Exhibit 3.3
BYLAWS OF
HERITAGE DISTILLING HOLDING COMPANY, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
Adopted April 25, 2019
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |||
ARTICLE I — MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS | 1 | ||
1.1 | Place of Meetings | 1 | |
1.2 | Annual Meeting | 1 | |
1.3 | Special Meeting | 1 | |
1.4 | Notice of Stockholders’ Meetings | 2 | |
1.5 | Quorum | 2 | |
1.6 | Adjourned Meeting; Notice | 2 | |
1.7 | Conduct of Business | 3 | |
1.8 | Voting | 3 | |
1.9 | Stockholder Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting | 4 | |
1.10 | Record Dates | 5 | |
1.11 | Proxies | 5 | |
1.12 | List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote | 6 | |
ARTICLE II — DIRECTORS | 6 | ||
2.1 | Powers | 6 | |
2.2 | Number of Directors | 6 | |
2.3 | Election, Qualification and Term of Office of Directors | 6 | |
2.4 | Resignation and Vacancies. | 7 | |
2.5 | Place of Meetings; Meetings by Telephone | 7 | |
2.6 | Conduct of Business | 8 | |
2.7 | Regular Meetings | 8 | |
2.8 | Special Meetings; Notice | 8 | |
2.9 | Quorum; Voting | 9 | |
2.10 | Board Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting | 9 | |
2.11 | Fees and Compensation of Directors | 9 | |
2.12 | Removal of Directors | 9 | |
ARTICLE III — COMMITTEES | 10 | ||
3.1 | Committees of Directors | 10 | |
3.2 | Committee Minutes | 10 | |
3.3 | Meetings and Actions of Committees | 10 | |
3.4 | Subcommittees | 11 | |
ARTICLE IV — OFFICERS | 11 | ||
4.1 | Officers | 11 | |
4.2 | Appointment of Officers | 13 | |
4.3 | Subordinate Officers | 13 | |
4.4 | Removal and Resignation of Officers | 14 | |
4.5 | Vacancies in Offices | 14 | |
4.6 | Representation of Shares of Other Corporations. | 14 | |
4.7 | Authority and Duties of Officers | 14 |
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ARTICLE V — INDEMNIFICATION | 14 | ||
5.1 | Indemnification of Directors and Officers in Third-Party Proceedings | 14 | |
5.2 | Indemnification of Directors and Officers in Actions by or in the Right of the Company | 15 | |
5.3 | Successful Defense | 15 | |
5.4 | Indemnification of Others | 15 | |
5.5 | Advanced Payment of Expenses | 15 | |
5.6 | Limitation on Indemnification | 16 | |
5.7 | Determination; Claim | 17 | |
5.8 | Non-Exclusivity of Rights | 17 | |
5.9 | Insurance | 17 | |
5.10 | Survival | 17 | |
5.11 | Effect of Repeal or Modification | 18 | |
5.12 | Certain Definitions | ||
ARTICLE VI — STOCK | 18 | ||
6.1 | Stock Certificates; Partly Paid Shares | 18 | |
6.2 | Special Designation on Certificates | 19 | |
6.3 | Lost Certificates | 19 | |
6.4 | Dividends | 19 | |
6.5 | Stock Transfer Agreements | 19 | |
6.6 | Registered Stockholders | 20 | |
6.7 | Transfers | 20 | |
ARTICLE VII — MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE AND WAIVER | 20 | ||
7.1 | Notice of Stockholder Meetings | 20 | |
7.2 | Notice by Electronic Transmission | 20 | |
7.3 | Notice to Stockholders Sharing an Address | 21 | |
7.4 | Notice to Person with Whom Communication is Unlawful | 21 | |
7.5 | Waiver of Notice | 22 | |
ARTICLE VIII — GENERAL MATTERS | 22 | ||
8.1 | Fiscal Year | 22 | |
8.2 | Seal | 22 | |
8.3 | Annual Report | 22 | |
8.4 | Financial Statements | 22 | |
8.5 | Loans | 22 | |
8.6 | Checks; Drafts; Notes | 22 | |
8.7 | Deposits | 23 | |
8.8 | Voting Securities Held by the Company | 23 | |
8.9 | Contracts. | 23 | |
8.10 | Corporate Opportunity | 23 | |
8.11 | Construction; Definitions | 23 | |
ARTICLE IX — AMENDMENTS | 23 |
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BYLAWS
ARTICLE I — MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
1.1 Place of Meetings. Meetings of stockholders of Heritage Distilling Holding Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) shall be held at any place, within or outside the State of Delaware, determined by the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”). The Board 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 by Section 211(a)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). In the absence of any such designation or determination, stockholders’ meetings shall be held at the Company’s principal executive office.
1.2 Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of stockholders shall be held for the election of directors at such date, time and place as may be designated by resolution of the Board from time to time. Any other proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting. The Company must hold its annual meeting within the earlier of: (i) six (6) months after the end of the Company’s fiscal year or (ii) fifteen (15) months after its last annual meeting. If an annual meeting is not held within that time period, a stockholder may direct a request in writing to the Chairperson of the Board to hold the annual meeting. If no designation of the location is made for any annual meeting of the stockholders, the place of the meeting will be the principal office of the Company.
1.3 Special Meeting. A special meeting of the stockholders may be called at any time by a majority of the Board, the Chairperson of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President (in the absence of a Chief Executive Officer) or by one or more stockholders holding shares in the aggregate entitled to cast not less than 10% of the votes at that meeting.
If any person(s) other than the Board calls a special meeting, the request shall:
(i) be in writing;
(ii) specify the time of such meeting and the general nature of the business proposed to be transacted; and
(iii) be delivered personally or sent by registered mail or by facsimile transmission to the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President (in the absence of a Chief Executive Officer) or the Secretary of the Company.
The officer(s) receiving the request shall cause notice to be promptly given to the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, in accordance with these bylaws, that a meeting will be held at the time requested by the person or persons calling the meeting. No business may be transacted at such special meeting other than the business specified in such notice to stockholders. Nothing contained in this paragraph of this Section 1.3 shall be construed as limiting, fixing, or affecting the time when a meeting of stockholders called by action of the Board may be held. Special meetings of the stockholders may be held at any place within or without the State of Delaware at such place as may be designated by resolution of the Board from time to time. If no designation of the location is made for any special meeting of the stockholders, the place of the meeting will be the principal office of the Company.
1.4 Notice of Stockholders’ Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written 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 determining 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. Except as otherwise provided in the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the written notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the written notice of any meeting of stockholders to act on an amendment to the certificate of incorporation, a plan of merger or share exchange, a proposed sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company other than in the usual or regular course of business, or the dissolution of the Company shall be given not less than twenty (20) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting.
1.5 Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, at each meeting of stockholders the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of shares of stock having a majority of the votes which could be cast by the holders of all outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote at the meeting shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum. Where a separate vote by a class or series, or classes or series, entitled to vote at such meeting is required, a majority of the votes which could be cast by holders of all outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote at the meeting of such class or series or classes or series, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter, except as otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws.
If, however, such quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, then either (i) the chairperson of the meeting, or (ii) the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, in the manner provided in Section 1.6, until a quorum is present or represented.
Notwithstanding the above, the process for calculating any such quorum and corresponding votes may be impacted by certain restrictions contained in any stockholder agreement(s) dealing with the suspension or setting aside of shares of Company capital stock in the event of a dispute or forbidden transaction.
1.6 Adjourned Meeting; Notice. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may adjourn from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof, 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 adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Company may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 213(a) of the DGCL and Section 1.10 of these bylaws, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.
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1.7 Conduct of Business. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairperson of the Board, if any, or in his or her absence by the Vice Chairperson of the Board, if any, or in the absence of the foregoing persons by the Chief Executive Officer, or in the absence of the foregoing persons by the President, or in the absence of the foregoing persons by a Vice President, or in the absence of the foregoing persons by a chairperson designated by the Board, or in the absence of such designation by a chairperson chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. The chairperson of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of business.
1.8 Voting. The stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.10 of these bylaws, subject to Section 217 (relating to voting rights of fiduciaries, pledgors and joint owners of stock) and Section 218 (relating to voting trusts and other voting agreements) of the DGCL.
Except as may be otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, by applicable law, or as may be contained in certain restrictions in any stockholder agreement(s) of the Company, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to have that number of votes for every share of stock entitled to vote which is registered in his name on the record date for the meeting as is provided in the certificate of incorporation, as the same may be amended or restated from time to time, or as otherwise required by law. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot and, unless otherwise required by law, need not be conducted by inspectors of election unless so determined by the holders of shares of stock having a majority of the votes which could be cast by the holders of all outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon which are present in person or by proxy at such meeting. If authorized by the Board, such requirement of a written ballot shall be satisfied by a ballot submitted by electronic transmission (as defined in Section 7.2 of these bylaws), provided that any such electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder or proxy holder.
Except as otherwise required by law, the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws, or as may be contained in certain restrictions in any stockholder agreement(s) of the Company, in all matters other than the election of directors the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders. Except as otherwise required by law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the voting power of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. Where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, in all matters other than the election of directors, the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the shares present or represented by proxy in such class or series or classes or series present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting shall be the act of such class or series or classes or series, except as otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws.
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1.9 Stockholder Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, any action required by the DGCL to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of a corporation, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing setting forth the action so taken shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.
An electronic transmission (as defined in Section 7.2) consenting to an action to be taken and transmitted by a stockholder or proxy holder, or by a person or persons authorized to act for a stockholder or proxy holder, shall be deemed to be written, signed and dated for purposes of this section, provided that any such electronic transmission sets forth or is delivered with information from which the Company can determine (i) that the electronic transmission was transmitted by the stockholder or proxy holder or by a person or persons authorized to act for the stockholder or proxy holder and (ii) the date on which such stockholder or proxy holder or authorized person or persons transmitted such electronic transmission.
In the event that the Board shall have instructed the officers of the Company to solicit the vote or written consent of the stockholders of the Company, an electronic transmission of a stockholder’s written consent given pursuant to such solicitation may be delivered to the Secretary or the President of the Company or to a person designated by the Secretary or the President. The Secretary or the President of the Company or a designee of the Secretary or the President shall cause any such written consent by electronic transmission to be reproduced in paper form and inserted into the corporate records.
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 and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for notice of such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take the action were delivered to the Company as provided in Section 228 of the DGCL. In the event that the action which is consented to is such as would have required the filing of a certificate under any provision of the DGCL, if such action had been voted on by stockholders at a meeting thereof, the certificate filed under such provision shall state, in lieu of any statement required by such provision concerning any vote of stockholders, that written consent has been given in accordance with Section 228 of the DGCL.
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1.10 Record Dates. In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board 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 and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board 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 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, 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, however, that the Board 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 Section 213 of the DGCL and this Section 1.10 at the adjourned meeting.
In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board 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, and which date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date has been fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board is required by law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Company in accordance with applicable law. If no record date has been fixed by the Board and prior action by the Board is required by law, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
In order that the Company 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 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 be not more than sixty (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 adopts the resolution relating thereto.
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1.11 Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by law filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date unless the proxy provides for a longer period. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section 212 of the DGCL.
1.12 List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Company shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting; provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth (10th) day before the meeting date, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. The Company shall not be required to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours at the Company’s principal place of business. In the event that the Company determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Company may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Company. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be examined by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.
ARTICLE II — DIRECTORS
2.1 Powers. The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, except as may be otherwise provided in the DGCL or the certificate of incorporation.
2.2 Number of Directors. The Board shall consist of a minimum of two (2) members, each of whom shall be a natural person. Unless the certificate of incorporation fixes the number of directors, the number of directors shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board. No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director before that director’s term of office expires.
2.3 Election, Qualification and Term of Office of Directors. Except as provided in Section 2.4 of these bylaws, and subject to Sections 1.2 and 1.9 of these bylaws, directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of stockholders. Directors need not be stockholders unless so required by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws. The certificate of incorporation or these bylaws may prescribe other qualifications for directors. Each director shall hold office until such director’s successor is elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.
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2.4 Resignation and Vacancies. Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Company. A resignation is effective when the resignation is delivered unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events. A resignation which is conditioned upon the director failing to receive a specified vote for reelection as a director may provide that it is irrevocable. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, when one or more directors resign from the Board, effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have the power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective.
Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws:
(i) Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors elected by all of the stockholders having the right to vote as a single class may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director.
(ii) Whenever the holders of any class or classes of stock or series thereof are entitled to elect one (1) or more directors by the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, vacancies and newly created directorships of such class or classes or series may be filled by a majority of the directors elected by such class or classes or series thereof then in office, or by a sole remaining director so elected.
If at any time, by reason of death or resignation or other cause, the Company should have no directors in office, then any officer or any stockholder or an executor, administrator, trustee or guardian of a stockholder or other fiduciary entrusted with like responsibility for the person or estate of a stockholder, may call a special meeting of stockholders in accordance with the provisions of the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, or may apply to the Court of Chancery for a decree summarily ordering an election as provided in Section 211 of the DGCL.
If at the time of filling any vacancy or any newly created directorship the directors then in office constitute less than a majority of the whole Board (as constituted immediately prior to any such increase), the Court of Chancery may, upon application of any stockholder or stockholders holding at least ten percent (10%) of the votes which could be cast by the holders of all outstanding shares of stock having the right to vote for such directors, summarily order an election to be held to fill any such vacancies or newly created directorships or to replace the directors chosen by the directors then in office as aforesaid, which election shall be governed by the provisions of Section 211 of the DGCL as far as applicable.
A director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor in office and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified, or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.
2.5 Place of Meetings; Meetings by Telephone. The Board may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or outside the State of Delaware.
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The Board shall hold an annual meeting immediately after the annual stockholders’ meeting, at the same place as the annual stockholders’ meeting or at such other place and at such other time as may be determined by the Board. No notice of the annual meeting of the Board shall be necessary.
Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, members of the Board or any committee designated by the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board or any committee 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.
2.6 Conduct of Business. Meetings of the Board shall be presided over by the Chairperson of the Board, if any, or in his or her absence by the Vice Chairperson of the Board, if any, or in the absence of the foregoing persons by a chairperson designated by the Board, or in the absence of such designation by a chairperson chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
2.7 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board.
2.8 Special Meetings; Notice. Special meetings of the Board for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Chairperson of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Secretary, or by a majority of the directors. The person or persons calling that special meeting of the Board may fix any date, time or place, either within or without the State of Delaware, to be the date, time and place for holding that special meeting.
Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be:
(i) delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone;
(ii) sent by United States first-class mail, postage prepaid;
(iii) sent by facsimile; or
(iv) sent by electronic mail;
directed to each director at that director’s address, telephone number, facsimile number or electronic mail address, as the case may be, as shown on the Company’s records.
If the notice is (i) delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone, (ii) sent by facsimile or (iii) sent by electronic mail, it shall be delivered or sent at least 24 hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. If the notice is sent by United States mail, it shall be deposited in the United States mail at least four days before the time of the holding of the meeting. Any oral notice may be communicated to the director. The notice need not specify the place of the meeting (if the meeting is to be held at the Company’s principal executive office) nor the purpose of the meeting. Notice of the meeting of the Board shall be deemed to be waived by any director by that director’s attendance at or participation in the meeting, unless the director at the beginning of the meeting, or promptly upon his or her arrival, objects and does not thereafter vote for or assent to any action taken at the meeting.
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2.9 Quorum; Voting. At all meetings of the Board, a majority of the total authorized number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board, then the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business, notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting.
The vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws.
If the certificate of incorporation provides that one or more directors shall have more or less than one vote per director on any matter, every reference in these bylaws to a majority or other proportion of the directors shall refer to a majority or other proportion of the votes of the directors.
2.10 Board Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
2.11 Fees and Compensation of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors, including their services as members of committees of the Board.
2.12 Removal of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by statute, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, any director or the entire Board may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors.
No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director prior to the expiration of such director’s term of office.
2.13 Presumption of Assent. A director of the Company who is present at a meeting of the Board will be presumed to have assented to an action taken on any corporate matter at the meeting unless: (i) the director objects at the beginning of the meeting, or promptly upon the director’s arrival, to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting; (ii) the director’s dissent or abstention from the action taken is entered in the minutes of the meeting; (iii) the director delivers written notice of the director’s dissent or abstention to the presiding officer of the meeting before the adjournment of the meeting or to the Company within a reasonable time after adjournment of the meeting; or (iv) the director objects to the way in which the action in question was presented in the minutes of the meeting. Any right to dissent or abstain from the action will not apply to a director who voted in favor of that action unless the objection is to how the action was depicted in meeting minutes reflecting the action taken.
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ARTICLE III — COMMITTEES
3.1 Committees of Directors. The Board may designate one (1) or more committees, each committee to consist of one (1) or more of the directors of the Company. 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 a member of a committee, the member or members thereof 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 to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Each member of a committee will serve at the pleasure of the Board. Any vacancy in a committee may be filled by a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board or in these bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Company, and may authorize the seal of the Company to be affixed to all papers that may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority to (i) approve or adopt or recommend to the stockholders any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, (ii) adopt, amend or repeal any bylaw of the Company; (iii) approve a distribution except according to a general formula or method prescribed by the Board; (iv) fill vacancies on the Board or on any of its committees; (v) amend the certificate of incorporation; (vi) approve a plan of merger not requiring stockholder approval; or (vii) approve the issuance or sale or contract for sale of shares, or determine the designation and relative rights, preferences, and limitations of a class or series of shares, except that the Board may authorize a committee, or a senior executive officer of the Company to do so within limits specifically prescribed by the Board.
3.2 Committee Minutes. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required.
3.3 Meetings and Actions of Committees. Meetings and actions of committees shall be governed by and held and taken in accordance with the provisions of:
(i) Section 2.5 (Place of Meetings; Meetings by Telephone);
(ii) Section 2.7 (Regular Meetings);
(iii) Section 2.8 (Special Meetings; Notice);
(iv) Section 2.9 (Quorum; Voting);
(v) Section 2.10 (Board Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting); and
(vi) Section 7.5 (Waiver of Notice)
with such changes in the context of those bylaws as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the Board and its members. However:
(i) the time of regular meetings of committees may be determined either by resolution of the Board or by resolution of the committee;
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(ii) special meetings of committees may also be called by resolution of the Board; and
(iii) notice of special meetings of committees shall also be given to all alternate members who shall have the right to attend all meetings of the committee. The Board may adopt rules for the government of any committee not inconsistent with the provisions of these bylaws.
Any provision in the certificate of incorporation providing that one (1) or more directors shall have more or less than one (1) vote per director on any matter shall apply to voting in any committee or subcommittee unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws.
3.4 Subcommittees. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws or the resolutions of the Board designating the committee, a committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one (1) or more members of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee. Each member of a subcommittee will serve at the pleasure of the governing committee.
ARTICLE IV — OFFICERS
4.1 Officers. The officers of the Company shall be a President, a Chief Executive Officer, a Treasurer, and a Secretary. The Company may also have, at the discretion of the Board, a Chairperson of the Board, a Vice Chairperson of the Board, one (1) or more Vice Presidents, a Chief Financial Officer, one (1) or more Assistant Treasurers, one (1) or more Assistant Secretaries, and any such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.
4.1.1 Chief Executive Officer. Subject to the control and supervisory powers of the Board, the powers and duties of the Chief Executive Officer are:
a) | To have the general management and supervision, direction and control of the business and affairs of the Company; |
b) | To preside at all meetings of the stockholders and at meetings of the Board when the Chairman of the Board is absent; |
c) | To call meetings of the stockholders to be held at such times and at such places as the Chief Executive Officer will deem proper within the limitations prescribed by law or by these bylaws; |
d) | To ensure that all orders and resolutions of the Board are effectively carried out; |
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e) | To maintain records of and certify, whenever necessary, all proceedings of the Board and the stockholders; |
f) | To put the signature of the Company to all deeds, conveyances, mortgages, guarantees, leases, obligations, bonds, certificates and other papers and instruments in writing which have been authorized by the Board or which, in the opinion of the Chief Executive Officer, should be executed on behalf of the Company; to sign certificates for the Company’s shares (if such shares are certificated); and, subject to the instructions of the Board, to have general charge of the property of the Company and to supervise and manage all officers, agents and employees of the Company; and |
g) | To perform all other duties and carry out other responsibilities as determined by the Board. |
4.1.2 President. The President will perform any duties as may from time to time be delegated by the Board or by the Chief Executive Officer.
4.1.3 Treasurer. Subject to the control and supervisory powers of the Board, the powers and duties of the Treasurer are:
a) | To keep accurate financial records for the Company; |
b) | To deposit all money, drafts and checks in the name of and to the credit of the Company in the banks and depositories designated by the Board; |
c) | To endorse for deposit all notes, checks, and drafts received by the Company as instructed by the Board, making proper vouchers for them; |
d) | To disburse corporate funds and issue checks and drafts in the name of the Company, as instructed by the Board; |
e) | To submit to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board, as requested, an account of all transactions by the Treasurer and the financial condition of the Company; |
f) | To prepare and submit to the Board annual reports detailing the financial status of the Company; and |
g) | To perform all other duties and carry out other responsibilities as prescribed by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer. |
4.1.5 Secretary. If the Chief Executive Officer is not available or dies, is incapacitated or refuses to act, the Secretary, with the consent of the majority of the Board, may perform the duties of the President, unless another officer was previously appointed by the President to take over the President’s duties, and when so acting, the officer will be subject to the same powers and limitations of the President. The Secretary will perform any other duties as from time to time may be delegated to the Secretary by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or by the Board and may include:
a) | Preparing the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders and meetings of the Board and store them in one or more books provided for that purpose; |
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b) | Authenticating the records of the Company as will from time to time be required; |
c) | Ensuring that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws or as required by law; |
d) | Acting as custodian of the corporate records and of the corporate seal, if any, and ensuring that the seal of the Company, if any, is affixed to all documents, the execution of which on behalf of the Company under its seal is duly authorized; |
e) | Keeping a register of the mailing address of each stockholder; |
f) | Signing with the President, or a Vice President, certificates for shares of the Company (if shares are certificated), the issuance of which will have been authorized by a resolution of the Board; |
g) | Having general charge of the stockholder ledger of the Company; |
h) | Performing all duties incidental to the office of the agent of the Chief Executive Officer and any other duties as from time to time may be delegated to the agent of the Chief Executive Officer by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board; |
i) | Completing, authorizing, submitting and retaining all records required by government agencies related to the business of the Company; and |
j) | Performing all other duties and carry out other responsibilities as prescribed by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer. |
4.1.6 Other Officers. The Board reserves the authority to delegate the powers of any officer to any other officer or agent, notwithstanding any provision in these bylaws.
4.2 Appointment of Officers. The Board shall appoint the officers of the Company except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.3 of these bylaws. Each officer shall have the powers and duties conferred on such officer by the Board, to the extent such powers and duties are not set forth in these bylaws. Each officer shall hold office from the date of his or her appointment until the next annual meeting of the Board and until a successor shall have been duly appointed and qualified or until the officer’s death, resignation, or removal as provided in these bylaws. The compensation of all officers shall be fixed by the Board.
4.3 Subordinate Officers. The Board may appoint or empower the Chief Executive Officer or, in the absence of a Chief Executive Officer, the President to appoint such other officers and agents as the business of the Company may require. Each of such officers and agents shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform such duties as are provided in these bylaws or as the Board may from time to time determine.
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4.4 Removal and Resignation of Officers. Any officer may be removed either with or without cause by an affirmative vote of the majority of the Board at any regular or special meeting of the Board or, except in the case of an officer chosen by the Board, by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board.
Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Company. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice. Unless otherwise specified in the notice of resignation, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Company under any contract to which the officer is a party.
4.5 Vacancies in Offices. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Company shall be filled by the Board or as provided in Section 4.3.
4.6 Representation of Shares of Other Corporations. Unless otherwise directed by the Board, the President or any other person authorized by the Board or the President is authorized to vote, represent and exercise on behalf of the Company all rights incident to any and all shares or equity interests of any other entity standing in the name of the Company. The authority granted herein may be exercised either by such person directly or by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by such person having the authority.
4.7 Authority and Duties of Officers. Except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, the officers of the Company shall have such powers and duties in the management of the Company as may be designated from time to time by the Board and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board.
ARTICLE V — INDEMNIFICATION
5.1 Indemnification of Directors and Officers in Third-Party Proceedings. Subject to the other provisions of this Article V, the Company shall indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law, any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”) (other than an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason of the fact that he or she, his or her testator or intestate is or was a director or officer of the Company or any predecessor of the Company, or serves or served at any other enterprise as director, officer, employee or agent at the request of the Company of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any such Proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful. The Company shall be required to indemnify a person in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such person only if the Proceeding was authorized by the Board.
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5.2 Indemnification of Directors and Officers in Actions by or in the Right of the Company. Subject to the other provisions of this Article V, the Company shall indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law, any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action or suit by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he or she, his or her testator or intestate is or was a director or officer of the Company or any predecessor of the Company, or serves or served at any other enterprise as director, officer, employee or agent at the request of the Company of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company; except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
5.3 Successful Defense. To the extent that a present or former director or officer of the Company has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described in Section 5.1 or Section 5.2, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
5.4 Indemnification of Others. Subject to the other provisions of this Article V, and to the extent permitted by the DGCL, the Company may, by action of the Board from time to time, provide indemnification and pay expenses in advance of the final disposition of a Proceeding to employees and agents of the Company with the same scope and effect as the provisions of the DGCL with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Company or pursuant to rights granted pursuant to, or provided by, the DGCL or otherwise. The Board shall have the power to delegate to such person or persons the determination of whether employees or agents shall be indemnified.
5.5 Advanced Payment of Expenses. Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director of the Company in defending any Proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding, provided, however, that, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be conditioned upon receipt of a written agreement by the indemnified person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the indemnified person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article V or otherwise. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents of the Company or by persons serving at the request of the Company as directors, officers, employees or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Company deems appropriate. The right to advancement of expenses shall not apply to any Proceeding for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to these bylaws but shall apply to any Proceeding referenced in Section 5.6(ii) or 5.6(iii) prior to a determination that the person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise determined pursuant to Section 5.7, no advance shall be made by the Company to an officer of the Company (except by reason of the fact that such officer is or was a director of the Company, in which event this paragraph shall not apply) in any Proceeding if a determination is reasonably and promptly made (i) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such Proceeding, even though less than a quorum; or (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum; or (iii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, that facts known to the decision-making party at the time such determination is made demonstrate clearly and convincingly that such person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such person did not believe to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.
5.6 Limitation on Indemnification. Subject to the requirements in Section 5.3 and the DGCL, the Company shall not be obligated to indemnify any person pursuant to this Article V in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding):
(i) for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of such person under any statute, insurance policy, indemnity provision, vote or otherwise, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid;
(ii) for an accounting or disgorgement of profits pursuant to Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or similar provisions of federal, state or local statutory law or common law, if such person is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements);
(iii) for any reimbursement of the Company by such person of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by such person from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by such person of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if such person is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements);
(iv) initiated by such person, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by such person against the Company or its directors, officers, employees, agents or other indemnitees, unless (a) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or the relevant part of the Proceeding) prior to its initiation; (b) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law; (c) otherwise required to be made under Section 5.7; or (d) otherwise required by applicable law; or
(v) if prohibited by applicable law.
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5.7 Determination; Claim. If a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article V is not paid in full by the Company within sixty (60) days after a written claim has been received by the Company, except in the case of a claim for expenses incurred in defending a Proceeding in advance of its final disposition, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty (20) days, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, to the extent successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim.. The claimant shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification under this Article V upon submission of a written claim (and, in an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition, where the required undertaking has been tendered to the Company), and thereafter the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome the presumption that the claimant is so entitled. Neither the failure of the Company (including its Board, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of or reimbursement or advancement of expenses to the claimant is proper in the circumstances nor an actual determination by the Company (including its Board, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the claimant is not entitled to indemnification or to the reimbursement or advancement of expenses shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant is not so entitled.
5.8 Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The right to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to this Article V shall not be exclusive of any other rights any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the certificate of incorporation, bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. The Company may, without further stockholder action, enter into contracts with any director or officer of the Company in furtherance of the provisions of this Article V and may create a trust fund, grant of security interest or use other means (including, without limitation, a letter of credit) to ensure the payment of such amounts as may be necessary to effect indemnification as provided in this Article V.
5.9 Insurance. The Company may purchase and maintain insurance on its own behalf and on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the Company or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this Article V or the provisions of the DGCL.
5.10 Survival. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this Article V shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
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5.11 Effect of Repeal or Modification. The provisions of this Article V shall be deemed to be a contract right between the Company and each director or officer who serves in any such capacity at any time while this Article V and the relevant provisions of the DGCL or other applicable law are in effect. Neither any amendment nor repeal of this Article V, nor the adoption of any provision of the certificate of incorporation inconsistent with this Article V, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article V in respect of any matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article V, would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment, repeal of adoption of an inconsistent provision. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Article V, references to the “Company” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article V with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued. For purposes of this Article V, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on or involves services by such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Article V.
ARTICLE VI — STOCK
6.1 Stock Certificates; Partly Paid Shares. No shares of the Company shall be issued unless authorized by the Board. The Company shall not be required to issue certificates for shares of the Company; however, should certificates for shares of the Company be issued, such certificates shall be in such form as is consistent with the provisions of the DGCL and shall state: (i) the name of the Company and that the Company is organized under the laws of the State of Delaware; (ii) the name of the person to whom issued; and (iii) the number and class of shares and the designation of the series, if any, which such certificate represents.
Every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by any two (2) officers of the Company representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Company with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. The Company shall not have power to issue a certificate in bearer form.
The Company may issue the whole or any part of its shares as partly paid and subject to call for the remainder of the consideration to be paid therefor. Upon the face or back of each stock certificate issued to represent any such partly paid shares, or upon the books and records of the Company in the case of uncertificated partly paid shares, the total amount of the consideration to be paid therefor and the amount paid thereon shall be stated. Upon the declaration of any dividend on fully paid shares, the Company shall declare a dividend upon partly paid shares of the same class, but only upon the basis of the percentage of the consideration actually paid thereon.
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6.2 Special Designation on Certificates. If the Company is authorized to issue more than one (1) class of stock or more than one series of any class, then the powers, the designations, the preferences, and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate that the Company shall issue to represent such class or series of stock; provided that, except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the DGCL, in lieu of the foregoing requirements there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate that the Company shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, a statement that the Company will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or Transfer (as defined below) of uncertificated stock, the Company shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to this Section 6.2 or Sections 156, 202(a) or 218(a) of the DGCL or with respect to this Section 6.2 a statement that the Company will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated stock and the rights and obligations of the holders of certificates representing stock of the same class and series shall be identical.
6.3 Lost Certificates. Except as provided in this Section 6.3, no new certificates for shares shall be issued to replace a previously issued certificate unless the latter is surrendered to the Company and cancelled at the same time. The Company may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Company may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Company a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.
6.4 Dividends. The Board, subject to any restrictions contained in the certificate of incorporation or applicable law, may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of the Company’s capital stock. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the Company’s capital stock, subject to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation.
The Board may set apart out of any of the funds of the Company available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve.
6.5 Stock Transfer Agreements. The Company shall have the power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes of stock of the Company to restrict the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, or other disposal of or encumbering of any of the shares of stock of the Company or any right or interest therein, whether voluntarily or by operation of law, or by gift or otherwise (each, a “Transfer”) of shares of stock of the Company of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.
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6.6 Registered Stockholders. The Company:
(i) shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and to vote as such owner;
(ii) shall be entitled to hold liable for calls and assessments the person registered on its books as the owner of shares; and
(iii) shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of another person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.
6.7 Transfers. Transfers of record of shares of stock of the Company shall be made only upon its books by the holders thereof, in person or by an attorney duly authorized, and, if such stock is certificated, upon the surrender of a certificate or certificates for a like number of shares, properly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to Transfer.
ARTICLE VII — MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE AND WAIVER
7.1 Notice of Stockholder Meetings. Notice of any meeting of stockholders, if mailed, is given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the Company’s records. An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Company that the notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
7.2 Notice by Electronic Transmission. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders pursuant to the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, any notice to stockholders given by the Company under any provision of the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Company. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if:
(i) the Company is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Company in accordance with such consent; and
(ii) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice.
However, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.
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Any notice given pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall be deemed given:
(i) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice;
(ii) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice;
(iii) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (a) such posting and (b) the giving of such separate notice; and
(iv) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.
An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Company that the notice has been given by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
An “electronic transmission” means any form of communication not directly involving the physical transmission of paper that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved, and reviewed by a recipient thereof and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.
Notice by a form of electronic transmission shall not apply to Sections 164, 296, 311, 312 or 324 of the DGCL.
7.3 Notice to Stockholders Sharing an Address. Except as otherwise prohibited under the DGCL, without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Company under the provisions of the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Company. Any stockholder who fails to object in writing to the Company within sixty (60) days of having been given written notice by the Company of its intention to send the single notice shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice.
7.4 Notice to Person with Whom Communication is Unlawful. Whenever notice is required to be given under the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, to any person with whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person. Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to any such person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. In the event that the action taken by the Company is such as to require the filing of a certificate under the DGCL, the certificate shall state, if such is the fact and if notice is required, that notice was given to all persons entitled to receive notice except such persons with whom communication is unlawful.
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7.5 Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, a written waiver signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at nor the purpose of any regular or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws.
ARTICLE VIII — GENERAL MATTERS
8.1 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Company shall be fixed by resolution of the Board and may be changed by the Board.
8.2 Seal. The Company may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board. The Company may use the corporate seal by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.
8.3 Annual Report. The Company shall cause an annual report to be sent to the stockholders of the Company to the extent required by applicable law. If and so long as there are fewer than one hundred (100) holders of record of the Company’s shares, the requirement of sending an annual report to the stockholders of the Company is expressly waived (to the extent permitted under applicable law).
8.4 Financial Statements. The annual financial statements for stockholders shall be prepared not later than four (4) months after the close of each fiscal year. If financial statements are prepared by the Company for any purpose on a particular basis (i.e., on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles or on some other basis), the annual financial statements must be prepared, and disclosed that they are prepared, on that same basis. If the annual financial statements are reported upon by a public accountant, the accountant’s report must accompany them. If not, the statements must be accompanied by a statement of the President or the person responsible for the Company’s accounting records, stating the person’s reasonable belief whether the statements were prepared on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles and, if not, describing the basis of preparation, and describing any respects in which the statements were not prepared on a basis of accounting consistent with the basis used for statements prepared for the preceding year.
8.5 Loans. Without authorization by a resolution of the Board, the Company is prohibited from making or accepting loans in its name, or issuing evidences of indebtedness in its name. The authorization of the Board for the Company to perform these acts can be general or specific.
8.6 Checks; Drafts; Notes. All checks, drafts, or other orders for the payment of money, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Company must be signed by a designated officer or officers, agent or agents of the Company and in a manner as will from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board.
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8.7 Deposits. All funds of the Company not otherwise used will be deposited to the credit of the Company in banks, trust companies, or other depositories designated by the Board.
8.8 Voting Securities Held by the Company. The Chief Executive Officer, or another officer or agent designated by the Board will, with full power and authority attend, act, and vote, on behalf of the Company, at any meeting of security holders or interest holders of other corporations or entities in which the Company may hold securities or interests. At that meeting, the Chief Executive Officer or other delegated agent will have and execute any and all rights and powers incidental to the ownership of the securities or interests that the Company holds.
8.9 Contracts. The Board may give authority to any officer or agent, to make any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of the Company and on its behalf, and that authority may be general or specific.
8.10 Corporate Opportunity. The Company renounces, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any Corporate Opportunity. A “Corporate Opportunity” is any matter, transaction or interest that is presented to, or acquired, created or developed by, or which otherwise comes into the possession of (i) any director of the Company who is not an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (ii) any partner, member, director, stockholder, employee, affiliate or agent of any such holder, other than someone who is an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (collectively, the persons referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) are “Covered Persons”), unless such matter, transaction or interest is presented to, or acquired, created or developed by, or otherwise comes into the possession of, a Covered Person expressly and solely in such Covered Person’s capacity as a director of the Company. Any repeal or modification of this Section will only be prospective and will not affect the rights under this Section in effect at the time of the occurrence of any actions or omissions to act giving rise to liability.
8.11 Construction; Definitions. Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction, and definitions in the DGCL shall govern the construction of these bylaws. Without limiting the generality of this provision, the singular number includes the plural, the plural number includes the singular, and the term “person” includes both a corporation and a natural person.
ARTICLE IX — AMENDMENTS
These bylaws may be adopted, amended or repealed by the stockholders entitled to vote. However, the Company may in its certificate of incorporation confer the power to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws upon the directors. The fact that such power has been so conferred upon the directors shall not divest the stockholders of the power nor limit their power to adopt, amend, or repeal bylaws.
A bylaw amendment adopted by stockholders which specifies the votes that shall be necessary for the election of directors shall not be further amended or repealed by the Board.
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CERTIFICATE OF ADOPTION OF THE BYLAWS
OF
HERITAGE DISTILLING HOLDING COMPANY, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
The undersigned hereby certifies that she is the duly elected, qualified, and acting Secretary of Heritage Distilling Holding Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and that the foregoing were adopted as the Bylaws of the corporation on April 25, 2019, by the Board of Directors effective April 25, 2019.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate of Adoption of Bylaws as of this 25th day of April, 2019.
/s/ Laura Baumann | |
Laura Baumann, Secretary |
Certificate of adoption of bylaws
Heritage Distilling Holding Company, Inc.