UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||||||||||||||||
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |||||
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) | |||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 5.03 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
On May 10, 2023, the shareholders of ChampionX Corporation (the “Company”) approved the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to (i) adopt majority voting for directors in uncontested elections, (ii) provide for exculpation of corporate officers as permitted by Delaware law, and (iii) require claims brought under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) be brought only in federal court.
The Board of Directors of the Company also approved Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company, effective May 10, 2023, to provide for majority voting in uncontested elections of directors and plurality voting in contested elections.
A copy of the approved Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and a copy of the Amended and Restated By-Laws effective May 10, 2023 are attached hereto as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
(a)-(b) The Company’s 2023 Annual Meeting was held on May 10, 2023. Holders of an aggregate of 197,961,521 shares of the Company’s common stock at the close of business on March 13, 2023 were entitled to vote at the meeting, of which 190,865,365, or approximately 96% of the eligible voting shares, were represented in person or by proxy. The final results of the matters voted upon at the meeting, which are more fully described in the Company’s proxy statement, are as follows:
1.The nine directors nominated to the Board to serve as directors until the Company’s 2024 annual meeting of shareholders were elected:
| Nominee | For | Withheld | Broker Non-Vote | |||||||||||
| Heidi S. Alderman | 184,020,833 | 1,189,405 | 5,655,127 | |||||||||||
| Mamatha Chamarthi | 184,023,872 | 1,186,366 | 5,655,127 | |||||||||||
| Carlos A. Fierro | 185,038,858 | 171,380 | 5,655,127 | |||||||||||
| Gary P. Luquette | 181,252,471 | 3,957,767 | 5,655,127 | |||||||||||
| Elaine Pickle | 185,035,224 | 175,014 | 5,655,127 | |||||||||||
| Stuart Porter | 184,028,035 | 1,182,203 | 5,655,127 | |||||||||||
| Daniel W. Rabun | 179,386,152 | 5,824,086 | 5,655,127 | |||||||||||
| Sivasankaran Somasundaram | 184,010,212 | 1,200,026 | 5,655,127 | |||||||||||
| Stephen M. Todd | 183,868,414 | 1,341,824 | 5,655,127 | |||||||||||
2.The proposal to amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to adopt majority voting for directors in uncontested elections was approved:
| For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Vote | |||||||||||
| 185,114,067 | 66,414 | 29,757 | 5,655,127 | |||||||||||
3.The proposal to amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to provide for exculpation of corporate officers as permitted by Delaware law was approved:
| For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Vote | |||||||||||
| 149,659,579 | 35,404,446 | 146,213 | 5,655,127 | |||||||||||
4.The proposal to amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to require claims brought under the Securities Act be brought only in federal court was approved:
| For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Vote | |||||||||||
| 162,968,555 | 22,099,267 | 142,416 | 5,655,127 | |||||||||||
5.The appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm was ratified:
| For | Against | Abstain | |||||||||
| 190,698,030 | 62,809 | 104,526 | |||||||||
6.The compensation of the Company’s named executive officers for 2022 (“Say-on-Pay”) was approved on an advisory basis:
| For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Vote | |||||||||||
| 181,713,634 | 3,344,546 | 152,058 | 5,655,127 | |||||||||||
7.The advisory vote on the frequency of future Say-on-Pay votes was approved in favor of a one-year frequency:
| One Year | Two Years | Three Years | Abstain | Broker Non-Vote | |||||||||||||
| 181,647,116 | 29,307 | 3,422,824 | 110,991 | 5,655,127 | |||||||||||||
(d) In light of the results of the advisory vote on the frequency of future Say-on-Pay votes, the Board determined that an advisory vote on our executive compensation will be held annually until the next vote on the frequency of such votes.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit No. | Description | |||||||
| 3.1 | ||||||||
| 3.2 | ||||||||
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| ChampionX Corporation | |||||||||||||||||
| Date: | May 11, 2023 | By: | /s/ JULIA WRIGHT | ||||||||||||||
Julia Wright | |||||||||||||||||
| Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | |||||||||||||||||
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
CHAMPIONX CORPORATION
(Pursuant to Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware)
ChampionX Corporation (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), does hereby certify as follows:
(1) The name of the Corporation is ChampionX Corporation. The Corporation was originally incorporated under the name Wellsite Corporation and later under the name Apergy Corporation. The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 10, 2017 (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), and a Certificate of Amendment thereto was filed with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 2, 2018. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Apergy Corporation was filed May 8, 2018, and a Certificate of Amendment thereto was filed, amending the name of the Corporation, with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 3, 2020.
(2) This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the DGCL and by the sole stockholder of the Corporation in accordance with Section 228 of the DGCL.
(3) This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation restates and integrates and amends the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation in its entirety.
(4) The text of the Certificate of Incorporation is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
FIRST: The name of the Corporation is ChampionX Corporation.
SECOND: The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19801. The name of its registered agent at that address is The Corporation Trust Company.
THIRD: The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the DGCL.
FOURTH: (a) Authorized Capital Stock. The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 2,750,000,000 shares of capital stock, consisting of (i) 2,500,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), and (ii) 250,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).
(b) Common Stock. The powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions, of the Common Stock are as follows:
(1) Voting. Each stockholder represented at a meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to cast one vote in person or by proxy for each share of Common Stock entitled to vote thereat held by such stockholder.
(2) No Cumulative Voting. The holders of shares of Common Stock shall not have cumulative voting rights.
(3) Dividends; Stock Splits. Subject to the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock, and subject to any other provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as it may be amended from time to time, the holders of shares of the Common Stock shall be entitled to receive ratably such
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dividends and other distributions in cash, stock or property of the Corporation when, as and if declared thereon by the Board of Directors from time to time out of assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor.
(4) Liquidation; Dissolution; Winding-Up. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, and subject to the rights of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock in respect thereof, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all of the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them.
(5) No Preemptive or Subscription Rights. No holder of shares of the Common Stock shall be entitled to preemptive or subscription rights.
(c) Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors is hereby expressly authorized to provide for the issuance of all or any shares of the Preferred Stock in one or more classes or series, and to fix for each such class or series such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and such qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of such class or series, including, without limitation, the authority to provide that any such class or series may be (i) subject to redemption at such time or times and at such price or prices; (ii) entitled to receive dividends (which may be cumulative or non-cumulative) at such rates, on such conditions, and at such times, and payable in preference to, or in such relation to, the dividends payable on any other class or classes or any other series; (iii) entitled to such rights upon the dissolution of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation; or (iv) convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes of stock, or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock, of the Corporation at such price or prices or at such rates of exchange and with such adjustments; all as may be stated in such resolution or resolutions.
(d) Power to Sell and Purchase Shares. Subject to the requirements of applicable law, the Corporation shall have the power to issue and sell all or any part of any shares of any class of stock herein or hereafter authorized to such persons, and for such consideration, as the Board of Directors shall from time to time, in its discretion, determine, whether or not greater consideration could be received upon the issue or sale of the same number of shares of another class, and as otherwise permitted by law. Subject to the requirements of applicable law, the Corporation shall have the power to purchase any shares of any class of stock herein or hereafter authorized from such persons, and for such consideration, as the Board of Directors shall from time to time, in its discretion, determine, whether or not less consideration could be paid upon the purchase of the same number of shares of another class, and as otherwise permitted by law.
FIFTH: The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and for further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Corporation and of its directors and stockholders:
(a) The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.
(b) The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than three nor more than 15 members, the exact number of which shall be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors, and subject to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock, if any, the exact number may be increased or decreased (but not to less than three or more than 15).
(c) Except as provided in Paragraph (c) of this Article FIFTH, each director shall be elected by a vote of the majority of the votes cast at each meeting of stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present; provided, that each director shall be elected by the vote of the plurality of the votes cast at each such meeting of stockholders for which (x) the Secretary of the Corporation receives notice that one or more stockholders has proposed to nominate one or more persons for election or re-election to the Board of Directors,
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which notice purports to be in compliance with the advance notice requirements for stockholder nominations set forth in the Corporation’s By-Laws (as may be amended from time to time), irrespective of whether the Board of Directors at any time determines that any such notice is not in compliance with such requirements, and (y) such nomination or nominations have not been formally and irrevocably withdrawn by such stockholder(s) on or prior to the date that is 14 days in advance of the date that the Corporation gives notice of the meeting to the stockholders. For purposes of this Article FIFTH, a majority of the votes cast means that the number of shares voted “for” a director must exceed the number of shares voted “against” that director. A director shall hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders for the year in which such person’s term expires and until such person’s successor shall be elected and shall qualify, subject, however, to prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office. Directors need not be stockholders. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Corporation’s By-Laws so provide.
(d) Subject to the terms of any one or more classes or series of the Preferred Stock, any vacancy on the Board of Directors that results from an increase in the number of directors or the death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled exclusively by a majority of the Board of Directors then in office, in their sole discretion, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, in such person’s sole discretion. Any director appointed to fill a vacancy on the Corporation’s Board of Directors will be appointed for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders, and until such person’s successor has been elected and qualified. Except as otherwise required by applicable law and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of shares of the Preferred Stock then outstanding, any or all of the directors of the Corporation may be removed from office at any time with or without cause, and by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more classes or series of the Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of such class or series, and such directors so elected shall not be divided into classes pursuant to this Article FIFTH unless expressly provided by such terms.
(e) In addition to the powers and authority hereinbefore or by statute expressly conferred upon them, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and any By-Laws adopted by the stockholders; provided, however, that no By-Laws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the directors which would have been valid if such By-Laws had not been adopted.
SIXTH: No director or officer shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended. If the DGCL is amended hereafter to authorize the further elimination or limitation of the liability of directors or officers, then the liability of a director or officer of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as so amended. Any repeal or modification of this Article SIXTH shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director or officer of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.
SEVENTH: The Corporation shall indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by law, as now or hereafter in effect, and such right to indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives; provided, however, that, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any director or officer (or such person’s heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives) in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such
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person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors. The right to indemnification conferred by this Article SEVENTH shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, subject to receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.
The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Corporation, or to those persons serving at the Corporation’s request as a director, officer, employee or agent of, or in a fiduciary capacity with respect to, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, similar to those conferred in this Article SEVENTH to directors and officers of the Corporation.
The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was a director, officer or employee of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of, or in a fiduciary capacity with respect to, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article SEVENTH.
The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article SEVENTH shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the By-Laws of the Corporation, any statute, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
Any repeal or modification of any provision of this Article SEVENTH shall not adversely affect any rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses of a director or officer of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to any acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.
EIGHTH: Except as otherwise expressly provided by the terms of any series of Preferred Stock permitting the holders of such series of Preferred Stock to act by written consent, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, and the ability of the stockholders to consent in writing to the taking of any action is hereby specifically denied.
NINTH: Unless otherwise required by law or the terms of any resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of a class or series of the Preferred Stock, special meetings of stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, may be called by either (i) the Chair of the Board of Directors or (ii) the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, and shall be called by the Chief Executive Officer at the request in writing made pursuant to a resolution of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors. The ability of the stockholders to call a special meeting of stockholders is hereby specifically denied. At a special meeting of stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall be specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto).
TENTH: Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the By-Laws may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to any provision contained in the DGCL) outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or in the By-Laws of the Corporation.
ELEVENTH: In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors shall have the power, without the assent or vote of the stockholders, to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Corporation’s By-Laws, except to the extent the By-Laws or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation otherwise provide. The affirmative vote of at least a majority of the entire Board of Directors shall be required to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Corporation’s By-Laws. The Corporation’s
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By-Laws may also be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the capital stock of the Corporation then outstanding and entitled to vote thereon.
TWELFTH: Unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought or purporting to be brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, other employee or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, creditors or other constituents, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws (as either 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, or (iv) any action asserting a claim that relates to the internal affairs or governance of the Corporation and arises under or by virtue of the laws of the State of Delaware; provided, that, if (and only if) the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware dismisses any such action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, such action may be brought in another state court sitting in the State of Delaware.
Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fully extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933.
Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article TWELFTH.
THIRTEENTH: The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in the manner now or hereafter prescribed in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Corporation’s By-Laws or the DGCL, and all rights, preferences and privileges herein conferred upon stockholders are granted subject to such reservation.
This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall become effective at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on May 10, 2023.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be executed on its behalf this 10th day of May, 2023.
CHAMPIONX CORPORATION
By: /s/ Julia Wright
Name: Julia Wright
Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
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AMENDED AND RESTATED
BY-LAWS
OF
CHAMPIONX CORPORATION
A Delaware Corporation
Effective May 10, 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | |||||
Article I OFFICES | |||||
Section 1.1 Registered Office | 1 | ||||
Section 1.2 Other Offices | 1 | ||||
Article II MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS | |||||
Section 2.1 Place of Meetings | 1 | ||||
Section 2.2 Annual Meetings | 1 | ||||
Section 2.3 Special Meetings | 1 | ||||
Section 2.4 Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting | 1 | ||||
Section 2.5 Notice | 2 | ||||
Section 2.6 Adjournments | 2 | ||||
Section 2.7 Quorum | 2 | ||||
Section 2.8 Voting | 2 | ||||
Section 2.9 Proxies | 3 | ||||
Section 2.10 List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote | 3 | ||||
Section 2.11 Record Date | 3 | ||||
Section 2.12 Stock Ledger | 3 | ||||
Section 2.13 Conduct of Meetings | 4 | ||||
Section 2.14 Inspectors of Election | 4 | ||||
Section 2.15 Nominations and Proposal of Other Business by Stockholders | 4 | ||||
Article III DIRECTORS | |||||
Section 3.1 Number and Election of Directors | 11 | ||||
Section 3.2 Vacancies | 11 | ||||
Section 3.3 Duties and Powers | 11 | ||||
Section 3.4 Meetings; Notice | 12 | ||||
Section 3.5 Organization | 12 | ||||
Section 3.6 Resignations and Removals of Directors | 12 | ||||
Section 3.7 Quorum | 12 | ||||
Section 3.8 Actions of the Board by Written Consent | 13 | ||||
Section 3.9 Meetings by Means of Conference Telephone | 13 | ||||
Section 3.10 Committees | 13 | ||||
Section 3.11 Executive Committee | 14 | ||||
Section 3.12 Compensation | 14 | ||||
Section 3.13 Interested Directors | 14 | ||||
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Article IV OFFICERS | |||||
Section 4.1 General | 14 | ||||
Section 4.2 Election | 15 | ||||
Section 4.3 Voting Securities Owned by the Corporation | 15 | ||||
Section 4.4 Chair of the Board of Directors | 15 | ||||
Section 4.5 Chief Executive Officer | 15 | ||||
Section 4.6 Vice Presidents | 15 | ||||
Section 4.7 Secretary | 15 | ||||
Section 4.8 Treasurer | 16 | ||||
Section 4.9 Assistant Secretaries | 16 | ||||
Section 4.10 Assistant Treasurers | 16 | ||||
Section 4.11 Other Officers | 16 | ||||
Article V STOCK | |||||
Section 5.1 Uncertificated Shares | 16 | ||||
Section 5.2 Dividend Record Date | 17 | ||||
Section 5.3 Record Owners | 17 | ||||
Section 5.4 Transfer and Registry Agents | 17 | ||||
Article VI NOTICES | |||||
Section 6.1 Notices | 17 | ||||
Section 6.2 Waivers of Notice | 17 | ||||
Article VII GENERAL PROVISIONS | |||||
Section 7.1 Dividends | 18 | ||||
Section 7.2 Disbursements | 18 | ||||
Section 7.3 Fiscal Year | 18 | ||||
Section 7.4 Corporate Seal | 18 | ||||
Section 7.5 Contracts | 18 | ||||
Article VIII INDEMNIFICATION | |||||
Section 8.1 Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings other than Those by or in the Right of the Corporation | 18 | ||||
Section 8.2 Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings by or in the Right of the Corporation | 19 | ||||
Section 8.3 Authorization of Indemnification | 19 | ||||
Section 8.4 Good Faith Defined | 19 | ||||
Section 8.5 Indemnification by a Court | 19 | ||||
Section 8.6 Expenses Payable in Advance | 20 | ||||
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Section 8.7 Nonexclusivity of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses | 20 | ||||
Section 8.8 Insurance | 20 | ||||
Section 8.9 Certain Definitions | 20 | ||||
Section 8.10 Survival of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses | 21 | ||||
Section 8.11 Limitation on Indemnification | 21 | ||||
Section 8.12 Indemnification of Employees and Agents | 21 | ||||
Section 8.13 Amendment or Repeal | 21 | ||||
Article IX AMENDMENTS | |||||
Section 9.1 Amendments | 22 | ||||
Article X CONSTRUCTION | |||||
Section 10.1 Construction | 22 | ||||
Section 10.2 Entire Board of Directors | 22 | ||||
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AMENDED AND RESTATED
BY-LAWS
OF
CHAMPIONX CORPORATION
(hereinafter called the “Corporation”)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1.1 Registered Office. The registered office of the Corporation shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware.
Section 1.2 Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such other places, both within and without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors” or “Board”) may from time to time determine.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 2.1 Place of Meetings. Meetings of the stockholders for the election of directors or for any other purpose shall be held at such time and place (if any), either within or without the State of Delaware, or in whole or in part by means of remote communication, as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 2.2 Annual Meetings. The Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting” or “Annual Meeting of Stockholders”) for the election of directors shall be held on such date and at such time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. Any other proper business may be transacted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any Annual Meeting of Stockholders previously scheduled by the Board.
Section 2.3 Special Meetings. Unless otherwise required by law or by the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, as amended and restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), a Special Meeting of Stockholders (a “Special Meeting” or “Special Meeting of Stockholders”), for any purpose or purposes, may be called by either (a) the Chair of the Board of Directors (the “Chair)” or (b) the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation (the “Chief Executive Officer”), and shall be called by the Chief Executive Officer at the request in writing or electronic transmission made pursuant to a resolution of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors. Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting. The ability of the stockholders to call a Special Meeting of Stockholders is hereby specifically denied. At a Special Meeting of Stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall be specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto). The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any Special Meeting of Stockholders previously scheduled by the Board.
Section 2.4 Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the terms of any series of preferred stock permitting the holders of such series of preferred stock to act by written consent, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called Annual Meeting of Stockholders or Special Meeting of
Stockholders, and the ability of the stockholders to consent in writing to the taking of any action is hereby specifically denied.
Section 2.5 Notice. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall be given which shall state the place (if any), date and hour of the meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of meeting, and, in the case of a Special Meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed present in person and vote at such meeting. Unless otherwise required by law, written notice of any meeting shall be given either personally, by mail or electronic transmission, (if permitted under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”)) not less than ten nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting. Any stockholder may waive notice of any meeting before or after the meeting. The attendance of a stockholder at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice at such meeting, except where the stockholder attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
Section 2.6 Adjournments. Any meeting of the stockholders may be adjourned from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place by holders of a majority of the voting power of the Corporation’s capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, though less than a quorum, or by the chair of the meeting, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, are (1) announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, (2) displayed, during the time scheduled for the meeting, on the same electronic network used to enable stockholders and proxy holders to participate in the meeting by means of remote communication or (3) set forth in the notice of meeting. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present or represented, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
Section 2.7 Quorum. Unless otherwise required by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Corporation’s capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business. Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series is required, a majority of the voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series present in person or represented by proxy shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to such vote. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, either the chair of the meeting or the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, in the manner provided in Section 2.6, until a quorum shall be present or represented.
Section 2.8 Voting. Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Corporation (as may be amended from time to time, the “By-Laws”), the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or any law or regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, in which case such other vote shall be the applicable vote on the question, any question brought before any meeting of the stockholders, other than
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the election of directors, shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Corporation’s capital stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on such question, voting as a single class. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, and subject to Section 2.11, each stockholder present in person or represented by proxy at a meeting of the stockholders shall be entitled to cast one vote for each share of the capital stock entitled to vote thereat held by such stockholder. Such votes may be cast in person or by proxy as provided in Section 2.9. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, or the officer of the Corporation presiding at a meeting of the stockholders, in such officer’s discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.
Shares of stock of the Corporation belonging to the Corporation, or to another corporation a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of which are held by the Corporation, shall not be voted at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and shall not be counted in the total number of outstanding shares for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present.
Section 2.9 Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of the stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy filed with the Secretary before or at the time of the meeting, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless such proxy provides for a longer period.
Section 2.10 List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The Corporation shall prepare, no later than the tenth day before each meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date, 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 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 ten days ending on the day before the meeting date (a) 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 (b) 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.
Section 2.11 Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of the stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the stockholders shall be at the Close of Business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the Close of Business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
Section 2.12 Stock Ledger. The stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list required by Section 2.10 or the books of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of the stockholders.
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Section 2.13 Conduct of Meetings. The Board of Directors of the Corporation may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of any meeting of the stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chair of any meeting of the 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 chair, 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 chair of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (b) the determination of when the polls shall open and close for any given matter to be voted on at the meeting; (c) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (d) 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 chair of the meeting shall determine; (e) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; (f) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants; and (g) restrictions on the use of cell phones, audio or video recording devices and similar devices at the meeting. The chair of any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, shall have the power to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with these By-Laws and, if any proposed nomination or other business is not in compliance with these By-Laws, to declare that no action shall be taken on such nomination or other proposal and such nomination or other proposal shall be disregarded. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chair of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure. The chair of the meeting shall announce at the meeting when the polls for each matter to be voted upon at the meeting will be opened and closed. After the polls close, no ballots, proxies or votes or any revocations or changes thereto may be accepted. The chair of the meeting shall have the power, right and authority to convene, recess or adjourn any meeting of stockholders for any reason.
Section 2.14 Inspectors of Election. In advance of any meeting of the stockholders, the Board of Directors, by resolution, the Chair of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. One or more other persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of the stockholders, the chair of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of inspector, 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 inspector shall have the duties prescribed by law and, when the vote is completed, shall make a certificate of the result of the vote taken and of such other facts as may be required by applicable law.
Section 2.15 Nominations and Proposal of Other Business by Stockholders.
a.Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by stockholders may be made at any Annual Meeting of Stockholders or, in the case of director nominations, at any Special Meeting of Stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors only (i) as specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereof) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any other authorized committee thereof), (ii) otherwise properly brought before an Annual Meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof), or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation (a) who is a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 2.15 and on the record date for the
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determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at such Annual Meeting or Special Meeting, (b) who is entitled to vote at such Annual Meeting or Special Meeting and (c) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.15. Clause (iii) of the preceding sentence shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors or to bring business before an Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Furthermore, in the case of business other than nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors, to be brought before an Annual Meeting, such other business must be a proper matter for stockholder action.
b.In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination to be made, or business to be properly brought before an Annual Meeting by a stockholder of record, such stockholder of record must have given timely notice (such stockholder of record bringing the notice, the “Noticing Stockholder”) thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation (the “Secretary”). To be timely, a Noticing Stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must be delivered to the Corporation (a) in the case of an Annual Meeting, 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 anniversary date of the immediately preceding Annual Meeting of Stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the Annual Meeting is called for a date that is not within 30 days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder in order to be timely must be so received not later than the Close of Business on the tenth day following the day on which such notice of the date of the Annual Meeting was mailed or such public disclosure of the date of the Annual Meeting was made, whichever first occurs; and (b) in the case of a Special Meeting of Stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors (solely with respect to nominations), not later than the Close of Business on the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of the Special Meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the Special Meeting was made, whichever first occurs. In no event shall the adjournment, recess, rescheduling, or postponement of an Annual Meeting or a Special Meeting called for the purpose of electing directors (solely with respect to nominations), or the public announcement of such an adjournment, recess, rescheduling, or postponement, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Noticing Stockholder’s notice as described above. Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph (b) of this Section 2.15 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director proposed by the Board of Directors or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least ten days prior to the last day a Noticing Stockholder may deliver a notice of nominations in accordance with the second sentence of this paragraph (b) of this Section 2.15, a Noticing Stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.15 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to proposed nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to 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 a public announcement of such increase is first made by the Corporation.
c.To be in proper written form, a Noticing Stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth the following information:
1. as to each person whom the Noticing Stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director: (i) the name, age and address (business and residential) of such person, (ii) a complete biography and statement of such person’s qualifications, including the principal occupation or employment of such person (at present and for the past five years), (iii) the Specified Information (as defined below) for such person and any member of the immediate family of such person, or any affiliate or associate of such person, or any person acting in concert therewith, (iv) (A) a complete and accurate description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings (whether written or oral, and including promises) between each Holder (as defined below) and any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), on the one hand, and such person, on the other hand, including, without limitation, (x) to
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consult or advise on any investment or potential investment in a publicly listed company (including the Corporation), (y) to nominate, submit or otherwise recommend (including, without limitation, supporting, advocating for, or otherwise taking action to further the consideration of) such person for appointment (or, for the avoidance of doubt, as a candidate for appointment) to any officer, executive officer or director role of any publicly listed company (including the Corporation) during the past ten years, and (B) a complete and accurate description of the outcome of any situations described pursuant to the foregoing clause (A), (v) whether such person has (A) notified the board of directors of each publicly listed company on whose board such proposed nominee currently sits with respect to such person’s proposed nomination for election to the Board of Directors, and, (B) as applicable, received all necessary consents to serve on the Board of Directors if so nominated and elected or otherwise appointed (or, if any such consents have not been received, how such person intends to address such failure to receive such necessary consents), (vi) whether such person’s nomination, election or appointment, as applicable, would violate or contravene a corporate governance policy, including, without limitation, a conflicts of interest or “overboarding” policy of any publicly listed company at which such person serves as an officer, executive officer or director, and, if so, a description of how such person intends to address such violation or contravention, (vii) the first date of contact between any Holder and/or Stockholder Associated Person, on the one hand, and such person, on the other hand, with respect to the Corporation, (viii) the amount and nature of any direct or indirect economic or financial interest, if any, of such person, or of any immediate family member of such person, in any funds or vehicles managed by, under common management with, or affiliated with any Holder or Stockholder Associated Person, (ix) a complete and accurate description of all direct and indirect compensation and other monetary or non-monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings (whether written or oral) existing presently, that existed during the past three years or were offered during the past three years (whether accepted or declined), and any other material relationships, between or among the Holders or any Stockholder Associated Person, on the one hand, and such person, and any member of the immediate family of such person, and such person’s respective Affiliates and Associates, or others acting in concert therewith, or any other person or persons, on the other hand (including the names of such persons) and all biographical, related party transaction and other information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to the federal and state securities laws, including Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K (“Regulation S-K”) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) (or any successor provision), if any Holder or any Stockholder Associated Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and such person were a director or executive officer of such registrant, (x) information relevant to a determination of whether such person can be considered an independent director, (xi) any other information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or any other filings required to be made in connection with solicitation of proxies for the election of directors in a contested election or that is otherwise required pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in proxy statements as a proposed nominee of the Noticing Stockholder and to serving as a director if elected), and (xii) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement and any and all other information required by Section 2.15(c)(5) below;
2. as to any other business that the Noticing Stockholder proposes to bring before the Annual Meeting: (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the Annual Meeting, (ii) the reasons for conducting such business at the Annual Meeting, (iii) any material interest of each Holder and each Stockholder Associated Person, if any, in such business, (iv) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these By-Laws, the language of the proposed amendment), and (v) a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between each Holder and any
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Stockholder Associated Person and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by the Noticing Stockholder;
3. as to the Noticing Stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made or the other business is being proposed (collectively with the Noticing Stockholder, the “Holders” and each a “Holder”): (i) the name and address of each Holder, as the name and address appear on the Corporation’s books, and the name and address of each Stockholder Associated Person, if any, (ii) as of the date of the notice (A) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, held of record or owned beneficially by each Holder and any Stockholder Associated Person (provided that, for the purposes of this Section 2.15(c)(3), any such person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of stock of the Corporation as to which such person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the fulfillment of a condition or both)), (B) any short position, profits interest, option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, or any derivative or synthetic arrangement having the characteristics of a long position in any class or series of shares of the Corporation, or any contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions designed to produce economic benefits and risks that correspond substantially to the ownership of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, including due to the fact that the value of such contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions is determined by reference to the price, value or volatility of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument, contract or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of shares of the Corporation, through the delivery of cash or other property, or otherwise, and without regard to whether the Holder and any Stockholder Associated Person may have entered into transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such instrument, contract or right, or any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation (any of the foregoing, a “Derivative Instrument” or collectively, “Derivative Instruments”) directly or indirectly owned or held, including beneficially, by each Holder and any Stockholder Associated Person, (C) a description of any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which each Holder and any Stockholder Associated Person has any right to vote or has granted a right to vote any shares of stock or any other security of the Corporation, (D) any agreement, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, including any repurchase or similar so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, involving any Holder or any Stockholder Associated Person, on the one hand, and any person acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, directly or indirectly, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of any class or series of the shares of the Corporation by, manage the risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Holder or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any class or series of the shares or other securities of the Corporation, or which provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the price or value of any class or series of the shares or other securities of the Corporation (any of the foregoing, a “Short Interest”), and any Short Interest held by each Holder or any Stockholder Associated Person within the last 12 months in any class or series of the shares or other securities of the Corporation, (E) any rights to dividends or payments in lieu of dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by each Holder or any Stockholder Associated Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of stock or other security of the Corporation, (F) any proportionate interest in shares of stock or other securities of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership or limited liability company or other entity in which any Holder or any Stockholder Associated Person is a general partner or
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directly or indirectly beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, is the manager, managing member or directly or indirectly beneficially owns an interest in the manager or managing member of a limited liability company or other entity, (G) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that each Holder or any Stockholder Associated Person is or may be entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of stock or other securities of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, including without limitation, any such interests held by members of the immediate family sharing the same household of such Holder or any Stockholder Associated Person, (H) any direct or indirect legal, economic or financial interest (including Short Interest) of each Holder and each Stockholder Associated Person, if any, in the outcome of any (x) vote to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation or (y) any meeting of stockholders of any other entity with respect to any matter that is related, directly or indirectly, to any nomination or business proposed by any Holder under these By-Laws, (I) any direct or indirect legal, economic or financial interest or any Derivative Instruments or Short Interests in any principal competitor of the Corporation held by each Holder or any Stockholder Associated Person, (J) any direct or indirect interest of each Holder or any Stockholder Associated Person in any contract with the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any principal competitor of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement); and (K) any material pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding (whether civil, criminal, investigative, administrative or otherwise) in which any Holder or any Stockholder Associated Person is, or is reasonably expected to be made, a party or material participant involving the Corporation or any of its officers, directors or employees, or any affiliate of the Corporation, or any officer, director or employee of such affiliate (Section 2.15(c)(3)(ii) shall be referred to as the “Specified Information”), (iii) a representation by the Noticing Stockholder that such stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting, will continue to be a stockholder of record of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting through the date of such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such nomination or other business, (iv) all information that would be required to be set forth in a Schedule 13D filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(a) or an amendment pursuant to Rule 13d-2(a) if such a statement were required to be filed under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by each Holder and each Stockholder Associated Person, if any, (v) any other information relating to each Holder and each Stockholder Associated Person, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement and form of proxy or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (vi) a representation by the Noticing Stockholder as to whether any Holder and/or any Stockholder Associated Person intends or is part of a group which intends: (A) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to elect the proposed nominee or approve or adopt the other business being proposed and/or (B) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such nomination or other business, (vii) the statement required by Rule 14a-19(b)(3) of the Exchange Act (or any successor provision), (viii) a certification by the Noticing Stockholder that each Holder and any Stockholder Associated Person has complied with all applicable federal, state and other legal requirements in connection with its acquisition of shares of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation and/or such person’s acts or omissions as a stockholder of the Corporation, (ix) the names and addresses of other stockholders (including beneficial owners) known by any of the Holder or Stockholder Associated Person to support such proposal(s) or nomination(s), and to the extent known the class and number of all shares of the Corporation’s capital stock owned beneficially or of record by such other stockholder(s) or other beneficial owner(s), and (x) a representation by the Noticing Stockholder as to the accuracy of the information set forth in the notice.
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4. The Corporation may also, as a condition to any such nomination or business being deemed properly brought before a meeting of stockholders, require any Holder or any proposed nominee to deliver to the Secretary, within five Business Days of any such request, such other information as may reasonably be requested by the Corporation, including (i) such other information as may be reasonably required by the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, to determine (x) the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a Director of the Corporation, and (y) whether such proposed nominee qualifies as an “independent director” or “audit committee financial expert” under applicable law, securities exchange rule or regulation, or any publicly disclosed corporate governance guideline or committee charter of the Corporation and (ii) such other information that the Board of Directors determines, in its sole discretion, could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such proposed nominee.
5. In addition to the other requirements of this Section 2.15(c), each person who a Noticing Stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director of the Corporation must deliver in writing (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice described herein) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (i) a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such person and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request of any stockholder of record identified by name within five Business Days of such written request) and (ii) a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request of any stockholder of record identified by name within five Business Days of such written request) that such person (A) is not and will not become a party to (x) any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether written or oral) with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (y) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (B) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the Corporation, (C) in such person’s individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with all applicable rules of the exchanges upon which the securities of the Corporation are listed and all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation, and (D) in such person’s individual capacity and on behalf of any Holder on whose behalf the nomination is being made, intends to serve a full term if elected as a director of the Corporation.
d.In addition, to be considered timely, a Noticing Stockholder’s notice shall further be updated and supplemented, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten Business Days prior to the meeting or any adjournment, recess, rescheduling or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to 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 the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date, and not later than eight Business Days prior to the date for the meeting or any adjournment, recess, rescheduling or postponement thereof in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten Business Days prior to the meeting or any adjournment, recess, rescheduling or postponement thereof. In addition, if the Noticing Stockholder has delivered to the Corporation a notice relating to the nomination of directors, the Noticing Stockholder shall deliver to the Corporation not later than eight Business Days prior to the date of the meeting or any
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adjournment, recess, rescheduling or postponement thereof reasonable evidence that it has complied with the requirements of Rule 14a-19 of the Exchange Act (or any successor provision). For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement set forth in this paragraph or any other Section of these By-Laws shall not limit the Corporation’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any proposal or to submit any new proposal, including by changing or adding nominees, matters, business and/or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders.
e.Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.15, unless otherwise required by law or expressly waived in writing by the Corporation, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the Annual Meeting or Special Meeting to present such proposed business or nomination, such proposed business shall not be transacted, or such nomination shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 2.15, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the Annual Meeting or Special Meeting and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the Annual Meeting or Special Meeting.
f.Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.15, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.15; provided however, that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any references in these By-Laws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to proposals as to any business, or nominations, to be considered pursuant to this Section 2.15, and compliance with this Section 2.15 shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to bring business before, or make nominations of persons for elections to the Board of Directors, before or at an Annual Meeting or Special Meeting.
g.For purposes of these By-Laws:
i.“Affiliates” and “Associates” shall have the meanings attributed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act;
ii.“Business Day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in The Woodlands, Texas or New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close;
iii.“Close of Business” on a particular day shall mean 5:00 p.m. local time at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, and if an applicable deadline falls on the Close of Business on a day that is not a Business Day, then the applicable deadline shall be deemed to be the Close of Business on the immediately preceding Business Day;
iv.“delivered” shall mean, both (a) hand delivery, overnight courier service, or by United States certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, in each case to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, and (b) electronic mail to the Secretary;
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v.“public announcement” shall mean disclosure: (a) in a press release released by the Corporation, provided such press release is released by the Corporation following its customary procedures, as reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable national news service, or is generally available on internet news sites, or (b) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and
vi.“Stockholder Associated Person” shall mean, as to any Holder, (i) any person acting in concert with such Holder, (ii) any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Holder or any of their respective Affiliates and Associates, or person acting in concert therewith, and (iii) any member of the immediate family of such Holder or an Affiliate or Associate of such Holder.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 3.1 Number and Election of Directors. The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than three nor more than 15 members, the exact number of which shall be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors, and subject to the rights of the holders of the preferred stock, if any, the exact number may be increased or decreased (but not to less than three or more than 15). Except as provided in Section 3.2, each director shall be elected by a vote of the majority of the votes cast at each meeting of stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present; provided, that each director shall be elected by the vote of the plurality of the votes cast at each such meeting of stockholders for which (x) the Secretary of the Corporation receives notice that one or more stockholders has proposed to nominate one or more persons for election or re-election to the Board of Directors, which notice purports to be in compliance with the advance notice requirements for stockholder nominations set forth in these By-Laws, irrespective of whether the Board of Directors at any time determines that any such notice is not in compliance with such requirements, and (y) such nomination or nominations have not been formally and irrevocably withdrawn by such stockholder(s) on or prior to the date that is 14 days in advance of the date that the Corporation gives notice of the meeting to the stockholders. For purposes of the Section 3.1, a majority of the votes cast means that the number of shares voted “for” a director must exceed the number of shares voted “against” that director. A director shall hold office until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders for the year in which such person’s term expires and until such person’s successor shall be elected and shall qualify, subject, however, to prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office. Directors need not be stockholders.
Section 3.2 Vacancies. Subject to the terms of any one or more classes or series of preferred stock, any vacancy on the Board of Directors that results from an increase in the number of directors or the death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled exclusively by a majority of the Board of Directors then in office, in their sole discretion, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, in such person’s sole discretion. Any director appointed to fill a vacancy on the Corporation’s Board of Directors will be appointed for a term expiring at the next election of the class for which such director has been appointed or, if the Board of Directors is not classified at such time, at the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and until such person’s successor has been elected and qualified.
Section 3.3 Duties and Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation
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and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-Laws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
Section 3.4 Meetings; Notice. The Board of Directors and any committee thereof may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may be held without notice at such time and at such place as may from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors or such committee, respectively. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or a majority of the members of the Board of Directors. Special meetings of any committee of the Board of Directors may be called by the chair of such committee, the Chief Executive Officer, or any director serving on such committee. Notice of all meetings shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting and shall be given to each director (or, in the case of a committee, to each member of such committee) either by mail not less than seven days before the date of the meeting, by facsimile or other means of electronic communication on two days’ notice, or by personal delivery or telephone on 24 hours’ notice. Any director may waive notice of any meeting before or after the meeting. The attendance of a director at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where the director attends the 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 regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in any notice or waiver of notice of such meeting unless so required by law.
Section 3.5 Organization. At each meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, the Chair of the Board of Directors or the chair of such committee, as the case may be, or, in such person’s absence, a director chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall act as chair. Except as provided below, the Secretary of the Corporation shall act as secretary at each meeting of the Board of Directors and of each committee thereof. In case the Secretary shall be absent from any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof, an Assistant Secretary shall perform the duties of secretary at such meeting; and in the absence from any such meeting of the Secretary and all the Assistant Secretaries, the chair of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the members of each committee of the Board of Directors may appoint any person to act as secretary of any meeting of such committee and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation may, but need not if such committee so elects, serve in such capacity.
Section 3.6 Resignations and Removals of Directors. Any director of the Corporation may resign from the Board of Directors or any committee thereof at any time, by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chair of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary and, in the case of a committee, to the chair of such committee. Such resignation shall take effect at the time therein specified or, if no time is specified, immediately; and, unless otherwise specified in such notice, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Except as otherwise required by applicable law and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of shares of the preferred stock then outstanding, any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed from office at any time with or without cause, and by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors. Any director serving on a committee of the Board of Directors may be removed from such committee at any time by the Board of Directors.
Section 3.7 Quorum. Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, at all meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, a majority of the entire Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the directors or committee members present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall
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be the act of the Board of Directors or such committee, as applicable. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting of the time and place of the adjourned meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
Section 3.8 Actions of the Board by Written Consent. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all the members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee.
Section 3.9 Meetings by Means of Conference Telephone. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 3.9 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 3.10 Committees. The Board of Directors shall have, at all times, the following standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Governance and Nominating Committee. Subject to the requirements of applicable law and the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or quotation system on which the securities of the Corporation are listed or quoted for trading, each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Governance and Nominating Committee will consist of such number of members as determined by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may designate one or more other standing or special committees, each such committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors will appoint committee members of each standing committee and the chair of each such committee on the recommendation of the Governance and Nominating Committee. Each member of a committee must meet the requirements for membership, if any, imposed by applicable law and the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or quotation system on which the securities of the Corporation are listed or quoted for trading. 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 any such committee. Subject to the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or quotation system on which the securities of the Corporation are listed or quoted for trading, in the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, and in the absence of a designation by the Board of Directors of an alternate member to replace the absent or disqualified member, 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 qualified member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any absent or disqualified member. Any committee, to the extent permitted by law and provided in its charter or as may be assigned to it by 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. Each committee shall keep regular minutes and report to the Board of Directors when required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article III, any resolution of the Board of Directors establishing or directing any committee of the Board of Directors or establishing or amending the charter of any such committee may establish requirements or procedures relating to the governance and/or operation of such committee that are different from, or in addition to, those set forth in these By-Laws and, to the extent that there is any inconsistency between these By-Laws and any such resolution or charter, the terms of such resolution or charter shall be controlling.
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Section 3.11 Executive Committee. The Board of Directors may provide for an executive committee of two or more directors and shall elect the members thereof to serve during the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may designate one of such members to act as chair, provided that the Chair of the Board shall be a member of the Executive Committee and, if present, shall preside at any meeting of the Executive Committee. The Board of Directors shall have the power at any time to change the membership of the committee, to fill vacancies in it, or to dissolve it. During the intervals between the meetings of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, possess and may exercise any or all of the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation to the extent authorized by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board of Directors.
The Executive Committee may determine its rules of procedure and the notice to be given of its meetings, and it may appoint such committees and assistants as it shall from time to time deem necessary. A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
Section 3.12 Compensation. The Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, shall from time to time determine the form and amount of fees or compensation to be paid to the directors for services as such to the Corporation, including, but not limited to, fees and expenses for serving on and/or attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors or its committees. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 3.13 Interested Directors. No contract or transaction between the Corporation (or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates) and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the Corporation (or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates) and any other corporation, partnership, association or other organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or officers or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because any such director’s or officer’s vote is counted for such purpose if: (i) the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors or the committee, and the Board of Directors or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; or (ii) the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or (iii) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the Board of Directors, a committee thereof or the stockholders. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 4.1 General. The officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, also may choose a President, one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers and other officers. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, unless otherwise prohibited by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws. The officers of the Corporation need not be stockholders of the Corporation.
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Section 4.2 Election. The Board of Directors shall elect the officers of the Corporation who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors; and each officer of the Corporation shall hold office until such officer’s successor is elected and qualified, or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Any officer may be removed at any time by the Board of Directors. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board of Directors. The salaries of all officers of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors. Any officer may resign at any time by delivering a notice of resignation given in writing or electronic transmission to the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary. Unless otherwise specified therein, such resignation shall take effect upon delivery.
Section 4.3 Voting Securities Owned by the Corporation. Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the Chief Executive Officer, any President, any Vice President or any other officer authorized to do so by the Board of Directors and any such officer may, in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation may own securities and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed if present. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.
Section 4.4 Chair of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may choose a Chair (who shall be a director but need not be elected as an officer). The Chair of the Board of Directors shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee (if one shall have been appointed). The Chair of the Board of Directors shall perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned by these By-Laws or by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.5 Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors and the Chair of the Board of Directors, have general supervision of the business of the Corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. In the absence or disability of the Chair of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders. The Chief Executive Officer shall also perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned to such officer by these By-Laws or by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.6 Vice Presidents. Each Vice President shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.7 Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings thereat in a book or books to be kept for that purpose; the Secretary shall also perform like duties for committees of the Board of Directors when required. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, under whose supervision the Secretary shall be. If the Secretary shall be unable or shall refuse to cause to be given notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and if there be no Assistant Secretary, then either the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may choose another officer to cause such notice to be given. The Secretary shall have custody of the seal of the Corporation and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, if there be one, shall have authority to affix the
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same to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by the signature of the Secretary or by the signature of any such Assistant Secretary. The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest to the affixing by such officer’s signature. The Secretary shall see that all books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by law to be kept or filed are properly kept or filed, as the case may be.
Section 4.8 Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors, at its regular meetings, or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of all transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation. If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of the office of the Treasurer and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of the Treasurer’s death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in the Treasurer’s possession or under the Treasurer’s control belonging to the Corporation.
Section 4.9 Assistant Secretaries. Assistant Secretaries, if there be any, shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President, if there be one, or the Secretary, and in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of the Secretary’s inability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the Secretary, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Secretary.
Section 4.10 Assistant Treasurers. Assistant Treasurers, if there be any, shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President, if there be one, or the Treasurer, and in the absence of the Treasurer or in the event of the Treasurer’s inability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the Treasurer, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Treasurer. If required by the Board of Directors, an Assistant Treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of the office of Assistant Treasurer and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of the Assistant Treasurer’s death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in the Assistant Treasurer’s possession or under the Assistant Treasurer’s control belonging to the Corporation.
Section 4.11 Other Officers. Such other officers as the Board of Directors may choose shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may delegate to any other officer of the Corporation the power to choose such other officers and to prescribe their respective duties and powers.
ARTICLE V
STOCK
Section 5.1 Uncertificated Shares. Unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors, each class or series of the shares of capital stock in the Corporation shall be issued in uncertificated form pursuant to the customary arrangements for issuing shares in such form. Shares shall be transferable only on the books of the Corporation by the holder thereof in person or by attorney upon
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presentment of proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to transfer in accordance with the customary procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form.
Section 5.2 Dividend Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders 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 a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. 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.
Section 5.3 Record Owners. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise required by law.
Section 5.4 Transfer and Registry Agents. The Corporation may from time to time maintain one or more transfer offices or agencies and registry offices or agencies at such place or places as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VI
NOTICES
Section 6.1 Notices. Whenever written notice is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, to be given to any director, member of a committee or stockholder, such notice may be given either personally by mail or, to the fullest extent permitted by law, facsimile or other means of electronic communication or by other lawful means. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail addressed to such director, member of a committee or stockholder, at such person’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. If notice be by facsimile or other means of electronic communication, such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time provided in the DGCL. Such further notice shall be given as may be required by law.
Section 6.2 Waivers of Notice. Whenever any notice is required by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, to be given to any director, member of a committee or stockholder, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto. Attendance of a person at a meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where the person attends the 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 Annual or Special Meeting of Stockholders or any regular or special meeting of the directors or members of a committee of directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice unless so required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws.
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ARTICLE VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 7.1 Dividends. Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the requirements of the DGCL and the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors (or any action by written consent in lieu thereof in accordance with Section 3.8), and may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the Corporation’s capital stock. 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 its absolute discretion, deems proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for purchasing any of the shares of capital stock, warrants, rights, options, bonds, debentures, notes, scrip or other securities or evidences of indebtedness of the Corporation, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for any proper purpose, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve.
Section 7.2 Disbursements. All checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.
Section 7.3 Fiscal Year. Unless otherwise fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December 31.
Section 7.4 Corporate Seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware”. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
Section 7.5 Contracts. These By-Laws, the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may authorize any officer or officers or any agent or agents to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument or other document in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1 Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings other than Those by or in the Right of the Corporation. Subject to Section 8.3, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was a director, officer or employee of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of, or in a fiduciary capacity with respect to, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if 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 action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful.
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Section 8.2 Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings by or in the Right of the Corporation. Subject to Section 8.3, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was a director, officer or employee of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of, or in a fiduciary capacity with respect to, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if 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; except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Section 8.3 Authorization of Indemnification. Any indemnification under this Article VIII (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer or employee is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2, as the case may be. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director, officer or employee at the time of such determination, (i) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by a majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (iv) by the stockholders. Such determination shall be made, with respect to present or former employees or former directors and officers, by any person or persons having the authority to act on the matter on behalf of the Corporation. To the extent, however, that a present or former director, officer or employee of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith, without the necessity of authorization in the specific case.
Section 8.4 Good Faith Defined. For purposes of any determination under Section 8.3 of this Article VIII, a person shall be deemed to have 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, or, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, to have had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful, if such person’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Corporation or another enterprise, or on information supplied to such person by the officers of the Corporation or another enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Corporation or another enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Corporation or another enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Corporation or another enterprise. The provisions of this Section 8.4 shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2, as the case may be.
Section 8.5 Indemnification by a Court. Notwithstanding any contrary determination in the specific case under Section 8.3, and notwithstanding the absence of any determination thereunder, any director, officer or employee may apply to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or any other
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court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware for indemnification to the extent otherwise permissible under Section 8.1 or Section 8.2. The basis of such indemnification by a court shall be a determination by such court that indemnification of the director, officer or employee is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2, as the case may be. Neither a contrary determination in the specific case under Section 8.3 nor the absence of any determination thereunder shall be a defense to such application or create a presumption that the director, officer or employee seeking indemnification has not met any applicable standard of conduct. Notice of any application for indemnification pursuant to this Section 8.5 shall be given to the Corporation promptly upon the filing of such application. If successful, in whole or in part, the director, officer or employee seeking indemnification shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such application.
Section 8.6 Expenses Payable in Advance. Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a current or former director or officer or employee entitled to indemnification under this Article VIII in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such current or former director, officer or employee to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article VIII.
Section 8.7 Nonexclusivity of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VIII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-Laws, any statute, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, it being the policy of the Corporation that indemnification of the persons specified in Section 8.1 and Section 8.2 shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law. The provisions of this Article VIII shall not be deemed to preclude the indemnification of any person who is not specified in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2 but whom the Corporation has the power or obligation to indemnify under the provisions of the DGCL, or otherwise.
Section 8.8 Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer or employee of the Corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of, or in a fiduciary capacity with respect to, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article VIII.
Section 8.9 Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Article VIII, references to “the Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors or officers, so that any person who is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation, or is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation or is or was a director, officer or employee of such constituent corporation serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of, or in a fiduciary capacity with respect to, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article VIII with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its
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separate existence had continued. The term “another enterprise” as used in this Article VIII shall mean any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which such person is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent. For purposes of this Article VIII, references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of, or fiduciary with respect to, another enterprise which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer or employee with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Article VIII.
Any reference to an officer of the Corporation in this Article VIII shall be deemed to refer exclusively to the Chief Executive Officer, Secretary or Treasurer appointed pursuant to Article IV of these By-Laws, and to any President, Vice President, Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer or other officer of the Corporation appointed by the Board of Directors pursuant to Article IV of these By-Laws, and any reference to an officer of any another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be deemed to refer exclusively to an officer appointed by the board of directors or equivalent governing body of such other entity pursuant to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or equivalent organizational documents of such other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise. The fact that any person who is or was an employee of the Corporation or an employee of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise has been given or has used the title of “Vice President” or any other title that could be construed to suggest or imply that such person is or may be an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall not result in such person being constituted as, or being deemed to be, an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise for purposes of this Article VIII.
Section 8.10 Survival of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VIII shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer or employee and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
Section 8.11 Limitation on Indemnification. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article VIII to the contrary, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification (which shall be governed by Section 8.5) or with respect to any compulsory counterclaim brought by such indemnitee, the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any person entitled to indemnification under this Article VIII (or such person’s heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives) or advance expenses in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
Section 8.12 Indemnification of Employees and Agents. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to other employees and agents of the Corporation similar to those conferred in this Article VIII to directors and officers of the Corporation.
Section 8.13 Amendment or Repeal. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article VIII shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of a director, officer or employee of the Corporation in respect of any proceeding (regardless of when such proceeding is first
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threatened, commenced or completed) arising out of, or related to, any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
Section 9.1 Amendments. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt, amend, alter or repeal these By-Laws. The affirmative vote of at least a majority of the Board of Directors shall be required to adopt, amend, alter or repeal these By-Laws. In addition, these By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed, in whole or in part, or new By-Laws may be adopted by the stockholders, with the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the Corporation’s capital stock then outstanding and entitled to vote thereon.
ARTICLE X
CONSTRUCTION
Section 10.1 Construction. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of these By-Laws as in effect from time to time and the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation as in effect from time to time, the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation shall be controlling.
Section 10.2 Entire Board of Directors. As used in this Article X and in these By-Laws generally, the term “entire Board of Directors” means the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies and each other reference to the “Board of Directors” means the total number of directors then in office.
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Adopted as of: May 10, 2023
Last Amended as of: May 10, 2023
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