholder’s notice under these bylaws to amend or update any proposal or to submit any new proposal, including by changing or adding nominees, matters, business and/or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of stockholders.
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7. STOCKHOLDER ACTION WITHOUT MEETINGS.
(a) Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, any action that may be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and such consent or consents are delivered to the corporation in the manner prescribed by the General Corporation Law. No consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take action are delivered to the corporation in the manner prescribed by the General Corporation Law within 60 days of the first date on which a consent is so delivered to the corporation.
(b) In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action 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 date shall not be more than ten days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. Any stockholder of record seeking to have the stockholders authorize or take corporate action by consent shall, by written notice to the Secretary, request that the Board of Directors fix a record date. The Board of Directors shall promptly, but in all events within ten days after the date on which such written notice is received, adopt a resolution fixing the record date (unless a record date has previously been fixed by the Board of Directors pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 7(b)). If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 7(b) or otherwise within ten days after the date on which such written notice is received, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by applicable law, shall be the first date after the expiration of such ten day time period on which a signed consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the corporation in the manner prescribed by the General Corporation Law. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 7(b), the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action without a meeting if prior action by the Board of Directors is required by applicable law shall be at the close of business on the date on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
(c) In the event of the delivery, in the manner prescribed by the General Corporation Law, to the corporation of a consent or consents to take corporate action and/or any related revocation or revocations, the corporation shall engage independent inspectors of elections for the purpose of performing promptly a ministerial review of the validity of the consents and revocations. For the purpose of permitting the inspectors to perform such review, no action by consent and without a meeting shall be effective until such inspectors have completed their review, determined that the requisite number of valid and unrevoked consents delivered to the corporation in accordance with this Section 7 and applicable law have been obtained to authorize or take the action specified in the consents, and certified such determination for entry in the records of the corporation kept for the purpose of recording the proceedings of meetings of stockholders. Nothing contained in this Section 7(c) shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the Board of Directors or any stockholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any consent or revocation thereof, whether before or after such certification by the independent inspectors, or to take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive relief in such litigation).
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ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS
1. FUNCTIONS. Except as otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or the General Corporation Law, the business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors of the corporation. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of the members thereof.
2. QUALIFICATIONS AND NUMBER. A director need not be stockholder, a citizen of the United States, or a resident of the State of Delaware. The number of directors constituting the whole board shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. The use of the phrase “whole board” herein refers to the total number of directors which the corporation would have if there were no vacancies.
3. ELECTION AND TERM; VACANCIES. The Board of Directors of the corporation shall be classified into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, with staggered terms as provided under Section 141(d) of the General Corporation Law, with one class being elected each year to serve a staggered three−year term. Directors in each class shall be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders of the corporation. Unless otherwise provided by law or the certificate of incorporation, any newly created directorship or any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors for any cause may be filled only by a majority of the remaining members of the Board of Directors, although such majority is less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and each director so elected shall hold office until the expiration of the term of office of the director whom he has replaced or until his or her successor is elected and qualified. Any director appointed by the Board of Directors of the corporation to fill a vacancy of a director that resigns, retires, is removed, or otherwise ceases to serve prior to the end of such director’s term in office, shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director has been chosen, and until that director’s successor has been elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation, removal or death.
4. MEETINGS.
(a) Time; Place; Remote Communication. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such time and place as the Board of Directors shall fix. Members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting thereof by means of conference telephone, internet, video or other communications technology by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this bylaw shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
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(b) Call. No call shall be required for regular meetings for which the time and place (or means of remote communication) have been fixed. Special meetings may be called by or at the direction of the Chairman of the Board, if any, the Vice-Chairman of the Board, if any, the President, or a majority of the directors in office.
(c) Notice or Actual or Constructive Waiver. No notice shall be required for regular meetings for which the time and place have been fixed. Written, oral, or any other mode of notice of the time and place shall be given for special meetings in sufficient time for the convenient assembly of the directors thereat. Notice need not be given to any director or to any member of a committee of directors who submits a written waiver of notice signed by him before or after the time stated therein. Attendance of any such person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice such meeting, except when he attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice.
(d) Quorum and Action. A majority of the whole Board shall constitute a quorum except when a vacancy or vacancies prevents such majority, whereupon a majority of the directors in office shall constitute a quorum, provided, that such majority shall constitute at least one-third of the whole Board. A majority of the directors present, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn a meeting to another time and place. Except as herein otherwise provided, and except as otherwise provided by the General Corporation Law, 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. The quorum and voting provisions herein stated shall not be construed as conflicting with any provisions of the General Corporation Law and these Bylaws which govern a meeting of directors held to fill vacancies and newly created directorships in the Board or action of disinterested directors.
(e) Chairman of the Meeting. The Chairman of the Board, if any and if present and acting, shall preside at all meetings. Otherwise, the Vice-Chairman of the Board, if any and if present and acting, or the President, if present and acting, or any other director chosen by the Board, shall preside.
5. REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS. Except as otherwise provided by the certificate of incorporation or the General Corporation Law, directors may be removed only for cause and only by the vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
6. COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the corporation. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of any member of any such committee or committees, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board, shall have and may exercise the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation with the exception of any authority the delegation of which is prohibited by Section 141 of the General Corporation Law, and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it.
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7. WRITTEN ACTION. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission. After an action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors, or the committee thereof, in the same paper or electronic form as the minutes are maintained.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
The officers of the corporation shall consist of a President (who may be the Chief Executive Officer) and/or Chief Operating Officer, a Secretary, a Treasurer (who may be the Chief Financial Officer), and, if deemed necessary, expedient, or desirable by the Board of Directors, a Chairman of the Board, a Vice-Chairman of the Board, an Executive Vice-President, one or more other Vice-President, one or more Assistant Secretaries, one or more Assistant Treasurers, and such other officers with such titles as the resolution of the Board of Directors choosing them shall designate. Except as may otherwise be provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors choosing him, no officer other than the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Board, if any, need be a director. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, as the directors may determine.
Unless otherwise provided in the resolution choosing him, each officer shall be chosen for a term which shall continue until the meeting of the Board of Directors following the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his successor shall have been chosen and qualified.
All officers of the corporation shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management and operation of the corporation as shall be prescribed in the resolutions of the Board of Directors designating and choosing such officers and prescribing their authority and duties, and shall have such additional authority and duties as are incident to their office except to the extent that such resolutions may be inconsistent therewith. The Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the corporation shall record all of the proceedings of all meetings and actions in writing of stockholders, directors, and committees of directors, and shall exercise such additional authority and perform such additional duties as the Board shall assign to him. Any officer may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors. Any vacancy in any office may be filled by the Board of Directors.
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ARTICLE IV
CORPORATE SEAL
The corporate seal shall be in such form as the Board of Directors shall prescribe.
ARTICLE V
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed, and shall be subject to change, by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION
(a) Right to Indemnification. The corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person (a “Covered Person”) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he, or a person for whom he is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the corporation or, while a director or officer of the corporation, is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by such Covered Person. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (c) of this Article VI, the corporation shall be required to indemnify a Covered Person in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Covered Person only if the commencement of such proceeding (or part thereof) by the Covered Person was authorized in the specific case by the Board of Directors of the corporation.
(b) Advancement of Expenses. The corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a Covered Person in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that, to the extent required by law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Covered Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VI or otherwise.
(c) Claims. If a claim for indemnification under this Article VI (following the final disposition of such proceeding) is not paid in full within sixty days after the corporation has received a claim therefor by the Covered Person, or if a claim for any advancement of expenses under this Article VI is not paid in full within thirty days after the corporation has received a statement or statements requesting such amounts to be advanced, the Covered Person shall thereupon (but not before) be entitled to file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim. If successful in whole or in part, the Covered Person shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by law. In any such action, the corporation shall have the burden of proving that the Covered Person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.
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(d) Nonexclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any Covered Person by this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such Covered Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
(e) Other Sources. The corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or to advance expenses to any Covered Person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity shall be reduced by any amount such Covered Person may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit enterprise.
(f) Amendment or Repeal. Any right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses of any Covered Person arising hereunder shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to or repeal of these bylaws after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought.
(g) Other Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. This Article VI shall not limit the right of the corporation, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Covered Persons when and as authorized by appropriate corporate action.
ARTICLE VII
CONTROL OVER BYLAWS
Subject to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation and the provisions of the General Corporation Law, the power to amend, alter, or repeal these Bylaws and to adopt new Bylaws may be exercised by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders; provided, however, that the adoption, amendment or repeal by the stockholders of these Bylaws, or the adoption by the stockholders of any provision inconsistent with these Bylaws, shall require, in addition to any vote of the stockholders required by the certificate of incorporation or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) in voting power of the outstanding stock entitled to vote thereon.
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