EX-3.1 2 ef20012268_ex3-1.htm EXHIBIT 3.1
Exhibit 3.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION

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1.
The name of the corporation is: National Instruments Corporation.
 
2.
The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware is: Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, 19808. The name of its registered agent at such address is: Corporation Service Company.
 
3.
The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted is: To engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).
 
4.
The total number of shares of stock which the corporation shall have authority to issue is: One Thousand (1,000) and the par value of each of such shares is: One Dollar and Zero Cents ($1.00) amounting in the aggregate to One Thousand Dollars ($1,000).
 
5.
The corporation is to have perpetual existence.
 
6.
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the board of directors is expressly authorized to make, alter or repeal the by-laws of the corporation.
 
7.
Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the by-laws of the corporation shall provide.
 
8.
Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the by-laws may provide. The books of the corporation may be kept (subject to any provision contained in the DGCL) outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the board of directors or in the by-laws of the corporation.
 
9.
The corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.
 

10.
A director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived any improper personal benefit. Any repeal or amendment of this Article by the stockholders of the corporation shall be prospective only, and shall not adversely affect any limitation on the personal liability of a director of the corporation arising from an act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or amendment. In addition to the circumstances in which a director of the corporation is not personally liable as set forth in the foregoing provisions of this Article, a director shall not be liable to the corporation or its stockholders to such further extent as permitted by any law hereafter enacted, including without limitation any subsequent amendment to the DGCL.
 
11.
The corporation shall indemnify any person who was, is, or is threatened to be made a party to a proceeding (as hereinafter defined) by reason of the fact he or she (i) is or was a director or officer of the corporation or (ii) while a director or officer of the corporation, is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, partner, venturer, proprietor, trustee, employee, agent, or similar functionary of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, sole proprietorship, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise, to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended. Such right shall be a contract right and as such shall run to the benefit of any director or officer who is elected and accepts the position of director or officer of the corporation or elects to continue to serve as a director or officer of the corporation while this Article is in effect. Any repeal or amendment of this Article shall be prospective only and shall not limit the rights of any such director or officer or the obligations of the corporation with respect to any claim arising from or related to the services of such director or officer in any of the foregoing capacities prior to any such repeal or amendment to this Article. Such right shall include the right to be paid by the corporation expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition to the maximum extent permitted under the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended. If a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses hereunder is not paid in full by the corporation within sixty (60) days after a written claim 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 also be entitled to be paid the expenses of prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action that such indemnification or advancement of costs of defense are not permitted under the DGCL, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the corporation. Neither the failure of the corporation (including its board of directors or any committee thereof, independent legal counsel, or stockholders) to have made its determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of, or advancement of costs of defense to, the claimant is permissible in the circumstances nor an actual determination by the corporation (including its board of directors or any committee thereof, independent legal counsel, or stockholders) that such indemnification or advancement is not permissible shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that such indemnification or advancement is not permissible. In the event of the death of any person having a right of indemnification under the foregoing provisions, such right shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors, administrators, and personal representatives. The rights conferred above shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, bylaw, resolution of stockholders or directors, agreement, or otherwise.
 
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The corporation may additionally indemnify any employee or agent of the corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.
 
As used herein, the term “proceeding” means any threatened, pending, or completed action,  suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative, or investigative, any appeal in such an action, suit, or proceeding, and any inquiry or investigation that could lead to such an action, suit, or proceeding.

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