Exhibit 3.4

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
MAIA BIOTECHNOLOGY, INC.
(the “Corporation”)

1.Stockholders’ Meetings

Annual Meetings

(a)Annual Meetings Generally. Annual meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. Furthermore, the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication (video conference, telephone conference, etc.). The annual meeting of the stockholders, for the purpose of election of directors and for such other business as may properly come before it, shall be held on such date and at such time as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.  If no date for the annual meeting is established or said meeting is not held on any date established as provided above, a special meeting in lieu thereof may be held, and such special meeting shall have for the purposes of these Bylaws or otherwise all the force and effect of an annual meeting.  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders: (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting of stockholders (with respect to business other than nominations); (ii) brought specifically by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time of giving the stockholder’s notice provided for in Section 1(c) below, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1. For the avoidance of doubt, clause (iii) above shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations and submit other business (other than matters properly included in the Corporation’s notice of meeting of stockholders and proxy statement under Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Exchange Act”)) before an annual meeting of stockholders.

(b)Permitted Business and Procedures.  At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as is a proper matter for stockholder action under Delaware law and as shall have been properly brought before the meeting.

(i)For nominations for the election to the Board of Directors to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 1(a) of these Bylaws, the stockholder must deliver written notice to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation on a timely basis as set forth in Section 1(b)(iii) and must update and supplement such written notice on a timely basis as set forth in Section 1(c). Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth: (A) as to each nominee such stockholder proposes to nominate at the meeting: (1) the name, age, business address and

 

 

 

 


 

residence address of such nominee; (2) the principal occupation or employment of such nominee and information with respect to the background and qualification of such nominee to serve as a director, as well as the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made; (3) the class and number of shares of each class of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned of record and beneficially by such nominee; (4) the date or dates on which such shares were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition; (5) a statement whether such nominee, if elected, intends to tender, promptly following such person’s failure to receive the required vote for election or re-election at the next meeting at which such person would face election or re-election, an irrevocable resignation effective upon acceptance of such resignation by the Board of Directors; and (6) such other information concerning such nominee as would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of such nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or that is otherwise required to be disclosed pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act (including such person’s written consent to being named as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); and (B) the information required by Section 1(b)(iv). The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such proposed nominee.

(ii)Other than proposals sought to be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, for business other than nominations for the election to the Board of Directors to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 1(a) of these Bylaws, the stockholder must deliver written notice to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation on a timely basis as set forth in Section 1(b)(iii), and must update and supplement such written notice on a timely basis as set forth in Section 1(c). Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth: (A) as to each matter such stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, and any material interest (including any anticipated benefit of such business to any Proponent (as defined in clause (iv) below) other than solely as a result of its ownership of the Corporation’s capital stock, that is material to any Proponent individually, or to the Proponents in the aggregate) in such business of any Proponent; and (B) the information required by Section 1(b)(iv).

(iii)To be timely, the written notice required by Section 1(b)(i) or 1(b)(ii) must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date definitive proxy materials were first sent or given to stockholders with respect to the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that, subject to the last sentence of this Section 1(b)(iii), in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to or delayed by more than 30 days after the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day

 

 

2

 

 


 

following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. In no event shall an adjournment or a postponement of an annual meeting for which notice has been given, or the public announcement thereof has been made, commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(iv)The written notice required by Section 1(b)(i) or (ii) shall also set forth, as of the date of the notice and as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (each, a “Proponent” and collectively, the “Proponents”): (A) the name and address of each Proponent, as they appear on the Corporation’s books; (B) the class, series and number of shares of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by each Proponent; (C) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether oral or in writing) with respect to such nomination or proposal between or among any Proponent and any of its affiliates or associates, and any other parties (including their names) acting in concert, or otherwise under the agreement, arrangement or understanding, with any of the foregoing; (D) a representation that the Proponents are holders of record or beneficial owners, as the case may be, of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting and intend to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice (with respect to a notice under Section 1(b)(i)) or to propose the business that is specified in the notice (with respect to a notice under Section (b)(ii)); (E) a representation as to whether the Proponents intend to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of a sufficient number of holders of the Corporation’s voting shares to elect such nominee or nominees (with respect to a notice under Section 1(b)(i)) or to carry such proposal (with respect to a notice under Section 1(b)(ii)); (F) to the extent known by any Proponent, the name and address of any other stockholder supporting the proposal on the date of such stockholder’s notice; and (G) a description of all Derivative Transactions (as defined below) by each Proponent during the previous twelve-month period, including the date of the transactions and the class, series and number of securities involved in, and the material economic terms of, such Derivative Transactions. “Derivative Transaction” means any agreement, arrangement, interest or understanding entered into by, or on behalf or for the benefit of, any Proponent or any of its affiliates or associates, whether record or beneficial:

(A)the value of which is derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares or other securities of the Corporation;

(B)which otherwise provides any direct or indirect opportunity to gain or share in any gain derived from a change in the value of securities of the Corporation;

(C)the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss, manage risk or benefit of security value or price changes; or

(D)which provides the right to vote or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Proponent, or any of its affiliates or associates, with respect to any securities of the Corporation,

 

 

3

 

 


 

which agreement, arrangement, interest or understanding may include, without limitation, any option, warrant, debt position, note, bond, convertible security, swap, stock appreciation right, short position, profit interest, hedge, right to dividends, voting agreement, performance-related fee or arrangement to borrow or lend shares (whether or not subject to payment, settlement, exercise or conversion in any such class or series), and any proportionate interest of such Proponent in the securities of the Corporation held by any general or limited partnership, or any limited liability company, of which such Proponent is, directly or indirectly, a general partner or managing member.

(c)Update of Notice.  A stockholder providing written notice required by Section 1(b)(i) or (ii) shall update and supplement such notice in writing, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice is true and correct in all material respects as of (i) the record date for the meeting and (ii) the date that is five business days prior to the meeting and, in the event of any adjournment or postponement thereof, five business days prior to such adjourned or postponed meeting. In the case of an update and supplement pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 1(c), such update and supplement shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five business days after the record date for the meeting. In the case of an update and supplement pursuant to clause (ii) of this Section 1(c), such update and supplement shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than two business days prior to the date for the meeting, and, in the event of any adjournment or postponement thereof, two business days prior to such adjourned or postponed meeting.

(d)Stockholder Nominations upon Board Expansion.  Notwithstanding anything in Section 1(b)(iii) to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors is increased and there is no public announcement of the appointment of a director, or, if no appointment was made, of the vacancy, made by the Corporation at least ten days before the last day a stockholder may deliver a notice of nomination in accordance with Section 1(b)(iii), a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 1 that complies with the requirements in Section 1(b)(i), but not the timing requirements in Section 1(b)(iii), shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation. A person shall not be eligible for election or re-election as a director unless the person is nominated in accordance with Sections 1(a)(ii) or (iii).

(e)Determination of Proper Procedure.  Except as otherwise required by law, the chairperson of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made, or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws (including with respect to the timing and procedures of required notices), or the Proponent does not act in accordance with the representations in Sections 1(b)(iv)(D) and 1(b)(iv)(E), to declare that such proposal or nomination shall not be presented for stockholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such nominations or such business may have been solicited or received.

 

 

4

 

 


 

(f)For purposes of this Section 1:

(i)“public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and

(ii)“affiliates” and “associates” shall have the meanings set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

Special Meetings

(g)Special Meetings Generally. Special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called, for any purpose as is a proper matter for stockholder action under Delaware law, by (i) the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, (ii) the Chief Executive Officer, or (iii) the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors (whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the time any such resolution is presented to the Board of Directors for adoption).

(h)Time and Place; Permitted Business.  The Board of Directors shall determine the time and place, if any, of such special meeting. Upon determination of the time and place, if any, of the meeting, the Secretary shall cause a notice of meeting to be given to the stockholders entitled to vote, in accordance with the provisions of Section 1(k) of these By-laws. No business may be transacted at such special meeting otherwise than specified in the notice of meeting.

(i)Nominations at a Special Meeting.  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving notice provided for in this paragraph, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who delivers written notice to the Secretary of the Corporation setting forth the information required by Section 1(b)(i). In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder of record may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if written notice setting forth the information required by Section 1(b)(i) of these Bylaws shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. The stockholder shall also update and supplement such information as required under Section 1(c). In no event shall an adjournment or a postponement of a special meeting for which notice has been given, or the public announcement thereof has been made, commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(j)Exchange Act Compliance.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1, a stockholder must also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange

 

 

5

 

 


 

Act with respect to matters set forth in this Section 1. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to proposals and/or nominations to be considered pursuant to Section 1(a)(iii) or to nominations for the election to the Board of Directors to be considered pursuant to Section 1(i) of these Bylaws.

(k)Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by law, whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice stating the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes of the meeting, shall be given by the Secretary (or other person authorized by these Bylaws or by law) not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat and to each stockholder who, under the Certificate of Incorporation or under these Bylaws is entitled to such notice. If mailed, notice is given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to such stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears in the records of the Corporation. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be effectively given to stockholders, any notice to stockholders may be given by electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”).  If sent via electronic transmission, notice is deemed given as of the sending time recorded at the time of transmission. Notice of the time, place, if any, and purpose of any meeting of stockholders may be waived in writing, signed by the person entitled to notice thereof, or by electronic transmission by such person, either before or after such meeting, and will be waived by any stockholder by the stockholder’s attendance thereat in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or by proxy, except when the stockholder 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. Any stockholder so waiving notice of such meeting shall be bound by the proceedings of any such meeting in all respects as if due notice thereof had been given.

(l)Quorum; Adjournment. At all meetings of stockholders, except where otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws, the holders of a majority in interest of all stock issued, outstanding and entitled to vote at a meeting, present in person, by remote communication or represented by proxy duly authorized, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The stockholders present at a duly constituted meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to reduce the voting shares below a quorum.  Any meeting may be adjourned from time to time by the chairperson of the meeting or by a majority of the votes present and properly cast upon the question, whether or not a quorum is present, but no other business shall be transacted at such meeting. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting.  If a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, except that if the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after

 

 

6

 

 


 

the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

(m)Voting and Proxies. For the purpose of determining those stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of the stockholders, except as otherwise provided by law, only persons in whose names and shares stand on the stock records of the Corporation on the record date, as provided in Section 1(s) of these Bylaws, shall be entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders. Each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by such stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by either written proxy or by a transmission permitted by Section 212(c) of the DGCL, but no proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period or is irrevocable and coupled with an interest. Proxies shall be filed with the Secretary of the meeting, or of any adjournment thereof. Except as otherwise limited therein, proxies shall entitle the persons authorized thereby to vote at any adjournment of such meeting.

(n)Action at Meeting.  Any matter before the meeting other than the election of directors shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of stock present in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy at the meeting and voting on such matter, except as may be otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange rules, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws. Except as otherwise provided by law or applicable stock exchange rules, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the holders of the shares present in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote generally on the election of directors. The Corporation shall not directly or indirectly vote any share of its own stock; provided, however, that the Corporation may vote shares which it holds in a fiduciary capacity to the extent permitted by law.

(o)Presiding Officer. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, or in his or her absence, the CEO or the President. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to appoint a temporary presiding officer to serve at any meeting of the stockholders if the Chairman of the Board, the CEO or President is unable to do so for any reason.

(p)Conduct of Meetings. The Board of Directors may 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 presiding officer of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority 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 presiding officer of the meeting, may 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

 

 

7

 

 


 

meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants; and (vi) regulation of the opening and closing of the polls for balloting on matters that are to be voted on by ballot. The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting.  Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the presiding officer of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

(q)No Action Without Meeting. No action shall be taken by the stockholders except at an annual or special meeting of stockholders called in accordance with these Bylaws, and no action shall be taken by the stockholders by written consent.

(r)Stockholder Lists. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Nothing contained in this Section 1(s) shall require the Corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. 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 in the manner provided by law (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. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation.  The list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting as provided by law.

(s)Joint Owners of Stock.   If shares or other securities having voting power stand of record in the names of two or more persons, whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety, or otherwise, or if two or more persons have the same fiduciary relationship respecting the same shares, unless the Secretary is given written notice to the contrary and is furnished with a copy of the instrument or order appointing them or creating the relationship wherein it is so provided, their acts with respect to voting shall have the following effect: (i) if only one votes, his or her act binds all; (ii) if more than one votes, the act of the majority so voting binds all; (iii) if more than one votes, but the vote is evenly split on any particular matter, each faction may vote the securities in question proportionally, or may apply to the Delaware Court of Chancery for relief as provided in DGCL Section 217(b). If the instrument filed with the Secretary shows that any such tenancy is held in unequal interests, a majority or even-split for the purpose of subsection (iii) shall be a majority or even-split in interest.

(t)Inspectors of Election.   The Board of Directors may, and if required by the DGCL shall, appoint one or more inspectors, who may also serve the Corporation in other capacities, including, without limitation, as officers, employees, agents or representatives, but who need not be stockholders, to act at meetings of stockholders and make a written report thereof. If inspectors are not so appointed, the chairman of the meeting may, and if required by the DGCL shall, appoint one or more inspectors. No person who is a candidate for office shall act as an inspector. In case any person appointed as an inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, the

 

 

8

 

 


 

vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the Board of Directors in advance of the convening of the meeting, or at the meeting by the chairman of 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 such inspector’s ability. The inspectors shall have the duties prescribed in the DGCL.

2.Directors

(a)Powers. The business of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors who may exercise all the powers of the Corporation except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws. In the event of a vacancy in the Board of Directors, the remaining directors, except as otherwise provided by law, may exercise the powers of the full Board until the vacancy is filled.

(b)Number; Qualification. Except as otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, the authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors (whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the time any such resolution is presented to the Board of Directors for adoption). Directors need not be stockholders unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation.  If for any reason the directors shall not have been elected at an annual meeting, they may be elected as soon thereafter as convenient at a special meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose in the manner provided in these Bylaws.  If a person has served as a Director on the Board and has been removed for cause, such person shall not be eligible to serve on the Board in the future.

(c)Classification of Board; Terms. The Directors, subject to any rights of the holders of shares of any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation, shall be classified with respect to the time for which they severally hold office into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible. The Board of Directors may assign members of the Board already in office to a particular class. Directors shall be assigned to each class in accordance with a resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board.  The term of each Director shall continue until the election and qualification of a successor and be subject to such Director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. At each annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, subject to any rights of the holders of shares of any class or series of preferred stock of the Company, the successors of the Directors whose term expires at that meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the third year following the year of their election.

(d)Chairman.  The Chief Executive Officer shall serve as a Director and Chairman of the Board if elected to the Board. The Chief Executive Officer shall continue to serve as Chairman until death, resignation or removal as Chief Executive Officer position either with or without cause by a vote of a Supermajority of the Directors (i.e., 75% of Directors). In the event the Chief Executive Officer dies, resigns or is removed and a successor Chief Executive Officer is not immediately appointed by the Board of Directors, the Directors then in office shall temporarily fill the vacancy in the Chairman position by electing from its members, by majority vote, an Interim Chairman who shall serve under the successor Chief Executive Officer is appointed and assumes the position of Chairman.  For clarity, the Chief Executive Officer’s removal, as such, by the Board shall not constitute his removal from the Board, which can be accomplished only by the

 

 

9

 

 


 

stockholders, in accordance with law. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, if appointed and when present, shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall perform other duties commonly incident to the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time.

(e)Vacancies. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or by applicable law, any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal or other causes and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors, or by a sole remaining director, and not by the stockholders, unless the Board of Directors determines by resolution that any such vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled by stockholders. Any director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the director for which the vacancy was created or occurred and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified. A vacancy in the Board of Directors shall be deemed to exist under this Bylaw in the case of the death, removal or resignation of any director.

(f)Tenure. Except as otherwise provided by law and Sections 2(c) and 2(d) of these Bylaws, Directors shall hold office for a term of three years or until their death, resignation or removal as addressed in Section 2(g) of these Bylaws. Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation. 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.

(g)Removal. To the extent permitted by law, any director may be removed from office only with cause by vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares then entitled to vote in the election of directors.

(h)Resignation.   Any director may resign at any time by delivering his or her notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Secretary, such resignation to specify whether it will be effective at a particular time. If no such specification is made, the Secretary, in his or her discretion, may either (i) require confirmation from the director prior to deeming the resignation effective, in which case the resignation will be deemed effective upon receipt of such confirmation, or (ii) deem the resignation effective at the time of delivery of the resignation to the Secretary.

(i)Meetings. Regular and special meetings of the board of directors may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. Furthermore, the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting of the board of directors shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication (i.e., conference call, Internet meeting, etc.). Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called, orally, by telephone, by facsimile, electronic mail or other form of electronic communications or in writing, by the Chief Executive Officer, if one is elected, or, if there is no Chief Executive Officer, the President, or by a majority of the Directors, designating the time, date and place thereof.

 

 

10

 

 


 

(j)Notice of Meetings. Notice of the time, date and place of all regular and special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director by the Secretary, or Assistant Secretary, or in case of the death, absence, incapacity or refusal of such persons, by the officer or one of the directors calling the meeting. Notice shall be given to each director in person, by telephone, or by facsimile, electronic mail or other form of electronic communications, sent to such director’s business or home address or email at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the meeting, or by written notice mailed to such director’s business or home address at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the meeting.

(k)Quorum. At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting from time to time and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice.

(l)Action at Meeting. At any meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present, unless otherwise provided in the following sentence or unless a different vote may be required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a majority of the directors present may take any action on behalf of the Board of Directors. If there are two (2) or fewer Directors, any action to be taken by the Board of Directors shall require the approval of all Directors.

(m)Action by Consent. 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, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by that number of Directors having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all Directors entitled to vote thereon were present and voted, and such consent or consents shall be delivered to an officer or agent of the Corporation by hand, regular mail, facsimile, e-mail or similar electronic transmission. Such consents shall be filed with the records of the meetings of the Board of Directors.

(n)Fees and Compensation.   Directors shall be entitled to such compensation for their services as may be approved by the Board of Directors, including, if so approved, by resolution of the Board of Directors, a fixed sum and expenses of attendance, if any, for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors and at any meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity as an officer, consultant, agent, employee, or otherwise and receiving compensation therefor.

(o)Committees Generally. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the Directors, establish one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more directors. 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. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors in the resolutions authorizing the creation of the committee, a majority of the authorized number of members of any such committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of those present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of such committee.

 

 

11

 

 


 

In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.  Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine, any such committee may make rules for the conduct of its business, but in the absence of such rules its business shall be conducted so far as possible in the same manner as is provided in these Bylaws for the Board of Directors. All members of such committees shall hold their committee offices at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, and the Board may abolish any committee at any time.

(p)Executive Committee.  The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the Directors, appoint an Executive Committee which, 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 neither the Executive Committee nor any other committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following: (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 provision of these Bylaws.

(q)Organization.   At every meeting of the directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or, if a Chairman has not been appointed or is absent, the Chief Executive Officer (if a director), or, if a Chief Executive Officer is absent, the President (if a director), or if the President is absent, the most senior Vice President (if a director), or, in the absence of any such person, a chairperson of the meeting chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall preside over the meeting. The Secretary, or in his or her absence, any Assistant Secretary or other officer, director or other person directed to do so by the person presiding over the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting.

3.Officers

(a)Enumeration. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a Secretary, and such other officer positions, including, without limitation a President, a Chief Business Officer, Chief Scientific Officer, Chief Medical Officer, a Chief Financial Officer and a Chief Operating Officer, and such other officer positions and titles as the Board of Directors may determine and authorize from time to time.  Any one person may hold any number of offices of the Corporation at any one time unless specifically prohibited therefrom by law. The salaries and other compensation of the officers of the Corporation shall be fixed by or in the manner designated by the Board of Directors.

(b)Appointment. Any officer position created by the Board of Directors shall be filled as follows. The Chief Executive Officer shall be chosen by the Board of Directors at its annual meeting or at any other meeting, or by written consent of the Board of Directors. In the event the Chief Executive Officer dies, resigns or is removed pursuant to Section 3(e) below, a successor shall be chosen in the same way. All other officers shall be appointed by the Chief Executive Officer.

 

 

12

 

 


 

(c)Qualification. No officer need be a stockholder or Director. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. Any officer may be required by the Board of Directors to give bond for the faithful performance of such officer’s duties in such amount and with such sureties as the Board of Directors may determine.

(d)Tenure; Terms. The Chief Executive Officer shall hold office for a term of three years, and until such officer’s successor is elected and qualified or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Such term shall automatically be renewed unless a Director Supermajority votes to not renew the incumbent Chief Executive Officer prior to the end of his or her current term. The Chief Executive Officer’s three-year term shall be deemed to commence on the date the Board of Director elects such person as provided in Section 3(b) of these Bylaws above. All other officers shall serve for such duration, upon such conditions, as may be provided by the Chief Executive Officer. Any officer may resign by delivering his or her written resignation to the Corporation, and 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. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be construed to limit any officer’s right, set forth in any written contract between such officer and the Corporation, to damages for a termination in breach of such written contract.

(e)Removal. A Director Supermajority may remove the Chief Executive Officer with or without cause at any time. The Chief Executive Officer may remove any other officer with or without cause in the Chief Executive Officer’s discretion.

(f)Resignations.   Any officer may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Board of Directors or to the Chief Executive Officer, or if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving, to the President or to the Secretary. Any such resignation shall be effective when received by the person or persons to whom such notice is given, unless a later time is specified therein, in which event the resignation shall become effective at such later time. Unless otherwise specified in such notice, the acceptance of any such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation shall be without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract with the resigning officer.

(g)Vacancies. Any vacancy in the office of Chief Executive Officer may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Board of Directors by majority vote. Any vacancy in any other office shall be filled by the Chief Executive Officer.

(h)Powers and Duties. The Chief Executive Officer shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate. All other officers shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as provided by the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall report to the Board of Directors. The other Officers shall report to the Chief Executive Officer.

(i)Chief Executive Officer.  The Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and at all meetings of the Board of Directors (if a director), unless the Chairman of the Board of Directors has been appointed and is present. Unless an officer has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction and control of the business and officers of the Corporation. To

 

 

13

 

 


 

the extent that a Chief Executive Officer has been appointed and no President has been appointed, all references in these Bylaws to the President shall be deemed references to the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall perform other duties commonly incident to the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time.

(j)Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary shall attend and record the proceedings of all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors (including committees of the Board) in books kept for that purpose. In the absence of the Secretary from any such meeting a person designated by the Chairman of the Board, shall record the proceedings thereof. The Secretary shall give notice in conformity with these Bylaws of all meetings of the stockholders and of all meetings of the Board of Directors and any committee thereof requiring notice. The Secretary shall have such other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. Any Assistant Secretary, if any, shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

(k)Chief Financial Officer.  The Chief Financial Officer shall keep or cause to be kept the books of account of the Corporation in a thorough and proper manner and shall render statements of the financial affairs of the Corporation in such form and as often as required by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, or if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving, the President. The Chief Financial Officer, subject to the order of the Board of Directors, shall have the custody of all funds and securities of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall perform other duties commonly incident to the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, or if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving, the President shall designate from time to time. To the extent that a Chief Financial Officer has been appointed and no Treasurer has been appointed, all references in these Bylaws to the Treasurer shall be deemed references to the Chief Financial Officer. The President may direct the Treasurer, if any, or any Assistant Treasurer, or the controller or any assistant controller to assume and perform the duties of the Chief Financial Officer in the absence or disability of the Chief Financial Officer, and each Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer and each controller and assistant controller shall perform other duties commonly incident to the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall designate from time to time.  

(l)Other Powers and Duties. Subject to these Bylaws, each officer of the Corporation shall have in addition to the duties and powers specifically set forth in these Bylaws, such duties and powers as are customarily incident to such officer’s office, and such duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.

(m)Execution of Corporate Instruments.   Each officer of the Corporation may execute, affix the corporate seal and/or deliver, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, deeds, mortgages, notes, bonds, contracts, agreements, powers of attorney, guarantees, settlements, releases, evidences of indebtedness, conveyances, or any other document or instrument that is authorized by the Board of Directors or is required to be executed in the ordinary course of business, except in cases where the execution, affixation of the corporate seal and/or delivery thereof shall be expressly and exclusively delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation.

 

 

14

 

 


 

4.Capital Stock

(a)Uncertificated or Certificated Stock. The shares of the Corporation shall be uncertificated, or shall be certificated if so provided by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, each as provided under Delaware law. A record shall be kept of the respective names of the persons, firms or corporations owning the stock of the Corporation, the number of shares held by such persons, firms or corporations and the respective dates of issuance, and in case of cancellation, the respective dates of cancellation. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated stock and upon the request of a stockholder, the Corporation shall send to the record owner thereof a written notice that shall set forth the name of the Corporation, that the Corporation is organized under the laws of Delaware, the name of the stockholder, the number and class (and the designation of the series, if any) of the shares, and any restrictions on the transfer or registration of such shares of stock imposed by the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, any agreement among stockholders or any agreement between stockholders and the Corporation. The Corporation shall be permitted to issue fractional shares.

(b)Certificated Shares.  Certificates for the shares of stock of the Corporation, if any, shall be in such form as is consistent with the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. Every holder of stock represented by certificate in the Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President or any Vice President and by the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary, certifying the number of shares owned by him in the Corporation. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be facsimiles. 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 with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue.

(c)Lost Certificates. A new certificate or certificates shall be issued in place of 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. The Corporation may require, as a condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, the owner of such lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate or certificates, or the owner’s legal representative, to agree to indemnify the Corporation in such manner as it shall require or to give the Corporation a surety bond in such form and amount 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.

(d)Terms Set by Board. The Board shall have authority to adopt a Resolution of the Board providing for the creation and issuance of stock rights and options and state the terms upon which, including the time or times which may be limited or unlimited in duration, at or within which, and the consideration (including a formula by which such consideration may be determined) and for which any such shares may be acquired from the Corporation upon the exercise of any such rights or options. In every case, such terms shall be set forth or incorporated by reference in the instrument or instruments evidencing such rights or options. A formula by which such consideration may be determined may include or be made dependent upon facts ascertainable outside the formula, provided the manner in which such facts shall operate upon the

 

 

15

 

 


 

formula is clearly and expressly set forth in the formula or in the resolution approving the formula. In the absence of actual fraud in the transaction, the judgment of the Directors as to the consideration for the issuance of such rights or options and the sufficiency thereof shall be conclusive.

(e)Transfers. Subject to any restrictions on transfer, shares of stock may be transferred on the books of the Corporation by a duly executed stock transfer power or other proper transfer instructions from the registered owner of such uncertificated shares.  The Corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes of stock of the Corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.

(f)Record Holders. Except as may otherwise be required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, the Corporation shall be entitled to treat the record holder of stock as shown on its books as the owner of such stock for all purposes, including the payment of dividends and the right to vote with respect thereto, regardless of any transfer, pledge or other disposition of such stock, until the shares have been transferred on the books of the Corporation in accordance with the requirements of these Bylaws. It shall be the duty of each stockholder to notify the Corporation of such stockholder’s post office address.

(g)Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not precede the date on which it is established, and which shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, more than ten (10) days after the date on which the record date for stockholder consent without a meeting is established, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action. In such case only stockholders of record on such record date shall be so entitled, notwithstanding any transfer of stock on the books of the Corporation after the record date.  If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

(h)Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Board of Directors may appoint one (1) or more transfer agents and one (1) or more registrars, and may require any certificates representing shares to bear the signature of any such transfer agents or registrars.

(i)Voting Securities Owned by the Corporation.   All stock and other securities of other corporations owned or held by the Corporation for itself, or for other parties in any capacity, shall be voted, and all proxies with respect thereto shall be executed, by the person authorized so to do by resolution of the Board of Directors, or, in the absence of such authorization, by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President.

 

 

16

 

 


 

5.Indemnification

(a)Definitions. For purposes of this Section 5:

(i)“Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is serving or has served (A) as a Director of the Corporation, (B) as an Officer of the Corporation, (C) as a Non-Officer Employee of the Corporation, or (D) as a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, foundation, association, organization or other legal entity for which such person is or was serving at the request of the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 5(a)(i), a Director, Officer or Non-Officer Employee of the Corporation who is serving or has served as a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee or agent of a Subsidiary shall be deemed to be serving at the request of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Corporate Status” shall not include the status of a person who is serving or has served as a director, officer, employee or agent of a constituent corporation absorbed in a merger or consolidation transaction with the Corporation with respect to such person’s activities prior to said transaction, unless specifically authorized by the Board of Directors or the stockholders of the Corporation;

(ii)“Director” means any person who serves or has served the Corporation as a director on the Board of Directors of the Corporation;

(iii)“Disinterested Director” means, with respect to each Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought hereunder, a Director of the Corporation who is not and was not a party to such Proceeding;

(iv)“Expenses” means all reasonable attorney fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of expert witnesses, private investigators and professional advisors (including, without limitation, accountants and investment bankers), travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, costs of preparation of demonstrative evidence and other courtroom presentation aids and devices, costs incurred in connection with document review, organization, imaging and computerization, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements, costs or expenses of the type customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, settling or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding; “Expenses” will also include reasonable compensation for time spent by an indemnitee for which he or she is not compensated by the Company or any subsidiary or third party, but only if the rate of compensation and estimated time involved is approved by the directors of the Company who are not parties to any action with respect to which Expenses are incurred;

(v)“Liabilities” means judgments, damages, liabilities, losses, penalties, excise taxes, fines and amounts paid in settlement;

(vi)“Non-Officer Employee” means any person who serves or has served as an employee, consultant or agent of the Corporation, but who is not or was not a Director or Officer;

 

 

17

 

 


 

(vii)“Officer” means any person who serves or has served the Corporation as an officer of the Corporation appointed by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer;

(viii)“Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, inquiry, investigation, administrative hearing or other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative; and

(ix)“Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other entity of which the Corporation owns (either directly or through or together with another Subsidiary of the Corporation) either (i) a general partner, managing member or other similar interest or (ii) (A) 50% or more of the voting power of the voting capital equity interests of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other entity, or (B) 50% or more of the outstanding voting capital stock or other voting equity interests of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other entity.

(b)Indemnification of Directors and Officers. Subject to the operation of Section 5(d) of these Bylaws, each Director and Officer shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL (and subject to the limitations therein), as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), and to the extent authorized in subsections (i) through (iv) of this Section 5(b); provided, however, that the Corporation may modify the extent of such indemnification by individual contracts with its Directors and Officers.

(i)Actions, Suits and Proceedings Other than By or In the Right of the Corporation. Each Director and Officer shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation against any and all Expenses and Liabilities that are incurred or paid by such Director or Officer or on such Director’s or Officer’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) or any action to enforce such Officer’s or Director’s rights to indemnification, which such Director or Officer is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant (including non-party witness) in by reason of such Director’s or Officer’s Corporate Status, if such Director or Officer acted in good faith and in a manner such Director or Officer reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, did not in good faith believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

(ii)Actions, Suits and Proceedings by or In the Right of the Corporation. Each Director and Officer shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation against any and all Expenses that are incurred by such Director or Officer or on such Director’s or Officer’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein by or in the right of the Corporation, which such Director or Officer is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in by reason of such Director’s or

 

 

18

 

 


 

Officer’s Corporate Status, if such Director or Officer acted in good faith and in a manner such Director or Officer reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; provided, however, that no indemnification shall be made under this Section 5(b)(ii) in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such Director or Officer shall have been finally adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be liable to the Corporation, unless, and only to the extent that, the Court of Chancery or another court in which such Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite adjudication of liability, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such Director or Officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such Expenses that such court deems proper.

(iii)Survival of Rights. The rights of indemnification provided by this Section 5(b) shall continue as to a Director or Officer after he or she has ceased to be a Director or Officer and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors, administrators and personal representatives.

(iv)Actions by Directors or Officers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall indemnify any Director or Officer seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such Director or Officer only if such Proceeding (including any parts of such Proceeding not initiated by such Director or Officer) was authorized in advance by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, unless such Proceeding was brought to enforce such Officer’s or Director’s rights to indemnification or, in the case of Directors, advancement of Expenses under these Bylaws in accordance with the provisions set forth herein.

(c)Indemnification of Non-Officer Employees. Subject to the operation of Section 5(d) of these Bylaws, the Corporation shall have power to indemnify its other Non-Officer Employees and other agents as set forth in the DGCL or any other applicable law. The Board of Directors shall have the power to delegate the determination of whether indemnification shall be given to any such person except executive officers to such officers or other persons as the Board of Directors shall determine.

(d)Determination. Unless ordered by a court, no indemnification shall be provided pursuant to this Section 5 to a Director, to an Officer or to a Non-Officer Employee unless a determination shall have been made that such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, such person did not in good faith believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Such determination shall be made by (i) a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors, (ii) a committee comprised of Disinterested Directors, such committee having been designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors (even though less than a quorum), (iii) if there are no such Disinterested Directors, or if a majority of Disinterested Directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iv) by the stockholders of the Corporation.

(e)Advancement of Expenses to Directors Prior to Final Disposition.

(i)The Corporation shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of any Director in connection with any Proceeding in which such Director is involved by

 

 

19

 

 


 

reason of such Director’s Corporate Status within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Corporation of a written statement from such Director requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by such Director and shall be preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by or on behalf of such Director to repay any Expenses so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such Director is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of any Director seeking advancement of expenses hereunder in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such Director only if such Proceeding (including any parts of such Proceeding not initiated by such Director) was (A) authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or (B) brought to enforce such Director’s rights to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under these Bylaws.

(ii)If a claim for advancement of Expenses hereunder by a Director is not paid in full by the Corporation within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Corporation of documentation of Expenses and the required undertaking, such Director 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, such Director shall also be entitled to be paid the expenses of prosecuting such claim. The failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors or any committee thereof, independent legal counsel, or stockholders) to make a determination concerning the permissibility of such advancement of Expenses under this Section 5 shall not be a defense to an action brought by a Director for recovery of the unpaid amount of an advancement claim and shall not create a presumption that such advancement is not permissible. The burden of proving that a Director is not entitled to an advancement of expenses shall be on the Corporation.

(iii)In any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that the Director has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL.

(f)Advancement of Expenses to Officers and Non-Officer Employees Prior to Final Disposition.

(i)The Corporation may, at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, advance any or all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of any Officer or any Non-Officer Employee in connection with any Proceeding in which such person is involved by reason of his or her Corporate Status as an Officer or Non-Officer Employee upon the receipt by the Corporation of a statement or statements from such Officer or Non-Officer Employee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by such Officer or Non-Officer Employee and shall be preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay any Expenses so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such Officer or Non-Officer Employee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses.

 

 

20

 

 


 

(ii)In any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that the Officer or Non-Officer Employee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL.

(g)Contractual Nature of Rights.

(i)The provisions of this Section 5 shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each Director and Officer entitled to the benefits hereof at any time while this Section 5 is in effect, in consideration of such person’s past or current and any future performance of services for the Corporation. Neither amendment, repeal or modification of any provision of this Section 5 nor the adoption of any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Section 5 shall eliminate or reduce any right conferred by this Section 5 in respect of any act or omission occurring, or any cause of action or claim that accrues or arises or any state of facts existing, at the time of or before such amendment, repeal, modification or adoption of an inconsistent provision (even in the case of a proceeding based on such a state of facts that is commenced after such time), and all rights to indemnification and advancement of Expenses granted herein or arising out of any act or omission shall vest at the time of the act or omission in question, regardless of when or if any proceeding with respect to such act or omission is commenced. The rights to indemnification and to advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Section 5 shall continue notwithstanding that the person has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors, administrators, legatees and distributees of such person.

(ii)If a claim for indemnification hereunder by a Director or Officer is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Corporation of a written claim for indemnification, such Director or Officer 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, such Director or Officer shall also be entitled to be paid the expenses of prosecuting such claim. The failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors or any committee thereof, independent legal counsel, or stockholders) to make a determination concerning the permissibility of such indemnification under this Section 5 shall not be a defense to an action brought by a Director or Officer for recovery of the unpaid amount of an indemnification claim and shall not create a presumption that such indemnification is not permissible. The burden of proving that a Director or Officer is not entitled to indemnification shall be on the Corporation.

(iii)In any suit brought by a Director or Officer to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder, it shall be a defense that such Director or Officer has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL.

(h)Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights to indemnification and advancement of Expenses set forth in this Section 5 shall not be exclusive of any other right which any Director, Officer, or Non-Officer Employee may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate or these Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or Disinterested Directors or otherwise.

 

 

21

 

 


 

(i)Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any Director, Officer or Non-Officer Employee against any liability of any character asserted against or incurred by the Corporation or any such Director, Officer or Non-Officer Employee, or arising out of any such person’s Corporate Status, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the DGCL or the provisions of this Section 5.

(j)Repeal or Invalidation.  Any repeal or modification of this Section 5 shall only be prospective and shall not affect the rights under this Bylaw in effect at the time of the alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that is the cause of any proceeding against any agent of the Corporation.  If this Section 5 or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each director and executive officer to the full extent not prohibited by any applicable portion of this Section 5 that shall not have been invalidated, or by any other applicable law. If this Section 5 shall be invalid due to the application of the indemnification provisions of another jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall indemnify each director and executive officer to the full extent under any other applicable law.

(k)Other Indemnification. The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or provide advancement of Expenses to any person under this Section 5 as a result of such person serving, at the request of the Corporation, as a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee, consultant or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification or advancement of Expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or enterprise (the “Primary Indemnitor”). Any indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Section 5 owed by the Corporation as a result of a person serving, at the request of the Corporation, as a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall only be in excess of, and shall be secondary to, the indemnification or advancement of Expenses available from the applicable Primary Indemnitor(s) and any applicable insurance policies.

(l)Exceptions. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Corporation shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of these Bylaws:

(i)Excluded Action or Omissions. To indemnify any indemnified party for acts, omissions or transactions if a final decision by a court having jurisdiction in the matter shall determine that such indemnification is prohibited by applicable law.

(ii)Claims Initiated by any indemnified party. To indemnify Expenses or Liabilities or advance Expenses to any indemnified party with respect to claims initiated or brought voluntarily by such indemnified party and not by way of defense, except (i) with respect to actions or proceedings brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under these Bylaws or any other agreement or insurance policy or under the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation now or hereafter in effect relating to such person’s indemnification rights, (ii) in specific cases if the Board of Directors has approved the initiation or bringing of such claim, or (iii) as otherwise required under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, regardless of whether indemnified party ultimately is

 

 

22

 

 


 

determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advance Expense payment or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

(iii)Frivolous Claims. To indemnify any indemnified party for any Expenses or Liabilities incurred by the indemnified party with respect to any proceeding instituted by the indemnified party to enforce or interpret its indemnification rights under these Bylaws, if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that such proceeding was frivolous.

(iv)Claims Under Section 16(b). To indemnify any indemnified party for the payment of profits arising from the purchase and sale by the indemnified party of securities in violation of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or any similar successor statute; provided that the Corporation shall advance Expenses in connection with the indemnified party’s defense of a claim under Section 16(b), which advances shall be repaid to the Corporation if it is ultimately determined that the indemnified party is not entitled to indemnification of such Expenses.

6.Dividends

(a)Declaration of Dividends. Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law, if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors pursuant to law at any regular or special meeting. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.

(b)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 Board of 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 Board of Directors shall think conducive to the interests of the Corporation, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

7.Miscellaneous Provisions

(a)Fiscal Year. Except as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December 31 of each year.

(b)Seal. The Board of Directors shall have power to adopt and alter the seal of the Corporation.

(c)Execution of Instruments. Subject to any limitations which may be set forth in a resolution of the Board of Directors, all deeds, leases, transfers, contracts, bonds, notes and other obligations to be entered into by the Corporation in the ordinary course of its business without director action may be executed on behalf of the Corporation by the Chief Executive Officer or the President, or by any other officer, employee or agent of the Corporation as the Board of Directors may authorize.

 

 

23

 

 


 

(d)Voting of Securities. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise provides, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President or the Treasurer may waive notice of and act on behalf of this Corporation, or appoint another person or persons to act as proxy or attorney in fact for this Corporation with or without discretionary power and/or power of substitution, at any meeting of stockholders or shareholders of any other corporation or organization, any of whose securities are held by this Corporation.

(e)Resident Agent. The Board of Directors may appoint a resident agent upon whom legal process may be served in any action or proceeding against the Corporation.

(f)Corporate Records. The original or attested copies of the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and records of all meetings of the incorporators, stockholders and the Board of Directors and the stock and transfer records, which shall contain the names of all stockholders, their record addresses and the amount of stock held by each, shall be kept at the principal office of the Corporation, at the office of its counsel, or at an office of its transfer agent. Any Shareholder shall have the right, from time to time during normal business hours and upon reasonable notice, to examine such records and to make copies and notes therefrom.

(g)Certificate of Incorporation. All references in these Bylaws to the Certificate of Incorporation shall be deemed to refer to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended and in effect from time to time.

(h)Amendments. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 5(j) of these Bylaws or the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors is expressly empowered to adopt, amend, or repeal these Bylaws. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws of the Corporation by the Board of Directors shall require the approval of a majority of the authorized number of directors. The stockholders also shall 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, such action by stockholders shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of 66.67% 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.

(i)Forum.   Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks subject matter jurisdiction, any state court located within the State of Delaware or, if and only if all such state courts lack subject matter jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the following types of actions or proceedings under Delaware statutory or common law (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation; (ii) any action or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer or other employee of the Corporation, to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders; (iii) any action or proceeding asserting a claim against the Corporation or any current or former director, officer or other employee of the Corporation, arising out of or pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws (as each may be amended from time to time) or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; (iv) any action or proceeding to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of the

 

 

24

 

 


 

Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws (including any right, obligation, or remedy thereunder); (v) any action or proceeding as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; and (vi) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation, governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in all cases to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants.  In any action as to which the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware within ten (10) days following such determination), in which case the United States District Court for the District of Delaware or other state courts of the State of Delaware, as applicable, shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any such claims. This Section 7(i) shall not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the District of Delaware shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in any securities of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of these Bylaws generally and this Section 7(i) in particular.

(j)Notices; Waiver.

(i)Written notice to stockholders of stockholder meetings shall be given as provided in Section 1(k) herein. Without limiting the manner by which notice may otherwise be given effectively to stockholders under any agreement or contract with such stockholder, and except as otherwise required by law, written notice to stockholders for purposes other than stockholder meetings may be sent by U.S. mail or nationally recognized overnight courier, or by facsimile, or by electronic mail or other electronic means.  

(ii)Any notice required to be given to any director may be given by the method stated in clause (i) of this subsection or as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, with notice other than one that is delivered personally to be sent to such address as such director shall have filed in writing with the Secretary, or in the absence of such filing, to the last known address of such director.

(iii)An affidavit of mailing, executed by a duly authorized and competent employee of the Corporation or its transfer agent appointed with respect to the class of stock affected, or other agent, specifying the name and address or the names and addresses of the stockholder or stockholders, or director or directors, to whom any such notice or notices was or were given, and the time and method of giving the same, shall in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts therein contained.

(iv)It shall not be necessary that the same method of giving notice be employed in respect of all recipients of notice, but one permissible method may be

 

 

25

 

 


 

employed in respect of any one or more, and any other permissible method or methods may be employed in respect of any other or others.

(v)Whenever notice is required to be given, under any provision of law or of the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, to any person with whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person. Any action or meeting that shall be taken or held without notice to any such person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. In the event that the action taken by the Corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate under any provision of the DGCL, the certificate shall state, if such is the fact and if notice is required, that notice was given to all persons entitled to receive notice except such persons with whom communication is unlawful.

(vi)Except as otherwise prohibited under the DGCL, any notice given under the provisions of DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given. Such consent shall have been deemed to have been given if such stockholder fails to object in writing to the Corporation within 60 days of having been given notice by the Corporation of its intention to send the single notice. Any consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation.

(vii)Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of these Bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting needs to be specified in any written waiver or any waiver by electronic transmission.

 

 

26