Exhibit 3.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
CIRCLE INTERNET GROUP, INC. (the “Corporation”)
(Effective June 6, 2025)
Capitalized terms used in these Amended and Restated Bylaws (as the same may be further amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Bylaws”) but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given such terms under the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 6, 2025 (as amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”).
Article
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Offices
Section 1.01. Registered Office. The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware, and the registered agent of the Corporation at such address, shall be as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 1.02. Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
Section 1.03. Books. The books of the Corporation may be kept within or without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
Article
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Meetings of Stockholders
Section 2.01. Time and Place of Meetings. All meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date and at such time as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors (or the Chairperson of the Board of Directors in the absence of a designation by the Board of Directors). The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, “Delaware Law”).
Section 2.02. Annual Meetings. An annual meeting of stockholders shall be held for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule, or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.
Section 2.03. Special Meetings. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by the Board of Directors, by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, or by the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule, or cancel any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.
Section 2.04. Notice of Meetings and Adjourned Meetings; Waivers of Notice.
(a) Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice of the meeting shall be given which shall state the place, if any, date, and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting), and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.
Unless otherwise provided by Delaware Law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, such notice shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. Unless these Bylaws otherwise require, when a meeting is adjourned to another time or place (including an adjournment taken to address a technical failure to convene or continue a meeting using remote communication), notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, 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 are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken or are provided in any other manner permitted by Delaware Law. 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, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment, a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting.
(b) A written waiver of any such notice signed by the person entitled thereto, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.
Section 2.05. Quorum. Unless otherwise provided under the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws and subject to Delaware Law, the presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the chairperson of the meeting or stockholders representing a majority in voting power of the shares of capital stock present in person or represented by proxy may adjourn the meeting, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. 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.
Section 2.06. Voting.
(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, in all matters other than the election of directors, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon shall be the act of the stockholders. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect additional directors under specific circumstances, as may be set forth in the certificate of designations for such series of preferred stock, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast in respect of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. In determining the number of votes cast for or against a proposal or nominee, neither shares abstaining from voting on the proposal or nominee nor any broker “non-votes,” will be treated as votes cast for or against the proposal or nominee.
(b) Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to a corporate action without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy. No proxy shall be voted after three years from its date, unless said proxy provides for a longer period. The authorization of a person to act as proxy may be documented, signed, and delivered in accordance with Section 116 of the Delaware Law; provided that such authorization shall set forth, or be delivered with, information enabling the Corporation to determine the identity of the stockholder granting such authorization. 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
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stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the Secretary of the Corporation a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date.
Section 2.07. Action by Consent. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock then outstanding, as may be set forth in the certificate of designations for such series of preferred stock, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken only upon the vote of stockholders at an annual or special meeting, as the case may be, duly noticed and called in accordance with Delaware Law and may not be taken by written consent of stockholders without a meeting.
Section 2.08. Organization. At each meeting of stockholders, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, if one shall have been elected, or in the Chairperson’s absence or if one shall not have been elected, such other director or officer of the Corporation as shall be appointed by the Board of Directors, shall act as chairperson of the meeting. The Secretary (or in the Secretary’s absence or inability to act, the person whom the chairperson of the meeting shall appoint secretary of the meeting) shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the chairperson of the meeting. The Board of Directors may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with these Bylaws or such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairperson of a meeting shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or to adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations, and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairperson, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations, or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairperson of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (b) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (c) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairperson of the meeting shall determine; (d) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (e) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairperson of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
Section 2.09. Order of Business. The order of business at all meetings of stockholders shall be as determined by the chairperson of the meeting or the Board of Directors.
Section 2.10. Nomination of Directors and Proposal of Other Business.
(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders.
(i) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors or the proposal of other business to be transacted by the stockholders at an annual meeting of stockholders may be made only (A) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof duly authorized, (C) as may be provided in the certificate of designations for any series of preferred stock, or (D) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in Section 2.10(a)(ii) and at the time of the annual meeting, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.10(a), and, except as otherwise required by law, any failure to comply with these procedures shall result in the nullification of such nomination or proposal. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clause (D) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or propose other business at an annual meeting of stockholders (other than a proposal included in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “Exchange Act”)).
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(ii) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting of stockholders by a stockholder pursuant to clause (D) of Section 2.10(a)(i), the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and any such proposed business (other than the nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors) must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders (which prior year’s annual meeting shall, for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders following its initial public offering of shares of its Class A Common Stock, be deemed to have occurred on May 15, 2025); provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to such anniversary date or delayed more than 70 days after such anniversary date then to be timely such notice must be received by the Corporation no earlier than 120 days prior to such annual meeting and no later than the later of 90 days prior to the date of the meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the meeting was first made by the Corporation. The minimum timeliness requirements of this paragraph shall apply for purposes of determining whether a stockholder’s notice is timely under these Bylaws despite any different timeline described in Rule 14a-19 or elsewhere in Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, including with respect to any statements or information required to be provided to the Corporation pursuant to Rule 14a-19 of the Exchange Act by a stockholder and not otherwise specified herein. In no event shall the adjournment, recess, or postponement of any meeting, or any announcement thereof, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the annual meeting on its own behalf (or in the case of a stockholder giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the annual meeting on behalf of such beneficial owner) shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such annual meeting.
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.10 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting of stockholders is increased effective after the time period for which nominations would otherwise be due under this Section 2.10 and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships 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 of stockholders (which prior year’s annual meeting shall, for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders following its initial public offering of shares of its Class A Common Stock, be deemed to have occurred on May 15, 2025), a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.10 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new directorships created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to, and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
(iii) A stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth:
(A) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director: (1) the name, age, business address, and residence address of such person; (2) the principal occupation or employment of such person; (3) (i) the number of shares of each class or series of capital stock of the Corporation that are held of record or are beneficially owned (and proof of any such beneficial ownership) by such person and any affiliates or associates (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act for purposes of these Bylaws) of such person, including any such shares that such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of, (ii) the name of each nominee holder of shares of all capital stock of the Corporation owned beneficially (and proof of any such beneficial ownership) but not of record by such person or any affiliates or
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associates of such person, and the number of such shares of each class or series of capital stock held by each such nominee holder, including any such shares that such nominee holder has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of, (iii) any agreement, arrangement, or understanding pursuant to which such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Corporation, and (iv) a description of any agreement, arrangement, or understanding (including, regardless of the form of settlement, any derivative, long or short positions, profit interests, forwards, futures, swaps, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into by or on behalf of such person, the effect or intent of which is to create or mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, with respect to the Corporation’s securities; (4) all information relating to such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act; (5) all completed and signed questionnaires in the same form as those questionnaires required of the Corporation’s directors (which will be provided to such person within 5 business days following a written request therefor); (6) a statement that such person has read the Corporation’s corporate governance guidelines and any other Corporation policies and guidelines applicable to directors (which will be provided to such person within 5 business days following a written request therefor), and a written agreement from such person to adhere to the foregoing policies and guidelines, as amended from time to time, if he or she is elected as a director; (7) an executed agreement by such person: (i) consenting to serve as a director if elected and (if applicable) to being named in the Company’s proxy statement and/or form of proxy relating to the meeting at which directors are to be elected, along with a representation that such person intends to serve a full term as a director if elected, and (ii) that such person is not and will not become a party to (x) any direct or indirect compensatory, payment, or other financial agreement, arrangement, or understanding with any other person or entity other than the Corporation, in each case in connection with candidacy or service as a director of the Corporation (a “Third-Party Compensation Arrangement”) that has not been fully disclosed to the Corporation prior to, or concurrently with, the submission of the notice from the stockholder required by this Section 2.10, (y) any agreement, arrangement, or understanding, including the amount of any payment or payments received or receivable thereunder, with any other person or entity as to how such person would vote or act on any issue or question as a director (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been fully disclosed to the Corporation prior to, or concurrently with, the submission of the notice from the stockholder required by this Section 2.10, or (z) 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; and (8) such other information reasonably requested by the Corporation to determine whether such person is qualified under the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or any law or regulation applicable to the Corporation to serve as a director and/or independent director of the Corporation;
(B) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting: (1) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting; (2) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the text of the proposed amendment); (3) the reasons for conducting such business; and (4) any substantial interest (within the meaning of Item 5 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made;
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(C) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made: (1) the name and address of such stockholder (as they appear on the Corporation’s books) and any such beneficial owner; (2) a representation as to whether such stockholder or such beneficial owner has complied with all applicable legal requirements in connection with its acquisition of shares or other securities of the Corporation; (3) a written agreement from such stockholder that it is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear at the meeting in person or through a qualified representative (as defined in Section 2.10(c)(ii)) to make such nomination or proposal; (4) in the case of a nomination, a written agreement from such stockholder (and such beneficial owner) that it (or they) will not submit any substitute nominations unless they are made within the time periods set forth in this Section 2.10 and the stockholder and the substitute nominees will otherwise comply with this Section 2.10; (5) in the case of a nomination, a written agreement from such stockholder (and such beneficial owner) that it (or they) has not, and shall not, nominate a number of nominees (inclusive of substitutes) that exceeds the number of directors to be elected at the annual meeting; and (6) a written agreement that such stockholder (and such beneficial owner) shall (i) update and supplement the notice required by this Section 2.10, if necessary, so that the information provided or required in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the annual meeting, and as of the date that is 15 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof and (ii) deliver such update and supplement so that it is received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (A) not later than the later of (x) 5 business days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the annual meeting and (y) 5 business days after the first public announcement of such record date, in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of the record date, and (B) not later than 10 business days before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of the date that is 5 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this Section 2.10 or any other section of these Bylaws shall not limit the Corporation’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any stockholder’s notice, extend any applicable deadlines under these Bylaws or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted a stockholder’s notice under these Bylaws to amend or update any proposal or to submit any new proposal, including by changing or adding nominees, matters, business, and/or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of stockholders;
(D) as to the stockholder giving the notice, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, and any of their respective affiliates or associates (in each case, as defined pursuant to Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act for purposes of these Bylaws) (each such person or entity contemplated by this clause (D), a “Proposing Person”): (1) the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are held of record or are beneficially owned (and proof of any such beneficial ownership) by such Proposing Person, including any such shares that such Proposing Person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of; (2) the name of each nominee holder of each class or series of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned beneficially (and proof of any such beneficial ownership) but not of record by such Proposing Person, and the number of such shares of each class or series of capital stock of the Corporation held by each such nominee holder, including any such shares that such nominee holder has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of; (3) a description of any agreement, arrangement, or understanding pursuant to which such Proposing Person has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Corporation; (4) a description of any material pending or threatened legal proceeding in which such Proposing Person is a party or material participant involving the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any affiliate of the Corporation; (5) a description of (i) any plans
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or proposals which any such Proposing Person may have with respect to securities of the Corporation that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 4 of Exchange Act Schedule 13D (regardless of whether the requirement to file a Schedule 13D is applicable) and (ii) any agreement, arrangement, or understanding (including the identity of the parties thereto) with respect to the nomination or other business between or among such Proposing Parties and any other parties, including without limitation any agreements that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 5 or Item 6 of Exchange Act Schedule 13D (regardless of whether the requirement to file a Schedule 13D is applicable), in each case as of the date the notice required by this Section 2.10 is delivered to the Corporation by the stockholder or beneficial owner in such business, if any, presenting the nomination or other proposal; (6) a description of any agreement, arrangement, or understanding (including, regardless of the form of settlement, any derivative, long or short positions, profit interests, forwards, futures, swaps, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into by or on behalf of, or any other agreement, arrangement, or understanding that has been made, the effect or intent of which is to create or mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Proposing Person with respect to the Corporation’s securities; (7) a written representation as to whether any Proposing Person, or any other participant as defined in Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act, will engage in a solicitation with respect to such nomination or other business and, if so, whether such solicitation will be conducted as an exempt solicitation under Rule 14a-2(b) of the Exchange Act, the name of each participant in such solicitation and the amount of the cost of solicitation that has been and will be borne, directly or indirectly, by each participant in such solicitation and (x) in the case of a proposal of business other than nominations, whether such person or group intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to carry the proposal, (y) in the case of any solicitation that is subject to Rule 14a-19 of the Exchange Act, confirming that such person or group will deliver, through means satisfying each of the conditions that would be applicable to the Corporation under either Exchange Act Rule 14a-16(a) or Exchange Act Rule 14a-16(n), a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least sixty-seven percent (67%) of the voting power of the Corporation’s capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, and/or (z) whether such person or group intends to otherwise solicit proxies or votes from holders in support of such proposal or nomination (for purposes of this clause (7), the term “holders” shall include, in addition to stockholders of record, any beneficial owners pursuant to Rule 14b-1 and Rule 14b-2 of the Exchange Act); (8) a representation that promptly after any Proposing Person solicits the holders of the Corporation’s stock referred to in the representation required under the preceding clause, and in any event no later than 5 business days before the applicable meeting, such Proposing Person will provide the Corporation with reasonable documentary evidence (as determined by the Corporation or one of its representatives, acting in good faith), which may take the form of a certified statement and documentation from a proxy solicitor, specifically demonstrating that the necessary steps have been taken to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of such percentage of the Corporation’s stock; (9) any direct or indirect interest of such Proposing Person in any contract (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement, or consulting agreement) with the Corporation, or any affiliate of the Corporation; (10) any other information relating to such Proposing Person, or proposed business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies in support of such nominee or proposal pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act; and (11) such other information relating to any proposed item of business as the Corporation may reasonably require to determine whether such proposed item of business is a proper matter for stockholder action.
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(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. If the election of directors is included as business to be brought before a special meeting in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, then nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at a special meeting of stockholders may be made by any stockholder who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 2.10(b) and at the time of the special meeting, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.10(b); provided, however, that the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the special meeting on its own behalf (or in the case of a stockholder giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the special meeting on behalf of such beneficial owner) shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected as such special meeting. For nominations to be properly brought by a stockholder before a special meeting of stockholders pursuant to this Section 2.10(b), the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (i) not earlier than 120 days prior to the date of the special meeting nor (ii) later than the later of 90 days prior to the date of the special meeting and the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the special meeting was first made by the Corporation. A stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall comply with the notice requirements of Section 2.10(a)(iii). The minimum timeliness requirements of this paragraph shall apply for purposes of determining whether a stockholder’s notice is timely under these Bylaws despite any different timeline described in Rule 14a-19 or elsewhere in Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, including with respect to any statements or information required to be provided to the Corporation pursuant to Rule 14a-19 of the Exchange Act by a stockholder and not otherwise specified herein. In no event shall the adjournment, recess, or postponement of a special meeting, or any announcement thereof, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Such notice of a stockholder shall include the same information, representations, certifications, and agreements that would be required if the stockholder were to make a nomination in connection with an annual meeting of stockholders pursuant to the preceding provisions of this Section 2.10, and such stockholder shall be obligated to provide the same supplemental or additional information in connection with a special meeting of stockholders as required pursuant to the preceding provisions of this Section 2.10 in connection with an annual meeting of stockholders.
(c) General.
(i) No person shall be eligible to be nominated by a stockholder to be elected or reelected at any meeting of stockholders to serve as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.10. No business proposed by a stockholder shall be conducted at a stockholder meeting except in accordance with this Section 2.10.
(ii) Without limiting any remedy available to the Corporation, and unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, or the chairperson of the meeting, a stockholder may not present nominations for director or business proposals at an annual or special meeting of stockholders (and any such nominee shall be disqualified from standing for election or re-election), notwithstanding proxies or votes may have been solicited and/or received with respect thereto, if such stockholder, any beneficial owner, any Proposing Person or any nominee or substitute nominee for director: (A) acted contrary to any representation, statement, certification, or agreement required by the applicable provisions of these Bylaws; (B) otherwise failed to comply with these Bylaws or with any law, rule or regulation identified in these Bylaws, including all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.10; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to this Section 2.10; or (C) provided information to the Corporation (whether required by these Bylaws or otherwise) that is false, misleading, inaccurate, or incomplete in any material respect. The Board of Directors, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors or the chairperson of the meeting shall, if the
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facts warrant, determine and declare that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by these Bylaws or that business was not properly brought before the meeting, and if he/she should so determine, he/she shall so declare and the defective nomination shall be disregarded or such business shall not be transacted, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.10, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or other proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded or such proposed business shall not be transacted, as the case may be, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation and counted for purposes of determining a quorum. For purposes of this Section 2.10, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager, or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Bylaws, unless otherwise required by law, if any Proposing Person (1) provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act (or has previously filed a preliminary or definitive proxy statement with the information required by Rule 14a-19(b)) with respect to any proposed nominee for election as a director of the Corporation and (2) subsequently fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) or Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act (or fails to timely provide reasonable evidence sufficient to satisfy the Corporation that such Proposing Person has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act in accordance with the following sentence), then the nomination of each such proposed nominee shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that the nominee is included as a nominee in the Corporation’s proxy statement, notice of meeting, or other proxy materials for any meeting (or any supplement thereto) and notwithstanding that proxies or votes in respect of the election of such proposed nominees may have been received by the Corporation (which proxies and votes shall be disregarded). Upon request by the Corporation, if any Proposing Person provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act (or has previously filed a preliminary or definitive proxy statement with the information required by Rule 14a-19(b)), such Proposing Person, shall deliver to the Corporation, no later than 5 business days prior to the applicable meeting, reasonable evidence that it has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act.
(iii) Compliance with Section 2.10(a) and Section 2.10(b) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than as provided in Section 2.10(c)(iv)).
(iv) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the notice requirements set forth herein with respect to the proposal of any business pursuant to this Section 2.10 shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder if such stockholder has submitted a proposal to the Corporation in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for the meeting of stockholders.
(v) Any stockholder directly or indirectly soliciting proxies from other stockholders in connection with any annual or special meeting of stockholders must use a proxy card color other than white, which shall be reserved for the exclusive use for solicitation by or on behalf of the Board of Directors.
(vi) For purposes of these Bylaws, “business day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday, or a day on which banks are closed in New York City, New York; and “close of business” means 5:00 p.m. local time at the principal executive offices of the Corporation on any calendar day, whether or not the day is a business day.
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Section 2.11. Delivery to the Corporation. Whenever Section 2.10 requires one or more persons (including a record or beneficial owner of stock) to deliver a document or information to the Corporation or any officer, employee, or agent thereof (including any notice, request, questionnaire, revocation, representation, or other document or agreement), except as otherwise requested or consented to by the Corporation, such document or information shall be in writing exclusively (and not in an electronic transmission) and shall be delivered exclusively by hand (including, without limitation, overnight courier service) or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, and the Corporation shall not be required to accept delivery of any document not in such written form or so delivered.
Article
3
Directors
Section 3.01. General Powers. Except as otherwise provided in Delaware Law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.02. Number, Election, and Term of Office. The total number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be fixed by or in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. Directors shall be elected by the stockholders at the annual meeting, and the term of each director so elected shall be as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each director shall hold office until the annual meeting at which such director’s term expires and until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, or removal from office. Directors need not be stockholders.
Section 3.03. Quorum and Manner of Acting. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or Delaware Law, a majority of the total number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. When a meeting of the Board of Directors is adjourned to another time or place (whether or not a quorum is present), notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors the directors present thereat shall adjourn the meeting, from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
Section 3.04. Time and Place of Meetings. The Board of Directors shall hold its meetings at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors (or the Chairperson of the Board of Directors in the absence of a determination by the Board of Directors).
Section 3.05. Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors shall meet for the purpose of organization, the election of officers, and the transaction of other business, as soon as practicable after each annual meeting of stockholders. Notice of such meeting need not be given. In the event such annual meeting is not so held, the annual meeting of the Board of Directors may be held at such place either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date and at such time as shall be specified in a notice thereof given as hereinafter provided in Section 3.07 herein or in a waiver of notice thereof signed by any director who chooses to waive the requirement of notice.
Section 3.06. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such places and times as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. After the place and time of regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall have been determined and notice thereof shall have been once given to each member of the Board of Directors, regular meetings may be held without further notice being given.
Section 3.07. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer and shall be called by the
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Chairperson of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Secretary on the written request of any director. Notice of special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director by written notice, electronic transmission, including email, or orally (in person or by telephone) at least 24 hours before the scheduled start of the meeting. A director may waive notice of a special meeting, which waiver may be given before, at, or after the meeting. Attendance by a director at a special meeting is waiver of notice of that meeting, unless the director objects at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened and thereafter does not participate in the meeting.
Section 3.08. Committees. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of 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 such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to any of the following matters: (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by Delaware Law to be submitted to the stockholders for approval or (b) adopting, amending, or repealing any bylaw of the Corporation. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required.
Section 3.09. Action by Consent. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission. A consent may be documented, signed, and delivered in any manner permitted by Section 116 of the Delaware Law. After an action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee, in the same paper form or electronic form as the minutes are maintained.
Section 3.10. Remote Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors, or such committee, as the case may be, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 3.11. Resignation. Any director may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Board of Directors or to the Secretary of the Corporation. The resignation of any director shall take effect upon receipt of notice thereof or at such later time as shall be specified in such notice; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 3.12. Vacancies. Except as otherwise provided by law, vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from the death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal, or otherwise of a director or directors and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall be filled in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 3.13. Removal. Directors of the Corporation may be removed in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.
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Section 3.14. Compensation. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have authority to fix the compensation of directors, including fees and reimbursement of expenses.
Article
4
Officers
Section 4.01. Principal Officers. The principal officers of the Corporation shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, and a Secretary who shall have the duty, among other things, to record the proceedings of the meetings of stockholders and directors in a book kept for that purpose. The Corporation may also have such other principal officers as the Board of Directors may in its discretion appoint. One person may hold the offices and perform the duties of any two or more of said offices, except that no one person shall hold the offices and perform the duties of Chief Executive Officer and Secretary.
Section 4.02. Election and Term of Office. The principal officers of the Corporation shall be appointed by the Board of Directors in the manner determined by the Board of Directors. Each such officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, or removal from office. Any vacancy in any office shall be filled in such manner as the Board of Directors shall determine.
Section 4.03. Subordinate Officers. In addition to the principal officers enumerated in Section 4.01 herein, the Corporation may have one or more Assistant Treasurers, Assistant Secretaries, and Assistant Controllers and such other subordinate officers, agents, and employees as the Board of Directors may deem necessary, each of whom shall hold office for such period as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. The Board of Directors may delegate to any principal officer the power to appoint and to remove any such subordinate officers, agents, or employees.
Section 4.04. Removal. Any officer may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors or, with respect to any subordinate officer appointed pursuant to Section 4.03, by any principal officer to whom the Board of Directors has delegated the power to remove such officer.
Section 4.05. Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors (or to a principal officer if the Board of Directors has delegated to such principal officer the power to appoint and to remove such officer). The resignation of any officer shall take effect upon receipt of notice thereof or at such later time as shall be specified in such notice; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 4.06. Powers and Duties. The officers of the Corporation shall have such powers and perform such duties incident to each of their respective offices and such other duties as may from time to time be conferred upon or assigned to them by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.07. Vacancies. The Board of Directors shall have the power to fill vacancies occurring in any office.
Article
5
CAPITAL STOCK
Section 5.01. Certificates For Stock; Uncertificated Shares. The shares of the Corporation shall be in book-entry, uncertificated form; provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be certificated shares. Except as otherwise provided by law, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated shares and the rights and obligations of the holders of shares represented by certificates of the same class and series shall be identical. Every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of, the Corporation by any two authorized officers of the Corporation representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. Any or all of the signatures on the
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certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue. The Corporation shall not have power to issue a certificate in bearer form.
Section 5.02. Transfer of Shares. Shares of the stock of the Corporation may be transferred on the record of stockholders of the Corporation by the holder thereof or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney upon surrender of a certificate therefor properly endorsed or upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered holder of uncertificated shares or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney and upon compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form, unless waived by the Corporation.
Section 5.03. Authority for Additional Rules Regarding Transfer. Subject to any limitations under Delaware Law, the Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as they may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer, and registration of certificated or uncertificated shares of the stock of the Corporation, as well as for the issuance of new certificates in lieu of those which may be lost or destroyed, and may require of any stockholder requesting replacement of lost or destroyed certificates, bond in such amount and in such form as they may deem expedient to indemnify the Corporation, and/or the transfer agents, and/or the registrars of its stock against any claims arising in connection therewith.
Article
6
Dispute Resolution
Section 6.01. Forum Selection. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, other employee, or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of Delaware Law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws or as to which Delaware Law confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the law of the State of Delaware shall be the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware); provided that the foregoing shall not apply to claims brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Act”), the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the sole and exclusive forum for any action asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall be the federal district court for the District of Delaware. The Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another court of the State of Delaware, or if no court of the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) shall have the fullest authority allowed by law to issue an anti-suit injunction to enforce this forum selection clause and to preclude suit in any other forum. Any person or entity holding, purchasing, or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to this forum selection clause and to have consent to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another court of the State of Delaware, or if no court of the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) in any proceeding brought to enjoin, or otherwise enforce this Section 6.01 with respect to, any action by that person or entity that is inconsistent with the exclusive jurisdiction provided for in this Section 6.01 (an “Inconsistent Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such person or entity in any such proceeding by service upon such person's or entity’s counsel in such Inconsistent Action as agent for such person or entity.
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Article
7
General Provisions
Section 7.01. Fixing the Record Date.
(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.01 at the adjourned meeting.
(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion, or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall not be more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Section 7.02. Dividends. Subject to limitations contained in Delaware Law and the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the Corporation, which dividends may be paid either in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock of the Corporation.
Section 7.03. Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall commence on January 1 and end on December 31 of each year.
Section 7.04. Corporate Seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization, and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware.” The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed, affixed, or otherwise reproduced.
Section 7.05. Voting of Stock Owned by the Corporation. The Board of Directors may authorize any person, on behalf of the Corporation, to attend, vote at, and grant proxies to be used at any meeting of stockholders of any corporation (except this Corporation) in which the Corporation may hold stock.
Section 7.06. Amendments. The Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt, amend, or repeal, in whole or in part, these Bylaws without the assent or vote of the stockholders in any manner not inconsistent with Delaware Law or the Certificate of Incorporation. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, the stockholders may adopt, amend, or repeal, in whole or in part, these Bylaws only with the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 66⅔% of the voting power of all outstanding securities of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
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