CEVA CEVA Inc

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Delaware		000-49842		77-0556376
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

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Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.001 par value		CEVA		The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

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expanding upon the timing requirements for notice relating to the following: (i) in the event no annual meeting was held in the previous year or if the date of the annual meeting has been changed by more than thirty days before or more than sixty days after the one-year anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting; and (ii) when a stockholder is not seeking inclusion of a proposal in the Company’s proxy statement or information statement for the annual meeting;

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clarifying the requirements around and the ability of stockholders to make director nominations in the event the Company calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board;

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adding a requirement for stockholders to update and supplement their notice so that information provided in such notice is true and correct as of the record date and as of the date of the stockholder meeting;

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expanding upon the information and representations that stockholders are required to provide to the Company in connection with a stockholder nomination or proposal;

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clarifying that the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at a stockholder meeting may not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such meeting;

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adding obligations on proposed stockholder nominees for election as director to deliver to the Company a written questionnaire and a written representation and agreement with respect to certain matters specified in the Bylaws and, upon request from the Board, to submit to interviews with the Board or any committee thereof;

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adding a requirement that a stockholder must indemnify the Company in respect of any loss arising as a result of any false or misleading information or statement submitted by the stockholder in connection with a director nomination; and

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certain other non-substantive changes.

Exhibit Number		Description
3.1		Amended and Restated Bylaws of CEVA, Inc., effective as of November 7, 2023
10.1*		First Amendment to the CEVA, Inc. Amended and Restated 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, effective as of November 7, 2023
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

	CEVA, INC.
Date: November 7, 2023	By:	/s/ Yaniv Arieli
	Name:	Yaniv Arieli
	Title:	Chief Financial Officer

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

CEVA, INC.

a Delaware corporation
 

 

Table of Contents

 

ARTICLE I OFFICES		1
Section 1.1	Registered Office	1
Section 1.2	Other Offices	1
ARTICLE II STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS		1
Section 2.1	Place of Meetings	1
Section 2.2	Annual Meetings	1
Section 2.3	Special Meetings	1
Section 2.4	Notice of Meetings	2
Section 2.5	Quorum and Voting	3
Section 2.6	Voting Rights	3
Section 2.7	Voting Procedures and Inspectors of Elections	4
Section 2.8	List of Stockholders	5
Section 2.9	Stockholder Proposals at Annual and Special Meetings	6
Section 2.10	Nominations of Persons for Election to the Board of Directors	10
ARTICLE III DIRECTORS		13
Section 3.1	Number and Term of Office	13
Section 3.2	Powers	14
Section 3.3	Vacancies	14
Section 3.4	Resignations and Removals	14
Section 3.5	Meetings	15
Section 3.6	Quorum and Voting	15
Section 3.7	Action Without Meeting	16
Section 3.8	Fees and Compensation	16
Section 3.9	Committees	16
ARTICLE IV OFFICERS		17
Section 4.1	Officers Designated	17
Section 4.2	Tenure and Duties of Officers	17
ARTICLE V EXECUTION OF CORPORATE INSTRUMENTS, AND VOTING OF SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION		19
Section 5.1	Execution of Corporate Instruments	19

 

 

Table Of Contents (Cont’d)

 

		Page
Section 5.2	Voting of Securities Owned by the Corporation	19
ARTICLE VI SHARES OF STOCK		20
Section 6.1	Form and Execution of Certificates	20
Section 6.2	Lost Certificates	20
Section 6.3	Transfers	20
Section 6.4	Fixing Record Dates	21
Section 6.5	Registered Stockholders	21
ARTICLE VII OTHER SECURITIES OF THE CORPORATION		21
ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS		22
Section 8.1	Right to Indemnification	22
Section 8.2	Authority to Advance Expenses	22
Section 8.3	Right of Claimant to Bring Suit	23
Section 8.4	Provisions Nonexclusive	23
Section 8.5	Authority to Insure	23
Section 8.6	Survival of Rights	23
Section 8.7	Settlement of Claims	24
Section 8.8	Effect of Amendment	24
Section 8.9	Subrogation	24
Section 8.10	No Duplication of Payments	24
ARTICLE IX NOTICES		25
ARTICLE X CHOICE OF FORUM		25
ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS		26

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

CEVA, INC.

 

ARTICLE I
 

Offices

 

Section 1.1    Registered Office.

 

The registered office of the corporation in the State of Delaware shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle.

 

Section 1.2    Other Offices.

 

The corporation shall also have and maintain an office or principal place of business and any other offices, both within and without the State of Delaware and both within and without the United States, as the Board of Directors of the corporation (the “Board of Directors”) may from time to time determine or the business of the corporation may require.

 

ARTICLE II
 

Stockholders’ Meetings

 

Section 2.1    Place of Meetings.

 

Meetings of the stockholders of the corporation shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and either within or without the United States, as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors, or, if not so designated, then at the office of the corporation required to be maintained pursuant to Section 1.2 of Article I hereof.

 

Section 2.2    Annual Meetings.

 

The annual meetings of the stockholders of the corporation, for the purpose of election of directors and for such other business as may lawfully come before it, shall be held at such place and time as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.3    Special Meetings.

 

Special meetings of the stockholders of the corporation may be called, for any purpose, by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President or a majority of the Board of Directors at any time. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting.

 

 

Section 2.4    Notice of Meetings.

 

(a)    Except as otherwise provided by law or the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), written notice of each meeting of stockholders, specifying the place, if any, date and hour, the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and purpose or purposes of the meeting, 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 thereat, directed to his/her address as it appears upon the books of the corporation; except that where the matter to be acted on is a merger or consolidation of the corporation or a sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of its assets, such notice shall be given not less than twenty (20) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to such meeting. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given to stockholders, any notice shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to (in a manner consistent with the Delaware General Corporation Law) by the stockholder to whom notice is given.

 

(b)    If at any meeting action is proposed to be taken which, if taken, would entitle stockholders fulfilling the requirements of section 262(d) of the Delaware General Corporation Law to an appraisal of the fair value of their shares, the notice of such meeting shall contain a statement of that purpose and to that effect and shall be accompanied by a copy of that statutory section.

 

(c)    When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, 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 unless the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or unless after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, in which event a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

(d)    Notice of the time, place and purpose of any meeting of stockholders may be waived by a written waiver signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, either before or after such meeting, and to the extent permitted by law, will be waived by any stockholder by his/her attendance thereat, in person or by proxy, 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. Any stockholder so waiving notice of such meeting shall be bound by the proceedings of any such meeting in all respects as if due notice thereof had been given.

 

(e)    Unless and until voted, every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the person who executed it or of his/her legal representatives or assigns, except in those cases where an irrevocable proxy permitted by statute has been given.

 

 

Section 2.5    Quorum and Voting.

 

(a)    At all meetings of stockholders, except where otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, the presence, in person or by proxy duly authorized, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Shares, the voting of which at said meeting have been enjoined, or which for any reason cannot be lawfully voted at such meeting, shall not be counted to determine a quorum at said meeting. In the absence of a quorum, any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned, from time to time, by vote of the holders of a majority of the shares represented thereat, but no other business shall be transacted at such meeting. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present or represented by proxy, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting. The stockholders present at a duly called or convened meeting, at which a quorum is present, may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

 

(b)    When a quorum is present at any meeting, any matter (other than the election of directors which shall be governed by Section 3.1 below) to be voted upon by the stockholders at such meeting shall be decided by the affirmative vote of a majority of shares of stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter, except when a different vote is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

 

Section 2.6    Voting Rights.

 

(a)    Except as otherwise provided by law, only persons in whose names shares entitled to vote stand on the stock records of the corporation on the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at said meeting shall be entitled to vote at such meeting. Shares standing in the names of two or more persons shall be voted or represented in accordance with the determination of the majority of such persons, or, if only one of such persons is present in person or represented by proxy, such person shall have the right to vote such shares and such shares shall be deemed to be represented for the purpose of determining a quorum.

 

(b)    Every person entitled to vote or to execute consents shall have the right to do so either in person or by an agent or agents authorized by a written proxy executed by such person or his/her duly authorized agent, which proxy shall be filed with the Secretary of the corporation at or before the meeting at which it is to be used. Said proxy so appointed need not be a stockholder. No proxy shall be voted on after three years from its date unless the proxy provides for a longer period. Unless and until voted, every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the person who executed it or of his/her legal representatives or assigns, except in those cases where an irrevocable proxy permitted by statute has been given.

 

 

(c)    Without limiting the manner in which a stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for him/her as proxy pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the following shall constitute a valid means by which a stockholder may grant such authority:

 

(1)    A stockholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or persons to act for him/her as proxy. Execution may be accomplished by the stockholder or his/her authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such writing or causing his/her signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature.

 

(2)    A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for him/her as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a telegram, cablegram, or other means of electronic transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission; provided that any such telephone, telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder. Such authorization can be established by the signature of the stockholder on the proxy, either in writing or by a signature stamp or facsimile signature, or by a number or symbol from which the identity of the stockholder can be determined, or by any other procedure deemed appropriate by the inspectors or other persons making the determination as to due authorization.

 

If it is determined that such telegrams, cablegrams or other electronic transmissions are valid, the inspectors or, if there are no inspectors, such other persons making that determination shall specify the information upon which they relied.

 

(d)    Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to subsection (c) of this section may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used; provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.

 

Section 2.7    Voting Procedures and Inspectors of Elections.

 

(a)    The corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his/her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his/her ability.

 

 

(b)    The inspectors shall (i) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, (ii) determine the shares represented at a meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors, and (v) certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and their count of all votes and ballots. The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance of the duties of the inspectors.

 

(c)    The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting. No ballot, proxies or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes thereto, shall be accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the Court of Chancery upon application by a stockholder shall determine otherwise.

 

(d)    In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots, the inspectors shall be limited to an examination of the proxies, any envelopes submitted with those proxies, any information provided in accordance with Sections 211(e) or 212(c)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or any information provided pursuant to Section 211(a)(2)(B)(i) or (iii) thereof, ballots and the regular books and records of the corporation, except that the inspectors may consider other reliable information for the limited purpose of reconciling proxies and ballots submitted by or on behalf of banks, brokers, their nominees or similar persons which represent more votes than the holder of a proxy is authorized by the record owner to cast or more votes than the stockholder holds of record. If the inspectors consider other reliable information for the limited purpose permitted herein, the inspectors at the time they make their certification pursuant to subsection (b)(v) of this section shall specify the precise information considered by them including the person or persons from whom they obtained the information, when the information was obtained, the means by which the information was obtained and the basis for the inspectors’ belief that such information is accurate and reliable.

 

Section 2.8    List of Stockholders.

 

The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at said meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, showing the address of and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. The corporation need not 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, either: (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 principal office of the corporation. The list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected 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. In the event that the corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the corporation.

 

 

Section 2.9    Stockholder Proposals at Annual and Special Meetings.

 

(a)    Annual Meeting of Stockholders: At any annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the annual meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be: (A) specified in the corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (B) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (C) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by a stockholder in accordance with these Bylaws. In addition to any other applicable requirements for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, whether or not the stockholder is seeking to have a proposal included in the corporation’s proxy statement or information statement under any applicable rule of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including, but not limited to, Regulation 14A or Regulation 14C under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), the stockholder must have given timely notice, updates and supplements thereof (including the disclosure requirements as set forth in Section 2.9(c) of these Bylaws and, in the case of director nominations, the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement and other requirements as set forth in Section 2.10 of these Bylaws), in each case in proper form, in writing to the Secretary of the corporation.

 

To be timely, in the case of a stockholder seeking to have a proposal included in the corporation’s proxy statement or information statement for the annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the corporation not less than one hundred twenty (120) days in advance of the one-year anniversary of the mailing date specified in the corporation’s proxy statement released to stockholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the date of the annual meeting has been changed by more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after the one-year anniversary of the date of the previous year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the date of such annual meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than one hundred (100) days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the corporation. If the stockholder is not seeking inclusion of the proposal in the corporation’s proxy statement or information statement for the annual meeting, timely notice consists of a stockholder’s notice delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the corporation not less than forty five (45) days in advance of the one-year anniversary of the mailing date specified in the corporation’s proxy statement released to stockholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders or, if later, ninety (90) days in advance of the date of the annual meeting. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

The Chairman of an annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.9 and Section 2.10, and if he/she should so determine he/she shall so declare to the meeting, and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.

 

 

(b)    Special Meetings of Stockholders: In the event the corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors any stockholder of the corporation may nominate an individual or individuals (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the corporation’s notice of meeting, provided that such stockholder gives timely notice, updates and supplements thereof (including the disclosure requirements as set forth in Section 2.9(c) of these Bylaws and the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement and other requirements as set forth Section 2.10 of these Bylaws), in each case in proper form, in writing to the Secretary of the corporation and otherwise complies with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws as to such nomination.

 

To be timely, a stockholder’s notice with respect to a special meeting must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to the date of such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the date of such special meeting, or if the first public announcement of the date of such special meeting is less than one hundred (100) days prior to the date of such special meeting, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting is first made by the corporation. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a special meeting of stockholders, or the public announcement thereof, commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

(c)    Disclosure Requirements: To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice pursuant to this Section 2.9 or Section 2.10 must include the following, as applicable:

 

(1)    As to the stockholder giving the notice and the Stockholder Associated Person (defined below), if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal, as applicable, is made, such notice must set forth:

 

(A)    the name and address of such stockholder and each Stockholder Associated Person, as they appear on the corporation’s books, if applicable;

 

 

(B)    (i) the class, series and number of shares of each class or series of shares (if any) of the corporation which are beneficially owned by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person; (ii) a complete and accurate description of any Short Interest (defined below) or Derivative Instrument (defined below) that has been entered into by, or on behalf of, such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person; (iii) any significant equity interests or any Derivative Instruments or Short Interests in any principal competitor of the corporation held by such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person; (iv) whether and the extent to which such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person has any rights to dividends on the shares of the corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the corporation; (v) whether and the extent to which such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person has any proportionate interest in shares of the corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner of such general or limited partnership; (vi) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, including, without limitation, any such interests held by members of the immediate family sharing the same household of such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person (which information shall be supplemented by such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, not later than ten (10) days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date); (vii) a complete and accurate description of any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person has any right to vote any class or series of shares of the corporation; (viii) a complete and accurate description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder and such Stockholder Associated Person, if any, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder; (ix) any direct or indirect interest of such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person in any contract with the corporation, any affiliate of the corporation or any principal competitor of the corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement);

 

(C)    all information that would be required to be set forth in a Schedule 13D filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(a) or an amendment pursuant to Rule 13d-2(a) if such a statement were required to be filed under the 1934 Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and

 

(D)    any other information relating to such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement and form or proxy or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(2)    If the notice includes any business other than a nomination of a director or directors that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a stockholder’s notice must, in addition to the matters set forth in subsection (1) above, also set forth: (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest of such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, if any, in such business and (B) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such proposal or business includes a proposal to amend the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the text of such proposed amendment).

 

(3)    If the notice includes a proposal for the stockholder’s nomination for election or reelection a director or directors to the Board of Directors, a stockholder’s notice must, in addition to the matters set forth in subsection (1) above, set forth the matters in Section 2.10.

 

 

In addition, to be timely and in proper form, a stockholder’s notice must be updated and supplemented, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for the meeting in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date, and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. The update and supplement shall clearly identify the information that has changed since such stockholder’s prior submission, it being understood that no such update may cure any deficiencies or inaccuracies with respect to any such prior submission or extend the time period for the delivery of notice pursuant to this Section 2.9. If a stockholder fails to provide such written update within such period, the information as to which such written update relates may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 2.9.

 

For purposes of Sections 2.9 and 2.10, “Stockholder Associated Person” of any stockholder shall mean (i) any person controlling or controlled by, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with, such stockholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder and (iii) any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Stockholder Associated Person.

 

For purposes of this Section 2.9, “Derivative Instrument” shall mean any agreement, arrangement or understanding, written or oral (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, hedging transactions, forwards, futures, swaps, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, repurchase agreements, borrowed or loan shares and so-called “stock borrowing” agreements or arrangements), the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss, manage risk or benefit from changes in the prices of any securities of the corporation, or maintain, increase or decrease voting power with respect to securities of the corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in underlying shares of the corporation.

 

For the purposes of this Section 2.9, a “Short Interest” shall mean any agreement, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, including any repurchase or similar so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, involving a stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, directly or indirectly, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of any class or series of the shares of the corporation by, manage the risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder, such beneficial owner or any of their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith with respect to any class or series of the shares of the corporation, or which provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the price or value of any class or series of the shares of the corporation.

 

 

Section 2.10    Nominations of Persons for Election to the Board of Directors.

 

(a)    Nomination and Election of Directors: In addition to any other applicable requirements, only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.9 and this Section 2.10 shall be eligible for election as directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the corporation may be made at a meeting of stockholders by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or by any stockholder of the corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors at the meeting who complies with the notice procedures set forth in Section 2.9 and this Section 2.10. The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at an annual or special meeting of stockholders (or in the case of a stockholder giving notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the annual or special meeting of stockholders on behalf of such beneficial owner) shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such annual or special meeting. Such nominations, other than those made by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the Secretary of the corporation in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.9 and this Section 2.10, whether or not the stockholder is seeking to have a nomination included in the corporation’s proxy statement or information statement under an applicable rule of the SEC, including, but not limited to, Regulation 14A or Regulation 14C under the 1934 Act. In addition to the matters set forth in Section 2.9(c)(1), such stockholder’s notice shall set forth:

 

(1)    (i) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director: (A) the name, age, business address and residence address of such person; (B) the principal occupation or employment of such person; (C) the class and number of shares of the corporation which are beneficially owned by such person; (D) all information relating to such individual that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including without limitation such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); and (E) a description of all direct and indirect arrangements or understandings, including compensation and other material monetary agreements, during the past three (3) years between the stockholder and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nominations are to be made by the stockholder, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder and Stockholder Associated Person, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination and any Stockholder Associated Person on whose behalf the nomination is made, if any, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant;

 

(2)    a representation as to whether such stockholder intends (i) to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve the nomination, and (ii) to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the corporation’s nominees in accordance with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act; and

 

(3)    a representation that such stockholder shall provide all other information and affirmations, updates and supplements required pursuant to these Bylaws.

 

 

The corporation may also require any stockholder providing notice of a proposed nomination for election to the Board of Directors to furnish such other information (i) as may be reasonably required by the corporation to determine the eligibility or suitability of any proposed nominee to serve as a director or (ii) that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such proposed nominee under the listing standards of each securities exchange upon which the corporation’s securities are listed, any applicable rules of the SEC, any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in selecting nominees for election as a director and for determining and disclosing the independence of directors, including those applicable to a director’s service on any of the committees of the Board of Directors, or the requirements of any other laws or regulations applicable to the corporation. Any supplemental information required under this paragraph shall be provided by the deadline for delivery of notice for stockholder director nominations under Section 2.9 of these Bylaws or, if later, within ten (10) days after it has been requested by the corporation.

 

For any stockholder that, pursuant to Section 2.10(a)(2)(ii), has included a representation that such stockholder intends to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the corporation’s nominees in accordance with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act, such stockholder’s notice must, in addition to the matters set forth in Section 2.9 and this Section 2.10, also include a signed acknowledgement (the form of which such stockholder shall request in writing from the Secretary and which the Secretary shall provide to such stockholder within ten (10) days after receiving such request) that (i) the corporation shall disregard any proxies given for such stockholder’s director nominee(s) on the corporation’s proxy card if such stockholder fails to comply with the requirements of Rules 14a-19(a) under the 1934 Act and (ii) the corporation’s proxy materials and proxy card may include statements that the corporation’s designated proxy holder(s) will not exercise the proxy power otherwise granted thereby to vote the shares as to which any proxies relate in favor of any director nominees if the stockholder thereof fails to comply with the requirements of Rules 14a-19(a) under the 1934 Act.

 

If a stockholder no longer intends to solicit holders of shares of the corporation in accordance with the representation made pursuant to Section 2.10(a)(2)(ii), such stockholder shall inform the corporation of this change by delivering a writing to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation no later than two (2) business days after the occurrence of such change. If a stockholder (i) provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) under the 1934 Act and (ii) such person or entity subsequently fails to comply with the requirements of Rules 14a-19(a) under the 1934 Act, then the corporation shall instruct its designated proxy holders not to exercise the proxy power otherwise granted thereby to vote the shares as to which any proxies relate in favor of any director nominees nominated by such stockholder (unless any such nominee is also nominated by the corporation). Upon request by the corporation, if any stockholder provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) under the 1934 Act, such stockholder shall deliver to the corporation, no later than five (5) business days prior to the applicable meeting, reasonable evidence that the requirements of Rule 14a-19 under the 1934 Act have been satisfied.

 

 

The stockholder delivering a stockholder notice pursuant to Section 2.9 and this Section 2.10 will indemnify the corporation in respect of any loss arising as a result of any false or misleading information or statement submitted by the stockholder in connection with a nomination in accordance with Section 112(5) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

(b)    Obligations of Stockholder Nominees: To be eligible to be a nominee of any stockholder for election or reelection as a director of the corporation, a person must deliver by the deadline for delivery of notice for stockholder director nominations under Section 2.9 of these Bylaws or, if later, ten (10) days after the timely delivery of notice of such nomination, to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such individual and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf, directly or indirectly, the nomination is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request), and a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such individual:

 

(1)    (i) is not and will not become a party to: (A) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the corporation; and (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such individual’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the corporation, with such individual’s fiduciary duties under applicable law; and (ii) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the corporation;

 

(2)    agrees to promptly provide to the corporation such other information as the corporation may reasonably request to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee;

 

(3)    in such individual’s personal capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf, directly or indirectly, the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the corporation, and will comply, with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the corporation publicly disclosed from time to time; and

 

(4)    consents to being named as a nominee for election as a director and intends to serve as a director if elected for the full term for which he or she is standing for election.

 

In addition, the Board of Directors may require any person nominated by a stockholder for election as a director to submit to interviews with the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, in which case such nominee shall make himself or herself available for any such interviews within ten (10) days following any reasonable request therefor from the Board of Directors or any committee thereof.

 

 

(c)    General Provisions: No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.9 and this Section 2.10. The Chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedure, and if he/she should so determine, he/she shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.10, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the corporation to present a nomination, such nomination shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the corporation.

 

ARTICLE III
 

Directors

 

Section 3.1    Number and Term of Office.

 

The number of directors of the corporation shall not be less than seven (7) nor more than eleven (11) until changed by amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation or by a Bylaw amending this Section 3.1 duly adopted by the vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares or by the Board of Directors. The exact number of directors shall be fixed from time to time, within the limits specified in the Certificate of Incorporation or in this Section 3.1, by a Bylaw or amendment thereof duly adopted by the vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote and represented at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present or by the Board of Directors. Subject to the foregoing provisions for changing the number of directors, the number of directors of the corporation has been fixed at nine (9).

 

Any amendment, change or repeal of this Section 3.1, or any other amendment to these Bylaws that will have the effect of permitting circumvention of or modifying this Section 3.1, shall require the favorable vote, at a stockholders’ meeting, of the holders of at least a majority of the then-outstanding shares of stock of the corporation entitled to vote.

 

Except as provided in Section 3.3, the directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of the stockholders. At each meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, the vote required for election of a director nominee shall, except in a contested election whereby the number of director nominees exceeds the number of open positions for directorship, be the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of shares of stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. For purposes of this Section 3.1, a majority of votes cast shall mean that the number of shares of stock voted “for” a nominee’s election exceeds the number of votes cast “against” that nominee’s election. Votes cast shall include votes to withhold authority but exclude abstentions with respect to that nominee’s election. In an uncontested election, any director nominee who fails to receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present shall promptly offer to tender his or her resignation to the Board of Directors following certification of the election results. The Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors promptly will consider the resignation offer and recommend to the Board of Directors the action to be taken with respect to such offered resignation. The Board of Directors will consider and act on the recommendation of the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee. Thereafter, the Board of Directors will disclose promptly its decision whether to accept the director’s resignation and the reasons for the decision, if applicable, in a public filing with the SEC within ninety (90) days following the date of the certification of the election results. Any director tendering a resignation under such circumstances will not participate in the decision-making by the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee or the Board of Directors regarding whether or not to accept the resignation offer.

 

 

In a contested election, a nominee receiving a plurality of the votes cast at such an election shall be elected.

 

Elected directors shall hold office until the next annual meeting and until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified. Directors need not be stockholders. If, for any cause, the Board of Directors shall not have been elected at an annual meeting, they may be elected as soon thereafter as convenient at a special meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose in the manner provided in these Bylaws.

 

Section 3.2    Powers.

 

The powers of the corporation shall be exercised, its business conducted and its property controlled by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 3.3    Vacancies.

 

Vacancies and newly created directorships including those resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and each director so elected shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the term of the director whose place shall be vacant, and until his/her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. A vacancy on the Board of Directors shall be deemed to exist under this section in the case of the death, removal or resignation of any director, or if the stockholders fail at any meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected (including any meeting referred to in Section 3.4 below) to elect the number of directors then constituting the whole Board of Directors.

 

Section 3.4    Resignations and Removals.

 

(a)    Any director may resign at any time by delivering his/her written resignation to the Secretary in writing or by electronic transmission, such resignation to specify whether it will be effective at a particular time, upon receipt by the Secretary or at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. If no such specification is made, it shall be deemed effective at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. When one or more directors shall resign from the Board of Directors, effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the term of the director whose place shall be vacated and until his/her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

 

 

(b)    At a special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose in the manner hereinabove provided, the Board of Directors, or any individual director, may be removed from office, with or without cause, and a new director or directors elected by a vote of stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote at an election of directors.

 

Section 3.5    Meetings.

 

(a)    Except as hereinafter otherwise provided, regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held in the principal office of the corporation. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may also be held at any place within or without the State of Delaware, and within or without the United States, which has been designated by resolutions of the Board of Directors or the written consent of all directors.

 

(b)    Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time and place within or without the State of Delaware whenever called by the Chairman of the Board, the President, or by any two of the directors.

 

(c)    Written notice of the time and place of all regular and special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be delivered personally to each director or sent by telephone, telegram or facsimile transmission or other form of electronic transmission at least 48 hours before the start of the meeting, or sent by first class mail at least 120 hours before the start of the meeting. Notice of any meeting may be waived in writing at any time before or after the meeting and will be waived by any director by attendance thereat.

 

Section 3.6    Quorum and Voting.

 

(a)    A quorum of the Board of Directors shall consist of a majority of the exact number of directors fixed from time to time in accordance with Section 3.1 of Article III hereof, but not less than one; provided, however, at any meeting whether a quorum be present or otherwise, a majority of the directors present may adjourn from time to time until the time fixed for the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors, without notice other than by announcement at the meeting.

 

(b)    At each meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present all questions and business shall be determined by a vote of a majority of the directors present, unless a different vote be required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws.

 

(c)    Any member of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting by means of conference telephone or other communication equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

(d)    The transactions of any meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, however called or noticed, or wherever held, shall be as valid as though had at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum be present and if, either before or after the meeting, each of the directors not present shall sign a written waiver of notice, or a consent to holding such meeting, or an approval of the minutes thereof. All such waivers, consents or approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting.

 

 

Section 3.7    Action Without Meeting.

 

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board of Directors or of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and such writing or writings or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors 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.

 

Section 3.8    Fees and Compensation.

 

Directors and members of committees may receive such compensation, if any, for their services, and such reimbursement for expenses, as may be fixed or determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 3.9    Committees.

 

(a)    Compensation Committee: The corporation shall have a Compensation Committee consisting of independent members of the Board. The Board shall determine the appointment of the initial members to the Compensation Committee. After appointment of the initial members, the removal of any member of the Compensation Committee, with or without cause, shall be made by the Board of Directors. In the event any member of the Compensation Committee shall cease to be a member for any reason, his/her successor shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee shall be delegated the full power, authority and discretion to determine the salaries and other compensation of the officers and executive directors of the corporation, as well as the administration of the corporation’s stock plans.

 

(b)    Executive Committee: The Board of Directors may appoint an Executive Committee consisting of one or more members, each of whom shall be a director. The Executive Committee, to the extent permitted by law, shall have and may exercise, when the Board of Directors is not in session, all powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation provided by law, except such committee shall not have the power or authority to amend these Bylaws or to approve or recommend to the stockholders any action which must be submitted to stockholders for approval under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

(c)    Other Committees: The Board of Directors may from time to time appoint such other committees as may be permitted by law. Such other committees appointed by the Board of Directors shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be prescribed by the resolution or resolutions creating such committee.

 

 

(d)    Term: The Board of Directors may at any time increase or decrease the number of members of a committee or terminate the existence of a committee. The membership of a committee member shall terminate on the date of his/her death or voluntary resignation, but the Board of Directors may at any time for any reason remove any individual committee member and the Board of Directors may fill any committee vacancy created by death, resignation, removal or increase in the number of members of the committee. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee.

 

(e)    Meetings: Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, regular meetings of a committee appointed pursuant to this Section 3.9 shall be held at such times and places as are determined by the Board of Directors, or by any such committee, and when notice thereof has been given to each member of such committee, no further notice of such regular meetings need be given thereafter; special meetings of any such committee may be held at the principal office of the corporation; or at any place which has been designated from time to time by resolution of such committee or by written consent of all members thereof, and may be called by any director who is a member of such committee, upon written notice to the members of such committee of the time and place of such special meeting given in the manner provided for the giving of written notice to members of the Board of Directors of the time and place of special meetings of the Board of Directors. Notice of any special meeting of any committee may be waived in writing at any time after the meeting and will be waived by any director by attendance thereat.

 

(f)    Quorum: A majority of the authorized number of members of any committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of those present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of such committee.

 

ARTICLE IV
 

Officers

 

Section 4.1    Officers Designated.

 

The officers of the corporation shall be a Chairman of the Board, a President and Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board may also appoint one or more Vice-Presidents, assistant secretaries, assistant treasurers, and such other officers and agents with such powers and duties as it or he/she shall deem necessary. The order of the seniority of the Vice-Presidents shall be in the order of their nomination, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may assign such additional titles to one or more of the officers as they shall deem appropriate. Any one person may hold any number of offices of the corporation at any one time unless specifically prohibited therefrom by law. The salaries and other compensation of the officers of the corporation shall be fixed by or in the manner designated by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4.2    Tenure and Duties of Officers.

 

(a)    General: All officers shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified, unless sooner removed. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the Board of Directors. If the office of any officer becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy may be filled by the Board of Directors. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be construed as creating any kind of contractual right to employment with the corporation.

 

 

(b)    Duties of the Chairman of the Board of Directors: The Chairman of the Board of Directors, when present, shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time.

 

(c)    Duties of President: The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the corporation and shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and at all meetings of the Board of Directors, unless a Chairman of the meeting has been appointed and is present. The President shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time.

 

(d)    Duties of Vice-Presidents: Vice-Presidents, in the order of their seniority, as determined by the Board of Directors, may assume and perform the duties of the President in the absence or disability of the President or whenever the office of the President is vacant. The Vice-President shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the President shall designate from time to time.

 

(e)    Duties of Secretary: The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors and any committee thereof, and shall record all acts and proceedings thereof in the minute book of the corporation, which may be maintained in either paper or electronic form. The Secretary shall give notice, in conformity with these Bylaws, of all meetings of the stockholders, and of all meetings of the Board of Directors and any Committee thereof requiring notice. The Secretary shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time. The President may direct any Assistant Secretary to assume and perform the duties of the Secretary in the absence or disability of the Secretary, and each Assistant Secretary shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the President shall designate from time to time.

 

(f)    Duties of Treasurer: The Treasurer shall be the Chief Financial Officer and shall keep or cause to be kept the books of account of the corporation in a thorough and proper manner, and shall render statements of the financial affairs of the corporation in such form and as often as required by the Board of Directors or the President. The Treasurer, subject to the order of the Board of Directors, shall have the custody of all funds and securities of the corporation. The Treasurer shall perform all other duties commonly incident to his/her office and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the President shall designate from time to time. The President may direct any Assistant Treasurer to assume and perform the duties of the Treasurer in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, and each Assistant Treasurer shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the President shall designate from time to time.

 

 

ARTICLE V
 

Execution of Corporate Instruments, and
Voting of Securities Owned by the Corporation

 

Section 5.1    Execution of Corporate Instruments.

 

(a)    The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, determine the method and designate the signatory officer or officers, or other person or persons, to execute any corporate instrument or document, or to sign the corporate name without limitation, except where otherwise provided by law, and such execution or signature shall be binding upon the corporation.

 

(b)    Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Board of Directors or otherwise required by law, formal contracts of the corporation, promissory notes, deeds of trust, mortgages and other evidences of indebtedness of the corporation, and other corporate instruments or documents requiring the corporate seal, and certificates of shares of stock owned by the corporation, shall be executed, signed or endorsed by the Chairman of the Board or by the President; such documents may also be executed by any Vice-President and by the Secretary or Treasurer or any Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer. All other instruments and documents requiring the corporate signature, but not requiring the corporate seal, may be executed as aforesaid or in such other manner as may be directed by the Board of Directors.

 

(c)    All checks and drafts drawn on banks or other depositaries on funds to the credit of the corporation, or in special accounts of the corporation, shall be signed by such person or persons as the Board of Directors shall authorize so to do.

 

(d)    Execution of any corporate instrument may be effected in such form, either manual, facsimile or electronic signature, as may be authorized by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5.2    Voting of Securities Owned by the Corporation.

 

All stock and other securities of other corporations owned or held by the corporation for itself, or for other parties in any capacity, shall be voted, and all proxies with respect thereto shall be executed, by the person authorized so to do by resolution of the Board of Directors or, in the absence of such authorization, by the Chairman of the Board, or by the President, or by any Vice-President.

 

 

ARTICLE VI

Shares of Stock

 

Section 6.1    Form and Execution of Certificates.

 

The shares of the corporation shall be represented by certificates; provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the corporation. Certificates for the shares of stock of the corporation shall be in such form as is consistent with the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. Every holder of stock in the corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the corporation by, the Chairman of the Board, or the President or any Vice-President and by the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary, certifying the number of shares owned by him/her in the corporation. 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 shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he/she were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue. If the corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, 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 shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate which the corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock; provided that, except as otherwise provided in section 202 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate which the corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, a statement that the corporation 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.

 

Section 6.2    Lost Certificates.

 

The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the corporation alleged to have been lost or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his/her legal representative, to indemnify the corporation in such manner as it shall require and/or to give the corporation a surety bond in such form and amount as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost or destroyed.

 

Section 6.3    Transfers.

 

Transfers of record of shares of stock of the corporation shall be made only upon its books by the holders thereof, in person or by attorney duly authorized, and upon the surrender of a certificate or certificates for a like number of shares, properly endorsed.

 

 

Section 6.4    Fixing Record Dates.

 

(a)    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, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the date on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled 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.

 

(b)    In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall 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 of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

Section 6.5    Registered Stockholders.

 

The corporation 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, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.

 

ARTICLE VII

Other Securities of the Corporation

 

All bonds, debentures and other corporate securities of the corporation, other than stock certificates, may be signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice-President or such other person as may be authorized by the Board of Directors and the corporate seal impressed thereon or a facsimile of such seal imprinted thereon and attested by the signature of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer; provided, however, that where any such bond, debenture or other corporate security shall be authenticated by the manual signature of a trustee under an indenture pursuant to which such bond, debenture or other corporate security shall be issued, the signature of the persons signing and attesting the corporate seal on such bond, debenture or other corporate security may be the imprinted facsimile of the signatures of such persons. Interest coupons appertaining to any such bond, debenture or other corporate security, authenticated by a trustee as aforesaid, shall be signed by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the corporation, or such other person as may be authorized by the Board of Directors, or bear imprinted thereon the facsimile signature of such person. In case any officer who shall have signed or attested any bond, debenture or other corporate security, or whose facsimile signature shall appear thereon or before the bond, debenture or other corporate security so signed or attested shall have been delivered, such bond, debenture or other corporate security nevertheless may be adopted by the corporation and issued and delivered as though the person who signed the same or whose facsimile signature shall have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer of the corporation.

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

Indemnification of Officers, Directors, Employees and Agents

 

Section 8.1    Right to Indemnification.

 

Each person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved (as a party, witness, or otherwise), in any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (hereinafter a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he/she, or a person of whom he/she is the legal representative, is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of the Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee, or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee, or agent (hereafter an “Agent”), shall be indemnified and held harmless by the corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended or interpreted (but, in the case of any such amendment or interpretation, only to the extent that such amendment or interpretation permits the corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than were permitted prior thereto) against all expenses, liability, and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties, and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement, and any interest, assessments, or other charges imposed thereon, and any federal, state, local, or foreign taxes imposed on any Agent as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Article) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in, or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing for any of the foregoing in, any Proceeding (hereinafter “Expenses”); provided, however, that except as to actions to enforce indemnification rights pursuant to Section 8.3 of this Article, the corporation shall indemnify any Agent seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if the Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article VIII shall be a contract right.

 

Section 8.2    Authority to Advance Expenses.

 

Expenses incurred by an officer or director (acting in his/her capacity as such) in defending a Proceeding shall be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding; provided, however, that if required by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended, such Expenses shall be advanced only upon delivery to the corporation of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he/she is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this Article or otherwise. Expenses incurred by other Agents of the corporation (or by the directors or officers not acting in their capacity as such, including service with respect to employee benefit plans) may be advanced upon such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors deems appropriate. Any obligation to reimburse the corporation for Expense advances shall be unsecured and no interest shall be charged thereon.

 

 

Section 8.3    Right of Claimant to Bring Suit.

 

If a claim under Section 8.1 or 8.2 of this Article VIII is not paid in full by the corporation within sixty (60) days after a written claim has been received by the corporation, the claimant 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, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense (including attorneys’ fees) of prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending a Proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking has been tendered to the corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct that make it permissible under the Delaware General Corporation Law for the corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed. The burden of proving such a defense shall be on the corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper under the circumstances because he/she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law shall not be a defense to the action or create a presumption that claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

Section 8.4    Provisions Nonexclusive.

 

The rights conferred on any person by this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other rights that such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in an official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. To the extent that any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, agreement, or vote of the stockholders or disinterested directors is inconsistent with these Bylaws, the provision, agreement, or vote shall take precedence.

 

Section 8.5    Authority to Insure.

 

The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance to protect itself and any Agent against any Expense, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the Agent against such Expense under applicable law or the provisions of this Article VIII.

 

Section 8.6    Survival of Rights.

 

The rights provided by this Article VIII shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be an Agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such a person.

 

 

Section 8.7    Settlement of Claims.

 

The corporation shall not be liable to indemnify any Agent under this Article VIII (a) for any amounts paid in settlement of any action or claim effected without the corporation’s written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, or (b) for any judicial award if the corporation was not given a reasonable and timely opportunity, at its expense, to participate in the defense of such action.

 

Section 8.8    Effect of Amendment.

 

Any amendment, repeal, or modification of this Article VIII shall not adversely affect any right or protection of any Agent existing at the time of such amendment, repeal, or modification.

 

Section 8.9    Subrogation.

 

In the event of payment under this Article VIII, the corporation shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Agent, who shall execute all papers required and shall do everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the corporation effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

Section 8.10    No Duplication of Payments.

 

The corporation shall not be liable under this Article VIII to make any payment in connection with any claim made against the Agent to the extent the Agent has otherwise actually received payment (under any insurance policy, agreement, vote, or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.

 

 

ARTICLE IX

Notices

 

Whenever, under any provisions of these Bylaws, notice is required to be given to any stockholder, the same shall be given either (i) in writing, timely and duly deposited in the United States and/or international mail, postage prepaid, and addressed to his/her last known post office address as shown by the stock record of the corporation or its transfer agent, or (ii) by a means of electronic transmission that satisfies the requirements of Section 2.4(a) of these Bylaws, and has been consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any notice required to be given to any director may be given by either of the methods hereinabove stated, except that such notice other than one which is delivered personally, shall be sent to such address or (in the case of electronic communication) such e-mail address, facsimile telephone number or other form of electronic address as such director shall have filed in writing or by electronic communication with the Secretary of the corporation, or, in the absence of such filing, to the last known post office address of such director. If no address of a stockholder or director be known, such notice may be sent to the office of the corporation required to be maintained pursuant to Section 1.2 of Article I hereof. An affidavit of mailing, executed by a duly authorized and competent employee of the corporation or its transfer agent appointed with respect to the class of stock affected, specifying the name and address or the names and addresses of the stockholder or stockholders, director or directors, to whom any such notice or notices was or were given, and the time and method of giving the same, shall be conclusive evidence of the statements therein contained. All notices given by mail, as above provided, shall be deemed to have been given as at the time of mailing and all notices given by means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have been given as at the sending time recorded by the electronic transmission equipment operator transmitting the same. It shall not be necessary that the same method of giving notice be employed in respect of all directors, but one permissible method may be employed in respect of any one or more, and any other permissible method or methods may be employed in respect of any other or others. The period or limitation of time within which any stockholder may exercise any option or right, or enjoy any privilege or benefit, or be required to act, or within which any director may exercise any power or right, or enjoy any privilege, pursuant to any notice sent him/her in the manner above provided, shall not be affected or extended in any manner by the failure of such a stockholder or such director to receive such notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of the statutes or of the Certificate of Incorporation, or of these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto. Whenever notice is required to be given, under any provision of law or of the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the corporation, 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 corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate under any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, 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.

 

ARTICLE X

Choice of Forum

 

The Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, a federal or state court located in Delaware) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the corporation; (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the corporation to the corporation or the corporation's stockholders; (iii) any action asserting a claim against the corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws of the corporation; or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article X.

 

 

ARTICLE XI

Amendments

 

These Bylaws may be repealed, altered or amended or new Bylaws adopted at any meeting of the stockholders, either annual or special, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the stock entitled to vote at such meeting, unless a larger vote is required by these Bylaws or the Certificate of Incorporation. The Board of Directors shall also have the authority to repeal, alter or amend these Bylaws or adopt new Bylaws (including, without limitation, the amendment of any Bylaws setting forth the number of directors who shall constitute the whole Board of Directors) by unanimous written consent or at any annual, regular, or special meeting by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, subject to the power of the stockholders to change or repeal such Bylaws and provided that the Board of Directors shall not make or alter any Bylaws fixing the qualifications, classifications, or term of office of directors.

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

FIRST AMENDMENT

TO THE

CEVA, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED 2002 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

This First Amendment to the CEVA, Inc. Amended and Restated 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) is made and adopted by Ceva, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, the Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors an April 4, 2023, and approved by the Company’s stockholders at the Company’s 2023 stockholders meeting;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 19(a) of the Plan, the Plan’s Administrator (i.e., the Company’s Board or the Committee appointed by the Board) has the authority to amend the Plan from time to time;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 19(b) of the Plan, the Administrator has the authority to amend the Plan to change the length of a Purchase Period within any Offer Period without stockholder approval;

 

WHEREAS, Pursuant to Sections 2(u) and 4(a) of the Plan, the Purchase Periods and Offer Periods, respectively, begin on February 1 and August 1; and

 

WHEREAS, The Administrator desires to change the length of the Purchase Period that began August 1, 2023 and is scheduled to end of January 31, 2023 to end on February 29, 2024 (i.e., lengthen the Purchase Period that began on August 1, 2023 to seven months, ending on February 29, 2024);

 

WHEREAS, The Administrator desires to amend Section 2(u) of the Plan, to provide that Purchase Periods beginning after the effective date of this First Amendment shall be of six months in duration and shall begin on each March 1 and September 1 during a year;

 

WHEREAS, The Administrator desires to amend Section 4(a) of the Plan, to provide that Offer Periods beginning after the effective date of this First Amendment shall be implemented through overlapping periods of twenty-four (24) months’ duration commencing each March 1 and September 1; and

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is hereby amended as follows:

 

1.          Effective for Purchase Periods beginning after the Effective Date of this First Amendment, Section 2(u) of the Plan is hereby amended as restated as follows:

 

“(u)         “Purchase Period” means a period of approximately six months, commencing on March 1 and September 1 of each year and terminating on the next following August 31 and February 28 (or February 29 in the case of a leap year), respectively; provided, however that the Purchase Period that began August 1, 2023 shall terminate on February 29, 2024 and shall be of seven months in duration.”

 

 

2.          Effective for Offer Periods beginning after the Effective Date of this First Amendment, the third sentence of Section 4(a) of the Plan is hereby amended and restated as follows:

 

“The Plan shall be implemented through overlapping Offer Periods of twenty-four (24) months’ duration commencing each March 1 and September 1; provided that, with respect to the Offer Period that began August 1, 2023, the last day of such Period shall terminate on August 31, 2025.”

 

3.         Except as otherwise provided above, the “Effective Date” of this First Amendment to the Plan shall be date adopted by the Plan’s Administrator. Except as expressly amended hereby, the provisions of the Plan are and shall remain in full force and effect.

 

v3.23.3

Document And Entity Information	Nov. 07, 2023
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity, Registrant Name	CEVA, INC.
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document, Type	8-K
Document, Period End Date	Nov. 07, 2023
Entity, Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity, File Number	000-49842
Entity, Tax Identification Number	77-0556376
Entity, Address, Address Line One	15245 Shady Grove Road, Suite 400
Entity, Address, City or Town	Rockville
Entity, Address, State or Province	MD
Entity, Address, Postal Zip Code	20850
City Area Code	240
Local Phone Number	308-8328
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock
Trading Symbol	CEVA
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity, Emerging Growth Company	false
Amendment Flag	false
Entity, Central Index Key	0001173489

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