UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): October 24, 2014

 

 

DIAMOND FOODS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   000-51439   20-2556965

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

600 Montgomery Street, 13th Floor

San Francisco, California

  94111
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (415) 445-7444

600 Montgomery Street, 13th Floor, San Francisco, California 94111

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Rights Agreement

In connection with a review by the Board of Directors of Diamond Foods, Inc. (“Diamond”) of Diamond’s governance practices, effective as of October 27, 2014, Diamond and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent (“Rights Agent”), entered into Amendment No. 4 (the “Amendment”) to the Rights Agreement between Diamond and Rights Agent, dated as of April 29, 2005 (“Rights Agreement”), as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement, dated as of April 5, 2011, Amendment No. 2 to Rights Agreement, dated as of May 22, 2012, and Amendment No. 3 to Rights Agreement, dated as of January 16, 2014. The Amendment accelerated the expiration of the share purchase rights distributed to holders of Diamond’s common stock pursuant to the Rights Agreement (“Rights”) from 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on March 22, 2015 to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on October 27, 2014, and had the effect of terminating the Rights Agreement on that date. At the time of the termination of the Rights Agreement, all of the Rights expired.

The foregoing is a summary of the terms of the Amendment. The summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amendment, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 4.01 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 1.02. Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

The information set forth under Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

The information set forth under Items 1.01 and 5.03 is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

Certificate of Elimination

In connection with the adoption of the Rights Agreement, on July 15, 2005, Diamond filed a Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Shares”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware setting forth the rights, powers and preferences of the Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights.

On October 28, 2014, promptly following the expiration of the Rights and the termination of the Rights Agreement pursuant to the Amendment, Diamond filed a Certificate of Elimination (“Certificate of Elimination”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware eliminating the Preferred Shares and returning them to authorized but undesignated shares of Diamond’s preferred stock.

The foregoing is a summary of the terms of the Certificate of Elimination. The summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Certificate of Elimination, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 3.01 and incorporated herein by reference.

Amendment to Diamond’s Bylaws

In connection with a review by the Board of Directors of Diamond’s governance practices, on October 24, 2014, the Board of Directors approved amendments to Diamond’s Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) principally to change the voting standard for the election of directors in uncontested elections from a plurality to a majority of votes cast. The new majority voting standard provides that, in an uncontested election, nominees for director shall be elected to the Board of Directors if the votes cast for such nominee’s election exceed the votes cast against such nominee’s election. In a contested election, the voting standard will continue to be a plurality of the votes cast. The term of an incumbent director who, in an uncontested election, fails to receive the vote required to be elected in accordance with the Bylaws shall end on the date that is the earlier of 90 days after the certification of the


stockholder vote in the election and the date on which the Board of Directors fills the office held by that director, unless the incumbent director has earlier resigned. The Board may reappoint such director to fill such office or may appoint a new director to fill such office.

The foregoing description of the amendments to the Bylaws does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Bylaws, as amended and restated, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 3.02 and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

3.01    Certificate of Elimination of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Diamond Foods, Inc.
3.02    Amended and Restated Bylaws.
4.01    Amendment No. 4 to Rights Agreement by and between Diamond Foods, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., dated as of October 27, 2014.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    DIAMOND FOODS, INC.
Date: October 29, 2014     By:  

/s/ Isobel Jones

    Name:   Isobel Jones
    Title:   Executive Vice President and Secretary


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description of Exhibit

3.01    Certificate of Elimination of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Diamond Foods, Inc.
3.02    Amended and Restated Bylaws.
4.01    Amendment No. 4 to Rights Agreement by and between Diamond Foods, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., dated as of October 27, 2014.


Exhibit 3.01

CERTIFICATE OF ELIMINATION

OF

SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK

OF DIAMOND FOODS, INC.

(Pursuant to Section 151(g) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware)

Diamond Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), certifies as follows:

1. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Charter”) of the Company authorizes the issuance of 500,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”).

2. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 151(g) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the following resolutions:

RESOLVED FURTHER, that none of the authorized shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001, of the Company designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), are outstanding, and none of the authorized shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be issued.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Company be, and hereby is, authorized and directed to file with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware a certificate (the “Certificate of Elimination”) containing these resolutions, with the effect under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware of eliminating from the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 20, 2005 all matters with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock of the Company.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the officers of the Company are, and each of them with full authority to act without the others (the “Authorized Officers”) is, hereby authorized and directed, for and on behalf of the Company and in its name, to execute and file the Certificate of Elimination at such time as any such Authorized Officer deems appropriate, and to take such further actions as he may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the intent of the foregoing resolutions in accordance with the applicable provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

3. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 151(g) of the DGCL, all references to the Series A Preferred Stock in the Charter are hereby eliminated, and the shares that were designated to such series are hereby returned to the status of authorized but undesignated and unissued shares of preferred stock of the Company.

*        *        *

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Certificate of Elimination to be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized officer on this 28th day of October, 2014. Such officer affirms and acknowledges, under penalty of perjury, that this Certificate of Elimination is the act and deed of the Company and the facts stated herein are true.

 

DIAMOND FOODS, INC.

/s/ Isobel Jones

Name: Isobel Jones
Title: Executive Vice President and Secretary


Exhibit 3.02

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

DIAMOND FOODS, INC.

(A DELAWARE CORPORATION)

(as amended through October 24, 2014)


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

              Page
ARTICLE I STOCKHOLDERS      1
  Section 1.1    Annual Meetings      1
  Section 1.2    Special Meetings      1
  Section 1.3    Notice Of Meetings      1
  Section 1.4    Adjournments      1
  Section 1.5    Quorum      2
  Section 1.6    Organization      2
  Section 1.7    Voting; Proxies      2
  Section 1.8    Fixing Date For Determination Of Stockholders Of Record      3
  Section 1.9    List Of Stockholders Entitled To Vote      3
  Section 1.10    Inspectors Of Elections      3
  Section 1.11    Notice Of Stockholder Business; Nominations      4
ARTICLE II BOARD OF DIRECTORS      7
  Section 2.1    Number; Qualifications      7
  Section 2.2    Election; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies      7
  Section 2.3    Regular Meetings      8
  Section 2.4    Special Meetings      8
  Section 2.5    Remote Meetings Permitted      8
  Section 2.6    Quorum; Vote Required For Action      8
  Section 2.7    Organization      8
  Section 2.8    Written Action By Directors      8
  Section 2.9    Powers      9
  Section 2.10    Compensation Of Directors      9
ARTICLE III COMMITTEES      9
  Section 3.1    Committees      9
  Section 3.2    Committee Rules      9
ARTICLE IV OFFICERS      9
  Section 4.1    Generally      9
  Section 4.2    Chief Executive Officer    10
  Section 4.3    Chairperson Of The Board    10
  Section 4.4    President    10
  Section 4.5    Vice President    11
  Section 4.6    Chief Financial Officer    11
  Section 4.7    Treasurer    11
  Section 4.8    Secretary    11
  Section 4.9    Delegation Of Authority    11
  Section 4.10    Removal    11

 

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ARTICLE V STOCK    11
  Section 5.1    Certificates    11
  Section 5.2    Lost, Stolen Or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance Of New Certificates    12
  Section 5.3    Other Regulations    12
ARTICLE VI INDEMNIFICATION    12
  Section 6.1    Indemnification Of Officers And Directors    12
  Section 6.2    Advance Of Expenses    12
  Section 6.3    Non-Exclusivity Of Rights    13
  Section 6.4    Indemnification Contracts    13
  Section 6.5    Effect Of Amendment    13
ARTICLE VII NOTICES    13
  Section 7.1    Notice    13
  Section 7.2    Waiver Of Notice    14
ARTICLE VIII INTERESTED DIRECTORS    14
  Section 8.1    Interested Directors; Quorum    14
ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS    15
  Section 9.1    Fiscal Year    15
  Section 9.2    Seal    15
  Section 9.3    Form Of Records    15
  Section 9.4    Reliance Upon Books And Records    15
  Section 9.5    Certificate Of Incorporation Governs    15
  Section 9.6    Severability    16
ARTICLE X AMENDMENT    16
  Section 10.1    Amendments    16

 

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AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

DIAMOND FOODS, INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

ARTICLE I

STOCKHOLDERS

SECTION 1.1 ANNUAL MEETINGS. An annual meeting of stockholders shall be held for the election of directors at such date and time as the Board of Directors shall each year fix. The meeting may be held either at a place, within or without the State of Delaware, or by means of remote communication as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may determine. Any other proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting.

SECTION 1.2 SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Board of Directors, and shall be called upon the request of the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, or by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors. Special meetings may not be called by any other person or persons.

SECTION 1.3 NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Notice of all meetings of stockholders shall be given in writing or by electronic transmission in the manner provided by law (including, without limitation, as set forth in Section 7.1(b) of these Bylaws) stating the date, time and place, if any, of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise required by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, such notice shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting.

SECTION 1.4 ADJOURNMENTS. The chairperson shall have the power to adjourn the meeting to another time, date and place (if any). Any meeting of stockholders may adjourn from time to time, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time, date and place (if any) thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, then a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. The Board of Directors may postpone or reschedule any previously scheduled special or annual meeting of stockholders, in which case notice shall be provided to the stockholders of the new date, time and place, if any, of the meeting as provided in Section 1.3 above.


SECTION 1.5 QUORUM. At each meeting of stockholders the holders of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, unless otherwise required by applicable law. If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairperson of the meeting or the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting may adjourn the meeting. Shares of the Corporation’s stock belonging to the Corporation (or to another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation are held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation) shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or any other corporation to vote any shares of the Corporation’s stock held by it in a fiduciary capacity and to count such shares for purposes of determining a quorum.

SECTION 1.6 ORGANIZATION. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by such person as the Board of Directors may designate, or, in the absence of such a person, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, or, in the absence of such person, the President of the Corporation, or, in the absence of such person, such person as may be chosen by the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting. Such person shall be chairperson of the meeting and, subject to Section 1.11 hereof, shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seems to him or her to be in order. The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in such person’s absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

SECTION 1.7 VOTING; PROXIES. Unless otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, and subject to the provisions of Section 1.8 of these Bylaws, each stockholder shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share of stock held by such stockholder. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders, or to take corporate action by written consent without a meeting, may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy. Such a proxy may be prepared, transmitted and delivered in any manner permitted by applicable law. Elections of directors and other voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot unless demand is so made by any stockholder at the meeting before voting begins or the Chair of the meeting so elects. If a vote is to be taken by written ballot, then each such ballot shall state the name of the stockholder or proxy voting and such other information as the chairperson of the meeting deems appropriate and, if authorized by the Board of Directors, the ballot may be submitted by electronic transmission in the manner provided by law. A nominee for director shall be elected to the Board of Directors if the votes cast for such nominee’s election exceed the votes cast against such nominee’s election; provided, however, that directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at any meeting of stockholders for which (a) the Secretary of the Corporation receives a notice that a stockholder has nominated a person for election to the Board of Directors in compliance with the requirements for stockholder nominees for director set forth in Section 1.11 hereof and (b) such nomination has not been withdrawn by such stockholder on or before the tenth (10th) day before the Corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to the stockholders. If directors are to be elected by a plurality of the votes cast, stockholders shall not be permitted to vote against a nominee. Unless otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation or these Bylaws, every matter other than the election of directors shall be

 

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decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote thereon that are present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and are voted for or against the matter.

SECTION 1.8 FIXING DATE FOR DETERMINATION OF STOCKHOLDERS OF RECORD. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and which shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, then the record date shall be as provided by applicable law. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

SECTION 1.9 LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE. A complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder, shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, either on a reasonably accessible electronic network as permitted by law (provided that the information required to gain access to the list is provided with the notice of the meeting) or during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation. If the meeting is held at a place, the list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present at the meeting. If the meeting is held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall 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 the list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.

SECTION 1.10 INSPECTORS OF ELECTIONS.

(a) Applicability. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation or required by the Delaware General Corporation Law, the following provisions of this Section 1.10 shall apply only if and when the Corporation has a class of voting stock that is: (i) listed on a national securities exchange; (ii) authorized for quotation on an automated interdealer quotation system of a registered national securities association; or (iii) held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders; in all other cases, observance of the provisions of this Section 1.10 shall be optional, and at the discretion of the Corporation.

(b) Appointment. The Corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election 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.

 

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(c) Inspector’s Oath. Each inspector of election, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability.

(d) Duties of Inspectors. At a meeting of stockholders, the inspectors of election shall (i) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each share, (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 of time 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.

(e) Opening and Closing of Polls. 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 by the chairperson of 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.

(f) Determinations. 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 connection with proxies in accordance with Section 212(c)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, 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 of their determinations pursuant to this Section 1.10 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 1.11 NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER BUSINESS; NOMINATIONS.

(a) Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

(i) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders shall be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (A) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of such meeting, (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (C) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of the notice provided for in this Section 1.11, who is entitled to vote at such meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.11

 

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(ii) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (C) of subparagraph (a)(i) of this Section 1.11, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the seventy-fifth (75th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred and fifth (105th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (except in the case of the 2006 annual meeting, for which such notice shall be timely if delivered in the same time period as if such meeting were a special meeting governed by subparagraph (b) of this Section 1.11); provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred and fifth (105th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the seventy-fifth (75th) day prior to such annual meeting or the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth: (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “EXCHANGE ACT”), including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; (b) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (1) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, and (2) the class and number of shares of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and held of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of subparagraph (a)(ii) of this Section 1.11 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased board of directors at least seventy-five (75) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (or, if the annual meeting is held more than thirty (30) days before or sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, at least seventy-five (75) days prior to such annual meeting), a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 1.11 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

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(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of such meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of such meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice of the special meeting, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.11. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by subparagraph (a)(ii) of this Section 1.11 shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the one hundred fifth (105th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the seventy-fifth (75th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting.

(c) General.

(i) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.11 shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.11. Except as otherwise provided by law or these Bylaws, the chairperson of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.11 and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance herewith, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.

(ii) For purposes of this Section 1.11, the term “PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.11, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth herein. Nothing in this Section 1.11 shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

 

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ARTICLE II

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECTION 2.1 NUMBER; QUALIFICATIONS. The Board of Directors shall consist of one or more members. The initial number of directors shall be nine, and thereafter shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. No decrease in the authorized number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. Directors need not be stockholders of the Corporation.

SECTION 2.2 ELECTION; RESIGNATION; REMOVAL; VACANCIES. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, following the closing of the Corporation’s initial public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering the offer and sale of Common Stock to the public (the “INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING”), the directors shall be divided, with respect to the time for which they severally hold office, into three classes designated as Class I, Class II and Class III, respectively. Directors shall be assigned to each class in accordance with a resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors, with the number of directors in each class to be divided as equally as reasonably possible. The initial term of office of the Class I directors shall expire at the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders following the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the initial term of office of the Class II directors shall expire at the Corporation’s second annual meeting of stockholders following the closing of the Initial Public Offering, and the initial term of office of the Class III directors shall expire at the corporation’s third annual meeting of stockholders following the closing of the Initial Public Offering. At each annual meeting of stockholders commencing with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the closing of the Initial Public Offering, directors elected to succeed those directors of the class whose terms then expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified, or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal; provided, that, if an incumbent director resigns as a result of failing to receive the votes required to be elected in an uncontested election pursuant to Section 1.7 hereof, then the term of such incumbent director shall end on the date that is the earlier of 90 days after the certification of the stockholder vote and the date on which the office held by such director has been filled by the Board. Any director may resign at any time upon notice to the Corporation given in writing or by electronic transmission. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, no director may be removed except for cause by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors for any cause, and any newly created directorship resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors, shall, unless as otherwise provided by law, be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. In the event of any increase or decrease in the authorized number of directors, (i) each director then serving as such shall nevertheless continue as a director of the class of which he is a member and (ii) the newly created or eliminated directorships resulting from such increase or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board of Directors among the three classes of directors so as to ensure that

 

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no one class has more than one director more than any other class. To the extent possible, consistent with the foregoing rule, any newly created directorships shall be added to those classes whose terms of office are to expire at the latest dates following such allocation, and any newly eliminated directorships shall be subtracted from those classes whose terms of office are to expire at the earliest dates following such allocation, unless otherwise provided from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 2.3 REGULAR MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such places, within or without the State of Delaware, and at such times as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. Notice of regular meetings need not be given if the date, times and places thereof are fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 2.4 SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, the President or a majority of the members of the Board of Directors then in office and may be held at any time, date or place, within or without the State of Delaware, as the person or persons calling the meeting shall fix. Notice of the time, date and place of such meeting shall be given, orally, in writing or by electronic transmission (including electronic mail), by the person or persons calling the meeting to all directors at least four (4) days before the meeting if the notice is mailed, or at least twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting if such notice is given by telephone, hand delivery, telegram, telex, mailgram, facsimile, electronic mail or other means of electronic transmission. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.

SECTION 2.5 REMOTE MEETINGS PERMITTED. Members of the Board of Directors, or any committee of the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to conference telephone or other communications equipment shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

SECTION 2.6 QUORUM; VOTE REQUIRED FOR ACTION. At all meetings of the Board of Directors a majority of the total number of authorized directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except as otherwise provided herein or in the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, or required by law, the vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 2.7 ORGANIZATION. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, or in such person’s absence by the President, or in such person’s absence by a chairperson chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in such person’s absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

SECTION 2.8 WRITTEN ACTION BY DIRECTORS. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee, respectively. 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.

 

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SECTION 2.9 POWERS. The Board of Directors may, except as otherwise required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation.

SECTION 2.10 COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS. Directors, as such, may receive, pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, fees and other compensation for their services as directors, including without limitation their services as members of committees of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE III

COMMITTEES

SECTION 3.1 COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of the committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting of such committee who are not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in a resolution of the Board of Directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (i) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the Delaware General Corporation Law to be submitted to stockholders for approval or (ii) adopting, amending or repealing any bylaw of the Corporation.

SECTION 3.2 COMMITTEE RULES. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise provides, each committee designated by the Board of Directors may make, alter and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of Directors conducts its business pursuant to Article II of these Bylaws.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

SECTION 4.1 GENERALLY. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer and/or a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers, including a Chairperson of the Board of Directors and/or Chief Financial Officer, as may from time to time be appointed by the Board of Directors. All officers shall be

 

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elected by the Board of Directors. Each officer shall hold office until such person’s successor is elected and qualified or until such person’s earlier resignation or removal. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the Corporation. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation by death, resignation, removal or otherwise may be filled by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4.2 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. Subject to the control of the Board of Directors and such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the Board of Directors, the powers and duties of the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation are:

(a) To act as the general manager and, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, to have general supervision, direction and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation;

(b) To preside at all meetings of the stockholders;

(c) To call meetings of the stockholders to be held at such times and, subject to the limitations prescribed by law or by these Bylaws, at such places as he or she shall deem proper; and

(d) To affix the signature of the Corporation to all deeds, conveyances, mortgages, guarantees, leases, obligations, bonds, certificates and other papers and instruments in writing which have been authorized by the Board of Directors or which, in the judgment of the Chief Executive Officer, should be executed on behalf of the Corporation; to sign certificates for shares of stock of the Corporation; and, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, to have general charge of the property of the Corporation and to supervise and control all officers, agents and employees of the Corporation.

The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation unless the Board of Directors shall designate another officer to be the Chief Executive Officer. If there is no President, and the Board of Directors has not designated any other officer to be the Chief Executive Officer, then the Chairperson of the Board of Directors shall be the Chief Executive Officer.

SECTION 4.3 CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD. The Chairperson of the Board of Directors shall have the power to preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and shall have such other powers and duties as provided in these Bylaws and as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

SECTION 4.4 PRESIDENT. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation unless the Board of Directors shall have designated another officer as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors, and subject to the supervisory powers of the Chief Executive Officer (if the Chief Executive Officer is an officer other than the President), and subject to such supervisory powers and authority as may be given by the Board of Directors to the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, and/or to any other officer, the President shall have the responsibility for the general management the control of the business and affairs of the Corporation and the general supervision and direction of all of the officers, employees and agents of the Corporation

 

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(other than the Chief Executive Officer, if the Chief Executive Officer is an officer other than the President) and shall perform all duties and have all powers that are commonly incident to the office of President or that are delegated to the President by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4.5 VICE PRESIDENT. Each Vice President shall have all such powers and duties as are commonly incident to the office of Vice President, or that are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. A Vice President may be designated by the Board to perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chief Executive Officer in the event of the Chief Executive Officer’s absence or disability.

SECTION 4.6 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. The Chief Financial Officer shall be the Treasurer of the Corporation unless the Board of Directors shall have designated another officer as the Treasurer of the Corporation. Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer shall perform all duties and have all powers that are commonly incident to the office of Chief Financial Officer.

SECTION 4.7 TREASURER. The Treasurer shall have custody of all monies and securities of the Corporation. The Treasurer shall make such disbursements of the funds of the Corporation as are authorized and shall render from time to time an account of all such transactions. The Treasurer shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as are commonly incident to the office of Treasurer, or as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe.

SECTION 4.8 SECRETARY. The Secretary shall issue or cause to be issued all authorized notices for, and shall keep, or cause to be kept, minutes of all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall have charge of the corporate minute books and similar records and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as are commonly incident to the office of Secretary, or as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe.

SECTION 4.9 DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY. The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officers or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.

SECTION 4.10 REMOVAL. Any officer of the Corporation shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors. Such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights of such officer, if any, with the Corporation.

ARTICLE V

STOCK

SECTION 5.1 CERTIFICATES. Every holder of stock shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors, or the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by such stockholder in the Corporation. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile.

 

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SECTION 5.2 LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED STOCK CERTIFICATES; ISSUANCE OF NEW CERTIFICATES. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in the place of any certificate previously issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to agree to indemnify the Corporation and/or to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it, against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.

SECTION 5.3 OTHER REGULATIONS. The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of stock certificates shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish.

ARTICLE VI

INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 6.1 INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS. Each person who was or is made a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “PROCEEDING”), by reason of the fact that such person (or a person of whom such person is the legal representative), is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, against all expenses, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. Such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnity in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or if such indemnification is authorized by an agreement approved by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 6.2 ADVANCE OF EXPENSES. The Corporation shall pay all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by such a director or officer in defending any such Proceeding as they are incurred in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that if the Delaware General Corporation Law then so requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by such a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or

 

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officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it should be determined ultimately that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VI or otherwise; and provided, further, that the Corporation shall not be required to advance any expenses to a person against whom the Corporation directly brings a claim, in a Proceeding, alleging that such person has breached such person’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation, committed an act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, or derived an improper personal benefit from a transaction.

SECTION 6.3 NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. The rights conferred on any person in this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other right that such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, Bylaw, agreement, vote or consent of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. Additionally, nothing in this Article VI shall limit the ability of the Corporation, in its discretion, to indemnify or advance expenses to persons whom the Corporation is not obligated to indemnify or advance expenses pursuant to this Article VI.

SECTION 6.4 INDEMNIFICATION CONTRACTS. The Board of Directors is authorized to cause the Corporation to enter into indemnification contracts with any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or any person serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including employee benefit plans, providing indemnification rights to such person. Such rights may be greater than those provided in this Article VI.

SECTION 6.5 EFFECT OF AMENDMENT. Any amendment, repeal or modification of any provision of this Article VI shall be prospective only, and shall not adversely affect any right or protection conferred on a person pursuant to this Article VI and existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification.

ARTICLE VII

NOTICES

SECTION 7.1 NOTICE.

(a) Except as otherwise specifically provided in these Bylaws (including, without limitation, Section 7.1(b) below) or required by law, all notices required to be given pursuant to these Bylaws shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand delivery (including use of a delivery service), by depositing such notice in the mail, postage prepaid, or by sending such notice by prepaid telegram, telex, overnight express courier, mailgram or facsimile, electronic mail or other means of electronic transmission. Any such notice shall be addressed to the person to whom notice is to be given at such person’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. The notice shall be deemed given (i) in the case of hand delivery, when received by the person to whom notice is to be given or by any person accepting such notice on behalf of such person, (ii) in the case of delivery by mail, upon deposit in the mail, (iii) in the case of delivery by overnight express courier, when dispatched, and (iv) in the case of delivery via telegram, telex, mailgram, facsimile, electronic mail or other means of electronic transmission, when dispatched. Notice given pursuant to this Section 7.1(a) shall be

 

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deemed given: (i) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the person has consented to receive notice; (ii) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the person has consented to receive notice; (iii) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the person.

(b) Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (i) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent and (ii) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action. Notice given pursuant to this Section 7.1(b) shall be deemed given: (i) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (ii) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (iii) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and (iv) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.

(c) An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given in writing or by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

SECTION 7.2 WAIVER OF NOTICE. Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of these Bylaws, a written waiver of notice, signed by the person entitled to notice, or waiver by electronic transmission by such person, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, directors or members of a committee of directors need be specified in any waiver of notice.

ARTICLE VIII

INTERESTED DIRECTORS

SECTION 8.1 INTERESTED DIRECTORS; QUORUM. No contract or transaction between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association or other organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or

 

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voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof that authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because his, her or their votes are counted for such purpose, if: (i) the material facts as to his, her or their relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors or the committee, and the Board of Directors or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; (ii) the material facts as to his, her or their relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or (iii) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the Board of Directors, a committee thereof, or the stockholders. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 9.1 FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 9.2 SEAL. The Board of Directors may provide for a corporate seal, which shall have the name of the Corporation inscribed thereon and shall otherwise be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 9.3 FORM OF RECORDS. Any records maintained by the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account and minute books, may be kept on or by means of, or be in the form of, diskettes or any other information storage device or method, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time. The Corporation shall so convert any records so kept upon the request of any person entitled to inspect such records pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

SECTION 9.4 RELIANCE UPON BOOKS AND RECORDS. A member of the Board of Directors, or a member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors shall, in the performance of such person’s duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

SECTION 9.5 CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION GOVERNS. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation and Bylaws, the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation shall govern.

 

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SECTION 9.6 SEVERABILITY. If any provision of these Bylaws shall be held to be invalid, illegal, unenforceable or in conflict with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, then such provision shall nonetheless be enforced to the maximum extent possible consistent with such holding and the remaining provisions of these Bylaws (including without limitation, all portions of any section of these Bylaws containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal, unenforceable or in conflict with the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, that are not themselves invalid, illegal, unenforceable or in conflict with the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation) shall remain in full force and effect.

ARTICLE X

AMENDMENT

SECTION 10.1 AMENDMENTS. Stockholders of the Corporation holding a majority of the Corporation’s outstanding voting stock then entitled to vote at an election of directors shall have the power to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws. To the extent provided in the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall also have the power to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws of the Corporation.

 

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Exhibit 4.01

AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This Fourth Amendment (“Amendment”) effective as of October 27, 2014 to the Rights Agreement, dated as of April 29, 2005 (the “Rights Agreement”), by and between Diamond Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company (f/k/a EquiServe Trust Company, N.A.), as Rights Agent (the “Rights Agent”), as previously amended by Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement, dated as of April 5, 2011, Amendment No. 2 to Rights Agreement, dated as of May 22, 2012 and Amendment No. 3 to the Rights Agreement, dated as of January 16, 2014.

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 27 of the Rights Agreement, the Company, by resolution adopted by its Board of Directors, hereby does, and directs the Rights Agent to, amend the Rights Agreement as set forth herein; and

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual agreements set forth herein, the Company and the Rights Agent agree as follows:

1. Amendment of Section 7(a). Section 7(a) of the Rights Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the section in its entirety with the following:

“The registered holder of any Right Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of election to purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the office of the Rights Agent, together with payment of the Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share as to which the Rights are exercised and payment of all transfer taxes and governmental charges required to be paid by the holder of such Right Certificate as provided in Section 9 hereof, at or prior to the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on October 27, 2014 (“FINAL EXPIRATION DATE”), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof (“REDEMPTION DATE”), or (iii) the time at which such Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof.”

2. Waiver of Notice(s). The Rights Agent and the Company hereby waive any notice requirement(s) under the Rights Agreement pertaining to the matters covered by this Amendment.

3. Exhibits. Exhibit B to the Rights Agreement shall be deemed amended in a manner consistent with this Amendment.

4. Other Provisions Unaffected. Except as expressly modified hereby, all arrangements, agreements, terms, conditions and provisions of the Rights Agreement remain in full force and effect, and this Amendment and the Rights Agreement, as hereby modified, shall constitute one and the same instrument.

5. Miscellaneous.

(a) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Amendment is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, then such term, provision, covenant or restriction shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible, and the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Amendment shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.


(b) Governing Law. This Amendment, the Rights Agreement and each Right Certificate issued hereunder or thereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such State.

(c) Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. A signature to this Amendment transmitted electronically shall have the same authority, effect, and enforceability as an original signature.

(d) Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several sections of this Amendment and the Rights Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof or thereof.

(e) Entire Agreement. This Amendment and the Rights Agreement, and all of the provisions hereof and thereof, shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and the Rights Agent and their respective successors and permitted assigns and executors, administrators and heirs. This Amendment, together with the Rights Agreement, sets forth the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto as to the subject matter hereof and thereof and merges with and supersedes all prior discussions and understandings of any and every nature among them. Without limiting the foregoing, the Rights Agent shall not be subject to, nor required to interpret or comply with, or determine if any person has complied with, the Stipulation even though reference thereto may be made in this Amendment and the Rights Agreement.

(f) Further Assurances. The Company and the Rights Agent shall cooperate and take such action as may be reasonably requested by the other party in order to carry out the transactions and purposes of this Amendment, the Rights Agreement, and the transactions contemplated hereunder and/or thereunder.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed, all as of the effective time specified above.

 

DIAMOND FOODS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Isobel Jones

Name:   Isobel Jones
Title:   Executive Vice President

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed, all as of the effective time specified above.

 

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
By:  

/s/ Dennis V. Moccia

Name:   Dennis V. Moccia
Title:   Manager, Contract Administration

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT]

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