Shuttle Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc 8-K, filed Nov 1, 2022
Shuttle Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (SHPH)
About this 8-K
Shuttle Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc filed this 8-K on November 1, 2022, reporting on events of October 28, 2022.
Items reported
- Item 5.02: Director or officer change, or executive pay
- Item 5.03: Charter or bylaw amendment, or fiscal year change
- Item 9.01: Financial statements and exhibits
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 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): October 28, 2022
SHUTTLE PHARMACEUTICALS HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 2834 | 82-5089826 | ||
(State of Incorporation) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number.) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
SHUTTLE PHARMACEUTICALS HOLDINGS, INC.
One Research Court, Suite 450
Rockville, Maryland 20850
(Address Of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
240-430-4212
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
| Common Stock $0.00001 per share | SHPH | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
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 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Officers; Appointment of Principal Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On October 28, 2022, the board of directors (the “Board”) of Shuttle Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc., a Delaware Corporation (the “Company”), based upon the recommendation of the Board’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, approved the appointment of Bette Jacobs, Ph.D. to the Board. The Board determined that Dr. Jacobs qualifies as an “Independent Director” under Nasdaq Rule 5605(a)(2) and Rule 10A-3(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended. Further, the Board appointed Dr. Jacobs to serve as a member of the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Dr. Jacobs will fill the Board seat vacated by William Adkins, an independent director, whose term of service ended effective as of October 28, 2022.
The biographical information of Dr. Jacobs is set forth below.
Bette Jacobs, Ph.D. Dr. Jacobs is an experienced researcher, administrator and businesswoman currently serving as a professor in the department of health systems administration at Georgetown University and as a distinguished scholar at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law. Dr. Jacobs holds her Ph.D. from the University of Texas and is noted for her groundbreaking transdisciplinary and cross-sector work in systems design. As a voting member of the Cherokee Nation, she has lifetime involvement in equity programs and has testified before Congress. In addition to serving on several start-up boards, Dr. Jacobs founded the National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations funded by the NIH National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Prior to her current role at Georgetown, she served as dean at the Georgetown School of Nursing and Health Studies, vice president for Honda of America Manufacturing, associate director of applied research at UAB Civitan International Research Center, and acting dean of graduate studies and research at California State University. She has been a fellow and visiting professor at the University of Oxford and an academic guest scholar and lecturer at several acclaimed universities worldwide. Her wealth of experience in research, administration and serving on boards coupled with her unique background and perspectives makes her ideally suited to serving as a member of our Board.
For serving as a director for the Company, Dr. Jacobs will receive a cash payment of $25,000 per annum, distributed in quarterly installments, plus a grant of $100,000 worth of restricted stock units (“Restricted Stock Units”), as calculated based on the stock’s closing price on the date of grant, issuable under the Company’s 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, which will vest in three equal installments as follows: one-third on the date of execution and one-third on each of the next two anniversaries of her appointment to the Board. The vesting schedule and further details as to the compensation arrangement for Dr. Jacobs is described in the director offer letter between the Company and Dr. Jacobs, effective as of October 28, 2022, a form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
There are no family relationships between Dr. Jacobs and the Company, and Dr. Jacobs has not engaged in any related party transactions with the Company within the past three years.
The press release announcing the appointment of Dr. Jacobs to the Company’s Board is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
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5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
Effective October 28, 2022, the Board approved the adoption of a second amended and restated bylaws of the Corporation (the “Second Amended and Restated Bylaws”) for the purpose of updating Article III to the bylaws to reduce the term of service for directors from three years to one year. The foregoing description of the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such bylaws, which are attached as Exhibit 3.1 hereto and 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.
| Dated: November 1, 2022 | ||
| SHUTTLE PHARMACEUTICALS HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Anatoly Dritschilo | |
| Name: | Anatoly Dritschilo | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
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Exhibit 3.1
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
SHUTTLE PHARMAceuticals holdings, inc.
Incorporated Under the Laws of the
State of Delaware
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Shuttle Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (the “Corporation”) shall maintain a registered office in the State of Delaware. The Corporation may also have other offices at such places, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate or the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Place of Meetings. Meetings of the stockholders for the election of directors or for any other purpose shall be held on such date, at such time and at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof. Only if so determined by the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, (a) stockholders may, by means of remote communication, participate in a meeting of stockholders and be deemed present in person and vote thereat and/or (b) a meeting of stockholders may be held not at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication, both as provided in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).
Section 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held on such date and at such time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting, at which meeting the stockholders shall elect by a plurality vote a Board of Directors and transact only such other business as is properly brought before the meeting in accordance with these By-Laws. Notice of the annual meeting, stating 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, and the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote and to receive notice of the meeting shall be given as permitted by law to each stockholder not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting.
Section 3. Special Meetings. Unless otherwise prescribed by law or the Certificate of Incorporation (such Certificate, as amended from time to time, including resolutions adopted from time to time by the Board of Directors establishing the designation, rights, preferences and other terms of any class or series of capital stock, the “Certificate of Incorporation”), special meetings of the stockholders may be called only at the request of a majority of the Board of Directors by the Chairman of the Board, if any, the Chief Executive Officer, if any, or the President of the Corporation. Notice of a Special Meeting stating the place, 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 and to receive notice of the meeting, and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. Only such business as is specified in the notice of special meeting shall come before such meeting.
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Section 4. Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of shares of capital stock issued and outstanding entitled to vote thereat representing at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business. Whether or not a quorum is present, the chairman of the meeting, or the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present or represented by proxy, holding shares representing at least a majority of the votes so present or represented and entitled to be cast thereon, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting. Once a quorum is once present, it is not broken by the subsequent withdrawal of any stockholder.
Section 5. Appointment of Inspectors of Election. The Board of Directors shall, in advance of sending to the stockholders any notice of a meeting of the holders of any class of shares, appoint one or more inspectors of election (“inspectors”) to act at such meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof and make a written report thereof. The Board of Directors may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is so appointed or if no inspector or alternate is able to act, the Chairman of the Board, or if none, the Secretary shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at such meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of such inspector’s duties, shall take and sign an oath to faithfully execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability. The inspectors shall not be directors, officers or employees of the Corporation.
Section 6. Voting. Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder of record of any class or series of stock other than the common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, (the “Common Stock”) of the Corporation shall be entitled on each matter submitted to a vote at each meeting of stockholders to such number of votes for each share of such stock as may be fixed in the Certificate of Incorporation, and each stockholder of record of Common Stock shall be entitled at each meeting of stockholders to one vote for each share of such stock, in each case, registered in such stockholder’s name on the books of the Corporation on the date fixed pursuant to these By-Laws as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting, or if no such record date shall have been so fixed, then 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.
Each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting may vote either in person or by proxy duly appointed.
At all meetings of stockholders all matters, except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, shall be determined by the affirmative vote of the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy holding shares representing at least a majority of the votes so present or represented and entitled to be cast thereon, and where a separate vote by class is required, a majority of the votes represented by the shares of the stockholders of such class present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to be cast thereon shall be the act of such class. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, the Board of Directors, when establishing a matter to be voted at a meeting of stockholders, may establish a voting requirement greater than the voting requirement set forth in the immediately preceding sentence with respect to such matter.
The vote on any matter, including the election of directors, shall be by written ballot, or, if authorized by the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, by electronic ballot given in accordance with a procedure set out in the notice of such meeting. Each ballot shall state the number of shares voted.
Proxy cards solicited by the Corporation or the Board of Directors shall be returned in envelopes addressed to the inspectors, any transfer agent with respect to capital stock of the Corporation and/or any third party, as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors, who shall receive, inspect and tabulate the proxies. Comments on proxies, consents or ballots shall be transcribed and provided to the Secretary with the name and address of the stockholder. Nothing in this Article II shall prohibit the inspector from making available to the Corporation, prior to, during or after any annual or special meeting, information as to which stockholders have not voted and periodic status reports on the aggregate vote.
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Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special 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 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 by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 1. Number; Resignation; Removal. Except as otherwise required by the Certificate of Incorporation, the number of directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors, but at no time shall be less than one (1). Except as provided in Section 3 of this Article III and in the Certificate of Incorporation, a nominee for director shall be elected to the Board of Directors by a plurality of the votes cast at the annual meeting of stockholders. A director may resign at any time upon notice to the Corporation. A director may be removed, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of holders of shares of capital stock issued and outstanding entitled to vote at an election of directors representing at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast thereon.
Section 2. Duties and Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-Laws directed or required to be exercised or done solely by the stockholders.
Section 3. Number, Term and Qualifications.
(a) The authorized number of directors of the corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors from time to time. Directors need not be stockholders unless so required by the Board of Directors. If for any cause the directors shall not have been elected at an annual meeting they may be elected as soon thereafter as convenient at a special meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose in the manner provided in these bylaws.
(b) Each director shall serve a term of one year, or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Section 4. Vacancies. Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even though such number may be less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and the directors so elected shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal. If there are no directors in office, then an election of directors may be held in the manner provided by the DGCL. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Section 5. Meetings. The Board of Directors of the Corporation may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as may from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President(s) or any director. Notice stating the place, date and hour of the meeting shall be given to each director either (i) by mail or courier not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the date of the meeting or (ii) by telephone, telegram or facsimile or electronic transmission, not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the time of the meeting or on such shorter notice as the person or persons calling such meeting may deem necessary or appropriate under the circumstances (provided that notice of any meeting need not be given to any director who (i) submits a waiver of notice either before or after such meeting or (ii) attends the meeting without protesting, at the beginning of such meeting, the lack of notice).
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Section 6. Quorum. Except as may be otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, a majority of the entire Board of Directors shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall constitute the act of the Board of Directors. Whether or not a quorum is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the directors then present may adjourn the meeting to such time and place as they may determine without notice other than an announcement at such meeting.
Section 7. Action Without a Meeting. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors or any committee of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof consent in writing or by electronic transmission and such writings or transmission or transmissions are filed wth the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee. The resolution and the consents thereto in writing or by electronic transmission by the members of the Board of Directors or committee shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee.
Section 8. Participation by Telephone. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any one or more members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 9. Compensation. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof and may be paid compensation as a director, committee member or chairman of any committee and for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof and each meeting of stockholders of the Corporation. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefore or entering into transactions otherwise permitted by the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-Laws or applicable law.
Section 10. Resignation. Any director may resign at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing or by electronic transmission and shall take effect at the time specified therein, or, if no time be specified, at the time of its receipt by the Chairman of the Board, if any, the Chief Executive Officer, if any, the President or the Secretary. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless so specified therein.
ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEES
Section 1. 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 of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of any such committee. Any committee, to the extent allowed by law and provided in the resolution establishing such committee or in these By-Laws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, including the power to adopt a certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to Section 253 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the authority to issue shares, and the authority to declare a dividend, except as limited by Delaware General Corporation Law or other applicable law, but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (i) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the Delaware General Corporation Law to be submitted to stockholders for approval or (ii) adopting, amending or repealing any By-Law of the Corporation. All acts done by any committee within the scope of its powers and duties pursuant to these By-Laws and the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors shall be deemed to be, and may be certified as being, done or conferred under authority of the Board of Directors. The Secretary or any Assistant Secretary is empowered to certify that any resolution duly adopted by any such committee is binding upon the Corporation and to execute and deliver such certifications from time to time as may be necessary or proper to the conduct of the business of the Corporation.
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Section 2. Resignation. Any member of a committee may resign at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing or by electronic transmission and shall take effect at the time specified therein, or, if no time be specified, at the time of its receipt by the Chairman of the Board, or if none, by the Chief Executive Officer, President(s) or the Secretary. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless so specified therein.
Section 3. Quorum. A majority of the members of a committee shall constitute a quorum. The vote of a majority of the members of a committee present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of such committee.
Section 4. Record of Proceedings. Each committee shall keep a record of its acts and proceedings, and shall report the same to the Board of Directors when and as required by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Organization, Meetings, Notices. A committee may hold its meetings at the principal office of the Corporation, or at any other place upon which a majority of the committee may at any time agree. Each committee may make such rules as it may deem expedient for the regulation and carrying on of its meetings and proceedings.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
Section 1. General. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall consist of a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may also elect and specifically identify as officers of the Corporation a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, a Controller, one or more vice presidents, assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers, and such other officers and agents as in its judgment may be necessary or desirable. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, unless otherwise prohibited by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws. The officers of the Corporation need not be stockholders or directors of the Corporation. Any office named or provided for in this Article V (including, without limitation, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, Secretary, Treasurer and Controller) may, at any time and from time to time, be held by one or more persons. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, if an office is held by more than one person, each person holding such office shall serve as a co-officer (with the appropriate corresponding title) and shall have general authority, individually and without the need for any action by any other co-officer, to exercise all the powers of the holder of such office of the Corporation specified in these By-Laws and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or such other officer specified in this Article V.
Section 2. Election; Removal; Remuneration. The Board of Directors at its first meeting held after each annual meeting of stockholders shall elect the officers of the Corporation who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors and may elect additional officers and may fill vacancies among the officers previously elected at any subsequent meeting of the Board of Directors; and all officers of the Corporation shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal. Any officer elected by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time, either for or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Voting Securities Owned by the Corporation. Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meetings, consents and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board, if any, the Chief Executive Officer, if any, the President or the Secretary, and any such officer may, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation, company, partnership or other entity in which the Corporation may own securities, or to execute written consents in lieu thereof, and at any such meeting, or in giving any such consent, shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed if present. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.
Section 4. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board, if any, may be, but need not be, a person other than the Chief Executive Officer or the President of the Corporation. The Chairman of the Board may be, but need not be, an officer or employee of the Corporation. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at meetings of the Board of Directors and shall establish agendas for such meetings. In addition, the Chairman of the Board shall assure that matters of significant interest to stockholders and the investment community are addressed by management.
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Section 5. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer, if any, shall, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, have general and active control of the affairs and business of the Corporation and general supervision of its officers, officials, employees and agents. The Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and any committee thereof of which he is a member, unless the Board of Directors or such committee shall have chosen another chairman. The Chief Executive Officer shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect, and in addition, the Chief Executive Officer shall have all the powers and perform all the duties generally appertaining to the office of the chief executive officer of a corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall designate the person or persons who shall exercise his powers and perform his duties in his absence or disability and the absence or disability of the President.
Section 6. President. The President shall have such powers and perform such duties as are prescribed by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors, and in the absence or disability of the Chief Executive Officer, the President shall have the powers and perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer, except to the extent the Board of Directors shall have otherwise provided. In addition, the President shall have such powers and perform such duties generally appertaining to the office of the president of a corporation, except to the extent the Chief Executive Officer, if any, or the Board of Directors shall have otherwise provided.
Section 7. Vice President. The Vice Presidents of the Corporation shall perform such duties and have such powers as may, from time to time, be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, if any, the President or these By-Laws.
Section 8. Secretary. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders and, unless the Board of Directors appoints another person to perform such service(s), record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose, and shall perform like duties for any committee appointed by the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Corporation and affix it to any instrument when so authorized by the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall give or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors and shall perform generally all the duties usually appertaining to the office of secretary of a corporation and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or these By-Laws. The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing by his signature.
Section 9. Assistant Secretary. The Assistant Secretary shall be empowered and authorized to perform all of the duties of the Secretary in the absence or disability of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, the Secretary or these By-Laws.
Section 10. Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer, if any, shall have responsibility for the administration of the financial affairs of the Corporation and shall exercise supervisory responsibility for the performance of the duties of the Treasurer and the Controller, if any. The Chief Financial Officer shall render to the Board of Directors, at its regular meetings, or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of all of the transactions effected by the Treasurer and the Controller and of the financial condition of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall generally perform all the duties usually appertaining to the affairs of a chief financial officer of a corporation and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or these By-Laws.
Section 11. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall cause to be kept full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by persons authorized by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the Chairman of the Board, if any, the Chief Executive Officer, if any, the President and the Board of Directors whenever they may require it, an account of all of the transactions effected by the Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation. The Treasurer shall generally perform all duties appertaining to the office of treasurer of a corporation and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, if any, the President or these By-Laws.
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Section 12. Assistant Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurers shall be empowered and authorized to perform all the duties of the Treasurer in the absence or disability of the Treasurer and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer or these By-Laws.
Section 13. Controller. The Controller, if any, shall prepare and have the care and custody of the books of account of the Corporation. The Controller shall keep a full and accurate account of all monies, received and paid on account of the Corporation, and shall render a statement of the Controller’s accounts whenever the Board of Directors shall require. The Controller shall generally perform all the duties usually appertaining to the affairs of the controller of a corporation and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Financial Officer, if any, the President or these By-Laws.
Section 14. Additional Powers and Duties. In addition to the foregoing especially enumerated duties and powers, the several officers of the Corporation shall perform such other duties and exercise such further powers as the Board of Directors may, from time to time, determine or as may be assigned to them by any superior officer.
Section 15. Other Officers. The Board of Directors may designate such other officers having such duties and powers as it may specify from time to time.
ARTICLE VI
CAPITAL STOCK
Section 1. Form of Certificate; Uncertificated Shares. The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock may 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 in the Corporation represented by a certificate shall be entitled to have a certificate signed in the name of the Corporation (i) by the Chairman of the Board, if any, the Chief Executive Officer, if any, the President or any Vice President and (ii) by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. Except as otherwise provided by law or these By-Laws, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated shares and the rights and obligations of the holders of certificates representing stock of the same class and series shall be identical.
Section 2. Signatures. Any signature required to be on a 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.
Section 3. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as the Board of Directors shall require and/or to give the Corporation and/or its transfer agent a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
Section 4. Transfers. Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these By-Laws. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the holder of record or by such person’s attorney duly authorized, and upon the surrender of properly endorsed certificates for a like number of shares (or, with respect to uncertificated shares, by delivery of duly executed instructions or in any other manner permitted by applicable law).
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Section 5. Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to express consent to corporate action, or 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, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action. 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 the adjourned meeting.
Section 6. Beneficial Owners. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of the person registered on its books as the owner of a share to receive dividends and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of 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 provided by law.
Section 7. Dividends. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law, dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting, and may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of capital stock. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in its absolute discretion, deems proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation or for any proper purpose, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve.
Section 8. Common Stock. The voting, dividend and liquidation rights of the holders of shares of Common Stock are subject to, and qualified by, the rights of the holders of the preferred stock, if any, of the Corporation. Each share of Common Stock shall be treated identically as all other shares of Common Stock with respect to dividends, distributions, rights in liquidation and in all other respects.
ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. Indemnification Respecting Third Party Claims. The Corporation, to the full extent and in a manner permitted by Delaware law as in effect from time to time, shall indemnify, in accordance with the provisions of this Article, any person (including the heirs, executors, administrators or estate of any such person) who was or is made a party to or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (including any appeal thereof), whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation or by any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which the Corporation owns, directly or indirectly through one or more other entities, a majority of the voting power or otherwise possesses a similar degree of control), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, member, manager, partner, trustee, fiduciary, employee or agent (a “Subsidiary Officer”) of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise (any such entity for which a Subsidiary Officer so serves, an “Associated Entity”), against expenses, including attorneys’ fees and disbursements, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided, however, that (i) the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify a person who is or was a director, officer employee or agent of the Corporation or a Subsidiary Officer of an Associated Entity against expenses incurred in connection with an action, suit, proceeding or investigation to which such person is threatened to be made a party but does not become a party unless the incurring of such expenses was authorized by or under the authority of the Board of Directors and (ii) the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify against any amount paid in settlement unless the Board of Directors has consented to such settlement. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, that such person had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing provisions of this Section 1, a person shall not be entitled, as a matter of right, to indemnification pursuant to this Section 1 against costs or expenses incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding commenced by such person against the Corporation or any Associated Entity or any person who is or was a director, officer, fiduciary, employee or agent of the Corporation or a Subsidiary Officer of any Associated Entity (including, without limitation, any action, suit or proceeding commenced by such person to enforce such person’s rights under this Article, unless and only to the extent that such person is successful on the merits of such claim), but such indemnification may be provided by the Corporation in a specific case as permitted by Section 7 below in this Article.
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Section 2. Indemnification Respecting Derivative Claims. The Corporation, to the full extent and in a manner permitted by Delaware law as in effect from time to time, shall indemnify, in accordance with the provisions of this Article, any person (including the heirs, executors, administrators or estate of any such person) who was or is made a party to or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit (including any appeal thereof) brought in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a Subsidiary Officer of an Associated Entity, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) and costs actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless, and only to the extent that, the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses and costs as the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or a Subsidiary Officer of an Associated Entity against expenses incurred in connection with an action or suit to which such person is threatened to be made a party but does not become a party unless the incurrence of such expenses was authorized by or under the authority of the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing provisions of this Section 2, a person shall not be entitled, as a matter of right, to indemnification pursuant to this Section 2 against costs and expenses incurred in connection with any action or suit in the right of the Corporation commenced by such person, but such indemnification may be provided by the Corporation in any specific case as permitted by Section 7 below in this Article.
Section 3. Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification. Any indemnification to be provided under either of Section 1 or 2 above in this Article (unless ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction or advanced as provided in Section 5 of this Article) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification is proper under the circumstances because the person to be indemnified had met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in such section of this Article. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer of the Corporation at the time of such determination, (i) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to the action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought, even though less than a quorum, or (ii) by majority vote of the members of a committee composed of at least two directors each of whom is not a party to such action, suit or proceeding, designated by majority vote of directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if there are no directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iv) by action of the stockholders taken as permitted by law and these By-Laws. Such determination shall be made, with respect to any other person, by such officer or officers of the Corporation as the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee (if any) of the Board may designate, in accordance with any procedures that the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee or such designated officer or officers may determine, or, if any such officer or officers have not been so designated, by the Chief Legal Officer or the General Counsel of the Corporation. In the event a request for indemnification is made by any person referred to in Section 1 or 2 above in this Article, the Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such determination to be made not later than sixty (60) days after such request is made after the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding.
Section 4. Right to Indemnification upon Successful Defense and for Service as a Witness. (a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Article, to the extent that a present or former director or officer has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in either Section 1 or 2 above of this Article, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) and costs actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
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(b) To the extent any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or a Subsidiary Officer of an Associated Entity has served or prepared to serve as a witness in, but is not a party to, any action, suit or proceeding (whether civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory or investigative in nature), including any investigation by any legislative or regulatory body or by any securities or commodities exchange of which the Corporation or an Associated Entity is a member or to the jurisdiction of which it is subject, by reason of his or her services as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or his or her service as a Subsidiary Officer of an Associated Entity (assuming such person is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a Subsidiary Officer of such Associated Entity), the Corporation may indemnify such person against expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) and out-of-pocket costs actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith and, if the Corporation has determined to so indemnify such person, shall use its reasonable best efforts to provide such indemnity within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Corporation of a statement requesting such indemnification, which request must set forth reasonable evidence of such expenses and costs; it being understood, however, that the Corporation shall have no obligation under this Article to compensate such person for such person’s time or efforts so expended.
Section 5. Advance of Expenses. (a) Expenses and costs incurred by any present or former director or officer of the Corporation in defending a civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory or investigative action, suit or proceeding shall, to the extent permitted by law, be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking in writing by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified in respect of such costs and expenses by the Corporation as authorized by this Article.
(b) Expenses and costs incurred by any other person referred to in Section 1 or 2 above in this Article in defending a civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding as authorized by or under the authority of the Board of Directors upon receipt of an undertaking in writing by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation in respect of such costs and expenses as authorized by this Article and subject to any limitations or qualifications provided by or under the authority of the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Notice of Action; Assumption of the Defense. Promptly after receipt by any person referred to in Section 1, 2 or 5 above in this Article of notice of the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or advancement of expenses may be sought under any such Section, such person (the “Indemnitee”) shall notify the Corporation thereof. The Corporation shall be entitled to participate in the defense of any such action, suit or proceeding and, to the extent that it may wish, except in the case of a criminal action or proceeding, to assume the defense thereof with counsel chosen by it. If the Corporation shall have notified the Indemnitee of its election so to assume the defense, it shall be a condition of any further obligation of the Corporation under such Sections to indemnify the Indemnitee with respect to such action, suit or proceeding that the Indemnitee shall have provided an undertaking in writing to repay all legal or other costs and expenses subsequently incurred by the Corporation in conducting such defense if it shall ultimately be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified in respect of the costs and expenses of such action, suit or proceeding by the Corporation as authorized by this Article. Notwithstanding anything in this Article to the contrary, after the Corporation shall have notified the Indemnitee of its election so to assume the defense, the Corporation shall not be liable under such Sections for any legal or other costs or expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the defense of such action, suit or proceeding, unless (a) the parties thereto include both (i) the Corporation and the Indemnitee, or (ii) the Indemnitee and other persons who may be entitled to seek indemnification or advancement of expenses under any such Section and with respect to whom the Corporation shall have elected to assume the defense, and (b) the counsel chosen by the Corporation to conduct the defense shall have determined, in their sole discretion, that, under applicable standards of professional conduct, a conflict of interest exists that would prevent them from representing both (i) the Corporation and the Indemnitee, or (ii) the Indemnitee and such other persons, as the case may be, in which case the Indemnitee may retain separate counsel at the expense of the Corporation to the extent provided in such Sections and Section 3 above in this Article.
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Section 7. Indemnification Not Exclusive. The provision of indemnification to or the advancement of expenses and costs to any person under this Article, or the entitlement of any person to indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs under this Article, shall not limit or restrict in any way the power of the Corporation to indemnify or advance expenses and costs to such person in any other way permitted by law or be deemed exclusive of, or invalidate, any right to which any person seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs may be entitled under any law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s capacity as an officer, director, employee or agent of the Corporation or a Subsidiary Officer of an Associated Entity and as to action in any other capacity.
Section 8. Corporate Obligations; Reliance. The provisions of Sections 1, 2, 4(a) and 5(a) above of this Article shall be deemed to create a binding obligation on the part of the Corporation to the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Corporation, and the persons who are serving at the request of the Corporation as Subsidiary Officers of Associated Entities, on the effective date of this Article and persons thereafter elected as directors and officers or retained as employees or agents, or serving at the request of the Corporation as Subsidiary Officers of Associated Entities (including persons who served as directors, officers, employees and agents, or served at the request of the Corporation as Subsidiary Officers of Associated Entities, on or after such date but who are no longer so serving at the time they present claims for advancement of expenses or indemnity), and such persons in acting in their capacities as directors, officers, employees or agents of the Corporation, or serving at the request of the Corporation as Subsidiary Officers of any Associated Entity, shall be entitled to rely on such provisions of this Article.
Section 9. Further Changes. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article, nor the adoption of any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of such provisions in respect of any act or omission or any matter occurring prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision regardless of when any cause of action, suit or claim relating to any such matter accrued or matured or was commenced, and such provision shall continue to have effect in respect of such act, omission or matter as if such provision had not been so amended or repealed or if a provision inconsistent therewith had not been so adopted.
Section 10. Successors. The right, if any, of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a Subsidiary Officer of an Associated Entity, to indemnification or advancement of expenses under Sections 1 through 9 above in this Article shall continue after he shall have ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent or a Subsidiary Officer of an Associated Entity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, distributees, executors, administrators and other legal representatives of such person.
Section 11. Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a Subsidiary Officer of any Associated Entity, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article or applicable law.
Section 12. Definitions of Certain Terms. For purposes of this Article, references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer employee or agent of the Corporation or as a Subsidiary Officer of any Associated Entity which service imposes duties on, or involves services by, such person with respect to any employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Article.
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ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL
Section 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be such date as shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors from time to time.
Section 2. Corporate Seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware.” The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise upon any paper, certificate or document.
Section 3. Disbursements. All checks, drafts or demands for money out of the funds of the Corporation and all notes and other evidences of indebtedness of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.
Section 4. Amendments. These By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed, in whole or in part, or new By-Laws may be adopted by the stockholders or by the Board of Directors at any meeting thereof; provided, however, that notice of such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption of new By-Laws shall be contained in the notice of such meeting of stockholders or in a notice of such meeting of the Board of Directors, as the case may be. Unless a higher percentage is required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation as to any matter which is the subject of these By-Laws, all such amendments must be approved by either the affirmative vote of holders of shares of capital stock issued and outstanding entitled to vote thereon representing at least a majority of the votes and entitled to be cast thereon or by a majority of the entire Board of Directors then in office; provided, however, that any amendments to these Bylaws that was approved by the stockholders may not be altered, amended or repealed without the affirmative vote of the holders of shares of capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereon representing at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast thereupon.
Section 5. Forum for Adjudication of Disputes. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, any state court within the state of Delaware that has jurisdiction (or, if no state court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (2) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (3) any action asserting a claim pursuant to any provision of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws (in each case, as they may be amended from time to time), and (4) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 5. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exclusive forum selection provision set forth in this Section 5 shall not apply to any actions brought under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Section 6. Definitions. As used in this Article and in these By-Laws generally, the term “entire Board of Directors” means the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies.
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Exhibit 10.1
FORM OF OFFER LETTER
Shuttle Pharmaceuticals Holdings Inc.
One Research Court, Suite 450
Rockville, MD 20850
October 28, 2022
Bette Jacobs, PhD
Professor, O’Neill Institute for National & Global Health Law
Georgetown University School of Law
Washington, DC 20817
Re: Director Offer Letter
Dear Dr. Jacobs:
Shuttle Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) is pleased to offer you a position as a member of its board of directors (the “Board”), effective as of October 28, 2022 (the “Effective Date”). We believe that your background and experience will be a significant asset to the Company, and we look forward to your participation on the Board. Should you choose to accept this position as a member of the Board, this letter agreement (this “Agreement”) shall constitute an agreement between you and the Company and contains all the terms and conditions relating to the services that you agree to provide the Company.
1. Term. This Agreement is effective as of Effective Date. Your initial term as director shall be for a term of one year and start on the Effective Date and continue until the annual meeting of stockholders of the Board to be held in 2023, subject to the provisions in Section 9 below or until your successor is duly elected and qualified. The position shall be up for re-election each year at the Company’s annual stockholder’s meeting and upon re-election the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
2. Services. You shall render services as a member of the Board and as a member of one or more committees of the Board (hereinafter your “Duties”). During the term of this Agreement, you shall attend and participate in such number of meetings of the Board and any committees on which you serve as a member as regularly or specially called. You may attend and participate at each such meeting, via teleconference, video conference or in person. You shall consult with the other members of the Board as necessary via telephone, electronic mail or other forms of correspondence.
3. Services for Others. You shall be free to represent or perform services for other persons during the term of this Agreement. However, you agree that you do not presently perform and do not intend to perform, during the term of this Agreement, similar Duties, consulting or other services for companies whose businesses are or would be, in any way, competitive with the Company (except for companies previously disclosed by you to the Company in writing). Should you propose to perform similar Duties, consulting or other services for any such company, you agree to notify the Company in writing in advance (specifying the name of the organization for whom you propose to perform such services) and to provide information to the Company sufficient to allow it to determine if the performance of such services would conflict with areas of interest to the Company.
4. Compensation. Assuming your material compliance with the terms of this Agreement, compensation for your services to the Company shall be as described in this section.
a. You will receive a cash fee of $25,000 per annum, payable in equal quarterly installments, in arrears, subject to your continuing service as a member of the Board.
b. You will be granted $100,000 worth of restricted stock units (“Restricted Stock Units”) issuable under the Company’s 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, with the following vesting schedule: 1/3 of the Restricted Stock Units will vest upon the date of the Effective Date and the remaining Restricted Stock Units will vest annually in equal increments commencing on the first anniversary date of the date of your appointment to the Board, in accordance with the terms of a separate Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement between you and the Company. Any unvested Restricted Stock Units will expire upon termination of your service.
c. You shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred by you in connection with the performance of your Duties (including travel expenses for in-person meetings).
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5. D&O Insurance Policy. During the term of your service, the Company will maintain directors and officers lialibility insurance in a commercially reasonable amount.
6. No Assignment. Because of the personal nature of the services to be rendered by you, this Agreement may not be assigned by you without the prior written consent of the Company.
7. Confidential Information; Non-Disclosure. In consideration for your access to certain Confidential Information (as defined below) of the Company, in connection with your business relationship with the Company, you hereby represent and agree as follows:
a. Definition. For purposes of this Agreement the term “Confidential Information” means:
i. Any information which the Company possesses that has been created, discovered or developed by or for the Company, and which has or could have commercial value or utility in the business in which the Company is engaged; or
ii. Any information which is related to the business of the Company and is generally not known by non-Company personnel.
iii. Confidential Information includes, without limitation, trade secrets and any information concerning products, processes, formulas, designs, inventions (whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar laws, and whether or not reduced to practice), discoveries, concepts, ideas, improvements, techniques, methods, research, development and test results, specifications, data, know-how, software, formats, marketing plans, and analyses, business and business development plans and analyses, including any plans or potential plans for equity or debt raises, strategies, forecasts, customer and supplier identities, characteristics and agreements.
b. Exclusions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term Confidential Information shall not include:
i. Any information which is, or otherwise becomes, generally available to the public other than as a result of a breach of the confidentiality portions of this Agreement, or any other agreement requiring confidentiality between the Company and you;
ii. Information received from a third party in rightful possession of such information who is not restricted from disclosing such information; and
iii. Information known by you prior to receipt of such information from the Company, which prior knowledge can be documented.
c. Documents. You agree that, without the express written consent of the Company, you will not remove from the Company’s premises any notes, formulas, programs, data, records, machines or any other documents or items which in any manner contain or constitute Confidential Information, nor will you make reproductions or copies of same. You shall promptly return any such documents or items, along with any reproductions or copies to the Company upon the Company’s demand, upon termination of this Agreement, or upon your termination or Resignation, as defined in Section 9 herein.
d. Confidentiality. You agree that you will hold in trust and confidence all Confidential Information and will not disclose to others, directly or indirectly, any Confidential Information or anything relating to such information without the prior written consent of the Company, except as may be necessary in the course of your business relationship with the Company. You further agree that you will not use any Confidential Information without the prior written consent of the Company, except as may be necessary in the course of your business relationship with the Company, and that the provisions of this paragraph (d) shall survive termination of this Agreement.
e. Ownership. You agree that the Company shall own all right, title and interest (including patent rights, copyrights, trade secret rights, mask work rights, trademark rights, and all other intellectual and industrial property rights of any sort throughout the world) relating to any and all inventions (whether or not patentable), works of authorship, mask works, designations, designs, know-how, ideas and information made or conceived or reduced to practice, in whole or in part, by you during the term of this Agreement and that arise out of your Duties (collectively, “Inventions”) and you will promptly disclose and provide all Inventions to the Company. You agree to assist the Company, at its expense, to further evidence, record and perfect such assignments, and to perfect, obtain, maintain, enforce, and defend any rights assigned.
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8. Non-Solicitation. During the term of your appointment, you shall not directly solicit for employment any employee of the Company with whom you have had contact due to your appointment.
9. Termination and Resignation. Your membership on the Board may be terminated for any or no reason by a vote of the stockholders holding at least a majority of the shares of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote. Your membership on the Board may also be terminated for any or no reason at any meeting of the Board or by written consent of a majority of the Board at any time, or if you have been declared incompetent by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction or convicted of a felony. You may also terminate your membership on the Board for any or no reason by delivering your written notice of resignation to the Company (“Resignation”), and such Resignation shall be effective upon the time specified therein or, if no time is specified, upon receipt of the notice of resignation by the Company. Upon the effective date of the termination or Resignation, your right to compensation hereunder will terminate subject to the Company’s obligations to pay you any compensation (including the vested portion of the Restricted Stock Units) that you have already earned and to reimburse you for approved expenses already incurred in connection with your performance of your Duties as of the effective date of such termination or Resignation. Any Restricted Stock Units that have not vested as of the effective date of such termination or Resignation shall be forfeited and cancelled.
10. Governing Law. All questions with respect to the construction and/or enforcement of this Agreement, and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, shall be determined in accordance with the law of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely in the State of Delaware.
11. Entire Agreement; Amendment; Waiver; Counterparts. This Agreement expresses the entire understanding with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and terminates any prior oral or written agreements with respect to the subject matter hereof. Any term of this Agreement may be amended and observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived only with the written consent of the parties hereto. Waiver of any term or condition of this Agreement by any party shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or failure of the same term or condition or waiver of any other term or condition of this Agreement. The failure of any party at any time to require performance by any other party of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the right of any such party to require future performance of such provision or any other provision of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts each of which will be an original and all of which taken together will constitute one and the same agreement, and may be executed using facsimiles of signatures, and a facsimile of a signature shall be deemed to be the same, and equally enforceable, as an original of such signature.
12. Indemnification. The Company shall, to the maximum extent provided under applicable law, indemnify and hold you harmless from and against any expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, judgments, fines, settlements and other legally permissible amounts (“Losses”), incurred in connection with any proceeding arising out of, or related to, your performance of your Duties, other than any such Losses incurred as a result of your negligence or willful misconduct. The Company shall advance to you any expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of settlement, incurred in defending any such proceeding to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law. Such costs and expenses incurred by you in defense of any such proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding promptly upon receipt by the Company of (a) written request for payment; (b) appropriate documentation evidencing the incurrence, amount and nature of the costs and expenses for which payment is being sought; and (c) an undertaking adequate under applicable law made by or on your behalf to repay the amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined pursuant to any non-appealable judgment or settlement that you are not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.
13. Not an Employment Agreement. This Agreement is not an employment agreement, and shall not be construed or interpreted to create any right for you to continue employment with the Company.
14. Acknowledgement. You accept this Agreement subject to the terms and provisions of this Agreement. You agree to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Board of Directors of the Company regarding any questions arising under this Agreement.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Page Follows]
| 3 |
This Agreement has been executed and delivered by the undersigned and is made effective as of the date set first set forth above.
| Sincerely, | ||
| SHUTTLE PHARMACEUTICALS HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Anatoly Dritschilo, M.D. | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| AGREED AND ACCEPTED: | |
| Name: |
| 4 |
Exhibit 99.1
Shuttle Pharmaceuticals Appoints Bette Jacobs to its Board of Directors
ROCKVILLE, Md., November 1, 2022 — Shuttle Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: SHPH), a discovery and development stage specialty pharmaceutical company focused on improving the outcomes of cancer patients treated with radiation therapy (RT), today announced the appointment of Dr. Bette Jacobs to its Board of Directors as an independent director. Dr. Jacobs will serve on the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
Dr. Jacobs is a professor in the department of health systems administration at Georgetown University and a distinguished scholar at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law. She is noted for groundbreaking transdisciplinary and cross-sector work in system design. A voting member of the Cherokee Nation, Dr. Jacobs has lifetime involvement in advancing equity and diversity programs.
“I am excited to welcome Dr. Bette Jacobs to the board at Shuttle Pharmaceuticals,” Dr. Anatoly Dritschilo, Chief Executive Officer of Shuttle Pharmaceuticals, said. “Her body of work spans community, academic, service, and corporate leadership, having been recognized for contributions in successful start-ups, financial integrity and interdisciplinary innovations. I look forward to her guidance as we look to advance our clinical programs focused on improving outcomes for cancer patients.”
Dr. Jacobs added, “I look forward to lending my experience to Shuttle Pharmaceuticals as it looks to accomplish the mission of improving the lives of cancer patients.”
Previously, Dr. Jacobs was dean at the Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies, vice president for Honda of America Manufacturing, founding faculty and associate director of applied research at UAB Civitan International Research Center, and acting dean of graduate studies and research at California State University. She has been a fellow and visiting professor at the University of Oxford Campion Hall and an academic guest scholar and lecturer for Chang Gung University, Anhui University, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, University of British Columbia, University of Sienna, Sciences Po, and the Karolinska Institute. In addition to serving on several start-up boards, Dr. Jacobs also founded the National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations funded by the NIH National Institute of General Medical Sciences.
Dr. Jacobs’ current projects focus on faith-based health systems; decolonization and ecology; migration, indigeneity, and gender; missing and murdered people; and international indigenous rights. Dr. Jacobs earned her B.S. and M.S. from California State University and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Texas.
About Shuttle Pharmaceuticals
Founded in 2012 by faculty members of the Georgetown University Medical Center, Shuttle Pharmaceuticals is a discovery and development stage specialty pharmaceutical company focused on improving the outcomes for cancer patients treated with radiation therapy (RT). Our mission is to improve the lives of cancer patients by developing therapies that are designed to maximize the effectiveness of RT while limiting the side effects of radiation in cancer treatment. Although RT is a proven modality for treating cancers, by developing radiation sensitizers, we aim to increase cancer cure rates, prolong patient survival and improve quality of life when used as a primary treatment or in combination with surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. For more information, please visit our website at www.shuttlepharma.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements.” These statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the development of our company. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the IPO prospectus filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and, except as required by federal securities laws, Shuttle Pharmaceuticals specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Shuttle Pharmaceuticals
Anatoly Dritschilo, M.D., CEO
240-403-4212
info@shuttlepharma.com
Investor Contacts
Lytham Partners, LLC
Robert Blum
602-889-9700
shph@lythampartners.com