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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): October 13, 2023

  

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

  

Delaware   001-15839   95-4803544
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)
  (Commission File
Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

2701 Olympic Boulevard, Building B
Santa Monica
, California
  90404
(Address of principal executive
offices)
  (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (310) 255-2000

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report: N/A)

  

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

  ¨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:

 

Title of each class  Trading Symbol(s)  Name of each exchange on
which registered
Common Stock, par value $.000001 per share  ATVI  The Nasdaq Global Select Market

  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

 

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 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

 

On October 13, 2023 (the “Closing Date”), Activision Blizzard, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), completed the previously announced transaction with Microsoft Corporation, a Washington corporation (“Parent”), pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 18, 2022 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, Parent and Anchorage Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), Merger Sub merged with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.

 

Merger Consideration

 

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, each of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.000001 per share (the “Shares”) (other than Shares (i) held by the Company as treasury stock (excluding certain Shares held by a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, which shares remained outstanding and unaffected by the Merger), (ii) owned by Parent or Merger Sub, (iii) owned by any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent or Merger Sub or (iv) held by stockholders who had neither voted in favor of adoption of the Merger Agreement nor consented thereto in writing and who had properly and validly exercised their statutory rights of appraisal in respect of such Shares in accordance with Section 262 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, in each case, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (collectively, the “Excluded Shares”)), was cancelled and automatically converted into the right to receive $95.00 in cash (the “Merger Consideration”), without interest.

 

In addition, at the Effective Time:

 

·Each outstanding option to purchase Shares granted pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans (each, a “Company Option”) that (i) was vested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time or (ii) became vested by its terms upon the occurrence of the Effective Time was cancelled and converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration for each Share that would have been issuable upon exercise of such Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time, less the applicable option exercise price and any applicable withholding taxes. In the event that the exercise price per Share under any Company Option was equal to or greater than the Merger Consideration (any such Company Option, an “Underwater Option”), such Company Option was cancelled as of the Effective Time without payment therefor and has no further force or effect.

 

·Each outstanding award of time-vesting restricted stock units or performance-vesting restricted stock units granted pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans (each, a “Company Stock-Based Award”) that (i) was vested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, (ii) became vested by its terms upon the occurrence of the Effective Time or (iii) was granted to a non-employee member of the Board of Directors of the Company, was, as of the Effective Time, cancelled and converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration with respect to each Share subject to such Company Stock-Based Award, less any applicable withholding taxes.

 

·Each Company Option that was not cancelled and converted and was not an Underwater Option, each, as described above (each, an “Assumed Company Option”) was, as of the Effective Time, converted into a nonqualified stock option granted pursuant to Parent’s 2001 Stock Plan, as amended and restated (the “Parent Stock Plan”), with terms and conditions relating to vesting and exercisability to remain the same with respect to such Company Options subject to time-based vesting and with respect to such Company Options subject to performance-based vesting, converted into time-based vesting Assumed Company Options (determined based on target performance levels) that shall vest at the conclusion of the original performance period, and in respect of a number of shares of common stock of Parent equal to the product (rounded down to the nearest whole share) of (i) the number of Shares subject to such Assumed Company Option as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (determined based on target performance levels, as applicable) multiplied by (ii) a fraction (A) the numerator of which was the Merger Consideration and (B) the denominator of which was the volume weighted average price per share of common stock of Parent on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) for the five consecutive trading days ending with the last trading day ending immediately prior to the Closing Date (such fraction, the “Exchange Ratio”), at an exercise price per share of common stock of Parent equal to (x) the exercise price of such Company Option divided by (y) the Exchange Ratio (rounded up to the nearest whole cent).

 

 

 

 

·Each Company Stock-Based Award that was not cancelled and converted as described above (each, an “Assumed Company Stock-Based Award”) was, as of the Effective Time, converted into a stock-based award pursuant to the Parent Stock Plan, with terms and conditions relating to vesting to remain the same with respect to such Company Stock-Based Awards subject to time-based vesting and with respect to such Company Stock-Based Awards subject to performance-based vesting converted into time-based vesting Assumed Company Stock-Based Awards (determined based on target performance levels) that shall vest at the conclusion of the original performance period, and in respect of a number of shares of common stock of Parent equal to the product (rounded down to the nearest whole share) of the number of Shares subject to such Assumed Company Stock-Based Award as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (determined based on target performance levels, as applicable) multiplied by the Exchange Ratio.

 

·Notwithstanding the above, generally, all Company Options and Company Stock-Based Awards that would otherwise have constituted Assumed Company Options and Assumed Company Stock-Based Awards, respectively, and that were scheduled to vest within 120 days following the Closing Date were accelerated and became vested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time and were treated as described in the first and second bullets above, respectively.

 

The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement and the transactions completed pursuant thereto is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Merger Agreement, which was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on January 19, 2022, and the Letter Agreement, dated as of July 18, 2023, by and among the Company, Parent and Merger Sub, which was filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on July 19, 2023, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.01 Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.

 

The information contained in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.01.

 

In connection with the consummation of the Merger, on the Closing Date, the Company notified Nasdaq that the Merger had been consummated and that each issued and outstanding Share (other than any Excluded Share) had been converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, without interest. The Company requested that Nasdaq (i) halt trading of the Shares on Nasdaq prior to the open of trading on the Closing Date, (ii) withdraw the Shares from listing on Nasdaq and (iii) file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a Notification of Removal from Listing and/or Registration under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), on Form 25 to report that the Shares are no longer listed on Nasdaq and to apply for the deregistration of the Shares under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. As a result, the Shares, which previously traded under the symbol “ATVI”, will no longer be listed on Nasdaq.

 

In addition, the Company intends to file a certification on Form 15 with the SEC to suspend the Company’s reporting obligations under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

 

The information contained in Item 2.01, Item 3.01, Item 5.01 and Item 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.

 

As a result of the consummation of the Merger, at the Effective Time, holders of the Shares immediately prior to such time (except as described in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K) ceased to have any rights as stockholders of the Company (other than their right to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement).

 

 

 

 

Item 5.01 Changes in Control of Registrant.

 

The information contained in Item 2.01, Item 3.01 and Item 5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.01.

 

As a result of the consummation of the Merger, at the Effective Time, a change in control of the Company occurred and the Company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.

 

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

The information contained in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02.

 

As a result of the Merger and pursuant to the Merger Agreement, each of Reveta Bowers, Kerry Carr, Robert Corti, Brian Kelly, Robert Kotick, Barry Meyer, Robert Morgado, Peter Nolan and Dawn Ostroff resigned and ceased to be directors of the Company and members of any committee or subcommittee of the Company’s Board of Directors as of the Effective Time, and Keith R. Dolliver and Benjamin O. Orndorff, who constituted the directors of Merger Sub as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, became the directors of the Company.

 

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, effective as of the Effective Time, the certificate of incorporation and the bylaws of the Company were amended and restated in their entirety. A copy of the Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Sixth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company are filed as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

     
Exhibit
Number
  Description
   
2.1*   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 18, 2022, by and among Activision Blizzard, Inc., Microsoft Corporation and Anchorage Merger Sub Inc., as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 19, 2022).
   
2.2   Letter Agreement, dated as of July 18, 2023, by and among Activision Blizzard, Inc., Microsoft Corporation and Anchorage Merger Sub Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 19, 2023).
     
3.1   Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Activision Blizzard, Inc.
     
3.2   Sixth Amended and Restated Bylaws of Activision Blizzard, Inc.
   
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

* Schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K.  Activision Blizzard, Inc. hereby undertakes to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule upon request by the SEC.

 

 

 

 

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.

 

  ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.
     
  By:

/s/ Luci Altman

    Name: Luci Altman
    Title: Senior Vice President, Corporate Governance and Corporate Secretary
     
  Date: October 13, 2023
     

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

ARTICLE I

 

The name of the Corporation is Activision Blizzard, Inc.

 

ARTICLE II

 

The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19808 and the name of its registered agent at that address is Corporation Service Company.

 

ARTICLE III

 

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) or any successor statute.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

The total number of shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,222,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”).

 

ARTICLE V

 

In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors, acting by majority vote, is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Unless and except to the extent that the Bylaws of the Corporation shall so require, election of directors of the Corporation need not be by written ballot.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

The personal liability of the directors and officers of the Corporation is hereby eliminated to the fullest extent permitted by paragraph (7) of subsection (b) of Section 102 of the DGCL, as the same may be amended and supplemented.

 

Any modification of this Article VII by the stockholders of the Corporation shall be prospective only and shall not adversely affect any limitation on the personal liability of a director or officer of the Corporation existing at the time of such appeal on modification.

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

The Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL, as the same may be amended and supplemented, shall indemnify the directors and officers of the Corporation under said section from and against any and all of the expenses, liabilities or other matters referred to in or covered by said section, and the indemnification provided for herein shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administration of such a person.

 

Any modification of this Article VIII by the stockholders of the Corporation shall be prospective only and shall not adversely affect any limitation on the personal liability of a director or officer of the Corporation existing at the time of such appeal on modification.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum (an “Alternative Forum Consent”), the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a duty (including any fiduciary duty) owed by any current or former director, officer, stockholder, employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising out of or relating to any provision of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws (each, as in effect from time to time) or as to which the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine; provided, however, that, in the event that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks subject matter jurisdiction over any such action or proceeding, the sole and exclusive forum for such action or proceeding shall be another state or federal court located within the State of Delaware or, if no court of the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, then the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Article IX, unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Failure to enforce the foregoing provisions would cause the Corporation irreparable harm and the Corporation shall be entitled to equitable relief, including injunctive relief and specific performance, to enforce the foregoing provisions. Any person or entity purchasing, 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 foregoing provisions of this Article IX. The existence of any prior Alternative Forum Consent shall not act as a waiver of the Corporation’s ongoing consent right as set forth above in this Article IX with respect to any current or future actions or claims.

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE X

 

The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL, and the restrictions contained in Section 203 of the DGCL shall not apply to the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

If any provision or provisions of this Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

*      *      *      *      *

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.2

 

SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

ARTICLE I

 

Meetings of Stockholders

 

Section 1.1.         Annual Meetings. If required by applicable law, an annual meeting of stockholders of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (the “Corporation”) shall be held for the election of directors at such date, time and place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, as may be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) from time to time. Any other proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 1.2.         Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Board of Directors, but such special meetings may not be called by any other person or persons. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 1.3.         Notice of Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice of the meeting shall be given that shall state the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) or these Bylaws, the notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder's address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.

 

Section 1.4.         Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may adjourn from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

 

 

 

 

Section 1.5.         Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, at each meeting of stockholders the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote at the meeting shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum, the stockholders so present may, by a majority in voting power thereof, adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 1.4 of these Bylaws until a quorum shall attend. Shares of its own stock belonging to the Corporation or to another Corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other Corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation to vote stock, including but not limited to its own stock, held by it in a fiduciary capacity.

 

Section 1.6.         Organization. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, if any, or in his or her absence by the Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors, if any, or in his or her absence by the President, or in his or her absence by a Vice President, or in the absence of the foregoing persons by a chairperson designated by the Board of Directors, or in the absence of such designation by a chairperson chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

Section 1.7.         Voting; Proxies. Except as otherwise provided by or pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by such stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the Secretary of the Corporation a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot. At all meetings of stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect. All other elections and questions presented to the stockholders at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall, unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of stock of the Corporation which are present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon.

 

 -2- 

 

 

Section 1.8.         Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.

 

(a)        In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of 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, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. 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 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 stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.

 

(b)        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 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 shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such other action. If no such 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.

 

(c)        Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, in order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, 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 ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting is fixed by the Board of Directors, (i) when no prior action of the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law, and (ii) if prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

 

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Section 1.9.         List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, 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. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of meeting or (ii) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be examined by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section 1.9 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 1.10.       Action By Written Consent of Stockholders. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which minutes of proceedings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation's registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall, to the extent required by law, be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for notice of such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take the action were delivered to the Corporation.

 

Section 1.11.       Inspectors of Election. The Corporation may, and shall if required by law, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election, who may be employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and to make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. In the event that no inspector so appointed or designated is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to execute faithfully the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspector or inspectors so appointed or designated shall (i) ascertain the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each such share, (ii) determine the shares of capital stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors, and (v) certify their determination of the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting and such inspectors’ count of all votes and ballots. Such certification and report shall specify such other information as may be required by law. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.

 

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Section 1.12.       Conduct of Meetings. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the person presiding over the meeting. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the person presiding over any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such presiding person, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the presiding person of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the presiding person of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The presiding person at any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such presiding person should so determine, such presiding person shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

ARTICLE II

 

Board of Directors

 

Section 2.1.         Number; Qualifications. The Board of Directors shall consist of one or more members, the number thereof to be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. Directors need not be stockholders.

 

Section 2.2.         Election; Resignation; Vacancies. The Board of Directors shall initially consist of the persons named as directors in the Certificate of Incorporation or elected by the incorporator of the Corporation, and each director so elected shall hold office until the first annual meeting of stockholders or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified. At the first annual meeting of stockholders and at each annual meeting thereafter, the stockholders shall elect directors each of whom shall hold office for a term of one year or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, subject to such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. Any director may resign at any time upon notice to the Corporation. Unless otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, any newly created directorship or any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors for any cause may be filled by a majority of the remaining members of the Board of Directors, although such majority is less than a quorum, or by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders, and each director so elected shall hold office until the expiration of the term of office of the director whom he or she has replaced or until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

 

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Section 2.3.         Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such places within or without the State of Delaware and at such times as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

Section 2.4.         Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time or place within or without the State of Delaware whenever called by the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, or by any member of the Board of Directors. Notice of a special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given by the person or persons calling the meeting at least 24 hours before the special meeting.

 

Section 2.5.         Telephonic Meetings Permitted. Members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting thereof by means of 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 bylaw shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

Section 2.6.         Quorum; Vote Required for Action. At all meetings of the Board of Directors the directors entitled to cast a majority of the votes of the whole Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except in cases in which the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or the applicable law otherwise provides (but subject to the terms of any agreement entered into by the Corporation), a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.7.         Organization. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, if any, or in his or her absence by the Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors, if any, or in his or her absence by the President, or in their absence by a chairperson chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

Section 2.8.         Action by Unanimous Consent of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and the writing or writings or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee in accordance with applicable law.

 

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ARTICLE III

 

Committees

 

Section 3.1.         Committees. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of the committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by law and to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it.

 

Section 3.2.         Committee Rules. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise provides, each committee designated by the Board of Directors may make, alter and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of Directors conducts its business pursuant to Article II of these Bylaws.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Officers

 

Section 4.1.         Officers; Election; Qualifications; Term of Office; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies. The Board of Directors shall elect a President and Secretary, and it may, if it so determines, choose a Chairperson of the Board of Directors and a Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors from among its members. The Board of Directors may also choose one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries, a Treasurer and one or more Assistant Treasurers and such other officers as it shall from time to time deem necessary or desirable. Each such officer shall hold office until the first meeting of the Board of Directors after the annual meeting of stockholders next succeeding his or her election, and until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal. Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the Corporation. The Board of Directors may remove any officer with or without cause at any time, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights of such officer, if any, with the Corporation. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation by death, resignation, removal or otherwise may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting.

 

Section 4.2.         Powers and Duties of Officers. The officers of the Corporation shall have such powers and duties in the management of the Corporation as may be prescribed in a resolution by the Board of Directors and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may require any officer, agent or employee to give security for the faithful performance of his or her duties.

 

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Section 4.3.         Appointing Attorneys and Agents; Voting Securities of Other Entities. Unless otherwise provided by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, the President or any Vice President may from time to time appoint an attorney or attorneys or agent or agents of the Corporation, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, to cast the votes which the Corporation may be entitled to cast as the holder of stock or other securities in any other Corporation or other entity, any of whose stock or other securities may be held by the Corporation, at meetings of the holders of the stock or other securities of such other Corporation or other entity, or to consent in writing, in the name of the Corporation as such holder, to any action by such other Corporation or other entity, and may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of casting such votes or giving such consents, and may execute or cause to be executed in the name and on behalf of the Corporation and under its corporate seal or otherwise, all such written proxies or other instruments as he or she may deem necessary or proper. Any of the rights set forth in this Section 4.3 which may be delegated to an attorney or agent may also be exercised directly by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, the President or the Vice President.

 

ARTICLE V

 

Stock

 

Section 5.1.         Certificates. The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors, if any, or the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Corporation certifying the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation. Any of or all the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue.

 

Section 5.2.         Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.

 

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ARTICLE VI

 

Indemnification

 

Section 6.1.         Indemnification Of Directors And Officers In Third Party Proceedings. Subject to the other provisions of this Article VI, the Corporation shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), as now or hereinafter in effect, 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 (a “Proceeding”) (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 while a director of the Corporation or officer of the Corporation is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Corporation, 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 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 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.

 

Section 6.2.         Indemnification Of Directors And Officers In Actions By Or In The Right Of The Corporation. Subject to the other provisions of this Article VI, the Corporation shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as now or hereinafter in effect, 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 while a director or officer of the Corporation is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Corporation, 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 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 6.3.         Successful Defense. To the extent that a present or former director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described in Section 6.1 or Section 6.2, 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.

 

Section 6.4.         Indemnification Of Others. Subject to the other provisions of this Article VI, the Corporation shall have power to indemnify its employees and its agents to the extent not prohibited by the DGCL or other applicable law. The Board of Directors shall have the power to delegate the determination of whether employees or agents shall be indemnified to such person or persons as the Board of Directors determines.

 

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Section 6.5.         Advanced Payment Of Expenses. Expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by an officer or director of the Corporation in defending any Proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation, and expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by the Corporation's employees and agents in defending any Proceeding may be paid by the Corporation, in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding upon receipt of a written request therefor (together with documentation reasonably evidencing such expenses) and an undertaking by or on behalf of the person to repay such amounts if it shall ultimately be determined that the person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VI or the DGCL. Such expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Corporation deems reasonably appropriate and shall be subject to the Corporation's expense guidelines. The right to advancement of expenses shall not apply to any claim for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to these Bylaws, but shall apply to any Proceeding referenced in Section 6.6(b), 6.6(c) or 6.6(e) prior to a determination that the person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.

 

Section 6.6.         Limitation On Indemnification. Subject to the requirements in Section 8.3 and the DGCL, the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any person pursuant to this Article VI in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding):

 

(a)        for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of such person under any statute, insurance policy, indemnity provision, vote or otherwise, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid;

 

(b)        for an accounting or disgorgement of profits pursuant to Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act, or similar provisions of federal, state or local statutory law or common law, if such person is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements);

 

(c)        for any reimbursement of the Corporation by such person of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by such person from the sale of securities of the Corporation, as required in each case under the 1934 Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Corporation pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Corporation of profits arising from the purchase and sale by such person of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if such person is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements);

 

(d)        initiated by such person (and not by way of defense), unless (a) the Board of Directors authorized the Proceeding (or the relevant part of the Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (b) the Corporation provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Corporation under applicable law, (c) otherwise required to be made under Section 8.7 or (d) otherwise required by applicable law; or

 

(e)        if prohibited by applicable law; provided, however, that if any provision or provisions of this Article VI shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (1) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article VI (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph or clause containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (2) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article VI (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph or clause containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

 

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Section 6.7.         Determination; Claim. If a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article VI is not paid in full within 90 days after receipt by the Corporation of the written request therefor, the claimant shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of competent jurisdiction of his or her entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of expenses. The Corporation shall indemnify such person against any and all expenses that are incurred by such person in connection with any action for indemnification or advancement of expenses from the Corporation under this Article VI, to the extent such person is successful in such action, and to the extent not prohibited by law. In any such suit, the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proving that the claimant is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses.

 

Section 6.8.         Non-Exclusivity Of Rights. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VI 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 or any statute, bylaw, 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. The Corporation is specifically authorized to enter into individual contracts with any or all of its directors, officers, employees or agents respecting indemnification and advancement of expenses, to the fullest extent not prohibited by the DGCL or other applicable law.

 

Section 6.9.         Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust 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 to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of the DGCL.

 

Section 6.10.       Survival. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this Article VI shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

 

Section 6.11.       Effect Of Repeal Or Modification. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article VI shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal.

 

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Section 6.12.       Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Article VI, 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, officers, employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article VI with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued. For purposes of this Article VI, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; 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 the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent 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 VI.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

Miscellaneous

 

Section 7.1.         Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 7.2.         Seal. The corporate seal shall have the name of the Corporation inscribed thereon and shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 7.3.         Manner of Notice. Except as otherwise provided herein or permitted by applicable law, notices to directors and stockholders shall be in writing and delivered personally or mailed to the directors or stockholders at their addresses appearing on the books of the Corporation. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, and except as prohibited by applicable law, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. Any stockholder who fails to object in writing to the Corporation, within sixty (60) days of having been given written notice by the Corporation of its intention to send the single notice permitted under this Section 6.3, shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice. Notice to directors may be given by telecopier, telephone or other means of electronic transmission.

 

Section 7.4.         Waiver of Notice of Meetings of Stockholders, Directors and Committees. Any waiver of notice, given by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at nor the purpose of any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, directors, or members of a committee of directors need be specified in a waiver of notice.

 

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Section 7.5.         Form of Records. Any records maintained by the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account, and minute books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device or method, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time.

 

Section 7.6.         Amendment of Bylaws. These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, and new Bylaws made, by the Board of Directors, but the stockholders may make additional Bylaws and may alter and repeal any Bylaws whether adopted by them or otherwise.

 

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