UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| Nuvalent, Inc. |
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| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
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(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
As previously disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 9, 2026 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by Nuvalent, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), on June 9, 2026, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), with GlaxoSmithKline LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Parent”), Harmony Row Acquisition Co., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Purchaser”) and, solely for purposes of Section 9.14 thereof, GSK plc, a public limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales (“Ultimate Parent”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and upon the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, on June 24, 2026, Purchaser commenced a tender offer (the “Offer”) to purchase all of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Shares”), and Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Shares” and, together with the Class A Shares, the “Shares”), at a price of $124.00 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest (the “Offer Price”), but subject to any applicable withholding of taxes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated June 24, 2026, and in the related Letter of Transmittal.
The Offer expired one minute after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, on July 14, 2026 (the “Expiration Time”) and was not extended. The depositary for the Offer advised that, as of the Expiration Time, a total of 72,518,967 Shares (comprising a total of 67,083,713 Class A Shares and 5,435,254 Class B Shares) were validly tendered and “received” (as defined in Section 251(h) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”)) by the depository and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Offer, representing approximately 91.3% of the issued and outstanding Shares as of the Expiration Time (comprising approximately 90.7% of the issued and outstanding Class A Shares and 100.0% of the issued and outstanding Class B Shares as of the Expiration Time, respectively). Accordingly, the Minimum Tender Condition (as defined in the Merger Agreement) has been satisfied. Each condition to the Offer having been satisfied or waived, on July 15, 2026, Purchaser irrevocably accepted for payment all Shares that were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Offer prior to the Expiration Time. Parent and Purchaser are required to make prompt payment for such Shares in accordance with the terms of the Offer.
On July 15, 2026, following consummation of the Offer and the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, Purchaser merged with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the separate corporate existence of Purchaser ceasing and the Company continuing as the surviving corporation under the name “Nuvalent, Inc.” as a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. The Merger was completed pursuant to Sections 251(c) and 251(h) of the DGCL without a vote of the Company’s stockholders.
| Item 2.01 | Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets. |
The information contained in the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.01.
As described in the Introductory Note above, on July 15, 2026, Purchaser irrevocably accepted for payment all Shares that were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Offer prior to the Expiration Time. On July 15, 2026, the Merger was completed pursuant to Section 251(h) of the DGCL, with no vote of the Company’s stockholders required. Upon the consummation of the Merger, the Company became a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.
At the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), each Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than any Shares (i) held in the treasury of the Company or owned by the Company or the Company’s subsidiary immediately prior to the Effective Time, (ii) owned by Ultimate Parent, Parent, Purchaser or any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Ultimate Parent, Parent or Purchaser immediately prior to the Effective Time and (iii) held by stockholders who have properly demanded appraisal of such Shares in accordance with the DGCL) was converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the Offer Price, less applicable withholding of taxes.
In addition, at the Effective Time, each option to purchase Shares (a “Company Stock Option”) that was outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time was cancelled and in exchange therefor the holder became entitled to receive an amount in cash, without interest and less applicable tax withholdings, equal to (i) the total number of Shares subject to such Company Stock Option immediately prior to the Effective Time (assuming full vesting of such Company Stock Option), multiplied by (ii) the excess, if any, of the Offer Price over the applicable exercise price per Share under such Company Stock Option.
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Further, at the Effective Time, each restricted stock unit denominated in Class A Shares that was subject solely to time-based vesting (a “Company RSU”) that was outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time was cancelled and in exchange therefor the holder became entitled to receive an amount in cash, without interest and less applicable tax withholdings, equal to (i) the total number of Shares subject to (or deliverable under) such Company RSU immediately prior to the Effective Time (assuming full vesting of such Company RSU), multiplied by (ii) the Offer Price. At the Effective Time, each restricted stock unit denominated in Class A Shares that was subject to time- and performance-based vesting (a “Company PSU”) that was outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time was cancelled and in exchange therefor the holder became entitled to receive an amount in cash, without interest and less applicable tax withholdings, equal to (i) the total number of Shares subject to (or deliverable under) such Company PSU immediately prior to the Effective Time (assuming applicable performance goals are achieved in full), multiplied by (ii) the Offer Price.
The foregoing summary of certain terms of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full copy of the Merger Agreement filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC by the Company on June 9, 2026 and incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 3.01 | Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing. |
In connection with the consummation of the Merger, the Company (i) notified The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) of the consummation of the Merger and (ii) requested that Nasdaq (x) halt trading of the Shares effective as of the evening of July 14, 2026 after market close and suspend trading in the Shares prior to market open on the morning of July 15, 2026, and (y) file with the SEC a Notification of Removal from Listing and/or Registration on Form 25 to effect the delisting of all Shares from Nasdaq and the deregistration of such Shares under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Company intends to file with the SEC a Certification and Notice of Termination of Registration on Form 15 under the Exchange Act, requesting that the Company’s reporting obligations under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act be suspended.
The information contained in the Introductory Note and Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.01.
| Item 3.03 | Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders. |
At the Effective Time, holders of Shares immediately prior to such time ceased to have any rights as stockholders of the Company (other than their right to receive the Offer Price for each Share held, pursuant to the Merger Agreement).
The information contained in the Introductory Note and in Items 2.01, 3.01, 5.01 and 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.
| Item 5.01 | Changes in Control of Registrant. |
As a result of the consummation of the Offer and the consummation of the Merger, on July 15, 2026, a change in control of the Company occurred, and at the Effective Time, the Company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. The total equity value of the transaction was approximately $10.6 billion. The funds used by Parent to consummate the Merger and complete the related transactions came from borrowings under Parent’s credit facilities.
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The information contained in the Introductory Note and in Items 2.01, 5.02 and 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.01.
| Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
The information contained in the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02.
Directors
In accordance with the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, each of the directors of the Company (James R. Porter, Ph.D.; Grant C. Bogle; Michael L. Meyers, M.D., Ph.D.; Christy Oliger; Anna Protopapas; Ron Squarer; Sapna Srivastava, Ph.D.; and Cameron A. Wheeler, Ph.D.) resigned from his or her respective position as a member of the Company’s board of directors, and any committee thereof.
As of the Effective Time, in accordance with the Merger Agreement, Justin T. Huang and Kevin T. Ryan, the directors of Purchaser immediately prior to the Effective Time, became the directors of the Company as the surviving corporation.
Officers
As of the Effective Time, in accordance with the Merger Agreement, each of the incumbent officers of the Company, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, ceased to be officers of the Company.
As of the Effective Time, in accordance with the Merger Agreement, the officers of Purchaser immediately prior to the Effective Time became the officers of the Company as the surviving corporation. The officers of the Company as the surviving corporation as of the Effective Time are as follows: Justin T. Huang as President and Secretary, Kevin T. Ryan as Vice President and Treasurer, and Hatixhe Hoxha as Assistant Secretary. Biographical and other information with respect to Justin T. Huang, Kevin T. Ryan and Hatixhe Hoxha is set forth in Schedule I to the Offer to Purchase, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit (a)(1)(A) to the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO filed with the SEC by Parent on June 24, 2026 and is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 5.03 | Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year. |
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, as of the Effective Time, the Company’s third amended and restated certificate of incorporation was amended and restated in its entirety, and the Company’s amended and restated bylaws were amended and restated in their entirety. Copies of the fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws are filed as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
| (d) | Exhibits. |
| Exhibit No. | Description of Exhibit |
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| 2.1* | Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 9, 2026, among the Company, Parent and Purchaser, and, solely for purposes of Section 9.14 thereof, Ultimate Parent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 9, 2026). | |
| 3.1 | Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (filed herewith). | |
| 3.2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws (filed herewith). | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). | |
| * | Certain of the exhibits and schedules to this exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Regulation S-K Item 601(b)(2)(ii). The Registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of all omitted exhibits and schedules. |
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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.
| Nuvalent, Inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ Justin Huang |
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| Name: Justin Huang | ||
| Title: President and Secretary | ||
Dated: July 15, 2026
Exhibit 3.1
STATE OF DELAWARE
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
A STOCK CORPORATION
1. The name of the corporation is Nuvalent, Inc. (the “Corporation”).
2. The Registered Office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is located at 251 Little Falls Drive, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Zip Code 19808. The name of the Registered Agent at such address upon whom process against this Corporation may be served is Corporation Service Company.
3. The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of Delaware (the “DGCL”).
4. The total amount of stock the Corporation is authorized to issue is 1,000 shares of common stock (number of authorized shares) with a par value of $0.0001 per share.
5. Limitation of Liability of Director
a. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended from time to time, a director of the Corporation (a “Director”) shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of his or her fiduciary duty as a Director, except for liability (a) for any breach of the Director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (c) under Section 174 of the DGCL or (d) for any transaction from which the Director derived an improper personal benefit. If the DGCL is amended after the effective date of this Certificate to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of Directors, then the liability of a Director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.
b. Any amendment, repeal or modification of this Article 5 by either of (i) the stockholders of the Corporation or (ii) an amendment to the DGCL, shall not adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification with respect to any acts or omissions occurring before such amendment, repeal or modification of a person serving as a Director of the Corporation at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification.
6. Limitation of Liability of Officer
a. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended from time to time, an officer of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of his or her fiduciary duty as an officer except for liability (a) for any breach of the officer’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law or (c) for any transaction from which the officer derived an improper personal benefit. If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of officers, then the liability of an officer of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.
b. Any amendment, repeal or modification of this Article 6 by either of (i) the stockholders of the Corporation or (ii) an amendment to the DGCL, shall not adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification with respect to any acts or omissions occurring before such amendment, repeal or modification of a person serving as an officer of the Corporation at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification.
Exhibit 3.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
OF
NUVALENT, INC.
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
SECTION 1.1 REGISTERED OFFICE. The registered office shall be established and maintained at the office of Corporation Service Company, in the City of Wilmington, in the county of New Castle, in the State of Delaware, and said corporation shall be the registered agent of this corporation in charge thereof.
SECTION 1.2 OTHER OFFICES. The corporation may have other offices, either within or without the State of Delaware, at such place or places as the board of directors may from time to time appoint or the business of the corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 2.1 ANNUAL MEETINGS. Annual meetings of stockholders for the election of directors and for such other business as may be stated in the notice of the meeting, shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time and date as the board of directors may designate.
SECTION 2.2 OTHER MEETINGS. Meetings of stockholders for any purpose other than the election of directors may be held at such time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be stated in the notice of meeting.
SECTION 2.3 VOTING.
(a) Each stockholder entitled to vote in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation and in accordance with the provisions of these By-Laws shall be entitled to one vote, in person or by proxy, for each share of stock entitled to vote held by such stockholder, but no proxy shall be voted after three years from its date unless such proxy provides for a longer period. Upon the demand of any stockholder, the vote for directors and the vote upon any question before the meeting, shall be by ballot. All elections for directors shall be decided by plurality vote; all other matters shall be decided by majority vote except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or the laws of the State of Delaware.
(b) A complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the ensuing election, arranged in alphabetical order, with the address of each, and the number of shares held by each, 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 place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.
SECTION 2.4 QUORUM. Except as otherwise required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-Laws, the presence, in person or by proxy, of stockholders holding a majority of the stock of the corporation entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders. In case a quorum shall not be present at any meeting, a majority in interest of the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until the requisite amount of stock entitled to vote shall be present. At any such adjourned meeting at which the requisite amount of stock entitled to vote shall be represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed; but only those stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting as originally noticed shall be entitled to vote at any adjournment or adjournments thereof.
SECTION 2.5 SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called by the President or Secretary, or by resolution of the board of directors.
SECTION 2.6 NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Written notice, stating the place, date and time of the meeting, and the general nature of the business to be considered, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat at his or her address as it appears on the records of the corporation, not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting. No business other than that stated in the notice shall be transacted at any meeting without the unanimous consent of all the stockholders entitled to vote thereat.
SECTION 2.7 ACTION WITHOUT MEETING. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
SECTION 3.1 NUMBER AND TERM. The number of directors shall be at least one person. The number of directors shall be determined by the board of directors or by the stockholders. The directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders and each director shall be elected to serve until his or her successor shall be elected and shall qualify. Directors need not be stockholders.
SECTION 3.2 RESIGNATIONS. Any director, member of a committee or other officer may resign at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing, and shall take effect at the time specified therein, and if no time be specified, at the time of its receipt by the President or Secretary. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
SECTION 3.3 VACANCIES. Vacancies on the board of directors or any committee thereof and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by the remaining directors in office, though less than a quorum, by a majority vote, may appoint any qualified person to fill such vacancy, who shall hold office for the unexpired term and until his or her successor shall be duly chosen.
SECTION 3.4 REMOVAL.
(a) Except as hereinafter provided, any director or directors may be removed either for or without cause at any time by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of all the shares of stock outstanding and entitled to vote, at a special meeting of the stockholders called for the purpose and the vacancies thus created may be filled, at the meeting held for the purpose of removal, by the affirmative vote of a majority in interest of the stockholders entitled to vote.
(b) Unless the Certificate of Incorporation otherwise provides, stockholders may effect removal of a director who is a member of a classified board of directors only for cause. If the Certificate of Incorporation provides for cumulative voting and if less than the entire board of directors is to be removed, no director may be removed without cause if the votes cast against his or her removal would be sufficient to elect him or her if then cumulatively voted at an election of the entire board of directors, or if there be classes of directors, at an election of the class of directors of which he or she is a part.
(c) If the holders of any class or series are entitled to elect one or more directors by the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, these provisions shall apply, in respect to the removal without cause of a director or directors so elected, to the vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of that class or series and not to the vote of the outstanding shares as a whole.
SECTION 3.5 POWERS. The board of directors shall exercise all of the powers of the corporation except such as are by law, or by the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation or by these By-Laws conferred upon or reserved to the stockholders.
SECTION 3.6 COMMITTEES.
(a) The board of directors may, by resolution or resolutions passed by a majority of the whole board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of two or more directors of the corporation. The board 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 any member of such committee or committees, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they 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.
(b) Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the board of directors, or in these By-Laws, 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 amending the Certificate of Incorporation, adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the corporation’s property and assets recommending to the stockholders a dissolution of the corporation or a revocation of a dissolution, or amending the By-Laws of the corporation; and, unless the resolution, these By-Laws, or the Certificate of Incorporation expressly so provide, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of stock.
SECTION 3.7 MEETINGS.
(a) The newly elected directors may hold their first meeting for the purpose of organization and the transaction of business, if a quorum be present, immediately after the annual meeting of the stockholders; or the time and place of such meeting may be fixed by consent in writing of all the directors.
(b) Regular meetings of the directors may be held without notice at such places and times as shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the directors.
(c) Special meetings of the board may be called by the President or by the Secretary on the written request of any two directors on at least two days’ notice to each director and shall be held at such place or places as may be determined by the directors, or shall be stated in the call of the meeting.
(d) Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-Laws, 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 any committee, by means of telephone conference or similar 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 3.8 QUORUM. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If at any meeting of the board of directors there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum is obtained, and no further notice thereof need be given other than by announcement at the meeting which shall be so adjourned.
SECTION 3.9 COMPENSATION. Directors shall not receive any stated salary for their services as directors or as members of committees, but by resolution of the board a fixed fee and expenses of attendance may be allowed for attendance at each meeting. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other capacity as an officer, agent or otherwise, and receiving compensation therefor.
SECTION 3.10 ACTION WITHOUT MEETING. 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 prior to such action a written consent thereto is signed by all members of the board, or of such committee as the case may be, and such written consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the board or committee.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
SECTION 4.1 OFFICERS. The officers of the corporation shall be a President, a Treasurer, and a Secretary, all of whom shall be elected by the board of directors and who shall hold office until their successors are elected and qualified. In addition, the board of directors may elect a Chairman, President, one or more Vice-Presidents and such Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers as they may deem proper. None of the officers of the corporation need be directors. The officers shall be elected at the first meeting of the board of directors after each annual meeting. More than two offices may be held by the same person.
SECTION 4.2 OTHER OFFICERS AND AGENTS. The board of directors may appoint such other officers and agents as it may deem advisable, who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the board of directors.
SECTION 4.3 TERM OF OFFICE; RESIGNATION; REMOVAL; VACANCIES. Unless otherwise provided in the resolution of the board of directors electing any officer, each officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal. Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the board of directors or to the President or the Secretary of the corporation. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, and unless otherwise specified therein no acceptance of such resignation shall be necessary to make it effective. The board may remove any officer with or without cause at any time. Any such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights of such officer, if any, with the corporation, but the election of an officer shall not of itself create contractual rights. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the corporation by death, resignation, removal or otherwise may be filled by the board at any regular or special meeting.
SECTION 4.4 POWER. All officers of the corporation shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management and operation of the corporation as shall be prescribed in these By-Laws or the resolutions of the board of directors designating and choosing such officers and prescribing their authority and duties, and shall have such additional authority and duties as are incident to their office except to the extent that such resolutions may be inconsistent therewith. The duly elected officers of the corporation are hereby authorized generally to act on behalf of the corporation, including without limitation, in the signing and executing of deeds, mortgages and all other forms of contracts and undertakings in the name and on behalf of the corporation, and to cause the seal of the corporation to be affixed to any instrument thereof. The Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the corporation shall record all of the proceedings of all meetings and actions in writing of directors, and committees of directors, and shall exercise such additional authority and perform such additional duties as the board of directors shall assign to such Secretary or Assistant Secretary. The Chairman of the board of directors, if one be elected, shall preside at all meetings of the board of directors and the Chairman shall have and perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the board of directors. In the Chairman’s absence, the President shall preside such meetings.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 5.1 DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Article V:
(a) “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is serving or has served (i) as a Director (as defined below) of the corporation, (ii) as an Officer (as defined below) of the corporation, (iii) as a Non-Officer Employee (as defined below) of the corporation, or (iv) as a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, foundation, association, organization or other legal entity which such person is or was serving at the request of the corporation. For purposes of this Section 5.1(a), a Director, Officer or Non-Officer Employee of the corporation who is serving or has served as a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee or agent of a Subsidiary (as defined below) shall be deemed to be serving at the request of the corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Corporate Status” shall not include the status of a person who is serving or has served as a director, officer, employee or agent of a constituent corporation absorbed in a merger or consolidation transaction with the corporation with respect to such person’s activities prior to said transaction, unless specifically authorized by the board of directors or the stockholders of the corporation;
(b) “DGCL” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware;
(c) “Director” means any person who serves or has served the corporation as a director on the board of directors of the corporation;
(d) “Disinterested Director” means, with respect to each Proceeding (as defined below) in respect of which indemnification is sought hereunder, a Director of the corporation who is not and was not a party to such Proceeding;
(e) “Expenses” means all attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of expert witnesses, private investigators and professional advisors (including, without limitation, accountants and investment bankers), travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, costs of preparation of demonstrative evidence and other courtroom presentation aids and devices, costs incurred in connection with document review, organization, imaging and computerization, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements, costs or expenses of the type customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, settling or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding;
(f) “Liabilities” means judgments, damages, liabilities, losses, penalties, excise taxes, fines and amounts paid in settlement;
(g) “Non-Officer Employee” means any person who serves or has served as an employee or agent of the corporation, but who is not or was not a Director or Officer;
(h) “Officer” means any person who serves or has served the corporation as an officer of the corporation appointed by the board of directors of the corporation;
(i) “Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, inquiry, investigation, administrative hearing or other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative; and
(j) “Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other entity of which the corporation owns (either directly or through or together with another Subsidiary of the corporation) either (i) a general partner, managing member or other similar interest or (ii) (A) fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting power of the voting capital equity interests of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other entity, or (B) fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding voting capital stock or other voting equity interests of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other entity.
SECTION 5.2 INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
(a) Subject to the operation of Section 5.4 of this Article V of these By-Laws, each Director and Officer shall be indemnified and held harmless by the corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the corporation to provide prior to such amendment), and to the extent authorized in this Section 5.2.
| (1) | ACTIONS, SUITS AND PROCEEDINGS OTHER THAN BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION. Each Director and Officer shall be indemnified and held harmless by the corporation against any and all Expenses and Liabilities that are incurred or paid by such Director or Officer or on such Director’s or Officer’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), which such Director or Officer is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in by reason of such Director’s or Officer’s Corporate Status, if such Director or Officer acted in good faith and in a manner such Director or Officer reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. |
| (2) | ACTIONS, SUITS AND PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION. Each Director and Officer shall be indemnified and held harmless by the corporation against any and all Expenses that are incurred by such Director or Officer or on such Director’s or Officer’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein by or in the right of the corporation, which such Director or Officer is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in by reason of such Director’s or Officer’s Corporate Status, if such Director or Officer acted in good faith and in a manner such Director or Officer reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; provided, however, that no indemnification shall be made under this Section 5.2(a)(2) in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such Director or Officer shall have been finally adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be liable to the corporation, unless, and only to the extent that, the Court of Chancery or another court in which such Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite adjudication of liability, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such Director or Officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such Expenses that such court deems proper. |
| (3) | SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS. The rights of indemnification provided by this Section 5.2 shall continue as to a Director or Officer after they have ceased to be a Director or Officer and shall inure to the benefit of their heirs, executors, administrators and personal representatives. |
| (4) | ACTIONS BY DIRECTORS OR OFFICERS. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the corporation shall indemnify any Director or Officer seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such Director or Officer only if such Proceeding (including any parts of such Proceeding not initiated by such Director or Officer) was authorized in advance by the board of directors of the corporation, unless such Proceeding was brought to enforce such Officer’s or Director’s rights to indemnification or, in the case of Directors, advancement of Expenses under these By-Laws in accordance with the provisions set forth herein. |
SECTION 5.3 INDEMNIFICATION OF NON-OFFICER EMPLOYEES. Subject to the operation of Section 5.4 of this Article V of these By-Laws, each Non-Officer Employee may, in the discretion of the board of directors of the corporation, be indemnified by the corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against any or all Expenses and Liabilities that are incurred by such Non-Officer Employee or on such Non-Officer Employee’s behalf in connection with any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding, or any claim, issue or matter therein, which such Non-Officer Employee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in by reason of such Non-Officer Employee’s Corporate Status, if such Non-Officer Employee acted in good faith and in a manner such Non-Officer Employee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. The rights of indemnification provided by this Section 5.3 shall exist as to a Non-Officer Employee after they have ceased to be a Non-Officer Employee and shall inure to the benefit of their heirs, personal representatives, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the corporation may indemnify any Non-Officer Employee seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such Non-Officer Employee only if such Proceeding was authorized in advance by the board of directors of the corporation.
SECTION 5.4 DETERMINATION. Unless ordered by a court, no indemnification shall be provided pursuant to this Article V to a Director, to an Officer or to a Non-Officer Employee unless a determination shall have been made that such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. Such determination shall be made by (a) a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the board of directors, (b) a committee comprised of Disinterested Directors, such committee having been designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors (even though less than a quorum), (c) if there are no such Disinterested Directors, or if a majority of Disinterested Directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (d) by the stockholders of the corporation.
SECTION 5.5 ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES TO DIRECTORS PRIOR TO FINAL DISPOSITION.
(a) The corporation shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of any Director in connection with any Proceeding in which such Director is involved by reason of such Director’s Corporate Status within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the corporation of a written statement from such Director requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by such Director and shall be preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by or on behalf of such Director to repay any Expenses so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such Director is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the corporation shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of any Director seeking advancement of expenses hereunder in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such Director only if such Proceeding (including any parts of such Proceeding not initiated by such Director) was (i) authorized by the board of directors of the corporation, or (ii) brought to enforce such Director’s rights to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under these By-Laws.
(b) If a claim for advancement of Expenses hereunder by a Director is not paid in full by the corporation within thirty (30) days after receipt by the corporation of documentation of Expenses and the required undertaking, such Director may at any time thereafter bring suit against the corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and if successful in whole or in part, such Director shall also be entitled to be paid the expenses of prosecuting such claim. The failure of the corporation (including its board of directors or any committee thereof, independent legal counsel, or stockholders) to make a determination concerning the permissibility of such advancement of Expenses under this Article V shall not be a defense to an action brought by a Director for recovery of the unpaid amount of an advancement claim and shall not create a presumption that such advancement is not permissible. The burden of proving that a Director is not entitled to an advancement of expenses shall be on the corporation.
(c) In any suit brought by the corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that the Director has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL.
SECTION 5.6 ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES TO OFFICERS AND NON-OFFICER EMPLOYEES PRIOR TO FINAL DISPOSITION.
(a) The corporation may, at the discretion of the board of directors of the corporation, advance any or all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of any Officer or any Non-Officer Employee in connection with any Proceeding in which such person is involved by reason of their Corporate Status as an Officer or Non-Officer Employee upon the receipt by the corporation of a statement or statements from such Officer or Non-Officer Employee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by such Officer or Non-Officer Employee and shall be preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay any Expenses so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such Officer or Non-Officer Employee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses.
(b) In any suit brought by the corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that the Officer or Non-Officer Employee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL.
SECTION 5.7 CONTRACTUAL NATURE OF RIGHTS.
(a) The provisions of this Article V shall be deemed to be a contract between the corporation and each Director and Officer entitled to the benefits hereof at any time while this Article V is in effect, in consideration of such person’s past or current and any future performance of services for the corporation. Neither amendment, repeal or modification of any provision of this Article V nor the adoption of any provision of the Certificate of the Incorporation inconsistent with this Article V shall eliminate or reduce any right conferred by this Article V in respect of any act or omission occurring, or any cause of action or claim that accrues or arises or any state of facts existing, at the time of or before such amendment, repeal, modification or adoption of an inconsistent provision (even in the case of a proceeding based on such a state of facts that is commenced after such time), and all rights to indemnification and advancement of Expenses granted herein or arising out of any act or omission shall vest at the time of the act or omission in question, regardless of when or if any proceeding with respect to such act or omission is commenced. The rights to indemnification and to advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article V shall continue notwithstanding that the person has ceased to be a director or officer of the corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors, administrators, legatees and distributes of such person.
(b) If a claim for indemnification hereunder by a Director or Officer is not paid in full by the corporation within sixty (60) days after receipt by the corporation of a written claim for indemnification, such Director or Officer may at any time thereafter bring suit against the corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim, and if successful in whole or in part, such Director or Officer shall also be entitled to be paid the expenses of prosecuting such claim. The failure of the corporation (including its board of directors or any committee thereof, independent legal counsel, or stockholders) to make a determination concerning the permissibility of such indemnification under this Article V shall not be a defense to an action brought by a Director or Officer for recovery of the unpaid amount of an indemnification claim and shall not create a presumption that such indemnification is not permissible. The burden of proving that a Director or Officer is not entitled to indemnification shall be on the corporation.
(c) In any suit brought by a Director or Officer to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder, it shall be a defense that such Director or Officer has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL.
SECTION 5.8 NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. The rights to indemnification and to advancement of Expenses set forth in this Article V shall not be exclusive of any other right which any Director, Officer, or Non-Officer Employee may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of the Incorporation or these By-Laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or Disinterested Directors or otherwise.
SECTION 5.9 INSURANCE. The corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any Director, Officer or Non-Officer Employee against any liability of any character asserted against or incurred by the corporation or any such Director, Officer or Non-Officer Employee, or arising out of any such person’s Corporate Status, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the DGCL or the provisions of this Article V.
SECTION 5.10 OTHER INDEMNIFICATION. The corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or provide advancement of Expenses to any person under this Article V as a result of such person serving, at the request of the corporation, as a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification or advancement of Expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or enterprise (the “Primary Indemnitor”). Any indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Article V owed by the corporation as a result of a person serving, at the request of the corporation, as a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall only be in excess of, and shall be secondary to, the indemnification or advancement of Expenses available from the applicable Primary Indemnitor(s) and any applicable insurance policies.
SECTION 5.11 PARTIAL INDEMNIFICATION. If a Director, Officer or Non-Officer Employee is entitled under any provision of this Article V to indemnification by the corporation for some or a portion of the expenses (including attorneys’ fees), liabilities, losses, judgments, fines (including excise taxes and penalties arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) or amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of a Director, Officer or Non-Officer Employee in connection with any Proceeding and any appeal therefrom but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the corporation shall nevertheless indemnify such Director, Officer or Non-Officer Employee for the portion of such expenses (including attorneys’ fees), liabilities, losses, judgments, fines (including excise taxes and penalties arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) or amounts paid in settlement to which such Director, Officer or Non-Officer Employee is entitled.
SECTION 5.12 SAVINGS CLAUSE. If this Article V or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each Director, Officer or Non-Officer Employee as to any expenses (including attorneys’ fees), liabilities, losses, judgments, fines (including excise taxes and penalties arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) and amounts paid in settlement in connection with any action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal or administrative, including an action by or in the right of the corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article V that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 6.1 UNCERTIFICATED AND CERTIFICATED STOCK. The shares of the corporation shall be uncertificated; provided, that the board of directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of stock of the corporation shall be represented by certificates. Each certificate representing stock of the corporation shall be signed by or in the name of the corporation by the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the board of directors, if they be elected, President or Vice-President, and the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, certifying the number of shares owned by the applicable holder of stock represented by such certificate. Any or all of the signatures may be facsimiles. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
SECTION 6.2 LOST CERTIFICATES. Uncertificated shares (or a new certificate of stock, if the board of directors has provided by resolution or resolutions that some or all of the class or series of stock of the corporation to which such shares belong shall be certificated shares) may be issued in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by the corporation, alleged to have been lost or destroyed, and the directors may,
in their discretion, require the owner of the lost or destroyed certificate, or his or her legal representatives, to give the corporation a bond, in such sum as they may direct, not exceeding double the value of the stock, to indemnify the corporation against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss of any such certificate, or the issuance of any such new certificate or uncertificated shares.
SECTION 6.3 TRANSFER OF SHARES. The shares of stock of the corporation shall be transferable only upon its books by the holders thereof in person or by their duly authorized attorneys or legal representatives. With respect to shares of stock represented by certificates, upon such transfer the old certificates shall be surrendered to the corporation by the delivery thereof to the person in charge of the stock and transfer books and ledgers, or to such other person as the directors may designate, by whom they shall be cancelled, and new certificates shall thereupon be issued. A record shall be made of each transfer and whenever a transfer shall be made for collateral security, and not absolutely, it shall be so expressed in the entry of the transfer.
SECTION 6.4 STOCKHOLDERS RECORD DATE. In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the board of directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty days prior to any other action. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the board of directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
SECTION 6.5 DIVIDENDS. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the board of directors may, out of funds legally available therefor at any regular or special meeting, declare dividends upon the capital stock of the corporation as and when they deem expedient. Before declaring any dividend there may be set apart out of any funds of the corporation available for dividends, such sum or sums as the directors from time to time in their discretion deem proper for working capital or as a reserve fund to meet contingencies or for equalizing dividends or for such other purposes as the directors shall deem conducive to the interests of the company.
SECTION 6.6 SEAL. The corporate seal, if any, shall be circular in form and shall contain the name of the corporation, the year of its creation and the words “CORPORATE SEAL DELAWARE ”. Said seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
SECTION 6.7 FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be determined by resolution of the board of directors.
SECTION 6.8 CHECKS. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the corporation and in such manner as shall be determined from time to time by resolutions of the board of directors.
SECTION 6.9 NOTICE AND WAIVER OF NOTICE.
(a) Whenever any notice is required by these By-Laws to be given, personal notice is not meant unless expressly so stated, and any notice so required shall be deemed to be sufficient if given by depositing the same in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the person entitled thereto at his or her address as it appears on the records of the corporation, and such notice shall be deemed to have been given on the day of such mailing. Stockholders not entitled to vote shall not be entitled to receive notice of any meetings except as otherwise provided by applicable law.
(b) Whenever any notice whatever is required to be given under the provisions of any law, or under the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation or these By-Laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto.
ARTICLE VII
AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be altered or repealed and By-Laws may be made at any annual meeting of the stockholders or at any special meeting thereof if notice of the proposed alteration or repeal or By-Law or By-Laws to be made be contained in the notice of such special meeting, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, or by the affirmative vote of a majority of the board of directors, at any regular meeting of the board of directors, or at any special meeting of the board of directors, if notice of the proposed alteration or repeal, or By-Law or By-Laws to be made, be contained in the notice of such special meeting.