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): September 22, 2008
ICF International, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 001-33045 | 22-3661438 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
| 9300 Lee Highway, Fairfax, Virginia | 22031 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (703) 934-3000
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ¨ | Written communication 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)) |
| Item 5.03 | Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year |
On September 22, 2008, the Board of Directors of ICF International, Inc. (the “Company”) approved amendments to Section 1.4 of the Company’s amended and restated bylaws, which also resulted in the deletion of former Section 2.2 of the Company’s bylaws. Specifically, the amendments were to the advance notice provisions of the bylaws to remove ambiguities and to take into account recent Delaware case law, and were effective immediately upon approval. Such amendments implemented changes in relation to the Company’s advance notice procedures, including the following:
| • | distinguishing between nominations and other business to be considered at the stockholder meeting; |
| • | requiring the disclosure of all ownership interests, including derivatives, of a stockholder making a proposal or nominating a director candidate; |
| • | requiring that a proponent of business other than nominations describe the business proposed to be conducted at the meeting, any material interest the proponent has in such business and any agreements the proponent may have with other entities in connection with the proposed business; |
| • | further elaborating upon the information required to be provided by a stockholder that proposes to nominate a director candidate to include, in addition to all information required to be disclosed in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements during the past three years and other material arrangements between the stockholder and nominee; |
| • | requiring a completed questionnaire by the proposed nominee, in a form provided by the Company, to be submitted with the stockholder proponent’s notice, that particularly requires candidates to represent that they do not have any undisclosed voting commitments or other arrangements with respect to director actions; and |
| • | clearly distinguishing the advance notice requirements from the requirements under Rule 14a-8 of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s proxy rules for companies to include stockholder proposals in the Company’s proxy statement. |
Further, the advance notice deadlines in Section 1.4 have been amended from those set forth in the 2008 Proxy Statement under the caption “Stockholders’ Proposals for the 2009 Annual Meeting.” Pursuant to new Section 1.4(a)(ii), any nominations or other business to be brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder must be presented in a timely notice to the Company’s Secretary and to be considered timely, such notice must generally be delivered to the Secretary no earlier than the close of business on the 120th day and not later than the close of business on the 90 th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, subject to limited exceptions if the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary. Based on the Company’s 2008 annual meeting date of June 5, 2008, such notice for the 2009 annual meeting should be provided no earlier than the close of business on February 5, 2009 and not later than March 9, 2009.
The preceding description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the amended and restated bylaws of the Company, which are filed hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit 3.1 | Amended and Restated Bylaws of ICF International, Inc. | |
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.
| ICF International, Inc. | ||||||
| Date: September 23, 2008 | By: | /s/ Judith B. Kassel | ||||
| Judith B. Kassel | ||||||
| General Counsel and Secretary | ||||||
Exhibit Index
| Exhibit No. |
Document | |
| 3.1 | Amended and Restated Bylaws of ICF International, Inc. |
Exhibit 3.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS OF
ICF INTERNATIONAL, INC.
ARTICLE I
Meetings of Stockholders
Section 1.1 Place of Meetings. All meetings of stockholders for the election of directors or for any other purpose whatsoever shall be held at such place within or without the United States as may be decided upon from time to time by the Board of Directors and indicated in the notice of meeting.
Section 1.2 Annual Meetings. An annual meeting of stockholders shall be held for the election of directors at such date, time and place as may be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors from time to time. Such other business may be transacted thereat as may be specified in the notice of the meeting or as may properly be brought before the meeting.
Section 1.3 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.
Section 1.4 Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.
(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders.
(i) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (x) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting, (y) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (z) by any stockholder of the Corporation who (I) was a stockholder of record at the time of giving notice as provided for in this bylaw and at the time of the annual meeting, (II) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (III) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this bylaw as to such business or nomination. Clause (z) of the preceding sentence shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and included in the Corporation’s notice of meeting) before an annual meeting of stockholders.
(ii) Without qualification or limitation, for any nominations or any other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section 1.4(a)(i)(z) of these bylaws, the stockholder must have previously given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day and not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual
meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of such annual meeting; provided further, that if, in such event (i.e., the date of the annual meeting being more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date), the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice (whether given pursuant to this Section 1.4(a)(ii) or Section 1.4(b) of these bylaws) to the Secretary must set forth:
(x) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, (I) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, if any, (II) (A) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (B) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, 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 such stockholder 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, (C) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Company, (D) any short interest in any security of the Company (for purposes of this bylaw, 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), (E) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (F) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner and (G) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder is 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 such stockholder’s immediate family sharing the same household (which information shall be supplemented by such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, not later than 10 days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date), and (III) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, 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 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and
-2-
(y) if the notice relates to any business other than a nomination of a director or directors that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, (I) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest of such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, in such business and (II) a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder; and
(z) if the stockholder proposes to nominate a person for election or reelection to the Board of Directors, as to each person, if any, whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection to the Board of Directors (I) all information relating to such person 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 election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected) and (II) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others 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 (or any successor regulation) if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, if any, or any affiliate or associate thereof or 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.
In addition, if the stockholder proposes to nominate a person for election or reelection to the Board of Directors, the notice must, with respect to each nominee for election or reelection to the Board of Directors, include a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 1.4(d) of these bylaws.
The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything in Section 1.4(a)(ii) of these bylaws to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by
-3-
this bylaw shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who (x) is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this bylaw and at the time of the special meeting, (y) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (z) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this bylaw as to such nomination. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder may nominate a person or persons for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by Section 1.4(a)(ii) of these bylaws with respect to any nomination (including the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 1.4(d) of these bylaws) shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of such special meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such special meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such special meeting, the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(c) General.
(i) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this bylaw shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this bylaw. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the chair of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this bylaw and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this bylaw, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.
(ii) For purposes of this bylaw, “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 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
-4-
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this bylaw, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this bylaw; provided, however, that any references in these bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to Section 1.4(a)(i)(z) or Section 1.4(b) of these bylaws. Nothing in this bylaw shall be deemed to affect any rights (x) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (y) of the holders of any class or series of stock having preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation if and to the extent provided for under law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws.
(d) Submission of Questionnaire, Representation and Agreement. 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 this Section 1.4 of these bylaws) 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 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 (i) is not and will not become a party to (x) 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 to the Corporation or (y) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (ii) 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 (iii) 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.
Section 1.5 Notice of Meetings; Waiver of Notice. A written or printed notice of every annual or special meeting of the stockholders stating the place, date and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes therefor, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat and to each stockholder entitled to notice as provided by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time (the “DGCL”). Unless otherwise provided by the DGCL, such notice shall be given not less than ten nor more than 60 days before the date 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 the stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. Every person who by operation of law, by transfer, or by any other means whatsoever, shall become entitled to any share of capital stock, or right or interest therein, shall be bound by every notice in respect of
-5-
such share, which, prior to the entering of the stockholder’s name and address upon the books of the Corporation, shall have been duly given to the record holder from whom such person derived the stockholder’s title to such share. Any stockholder may waive in writing before or after any meeting of the stockholders any notice required to be given by the DGCL or these bylaws and, by attending or voting at any meeting without protesting the lack of proper notice, a stockholder shall be deemed to have waived notice thereof.
Section 1.6 Voting and Proxies. 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 each matter in question, except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation as relates to any class or series of stock having preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy by an instrument in writing (or other means permitted by the DGCL) naming such person, 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 (a) attending the meeting and voting in person, (b) an instrument in writing (or other means permitted by the DGCL) revoking the proxy or (c) another proxy bearing a later date. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot and need not be conducted by inspectors unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of all classes of stock with voting rights in the election of directors present in person or by proxy at such meeting shall so determine. Unless otherwise provided by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, at all meetings of stockholders at which a quorum is present, a plurality of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors shall be sufficient to elect directors; all other elections and questions shall be decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon present in person or by proxy at the meeting, provided that (except as otherwise required by the DGCL or by the Certificate of Incorporation) the Board of Directors may require a larger vote upon any election or question.
Section 1.7 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 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
Section 1.8 Quorum. At each meeting of stockholders, except where otherwise provided by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum, the stockholders so present may, by majority vote, adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 1.7 above until a quorum shall be present.
Section 1.9 Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of
-6-
stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive the payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than 60 days nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting, nor more than 60 days prior to any other action. If no record date is fixed, (a) 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, (b) the record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action of the Board of Directors is necessary, shall be the day on which the first written consent is expressed, and (c) the record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto. Except as otherwise required by the DGCL, 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 an adjourned meeting.
Section 1.10 List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The Secretary shall prepare and make, at least ten days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. The Corporation’s stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list of stockholders or the books of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
Section 1.11 Action by Unanimous 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 one or more consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of all of the outstanding stock entitled to vote thereon, provided that any action permitted by the Certificate of Incorporation to be taken by the holders of any class or series of stock having preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, voting separately as a class, may be taken by one or more consents in writing signed by the holders of such stock having such number of votes sufficient to take such action in accordance with the applicable terms of such stock. Every written consent shall the bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent, and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within 60 days of the earliest dated consent delivered to the Corporation, written consents, signed by stockholders with the requisite voting power, are delivered to the Corporation in accordance with Section 228 of the DGCL.
-7-
ARTICLE II
Board of Directors
Section 2.1 Number. The number of directors shall be no fewer than one and, subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of stock having preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation to elect directors, no more than nine. The number of directors may be fixed from time to time (a) at a meeting of the stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors at which a quorum is present, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares represented at the meeting in person or by proxy and entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, or (b) by majority vote of the Board of Directors. No decrease in the number of directors shall change the term of any director in office at the time of such decrease.
Section 2.2 Classification, Election and Term of Office of Directors. The directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, shall be classified with respect to the time for which they severally hold office into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible. At each annual meeting of stockholders successors to the class of directors whose term expires at that meeting shall be elected by plurality vote of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors at such meeting to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the third year following the year of their election, subject, however, to their prior death, resignation or removal from office as provided by law. If the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain a number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible. Any additional director of any class elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of such class.
Section 2.3 Resignation and Vacancies. Any director may resign at any time upon written notice to that effect delivered to the Secretary, to be effective upon its acceptance or at the time specified in such writing. Except as otherwise provided for or fixed by or pursuant to provisions relating to the rights of the holders of any class or series of stock having preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation to elect directors under specified circumstances, 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 entitled to be cast in the election of directors at a meeting of stockholders. Each director so elected shall hold office until the expiration of the term of office of the director whom such director has replaced.
Section 2.4 Annual Meeting. After each annual meeting of the stockholders or special meeting held in lieu thereof, the newly elected Board of Directors, if a quorum is present, shall hold an annual meeting at the same place for the purpose of electing officers and transacting any other business. If, for any reason, the annual meeting is not held at such time, a special meeting for such purpose shall be held as soon thereafter as practicable.
Section 2.5 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors for the transaction of any business may be held without notice of the time, place or purposes thereof and shall be held at such times and places as may be determined in advance by the Board of Directors.
-8-
Section 2.6 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time and place upon call by the Chair of the Board or any two directors. Reasonable oral (including by telephone) or written (including by facsimile transmission) notice thereof shall be given by the person or persons calling the meeting, not later than 24 hours before the special meeting.
Section 2.7 Telephonic Meetings Permitted. Members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated in these bylaws or by the Board, may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 2.8 Quorum. At all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time without notice other than announcement at the meeting until a quorum shall be present.
Section 2.9 Compensation. The directors are authorized to fix a reasonable retainer for directors or a reasonable fee for attendance at any meeting of the directors, or any meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors, or any combination of retainer and attendance fee, provided that no compensation as a director shall be paid to any director who is an employee of the Corporation or of a subsidiary. In addition to such compensation or fees provided for directors, directors shall be reimbursed for any expenses incurred by them in traveling to and from such meetings or otherwise.
Section 2.10 Action of Board of Directors and Committees Without Meeting. 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 or the committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or the committee.
ARTICLE III
Committees
Section 3.1 Designation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each such committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may, at any time, remove any member of any committee with or without cause and 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 event the Board of Directors has not designated a chair, the committee shall appoint one of its own number as chair, who shall preside at all meetings, and may also appoint a secretary (who need not be a member of the committee), who shall keep its records and who shall hold office at the pleasure of the committee.
Section 3.2 Powers and Authority. Any such committee, to the extent provided by resolution of the Board of Directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of
-9-
the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation to the extent permitted by the DGCL and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval; or (b) adopting, amending or repealing any bylaw of the Corporation.
Section 3.3 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of such committees may be held without notice of the time, place or purposes thereof and shall be held at such times and places (or by telephone as provided in Section 2.8) as the committee may from time to time determine in advance.
Section 3.4 Special Meetings. Special meetings of such committees may be held upon notice of the time, place and purposes thereof. Until otherwise ordered by the committee, special meetings shall be held at any time and place (or by telephone as provided in Section 2.8) at the call of the chair.
Section 3.5 Actions at Regular and Special Committee Meetings; Actions Without a Meeting. At any regular or special meeting any such committee may exercise any or all of its powers, and any business which shall come before any regular or special meeting may be transacted thereat, provided a majority of the members of the committee is present. The affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the committee present at a meeting of the committee at which a quorum is present shall be necessary to take any action. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any authorized action by the committee may be taken without a meeting by a writing or writings signed by all the members of the committee.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 4.1 Officers Designated. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors at its annual meeting or any special meeting. They shall include a Chair of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary, and such other officers as the Board may from time to time determine. The Chair of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer shall be, and the other officers may, but need not be, chosen from among the directors. Any two offices may be held by the same person, but in any case where the action of more than one officer is required, no one person shall act in more than one capacity.
Section 4.2 Tenure of Office. The officers of the Corporation shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the Board of Directors and until their respective successors are chosen and qualified, except in case of their prior resignation, death or removal. The Board of Directors may remove any officer at any time with or without cause by the vote of a majority of the directors in office at the time, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights of such officer, if any. A vacancy, however created, in any office may be filled by election by the directors.
-10-
Section 4.3 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 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.
Section 4.4 Compensation. The Board of Directors is authorized to determine, to provide the method of determining, or to empower a committee of its members to determine, the compensation of all officers.
Section 4.5 Bond. Any officer, if so required by the Board of Directors, shall furnish a fidelity bond in such sum and with such security as the Board of Directors may require.
ARTICLE V
Shares
Section 5.1 Shares of Stock. The shares of capital stock of the Corporation may be either certificated or uncertificated. Every holder of capital stock of the Corporation theretofore represented by certificates and, upon request, every holder of uncertificated shares, shall be entitled to have a certificate for shares of capital stock of the Corporation signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, (a) the Chief Executive Officer and (b) the Chief Financial Officer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, certifying the number of shares owned by such stockholder in the Corporation.
Section 5.2 Transfers. Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by applicable law and in these Bylaws. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation, and in the case of certificated shares of stock, only by the person named in the certificate or by such person’s attorney lawfully constituted in writing and upon the surrender of the certificate therefore, properly endorsed for transfer and payment of all necessary transfer taxes; or, in the case of uncertificated shares of stock, upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered holder of the shares or by such person’s attorney lawfully constituted in writing, and upon payment of all necessary transfer taxes and compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form; provided, however, that such surrender and endorsement, compliance or payment of taxes shall not be required in any case in which the officers of the Corporation shall determine to waive such requirement. With respect to certificated shares of stock, every certificate exchanged, returned or surrendered to the Corporation shall be marked “cancelled,” with the date of cancellation, by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or the transfer agent thereof. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing from and to whom transferred.
ARTICLE VI
Miscellaneous
Section 6.1 Seal. In the discretion of the Board of Directors, the Corporation may have a seal which shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation and the words “Corporate Seal.” The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or otherwise reproduced.
-11-
Section 6.2 Books. The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to any provision contained in the DGCL) within or without the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 6.3 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 6.4 Facsimiles. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of a writing, transmission or signature may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing, transmission or signature for any and all purposes for which the original writing, transmission or signature could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing, transmission or signature, as the case may be.
Section 6.5 Amendment of Bylaws. These bylaws may be changed, altered, amended or repealed, and new bylaws made, by the Board of Directors, provided that (a) the stockholders may make additional bylaws and may change, alter, amend and repeal any bylaws, whether adopted by them or otherwise, and (b) notwithstanding any other provision of these bylaws, the affirmative vote of the holders of capital stock representing at least 66 2/3% of the Corporation’s voting power entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend, adopt any provision inconsistent with or repeal Sections 1.4, 2.2 and 2.3 of these bylaws.
-12-