EX-3.3 4 amtx_ex33.htm ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION / BYLAWS amtx_ex33.htm

EXHIBIT 3.3

 

 

 

 

BYLAWS OF

 

AEMETIS, INC.

 

(A DELAWARE CORPORATION)

 

AS OF October 28, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

Page

 

ARTICLE 1 Offices

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.1

Registered Office

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.2

Other Offices

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 2 Meeting of Stockholders

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.1

Place of Meeting

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.2

Annual Meeting

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.3

Special Meetings

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.4

Notice of Meetings

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.5

List of Stockholders

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.6

Organization and Conduct of Business

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.7

Quorum

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.8

Adjournments

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.9

Voting Rights

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.10

Majority Vote

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.11

Record Date for Stockholder Notice and Voting

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.12

Proxies

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.13

Inspectors of Election

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.14

Action Without a Meeting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 3 Directors

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.1

Number, Election, Tenure and Qualifications

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.2

Enlargement and Vacancies

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.3

Resignation and Removal

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.4

Powers

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.5

Chairman of the Board

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.6

Place of Meetings

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.7

Annual Meetings

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

3.8

Regular Meetings

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.9

Special Meetings

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

3.10

Quorum, Action at Meeting, Adjournments

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.11

Action Without Meeting

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.12

Telephone Meetings

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.13

Committees

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.14

Fees and Compensation of Directors

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.15

Rights of Inspection

 

6

 

   

 

i

 

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

ARTICLE 4 Officers

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

4.1

Officers Designated

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.2

Election

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.3

Tenure

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.4

The Chief Executive Officer

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.5

The Secretary

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.6

The Assistant Secretary

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.7

The Treasurer

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.8

Assistant Treasurers

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.9

Delegation of Authority

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 5 Notices

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

5.1

Delivery

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.2

Waiver of Notice

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 6 Indemnification and Insurance

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

6.1

Indemnification

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.2

Advance Payment

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.3

Non-Exclusivity and Survival of Rights; Amendments

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.4

Insurance

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.5

Severability

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.6

Definitions

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.7

Notices

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 7 Capital Stock

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

7.1

Certificates for Shares

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.2

Signatures on Certificates

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.3

Transfer of Stock

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.4

Registered Stockholders

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.5

Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 8 Certain Transactions

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

8.1

Transactions with Interested Parties

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.2

Quorum

 

11

 

 

 

ii

 

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

ARTICLE 9 General Provisions

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.1

Dividends

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.2

Dividend Reserve

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.3

Checks

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.4

Corporate Seal

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.5

Execution of Corporate Contracts and Instruments

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.6

Representation of Shares of Other Corporations

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 10 Amendments

 

12

 

 

 

iii

 

  

RESTATED BYLAWS

 

OF

AEMETIS, INC.

(A DELAWARE CORPORATION)

 

ARTICLE 1

 

Offices

 

1.1 Registered Office. The registered office of the corporation shall be set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation.

 

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

 

ARTICLE 2

 

Meeting of Stockholders

 

2.1 Place of Meeting. Meetings of stockholders may be held at such place, either within or without of the State of Delaware, as may be designated by or in the manner provided in these bylaws, or, if not so designated, at the registered office of the corporation or the principal executive offices of the corporation.

 

2.2 Annual Meeting. Annual meetings of stockholders shall be held each year at such date and time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer and stated in the notice of the meeting. At the annual meeting, directors shall be elected and other proper business properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.2 may be transacted. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board.

 

To be properly brought before the annual meeting, business must be (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, (b) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, or (c) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder of record. A motion related to business proposed to be brought before any stockholders’ meeting may be made by any stockholder entitled to vote if the business proposed is otherwise proper to be brought before the meeting. However, any such stockholder may propose business to be brought before a meeting only if such stockholder has given timely notice to the Secretary of the corporation in proper written form of the stockholder’s intent to propose such business. To be timely, the stockholder’s notice must be delivered by a nationally recognized courier service or mailed by first class United States mail, postage or delivery charges prepaid, and received at the principal executive offices of the corporation addressed to the attention of the Secretary of the corporation not earlier than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days in advance of the date the corporation’s proxy statement was released to the stockholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the date of the annual meeting has been changed by more than thirty (30) days from the date contemplated at the time of the previous year’s proxy statement, notice by the stockholder must be received by the Secretary of the corporation not later than the close of business on the later of (x) the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting and (y) the seventh (7th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. For the purposes of these bylaws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of stockholder’s notice as described above. A stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual 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), and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (ii) the name and record address of the stockholder proposing such business and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (iii) the class, series and number of shares of the corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by the stockholder and such beneficial owner, (iv) any material interest of the stockholder in such business, and (v) any other information that is required to be provided by the stockholder pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “1934 Act”) in such stockholder’s capacity as a proponent of a stockholder proposal.

 

 
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Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at the annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.2; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 2.2 shall be deemed to preclude discussion by any stockholder of any business properly brought before the annual meeting.

 

The Chairman of the Board (or such other person presiding at the meeting in accordance with these bylaws) shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.2, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.

 

2.3 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders may be called for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, by the Secretary only at the request of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or by a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board. Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting. Business transacted at any special meeting shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting.

 

2.4 Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by law, written notice of each meeting of stockholders, annual or special, stating the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which such special meeting is called, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting.

 

When a meeting is adjourned to another place, date or time, 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 thirty (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, if any, date, time and means of remote communications, if any, of the adjourned meeting shall be given in conformity herewith. At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the original meeting.

 

2.5 List of Stockholders. The officer in charge of the stock ledger of the corporation or the transfer agent shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to gain access to such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.

 

2.6 Organization and Conduct of Business. The Chairman of the Board or, in his or her absence or the Chief Executive Officer or, in their absence, such person as the Board may have designated or, in the absence of such a person, such person as may be chosen by the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, shall call to order any meeting of the stockholders and act as chairman of the meeting. In the absence of the Secretary of the corporation, the secretary of the meeting shall be such person as the chairman of the meeting appoints.

 

The chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seems to him or her in order.

 

2.7 Quorum. Except where otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation or these bylaws, the holders of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person or represented in proxy, regardless of whether the proxy has authority to vote on all matters, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders.

 

2.8 Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned from time to time to any other time and to any other place at which a meeting of stockholders may be held under these bylaws, which time and place shall be announced at the meeting, by a majority of the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote, though less than a quorum, or, if no stockholder is present or represented by proxy, by any officer entitled to preside at or to act as secretary of such meeting, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

 
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2.9 Voting Rights. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation, each stockholder shall at every meeting of the stockholders be entitled to one vote for each share of the capital stock having voting power held by such stockholder.

 

2.10 Majority Vote. When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock having voting power present in person or represented by proxy shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which by express provision of the statutes or of the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation or of these bylaws, a different vote is required in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.

 

2.11 Record Date for Stockholder Notice and Voting. For purposes of determining the stockholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any right in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor fewer than ten (10) days before the date of any such meeting nor more than sixty (60) days before any other action to which the record date relates. 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 may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting. If the Board does not so fix a record date, 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 business day next preceding the day on which notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. The record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating to such purpose.

 

(i) Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders, or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after the expiration of six (6) months from the date of its execution unless (a) coupled with an interest, or (b) the person executing it specifies therein the length of time for which it is to be continued in force, which in no case shall exceed seven (7) years from the date of its execution. All proxies must be filed with the Secretary of the corporation prior to the commencement of voting at each meeting in order to be counted in any vote at the meeting. Subject to the limitation set forth in the last clause of the first sentence of this Section 2.12, a duly executed proxy that does not state that it is irrevocable shall continue in full force and effect unless (i) revoked by the person executing it, before the vote pursuant to that proxy, by a writing delivered to the corporation stating that the proxy is revoked or by a subsequent proxy executed by, or attendance at the meeting and voting in person by, the person executing the proxy, or (ii) written notice of the death or incapacity of the maker of that proxy is received by the corporation before the vote pursuant to that proxy is counted.

 

(a) Without limiting the manner in which a stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for him as proxy pursuant to this Section 2.12, the following shall constitute a valid means by which a stockholder may grant such authority:

 

(1) A stockholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or persons to act for him as proxy. Execution may be accomplished by the stockholder or his authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such writing or causing his or her signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature.

 

(2) A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for him as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a telephone, electronic mail or other means of electronic transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission, provided that any such telephone, telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the telephone, electronic mail or other electronic transmission (as defined in Section 5.1(c)) was authorized by the stockholder. Such authorization can be established by the signature of the stockholder on the proxy, either in writing or by a signature stamp or facsimile signature, or by a number or symbol from which the identity of the stockholder can be determined, or by any other procedure deemed appropriate by the inspectors or other persons making the determination as to due authorization. If it is determined that such electronic mail or other electronic transmissions are valid, the inspectors or, if there are no inspectors, such other persons making that determination shall specify the information upon which they relied.

 

(b) Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to subsection (a) of 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 telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.

 

2.12 Inspectors of Election. The corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The corporation may designate one or more persons to act as alternate inspectors 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 shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability.

 

 
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2.13 Action Without a Meeting. No action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the corporation may be taken without a meeting and the power of the stockholders to consent in writing, without a meeting, to the taking of any action is specifically denied.

 

ARTICLE 3

 

Directors

 

3.1 Number, Election, Tenure and Qualifications. The number of directors that shall constitute the entire Board shall be fixed from time to time by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board. The number of directors that shall constitute the entire Board initially shall be five (5). The classes of directors that shall constitute the entire Board shall be as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation.

 

The directors shall be elected at the annual meetings of the stockholders, except as otherwise provided in Section 3.2, and each director elected shall hold office until such director’s successor is elected and qualified, unless sooner displaced.

 

Subject to the rights of holders of any class or series of preferred stock, nominations of persons for election to the Board by or at the direction of the Board may be made by any nominating committee or person appointed by the Board; nominations may also be made by any stockholder of record of the corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors at the applicable meeting who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 3.1. Such nominations, other than those made by or at the direction of the Board, shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the Secretary of the corporation. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered by a nationally recognized courier service or mailed by first class United States mail, postage or delivery charges prepaid, and received at the principal executive offices of the corporation addressed to the attention of the Secretary of the corporation not earlier than fifty (50) days nor more than eighty (80) days in advance of the scheduled date of the annual meeting of stockholders, regardless of any postponement, deferral or adjournment of that meeting to a later date; provided, however, that, if fewer than sixty (60) days’ notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered or mailed and received not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the earlier of (a) the day on which such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or (b) the day on which such public disclosure was made. Such stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth: (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of the person, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of the person, (iii) the class, series and number of shares of capital stock of the corporation that are owned beneficially by the person on the date of such stockholder’s notice, (iv) a statement as to the person’s citizenship, and (v) any other information relating to the person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations for proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the 1934 Act, including, without limitation, such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; (b) as to the stockholder giving the notice, (i) the name and address, as such information appears on the corporation’s books, of such stockholder and any other stockholders known by such stockholder to be supporting such nominee(s), (ii) the class, series and number of shares of capital stock of the corporation that are owned beneficially by the stockholder and each other stockholder known by such stockholder to be supporting such nominee(s) on the date of such stockholder’s notice and (iii) 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 nominate the person or persons specified in the notice; and (c) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and each nominee and other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by the stockholder. The corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as director of the corporation. No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth herein.

 

In connection with any annual meeting of the stockholders (or, if and as applicable, any special meeting of the stockholders), the Chairman of the Board (or such other person presiding at such meeting in accordance with these bylaws) shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedure, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.

 

3.2 Enlargement and Vacancies. The number of members of the Board may be increased at any time as provided in Section 3.1 above. Sole power to fill vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors shall be vested in the Board, and each director so chosen shall hold office until the next annual election at which the term of the class to which they have been elected expires and until such director’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier resignation, removal from office, death or incapacity. If there are no directors in office, then an election of directors may be held in the manner provided by statute. In the event of a vacancy in the Board, the remaining directors, except as otherwise provided by law or these bylaws, may exercise the powers of the full Board until the vacancy is filled.

 

 
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3.3 Resignation and Removal. Any director may resign at any time upon written notice to the corporation at its principal place of business or to the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt of such notice unless the notice specifies such resignation to be effective at some other time or upon the happening of some other event. Any director or the entire Board may be removed, but only for cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors, unless otherwise specified by law or the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation.

 

3.4 Powers. The business of the corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which may exercise all such powers of the corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation or by these bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

 

3.5 Chairman of the Board. If the Board appoints a Chairman of the Board, such Chairman shall, when present, preside at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board. The Chairman shall perform such duties and possess such powers as are customarily vested in the office of the Chairman of the Board or as may be vested in the Chairman by the Board.

 

3.6 Place of Meetings. The Board may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware.

 

3.7 Annual Meetings. Except as the Board may otherwise determine, the annual meetings of the Board shall be held immediately following the annual meeting of stockholders and no notice of such meeting shall be necessary to the Board, provided a quorum shall be present. The annual meetings shall be for the purposes of organization, and an election of officers and the transaction of other business.

 

3.8 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such time and place as may be determined from time to time by the Board; provided that any director who is absent when such a determination is made shall be given prompt notice of such determination.

 

3.9 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Secretary, or on the written request of two or more directors, or by one director in the event that there is only one director in office. Notice of the time and place, if any, of special meetings shall be delivered personally or by telephone to each director, or sent by first-class mail or commercial delivery service, facsimile transmission, or by electronic mail or other electronic means, charges prepaid, sent to such director’s business or home address as they appear upon the records of the corporation. In case such notice is mailed, it shall be deposited in the United States mail at least four (4) days prior to the time of holding of the meeting. In case such notice is delivered personally or by telephone or by commercial delivery service, facsimile transmission, or electronic mail or other electronic means, it shall be so delivered at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the time of the holding of the meeting. A notice or waiver of notice of a meeting of the Board need not specify the purposes of the meeting.

 

3.10 Quorum, Action at Meeting, Adjournments. At all meetings of the Board, a majority of directors then in office, but in no event less than one-third (1/3) of the entire Board, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation. For purposes of this Section 3.10, the term “entire Board” shall mean the number of directors last fixed by directors in accordance with these bylaws; provided, however, that if fewer than a majority of the entire Board remain in office as a result of the death, removal or resignation of one or more directors, then the term “entire Board” shall mean the number of directors then serving in office, but solely for the purpose of forming a quorum so that the Board may appoint new directors to fill the vacancies caused by such death, removal or resignation. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the board of directors, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

 

3.11 Action Without Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.

 

3.12 Telephone Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation or these bylaws, any member of the Board or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board or of any committee, as the case may be, by means of conference telephone or by any form of 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 the meeting.

 

 
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3.13 Committees. The Board may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the corporation. The Board 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 present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not the member or members present constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board 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; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to (i) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval or (ii) adopting, amending or repealing any of these bylaws. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and make such reports to the Board as the Board may request. Except as the Board may otherwise determine, any committee may make rules for the conduct of its business, but unless otherwise provided by the directors or in such rules, its business shall be conducted as nearly as possible in the same manner as is provided in these bylaws for the conduct of its business by the Board.

 

3.14 Fees and Compensation of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation or these bylaws, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board or a stated salary as director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for attending committee meetings.

 

3.15 Rights of Inspection. Any director shall have the right to examine the corporation’s stock ledger, a list of its stockholders and its other books and records for a purpose reasonably related to his or her position as a director.

 

ARTICLE 4

 

Officers

 

4.1 Officers Designated. The officers of the corporation shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and shall at a minimum consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board of Directors may also choose a Chairman of the Board, Chief Operating Officer, Vice Presidents and one (1) or more Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers. Two (2) or more offices may be held by the same person.

 

4.2 Election. The Board of Directors shall appoint the officers of the corporation who shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. No officer need be a member of the Board of Directors.

 

4.3 Other Officers. The Board of Directors may appoint other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary who shall hold their positions for such terms and exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board unless otherwise received in writing. Any such officer or agent may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors unless otherwise agreed in writing.

 

4.4 Tenure. Each officer of the corporation shall hold office until such officer’s successor is elected and qualified, unless a different term is specified in the vote choosing or appointing such officer, or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation, removal or incapacity. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board or by the Chief Executive Officer may be removed with or without cause at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board or a committee duly authorized to do so. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the corporation may be filled by the Board, at its discretion. Any officer may resign by delivering such officer’s written resignation to the corporation at its principal place of business or to the Chief Executive Officer or the 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.

 

4.5 The Chief Executive Officer. Subject to such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the Board to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, or if there be none, at all meetings of the Board, shall have general and active management of the business of the corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. He or she shall execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board to some other officer or agent of the corporation.

 

4.6 The Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings of the corporation and of the Board of Directors in a book to be kept for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when required. He shall give or cause to be given notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President, under whose supervision he shall be.

 

4.7 The Assistant Secretary. The Assistant Secretary, or if there be more than one (1), the Assistant Secretaries, in the order of seniority determined by the Board, shall, in the absence or disability of the Secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board may from time to time prescribe.

 

 
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4.8 The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the corporation and shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board. He shall disburse the funds of the corporation as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the Chief Executive Officer or the President and the Board, at its regular meetings, or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the corporation. The Treasurer is authorized to execute and file on behalf of the corporation all federal tax returns and all elections under federal tax laws. If required by the Board, he shall give the corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board for the faithful performance of the duties of his office and for the restoration to the corporation, in case of his death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in his possession or under his control, belonging to the corporation.

 

4.9 The Assistant Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurer, or if there shall be more than one (1), the Assistant Treasurers, in the order of seniority determined by the Board, shall, in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. The Assistant Treasurer is also authorized to execute and file on behalf of the corporation all federal tax returns and all elections under federal tax laws.

 

4.10 Delegation of Authority. The Board may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officers or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.

 

ARTICLE 5

 

Notices

 

5.1 Delivery. Whenever, under the provisions of law, or of the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation or these bylaws, written notice is required to be given to any director or stockholder, such notice may be given by mail, addressed to such director or stockholder, at such person’s address as it appears on the records of the corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail or delivered to a nationally recognized courier service. Unless written notice by mail is required by law, written notice may also be given by commercial delivery service, facsimile transmission, electronic mail or other electronic means addressed to such director or stockholder at such person’s address as it appears on the records of the corporation, in which case such notice shall be deemed to be given when delivered into the control of the persons charged with effecting such transmission, the transmission charge to be paid by the corporation or the person sending such notice and not by the addressee. Oral notice or other in-hand delivery, in person or by telephone, shall be deemed given at the time it is actually given.

 

(a) Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the corporation under any provision of Delaware General Corporation Law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (i) the corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the corporation in accordance with such consent, and (ii) such inability becomes known to the secretary or an assistant secretary of the corporation or to the transfer agent or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.

 

(b) Notice given pursuant to subsection 5.1 (a) shall be deemed given: (1) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (2) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (3) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and (4) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the corporation that the notice has been given by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

 

(c) For purposes of these bylaws, “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

 

 
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5.2 Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of law or of the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation or of these bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto. In addition to the foregoing, notice of a meeting need not be given to any director who signs a waiver of notice or a consent, or electronically transmits the same, to holding the meeting or an approval of the minutes thereof, whether before or after the meeting, or who attends the meeting without protesting, prior thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice to such director. All such waivers, consents and approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting.

 

ARTICLE 6

 

Indemnification and Insurance

 

6.1 Indemnification.

 

(a) Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is 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 or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative is or was a director or officer of the corporation (or any predecessor) or is or was serving at the request of the corporation (or any predecessor) as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the corporation, or other enterprise (or any predecessor of any of such entities), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, 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 said 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 or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith; provided, however, that except as provided in Section 6.1(c), the corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board. The right to indemnification conferred in this Section 6.1 shall be a contract right and may be enforced by the person entitled to indemnification in a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(b) To obtain indemnification under this Section 6.1, a claimant shall submit to the corporation a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the claimant and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the claimant is entitled to indemnification. Upon written request by a claimant for indemnification pursuant to the preceding sentence, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to the claimant’s entitlement thereto shall be made as follows: (i) if requested by the claimant, by Independent Counsel (as hereinafter defined), or (ii) if no request is made by the claimant for a determination by Independent Counsel, (A) by the Board by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined), even though less than a quorum, or (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum, or (C) if there are no Disinterested Directors or the Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to the claimant, or (D) if a quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs, by the stockholders of the corporation. In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel at the request of the claimant, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board unless there shall have occurred within two years prior to the date of the commencement of the proceeding for which indemnification is claimed a “Change of Control” (as hereinafter defined), in which case Independent Counsel shall be selected by the claimant unless the claimant shall request that such selection be made by the Board. If it is so determined that the claimant is entitled to indemnification, payment to the claimant shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination.

 

(c) If a claim for the indemnification under this Section 6.1 is not paid in full by the corporation within thirty (30) days after a written claim pursuant to Section 6.1(b) has been received by the corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking, if any is required, has been tendered to the corporation) that the claimant has not met the standard of conduct that makes it permissible under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware for the corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the corporation. Neither the failure of the corporation (including its Board, Independent Counsel or stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, nor an actual determination by the corporation (including its Board, Independent Counsel or stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(d) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to this Section 6.1 that the claimant is entitled to indemnification, the corporation shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to Section 6.1(c). The corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to the Section 6.1(c) that the procedures and presumptions of this Article 6 are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in such proceeding that the corporation is bound by all the provisions of this Article 6.

 

 
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6.2 Advance Payment. The right to indemnification under this Article 6 shall include the right to be paid by the corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition, such advances to be paid by the corporation within twenty (20) days after the receipt by the corporation of a statement or statements from the claimant requesting such advance or advances from time to time; provided, however, that if the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer 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 person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding, shall be made only upon delivery to the corporation of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under Section 6.1 or otherwise.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no advance shall be made by the corporation to an officer of the corporation (except by reason of the fact that such officer is or was a director of the corporation, in which event this paragraph shall not apply) in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, if a determination is reasonably and promptly made (i) by the Board by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum, or (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum, or (C) if there are no Disinterested Directors or the Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to the claimant, that the facts known to the decision-making party at the time such determination is made demonstrate clearly and convincingly that such person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such person did not believe to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation.

 

6.3 Non-Exclusivity and Survival of Rights; Amendments. The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Article 6 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation, bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or Disinterested Directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. Any repeal or modification of the provisions of this Article 6 shall not in any way diminish or adversely affect the rights of any director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation hereunder in respect of any act, omission, occurrence or matter arising prior to any such repeal or modification.

 

6.4 Insurance. The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of the General Corporation Law of State of Delaware.

 

6.5 Severability. If any word, clause, provision or provisions of this Article 6 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 6 (including, without limitation, each portion of any section or paragraph of this Article 6 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 6 (including, without limitation, each such portion of any section or paragraph of this Article 6 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.

 

6.6 Definitions. For the purpose of this Article 6:

 

Change of Control” shall mean:

 

(1) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the 1934 Act (a “Person”)), directly or indirectly, of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the 1934 Act) of 20% or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation (the “Outstanding Corporation Common Stock”) or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Corporation Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this part (1), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the corporation or any acquisition from other stockholders where (A) such acquisition was approved in advance by the Board and (B) such acquisition would not constitute a Change of Control under part (2) or part (4) of this definition, (ii) any acquisition by the corporation, (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the corporation or any corporation controlled by the corporation, or (iv) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction that complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of part (4) of this definition; or 

 

 
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(2) the acquisition by any Person, directly or indirectly, of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the 1934 Act) of 50% or more of either (i) the Outstanding Corporation Common Stock or (ii) the Outstanding Corporation Voting Securities; or

 

individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (or such committee thereof that shall then have the authority to nominate persons for election as directors) shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies of consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or

 

(3) consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the corporation (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, immediately following such Business Combination, (i) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Corporation Common Stock and Outstanding Corporation Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation that as a result of such transaction owns the corporation or all or substantially all of the corporation’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Corporation Common Stock and Outstanding Corporation Voting Securities, as the case may be, (ii) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the corporation or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or

 

(4) approval by the stockholders of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the corporation.

 

Disinterested Director” shall mean a director of the corporation who is not and was not a party to the matter in respect of which indemnification is sought by the claimant.

 

Independent Counsel” shall mean a law firm, a member of a law firm, or an independent practitioner, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and shall include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would not have a conflict of interest in representing either the corporation or the claimant in an action to determine the claimant’s rights under this Article 6.

 

6.7 Notices. Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given to the corporation under this Article 6 shall be in writing and either delivered in person or sent by telecopy, telex, electronic mail, overnight mail or courier service, or certified or registered mail, postage or charges prepaid, return copy requested, or other means of electronic transmission to the Secretary of the corporation and shall be effective only upon receipt by the Secretary.

 

ARTICLE 7

 

Capital Stock

 

7.1 Certificates for Shares. The shares of the corporation shall be represented by certificates or shall be uncertificated. Certificates shall be signed by, or in the name of the corporation by, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the corporation. Certificates may be issued for partly paid shares and in such case upon the face or back of the certificates issued to represent any such partly paid shares, the total amount of the consideration to be paid therefor, and the amount paid thereon shall be specified.

 

Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated stock, the corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or a statement that the corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.

 

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

 

7.3 Transfer of Stock. Upon surrender to the corporation or the transfer agent of the corporation of a certificate of shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books. Upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered owner of uncertificated shares, such uncertificated shares shall be canceled and issuance of new equivalent uncertificated shares or certificated shares shall be made to the person entitled thereto and the transaction shall be recorded upon the books of the corporation.

 

7.4 Registered Stockholders. The corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.

 

7.5 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The corporation may direct that a new certificate or certificates be issued to replace any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed and on such terms and conditions as the corporation may require. When authorizing the issue of a new certificate or certificates, the corporation may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as it shall require, to indemnify the corporation in such manner as it may require, and/or to give the corporation a bond or other adequate security in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

 

ARTICLE 8

 

Certain Transactions

 

8.1 Transactions with Interested Parties. No contract or transaction between the corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association or other organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the board or committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction or solely because the vote or votes of such director or officer are counted for such purpose, if:

 

(a) the material facts as to such director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board or the committee, and the Board or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; or

 

(b) the material facts as to such director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or

 

(c) the contract or transaction is fair as to the corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the Board, a committee thereof or the stockholders.

 

8.2 Quorum. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.

 

ARTICLE 9

 

General Provisions

 

9.1 Dividends. Dividends upon the capital stock of the corporation, subject to any restrictions contained in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation, if any, may be declared by the Board at any regular or special meeting or by unanimous written consent. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of capital stock, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation.

 

 
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9.2 Dividend Reserve. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the corporation, or for such other purpose as the directors shall think conducive to the interest of the corporation, and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

 

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

 

9.4 Corporate Seal. The Board may, by resolution, adopt a corporate seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the corporation, the year of its organization and the word “Delaware.” The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or otherwise reproduced. The seal may be altered from time to time by the Board.

 

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

 

9.6 Representation of Shares of Other Corporations. The Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the corporation is authorized to vote, represent and exercise on behalf of the corporation all rights incident to any and all shares of any corporation or corporations standing in the name of the corporation. The authority herein granted to said officers to vote or represent on behalf of the corporation any and all shares held by the corporation in any other corporation or corporations may be exercised either by such officers in person or by any other person authorized so to do by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by said officers.

 

ARTICLE 10

 

Amendments

 

The Board is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal these bylaws. The stockholders shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal these bylaws; provided, however, 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 of the corporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of the stock of the corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for such adoption, amendment or repeal by the stockholder of any provision of these bylaws.

 

 
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SECRETARY’S CERTIFICATE OF ADOPTION

OF THE RESTATED BYLAWS OF

AEMETIS, INC.

 

I, the undersigned, do hereby certify:

 

1. That I am the duly elected and acting Chief Executive Officer of Aemetis, Inc., a Delaware corporation; and

 

2. That the foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of the Bylaws of the corporation as adopted by the directors of said corporation and to become effective as of [●], 2021.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name this [●]th day of [●], 2021.

 

 

/s/ Eric McAfee

 

 

Eric McAfee

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 
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