Exhibit 3.1
BY-LAWS
OF
AUDIOEYE, INC.
(a Delaware corporation)
(as amended as of March 24, 2023May 22, 2024)
ARTICLE I
Offices
SECTION 1. Registered Office. The registered office of the Corporation within the State of Delaware shall be in the City of Dover, County of Kent.
SECTION 2. Other Offices. The Corporation may also have an office or offices other than said registered office at such place or places, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
Stockholders
SECTION 1. Place of Meetings. All meetings of the stockholders for the election of directors or for any other purpose shall be held at any 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 meeting or in a duly executed waiver thereof. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, alternatively determine that a meeting of stockholders (i) shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or (ii) shall be held at such place so designated by the Board of Directors and also held by means of such remote communication.
SECTION 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held at such date and time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of meeting. At such annual meeting, the stockholders shall elect, by a plurality vote, a Board of Directors and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
SECTION 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders, unless otherwise prescribed by statute, may be called at any time by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board, if one shall have been elected, or the Chief Executive Officer, if one shall have been elected, or the President.
SECTION 4. Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise expressly required by statute, written notice of each annual and special meeting of stockholders stating the date, place and hour of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice. Notice shall be given personally or by mail and, if by mail, shall be sent in a postage prepaid envelope, addressed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. Notice by mail shall be deemed given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid. Without limiting the manner by which notice may otherwise be given, notice may be given by a form of electronic transmission that satisfies the requirements of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Notice of any meeting shall not be required to be given to any person who attends such meeting, except when such person attends the meeting in person or by proxy 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, or who, either before or after the meeting, shall submit a signed written waiver of notice, in person or by proxy. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, an annual or special meeting of stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice.
SECTION 5. List of Stockholders. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten days before each meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, showing the address of 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, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city, town or village where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of meeting, or, if not specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held.
SECTION 6. Quorum; Adjournments. The holders of a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of stockholders, except as otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation. The chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, whether or not a quorum is present or represented by proxy. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented by proxy, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called. If the adjournment is for more than thirty days, or, if after adjournment a new record date is set, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
SECTION 7. Organization. At each meeting of stockholders, the Chairman of the Board, if one shall have been elected, or, in his or her absence or if one shall not have been elected, the Chief Executive Officer, if one shall have been elected, or, in his or her absence or if one shall not have been elected, the President shall act as chairman of the meeting. The Secretary or, in his or her absence or inability to act, the person whom the chairman of the meeting shall appoint secretary of the meeting shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof.
SECTION 8. Order of Business; Rules of Conduct. The order of business at all meetings of the stockholders shall be as determined by the chairman of the meeting. The Board of Directors shall be entitled to make such rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings of stockholders as it shall deem necessary, appropriate, or convenient. Subject to such rules and regulations of the Board of Directors, if any, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations, and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are necessary, appropriate, or convenient for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, establishing rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present, limitations on participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies, and such other persons as the chairman shall permit, restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof, limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants, and regulation of the opening and closing of the polls for balloting and matters which are to be voted on by ballot.
SECTION 9. Voting. Except as otherwise provided by statute or the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder of the Corporation shall be entitled at each meeting of stockholders to one vote for each share of capital stock of the Corporation standing in such stockholder’s name on the record of stockholders of the Corporation:
(a) on the date fixed pursuant to the provisions of Section 7 of Article V of these By-Laws as the record date for the determination of the stockholders who shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting; or
(b) 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 thereof shall be given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the date next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.
Each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by a proxy signed by such stockholder or such stockholder’s attorney-in-fact, but no proxy shall be voted after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. Any such proxy shall be delivered to the secretary of the meeting at or prior to the time designated in the order of business for so delivering such proxies. Any stockholder directly or indirectly soliciting proxies from other stockholders must use a proxy card color other than white, which shall be reserved for the exclusive use by the Board of Directors. When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, present in person or represented by proxy, shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which by express provision of statute or of the Certificate of Incorporation or of these By-Laws, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question. Unless required by statute, or determined by the chairman of the meeting to be advisable, the vote on any question need not be by ballot. On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting, or by such stockholder’s proxy, if there by such proxy, and shall state the number of shares voted.
SECTION 10. 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 (A) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting, (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (C) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 10, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the procedures set forth in this Section 10.
(2) For 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 10, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not 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 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the public announcement thereof 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 must set forth:
(A) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection 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 Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including such person’s written consent to being named in any proxy materials as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected, and (ii) information relating to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, including a voting commitment, or any relationship, including financial transactions and compensation, between such person and the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined in Section 10(c)(2) below) in connection with such nomination; provided, that the Corporation may also require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as the Corporation may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director;
(B) as to any business, other than the nomination of a director or directors, that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest of such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person in such business, (ii) a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder, and (iii) if the proposal or business is to be included in the Corporation’s proxy statement, 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 these By-Laws, the language of the proposed amendment); and
(C) as to the stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder Associated Person, (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s stock ledger, and the name and address, if different, of such Stockholder Associated Person, (ii) the class, series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation that are held of record or are beneficially owned by such stockholder or by such Stockholder Associated Person, (iii) the nominee holder for, and the number of, shares owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder or by such Stockholder Associated Person, (iv) any derivative position, including without limitation any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, directly or indirectly held or beneficially held by such stockholder or such Stockholder Associated Person, and whether and the extent to which any hedging, equity swap or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or interest or any borrowing or lending of shares of stock) has been made by, such stockholder or such Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any shares of stock of the Corporation, or whether such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person has an economic interest in the Corporation not reported as record or beneficial ownership, (v) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person has a right to vote any shares of stock of the Corporation, (vi) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (vii) 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 through a qualified representative at the meeting to propose such nomination or business, and (viii) as to any business, other than the nomination of a director or directors, a representation whether such stockholder or 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 and/or (y) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal, and the information called for by this paragraph (2)(C) shall be supplemented by such stockholder and Stockholder Associated Person not later than 10 days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such information as of the record date.
(D) A stockholder who intends to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Corporation’s director nominees and who has delivered a notice of nomination pursuant to this Section 10 shall promptly certify to the Corporation, and notify the Corporation in writing, that it has complied with or will comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act, and upon request of the Corporation, shall, not later than five business days prior to the date of the applicable meeting of stockholders, deliver to the Corporation reasonable evidence of such compliance.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 10 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 10 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. 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 (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 of giving of notice provided for in this Section 10 and is a stockholder of record at the time of the special meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the procedures set forth in this Section 10. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 10 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of such special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a special meeting or the public announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(c) General.
(1) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 10 shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 10. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 10 and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Section 10, to declare that such defective nomination or proposal shall be disregarded. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 10, 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 proposal, such nomination or proposed business shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. Unless otherwise required by law, if any stockholder (i) provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act and (ii) subsequently (A) notifies the Corporation that such stockholder no longer intends to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Corporation’s director nominees in accordance with Rule 14a-19, (B) fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19, or (C) fails to provide reasonable evidence sufficient to satisfy the Corporation that such requirements have been met, then such stockholder’s nominations shall be deemed null and void and the Corporation shall disregard any proxies or votes solicited for any nominee proposed by such stockholder.
(2) For purposes of this By-Law, (A) “public announcement” means 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 (B) “Stockholder Associated Person” of any stockholder means (i) any person or entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with, directly or indirectly, orand acting in concert with, such stockholder with respect to a particular nomination, proper business brought before an annual meeting of stockholders, or other activity involving the securities of the Corporation, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder, and (iii) any person or entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with a Stockholder Associated Person as defined in the foregoing clauses (B)(i) or (B)(ii).
(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 10, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder (including Rule 14a-19) with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 10. Nothing in this Section 10 shall be deemed to affect any rights (A) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (B) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances.
SECTION 11. Inspectors. The Board of Directors may, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at such meeting or any adjournment thereof. If any of the inspectors so appointed shall fail to appear or act, the chairman of the meeting shall, or if inspectors shall not have been appointed, the chairman of the meeting may, appoint one or more inspectors. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector at such meeting with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall determine the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each, the number of shares 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 results, and do such acts as are proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. On request of the chairman of the meeting, the inspectors shall make a report in writing of any challenge, request or matter determined by them and shall execute a certificate of any fact found by them. No director or candidate for the office of director shall act as an inspector of an election of directors. Inspectors need not be stockholders.
SECTION 12. Action by Consent. Whenever the vote of stockholders at a meeting thereof is required or permitted to be taken for or in connection with any corporate action, by any provision of statute or of the Certificate of Incorporation or of these By-Laws, the meeting and vote of stockholders may be dispensed with, and the action taken without such meeting and vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.
ARTICLE III
Board of Directors
SECTION 1. General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may exercise all such authority and powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or the Certificate of Incorporation directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
SECTION 2. Number, Qualifications, Election and Term of Office. The number of directors may be fixed, from time to time, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors. Any decrease in the number of directors shall be effective at the time of the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders unless there shall be vacancies in the Board of Directors, in which case such decrease may become effective at any time prior to the next succeeding annual meeting to the extent of the number of such vacancies. Directors need not be stockholders. Except as otherwise provided by statute or these By-Laws, the directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders. Each director shall hold office until his or her successor shall have been elected and qualified, or until his or her death, or until he or she shall have resigned, or have been removed, as hereinafter provided in these By-Laws.
SECTION 3. Place of Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place or places, within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as shall be specified in the notice of any such meeting.
SECTION 4. Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors shall meet for the purpose of organization, the election of officers and the transaction of other business, as soon as practicable after each annual meeting of stockholders, on the same day and at the same place where such annual meeting shall be held. Notice of such meeting need not be given. In the event such annual meeting is not so held, the annual meeting of the Board of Directors may be held at such other time or place (within or without the State of Delaware) as shall be specified in a notice thereof given as hereinafter provided in Section 7 of this Article III.
SECTION 5. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such time and place as the Board of Directors may fix. If any day fixed for a regular meeting shall be a legal holiday at the place where the meeting is to be held, then the meeting which would otherwise be held on that day shall be held at the same hour on the next succeeding business day. Notice of regular meetings of the Board of Directors need not be given except as otherwise required by statute or these By-Laws.
SECTION 6. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, if one shall have been elected, or by two or more directors of the Corporation, or by the Chief Executive Officer, if one shall have been elected, or by the President.
SECTION 7. Notice of Meetings. Notice of each special meeting of the Board of Directors (and of each regular meeting for which notice shall be required) shall be given by the Secretary as hereinafter provided in this Section 7, in which notice shall be stated the time and place of the meeting. Except as otherwise required by these By-Laws, such notice need not state the purposes of such meeting. Notice of each such meeting shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to each director, addressed to him or her at his or her residence or usual place of business, by first class mail, at least four days before the day on which such meeting is to be held, or shall be sent addressed to him or her at such place by email or other similar electronic means, or be delivered to him or her personally or be given to him or her by telephone or other similar means, at least twenty-four hours before the time at which such meeting is to be held. Notice of any such meeting need not be given to any director who shall, either before or after the meeting, submit a signed waiver of notice or who shall attend such meeting, except when he or she shall attend 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.
SECTION 8. Quorum and Manner of Acting. A majority of the entire Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, and, except as otherwise expressly required by statute or the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. In the absence of a quorum at any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn such meeting to another time and place. Notice of the time and place of any such adjourned meeting shall be given to all of the directors unless such time and place were announced at the meeting at which the adjournment was taken, in which case such notice shall only be given to the directors who were not present thereat. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called. The directors shall act only as a Board and the individual directors shall have no power as such.
SECTION 9. Organization. At each meeting of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, if one shall have been elected, or, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board or if one shall not have been elected, the Chief Executive Officer, or, in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer or if one shall not have been elected, the President (or, in his or her absence, another director chosen by a majority of the directors present) shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat. The Secretary or, in his or her absence, any person appointed by the chairman shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof.
SECTION 10. Resignations. Any director of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving written notice of his or her resignation to the Corporation. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time when it shall become effective shall not be specified therein, immediately upon its receipt. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
SECTION 11. Vacancies. Any vacancy in the Board of Directors, whether arising from death, resignation, removal (with or without cause), an increase in the number of directors or any other cause, may be filled by the vote of a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director. Each director so elected shall hold office until his or her successor shall have been elected and qualified.
SECTION 12. Removal of Directors. Any director may be removed, either with or without cause, at any time, by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors.
SECTION 13. Compensation. The Board of Directors shall have authority to fix the compensation, including fees and reimbursement of expenses, of directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity.
SECTION 14. Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the entire Board of Directors, designate one or more committees, including an executive committee, 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 the committee. Except to the extent restricted by statute or the Certificate of Incorporation, each such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution creating it, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which require it. Each such committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and have such name as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors.
SECTION 15. Action by Consent. Unless restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors or 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, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be.
SECTION 16. Telephonic Meeting. Unless restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, 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 similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
SECTION 1. Number and Qualifications. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall include the President, the Secretary, and the Chief Financial Officer. If the Board of Directors wishes, it may also elect or appoint any of the following, each of whom shall be deemed an officer, a Chief Executive Officer and one or more Vice-Presidents, a General Counsel or Chief Legal Officer, a controller and may elect other officers (including one or more assistant officers) as may be desirable for the business of the Corporation. In addition, the Board of Directors at any time and from time to time may authorize the Chief Executive Officer to appoint one or more officers to the extent provided in such authorization. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person, and no officer need be a director. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and shall have qualified, or until his or her death, or until he or she shall have resigned or have been removed, as hereinafter provided in these By-Laws.
SECTION 2. Resignations. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving written notice of his or her resignation to the Corporation. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time when it shall become effective shall not be specified therein, immediately upon receipt. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of any such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
SECTION 3. Removal. Any officer of the Corporation may be removed, either with or without cause, at any time, by the Board of Directors at any meeting thereof. In addition, the Chief Executive Officer authorized by the Board of Directors to appoint a person to hold an office of the Corporation may also remove such person from such office with or without cause at any time, unless otherwise provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors providing such authorization.
SECTION 4. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board, if one shall have been elected, shall be a member of the Board, an officer of the Corporation (if so determined by the Board of Directors) and, if present, shall preside at each meeting of the Board of Directors or the stockholders. He or she shall advise and counsel with the Chief Executive Officer and the President, and in their absence with other executives of the Corporation, and shall perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 5. The Chief Executive Officer. The Board of Directors may elect a Chief Executive Officer to serve as the chief executive officer of the Corporation. He or she shall, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board or if a Chairman of the Board shall not have been elected, preside at each meeting of the Board of Directors or the stockholders. The Chief Executive Officer, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, shall have general charge of the business, affairs, and property of the Corporation and general supervision over its other officers and agents. In general, he or she shall perform all duties incident to the office of Chief Executive Officer and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. If there is no President, or in the case of his or her absence or inability to act, the Chief Executive Officer shall perform the duties of the President in addition to performing his or her duties as Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer may sign, execute and deliver in the name of the Corporation all deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other instruments, except in cases where the signing, execution or delivery thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these By-Laws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation or where any of them shall be required by law otherwise to be signed, executed or delivered. The Chief Executive Officer may cause the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to any instrument which shall require it and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 6. The President. The President shall be a general executive officer of the Corporation. He or she shall, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer or if a Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer shall not have been elected, preside at each meeting of the Board of Directors or the stockholders. The President, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer, shall have general charge of the business, affairs, and property of the Corporation and general supervision over its other officers and agents. If there is no Chief Executive Officer, or in case of his or her absence or inability to act, the President shall perform the duties of the chief executive officer of the Corporation, and, when so acting, shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions upon, the Chief Executive Officer. The President shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect and may sign, execute and deliver in the name of the Corporation all deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts and other instruments authorized by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, except in cases where the signing, execution or delivery thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these By-Laws to some other officer, officers, agent, or agents of the Corporation or where any of them shall be required by the law otherwise to be signed, executed or delivered. The President may cause the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to any instrument which shall require it and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.
SECTION 7. Vice President. Each Vice President shall perform all such duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. At the request of the President or in his or her absence or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, the Vice President, or if there shall be more than one, the Vice Presidents in the order determined by the Board of Directors (or if there be no such determination, then the Vice Presidents in the order of their election), shall perform the duties of the President, and, when so acting, shall have the powers of and be subject to the restrictions placed upon the President in respect of the performance of such duties.
SECTION 8. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall:
(a) have charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all the funds and securities of the Corporation;
(b) keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation;
(c) deposit all moneys and other valuables to the credit of the Corporation in such depositaries as may be designated by the Board of Directors or pursuant to its direction;
(d) receive, and give receipts for, moneys due and payable to the Corporation from any source whatsoever;
(e) disburse the funds of the Corporation and supervise the investments of its funds, taking proper vouchers therefor;
(f) render to the Board of Directors, whenever the Board of Directors may require, an account of the financial condition of the Corporation; and
(g) in general, perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 9. Secretary. The Secretary shall:
(a) keep or cause to be kept in one or more books provided for the purpose, the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors, the committees of the Board of Directors and the stockholders;
(b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these By-Laws and as required by law;
(c) be custodian of the records and the seal of the Corporation and affix and attest the seal to all certificates for shares of the Corporation (unless the seal of the Corporation on such certificates shall be a facsimile, as hereinafter provided) and affix and attest the seal to all other documents to be executed on behalf of the Corporation under its seal;
(d) see that the books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by law to be kept and filed are properly kept and filed; and
(e) in general, perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 10. The Assistant Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurer, or if there shall be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order determined by the Board of Directors (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their election), shall, in the absence of the Treasurer or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 11. The Assistant Secretary. The Assistant Secretary, or if there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board of Directors (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their election), shall, in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 12. Officers’ Bonds or Other Security. If required by the Board of Directors, any officer of the Corporation shall give a bond or other security for the faithful performance of his or her duties, in such amount and with such surety as the Board of Directors may require.
SECTION 13. Compensation. The compensation of the officers of the Corporation for their services as such officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors. An officer of the Corporation shall not be prevented from receiving compensation by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director of the Corporation.
ARTICLE V
Stock Certificates and Their Transfer
SECTION 1. Stock Certificates. The shares of the Corporation may be either in certificated or in uncertificated form. Every holder of certificated shares in the Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate, signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or the President or a Vice-President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation. If the Corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restriction of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate which the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, provided that, except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate which the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
SECTION 2. Facsimile Signatures. Any or all of the signatures 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 or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
SECTION 3. Lost Certificates. The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, 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 certificates, or such holder’s legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.
SECTION 4. Transfers of Stock. Upon surrender to the Corporation or the transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its records; provided, however, that the Corporation shall be entitled to recognize and enforce any lawful restriction on transfer. Whenever any transfer of stock shall be made for collateral security, and not absolutely, it shall be so expressed in the entry of transfer if, when the certificates are presented to the Corporation for transfer, both the transferor and the transferee request the Corporation to do so.
SECTION 5. Transfer Agents and Registrars. The Board of Directors may appoint, or authorize any officer or officers to appoint, one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars.
SECTION 6. Regulations. The Board of Directors may make such additional rules and regulations, not inconsistent with these By-Laws, as it may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for shares of stock of the Corporation.
SECTION 7. Fixing the 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 to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, 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 chance, 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 nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty 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 8. Registered Stockholders. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its records as the owner of shares of stock to receive dividends and to vote as such owner, shall be entitled to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its records as the owner of shares of stock, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares of stock on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.
ARTICLE VI
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
SECTION 1. General. The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she 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 or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.
SECTION 2. Derivative Actions. The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, provided 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 Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
SECTION 3. Indemnification in Certain Cases. To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 1 and 2 of this Article VI, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he or she shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith.
SECTION 4. Procedure. Any indemnification under Sections 1 and 2 of this Article VI (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in such Sections 1 and 2. Such determination shall be made (a) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (b) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (c) by the stockholders.
SECTION 5. Advances for Expenses. Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director, officer, employee or agent to repay such amount if it shall be ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article VI.
SECTION 6. Rights Not Exclusive. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this Article VI shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any law, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.
SECTION 7. Insurance. The Corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of this Article VI.
SECTION 8. Definition of Corporation. For the purposes of this Article VI, references to “the Corporation” include all constituent corporations absorbed in a consolidation or merger as well as the resulting or surviving corporation so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such a constituent corporation or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article VI with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would if he or she had served the resulting or surviving corporation in the same capacity.
SECTION 9. Survival of Rights. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to this Article VI shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
ARTICLE VII
General Provisions
SECTION 1. Dividends. Subject to the provisions of statute and the Certificate of Incorporation, dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the Corporation may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of stock of the Corporation, unless otherwise provided by statute or the Certificate of Incorporation.
SECTION 2. Reserves. 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 may, from time to time, in its absolute discretion, think 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 such other purpose as the Board of Directors may think conducive to the interests of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserves in the manner in which it was created.
SECTION 3. Seal. The seal of the Corporation shall be in such form as shall be approved by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 4. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed, and once fixed, may thereafter be changed, by resolution of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 5. Checks. Notes, Drafts. Etc. All checks, notes, drafts or other orders for the payment of money of the Corporation shall be signed, endorsed or accepted in the name of the Corporation by such officer, officers, person or persons as from time to time may be designated by the Board of Directors or by an officer or officers authorized by the Board of Directors to make such designation.
SECTION 6. Execution of Contracts, Deeds, Etc. The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation to enter into or execute and deliver any and all deeds, bonds, mortgages, contracts and other obligations or instruments, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
SECTION 7. Voting of Stock in Other Corporations. Unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or the President, from time to time, may (or may appoint one or more attorneys or agents to) cast the votes which the Corporation may be entitled to cast as a shareholder or otherwise in any other corporation, any of whose shares or securities may be held by the Corporation, at meetings of the holders of the shares or other securities of such other corporation. In the event one or more attorneys or agents are appointed, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or the President may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of casting such votes or giving such consent. The Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or the President may, or may instruct the attorneys or agents appointed to, execute or cause to be executed in the name and on behalf of the Corporation and under its seal or otherwise, such written proxies, consents, waivers or other instruments as may be necessary or proper in the circumstances.
ARTICLE VIII
Amendments
These By-Laws may be amended or repealed or new by-laws adopted (a) by action of the stockholders entitled to vote thereon at any annual or special meeting of stockholders or (b) if the Certificate of Incorporation so provides, by action of the Board of Directors at a regular or special meeting thereof. Any by-law made by the Board of Directors may be amended or repealed by action of the stockholders at any annual or special meeting of stockholders.
