EX-3.2 2 d372431dex32.htm AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF UNIVERSAL INSURANCE HOLDINGS Amended and Restated Bylaws of Universal Insurance Holdings

Exhibit 3.2

BYLAWS OF UNIVERSAL INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.

AS AMENDED AND RESTATED THROUGH JUNE 15, 2017

 


INDEX

 

         Page
Number
 
ARTICLE ONE OFFICES      1  

Section 1.

 

Registered Office

     1  

Section 2.

 

Other Offices

     1  
ARTICLE TWO MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS      1  

Section 1.

 

Place

     1  

Section 2.

 

Annual Meeting

     1  

Section 3.

 

Special Meetings

     1  

Section 4.

 

Conduct of Meetings

     2  

Section 5.

 

Notice of Stockholders’ Meetings

     2  

Section 6.

 

Manner of Giving Notice; Affidavit of Notice

     2  

Section 7.

 

Business of Special Meeting

     2  

Section 8.

 

Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations

     2  

Section 9.

 

Quorum

     5  

Section 10.

 

Adjourned Meeting; Notice

     6  

Section 11.

 

Voting of Shares

     6  

Section 12.

 

Proxies

     7  

Section 13.

 

Stockholder List

     7  

Section 14.

 

Action Without Meeting

     7  

Section 15.

 

Fixing Record Date

     7  

Section 16.

 

Inspectors and Judges

     8  
ARTICLE THREE DIRECTORS      8  

Section 1.

 

Number, Election and Term

     8  

Section 2.

 

Resignation and Vacancies

     9  

Section 3.

 

Powers

     9  

Section 4.

 

Place of Meetings

     9  

Section 5.

 

Regular and Special Meetings

     9  

Section 6.

 

Notice of Meetings

     9  

Section 7.

 

Quorum and Required Vote

     10  

Section 8.

 

Action Without Meeting

     10  

Section 9.

 

Telephone Meetings

     10  

Section 10.

 

Committees

     10  

Section 11.

 

Compensation of Directors

     11  

Section 12.

 

Chairman of the Board

     11  
ARTICLE FOUR OFFICERS      11  

Section 1.

 

Positions

     11  

Section 2.

 

Election of Other Officers

     11  

Section 3.

 

Compensation

     12  

Section 4.

 

Chief Executive Officer

     12  

Section 5.

 

President

     12  

Section 6.

 

Vice Presidents

     12  

Section 7.

 

Secretary

     12  

Section 8.

 

Treasurer

     12  

Section 9.

 

Authority and Duty of Officers

     12  

 

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ARTICLE FIVE CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES      13  

Section 1.

 

Issue of Certificates

     13  

Section 2.

 

Facsimile Signatures

     13  

Section 3.

 

Lost Certificates

     13  

Section 4.

 

Transfer of Shares

     13  

Section 5.

 

Registered Stockholders

     13  
ARTICLE SIX GENERAL PROVISIONS      13  

Section 1.

 

Dividends

     13  

Section 2.

 

Reserves

     14  

Section 3.

 

Checks

     14  

Section 4.

 

Execution of Corporate Contracts and Instruments

     14  

Section 5.

 

Fiscal Year

     14  

Section 6.

 

Seal

     14  

Section 7.

 

Waiver of Notice

     14  
ARTICLE SEVEN NOTICE BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION      14  

Section 1.

 

Notice by Electronic Transmission

     14  

Section 2.

 

Definition of Electronic Transmission

     15  

Section 3.

 

Inapplicability

     15  
ARTICLE EIGHT AMENDMENTS OF BYLAWS      15  
ARTICLE NINE INDEMNIFICATION      15  

 

 

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UNIVERSAL INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.

BYLAWS

as amended and restated through June 15, 2017

ARTICLE ONE

OFFICES

Section 1. Registered Office. The registered office of Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), shall be located in the City of Wilmington, State of Delaware.

Section 2. Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such other places, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) may from time to time determine or as the business of the Corporation may require.

ARTICLE TWO

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. Place. All annual meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place, within or without the State of Delaware, as may be designated by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof. Special meetings of stockholders may be held at such place, within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof.

Section 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held each year on a date and at a time designated by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders 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 Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). In the absence of any such designation or determination, stockholders’ meetings shall be held at the Corporation’s principal executive office.

Section 3. Special Meetings. A special meeting of the stockholders may be called at any time by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or by the Secretary on the written request of the holders of not less than a majority of all the shares entitled to vote at that meeting.

If any person(s) other than the Board of Directors or Chief Executive Officer calls a special meeting, the request shall:

(a) be in writing;

(b) specify the time of such meeting and the general nature of the business proposed to be transacted; and

(c) be delivered personally or sent by registered mail or by facsimile transmission to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Secretary of the Corporation.

 


The officer(s) receiving the request shall cause notice to be promptly given to the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 and Section 6 of this Article Two, that a meeting will be held at the time requested by the person or persons calling the meeting. No business may be transacted at such special meeting otherwise than specified in such notice to stockholders. Nothing contained in this paragraph of this Section 3 shall be construed as limiting, fixing or affecting the time when a meeting of stockholders called by action of the Board of Directors may be held.

Section 4. Conduct of Meetings. The Chairman of the Board (or in his absence, the Chief Executive Officer or such other designee of the Chairman of the Board) shall preside at the annual and special meetings of stockholders and shall be given full discretion in establishing the rules and procedures to be followed in conducting the meetings, except as otherwise provided by law or in these Bylaws.

Section 5. Notice of Stockholders Meetings. All notices of meetings of stockholders shall be sent or otherwise given in accordance with Section 6 of this Article or Section 1 of Article Seven not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.

Section 6. Manner of Giving Notice; Affidavit of Notice.

Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be given:

(a) if mailed, when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his or her address as it appears on the Corporation’s records; or

(b) if electronically transmitted as provided in Section 1 of Article Seven.

An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or of the transfer agent or any other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given by mail, or by a form of electronic transmission, as applicable, shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

Section 7. Business of Special Meeting. Business transacted at any special meeting shall be confined to the purposes stated in the notice thereof.

Section 8. Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.

(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

(1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (A) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or (C) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 8 is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 8.

 

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(2) For any nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (C) of paragraph (a)(1) of this Section 8, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and any such proposed business (other than the nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors) must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the sixtieth (60th) day, nor earlier than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day, prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (provided; however, that in the event that (x) no annual meeting was held in the previous year or (y) the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, then notice by the stockholder must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the sixtieth (60th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation). In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth: (A) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director (i) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (ii) such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; (B) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the bylaws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (C) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (iii) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or proposal between or among such stockholder and/or such beneficial owner, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing, including, in the case of a nomination, the nominee, (iv) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, such stockholder and such beneficial owners, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in underlying shares of capital stock of the Corporation, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder or such beneficial owner, with respect to securities of the Corporation, (v) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination, (vi) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends (x) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (y) otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination, and (vii) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in an

 

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election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The foregoing notice requirements of this Section 8 shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder with respect to business other than a nomination if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his, her or its intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. The Corporation may 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 of the Corporation.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 8 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting is increased effective after the time period for which nominations would otherwise be due under paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 8 and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least eighty (80) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 8 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders.

Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or stockholders pursuant to Article Two, Section 3 of these Bylaws or (ii) provided that the Board of Directors or stockholders pursuant to Article Two, Section 3 of these Bylaws has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 8 is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 8. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 8 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the sixtieth (60th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (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 the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(c) General.

(1) Except as otherwise expressly provided in any applicable rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act, only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 8 shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to serve as directors and only such business shall be

 

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conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 8. Except as otherwise provided by law, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty (A) to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 8 (including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies or votes in support of such stockholder’s nominee or proposal in compliance with such stockholder’s representation as required by clause (a)(2)(C)(vi) of this Section 8) and (B) if any proposed nomination or business was not made or proposed in compliance with this Section 8, to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 8, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

(2) For purposes of this Section 8, “public announcement” shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or other national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 8; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to this Section 8 (including paragraphs (a)(1)(C) and (b) hereof), and compliance with paragraphs (a)(1)(C) and (b) of this Section 8 shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than, as provided in the penultimate sentence of paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 8, business other than nominations brought properly under and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, as may be amended from time to time). Nothing in this Section 8 shall be deemed to affect any rights (A) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals or nominations in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act or (B) of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the certificate of incorporation.

Section 9. Quorum. The holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at meetings of stockholders except as otherwise provided in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”). If, however, a quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. The stockholders present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of some stockholders prior to adjournment, but in no event shall a quorum consist of the holders of less than one-third (1/3) of the shares entitled to vote and thus represented at such meeting.

 

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Section 10. Adjourned Meeting; Notice. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, unless these Bylaws otherwise require, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the continuation of the adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, the Corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

Section 11. Voting of Shares.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder.

(b) Except as provided below, all actions by stockholders shall be authorized by a majority of the votes cast unless a greater vote is required by the laws of Delaware. A stockholder may vote in person or by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by law filed in accordance with the procedures established for the meeting. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this Section 11 may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or the transmission.

(c) A nominee for director shall be elected by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast with respect to such nominee at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, provided that if the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, the directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast. In an election of directors, a majority of the votes cast means that the number of votes cast “for” a nominee must exceed 50% of the votes cast with respect to such nominee (excluding abstentions). If an incumbent director is not re-elected, the director shall promptly tender his or her resignation to the Board of Directors. If the director fails to promptly tender his or her resignation, he or she shall be deemed to have tendered such resignation upon the tenth (10th) day following the certification of the election results. The Nominating and Governance Committee shall make a recommendation to the Board of Directors on whether to accept or reject the resignation, or whether other action should be taken. The Board of Directors shall act on the resignation taking into account the recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee and publicly disclose its decision and the rationale behind it within 90 days from the date of the certification of the election results. The Nominating and Governance Committee in making its recommendation, and the Board of Directors in making its decision, may each consider any factors or other information that it considers appropriate and relevant. The director who tenders his or her resignation shall not participate in the decisions of the Nominating and Governance Committee or the Board of Directors that concern such resignation.

(d) If an incumbent director’s resignation is accepted by the Board of Directors pursuant to this Section 11, or if a nominee for director is not elected and the nominee is not an incumbent director, then the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may decrease the size of the Board of Directors pursuant to the provisions of Article Three, Section 1 of these Bylaws.

(e) If a majority of the members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are required to tender their resignations as described above, the directors whom the Board of Directors has affirmatively determined to be independent in accordance with applicable stock exchange listing

 

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standards and who were not required to tender their resignations shall appoint a special committee of the Board of Directors to consider the tendered resignations and whether to accept or reject them. If all eligible independent directors described immediately above are required to tender their resignations in accordance with this Section 11, the Board of Directors shall consider each tendered resignation without the participation of the director whose resignation is under consideration, and determine to accept or reject the resignation.

Section 12. Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by law filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after eleven (11) months from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section 212 of the DGCL.

Section 13. Stockholder List. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. The Corporation shall not be required to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to examination by any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the Corporation’s principal executive office. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communications, then the list shall be open to examination by any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Such list shall presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them.

Section 14. Action Without Meeting. Any action required by the DGCL to be taken at a meeting of stockholders, or any action that may be taken at a meeting of the stockholders, may be taken without a meeting or notice if a consent, or consents, in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted with respect to the subject matter thereof, and such consent shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation, having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or certified mail, return receipt requested. Such consent shall have the same force and effect as a vote of stockholders taken at such a meeting.

Section 15. Fixing Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other such action.

 

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If the Board of Directors does not so fix a record date:

(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 day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.

(b) The record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is necessary, shall be the day on which the first written consent is expressed.

(c) The record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the 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.

Section 16. Inspectors and Judges. The Board of Directors in advance of any meeting may, but need not, appoint one or more inspectors of election or judges of the vote, as the case may be, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If any inspector or inspectors, or judge or judges, are not appointed, the person presiding at the meeting may, but need not, appoint one or more inspectors or judges. In case any person who may be appointed as an inspector or judge fails to appear or act, the vacancy may be filled by the Board of Directors in advance of the meeting, or at the meeting by the person presiding thereat. The inspectors or judges, if any, shall determine the number of shares of stock outstanding and the voting power of each, the shares of stock represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, the validity and effect of proxies, and shall receive votes, ballots and consents, hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote, count and tabulate votes, ballots and consents, determine the result, and do such acts as are proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. On request of the person presiding at the meeting, the inspector or inspectors or judge or judges, if any, shall make a report in writing of any challenge, question or matter determined by him or them, and execute a certificate of any fact found by him or them.

ARTICLE THREE

DIRECTORS

Section 1. Number, Election and Term. The number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time, within the limits specified by the Certificate of Incorporation, by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided, however, no director’s term shall be shortened by reason of a resolution reducing the number of directors. The directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders, except as provided in Section 2 of this Article Three, and each director elected shall hold office until such director’s successor is elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Directors need not be residents of the State of Delaware, stockholders of the Corporation or citizens of the United States. Unless provided otherwise by law, any director may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors.

 

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The directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot, unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. If authorized by the Board of Directors, any requirement of a written ballot shall be satisfied by a ballot submitted by electronic transmission, provided that any such electronic transmission must be either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder or proxy holder.

Section 2. Resignation and Vacancies. Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Secretary of the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, but in no event earlier that the time of receipt by the Secretary, or if no time is specified, at the time of its receipt by the Secretary. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. If at any time, by reason of death or resignation or other cause, the Corporation should have no directors in office, then any officer or any stockholder or an executor, administrator, trustee or guardian of a stockholder, or other fiduciary entrusted with like responsibility for the person or estate of a stockholder, may call a special meeting of stockholders in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, or may apply to the Court of Chancery for a decree summarily ordering an election as provided in Section 211 of the DGCL.

Section 3. Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by its Board of Directors, which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws directed or required to be exercised and done by the stockholders.

Section 4. Place of Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors, regular or special, may be held either within or without the State of Delaware.

Section 5. Regular and Special Meetings.

(a) Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors.

(b) Special meetings of the Board of Directors for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or by the Secretary on the written request of any two directors.

Section 6. Notice of Meetings.

Notice of the time and place of meetings of the Board of Directors shall be:

(a) delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone;

(b) sent by United States first-class mail, postage prepaid;

(c) sent by facsimile; or

(d) sent by electronic mail

 

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directed to each director at that director’s address, telephone number, facsimile number or electronic mail address, as the case may be, as shown on the Corporation’s records.

If the notice is delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone, sent by facsimile, or sent by electronic mail, it shall be delivered or sent at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. If the notice is sent by United States mail, it shall be deposited in the United States mail at least four (4) days before the time of the holding of the meeting. The notice need not specify the place of the meeting (if the meeting is to be held at the Corporation’s principal executive office) nor the purpose of the meeting.

Section 7. Quorum and Required Vote. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors, unless a greater number is required by the Certificate of Incorporation. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified and called. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting.

Section 8. Action Without Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

Section 9. Telephone Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and, except where a person participates for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground the meeting is not lawfully called or convened, such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

Section 10. Committees.

(a) Standing Committees. The Board of Directors shall designate an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating and Governance Committee, and other committees as it deems advisable, each of which shall have and may exercise the powers and authority of the Board of Directors to the extent provided in the charters of each committee adopted by the Board of Directors in one or more resolutions. Each committee member shall meet the applicable independence and other requirements of the New York Stock Exchange (or such other national securities association or exchange on which the Company’s securities may be listed) and applicable federal law.

 

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(b) Election of Committee Members. Each member of each committee shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall serve until the first meeting of the Board of Directors after the annual meeting of stockholders and until the member’s successor is elected and qualified or until the members’ earlier resignation or removal. The Board of Directors may designate the Chairman and Vice Chairman of each committee. Vacancies in committee membership may be filled by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors to serve as an alternate member or members at any committee meeting to replace any absent or disqualified member, such alternate or alternates to serve for that committee meeting only, and the Board of Directors may designate a committee member as acting chairman of that committee, in the absence of the elected committee chairman, to serve for that committee meeting only.

(c) Committee Procedures. A majority of the members of a committee shall constitute a quorum for all purposes and at all meetings, and the act of a majority of those present at a meeting at which quorum is present shall be the act of such committee. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required. Each committee may hold meetings and make rules for the conduct of its business and appoint such sub-committees as it shall from time to time deem necessary.

Section 11. Compensation of Directors. Directors and members of any committee of the Board of Directors shall be entitled to such reasonable compensation and fees for their services as shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors and shall also be entitled to reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors and any committee thereof, except that a director who is an officer or employee of the Corporation shall receive no compensation or fees for serving as a director or a committee member.

Section 12. Chairman of the Board. The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, choose a Chairman of the Board who shall preside at meetings of the stockholders and of the directors. The Chairman shall have such other powers and shall perform such other duties as shall be designated by the Board of Directors. The Chairman shall be a member of the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall serve until his successor is chosen and qualified, but he may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE FOUR

OFFICERS

Section 1. Positions. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, President, Secretary and Treasurer. The Board of Directors may also elect such other officers as it deems appropriate from time to time, provided that officers of the rank of Vice President and below may be appointed by the Chief Executive Officer. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. No officer need be a director of the Corporation.

Section 2. Election of Other Officers. At the first meeting of the Board of Directors after each annual meeting of stockholders, the Board of Directors shall elect the officers. From time to time the Board of Directors may elect other officers. Each officer shall hold office until such officer’s successor has been elected and qualified, or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Each officer shall be subject to removal at any time, without or without cause, by the Board of Directors; provided that officers of the rank of Vice President and below may be removed by the Chief Executive Officer.

 

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Section 3. Compensation. The Board of Directors, or any committee thereof so designated, may, from time to time, fix the compensation of the several officers, agents, and employees of the Corporation and may delegate to any officer of the Corporation, or any committee composed of officers of the Corporation, the power to fix the compensation of the officers, agents and employees of the Corporation.

Section 4. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer, subject to the overall direction and supervision of the Board of Directors and committees thereof, shall be in general charge of the affairs of the Corporation, and shall consult with and advise the Board of Directors and committees thereof on the business and the affairs of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall have the power to make and execute contracts and other instruments, including powers of attorney, on behalf of the Corporation and to delegate such power to others.

Section 5. President. The President, subject to the overall direction and supervision of the Board of Directors and committees thereof and the authority of the Chief Executive Officer (if the President is not the Chief Executive Officer), shall have primary responsibility for, and authority with respect to, the management of the day-to-day business and affairs of the Corporation, to the extent prescribed by the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer. The President shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or (if the President is not the Chief Executive Officer) the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe. The President shall also have the power to make and execute contracts on the Company’s behalf and to delegate such power to others.

Section 6. Vice Presidents. The Vice Presidents shall have such designations and shall perform such other duties and have such powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President may from time to time prescribe.

Section 7. Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when required. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or Chief Executive Officer. The Secretary shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Corporation and, when authorized by the Board of Directors, affix the same to any instrument requiring it.

Section 8. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the custody of corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors at its regular meetings or when the Board of Directors so requires an account of all transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.

Section 9. Authority and Duty of Officers. In addition to the foregoing authority and duties, all officers of the Corporation shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the business of the Corporation as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

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ARTICLE FIVE

CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES

Section 1. Issue of Certificates. The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors of the Corporation may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Notwithstanding the adoption of such a resolution by the Board of Directors, every holder of stock represented by certificates (and upon request every holder of uncertificated shares) shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the President or Vice President, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, representing the number of shares registered in certificate form.

Section 2. Facsimile Signatures. Any and all signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of the issue.

Section 3. Lost Certificates. The Corporation may issue uncertificated shares or a new certificate of stock in place of any certificate therefor issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate, or the owner’s legal representative to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.

Section 4. Transfer of Shares. 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 books.

Section 5. Registered Stockholders. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive rights of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.

ARTICLE SIX

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. Dividends. The Board of Directors may from time to time declare, and the Corporation may pay, dividends on its outstanding shares in cash, property, or its own shares pursuant to the DGCL and subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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Section 2. Reserves. The Board of Directors may by resolution create a reserve or reserves out of earned surplus for any proper purpose or purposes, and may abolish any such reserve in the same manner.

Section 3. Checks. All checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

Section 4. Execution of Corporate Contracts and Instruments. The Board of Directors, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Unless so authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors or within the agency power of an officer, no officer, agent, or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the Corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.

Section 5. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December 31 of each year, unless otherwise fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

Section 6. Seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name and state of incorporation of the Corporation. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.

Section 7. Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, 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. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

ARTICLE SEVEN

NOTICE BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION

Section 1. Notice by Electronic Transmission. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders pursuant to the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if:

(a) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent; and

 

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(b) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice.

However, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.

Any notice given pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall be deemed given:

(a) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice;

(b) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice;

(c) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (i) such posting, and (ii) the giving of such separate notice; and

(d) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.

An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

Section 2. Definition of Electronic Transmission. An “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

Section 3. Inapplicability. Notice by a form of electronic transmission shall not apply to Section 164, Section 296, Section 311, Section 312 or Section 324 of the DGCL.

ARTICLE EIGHT

AMENDMENTS OF BYLAWS

Except as otherwise specifically provided in the DGCL, these Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed or new Bylaws may be adopted at any meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at such meeting.

ARTICLE NINE

INDEMNIFICATION

The Corporation shall indemnify to the fullest extend permitted by Section 102(b)(7) and Section 145 of the DGCL each person that such sections grant the Corporation the power to indemnify.

 

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