EX-3.2 3 tm2311816d1_ex3-2.htm EXHIBIT 3.2

 

Exhibit 3.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BYLAWS OF

UNITED HOMES GROUP, INC.

 

Effective as of March 30, 2023

 

ARTICLE I

 

OFFICES AND RECORDS

 

Section 1.1 Delaware Office. The registered office of United Homes Group, Inc. (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware shall be as set forth in the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation (as it may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”).

 

Section 1.2 Other Offices. The Corporation may have such other offices, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may designate or as the business of the Corporation may from time to time require.

 

Section 1.3 Books and Records. The books and records of the Corporation may be kept at such locations either within or outside the State of Delaware as may from time to time be designated by the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE II

 

STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 2.1 Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be held at such date, place, if any, and time as may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors from time to time. Any other proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting. The Corporation may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.2 Special Meeting. Special meetings of stockholders for any purposes or purposes may be called as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. At such a special meeting of stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall be specified in the notice of meeting. The Corporation may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.3 Place of Meeting. The Board of Directors may designate the place, if any, of meeting for any meeting of the stockholders. If no designation is made by the Board of Directors, the place of meeting shall be the principal office of the Corporation.

 

Section 2.4 Notice of Meeting. Notice of the purpose or purposes, in the case of a special meeting, and of the date, time and place, if any, of every meeting of the stockholders shall be given by the Secretary of the Corporation to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting, at least ten (10) days, but not more than 60 days, prior to the date designated for the meeting, except as otherwise required by applicable, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws

 

 

 

 

Section 2.5 Quorum and Adjournment. Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders, except that when specified business is to be voted on by a class or series voting separately as a class or series, the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or series, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of such business for the purposes of taking action on such business. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the chairman of the meeting or the stockholders so present, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of the Corporation which are present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At an adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed. No notice of the time and place of adjourned meetings need be given provided such adjournment is for less than thirty (30) days and further provided that no new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting and provided further that the time or place, if any, of the adjourned meeting is announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken or are provided in any other manner permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

 

Section 2.6 Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the Secretary of the corporation a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date.

 

Section 2.7 Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.

 

(a)            Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

 

(i)            Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be transacted by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (1) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice with respect to such meeting, (2) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (3) by any stockholder of record of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time of the giving of the notice provided for in the following paragraph, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.7.

 

 

 

 

(ii)            For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (3) of subsection (a)(i) of this Section 2.7, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for action by the stockholders. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall set forth all information required under this Section 2.7 and shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of mailing of the notice for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the mailing of the notice for the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the mailing of the notice for the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not later than the close of business on the later of (x) the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or (y) the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. In no event shall the public announcement of a postponement or adjournment 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. The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the annual meeting (or in the case of a stockholder giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the annual meeting on behalf of such beneficial owner) shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such annual meeting. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth: (1) as to each individual whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, (A) the name, age, business address and residence address of such individual, (B) the class, series and number of any shares of stock of the Corporation that are owned of record or beneficially by such individual and the date such shares were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition, (C) whether such stockholder believes any such individual is, or is not, an “interested person” of the Corporation, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder (the “Investment Company Act”) and information regarding such individual that is sufficient, in the discretion of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or any authorized officer of the Corporation, to make such determination and (D) all other information relating to such individual that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder (including such individual’s written consent to being named in the Corporation’s proxy statement and accompanying proxy card as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); (2) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a description of such 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 proposing such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), individually or in the aggregate, including any anticipated benefit to the stockholder and the Stockholder Associated Person therefrom; and (3) as to the stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder Associated Person:(A) the class, series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder and by such Stockholder Associated Person, if any, including any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation as to which such stockholder and such beneficial owner or any of its affiliates or associates has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future; (B) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s stock ledger and current name and address, if different, and of such Stockholder Associated Person; (C) to the extent known by the stockholder giving the notice, the name and address of any other stockholder supporting the nominee for election or reelection as a director or the proposal of other business on the date of such stockholder’s notice, (C) 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, including any agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to any compensation or payments to be paid to any such proposed nominee(s), pertaining to the nomination(s) or other business proposed to be brought before the meeting of stockholders (which description shall identify the name of each other person who is party to such an agreement, arrangement or understanding), (D) 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, (E) 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, (F) 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, (y) otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination and/or (z) to solicit proxies in support of any proposed nominee in accordance with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act, (G) 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 election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (H) any proxy (other than a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Exchange Act), agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or beneficial owner has or shares a right to, directly or indirectly, vote any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, (I) any rights to dividends or other distributions on the shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially by such stockholder or beneficial owner that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, and (J) any performance-related fees (other than an asset based fee) that such stockholder or beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or any interests described in clause (3)(D). The foregoing notice requirements of this paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 2.7 shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder with respect to business other than a nomination if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of such stockholder’s 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.

 

 

 

 

(iii)            Notwithstanding anything in this subsection (a) of this Section 2.7 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and there is no public announcement of such action at least 55 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of mailing of the notice of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.7(a) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

(iv)            For purposes of this Section 2.7, “Stockholder Associated Person” of any stockholder shall mean (1) any person controlling, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with, such stockholder, (2) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder, and (3) any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Stockholder Associated Person.

 

(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 individuals for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice with respect to such meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (iii) provided that the Board of Directors or the stockholders pursuant to Section 2.2 of these Bylaws have determined that directors shall be elected at such special meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 2.7 and at the time of the special meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.7. The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the special meeting (or in the case of a stockholder giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the special meeting on behalf of such beneficial owner) shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such special meeting. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more individuals to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder may nominate an individual or individuals (as the case may be) for election as a director as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by subsection (ii) of Section 2.7(a) shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting at which directors are to be elected. In no event shall the public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extent any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

 

 

 

(c)            General.

 

(i)            Upon written request by the Secretary or the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, any stockholder proposing a nominee for election as a director or any proposal for other business at a meeting of stockholders shall provide, within five (5) Business Days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), written verification, satisfactory, in the discretion of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or any authorized officer of the Corporation, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 2.7.

 

(ii)          Except as otherwise expressly provided in any applicable rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act, only such individuals who are nominated in accordance with this Section 2.7 shall be eligible for election by stockholders as directors, and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.7. 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 other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with this Section 2.7 and (b) if any proposed nomination or business was not made or proposed in compliance with this Section 2.7, to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Bylaws, unless otherwise required by law, if any stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person (i) provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act with respect to any proposed nominee and (ii) subsequently fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) or Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act (or fails to timely provide reasonable evidence sufficient to satisfy the Corporation that such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act in accordance with the following sentence), then the nomination of each such proposed nominee shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies or votes in respect of the election of such proposed nominees may have been received by the Corporation (which proxies and votes shall be disregarded). Upon request by the Corporation, if any stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act, such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person shall deliver to the Corporation, no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the applicable meeting, reasonable evidence that it has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.7, 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 2.7, 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.

 

 

 

 

(iii)            For purposes of this Section 2.7, (1) the “date of mailing of the notice” shall mean the date of the proxy statement for the solicitation of proxies for election of directors and (2) “public announcement” shall mean disclosure (A) in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or comparable news service or (B) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act or the Investment Company Act. For purposes of these Bylaws, “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in the State of Delaware are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

(iv)            Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.7, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.7. Nothing in this Section 2.7 shall be deemed to affect any right of a stockholder to request inclusion of a proposal in, nor the right of the Corporation to omit a proposal from, the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act.

 

(v)            In addition to the requirements set forth elsewhere in these Bylaws, to be eligible to be a nominee for election or re-election as a director of the Corporation, such proposed nominee or a person on such proposed nominee’s behalf must deliver (with respect to a nomination made by a stockholder pursuant to this Section 2.7, in accordance with the time periods for delivery of timely notice under this Section 2.7), to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation a completed and signed questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such proposed nominee and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request) and a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such proposed nominee (i) is not and will not become a party to (x) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such proposed nominee, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (y) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such proposed nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (ii) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the Corporation, and (iii) would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with, all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, code of conduct and ethics, conflict of interest, confidentiality, corporate opportunities, trading and any other policies and guidelines of the Corporation applicable to directors.

 

(vi)            A stockholder providing notice of a proposed nomination for election to the Board (given pursuant to this Section 2.7) shall update and supplement such notice from time to time to the extent necessary so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct (x) as of the record date for the meeting and (y) as of the date that is fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Any such update and supplement shall be delivered in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) days after the record date for the meeting (in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of the record date for the meeting) and not later than ten (10) days prior to the date for the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of any update or supplement required to be made as of fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting or adjournment or postponement thereof).

 

 

 

 

(d)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.7, at any time prior to the date when Michael Nieri (the “Principal Stockholder”) and his affiliates and associates (other than the Corporation and any entity that is controlled by the Corporation) (the “Principal Stockholder Affiliates”) collectively cease to beneficially own in the aggregate (directly or indirectly) at least 10% of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Advance Notice Trigger Date”), each of the Principal Stockholder and the Principal Stockholder Affiliates shall not be subject to the advance notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.7 with respect to any nomination or business proposed to be brought by such Principal Stockholder or Principal Stockholder Affiliate before an annual meeting of stockholders or any nomination proposed to be brought by such Principal Stockholder before a special meeting of stockholders called by the Corporation for the purposes of electing directors. Prior to the Advance Notice Trigger Date, if the Principal Stockholder or a Principal Stockholder Affiliate seeks to bring a nomination or other business before an annual or special meeting, as appliable, the notice of such nomination or business (which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not need to comply with the requirements of this Section 2.7) must be delivered to the Corporation at any time prior to the mailing of the definitive proxy statement pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act related to such meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 2.8 Voting.

 

(a)            Except as otherwise provided by these Bylaws, each director shall be elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to that director’s election at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, provided that if, as of the tenth (10th) day preceding the date the Corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to the stockholders of the Corporation, the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected (a “Contested Election”), the directors shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of the votes cast. For purposes of this Section 2.8, a majority of votes cast shall mean that the number of votes cast “for” a director’s election exceeds the number of votes cast “against” that director’s election (with “abstentions” and “broker nonvotes” not counted as a vote cast either “for” or “against” that director’s election).

 

In order for any incumbent director to become a nominee of the Board of Directors for further service on the Board of Directors, such person must submit an irrevocable resignation, contingent on (i) that person not receiving a majority of the votes cast in an election that is not a Contested Election, and (ii) acceptance of that resignation by the Board of Directors in accordance with the policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors for such purpose. In the event an incumbent director fails to receive a majority of the votes cast in an election that is not a Contested Election, the nominating and governance committee, or such other committee designated by the Board of Directors pursuant to these Bylaws, shall make a recommendation to the Board of Directors as to whether to accept or reject the resignation of such incumbent director, or whether other action should be taken. The Board of Directors shall act on the resignation, taking into account the committee’s recommendation, and publicly disclose (by a press release and filing an appropriate disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission) its decision regarding the resignation and, if such resignation is rejected, the rationale behind the decision within ninety (90) days following certification of the election results. The committee in making its recommendation and the Board of Directors in making its decision each may consider any factors and other information that they consider appropriate and relevant.

 

(b)            All other matters submitted to the stockholders at any meeting, at which a quorum is present shall, unless a different or minimum vote is required by the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the corporation, or any law or regulation applicable to the corporation or its securities, in which case such different or minimum vote shall be the applicable vote on the matter, be decided by a majority of the votes cast.

 

 

 

 

Section 2.9 Inspectors of Elections. The Corporation may, and shall if required by law, appoint one or more inspectors, which inspector or inspectors may include individuals who serve the Corporation in other capacities, including, without limitation, as officers, employees, agents or representatives of the Corporation, to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. One or more persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate has been appointed to act, or if all inspectors or alternates who have been appointed are unable to act, at a meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before discharging his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall have the duties prescribed by the DGCL.

 

Section 2.10 Conduct of Meetings.

 

(a)            The Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders. In the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of the Board shall preside at a meeting of the stockholders. In the absence of the Chief Executive Officer or the Chairman of the Board, the President shall preside at a meeting of the stockholders. In the absence of each of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of the Board and the President, the Secretary shall preside at a meeting of the stockholders. In the anticipated absence of all officers designated to preside over the meetings of stockholders, the Board of Directors may designate an individual to preside over a meeting of the stockholders.

 

(b)            The chairman of the meeting shall fix and announce at the meeting the date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting.

 

(c)            The Board of Directors may, to the extent not prohibited by law, adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may to the extent not prohibited by law include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Unless, and to the extent, determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

ARTICLE III

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 3.1 General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 3.2 Number and Tenure. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors shall be as fixed as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. The terms of directors shall be as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation..

 

 

 

 

Section 3.3 Regular Meetings. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, provide the time and place for the holding of regular meetings of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 3.4 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be called at the request of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or a majority of the Board of Directors. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix the place and time of the meetings.

 

Section 3.5 Action By Unanimous Consent of Directors. 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 such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission. After an action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the board or committee in the same paper or electronic form as the minutes are maintained.

 

Section 3.6 Notice. Notice of any special meeting shall be given to each director at his business or residence in writing, or by facsimile transmission, telephone communication or electronic transmission. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when deposited in the United States mails so addressed, with postage thereon prepaid, at least five (5) days before such meeting. If by facsimile transmission or other electronic transmission, such notice shall be transmitted at least twenty-four (24) hours before such meeting. If by telephone, the notice shall be given at least twelve (12) hours prior to the time set for the meeting. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice of such meeting. A meeting may be held at any time without notice if all the directors are present (except as otherwise provided by law) or if those not present waive notice of the meeting in writing or by electronic transmission, either before or after such meeting.

 

Section 3.7 Conference Telephone Meetings. Members of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

Section 3.8 Quorum. A whole number of directors equal to at least a majority of the total number of directors that the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but if at any meeting of the Board of Directors there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice. 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.

 

Section 3.9 Vacancies. Newly created directorships and vacancies on the Board of Directors shall be filled as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 3.10 Committees.

 

(a)            The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of the committee, the member or members thereof 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 place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by law and to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, 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; provided, however, that no committee shall have power or authority in reference to the following matters: (i) approving, adopting or recommending to stockholders any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) required by law to be submitted to stockholders for approval or (ii) adopting, amending or repealing any bylaw.

 

 

 

 

(b)            Unless the Board of Directors otherwise provides, each committee designated by the Board of Directors may make, alter and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of Directors conducts its business pursuant to these Bylaws.

 

Section 3.11 Removal. Directors shall be removed as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

OFFICERS

 

Section 4.1 Elected Officers. The elected officers of the Corporation shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and such other officers as the Board of Directors from time to time may deem proper. The Chairman of the Board shall be chosen from the directors. All officers chosen by the Board of Directors shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this Article IV. Such officers shall also have powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board of Directors or by any duly authorized committee thereof.

 

Section 4.2 Election and Term of Office. The elected officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors. Each officer shall hold office for the term as determined by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4.3 Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board.

 

Section 4.4 Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall be the general manager of the Corporation, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, and as such shall, subject to Section 2.10 (A) hereof, preside at all meetings of stockholders, shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Corporation, shall sign or countersign or authorize another officer to sign all certificates, contracts, and other instruments of the Corporation as authorized by the Board of Directors, shall make reports to the Board of Directors and stockholders, and shall perform all such other duties as are incident to such office or are properly required by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4.5 President. The President shall be the chief operating officer of the corporation and shall be subject to the general supervision, direction, and control of the Chief Executive Officer unless the Board of Directors provides otherwise.

 

 

 

 

Section 4.6 Secretary. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of stockholders and directors and all other notices required by law or by these Bylaws, and in case of his absence or refusal or neglect so to do, any such notice may be given by any person thereunto directed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or by the Board of Directors, upon whose request the meeting is called as provided in these Bylaws. The Secretary shall record all the proceedings of the meetings of the Board of Directors, any committees thereof and the stockholders of the Corporation in a book to be kept for that purpose, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to such Secretary by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. The Secretary shall have custody of the seal of the Corporation and shall affix the same to all instruments requiring it, when authorized by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, and attest to the same.

 

Section 4.7 Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation. The Treasurer shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositaries 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 the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements. The Treasurer shall render to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President and the Board of Directors, whenever requested, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation. If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond for the faithful discharge of his duties in such amount and with such surety as the Board of Directors shall prescribe.

 

Section 4.8 Removal. Any officer elected by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the Board of Directors. No elected officer shall have any contractual rights against the Corporation for compensation by virtue of such election beyond the date of the election of his successor, his death, his resignation or his removal, whichever event shall first occur, except as otherwise provided in an employment contract or an employee plan.

 

Section 4.9 Vacancies. A newly created office and a vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, or removal may be filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term.

 

ARTICLE V

 

STOCK CERTIFICATES AND TRANSFERS

 

Unless the Board of Directors has determined by resolution that some or all of any or all classes or series of stock shall be uncertificated shares, the interest of each stockholder of the Corporation shall be evidenced by certificates for shares of stock. The shares of the stock of the Corporation shall be transferred on the books of the Corporation by the holder thereof in person or by his attorney, upon surrender for cancellation of certificates for the same number of shares, with an assignment and power of transfer endorsed thereon or attached thereto, duly executed, and with such proof of the authenticity of the signature as the Corporation or its agents may reasonably require.

 

Every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by two authorized officers of the Corporation (it being understood that each of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Vice President, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation shall be authorized officers for this purpose) representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. Any or all of the 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 a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

 

INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 6.1 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 in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), where the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, 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 and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 6.3 hereof with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

Section 6.2 Right to Advancement of Expenses. The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, pay the expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); 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 (hereinafter 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 (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section or otherwise.

 

Section 6.3 Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in Section 6.1 and Section 6.2, respectively, shall be contract rights. If a claim under Section 6.1 or Section 6.2 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. 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 be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (a) 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 (b) in any suit 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 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 Section 6.3 or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

 

 

 

 

Section 6.4 Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or any statute, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

Section 6.5 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 DGCL.

 

Section 6.6 Amendment of Rights. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article VI that adversely affects any right of an indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit or eliminate 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 such amendment or repeal.

 

Section 6.7 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 Section with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

Section 7.1 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of January and end on the thirty-first day of December of each year or as shall be otherwise determined by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 7.2 Dividends. The Board of Directors may from time to time declare, and the Corporation may pay, dividends on its outstanding shares in the manner and upon the terms and conditions provided by law and its Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 7.3 Seal. The corporate seal, if any, shall have inscribed the name of the Corporation thereon and shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 7.4 Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given to any stockholder or director of the Corporation under the provisions of the DGCL, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Board of Directors need be specified in any waiver of notice of such meeting. 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.

 

 

 

 

Section 7.5 Resignations. Any director or any officer, whether elected or appointed, may resign at any time by serving written notice of such resignation on the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary, or by submitting such resignation by electronic transmission (as such term is defined in the DGCL), and such resignation shall be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the date said notice is received by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Secretary or at such later date as is stated therein. No formal action shall be required of the Board of Directors or the stockholders to make any such resignation effective.

 

Section 7.6 Contracts. Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any contracts or other instruments may be executed and delivered in the name and on the behalf of the Corporation by such officer or officers of the Corporation as the Board of Directors may from time to time direct. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances as the Board may determine. The Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President may execute bonds, contracts, deeds, leases and other instruments to be made or executed for or on behalf of the Corporation. Subject to any restrictions imposed by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President of the Corporation may delegate contractual powers to others under his jurisdiction, it being understood, however, that any such delegation of power shall not relieve such officer of responsibility with respect to the exercise of such delegated power.

 

Section 7.7 Proxies. Unless otherwise provided by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President may from time to time appoint any attorney or attorneys or agent or agents of the Corporation, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, to cast the votes which the Corporation may be entitled to cast as the holder of stock or other securities in any other corporation or other entity, any of whose stock or other securities may be held by the Corporation, at meetings of the holders of the stock and other securities of such other corporation or other entity, or to consent, in the name of the Corporation as such holder, to any action by such other corporation or other entity, and may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of casting such votes or giving such consent, and may execute or cause to be executed in the name and on behalf of the Corporation and under its corporate seal or otherwise, all such written proxies or other instruments as he may deem necessary or proper. Any of the rights set forth in this Section 7.7 which may be delegated to an attorney or agent may also be exercised directly by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

AMENDMENTS

 

Subject to the provisions of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws may be adopted, amended or repealed by the Board of Directors. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the stockholders shall also have the power to adopt, amend or repeal these Bylaws, provided that in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two thirds (2/3) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to adopt, amend or repeal any provision of these Bylaws.