UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 13, 2021
VIELA BIO, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 001-39067 | 82-4187338 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| One Medimmune Way, First Floor, Area Two | ||||
| Gaithersburg, Maryland | 20878 | |||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (zip code) | |||
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (240) 558-0038
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
| Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share | VIE | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging Growth Company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Introductory Note
As previously disclosed in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 1, 2021, Viela Bio, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Horizon Therapeutics USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), Teiripic Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Purchaser”), and solely for purposes of Sections 6.7 and 9.12 of the Merger Agreement (as defined below), Horizon Therapeutics plc, a public limited company organized under the laws of Ireland (“Ultimate Parent”), entered into a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”).
Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, Parent, through Purchaser, commenced a tender offer (the “Offer”) to acquire all of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Company Shares”), at a price of $53.00 per Company Share (the “Offer Price”), net to the holder thereof, in cash, without interest, subject to any applicable withholding taxes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated February 12, 2021, and in the related letter of transmittal (each as amended or supplemented).
The Offer expired at midnight, New York time, at the end of the day on March 12, 2021 as scheduled and was not extended. According to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, the depositary for the Offer, a total of 51,668,285 Company Shares were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn as of the expiration of the Offer, which represented approximately 94.0% of the then outstanding Company Shares. The condition to the Offer that there were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to the expiration of the Offer that number of Company Shares that, together with the Company Shares then owned by Parent, Purchaser and their respective controlled affiliates (if any), represent one more Company Share than 50% of the total number of (A) Company Shares outstanding at the time of the expiration of the Offer, plus (B) the aggregate number of Company Shares issuable to holders of options to purchase Company Shares outstanding under any of the Company equity plans or otherwise issued or granted by the Company (the “Company Options”) from which the Company has received notices of exercise prior to the expiration of the Offer (and as to which Company Shares have not yet been issued to such exercising holders of Company Options) was satisfied.
All conditions to the Offer having been satisfied, on March 13, 2021 Purchaser irrevocably accepted for payment all Company Shares validly tendered pursuant to the Offer and not validly withdrawn as of the expiration of the Offer, and will promptly pay for such Company Shares in accordance with the terms of the Offer. In accordance with the terms of the Offer, the depositary will act as agent for tendering stockholders for the purpose of receiving payments for tendered Company Shares and transmitting such payments to tendering stockholders whose Company Shares have been accepted for payment. In addition, the depositary for the Offer advised that notices of guaranteed delivery have been delivered with respect to 991,504 additional Company Shares, representing approximately 1.8% of the outstanding Company Shares.
On March 15, 2021, Purchaser completed its acquisition of the Company pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement. Purchaser merged with and into the Company, in accordance with Section 251(h) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation and as an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Ultimate Parent (the “Merger”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), each Company Share then outstanding (other than any Company Shares (i) owned by Parent, Purchaser or the Company or by any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, Purchaser or the Company or (ii) held by a holder that is entitled to demand and that properly and validly demands its statutory rights of appraisal in respect of such Company Shares in compliance in all respects with Section 262 of the DGCL), was converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the Offer Price, net to the holder thereof, in cash, without interest, subject to any applicable withholding taxes.
Each Company Option that was outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time and that was otherwise eligible to vest in accordance with its terms on or before June 1, 2021, and each Company Option held by the Company’s non-employee directors, accelerated and became fully vested and exercisable effective immediately prior to, and contingent upon, the Effective Time, subject to such holder’s continued services with the Company through immediately prior to the Effective Time. As of the Effective Time, each Company Option that was then outstanding, vested and unexercised as of immediately before the Effective Time was cancelled and converted into the right to receive an amount equal to (A) the total number of Company Shares subject to such Company Option immediately
prior to such cancellation multiplied by (B) the excess of (x) the Offer Price over (y) the exercise price payable per Company Share underlying such Company Option, payable net to the holder of the Company Option in cash without interest, and less any applicable withholding taxes. Each cancelled Company Option had an exercise price per Company Share that was less than the Offer Price.
Ultimate Parent assumed all of the remaining outstanding Company Options, with the number of shares subject to such assumed options representing the right to purchase a number of ordinary shares, nominal value $0.0001 per share, of Ultimate Parent equal to the equity exchange ratio of 0.6047 multiplied by the number of Company Shares previously subject to such assumed options, with such resulting number rounded down to the nearest whole share. The equity exchange ratio was determined by dividing the Offer Price by the dollar volume weighted average price, rounded to four decimal points, of Ultimate Parent’s ordinary shares during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg through its “HP” function (set to weighted average) for the period of the five consecutive trading days ending on March 10, 2021. The exercise prices of such assumed options were adjusted by dividing the exercise price of the Company Options by the equity exchange ratio and rounding the resulting number up to the nearest whole cent. The assumed options continue to be governed by the terms of the Company’s Amended and Restated 2018 Equity Incentive Plan under which the options were originally granted.
The aggregate consideration paid in the Offer and the Merger was approximately $3.05 billion, without giving effect to related transaction fees and expenses.
The description of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby contained in this Introductory Note does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, which was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 1, 2021 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.
As described in the Introductory Note, on March 13, 2021, Purchaser irrevocably accepted for payment all Company Shares validly tendered pursuant to the Offer and not validly withdrawn as of the expiration of the Offer. On March 15, 2021, the Merger was completed pursuant to Section 251(h) of the DGCL, with no vote of the stockholders of the Company required to consummate the Merger. Upon the consummation of the Merger, the Company became an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Ultimate Parent. The disclosure under the Introductory Note is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 3.01 Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.
On March 15, 2021, the Company (x) notified The Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) of the consummation of the Merger and (y) requested that Nasdaq (i) suspend trading of the Company Shares before the opening of trading on March 15, 2021 and (ii) file with the SEC a Notification of Removal from Listing and/or Registration under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), on Form 25 to effect the delisting of the Company Shares from Nasdaq and to deregister the Company Shares under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. In addition, the Company intends to file with the SEC a Certification and Notice of Termination of Registration on Form 15 requesting that the Company’s reporting obligations under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act be suspended.
Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.
The disclosure under the Introductory Note and Items 2.01, 3.01 and 5.03 is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.01 Changes in Control of Registrant.
The disclosure under the Introductory Note and Items 2.01, 5.02 and 5.03 is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, effective immediately after the Effective Time, each of (i) Zhengbin (Bing) Yao, Ph.D., Yanling Cao, Edward Hu, Rachelle Jacques, Chris Nolet, Tyrell Rivers, Ph.D. and Andreas Wicki, Ph.D. ceased serving as a member of the board of directors of the Company and each committee thereof and (ii) Dr. Yao, Mitchell Chan, Jörn Drappa, M.D., Ph.D. and William Ragatz ceased serving as an officer of the Company.
Further, pursuant to the Merger Agreement and effective immediately after the Effective Time, Timothy P. Walbert and Paul W. Hoelscher, the members of the board of directors of, and President and Treasurer, respectively, of Purchaser immediately prior to the Effective Time, became the members of the board of directors and officers of the Company, holding the same positions. Information about Mr. Walbert and Mr. Hoelscher is contained in the Offer to Purchase, dated February 12, 2021, filed by Ultimate Parent, Parent and Purchaser as Exhibit (a)(1)(i) to the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO filed with the SEC on February 12, 2021, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change of Fiscal Year.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, effective as of the Effective Time, the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Company and the amended and restated bylaws of the Company were each amended and restated in their entirety, as set forth in Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K, which are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
| * | Schedules omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish supplemental copies of any omitted schedules to the SEC upon its request. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| VIELA BIO, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Paul W. Hoelscher | |
| Paul W. Hoelscher | ||
| Treasurer | ||
Date: March 15, 2021
Exhibit 3.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
VIELA BIO, INC.
FIRST: The name of the “Corporation” is:
Viela Bio, Inc.
SECOND: The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, City of Wilmington, 19808. The name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.
THIRD: The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of Delaware (the “DGCL”).
FOURTH: The Corporation is authorized to issue one class of stock, to be designated “Common Stock”, with a par value of $0.001 per share. The total number of shares of Common Stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is one thousand (1,000).
FIFTH: The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors (the “Board”). In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon them by statute or by this Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”), the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation. Election of directors need not be by written ballot, unless the Bylaws so provide.
SIXTH: The Board is authorized to make, adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The stockholders shall also have power to make, adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws.
SEVENTH:
A. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved (including, without limitation, as a witness) in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or an officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, or trustee of another corporation, or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “Indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer or trustee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer or trustee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the
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DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that, except as provided in Paragraph C of this Article SEVENTH with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification or an advancement of expenses or as otherwise required by law, the Corporation shall not be required to indemnify or advance expenses to any such Indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.
B. In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Paragraph A of this Article SEVENTH, an Indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an Indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such Indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such Indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Paragraph B or otherwise.
C. If a claim under Paragraph A or B of this Article SEVENTH is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty (60) days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty (20) days, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. To the fullest extent permitted by law, if successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Indemnitee shall also be entitled to be paid the expenses of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the Indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article SEVENTH or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.
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D. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article SEVENTH shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, any vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
E. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
F. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article SEVENTH with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation.
G. The rights conferred upon Indemnitees in this Article SEVENTH shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article SEVENTH that adversely affects any right of an Indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit, eliminate or impair any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to any such amendment, alteration or repeal.
H. If any word, clause, provision or provisions of this Article SEVENTH shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article SEVENTH (including, without limitation, each portion of any Paragraph of this Article SEVENTH containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article SEVENTH (including, without limitation, each such portion of any Paragraph of this Article SEVENTH containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
EIGHTH: No director shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for any monetary damages for breaches of fiduciary duty as a director; provided that this provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director, to the extent that such liability is imposed by applicable law, (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders; (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) under Section 174 or successor provisions of the DGCL; or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. No amendment to or repeal of this provision shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of
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any director for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment or repeal. If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.
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Exhibit 3.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS
OF
VIELA BIO, INC.
(A DELAWARE CORPORATION)
Effective March 15, 2021
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
1.1 Place of Meetings. All meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place within or without the State of Delaware as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or the President and Chief Executive Officer.
1.2 Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting shall be held on a date to be fixed by the Board of Directors at the time and place to be fixed by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting.
1.3 Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders may be called at any time by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President or the holders of record of not less than 10% of all shares entitled to cast votes at the meeting, for any purpose or purposes prescribed in the notice of the meeting and shall be held at such place, on such date and at such time as the Board of Directors may fix. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be confined to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting.
1.4 Notice of Meetings. Written notice of each meeting of stockholders, whether annual or special, shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or as required by law (meaning here and hereafter, as required from time to time by the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Certificate of Incorporation). The notices of all meetings shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting. The notice of a special meeting shall state, in addition, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. If mailed, notice is given when deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his address as it appears on the records of the corporation.
1.5 Voting List. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the corporation shall prepare, at least 10 days before each 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. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting, at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time of the meeting, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. This list shall determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them.
1.6 Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law or these Bylaws, the holders of a majority of the shares of the capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairman of the meeting or the holders of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, may adjourn the meeting to another place, date or time.
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If a notice of any adjourned special meeting of stockholders is sent to all stockholders entitled to vote thereat, stating that it will be held with those present constituting a quorum, then except as otherwise required by law, those present at such adjourned meeting shall constitute a quorum, and all matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast at such meeting.
1.7 Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned to any other time and to any other place at which a meeting of stockholders may be held under these Bylaws by the Chairman of the meeting or, in the absence of such person, by any officer entitled to preside at or to act as Secretary of such meeting, or by the holders of a majority of the shares of stock present or represented at the meeting and entitled to vote, although less than a quorum. When a meeting is adjourned to another place, date or time, written notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the place, date and time thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than 30 days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, or if a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, written notice of the place, date, and time of the adjourned meeting shall be given in conformity herewith. At the adjourned meeting, the corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
1.8 Voting and Proxies. Each stockholder shall have one vote for each share of stock entitled to vote held of record by such stockholder and a proportionate vote for each fractional share so held, unless otherwise provided by law or in the Certificate of Incorporation. Each stockholder of record entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may vote in person or may authorize any other person or persons to vote or act for him by written proxy executed by the stockholder or his authorized agent or by a transmission permitted by law and delivered to the Secretary of the corporation. No stockholder may authorize more than one proxy for his shares. Any copy, facsimile transmission or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this Section may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or 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.
1.9 Action at Meeting. When a quorum is present at any meeting, any election shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote at the election, and all other matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively on the matter (or if there are two or more classes of stock entitled to vote as separate classes, then in the case of each such class, a majority of each such class present or represented and voting affirmatively or negatively on the matter) shall decide such matter, except when a different vote is required by express provision of law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
All voting, including on the election of directors, but excepting where otherwise required by law, may be by a voice vote; provided, however, that upon demand therefor by a stockholder entitled to vote or his or her proxy, a stock vote shall be taken. Every stock vote shall be taken by ballot, each of which shall state the name of the stockholder or proxy voting and such other information as may be required under the procedure established for the meeting. Every vote taken by ballot shall be counted by an inspector or inspectors appointed by the chairman of the meeting. The corporation may, and to the extent required by law, shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report
3.
thereof. The corporation may designate one or more persons as an alternate inspector to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting may, and to the extent required by law, shall, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath to faithfully execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability.
1.10 Stockholder Action Without Meeting. Any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting and without prior notice, if a consent in writing, setting forth the actions so taken, is signed by the holders of outstanding shares having not less than the minimum number of votes which would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. All such consents shall be filed with the Secretary of the corporation and shall be maintained in the corporate records. Prompt notice of the taking of a corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing.
An electronic transmission consenting to an action to be taken and transmitted by a stockholder, or by a proxy holder or other person authorized to act for a stockholder, shall be deemed to be written, signed and dated for the purpose of this Section 1.10, provided that such electronic transmission sets forth or is delivered with information from which the corporation can determine (i) that the electronic transmission was transmitted by the stockholder or by a person authorized to act for the stockholder and (ii) the date on which such stockholder or authorized person transmitted such electronic transmission. The date on which such electronic transmission is transmitted shall be deemed to be the date on which such consent was signed. No consent given by electronic transmission shall be deemed to have been delivered until such consent is reproduced in paper form and until such paper form shall be delivered to the corporation by delivery to its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the corporation having custody of the books in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded.
1.11 Meetings by Remote Communication. If authorized by the Board of Directors, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board of Directors may adopt, stockholders and proxy holders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication, participate in the meeting and be deemed present in person and vote at the meeting, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided that (i) the corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxy holder, (ii) the corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxy holders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and (iii) if any stockholder or proxy holder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the corporation.
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ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2.1 General Powers. The business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board of Directors, who may exercise all of the powers of the corporation except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation. In the event of a vacancy in the Board of Directors, the remaining directors, except as otherwise provided by law, may exercise the powers of the full Board of Directors until the vacancy is filled.
2.2 Number and Term of Office. The number of directors shall initially be two (2) and, thereafter, shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors (whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the time any such resolution is presented to the Board of Directors for adoption). All directors shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which elected and until their respective successors are elected, except in the case of the death, resignation or removal of any director.
2.3 Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or other cause (other than removal from office by a vote of the stockholders) may be filled only by a majority vote of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director, and directors so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
2.4 Resignation. Any director may resign by delivering notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the President, Chairman of the Board of Directors or Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some other time or upon the happening of some other event.
2.5 Removal. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, any directors, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. Vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from such removal may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, by the sole remaining director, or by the stockholders at the next annual meeting or at a special meeting called in accordance with Section 1.3 above. Directors so chosen shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders.
2.6 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors; provided that any director who is absent when such a determination is made shall be given notice of the determination. A regular meeting of the Board of Directors may be held without notice immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders.
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2.7 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President or two or more directors and may be held at any time and place, within or without the State of Delaware.
2.8 Notice of Special Meetings. Notice of any special meeting of directors shall be given to each director by the Secretary or by the officer or one of the directors calling the meeting. Notice shall be duly given to each director by (i) giving notice to such director in person or by telephone, electronic transmission or voice message system at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, (ii) sending a facsimile, or delivering written notice by hand, to his last known business or home address at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, or (iii) mailing written notice to his last known business or home address at least three days in advance of the meeting. A notice or waiver of notice of a meeting of the Board of Directors need not specify the purposes of the meeting. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.
2.9 Participation in Meetings by Telephone Conference Calls or Other Methods of Communication. Directors or any members of any committee designated by the directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such 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 participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
2.10 Quorum. A majority of the total number of authorized directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board of Directors. In the event one or more of the directors shall be disqualified to vote at any meeting, then the required quorum shall be reduced by one for each such director so disqualified; provided, however, that in no case shall less than 1/3 of the number so fixed constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum at any such meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. Interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or at a meeting of a committee which authorizes a particular contract or transaction.
2.11 Action at Meeting. At any meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present, the vote of a majority of those present shall be sufficient to take any action, unless a different vote is specified by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
2.12 Action by Written Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent to the action in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writings or electronic 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.
2.13 Committees. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the corporation, with such lawfully delegated powers and duties as it therefor confers, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.
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The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members of the committee present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors and subject to the provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. Each such committee shall keep minutes and make such reports as the Board of Directors may from time to time request. Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine, any committee may make rules for the conduct of its business, but unless otherwise provided by such rules, its business shall be conducted as nearly as possible in the same manner as is provided in these Bylaws for the Board of Directors.
2.14 Compensation of Directors. Directors may be paid such compensation for their services and such reimbursement for expenses of attendance at meetings as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the corporation or any of its parent or subsidiary corporations in any other capacity and receiving compensation for such service.
2.15 Nomination of Director Candidates. Subject to the rights of holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, nominations for the election of directors may be made by (i) the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof or (ii) any stockholder entitled to vote in the election of directors.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
3.1 Enumeration. The officers of the corporation shall consist of a President, a Secretary, a Chief Financial Officer, a Treasurer and such other officers with such other titles as the Board of Directors shall determine, including, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, a Chairman of the Board of Directors and one or more Vice Presidents and Assistant Secretaries. The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers as it may deem appropriate.
3.2 Election. Officers shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at its first meeting following the annual meeting of stockholders. Officers may be appointed by the Board of Directors at any other meeting.
3.3 Qualification. No officer need be a stockholder. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.
3.4 Tenure. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, each officer shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified, unless a different term is specified in the vote appointing him, or until his earlier death, resignation or removal.
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3.5 Resignation and Removal. Any officer may resign by delivering his written resignation to the corporation at its principal office or to the President or Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some other time or upon the happening of some other event. Any officer elected by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors.
3.6 Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may appoint a Chairman of the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors appoints a Chairman of the Board of Directors, he shall perform such duties and possess such powers as are assigned to him by the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, he shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders, and, if he is a director, at all meetings of the Board of Directors.
3.7 President. The President shall, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, have responsibility for the general management and control of the business and affairs of the corporation and shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of President or which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise designated by the Board of Directors, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the corporation. The President shall, in the absence of or because of the inability to act of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, perform all duties of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of stockholders. The President shall perform such other duties and shall have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. He or she shall have power to sign stock certificates, contracts and other instruments of the corporation which are authorized and shall have general supervision and direction of all of the other officers, employees and agents of the corporation, other than the Chairman of the Board of Directors.
3.8 Vice Presidents. Any Vice President shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board of Directors or the President may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the President, the Vice President (or if there shall be more than one, the Vice Presidents in the order determined by the Board of Directors) shall perform the duties of the President and when so performing shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President. The Board of Directors may assign to any Vice President the title of Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or any other title selected by the Board of Directors.
3.9 Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary shall perform such duties and shall have such powers as the Board of Directors or the President may from time to time prescribe. In addition, the Secretary shall perform such duties and have such powers as are incident to the office of the Secretary, including, without limitation, the duty and power to give notices of all meetings of stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, to keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings of stockholders and the Board of Directors, to maintain a stock ledger and prepare lists of stockholders and their addresses as required, to be custodian of corporate records and the corporate seal and to affix and attest to the same on documents.
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Any Assistant Secretary shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary (or if there shall be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board of Directors) shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary.
In the absence of the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary at any meeting of stockholders or directors, the person presiding at the meeting shall designate a temporary secretary to keep a record of the meeting.
3.10 Chief Financial Officer. Unless otherwise designated by the Board of Directors, the Chief Financial Officer shall be the Treasurer. The Chief Financial Officer shall perform such duties and shall have such powers as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. In addition, the Chief Financial Officer shall perform such duties and have such powers as are incident to the office of Chief Financial Officer, including without limitation, the duty and power to keep and be responsible for all funds and securities of the corporation, to maintain the financial records of the corporation, to deposit funds of the corporation in depositories as authorized, to disburse such funds as authorized, to make proper accounts of such funds, and to render as required by the Board of Directors accounts of all such transactions and of the financial condition of the corporation.
3.11 Salaries. Officers of the corporation shall be entitled to such salaries, compensation or reimbursement as shall be fixed or allowed from time to time by the Board of Directors.
3.12 Delegation of Authority. The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officers or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL STOCK
4.1 Issuance of Stock. Unless otherwise voted by the stockholders and subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the whole or any part of any unissued balance of the authorized capital stock of the corporation or the whole or any part of any unissued balance of the authorized capital stock of the corporation held in its treasury may be issued, sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by vote of the Board of Directors in such manner, for such consideration and on such terms as the Board of Directors may determine.
4.2 Certificates of Stock. Every holder of stock of the corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate, in such form as may be prescribed by law and by the Board of Directors, certifying the number and class of shares owned by him in the corporation. Each such certificate shall be signed by, or in the name of the corporation by, the Chairman or Vice Chairman, if any, of the Board of Directors, or the President or a Vice President, and the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the corporation. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile.
Each certificate for shares of stock which are subject to any restriction on transfer pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, applicable securities laws or any agreement among any number of stockholders or among such holders and the corporation shall have conspicuously noted on the face or back of the certificate either the full text of the restriction or a statement of the existence of such restriction.
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4.3 Transfers. Except as otherwise established by rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Directors, and subject to applicable law, shares of stock may be transferred on the books of the corporation by the surrender to the corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate representing such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a written assignment or power of attorney properly executed, and with such proof of authority or authenticity of signature as the corporation or its transfer agent may reasonably require. Except as may be otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, the corporation shall be entitled to treat the record holder of stock as shown on its books as the owner of such stock for all purposes, including the payment of dividends and the right to vote with respect to such stock, regardless of any transfer, pledge or other disposition of such stock until the shares have been transferred on the books of the corporation in accordance with the requirements of these Bylaws.
4.4 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in place of any previously issued certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, upon such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors may prescribe, including the presentation of reasonable evidence of such loss, theft or destruction and the giving of such indemnity as the Board of Directors may require for the protection of the corporation or any transfer agent or registrar.
4.5 Record Date. The Board of Directors may fix in advance a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or to express consent (or dissent) to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights in respect of any change, concession or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action. Such record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting, nor more than 60 days prior to any other action to which such record date relates.
If no record date is fixed, 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 before the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day before the day on which the meeting is held. 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. 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 to such purpose.
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.
ARTICLE V
GENERAL PROVISIONS
5.1 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be as fixed by the Board of Directors.
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5.2 Corporate Seal. The corporate seal shall be in such form as shall be approved by the Board of Directors.
5.3 Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice whatsoever is required to be given by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, a waiver of such notice either in writing signed by the person entitled to such notice or such person’s duly authorized attorney, or by electronic transmission or any other method permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law, whether before, at or after the time stated in such waiver, or the appearance of such person or persons at such meeting in person or by proxy, shall be deemed equivalent to such notice.
5.4 Actions with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations. Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise designate, the Chief Executive Officer or President or any officer of the corporation authorized by the Chief Executive Officer or President shall have the power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the corporation, in person or proxy, and may waive notice of, and act as, or appoint any person or persons to act as, proxy or attorney-in-fact to this corporation (with or without power of substitution) at any meeting of stockholders or shareholders (or with respect to any action of stockholders) of any other corporation or organization, the securities of which may be held by this corporation and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this corporation may possess by reason of this corporation’s ownership of securities in such other corporation or other organization.
5.5 Evidence of Authority. A certificate by the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, or a temporary Secretary, as to any action taken by the stockholders, directors, a committee or any officer or representative of the corporation shall as to all persons who rely on the certificate in good faith be conclusive evidence of such action.
5.6 Certificate of Incorporation. All references in these Bylaws to the Certificate of Incorporation shall be deemed to refer to the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation, as amended and in effect from time to time.
5.7 Severability. Any determination that any provision of these Bylaws is for any reason inapplicable, illegal or ineffective shall not affect or invalidate any other provision of these Bylaws.
5.8 Pronouns. All pronouns used in these Bylaws shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine or neuter, singular or plural, as the identity of the person or persons may require.
5.9 Notices. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or required by law, all notices required to be given to any stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand delivery to the recipient thereof, by depositing such notice in the mails, postage paid, or by sending such notice by facsimile or other electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or by commercial courier service. Any such notice shall be addressed to such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent at his or her last known address as the same appears on the books of the corporation. The time when such notice shall be deemed to be given shall be the time such notice is received by such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent, or by any person accepting such notice on behalf of such person, if delivered by hand, facsimile, other electronic transmission or commercial courier service, or the time such notice is dispatched, if delivered through the mails.
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5.10 Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records. Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, and each officer of the corporation shall, in the performance of his duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the corporation, including reports made to the corporation by any of its officers, by an independent certified public accountant, or by an appraiser selected with reasonable care.
5.11 Time Periods. In applying any provision of these Bylaws which require that an act be done or not done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.
5.12 Facsimile Signatures. In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.
ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENTS
6.1 By the Board of Directors. Except as is otherwise set forth in these Bylaws, these Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed or new Bylaws may be adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present.
6.2 By the Stockholders. Except as otherwise set forth in these Bylaws, these Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed or new Bylaws may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of the capital stock of the corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at any annual meeting of stockholders, or at any special meeting of stockholders, provided notice of such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption of new Bylaws shall have been stated in the notice of such special meeting.
ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
7.1 Right to Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved (including, without limitation, as a witness) in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or an officer of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, or trustee of another corporation, or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “Indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer or trustee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer or trustee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but,
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in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 7.3 of this Article VII with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification or an advancement of expenses or as otherwise required by law, the corporation shall not be required to indemnify or advance expenses to any such Indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors.
7.2 Right to Advancement of Expenses. In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Section 7.1 of this Article VII, an Indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by the corporation the expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, if the Delaware General Corporation Law requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an Indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such Indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such Indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 7.2 or otherwise.
7.3 Right of Indemnitees to Bring Suit. If a claim under Section 7.1 or 7.2 of this Article VII is not paid in full by the corporation within sixty days after a written claim has been received by the corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty days, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. To the fullest extent permitted by law, if successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Indemnitee shall also be entitled to be paid the expenses of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) any suit brought by the corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law. Neither the failure of the corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the Indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article or otherwise shall be on the corporation.
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7.4 Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article VII shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation as amended from time to time, these Bylaws, any agreement, any vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
7.5 Insurance. The corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
7.6 Indemnity Agreements. The corporation may enter into indemnity agreements with the persons who are members of its Board of Directors from time to time, and with such officers, employees and agents of the corporation and with such officers, directors, employees and agents of subsidiaries as the Board of Directors may designate, such indemnity agreements to provide in substance that the corporation will indemnify such persons as contemplated by this Article VII, and to include any other substantive or procedural provisions regarding indemnification as are not inconsistent with Delaware General Corporation Law or other applicable law. The provisions of such indemnity agreements shall prevail to the extent that they limit or condition or differ from the provisions of this Article VII.
7.7 Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation. The corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the corporation.
7.8 Nature of Rights. The rights conferred upon Indemnitees in this Article VII shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article VII that adversely affects any right of an Indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit, eliminate, or impair any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to any such amendment, alteration or repeal.
7.9 Severability. If any word, clause, provision or provisions of this Article VII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article VII (including, without limitation, each portion of any section of this Article VII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article VII (including, without limitation, each such portion of any section of this Article VII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
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ARTICLE VIII
FORUM FOR ADJUDICATION OF DISPUTES
8.1 Unless the corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the corporation to the corporation or the stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time), or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware). If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope of the preceding sentence, is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (hereinafter a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the preceding sentence and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.
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