Exhibit 3.1
PFIZER INC.
By-laws
As Amended December 9, 2022
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TABLE OF CONTENTS | |
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Article I Stockholders' Meeting | 1 |
| 1. | Place of Meeting | 1 |
| 2. | Annual Meeting | 1 |
| 3. | Quorum | 1 |
| 4. | Adjournments; Postponement | 1 |
| 5. | Voting; Proxies | 2 |
| 6. | Notice | 2 |
| 7. | Inspectors of Election | 2 |
| 8. | List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote | 3 |
| 9. | Special Meetings | 3 |
| 10. | Organization | 4 |
| 11. | Conduct of Meetings | 4 |
| 12. | Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record | 5 |
| 13. | Notice of Stockholder Proposal | 5 |
| 14. | Compliance with Procedures | 6 |
Article II Directors | 7 |
| 1. | Number; Election; Term | 7 |
| 2. | Place of Meetings; Records | 7 |
| 3. | Vacancies | 7 |
| 4. | Organizational Meeting | 7 |
| 5. | Regular Meetings | 8 |
| 6. | Special Meetings | 8 |
| 7. | Quorum | 8 |
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| 8. | Executive Committee | 8 |
| 9. | Additional Committees | 8 |
| 10. | Presence at Meeting | 9 |
| 11. | Action Without Meetings | 9 |
| 12. | Eligibility to Make Nominations | 9 |
| 13. | Procedure for Nominations by Stockholders | 9 |
| 14. | Compliance with Procedures | 11 |
| 15. | Submission of Questionnaire; Representation and Agreement | 12 |
| 16. | Proxy Access | 12 |
Article III Officers | 19 |
| 1. | Election; Term of Office; Appointments | 19 |
| 2. | Removal and Resignation | 19 |
| 3. | Chair of the Board | 19 |
| 4. | President | 19 |
| 5. | Vice Presidents | 20 |
| 6. | Secretary | 20 |
| 7. | Treasurer | 20 |
| 8. | Controller | 20 |
Article IV Stock | 20 |
| 1. | Stock | 20 |
| 2. | Lost Certificates | 21 |
| 3. | Transfers of Stock | 21 |
| 4. | Holder of Record | 21 |
Article V Indemnification and Severance | 21 |
| 1. | Right to Indemnification | 21 |
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| 2. | Prepayment of Expenses | 22 |
| 3. | Claims | 22 |
| 4. | Nonexclusivity of Rights | 22 |
| 5. | Other Indemnification | 22 |
| 6. | Amendment or Repeal | 22 |
| 7. | Severance | 22 |
Article VI Miscellaneous | 23 |
| 1. | Delaware Office | 23 |
| 2. | Other Offices | 23 |
| 3. | Seal | 23 |
| 4. | Notice | 23 |
| 5. | Amendments | 23 |
| 6. | Form of Records | 23 |
| 7. | Checks | 24 |
| 8. | Fiscal Year | 24 |
BY-LAWS OF PFIZER INC.
AS AMENDED December 9, 2022
Article I
Stockholders' Meeting.
1.Place of Meeting. Meetings of the stockholders shall be held at the registered office of the Corporation in Delaware, or at such other place within or without the State of Delaware as may be designated by the Board of Directors or the stockholders.
2.Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held on such date and at such time and place as the Board of Directors may designate. The date, place and time of the annual meeting shall be stated in the notice of such meeting delivered to or mailed to stockholders. At such annual meeting the stockholders shall elect directors, in accordance with the requirements of the Certificate of Incorporation, and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
3.Quorum. The holders of stock representing a majority of the voting power of all shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, shall be requisite for and shall constitute a quorum of all meetings of the stockholders, except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws. If a quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the meeting may be adjourned from time to time by the vote of holders of stock representing a majority of the voting power of all shares present or represented at the meeting or by the chair of the meeting, in the manner provided in paragraph 4 of Article I of these By-laws, until a quorum shall be present or represented.
4.Adjournments; Postponement. In the absence of a quorum, holders of stock representing a majority of the voting power of all shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting, or the chair of the meeting, may adjourn any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, from time to time, to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. Furthermore, after the meeting has been duly organized, the chair of the meeting may adjourn any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, from time to time, to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty 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 of record entitled to vote at the meeting. Any previously scheduled meeting of stockholders may be postponed by the Board of Directors prior to the date previously scheduled for such meeting and the Corporation shall publicly announce such postponement.
5.Voting; Proxies. At each meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, every stockholder having the right to vote may authorize another person to act for him or her by proxy. Such authorization must be in writing and executed by the stockholder or his or her authorized officer, director, employee, or agent. To the extent permitted by law, a stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for him or her as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of an electronic transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission provided that the electronic transmission either sets forth or is submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder. A copy, facsimile transmission or other reliable reproduction of a writing or transmission authorized by this paragraph 5 of Article I may be substituted for or used in lieu of the original writing or electronic transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile transmission or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission. No proxy authorized hereby shall be voted or acted upon more than three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. No ballot, proxies or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes thereto shall be accepted after the time set for the closing of the polls pursuant to paragraph 11 of Article I of these By-laws unless the Court of Chancery upon application of a stockholder shall determine otherwise. Each proxy shall be delivered to the inspectors of election prior to or at the meeting. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or by filing a subsequent duly executed proxy with the Secretary of the Corporation. The vote for directors shall be by ballot. Unless a greater number of affirmative votes is required by the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-laws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or as otherwise required by law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Corporation, if a quorum exists at any meeting of stockholders, stockholders shall have approved any matter, other than the election of directors, if the votes cast by stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter in favor of such matter exceed the votes cast by such stockholders against such matter. A nominee for director shall be elected to the Board of Directors if the votes cast for such nominee's election exceed the votes cast against such nominee's election; provided, however, that directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at any meeting of stockholders for which the Secretary of the Corporation determines that the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected as of the record date for such meeting. If directors are to be elected by a plurality of the votes cast, stockholders shall not be permitted to vote against a nominee.
6.Notice. Written notice of an annual or special meeting shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat, not less than ten nor more than sixty days prior to the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his or her address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.
7.Inspectors of Election. The Corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting and make a written
report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. In the event that no inspector so appointed or designated is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. 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 with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspector or inspectors so appointed or designated shall (i) ascertain the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each such share, (ii) determine the shares of capital stock of the Corporation present or represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors, and (v) certify their determination of the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation present or represented at the meeting and such inspectors' count of all votes and ballots. Such certification shall specify such other information as may be required by law. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.
8.List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. At least ten days before every meeting of the stockholders a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at said meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, with the post office address of each, and the number of shares held by each, shall be prepared by the Secretary. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours at the Corporation’s headquarters or on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, and shall be produced and kept at the time and place of meeting during the whole time thereof and subject to the inspection of any stockholder who may be present. The original or duplicate stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders or to vote in person or by proxy at such meeting.
9.Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called by the Chair of the Board, and shall be called by the Chair of the Board or the Secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the Board of Directors or one or more record holders of shares of stock of the Corporation representing in the aggregate not less than ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares of stock entitled to vote on the matter or matters to be brought before the proposed special meeting. A stockholder request for a special meeting shall be directed to the Secretary and shall be signed by each stockholder, or a duly authorized agent of such stockholder, requesting the special meeting and shall be accompanied by a notice setting forth the information required by paragraph 13 of this Article or paragraph 13 of Article II of these By-laws, as applicable, as to any nominations proposed to be presented and any other business proposed to be conducted at such special meeting and as to the stockholder(s) requesting the special meeting, as well as the written questionnaire and written representation and agreement required by paragraph 15 of Article II of these By-laws from any nominee for election as a director of the Corporation. A special meeting requested by stockholders shall be held at such date, time and place within or without the state of Delaware as may be designated by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the date of any such special meeting shall be not more than ninety (90) days after the request to call the special meeting by one or more stockholders who satisfy the
requirements of this paragraph 9 of Article I is received by the Secretary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a special meeting requested by stockholders shall not be held if: (i) the stated business to be brought before the special meeting is not a proper subject for stockholder action under applicable law, or (ii) the Board of Directors has called or calls for an annual meeting of stockholders to be held within ninety (90) days after the Secretary receives the request for the special meeting and the Board of Directors determines in good faith that the business of such annual meeting includes (among any other matters properly brought before the annual meeting) the business specified in the stockholder's request. A stockholder may revoke a request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to the Secretary, and if, following such revocation, there are un-revoked requests from stockholders holding in the aggregate less than the requisite number of shares entitling the stockholders to request the calling of a special meeting, the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may cancel the special meeting. If none of the stockholders who submitted the request for a special meeting appears or sends a qualified representative to present the nominations proposed to be presented or other business proposed to be conducted at the special meeting, the Corporation need not present such nominations or other business for a vote at such meeting. Business transacted at all special meetings shall be confined to the matters stated in the notice of special meeting. Business transacted at a special meeting requested by stockholders shall be limited to the matters described in the special meeting request; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit the Board of Directors from submitting matters to the stockholders at any special meeting requested by stockholders. The chair of a special meeting shall determine all matters relating to the conduct of the meeting, including, but not limited to, determining whether any nomination or other item of business has been properly brought before the meeting in accordance with these By-laws, and if the chair should so determine and declare that any nomination or other item of business has not been properly brought before the special meeting, then such business shall not be transacted at such meeting.
10.Organization. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chair of the Board, if any, or in his or her absence by a chair designated by the Board of Directors, or in the absence of such designation by a chair chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chair of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
11.Conduct of Meetings. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at such meeting by the person presiding over the meeting. The Board of Directors of the Corporation may adopt by resolution such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chair 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 chair, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chair of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (1) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (2) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (3) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting, to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chair shall permit; (4) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (5) limitations on the time allotted to
questions or comments by participants. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chair of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with rules of parliamentary procedure.
12.Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of the stockholders or any adjournment thereof, 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 a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and which record date: (1) in the case of determination of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders or adjournment thereof, shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting; and (2) in the case of any other action, shall not be more than sixty days prior to such other action. If no record date is fixed: (a) the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the date next preceding the day on which the meeting is held; and (b) the record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the of Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto. 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.
13.Notice of Stockholder Proposal. At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting business must be: (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (b) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (c) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder. For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder (other than the nomination of a person for election as a director, which is governed by paragraphs 13, 14, 15 and 16 of Article II of these By-laws), the stockholder intending to propose the business (the "Proponent") must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a Proponent's notice must be delivered to or mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days in advance of the anniversary of the previous year's annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within 25 days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder in order to be timely must be so received no later than the close of business on the 10th day following the date on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or the public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting was made, whichever first occurs. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of the annual meeting, or the public announcement of such an adjournment or postponement, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder's notice as described above. (For purposes of these By-laws, public disclosure shall be deemed to include a disclosure made in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Services, Associated Press or a comparable national news service or in a document filed by the Corporation with the Securities
and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")). To be in proper written form, a Proponent's notice to the Secretary must set forth: (a) as to each matter the Proponent proposes to bring before the annual meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, if such business includes a proposal to amend the By-laws, the text of the proposed amendment) and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, and (b) as to the Proponent and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is being made, (i) the name and address of each such person, and of any holder of record of the Proponent's shares as they appear on the Corporation's books, (ii) the class and number of all shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned by each such person (beneficially and of record) and owned by any holder of record of each such person's shares, as of the date of the Proponent's notice, and a representation that the Proponent will notify the Corporation in writing of the class and number of such shares owned of record and beneficially by each such person as of the record date for the meeting not later than five business days following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, (iii) any material interest of each such person, or any affiliates or associates of each such person, in such business, (iv) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to such business between or among each such person and any of its affiliates or associates, and any others (including their names) acting in concert with any of the foregoing, and a representation that the Proponent will notify the Corporation in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting not later than five business days following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, (v) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative instruments, swaps, warrants, short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, borrowed or loaned shares or other transactions) that has been entered into as of the date of the Proponent's notice by, or on behalf of, each such person or any of its affiliates or associates, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of each such person or any of its affiliates or associates with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation, and a representation that the Proponent will notify the Corporation in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting not later than five business days following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, (vi) a representation that the Proponent is a holder of record or beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at the annual meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business, (vii) a representation whether the Proponent intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation's outstanding shares required to approve the proposal and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of the proposal, and (viii) any other information relating to each such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies by each such person with respect to the proposed business to be brought by each such person before the annual meeting pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
14.Compliance with Procedures. Notwithstanding anything in these By-laws to the contrary: (a) no business shall be conducted at any annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in paragraph 13 of this Article I, and (b) unless otherwise required
by law, if a Proponent intending to propose business at an annual meeting pursuant to paragraph 13 of this Article I does not provide the information required under paragraph 13 to the Corporation (including providing the updated information required by clauses (b)(ii), (b)(iv) and (b)(v) of paragraph 13 by the deadlines specified therein), or the Proponent (or a qualified representative of the Proponent) does not appear at the meeting to present the proposed business, such business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such business may have been received by the Corporation. The chair of the annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 13 of this Article I, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted. Nothing contained in paragraphs 13 and 14 of this Article I shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation's proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act (or any successor provision of law).
Article II
Directors.
1.Number; Election; Term. The number of directors which shall constitute the whole Board shall not be less than ten, nor more than twenty-four, the exact number within said limits to be fixed from time to time solely by resolution of the Board, acting by the vote of not less than a majority of the directors then in office. A majority of the directors shall consist of persons who are not employees of the Corporation or of any subsidiary of the Corporation. Should the death, resignation or other removal of any non employee director result in the failure of the requirement set forth in the preceding sentence to be met, such requirement shall not apply during the time of the vacancy caused by the death, resignation or removal of any such non employee director. The remaining directors of the Corporation shall cause any such vacancy to be filled in accordance with these By-laws within a reasonable period of time. At the annual meeting or a special meeting at which directors are to be elected in accordance with the Corporation's notice of meeting, directors shall be elected in accordance with the requirements of these By-laws and the Certificate of Incorporation.
2.Place of Meetings; Records. The directors may hold their meetings and keep the books of the Corporation outside of the State of Delaware at such places as they may from time to time determine.
3.Vacancies. Subject to the rights of the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, if the office of any director becomes vacant for any reason or any new directorship is created by any increase in the authorized number of directors, a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, may choose a successor or successors or fill the newly created directorship. Any director so chosen shall hold office until the next annual election and until his successor shall be elected and qualified.
4.Organizational Meeting. The Board of Directors shall meet for the purpose of organization, the election of officers and the transaction of other business, after each annual election of directors on the day and at the place of the next regular meeting of the Board. Notice
of such meeting need not be given. Such meeting may be held at any other time or place which shall be specified in a notice given as hereinafter provided for special meetings of the Board of Directors or in a consent and waiver of notice thereof signed by all of the directors.
5.Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such time and place either within or without the State of Delaware as shall from time to time be determined by the Board.
6.Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chair of the Board, a Vice Chair of the Board or the President by the mailing of notice to each director at least 48 hours before the meeting or by notifying each director of the meeting at least 24 hours prior thereto either personally, by telephone or by electronic transmission; special meetings shall be called on like notice by the Chair of the Board, a Vice Chair of the Board, the President or, on the written request of any two directors, by the Secretary.
7.Quorum. At all meetings of the Board the presence of one third of the total number of directors determined by resolution pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article II to constitute the Board of Directors shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws.
8.Executive Committee. There shall be an Executive Committee of three or more directors elected by a majority of the Board. The Committee shall be composed of the Chief Executive Officer, the President, and such other directors as the Board shall elect. The Board, by resolution, may designate one or more directors as alternate members of the Committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the Committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of the Committee, the member or members present at any meeting of the Committee and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. The ratio of inside directors to outside directors serving on the Committee shall, to the extent feasible, be as near as possible to the ratio of inside directors to outside directors serving on the full Board. A quorum shall be a majority of the members of the Committee. Regular meetings of the Committee shall be held without notice at such time and place as shall from time to time be determined by the Committee; special meetings of the Committee may be called pursuant to the rules determined by the Committee. The Committee shall generally perform such duties and exercise such powers as may be directed or delegated by the Board of Directors from time to time. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Committee shall have authority to exercise all the powers of the Board while the Board is not in session. The act of a majority of the Committee members present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Committee except as may be otherwise specifically provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws. The Committee shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board at its next regular meeting.
9.Additional Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more additional committees, each committee to
consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. In the event that the Board shall designate a committee that shall have the power to recommend changes in the compensation of senior management of the Corporation and/or a committee that shall have the power to recommend nominees for election as directors of the Corporation, the membership of such committees shall consist solely of directors who are not employees of the Corporation or of any subsidiary of the Corporation. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any such additional committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Any such committee shall have such powers as are granted to it by the resolution of the Board or by subsequent resolutions passed by a majority of the whole Board. Nothing herein shall limit the authority of the Board of Directors to appoint other committees consisting in whole or in part of persons who are not directors of the Corporation to carry out such functions as the Board may designate. Unless otherwise provided for in any resolution of the Board of Directors designating a committee pursuant to this paragraph 9 of Article II: (i) a quorum for the transaction of business of such committee shall be fifty percent or more of the authorized number of members of such committee; and (ii) the act of a majority of the members of such committee present at any meeting of such committee at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the committee (except as otherwise specifically provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws).
10.Presence at Meeting. Members of the Board of Directors or any committee designated by such Board may participate in the meeting of said Board or committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons in the meeting can hear each other and participate. The ability to participate in a meeting in the above manner shall constitute presence at said meeting for purposes of a quorum and any action thereat.
11.Action Without Meetings. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee designated by such Board may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board or committee consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board or committee.
12.Eligibility to Make Nominations. Nominations of candidates for election as directors at an annual meeting of stockholders or a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation's notice of meeting (an "Election Meeting") may be made (1) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (2) by any stockholder entitled to vote at such Election Meeting who complies with the procedures established by paragraph 13 of this Article II and with the requirements of Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act, or (3) in the case of an annual meeting of stockholders, by any stockholder (or group of stockholders) who meets the requirements of and complies with the procedures established by paragraph 16 of this Article II; provided, however, that nothing in these By-laws shall be deemed to limit any class voting rights upon the occurrence of dividend arrearages provided to holders of Preferred Stock. In order to be eligible for election as a director, any director nominee must first be nominated in accordance with the provisions of these By-laws.
13.Procedure for Nominations by Stockholders. In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination to be made by a stockholder pursuant to this paragraph
13, such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, such notice must be delivered to or mailed and received by the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (1) with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days in advance of the anniversary of the previous year's annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within 25 days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder in order to be timely must be so received no later than the close of business on the 10th day following the date on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or the public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting was made, whichever first occurs; and (2) with respect to a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation's notice of meeting, by the close of business on the 10th day following the date on which such notice of the date of the special meeting was mailed or the public disclosure of the date of the special meeting was made, whichever first occurs. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of the annual meeting or a special meeting called for the purpose of electing directors, or the public announcement of such an adjournment or postponement, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder's notice as described above. To be in proper written form, the notice of the stockholder intending to make the nomination (the "Proponent") shall set forth: (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as director (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of such person, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of such person, (iii) the class and number of all shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned of record and beneficially by such person, (iv) a statement whether each such nominee, if elected, intends to tender, promptly following such person's failure to receive the required vote for election or reelection at the next meeting at which such person would face election or reelection, an irrevocable resignation effective upon acceptance of such resignation by the Board of Directors, in accordance with the Corporation's Corporate Governance Principles, (v) as an appendix, a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by paragraph 15 of this Article II, and (vi) any other information relating to such nominee that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies for election as directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (b) as to the Proponent and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made: (i) the name and address of each such person, and of any holder of record of the Proponent's shares as they appear on the Corporation's books, (ii) the class and number of all shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned by each such person (beneficially and of record) and owned by any holder of record of each such person's shares, as of the date of the Proponent's notice, and a representation that the Proponent will notify the Corporation in writing of the class and number of such shares owned of record and beneficially by each such person as of the record date for the meeting not later than five business days following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, (iii) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to such nomination between or among each such person and any of its affiliates or associates, and any others (including their names) acting in concert with any of the foregoing, and a representation that the Proponent will notify the Corporation in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting not later than five business days following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first
publicly disclosed, (iv) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative instruments, swaps, warrants, short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, borrowed or loaned shares or other transactions) that has been entered into as of the date of the Proponent's notice by, or on behalf of, each such person or any of its affiliates or associates, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of each such person or any of its affiliates or associates with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation, and a representation that the Proponent will notify the Corporation in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting not later than five business days following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, (v) a representation that the Proponent is a holder of record or beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice, (vi) a representation that the Proponent intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders representing at least 67% of the voting power of the Corporation's outstanding capital stock entitled to vote in the election of directors, and (vii) any other information relating to each such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies for election as directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (c) all other information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act. Such notice must be accompanied by a written consent of each proposed nominee to being named as a nominee in any proxy statement relating to the annual meeting or special meeting, as applicable, and to serve as a director if elected. In addition to the information required pursuant to this paragraph or any other provision of these By-laws, the Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish any other information (a) that may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine whether the proposed nominee would be independent under the rules and listing standards of the principal United States securities exchanges upon which the stock of the Corporation is listed or traded, any applicable rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in determining and disclosing the independence of the Corporation’s directors (collectively, the "Independence Standards"), (b) that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee, or (c) that may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation. Further, the Proponent shall provide evidence that the Proponent has solicited proxies from holders representing at least 67% of the voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock entitled to vote in the election of directors, which evidence shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation not later than five business days after the Proponent files a definitive proxy statement in connection with the annual meeting or special meeting, as applicable.
14.Compliance with Procedures. If the chair of the Election Meeting determines that a nomination of any candidate for election as a director was not made in accordance with the applicable provisions of these By-laws, or that the solicitation in support of nominees other than the Board of Directors’ nominees was not conducted in compliance with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act, such nomination shall be void. Notwithstanding anything in these By-laws to the contrary, unless otherwise required by law, if a Proponent intending to make a nomination at an annual or special meeting pursuant to paragraph 13 of this Article II does not provide the information required under paragraph 13 to the Corporation (including providing the updated
information required by clauses (b)(ii), (b)(iii) and (b)(iv) of paragraph 13 and the evidence required by the last sentence of paragraph 13, in each case by the deadlines specified therein), or does not conduct a solicitation in accordance with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act, or the Proponent (or a qualified representative of the Proponent) does not appear at the meeting to present the nomination, such nomination shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such nomination may have been received by the Corporation.
15.Submission of Questionnaire; Representation and Agreement. To be eligible to be a nominee for election or reelection as a director of the Corporation, a person must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under paragraph 13 or paragraph 16 of this Article II of these By-laws, as applicable) to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such person and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request) and a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such person (i) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question that has not been disclosed to the Corporation, (ii) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed therein, and (iii) in such person's individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with, applicable law and all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, corporate opportunities, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation.
16.Proxy Access.
(a)Information to be Included in the Corporation’s Proxy Materials. Whenever the Board of Directors solicits proxies with respect to the election of directors at an annual meeting of stockholders (following the 2016 annual meeting of stockholders), subject to the provisions of this paragraph 16, the Corporation shall include in its proxy statement for such annual meeting, in addition to any persons nominated for election by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, the name, together with the Required Information (as defined below), of any person nominated for election (a “Stockholder Nominee”) to the Board of Directors by an Eligible Stockholder (as defined in subparagraph 16(d)) who expressly elects at the time of providing the notice required by this paragraph 16 to have such nominee included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this paragraph 16. For purposes of this paragraph 16, the “Required Information” that the Corporation will include in its proxy statement is (i) the formation provided to the Secretary of the Corporation concerning the Stockholder Nominee and the Eligible Stockholder that is required to be disclosed in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (ii) if the Eligible Stockholder so elects, a Supporting Statement (as defined in subparagraph 16(h)). For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this paragraph 16 shall limit the Corporation’s ability to solicit
against any Stockholder Nominee or include in its proxy materials the Corporation’s own statements or other information relating to any Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee, including any information provided to the Corporation pursuant to this paragraph 16. Subject to the provisions of this paragraph 16, the name of any Stockholder Nominee included in the Corporation’s proxy statement for an annual meeting of stockholders shall also be set forth on the form of proxy distributed by the Corporation in connection with such annual meeting.
(b)Notice Period. In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination to be made by an Eligible Stockholder pursuant to this paragraph 16, the Eligible Stockholder must have given timely notice thereof (the “Notice of Proxy Access Nomination”) in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination must be delivered to or be mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less 120 days nor more than 150 days in advance of the anniversary of the date that the Corporation first distributed its proxy statement to stockholders for the previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of the annual meeting, or the public announcement of such an adjournment or postponement, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Notice of Proxy Access Nomination pursuant to this paragraph 16.
(c)Permitted Number of Stockholder Nominees. The maximum number of Stockholder Nominees nominated by all Eligible Stockholders that will be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders shall not exceed the greater of (x) two or (y) 20% of the number of directors in office as of the last day on which a Notice of Proxy Access Nomination may be delivered pursuant to and in accordance with this paragraph 16 (the “Final Proxy Access Nomination Date”) or, if such amount is not a whole number, the closest whole number below 20% (such number, as it may be adjusted pursuant to this subparagraph 16(c)), the “Permitted Number”). In the event that one or more vacancies for any reason occurs on the Board of Directors after the Final Proxy Access Nomination Date but before the date of the annual meeting and the Board of Directors resolves to reduce the size of the Board of Directors in connection therewith, the Permitted Number shall be calculated based on the number of directors in office as so reduced. In addition, the Permitted Number shall be reduced by (i) the number of individuals who will be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials as nominees recommended by the Board of Directors pursuant to an agreement, arrangement or other understanding with a stockholder or group of stockholders (other than any such agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into in connection with an acquisition of stock from the Corporation by such stockholder or group of stockholders) and (ii) the number of directors in office as of the Final Proxy Access Nomination Date who were included in the Corporation’s proxy materials as Stockholder Nominees for any of the two preceding annual meetings of stockholders (including any persons counted as Stockholder Nominees pursuant to the immediately succeeding sentence) and whom the Board of Directors decides to nominate for re-election to the Board of Directors. For purposes of determining when the Permitted Number has been reached, any individual nominated by an Eligible Stockholder for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this paragraph 16 whose nomination is subsequently withdrawn or whom the Board of Directors decides to nominate for election to the Board of Directors shall be counted as one of the Stockholder Nominees. Any Eligible Stockholder submitting more than one Stockholder Nominee for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this paragraph 16 shall rank such Stockholder Nominees based on the order
in which the Eligible Stockholder desires such Stockholder Nominees to be selected for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials in the event that the total number of Stockholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Stockholders pursuant to this paragraph 16 exceeds the Permitted Number. In the event that the number of Stockholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Stockholders pursuant to this paragraph 16 exceeds the Permitted Number, the highest ranking Stockholder Nominee who meets the requirements of this paragraph 16 from each Eligible Stockholder will be selected for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials until the Permitted Number is reached, going in order of the amount (largest to smallest) of shares of stock of the Corporation each Eligible Stockholder disclosed as owned in its Notice of Proxy Access Nomination. If the Permitted Number is not reached after the highest ranking Stockholder Nominee who meets the requirements of this paragraph 16 from each Eligible Stockholder has been selected, then the next highest ranking Stockholder Nominee who meets the requirements of this paragraph 16 from each Eligible Stockholder will be selected for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials, and this process will continue as many times as necessary, following the same order each time, until the Permitted Number is reached. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this paragraph 16, the Corporation shall not be required to include any Stockholder Nominees in its proxy materials pursuant to this paragraph 16 for or any meeting of stockholders for which the Secretary of the Corporation receives notice that a stockholder intends to nominate one or more persons for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to the advance notice requirements for stockholder nominees set forth in paragraph 13 of this Article II.
(d)Eligible Stockholder. An “Eligible Stockholder” is a stockholder or group of no more than 20 stockholders (counting as one stockholder, for this purpose, any two or more funds that are part of the same Qualifying Fund Group (as defined below)) that (i) has owned (as defined in subparagraph 16(e)) continuously for at least three years (the “Minimum Holding Period”) a number of shares of stock of the Corporation that represents at least three percent of the voting power of all shares of stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote in the election of directors as of the date the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination is received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation in accordance with this paragraph 16 (the “Required Shares”), (ii) continues to own the Required Shares through the date of the annual meeting and (iii) satisfies all other requirements of, and complies with all applicable procedures set forth in, this paragraph 16. A “Qualifying Fund Group” means two or more funds that are (A) under common management and investment control, (B) under common management and funded primarily by the same employer or (C) a “group of investment companies” as such term is defined in Section 12(d)(1)(G)(ii) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Whenever the Eligible Stockholder consists of a group of stockholders (including a group of funds that are part of the same Qualifying Fund Group), (x) each provision in this paragraph 16 that requires the Eligible Stockholder to provide any written statements, representations, undertakings, agreements or other instruments or to meet any other conditions shall be deemed to require each stockholder (including each individual fund) that is a member of such group to provide such statements, representations, undertakings, agreements or other instruments and to meet such other conditions (except that the members of such group may aggregate the shares that each member has owned continuously for the Minimum Holding Period in order to meet the three percent ownership requirement of the “Required Shares” definition) and (y) a breach of any obligation, agreement or representation under this paragraph 16 by any member of such group shall be deemed a breach by the Eligible Stockholder. No person may be
a member of more than one group of stockholders constituting an Eligible Stockholder with respect to any annual meeting.
(e)Definition of Ownership. For purposes of this paragraph 16, an Eligible Stockholder shall be deemed to “own” only those outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation as to which the stockholder possesses both (i) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares and (ii) the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit from and risk of loss on) such shares; provided that the number of shares calculated in accordance with clauses (i) and (ii) shall not include any shares (x) sold by such stockholder or any of its affiliates in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, (y) borrowed by such stockholder or any of its affiliates for any purposes or purchased by such stockholder or any of its affiliates pursuant to an agreement to resell or (z) subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale, other derivative or similar instrument or agreement entered into by such stockholder or any of its affiliates, whether any such instrument or agreement is to be settled with shares or with cash based on the notional amount or value of shares of outstanding stock of the Corporation, in any such case which instrument or agreement has, or is intended to have, the purpose or effect of (1) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such stockholder’s or its affiliates’ full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares and/or (2) hedging, offsetting or altering to any degree any gain or loss realized or realizable from maintaining the full economic ownership of such shares by such stockholder or affiliate. A stockholder shall “own” shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the stockholder retains the right to instruct how the shares are voted with respect to the election of directors and possesses the full economic interest in the shares. A stockholder’s ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which (i) the stockholder has loaned such shares, provided that the stockholder has the power to recall such loaned shares on five business days’ notice and includes in the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination an agreement that it (A) will promptly recall such loaned shares upon being notified that any of its Stockholder Nominees will be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials and (B) will continue to hold such recalled shares through the date of the annual meeting or (ii) the stockholder has delegated any voting power by means of a proxy, power of attorney or other instrument or arrangement which is revocable at any time by the stockholder. The terms “owned,” “owning” and other variations of the word “own” shall have correlative meanings. Whether outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation are “owned” for these purposes shall be determined by the Board of Directors. For purposes of this paragraph 16, the term “affiliate” or “affiliates” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto under the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.
(f)Form of Notice. To be in proper written form, the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination must include or be accompanied by the following:
(i)a written statement by the Eligible Stockholder certifying as to the number of shares it owns and has owned continuously for the Minimum Holding Period, and the Eligible Stockholder’s agreement to provide (A) within five business days following the later of the record date for the annual meeting or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, a written statement by the Eligible Stockholder certifying as to the number of shares it owns and has owned continuously through the record date and (B) immediate notice if the Eligible Stockholder ceases to own any of the Required Shares prior to the date of the annual meeting;
(ii)one or more written statements from the record holder of the Required Shares (and from each intermediary through which the Required Shares are or have been held during the Minimum Holding Period) verifying that, as of a date within seven calendar days prior to the date the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination is delivered to or mailed and received by the Secretary of the Corporation, the Eligible Stockholder owns, and has owned continuously for the Minimum Holding Period, the Required Shares, and the Eligible Stockholder’s agreement to provide, within five business days following the later of the record date for the annual meeting or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, one or more written statements from the record holder and such intermediaries verifying the Eligible Stockholder’s continuous ownership of the Required Shares through the record date;
(iii)a copy of the Schedule 14N that has been or is concurrently being filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission as required by Rule 14a-18 under the Exchange Act;
(iv)the information, statements, representations, agreements and other documents that would be required to be set forth in or included with a stockholder’s notice of a nomination pursuant to paragraph 13 of this Article II, together with the written consent of each Stockholder Nominee to being named as a nominee in any proxy statement relating to the annual meeting and to serve as a director if elected;
(v)a representation that the Eligible Stockholder (A) will continue to hold the Required Shares through the date of the annual meeting, (B) acquired the Required Shares in the ordinary course of business and not with the intent to change or influence control of the Corporation, and does not presently have such intent, (C) has not nominated and will not nominate for election to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting any person other than the Stockholder Nominee(s) it is nominating pursuant to this paragraph 16, (D) has not engaged and will not engage in, and has not and will not be a “participant” in another person’s, “solicitation” within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the Exchange Act in support of the election of any individual as a director at the annual meeting other than its Stockholder Nominee(s) or a nominee of the Board of Directors, (E) has not distributed and will not distribute to any stockholder of the Corporation any form of proxy for the annual meeting other than the form distributed by the Corporation, (F) has complied and will comply with all laws and regulations applicable to solicitations and the use, if any, of soliciting material in connection with the annual meeting and (G) has provided and will provide facts, statements and other information in all communications with the Corporation and its stockholders that are or will be true and correct in all material respects and do not and will not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(vi)a statement indicating whether the Eligible Stockholder intends to continue to own the Required Shares for at least one year following the annual meeting;
(vii)an undertaking that the Eligible Stockholder agrees to (A) assume all liability stemming from any legal or regulatory violation arising out of the Eligible Stockholder’s communications with the stockholders of the Corporation or out of the information that the Eligible Stockholder provided to the Corporation, (B) indemnify and hold harmless the
Corporation and each of its directors, officers and employees individually against any liability, loss or damages in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether legal, administrative or investigative, against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers or employees arising out of any nomination submitted by the Eligible Stockholder pursuant to this paragraph 16 or any solicitation or other activity in connection therewith and (C) file with the Securities and Exchange Commission any solicitation or other communication with the stockholders of the Corporation relating to the meeting at which its Stockholder Nominee(s) will be nominated, regardless of whether any such filing is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act or whether any exemption from filing is available for such solicitation or other communication under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act;
(viii)in the case of a nomination by a group of stockholders together constituting an Eligible Stockholder, the designation by all group members of one member of the group that is authorized to receive communications, notices and inquiries from the Corporation and to act on behalf of all members of the group with respect to all matters relating to the nomination under this paragraph 16 (including withdrawal of the nomination); and
(ix)in the case of a nomination by a group of stockholders together constituting an Eligible Stockholder in which two or more funds that are part of the same Qualifying Fund Group are counted as one stockholder for purposes of qualifying as an Eligible Stockholder, documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation that demonstrates that the funds are part of the same Qualifying Fund Group.
(g)Additional Required Information. In addition to the information required pursuant to subparagraph 16(f) or any other provision of these By-laws, (i) the Corporation may require any proposed Stockholder Nominee to furnish any other information (A) that may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine whether the Stockholder Nominee would be independent under the Independence Standards, (B) that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such Stockholder Nominee or (C) that may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such Stockholder Nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation, and (ii) the Corporation may require the Eligible Stockholder to furnish any other information that may reasonably be required by the Corporation to verify the Eligible Stockholder’s continuous ownership of the Required Shares for the Minimum Holding Period.
(h)Supporting Statement. The Eligible Stockholder may, at its option, provide to the Secretary of the Corporation, at the time the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination is provided, a written statement, not to exceed 500 words, in support of the Stockholder Nominee(s)’ candidacy (a “Supporting Statement”). Only one Supporting Statement may be submitted by an Eligible Stockholder (including any group of stockholders together constituting an Eligible Stockholder) in support of its Stockholder Nominee(s). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this paragraph 16, the Corporation may omit from its proxy materials any information or Supporting Statement (or portion thereof) that it, in good faith, believes would violate any applicable law or regulation.
(i)Correction of Defects. In the event that any information or communications provided by an Eligible Stockholder or a Stockholder Nominee to the Corporation or its
stockholders ceases to be true and correct in all material respects or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, such Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the Secretary of the Corporation of any defect in such previously provided information and of the information that is required to correct any such defect; it being understood that providing such notification shall not be deemed to cure any such defect or limit the remedies available to the Corporation relating to any such defect (including the right to omit a Stockholder Nominee from its proxy materials pursuant to this paragraph 16).
(j)Stockholder Nominee Eligibility. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this paragraph 16, the Corporation shall not be required to include in its proxy materials, pursuant to this paragraph 16, any Stockholder Nominee (i) who would not be an independent director under the Independence Standards, (ii) whose election as a member of the Board of Directors would cause the Corporation to be in violation of these By-laws, the Certificate of Incorporation, the rules and listing standards of the principal United States securities exchanges upon which the stock of the Corporation is listed or traded, or any applicable state or federal law, rule or regulation, (iii) who is or has been, within the past three years, an officer or director of a competitor, as defined in Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, (iv) who is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses) or has been convicted in such a criminal proceeding within the past ten years, (v) who is subject to any order of the type specified in Rule 506(d) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or (vi) who shall have provided any information to the Corporation or its stockholders that was untrue in any material respect or that omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
(k)Invalid Nominations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, if (i) a Stockholder Nominee and/or the applicable Eligible Stockholder breaches any of its agreements or representations or fails to comply with any of its obligations under this paragraph 16 or (ii) a Stockholder Nominee otherwise becomes ineligible for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this paragraph 16 or dies, becomes disabled or otherwise becomes ineligible or unavailable for election at the annual meeting, in each case as determined by the Board of Directors or the chair of the annual meeting, (x) the Corporation may omit or, to the extent feasible, remove the information concerning such Stockholder Nominee and the related Supporting Statement from its proxy materials and/or otherwise communicate to its stockholders that such Stockholder Nominee will not be eligible for election at the annual meeting, (y) the Corporation shall not be required to include in its proxy materials any successor or replacement nominee proposed by the applicable Eligible Stockholder or any other Eligible Stockholder and (z) the Board of Directors or the chair of the annual meeting shall declare such nomination to be invalid and such nomination shall be disregarded notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. In addition, if the Eligible Stockholder (or a qualified representative thereof) does not appear at the annual meeting to present any nomination pursuant to this paragraph 16, such nomination shall be declared invalid and disregarded as provided in clause (z) above.
(l)Restrictions on Re-Nominations. Any Stockholder Nominee who is included in the Corporation’s proxy materials for a particular annual meeting of stockholders but either (i)
withdraws from or becomes ineligible or unavailable for election at the annual meeting, or (ii) does not receive at least 25% of the votes cast in favor of such Stockholder Nominee’s election, will be ineligible to be a Stockholder Nominee pursuant to this paragraph 16 for the next two annual meetings of stockholders. For the avoidance of doubt, the immediately preceding sentence shall not prevent any stockholder from nominating any person to the Board of Directors pursuant to and in accordance with paragraph 13 of this Article II.
(m) Exclusive Method. Other than Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act, this paragraph 16 provides the exclusive method for a stockholder to include nominees for election to the Board of Directors in the Corporation’s proxy materials.
Article III
Officers.
1.Election; Term of Office; Appointments. The Board of Directors, at its first meeting after each annual meeting of stockholders, shall elect at least the following officers: a Chair of the Board and/or a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Controller, a Treasurer and a Secretary. The Board may also elect, appoint, or provide for the appointment of such other officers and agents as may from time to time appear necessary or advisable in the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation. Such additional officers may include one or more Vice Chairmen, who shall not be Directors unless otherwise prescribed by the Board of Directors, and whose duties shall be to assist the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation in establishing and implementing overall corporate policy. The Corporate Secretary or any officer elected by the Board acting in conjunction with the Corporate Secretary may appoint such assistant officers (including one or more Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers) as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the Corporation. Officers of the Corporation shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualify in their stead or until their earlier death, resignation or removal, and shall perform such duties as from time to time shall be prescribed by these By-laws and by the Board and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices. The Board of Directors may fill any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation at any regular or special meeting. Two or more offices may be held by the same person.
2.Removal and Resignation. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee (or by delegated authority) may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole Board of Directors. If the office of any officer elected or appointed by the Board becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy may be filled by the Board. Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the Corporation.
3.Chair of the Board. The Chair of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the full Board of Directors. He or she shall perform such other duties, and exercise such powers, as from time to time shall be prescribed by these By-laws or by the Board of Directors.
4.President. The President, in the absence of the Chair of the Board or the Vice Chair, if any, shall preside at meetings of the Directors. He or she shall have such authority and
perform such duties in the management of the Corporation as from time to time shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors and, to the extent not so prescribed, he or she shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Corporation, subject to the control of the Board, as generally pertain to the office of President.
5.Vice Presidents. Vice Presidents shall perform such duties as from time to time shall be prescribed by these By-laws, by the Chair of the Board, by the President or by the Board of Directors, and except as otherwise prescribed by the Board of Directors, they shall have such powers and duties as generally pertain to the office of Vice President.
6.Secretary. The Secretary or person appointed as secretary at all meetings of the Board and of the stockholders shall record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose, and he or she shall perform like duties for the Executive Committee when required. He or she shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders, and of the Board of Directors if required. He or she shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by these By-laws or as may be assigned to him or her by the Chair of the Board, the President or the Board of Directors, and, except as otherwise prescribed by the Board of Directors, he or she shall have such powers and duties as generally pertain to the office of Secretary.
7.Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have custody of the Corporation's funds and securities. He or she shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by these By-laws or as may be assigned to him or her by the Chair of the Board, the President or the Board of Directors, and, except as otherwise prescribed by the Board of Directors, he or she shall have such powers and duties as generally pertain to the office of Treasurer.
8.Controller. The Controller shall have charge of the Corporation's books of account, and shall be responsible for the maintenance of adequate records of all assets, liabilities and financial transactions of the Corporation. The Controller shall prepare and render such balance sheets, profit and loss statements and other financial reports as the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board or the President may require. He or she shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by these By-laws or as may be assigned to him or her by the Chair of the Board, the President or the Board of Directors, and, except as otherwise prescribed by the Board of Directors, he or she shall have such powers and duties as generally pertain to the office of Controller.
Article IV
Stock.
1.Stock. The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates or shall be uncertificated. Each registered holder of shares, upon request to the Corporation, shall be provided with a certificate of stock representing the number of shares owned by such holder. The certificates of stock of the Corporation shall be in the form or forms from time to time approved by the Board of Directors. Such certificates shall be numbered and registered, shall exhibit the holder's name and the number of shares, and shall be signed in the name of the Corporation by the following officers of the Corporation: the Chair of the Board of Directors, or
the President or a Senior Vice President or Vice President; and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. If any certificate is manually signed (1) by a transfer agent other than the Corporation or its employee, or (2) by a registrar other than the Corporation or its employee, any other signature on the certificate, including those of the aforesaid officers of the Corporation, 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.
2.Lost Certificates. The Board of Directors or any officer of the Corporation to whom the Board of Directors has delegated authority may authorize any transfer agent of the Corporation to issue, and any registrar of the Corporation to register, at any time and from time to time unless otherwise directed, a new certificate or certificates of stock in the place of a certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation, alleged to have been lost or destroyed, upon receipt by the transfer agent of evidence of such loss or destruction, which may be the affidavit of the applicant; a bond indemnifying the Corporation and any transfer agent and registrar of the class of stock involved against claims that may be made against it or them on account of the lost or destroyed certificate or the issuance of a new certificate, of such kind and in such amount as the Board of Directors shall have authorized the transfer agent to accept generally or as the Board of Directors or an authorized officer shall approve in particular cases; and any other documents or instruments that the Board of Directors or an authorized officer may require from time to time to protect adequately the interest of the Corporation. A new certificate may be issued without requiring any bond when, in the judgment of the directors, it is proper to do so.
3.Transfers of Stock. Transfers of stock shall be made upon the books of the Corporation: (1) upon presentation of the certificates by the registered holder in person or by duly authorized attorney, or upon presentation of proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer the stock, and upon surrender of the appropriate certificate(s), or (2) in the case of uncertificated shares, upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered owner of such uncertificated shares, or from a duly authorized attorney or from an individual presenting proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer the stock.
4.Holder of Record. The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of stock as the holder in fact thereof and accordingly shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share on the part of any other person whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, save as expressly provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.
Article V
Indemnification and Severance.
1.Right to Indemnification. The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise
involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a "proceeding") by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, 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 or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, nonprofit entity, or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys' fees) reasonably incurred by such person. The Corporation shall be required to indemnify a person in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if the proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
2.Prepayment of Expenses. The Corporation shall pay the expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by an officer or director of the Corporation in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding in advance of its final disposition, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay all amounts advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified. Payment of such expenses incurred by former directors and officers, or by any other employees and agents of the Corporation, may be made by the Corporation, subject to such terms and conditions as the General Counsel in his or her discretion deems appropriate.
3.Claims. If a claim for indemnification or payment of expenses (including attorneys' fees) under this Article is not paid in full within sixty days after a written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation the claimant may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the claimant was not entitled to the requested indemnification or payment of expenses under applicable law.
4.Nonexclusivity of Rights. The right conferred on any person by this Article V shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
5.Other Indemnification. The corporation's obligation, if any, to indemnify any person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non profit entity shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, non profit entity, or other enterprise.
6.Amendment or Repeal. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article V shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
7.Severance. Any written agreement or any amendment of an existing written agreement that provides for payments to a director, officer or other employee of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation upon (i) a "change in control" of the Corporation or (ii) the termination or constructive termination of the employment of such director, officer, or other
employee following a "change in control" of the Corporation, must be approved by (a) the unanimous vote of the members of the committee of the Board of Directors which has the power to recommend changes in the compensation of the senior management of the Corporation, if any, and (b) a majority of the directors who are not employees of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation. For the purposes hereof, a "change of control" of the Corporation shall mean through (i) the accumulation by a person or group of related persons of 20% or more of the Company's outstanding, capital stock and/or (ii) a change in the composition of a majority of the Corporation's Board of Directors without the approval of the incumbent Board.
Article VI
Miscellaneous.
1.Delaware Office. The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware shall be at Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801 and the name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Trust Company.
2.Other Offices. The Corporation may also have an office in the City and State of New York, and such other offices at such places as the Board of Directors from time to time may appoint or the business of the Corporation may require.
3.Seal. The corporate seal shall be in the form adopted by the Board of Directors. Said seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise. The seal may be affixed by any officer of the Corporation to any instrument executed by authority of the Corporation, and the seal when so affixed may be attested by the signature of any officer of the Corporation.
4.Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, a written waiver signed by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting, is not lawfully called or convened.
5.Amendments. The Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation by the affirmative action of a majority of its members. The By-laws may be adopted, amended or repealed by the affirmative vote of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at any regular meeting of the stockholders or at any special meeting of the stockholders if notice of such proposed adoption, amendment or repeal be contained in the notice of such special meeting.
6.Form of Records. Any records maintained by the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account, and minutes books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device, or method provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time.
The Corporation shall so convert any records so kept upon the request of any person entitled to inspect the same.
7.Checks. All checks, drafts, notes and other orders for the payment of money shall be signed by such officer or officers or agents as from time to time may be designated by the Board of Directors or by such officers of the Corporation as may be designated by the Board to make such designation.
8.Fiscal Year. The fiscal year shall begin the first day of January in each year.