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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 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): September 11, 2020

 

______________________________

 

AVID BIOSERVICES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware 001-32839 95-3698422
(State of other jurisdiction of incorporation) (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

2642 Michelle Drive, Suite 200, Tustin, California 92780

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (714) 508-6100

 

___________________________________________

(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:

 

oWritten communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425).
oSoliciting material pursuant to Rule 14A-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
oPre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR.14d-2(b))
oPre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each Class Trading Symbol Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share CDMO The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
10.50% Series E Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share CDMOP The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933(§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

o Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

 

 

 

 

    
 

 

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

 

Effective September 11, 2020, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Avid Bioservices, Inc. (the “Company”) amended and restated the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (as so amended and restated, the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”). The Amended and Restated Bylaws reflect modifications to Sections 1, 4 and 8 of Article II to expressly allow for virtual meetings of the Company’s stockholders by means of remote communication and make corresponding procedural changes related thereto. In accordance with the Amended and Restated Bylaws and Section 211(a) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Board may elect to hold any or all future meetings of the Company’s stockholders, including the Company’s 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2020 Annual Meeting”), virtually by remote communication.

 

The preceding description of the Amended and Restated Bylaws is qualified in its entirety by reference to, and should be read in conjunction with, the full text of the Amended and Restated Bylaws, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 8.01Other Events.

 

On September 15, 2020, the Company issued a press release announcing that, due to the continued public health precautions regarding in-person gatherings given the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic, and to support the health, safety and well-being of our stockholders, directors, employees and the public at large, its Board has determined to change the location and format of the 2020 Annual Meeting such that the 2020 Annual Meeting will be conducted solely by remote communication (i.e., a virtual-only stockholder meeting). Stockholders will not be able to attend the 2020 Annual Meeting in person at a physical location. However, the virtual 2020 Annual Meeting will provide stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 24, 2020, the ability to participate, vote their shares and ask questions during the meeting via audio webcast.

 

A copy of the press release is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.

 

Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits. The following material is filed as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K:

 

 

Exhibit
Number		Description
   
3.2Amended and Restated Bylaws dated September 11, 2020
99.1Press Release issued September 15, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

  AVID BIOSERVICES, INC.
   
Date: September 15, 2020 By:  /s/ Daniel R. Hart
    Daniel R. Hart
Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number		Description
   
3.2Amended and Restated Bylaws dated September 11, 2020
99.1Press Release issued September 15, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Exhibit 3.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

 

 

OF

 

 

Avid Bioservices, Inc.,

a Delaware corporation

 

 

 

 

 

September 11, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

   
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page
     
Article I OFFICES 1
Section 1. Registered Office 1
Section 2. Other Offices 1
Section 3. Books 1
     
Article II MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS 1
Section 1. Place of Meetings 1
Section 2. Annual Meetings 1
Section 3. Special Meetings 6
Section 4. Notice; Waiver of Notice 6
Section 5. Quorum; Adjournment 7
Section 6. Voting 7
Section 7. Stockholder Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting 7
Section 8. List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote 8
Section 9. Stock Ledger 8
Section 10. Inspectors of Election 8
Section 11. Organization 8
Section 12. Order of Business 9
     
Article III DIRECTORS 9
Section 1. Powers 9
Section 2. Number and Election of Directors 9
Section 3. Vacancies 9
Section 4. Time and Place of Meetings 9
Section 5. Annual Meeting 9
Section 6. Regular Meetings 10
Section 7. Special Meetings 10
Section 8. Quorum; Vote Required for Action; Adjournment 10
Section 9. Action by Written Consent 10
Section 10. Telephone Meetings 10
Section 11. Committees 11
Section 12. Compensation 11
     
     

 

 

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(Continued)

 

    Page
     
Section 13. Interested Directors 11
     
Article IV OFFICERS 12
Section 1. Officers 12
Section 2. Appointment of Officers 12
Section 3. Subordinate Officers 12
Section 4. Removal and Resignation of Officers 12
Section 5. Vacancies in Offices 12
Section 6. Chairman of the Board 12
Section 7. Vice Chairman of the Board 13
Section 8. Chief Executive Officer 13
Section 9. President 13
Section 10. Vice President 13
Section 11. Secretary 13
Section 12. Chief Financial Officer 14
     
Article V STOCK 14
Section 1. Stock Certificates; Uncertificated Shares 14
Section 2. Signatures 14
Section 3. Lost Certificates 14
Section 4. Transfers 14
Section 5. Record Holders 15
     
Article VI INDEMNIFICATION 15
Section 1. Right to Indemnification 15
Section 2. Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit 16
Section 3. Non-Exclusivity of Rights 16
Section 4. Insurance 16
Section 5. Indemnification of Employees or Agents of the Corporation 16
Section 6. Indemnification Contracts 16
Section 7. Effect of Amendment 17
     
Article VII GENERAL PROVISIONS 17
Section 1. Dividends 17

 

 

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(Continued)

 

    Page
     
Section 2. Disbursements 17
Section 3. Fiscal Year 17
Section 4. Corporate Seal 17
Section 5. Record Date 17
Section 6. Voting of Stock Owned by the Corporation 17
Section 7. Construction and Definitions 18
Section 8. Amendments 18
Section 9. Forum 18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
AVID BIOSERVICES, INC.,
a Delaware corporation

 

 

Article I
OFFICES

 

Section 1.               Registered Office. The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware shall be in the City of Dover, County of Kent.

 

Section 2.               Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

Section 3.               Books. The books of the Corporation may be kept within or without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

Article II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 1.               Place of Meetings. Meetings of stockholders shall be held at any place (if any), within or outside the State of Delaware, as may be designated by resolution of the Corporation’s Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.

 

Section 2.               Annual Meetings.

 

(a)           Annual meetings of stockholders shall be held at a time and date designated by the Board of Directors for the purpose of electing directors and transacting such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders: (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting of stockholders (with respect to business other than nominations); (ii) brought specifically by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time of giving the stockholder’s notice provided for in Section 2(b) below, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in Section 2. For the avoidance of doubt, clause (iii) above shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations and submit other business (other than matters properly included in the Corporation’s notice of meeting of stockholders and proxy statement under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “1934 Act”)) before an annual meeting of stockholders.

 

 

 

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(b)           At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as is a proper matter for stockholder action under Delaware law and as shall have been properly brought before the meeting.

 

(1)               For nominations for the election to the Board of Directors to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 2(a) of these Bylaws, the stockholder must deliver written notice to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation on a timely basis as set forth in Section 2(b)(3) and must update and supplement such written notice on a timely basis as set forth in Section 2(c). Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth: (A) as to each nominee such stockholder proposes to nominate at the meeting: (1) the name, age, business address and residence address of such nominee, (2) the principal occupation or employment of such nominee, (3) the class and number of shares of each class of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned of record and beneficially by such nominee, (4) the date or dates on which such shares were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition, (5) with respect to each nominee for election or re-election to the Board of Directors, include a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 2(e) of these Bylaws, and (6) such other information concerning such nominee as would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of such nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or that is otherwise required to be disclosed pursuant to Section 14 of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); and (B) the information required by Section 2(b)(4). The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require 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 proposed nominee.

 

(2)               Other than proposals sought to be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14(a)-8 under the 1934 Act, for business other than nominations for the election to the Board of Directors to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 2(a) of these Bylaws, the stockholder must deliver written notice to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation on a timely basis as set forth in Section 2(b)(3), and must update and supplement such written notice on a timely basis as set forth in Section 2(c). Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth: (A) as to each matter such 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 (including any anticipated benefit of such business to any Proponent (as defined below) other than solely as a result of its ownership of the Corporation’s capital stock, that is material to any Proponent individually, or to the Proponents in the aggregate) in such business of any Proponent; and (B) the information required by Section 2(b)(4).

 

(3)               To be timely, the written notice required by Section 2(b)(1) or 2(b)(2) must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that, subject to the last sentence of this Section 2(b)(3), in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than thirty (30) days prior to or delayed by more than thirty (30) days after the anniversary of the preceding 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 twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. In no event shall an adjournment or a postponement of an annual meeting for which notice has been given, or the public announcement thereof has been made, commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

 

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(4)               The written notice required by Section 2(b)(1) or 2(b)(2) shall also set forth, as of the date of the notice and as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (each, a “Proponent” and collectively, the “Proponents”): (A) the name and address of each Proponent, as they appear on the Corporation’s books; (B) the class, series and number of shares of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by each Proponent; (C) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether oral or in writing) with respect to such nomination or proposal between or among any Proponent and any of its affiliates or associates, and any others (including their names) acting in concert, or otherwise under the agreement, arrangement or understanding, with any of the foregoing; (D) a representation that the Proponents are holders of record or beneficial owners, as the case may be, of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting and intend to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice (with respect to a notice under Section 2(b)(1)) or to propose the business that is specified in the notice (with respect to a notice under Section 2(b)(2)); (E) a representation as to whether the Proponents intend to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of a sufficient number of holders of the Corporation’s voting shares to elect such nominee or nominees (with respect to a notice under Section 2(b)(1)) or to carry such proposal (with respect to a notice under Section 2(b)(2)); (F) to the extent known by any Proponent, the name and address of any other stockholder supporting the proposal on the date of such stockholder’s notice; and (G) a description of all Derivative Transactions (as defined below) by each Proponent during the previous twelve (12) month period, including the date of the transactions and the class, series and number of securities involved in, and the material economic terms of, such Derivative Transactions.

 

For purposes of Sections 2 and 3, a “Derivative Transaction” means any agreement, arrangement, interest or understanding entered into by, or on behalf or for the benefit of, any Proponent or any of its affiliates or associates, whether record or beneficial:

 

(i)       the value of which is derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares or other securities of the Corporation,

 

(ii)       which otherwise provides any direct or indirect opportunity to gain or share in any gain derived from a change in the value of securities of the Corporation,

 

(iii)      the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss, manage risk or benefit of security value or price changes, or

 

(iv)      which provides the right to vote or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Proponent, or any of its affiliates or associates, with respect to any securities of the Corporation,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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which agreement, arrangement, interest or understanding may include, without limitation, any option, warrant, debt position, note, bond, convertible security, swap, stock appreciation right, short position, profit interest, hedge, right to dividends, voting agreement, performance-related fee or arrangement to borrow or lend shares (whether or not subject to payment, settlement, exercise or conversion in any such class or series), and any proportionate interest of such Proponent in the securities of the Corporation held by any general or limited partnership, or any limited liability company, of which such Proponent is, directly or indirectly, a general partner or managing member.

 

(c)           A stockholder providing written notice required by Section 2(b)(1) or (2) shall update and supplement such notice in writing, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice is true and correct in all material respects as of (i) the record date for the meeting and (ii) the date that is five (5) business days prior to the meeting and, in the event of any adjournment or postponement thereof, five (5) business days prior to such adjourned or postponed meeting. In the case of an update and supplement pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 2(c), such update and supplement shall be received by 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 an update and supplement pursuant to clause (ii) of this Section 2(c), such update and supplement shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than two (2) business days prior to the date for the meeting, and, in the event of any adjournment or postponement thereof, two (2) business days prior to such adjourned or postponed meeting.

 

(d)           Notwithstanding anything in Section 2(b)(3) to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors of the Board of Directors of the Corporation is increased and there is no public announcement of the appointment of a director, or, if no appointment was made, of the vacancy, made by the Corporation at least ten (10) days before the last day a stockholder may deliver a notice of nomination in accordance with Section 2(b)(3), a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2 and which complies with the requirements in Section 2(b)(1), other than the timing requirements in Section 2(b)(3), shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices 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.

 

(e)           To be eligible to be a nominee for election or re-election as a director of the Corporation pursuant to a nomination under clause (iii) of Section 2(a), such proposed nominee or a person on such proposed nominee’s behalf must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Section 2(b)(3) or 2(d), as applicable) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such proposed nominee and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf 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 person (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 in the questionnaire or (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law; (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 of the Corporation that has not been disclosed therein; and (iii) in such person’s individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with, all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation.

 

 

 

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(f)            A person shall not be eligible for election or re-election as a director unless the person is nominated either in accordance with clause (ii) of Section 2(a), or in accordance with clause (iii) of Section 2(a). Except as otherwise required by law, the chairman 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 these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, or the Proponent does not act in accordance with the representations in Sections 2(b)(4)(D) and 2(b)(4)(E), to declare that such proposal or nomination shall not be presented for stockholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such nominations or such business may have been solicited or received.

 

(g)           Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2, in order to include information with respect to a stockholder proposal in the proxy statement and form of proxy for a stockholders’ meeting, a stockholder must also comply with all applicable requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. Nothing in these Bylaws 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 1934 Act; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the 1934 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to proposals and/or nominations to be considered pursuant to Section 2(a)(iii) of these Bylaws.

 

(h)           For purposes of Sections 2 and 3,

 

(1)               “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 1934 Act; and

 

(2)               “affiliates” and “associates” shall have the meanings set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).

 

 

 

 

 

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Section 3.               Special Meetings.

 

(a)            Special meetings of stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, may be called only by the Board of Directors, pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board of Directors. As used in these Bylaws, the term “entire Board of Directors” shall mean the total authorized number of directors. Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.

 

(b)           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 (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving notice provided for in this paragraph, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who delivers written notice to the Secretary of the Corporation setting forth the information required by Section 2(b)(1). 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 of record 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 written notice setting forth the information required by Section 2(b)(1) of these Bylaws shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such 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. The stockholder shall also update and supplement such information as required under Section 2(c). In no event shall an adjournment or a postponement of a special meeting for which notice has been given, or the public announcement thereof has been made, commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

(c)            Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3, a stockholder must also comply with all applicable requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this Section 3. Nothing in these Bylaws 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 1934 Act; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the 1934 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to nominations for the election to the Board of Directors to be considered pursuant to Section 3(b) of these Bylaws.

 

Section 4.               Notice; Waiver of Notice. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice of the meeting shall be given that shall state the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the notice of any 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 at the meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting.

 

 

 

 

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Whenever any notice is required to be given by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except when the person attends 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.

 

Section 5.               Quorum; Adjournment. Except as otherwise required by law, or provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the holders of a majority of the capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the stockholders. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum to conduct that meeting. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting of the time and place (if any) of the adjourned meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed. 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, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

Section 6.               Voting. Except as otherwise required by law, or provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any question brought before any meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present shall be decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock represented and entitled to vote on the subject matter. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder represented at a meeting of stockholders and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be entitled to cast one vote for each share of the capital stock held by such stockholder. Such votes may be cast in person or by proxy, but no proxy shall be voted on or after three (3) years from its date, unless such proxy provides for a longer period. Elections of directors need not be by ballot unless the chairman of the meeting so directs or unless a stockholder demands election by ballot at the meeting and before the voting begins.

 

Section 7.               Stockholder Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting. Commencing September 27, 1996, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such stockholders and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Section 8.               List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. 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 the meeting (provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of meeting or (ii) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be examined by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.

 

Section 9.               Stock Ledger. The stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list required by Section 8 of this Article II or the books of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 10.           Inspectors of Election. In advance of any meeting of stockholders, the Board of Directors may appoint one or more persons (who shall not be candidates for office) as inspectors of election to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If an inspector or inspectors are not so appointed, or if an appointed inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act at a meeting, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders may, and on the request of any stockholder or his proxy shall, appoint an inspector or inspectors of election at the meeting. The duties of such inspector(s) shall include: determining the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each; the shares represented at the meeting; the existence of a quorum; the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies; receiving votes, ballots or consents; hearing and determining all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote; counting and tabulating all votes or consents; determining the result; and such acts as may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. In the event of any dispute between or among the inspectors, the determination of the majority of the inspectors shall be binding.

 

Section 11.           Organization. At each meeting of stockholders the Chairman of the Board of Directors, if one shall have been elected, (or in his absence or if one shall not have been elected, the President) shall act as chairman of the meeting. The Secretary (or in his absence or inability to act, the person whom the chairman of the meeting shall appoint a secretary of the meeting) shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

 

 

 

 

 

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Section 12.           Order of Business. The order and manner of transacting business at all meetings of stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of the meeting.

 

Article III
DIRECTORS

 

Section 1.               Powers. Except as otherwise required by law or provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.               Number and Election of Directors. Subject to any limitations in the Certificate of Incorporation, the authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be not fewer than four (4) nor more than nine (9) with the exact number to be seven (7) directors, until changed by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. Directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of stockholders to replace directors whose terms then expire, and each director elected shall hold office until his successor is duly elected and qualified, or until his earlier death, resignation or removal. Any director may resign at any time effective upon giving written notice to the Board of Directors, unless the notice specifies a later time for such resignation to become effective. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. If the resignation of a director is effective at a future time, the Board of Directors may elect a successor prior to such effective time to take office when such resignation becomes effective. Directors need not be stockholders.

 

Section 3.               Vacancies. Subject to the limitations in the Certificate of Incorporation, vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, removal or otherwise and newly created directorships 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. Each director so selected shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of office of the former director which such director replaces and until his successor is duly elected and qualified, or until his earlier death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the authorized number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent directors.

 

Section 4.               Time and Place of Meetings. The Board of Directors shall hold its meetings at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5.               Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors shall meet for the purpose of organization, the election of officers and the transaction of other business, as soon as practicable after each annual meeting of stockholders, on the same day and at the same place where such annual meeting shall be held. Notice of such meeting need not be given. In the event such annual meeting is not so held, the annual meeting of the Board of Directors may be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date and at such time as shall be specified in a notice thereof given as hereinafter provided in Section 7 of this Article III or in a waiver of notice thereof.

 

 

 

 

 

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Section 6.               Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such places within or without the State of Delaware at such date and time as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine and, if so determined by the Board of Directors, notices thereof need not be given.

 

Section 7.               Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Secretary or by any two or more directors. Notice of the date, time and place of special meetings shall be delivered personally or by telephone to each director or sent by first-class mail or telegram, charges prepaid, addressed to each director at the director’s address as it is shown on the records of the Corporation. In case the notice is mailed, it shall be deposited in the United States mail at least four (4) days before the time of the holding of the meeting. In case the notice is delivered personally or by telephone or telegram, it shall be delivered personally or by telephone or to the telegraph company at least forty-eight (48) hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. The notice need not specify the purpose of the meeting. A written waiver of any such notice signed by the person entitled thereto, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

Section 8.               Quorum; Vote Required for Action; Adjournment. Except as otherwise required by law, or provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a majority of the total number of directors then holding office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the Board of Directors and the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting, from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business, notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum to conduct that meeting. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place (whether or not a quorum is present), notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.

 

Section 9.               Action by Written Consent. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, 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 the members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.

 

Section 10.           Telephone Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, by conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 10 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

 

 

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Section 11.           Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed unanimously by the entire Board of Directors, 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 such committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the event of absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, and in the absence of a designation by the Board of Directors of an alternate member to replace the absent or disqualified member, the committee member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member. Any committee, to the extent allowed by law and as provided in the resolution establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the power and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to amending the Certificate of Incorporation, adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation of a dissolution, or amending the Bylaws of the Corporation; and, unless the resolution or the Certificate of Incorporation expressly so provides, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of stock. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report to the Board of Directors when required.

 

The Board of Directors has, by resolution duly adopted, designated a Compensation Committee, which Committee shall have full authority to consider all compensation issues of this Corporation.

 

Section 12.           Compensation. The directors may be paid such compensation for their services as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine.

 

Section 13.           Interested Directors. 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 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 the committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because his or their votes are counted for such purpose if: (i) the material facts as to his 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; or (ii) the material facts as to his 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.

 

 

 

 

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Article IV
OFFICERS

 

Section 1.               Officers. The officers of the Corporation shall be a President, a Secretary and a Chief Financial Officer. The Corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, a Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Financial Officers and Treasurers, one or more Assistant Secretaries and such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of this Article IV.

 

Section 2.               Appointment of Officers. The officers of the Corporation, except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 or Section 5 of this Article IV shall be appointed by the Board of Directors, and each shall serve at the pleasure of the Board, subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment.

 

Section 3.               Subordinate Officers. The Board of Directors may appoint, and may empower the Chief Executive Officer or President to appoint, such other officers as the business of the Corporation may require, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as are provided in the Bylaws or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

Section 4.               Removal and Resignation of Officers. Subject to the rights of an officer under any contract, any officer may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors or, except in case of an officer chosen by the Board of Directors, by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board of Directors.

 

Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice; and, unless otherwise specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation shall be without prejudice to the rights of the Corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.

 

Section 5.               Vacancies in Offices. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or any other cause shall be filled in the manner prescribed in these Bylaws for regular appointments to that office.

 

Section 6.               Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board, if such an officer is elected, shall, if present, preside at meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors. He shall, in addition, perform such other functions (if any) as may be prescribed by the Bylaws or the Board of Directors.

 

 

 

 

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Section 7.               Vice Chairman of the Board. The Vice Chairman of the Board, if such an officer is elected, shall, in the absence or disability of the Chairman of the Board, perform all duties of the Chairman of the Board and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all of the restrictions upon the Chairman of the Board. The Vice Chairman of the Board shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Bylaws.

 

Section 8.               Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction and control of the business and the officers of the Corporation. He shall exercise the duties usually vested in the chief executive officer of a corporation and perform such other powers and duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the Bylaws. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board and any Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 9.               President. The President of the Corporation shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, if there be such an officer, have general powers and duties of management usually vested in the office of president of a corporation and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Bylaws or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, the President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and stockholders.

 

Section 10.           Vice President. In the absence or disability of the President, the Vice Presidents, if any, in order of their rank as fixed by the Board of Directors or, if not ranked, a Vice President designated by the Board of Directors, shall perform all the duties of the President, and when so acting shall have all the powers of, and subject to all the restrictions upon, the President. The Vice Presidents shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed for them respectively by the Board of Directors or the Bylaws, and the President, or the Chairman of the Board.

 

Section 11.           Secretary. The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office or such other place as the Board of Directors may direct, a book of minutes of all meetings and actions of Directors, committees of Directors, and stockholders, with the time and place of holding, whether regular or special, and, if special, how authorized, the notice given, the names of those present at Directors’ meetings or committee meetings, the number of shares present or represented at stockholders’ meetings, and a summary of the proceedings.

 

The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office or at the office of the Corporation’s transfer agent or registrar, as determined by resolution of the Board of Directors, a share register, or a duplicate share register, showing the names of all stockholders and their addresses, the number and classes of shares held by each, the number and date of certificates issued for the same, and the number and date of cancellation of every certificate surrendered for cancellation.

 

 

 

 

 

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The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors required by the Bylaws or by law to be given, and he shall keep or cause to be kept the seal of the Corporation if one be adopted, in safe custody, and shall have such powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or by the Bylaws.

 

Section 12.           Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the properties and business transactions of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Corporation with such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. He shall make such disbursements of the funds of the Corporation as are authorized and shall render from time to time an account of all of his transactions as Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall also have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Bylaws.

 

Article V
STOCK

 

Section 1.               Stock Certificates; Uncertificated Shares. Shares of stock of the Corporation may be issued in certificated or uncertificated form or any other such form as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe, consistent with the laws of the State of Delaware. Every holder of certificated shares of stock in the Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, if they be elected, President or Vice-President, and the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, certifying the number of shares owned by him in the Corporation.

 

Section 2.               Signatures. 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 by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

 

Section 3.               Lost Certificates. A new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares of stock may be issued in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed. The Corporation may, in the discretion of the Board of Directors and as a condition precedent to the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares, require the owner of such lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond (or other security) sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against the Corporation (including any expense or liability) on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.

 

Section 4.               Transfers. Subject to any restrictions on transfer, shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these Bylaws or in any agreement with the stockholder making the transfer. Shares of stock of the Corporation may be transferred upon the books of the Corporation, if such shares are certificated, only by the person named in the certificate or by his attorney lawfully constituted in writing and upon the surrender of the certificate therefor, which shall be cancelled before a new certificate shall be issued, or, if such shares are uncertificated, only upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered owner of the shares.

 

 

 

 

 

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Section 5.               Record Holders. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the record holder of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such record holder, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the record holder of shares, 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 required by law.

 

Article VI
INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 1.               Right to Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she 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 (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, 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 (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 2 of this Article VI with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this Section shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however, that, if the Delaware General Corporation Law requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Article VI or otherwise (hereinafter an “undertaking”).

 

 

 

 

 

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Section 2.               Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. If a claim under Section 1 of this Article VI is not paid in full by the Corporation within forty-five (45) days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or part in any such suit or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) any suit by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law. Neither 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 suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right hereunder, or by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified or to such advancement of expenses under this Article VI or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

 

Section 3.               Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

Section 4.               Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

Section 5.               Indemnification of Employees or Agents of the Corporation. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses, to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article VI with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors or officers of the Corporation.

 

Section 6.               Indemnification Contracts. The Board of Directors is authorized to enter into a contract 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 for indemnification rights equivalent to or, if the Board of Directors so determines, greater than, those provided for in this Article VI.

 

 

 

 

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Section 7.               Effect of Amendment. Any amendment, repeal or modification of any provision of this Article VI by the stockholders or the directors of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director or officer of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification.

 

Article VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 1.               Dividends. Subject to limitations contained in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the Corporation, which dividends may be paid either in cash, securities of the Corporation or other property.

 

Section 2.               Disbursements. All checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

 

Section 3.               Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4.               Corporate Seal. The Corporation shall have a corporate seal in such form as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5.               Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor fewer than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting. Stockholders on the record date are entitled to notice and to vote or to receive the dividend, distribution or allotment of rights or to exercise the rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any shares on the books of the Corporation after the record date, except as otherwise provided by agreement or by applicable law.

 

Section 6.               Voting of Stock Owned by the Corporation. The Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President and any other officer of the Corporation authorized by the Board of Directors shall have power, on behalf of the Corporation, to attend, vote and grant proxies to be used at any meeting of stockholders of any corporation (except this Corporation) in which the Corporation may hold stock.

 

 

 

 

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Section 7.               Construction and Definitions. Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction and definitions in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware shall govern the construction of these Bylaws.

 

Section 8.               Amendments. Subject to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors amend or repeal these Bylaws, or adopt other Bylaws as in their judgment may be advisable for the regulation of the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, and new Bylaws may be adopted, at any annual meeting of the stockholders (or at any special meeting thereof duly called for that purpose) by a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of all classes and series of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting as a single class, provided that, in the notice of any such special meeting, notice of such purpose shall be given.

 

Section 9.               Forum. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of 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 arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, or (iv) any action asserting a claim 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 consented to the provisions of this Section 9.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY

 

I, the undersigned, do hereby certify that:

 

(1)       I am the duly elected and acting Secretary of Avid Bioservices, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”); and

 

(2)       Attached hereto is a true and complete copy of the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation as duly adopted by the Corporation's Board of Directors as of September 11, 2020.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of the Corporation on this 11th day of September, 2020.

 

 

  /s/ Mark R. Ziebell               
  Mark R. Ziebell, Secretary
   
   
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Exhibit 99.1

 

 

Contacts:

Stephanie Diaz (Investors)   Tim Brons (Media)
Vida Strategic Partners   Vida Strategic Partners
415-675-7401   415-675-7402
sdiaz@vidasp.com   tbrons@vidasp.com

 

 

AVID BIOSERVICES ANNOUNCES MOVE TO VIRTUAL-ONLY

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS ON OCTOBER 20, 2020

 

TUSTIN, CA, September 15, 2020 -- Avid Bioservices, Inc. (NASDAQ:CDMO) (NASDAQ:CDMOP), today announced that it will hold its 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) solely by means of remote communication (i.e., a virtual-only stockholder meeting). This change is to protect the safety, health and well-being of its stockholders, directors, employees and the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. As previously announced, the Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. PDT.

 

Stockholders will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person at a physical location. However, the virtual Annual Meeting will provide stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 24, 2020, the ability to participate, vote their shares and ask questions during the meeting via audio webcast.

 

Despite the change to a virtual-only meeting, the proxy card or voting instruction form, as applicable, included with previously-distributed proxy materials will not be updated to reflect the change from an in-person meeting to a virtual-only meeting and may be used to vote shares in connection with the Annual Meeting.

 

As provided in the company’s proxy materials, an online portal is available to stockholders at www.proxyvote.com where stockholders can view and download the company’s proxy materials and fiscal year 2020 Annual Report and vote their shares in advance of the Annual Meeting. Stockholders may vote their shares during the Annual Meeting (up until the closing of the polls) by following the instructions available at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CDMO2020 during the meeting.

 

To be admitted to the virtual-only Annual Meeting, stockholders should visit www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CDMO2020 and enter the 16-digit control number found on their Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials, their proxy card or the instructions that accompanied their proxy materials.

 

Below are additional details on how stockholders can participate in the virtual-only Annual Meeting:

 

·Access the meeting platform beginning at 9:45 a.m. PDT on October 20, 2020.

 

·Vote during the Annual Meeting by following the instructions available on the meeting website during the meeting.

 

·Submit a question during the meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CDMO2020 and entering the stockholder’s 16-digit control number and submitting the question in the “Ask a Question” field.

 

·If any difficulties are encountered while accessing the virtual meeting, contact the technical support number that will be posted on the Virtual Shareholder Meeting log-in page. Technical support will be available beginning at 9:45 a.m. PDT on October 20, 2020 and will remain available until the meeting has ended.

 

·A list of stockholders entitled to vote will be available for inspection by stockholders of record for any legally valid purpose related to the Annual Meeting during the Annual Meeting by following the link provided when stockholders login to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CDMO2020 and for a period of ten days prior to the Annual Meeting by sending a request to corpsecretary@avidbio.com.

 

 

 

 

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Whether or not stockholders plan to attend the virtual-only Annual Meeting, the company urges stockholders to vote and submit their proxies in advance of the meeting by one of the methods described in the proxy materials.

 

About Avid Bioservices, Inc.


 

Avid Bioservices is a dedicated contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) focused on development and CGMP manufacturing of biopharmaceutical drug substances derived from mammalian cell culture. The company provides a comprehensive range of process development, CGMP clinical and commercial manufacturing services for the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries. With 27 years of experience producing monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins, Avid's services include CGMP clinical and commercial drug substance manufacturing, bulk packaging, release and stability testing and regulatory submissions support. For early-stage programs the company provides a variety of process development activities, including upstream and downstream development and optimization, analytical methods development, testing and characterization. The scope of our services ranges from standalone process development projects to full development and manufacturing programs through commercialization. www.avidbio.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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