EXHIBIT 3.1
Published on February 8, 2016
Exhibit 3.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
CRYPORT, INC.
(as amended and restated as of February 8, 2016)
ARTICLE I
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Annual Meeting.
(a) An annual meeting of the stockholders, for the purpose of the election of directors to succeed those whose terms may expire in such year and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place within or without the State of Nevada or solely by means of remote communication, on such date, and at such time as may be designated by the Board of Directors each year.
(b) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be transacted by the stockholders may only be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (i) pursuant to the corporation’s notice of such meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (iii) by any stockholder of record of the corporation at the time of the giving of the notice required in Section 1(c) who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1. The foregoing clause (iii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or propose business (other than business included in the corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (such act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “Exchange Act”)) at an annual meeting of stockholders.
(c) For nominations or business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder of record pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 1(b), (i) the stockholder of record must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the corporation, (ii) the stockholder of record must provide to the Secretary of the corporation any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms specified in this Section 1, (iii) any such business must be a proper matter for stockholder action under the Nevada Revised Statutes and (iv) the stockholder of record and the beneficial owner or owners, if any, on whose behalf any such proposal or nomination is made, must have acted in accordance with the representations set forth in the Solicitation Statement (as defined in Section 1(d)(iii)(D)). To be timely, a notice by a stockholder of record must be received by the Secretary of the corporation at the principal executive offices of the corporation not less than 90 or more than 120 days prior to the one-year anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that, subject to the last sentence of this Section 1(c), if the meeting is convened more than 60 days prior to or delayed by more than 30 days after the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder of record to be timely must be so received not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of the annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (i) the 90th day before such annual meeting or (ii) if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Notwithstanding anything in the preceding sentence to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and there has been no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or indicating the increase in the size of the Board of Directors made by the corporation at least 10 days before the last day, a stockholder of record may deliver a notice of nomination in accordance with the preceding sentence. A notice by a stockholder of record required by this Section 1 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase in the number of directors, if it shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the corporation. In no event shall an adjournment, or postponement of an annual meeting for which notice has been given, commence a new time period for the giving of a notice by a stockholder of record.
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(d) Such notice by a stockholder of record shall set forth:
(i) If such notice pertains to the nomination of directors, as to each person whom the stockholder of record proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director: (A) all information relating to such person as would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of such nominees as directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act; (B) such person’s written consent to serve as a director if elected; (C) a description of all direct and indirect compensation or other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder of record and beneficial owner or owners, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, or other persons acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee and his or her respective affiliates and associates or other persons acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including without limitation all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder of record making the nomination and any beneficial owner or owners, if any, or other person on whose behalf the nomination is made, or any affiliate or associate thereof or other person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant; and (D) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation or agreement as may be required by the corporation pursuant to Section 3 of Article II of these bylaws. For purposes of these bylaws, a person shall be deemed to be acting in concert with another person if such person knowingly acts toward a common goal relating to the management, governance or control of the corporation in parallel with such other person where (A) each person is conscious of the other person’s conduct or intent and this awareness is an element in their decision-making process and (B) at least one additional factor suggests that persons intend to act in parallel, which additional factors may include attending meetings, conducting discussions or making or soliciting invitations to act in parallel.
(ii) As to any business that the stockholder of record proposes to bring before the meeting: a brief description of such business, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, any material interest in such business of such stockholder of record and the beneficial owner or owners, if any, or other persons on whose behalf the proposal is made or acting in concert therewith and a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder of record and beneficial owner or owners, if any, and any other such person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder of record.
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(iii) As to (1) the stockholder of record giving the notice and (2) the beneficial owner or owners, if any, or other persons on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made or acting in concert therewith (each, a “party”):
(A) the name and address of each such party;
(B) (1) the class, series, and number of shares of the corporation that are owned, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record by each such party, (2) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or providing for a settlement payment or mechanism based on the price of 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, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the corporation or otherwise (a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by each such party, and 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, (3) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which any party, either directly or acting in concert with another person or persons, has a right to vote, directly or indirectly, any shares of any security of the corporation, (4) any short interest or other borrowing arrangement in any security of the corporation held by each such party (for purposes of this Section 1(d), a person shall be deemed to have a short interest in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security), (5) any rights to dividends on the shares of the corporation owned beneficially directly or indirectly by each such party that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the corporation, (6) any proportionate interest in shares of the corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which any party is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner and (7) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that each such party is directly or indirectly entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including without limitation any such interests held by members of each such party’s immediate family sharing the same household (which information set forth in this paragraph shall be supplemented by such stockholder or such beneficial owner or other person, as the case may be, not later than 10 days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date);
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(C) any other information relating to each such party that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement 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 (whether or not such party intends to deliver a proxy statement or conduct its own proxy solicitation); and
(D) a statement as to whether or not each such party will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of, in the case of a proposal, at least the percentage of voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the corporation required under applicable law to carry the proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations for election as directors, at least the percentage of voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the corporation reasonably believed by the stockholder of record or beneficial owner or owners, as the case may be, to be sufficient to elect the persons proposed to be nominated by the stockholder of record (such statement, a “Solicitation Statement”).
(iv) A stockholder of record providing notice of a nomination of director or other business proposed to be brought before a meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 1 shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than five business days after the record date for the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than five business days prior to the date for the meeting, if practicable (or, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to) any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).
(e) A person shall not be eligible for election or re-election as a director at an annual meeting unless (i) the person is nominated by a stockholder of record in accordance with Section 1(b)(iii); or (ii) the person is nominated by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof. Only such business shall be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section. The chair of the meeting shall have the power and the duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting has been made in accordance with the procedures set forth in these bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these bylaws, to declare that such proposed business or nomination shall not be presented for stockholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded.
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(f) For purposes of these bylaws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this Section 1. Nothing in this Section 1 shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
Section 2. Special Meetings.
(a) Special meetings of the stockholders, other than those required by statute, may only be called by (i) the Board of Directors, (ii) the Chairman of the Board, (iii) the Chief Executive Officer of the corporation or (iv) holders of more than seventy-five percent (75%) of the outstanding shares of the corporation then entitled to vote. If any person(s) calls a special meeting pursuant to clause (iv), the request shall:
(i) be in writing and be delivered in person or by registered mail to the Secretary of the corporation;
(ii) specify in reasonable detail the valid purpose(s) of and the business proposed to be conducted at the special meeting;
(iii) specify the valid reasons for conducting such business at a special meeting;
(iv) suggest a date for the special meeting, which date shall be no fewer than ninety (90) and no more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the date on which the request is delivered to the Secretary of the corporation; and
(v) satisfy the notice requirements for nominations or business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder of record as set forth in Section 1(d) of Article I.
(b) If the Board of Directors determines that a stockholder’s request for a special meeting complies with the corporation’s articles of incorporation and these bylaws and the reasons and purposes are valid, the Board of Directors shall call and send notice of a special meeting for the purpose set forth in such request. The Board of Directors shall determine the date for such special meeting and the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting; provided, however, that the date of any such special meeting shall be not more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the request to call the special meeting is received by the Secretary unless a later date is required in order to allow the corporation to file the information required under Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Business transacted at a special meeting requested by stockholders shall be limited to the purpose(s) stated in the request, unless the Board of Directors submits additional matters to stockholders at any special meeting requested by stockholders.
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(c) Given the expense and resource commitment of holding a special meeting, in making the decision to call a special meeting in response to stockholder requests, the Board of Directors shall have discretion as to the call and purposes of a meeting and may refuse to call a special meeting if the meeting request (i) relates to an item of business that is not a proper subject for stockholder action under applicable law, (ii) for a purpose identical or similar to a purpose for which a previous special or annual meeting was held in the previous 120 days, (iii) if an annual meeting is to be held within 120 days the date on which the request is delivered to the Secretary of the corporation, or (iv) if, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors, the purpose of the proposed meeting does not present a time sensitive issue that must be addressed before the next scheduled annual meeting.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this Section 2. Nothing in this Section 2 shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
Section 3. Notice of Meetings.
(a) Notice of the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, place, if any, date, and time of all meetings of the stockholders, and 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, shall be given in writing, not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law (meaning, here and hereinafter, as required from time to time by the Nevada Revised Statutes or the corporation’s articles of incorporation). Such written notice shall be delivered in accordance with Nevada Revised Statutes 78.370 and Article VI below.
(b) When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than 30 days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, or if a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the place, if any, date, and time of the adjourned meeting and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, shall be given in conformity herewith. At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
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Section 4. Quorum.
(a) At any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the shares of the stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or by proxy, regardless of whether the proxy has authority to vote on all matters, shall constitute a quorum for all purposes, unless or except to the extent that the presence of a larger number may be required by law. 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 that vote on that matter.
(b) If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chair of the meeting may adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date, or time without notice other than announcement at the meeting. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. 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. A holder of stock shall be treated as being present at a meeting if the holder of such stock is (i) present in person at the meeting or (ii) represented at the meeting by a valid proxy executed in writing (or in such other manner permitted by the Nevada Revised Statutes) by the stockholder, or by such person’s duly authorized attorney in fact.
Section 5. Presiding Officers of the Meeting.
The Chairman of the Board or, in his or her absence, the Chief Executive Officer of the corporation or, in his or her absence, such person as may be chosen by the Board of Directors, or if there are not remaining directors serving, such person as may be chosen by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, at such meeting shall call to order any meeting of the stockholders and act as chair of the meeting. In the absence of the Secretary of the corporation, the secretary of the meeting shall be such person as the chair of the meeting appoints.
Section 6. Conduct of Business.
The chair of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of the matters to be voted upon by the stockholders, the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seem to him or her in order. The chair shall have the power to adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date and time. The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting. No ballots, proxies or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes thereto, shall be accepted by the inspectors or the chair of the meeting after the closing of the polls unless a court of law shall determine otherwise.
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Section 7. Proxies and Voting.
(a) At any meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder entitled to vote may vote in person or by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by an electronic transmission permitted by law filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission authorized pursuant to this paragraph may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.
(b) The corporation may, and to the extent required by law, shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The corporation may designate one or more alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting may, and to the extent required by law, shall, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. Every vote taken by ballots shall be counted by a duly appointed inspector or inspectors.
(c) When a quorum is present at a meeting, all elections of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast, and except as otherwise required by law, all other matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively. In determining the number of votes cast, shares abstaining from voting or not voted on a matter (including elections) will not be treated as votes cast. The provisions of this Section 7(c) will govern with respect to all votes of stockholders except as otherwise provided for in these bylaws or in the corporation’s articles of incorporation or by some specific statutory provision, regulation or rule superseding the provisions contained in these bylaws or the corporation’s articles of incorporation.
Section 8. Stockholder List.
A complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in his or her name, shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting in the manner provided by law. The stock list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting as provided by law. This list shall presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them.
Section 9. Action by Written Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the corporation (if the corporation has more than one stockholder at such time) must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.
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Article II
Board of Directors
Section 1. Number, Election and Term of Directors.
Unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation, the authorized number of directors shall be not less than 1 (minimum number) nor more than 9 (maximum number). The number of directors shall always be within the limits specified above, and as determined by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. Neither the maximum nor minimum number of directors can be changed, nor can a fixed number be substituted for the maximum and minimum numbers, except by a duly adopted amendment to the corporations’ articles of incorporation duly approved by a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote. Each director shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until removed. However, if his/her term expires, he shall continue to serve until his/her successor shall have been elected and qualified, or until there is a decrease in the number of directors. Unless required by the corporations’ articles of incorporation, directors do not need to be residents of Nevada or stockholders of the corporation.
Section 2. Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock then outstanding, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall, unless otherwise required by law or by resolution of the Board of Directors, be filled only by a majority vote of the directors then in office, whether or not such directors number less than a quorum (and not by stockholders), and directors so chosen shall serve for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders or until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of authorized directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Section 3. Eligibility for Nomination as a Director.
To be eligible to be a nominee for election or reelection as a director of the corporation, a person must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Sections 1 and 2 of Article I of these bylaws or such period as the Board of Directors may specify) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation 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 form of questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request) and a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such person (A) is not and will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding 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 in writing to the corporation or (2) 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 therein, and (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 publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the corporation.
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Section 4. Regular Meetings.
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held without notice at such place or places, on such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been established by the Board of Directors. A notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.
Section 5. Special Meetings.
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Lead Director or, if requested in writing by two independent directors, by the Secretary and shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as they, or he or she shall fix. Notice of the place, date, and time of each such special meeting shall be given to each director by whom it is not waived by mail or personal delivery or by telegraphing or telexing or by facsimile or electronic transmission of the same not less than 24 hours before the meeting. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.
Section 6. Quorum.
At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the directors then in office present in person, by telephone or by other electronic communications shall constitute a quorum for all purposes. If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time, without further notice or waiver thereof.
Section 7. Participation in Meetings by Conference Telephone.
Members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board of Directors or committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can speak and hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 8. Conduct of Business.
At any meeting of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in such order and manner as the Chairman of the Board, or in his or her absence, such chair of the meeting as the members of the Board of Directors present may elect, and such other business may thereafter be transacted in such order and manner as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine by vote of the majority of directors present, and all matters shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the directors present, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law. Action may be taken by the Board of Directors without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
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Section 9. Compensation of Directors.
Unless otherwise restricted by the articles of incorporation, the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof shall have the authority to fix the compensation of the directors. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or paid a stated salary or paid other compensation as director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed compensation for attending committee meetings.
Article III
Committees
Section 1. Committees of the Board of Directors.
In addition to the standing committees described below, the Board of Directors may from time to time designate additional committees of the Board of Directors, with such lawfully delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and shall, for those committees and any others provided for herein, elect the director or directors to serve as the member or members of each such committee, designating the chair of each such committee and, if it desires, other directors as alternate members who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of each such committee. In the absence or disqualification of any member of any committee and any alternate member in his or her place, the member or members of the committee present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they constitute a quorum, may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.
Section 2. Regular Meetings.
Regular meetings of standing committees of the Board of Directors shall be held without notice at such place or places, on such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been established by the Board of Directors or such committee. A notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.
Section 3. Special Meetings.
Special meetings of committees of the Board of Directors may be called by the chair of such committee, the Board of Directors or, if requested in writing by two independent members of such committee, by the Secretary and shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as they or he or she shall fix. Notice of the place, date, and time of each such special meeting shall be given to each director by whom it is not waived by mail or personal delivery or by telegraphing or telexing or by facsimile or electronic transmission of the same not less than 24 hours before the meeting. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.
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Section 4. Quorum.
At any meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors, a majority of the members of such committee then in office present in person, by telephone or by other electronic communications shall constitute a quorum for all purposes. If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time, without further notice or waiver thereof.
Section 5. Conduct of Business.
At any meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in such order and manner as the chair of such committee, or in his or her absence, such chair of the meeting as the members of such committee present may elect, and such other business may thereafter be transacted in such order and manner as such committee may from time to time determine by vote of the majority of members present, and all matters shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the members present, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law. Action may be taken by a committee of the Board of Directors without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of such committee of the Board of Directors. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
Article IV
Officers
Section 1. Generally.
The officers of the corporation shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, each of whom shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. Such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed necessary, including a Chairman of the Board and any vice presidents, may be appointed by the Board of Directors. The same individual may simultaneously hold more than one office in the corporation. The salaries of officers appointed by the Board of Directors or by a duly authorized committee thereof shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors or by such officers as may be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Chief Executive Officer.
Subject to the provisions of these bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall have the responsibility for the general management and control of the business and affairs of the corporation and shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of chief executive or which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors. He or she shall have power to sign all stock certificates, contracts, bonds, mortgages and other instruments of the corporation and shall have general supervision and direction of all of the other officers, employees and agents of the corporation, subject in all cases to the orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors.
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Section 3. President.
The President shall be the chief operating and administrative officer of the corporation. He or she shall have general responsibility for the management and control of the operations and administration of the corporation and shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of president or which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer. Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer, the President shall have power to sign all stock certificates, contracts, bonds, mortgages and other instruments of the corporation and, as delegated, shall have general supervision and direction of all of the other officers (other than the Chief Executive Officer), employees and agents of the corporation, subject in all cases to the orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors and to the direction of the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 4. Vice President.
Each Vice President shall have such powers and duties as may be delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors. One Vice President shall be designated by the Board of Directors to perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President in the event of the President’s absence or disability.
Section 5. Treasurer.
The Treasurer shall have the responsibility for maintaining the financial records of the corporation. He or she shall make such disbursements of the funds of the corporation as are authorized and shall render from time to time an account of all such transactions and of the financial condition of the corporation. The Treasurer shall also perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
Section 6. Secretary.
The Secretary shall issue all authorized notices for, and shall keep minutes of all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. He or she shall have charge of the corporate books and shall perform such other duties as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and/or the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
Section 7. Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers.
The Assistant Secretaries, when authorized by the Board of Directors, may sign with the President, or a Vice President, certificates for shares of the corporation, the issuance of which has been authorized by a resolution of the Board of Directors. The Assistant Treasurers shall respectively, if required by the Board of Directors, give bonds for the faithful discharge of their duties in such sums and with such sureties as the Board of Directors shall determine. The Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers, generally, shall perform such duties as may be assigned to them by the Secretary or the Treasurer, respectively, or by the President or the Board of Directors.
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Section 8. Delegation of Authority.
The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officers or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
Section 9. Removal.
Any officer of the corporation may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors.
Section 10. Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations.
Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any officer of the corporation authorized by the President shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of stockholders of or with respect to any action of stockholders of any other corporation in which this corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation.
Article V
Stock
Section 1. Certificates of Stock; Uncertificated Shares.
(a) The shares of stock at the corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, that some or all classes or series of its stock may be uncertificated shares.
(b) Each holder of stock represented by certificates, and upon request, every holder of uncertificated shares, shall be entitled to a certificate signed by, or in the name of the corporation by, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, and by the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, certifying the number of shares owned by him or her. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be by facsimile in accordance with Nevada Revised Statutes 78.235(2). In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, such certificate may nonetheless 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 2. Transfers of Stock.
Transfers of stock shall be made only upon the transfer books of the corporation kept at an office of the corporation or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares of the stock of the corporation. Except where a certificate is issued in accordance with Section 4 of Article V of these bylaws, an outstanding certificate for the number of shares involved, if one has been issued, shall be surrendered for cancellation before a new certificate, if any, is issued therefor.
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Section 3. Record Date.
(a) In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or 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, except as otherwise required by law, fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of any meeting of stockholders, nor more than 60 days prior to the time for such other action as hereinbefore described; provided, however, that 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 the first 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, and, for determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of rights or to exercise any rights of change, conversion or exchange of stock or for any other purpose, the record date shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts a resolution relating thereto.
(b) 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 the adjourned meeting.
Section 4. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.
In the event of the loss, theft or destruction of any certificate of stock, another may be issued in its place pursuant to such regulations as the Board of Directors may establish concerning proof of such loss, theft or destruction and concerning the giving of a satisfactory bond or bonds of indemnity.
Section 5. Regulations.
The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificates of stock shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish.
Article VI
Notices
Section 1. Notices.
If mailed, notice to stockholders shall be deemed given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the corporation. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders pursuant to the Nevada Revised Statutes, the articles of incorporation or these bylaws, any notice to stockholders given by the corporation under any provision of the Nevada Revised Statutes, the articles of incorporation or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if:
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(a) the stockholder is unable to receive by electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices given by the corporation in accordance with such consent; and
(b)
such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the corporation or to the transfer agent, or
other person responsible for the giving of notice.
However, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.
An “electronic transmission” means any form or process of communication not directly involving the physical transmission of paper or another tangible medium that (i) is suitable for the retention, retrieval and reproduction of information by the recipient, and (ii) is retrievable and reproducible in paper form by the recipient through an automated process used in conventional commercial practice unless the sender and recipient have consented in writing to the use of the form of electronic transmission that cannot be directly reproduced in paper form, but is otherwise retrievable in perceivable form.
Section 2. Waivers.
A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder or director, or waiver by electronic transmission by such person, whether given before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such person. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver. Attendance at any meeting shall constitute waiver of notice except attendance for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
Article VII
Miscellaneous
Section 1. Facsimile and Electronic Signatures.
In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile or electronic signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these bylaws, facsimile or electronic signatures of any officer or officers of the corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.
Section 2. Corporate Seal.
The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary. If and when so directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer.
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Section 3. Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records.
Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, and each officer of the corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors so designated, or by any other person as to matters which such director or committee member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the corporation.
Section 4. Fiscal Year.
The fiscal year of the corporation shall be as fixed by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Time Periods.
In applying any provision of these bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.
Section 6. Dispute Resolution.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, and unless the corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for any or all actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, administrative or investigative or that asserts any claim or counterclaim (each, an “Action”): (1) brought in the name or right of the corporation or on its behalf; (2) asserting a claim for breach of any fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation to the corporation or the corporation’s stockholders; (3) arising or asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of Nevada Revised Statutes Chapters 78 or 92A or any provision of the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws; (4) to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws; or (5) asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, shall be a court of competent jurisdiction sitting in the State of Nevada.
Section 7. Dividends.
Subject to any restrictions contained in the articles of incorporation or applicable law, the Board of Directors may declare and pay dividends upon the capital stock of the corporation out of funds legally available therefor at any regular or special meeting. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock of the corporation subject to the provisions of the articles of incorporation.
Section 8. Reserves.
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, thinks proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the corporation, or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors shall think conducive to the interest of the corporation, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.
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Section 9. Captions.
Captions used in these bylaws are for convenience only and are not a part of these bylaws and shall not be deemed to limit or alter any provisions hereof and shall not be deemed relevant in construing these bylaws.
Section 10. Interpretations.
To the extent permitted by the context in which used, words in the singular number shall include the plural, words in the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter, and vice versa.
Article VIII
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Section 1. Right to Indemnification.
Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she (or a person for whom he or she is a representative) is or was a director or an officer of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation in any position or capacity for any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity or in any other capacity shall be indemnified and held harmless by the corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Nevada law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 3 of this Article VIII with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the corporation.
Section 2. Right to Advancement of Expenses.
In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Section 1 of this Article VIII, the corporation shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, pay the expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred by an indemnitee in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however, that, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 2 or otherwise.
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Section 3. Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit.
If a claim under Section 1 or 2 of this Article VIII is not paid in full by the corporation within 60 days after a written claim has been received by the corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 20 days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. To the fullest extent permitted by law, if successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit brought by the corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the Nevada Revised Statutes. Neither the failure of the corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Nevada Revised Statutes, nor an actual determination by the corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VIII or otherwise shall be on the corporation.
Section 4. Non-Exclusivity of Rights.
The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the corporation’s articles of incorporation, these bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or directors, or otherwise.
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Section 5. Insurance.
The corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the Nevada Revised Statutes.
Section 6. Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation.
The corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article VIII with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the corporation.
Section 7. Nature of Rights.
The rights conferred upon indemnitees in this Article VIII shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article VIII that adversely affects any right of an indemnitee or his or her successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit or eliminate any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal.
Article IX
Amendments
The Board of Directors may amend or repeal these bylaws unless:
(a) the corporation’s articles of incorporation or the Nevada Revised Statutes reserve this power exclusively to the stockholders, in whole or part; or
(b) the stockholders, in adopting, amending, or repealing a particular bylaw, provide expressly that the Board of Directors may not amend or repeal that bylaw; or
(c) the bylaw either establishes, amends or deletes a “supermajority” stockholder quorum or voting requirement.
A “supermajority” quorum is a requirement that more than a majority of the votes of the voting group be present to constitute a quorum; and a “supermajority” voting requirement is any requirement that requires the vote of more than a majority of the affirmative votes of a voting group at a meeting.
The stockholders, but only if specifically authorized to do so by the corporation’s articles of incorporation, may adopt, amend, or delete a bylaw which fixes a “supermajority” quorum or “supermajority” voting requirement. The adoption or amendment of a bylaw that adds, changes, or deletes a “supermajority” quorum or voting requirement for stockholders must meet the same quorum requirement and be adopted by the same vote required to take action under the quorum and voting requirement then in effect or proposed to be adopted, whichever is greater.
A bylaw that fixes a supermajority quorum or voting requirement for stockholders may not be adopted, amended, or repealed by the Board of Directors.
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