Document:

Exhibit 4.2

 

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

 

OF

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

NRG ENERGY, INC.

 

NRG Energy, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”) does hereby certify that:

 

FIRST:  The name of the Corporation is: NRG Energy, Inc.

 

SECOND:  The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 29, 1992.

 

THIRD:  The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 1, 2012.

 

FOURTH:  Article Seven of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

ARTICLE SEVEN

 

Subject to any rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional Directors under specified circumstances, the Board of Directors shall have no more than sixteen (16) nor less than three (3) members, with the exact number of Directors constituting the full board to be determined from time to time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of Directors then in office.  Newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the size of the Board of Directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of Directors then in office or by vote of the stockholders.

 

FIFTH:  The Board of Directors of the Corporation approved and adopted the foregoing amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and directed that such amendment be submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon for their consideration, approval and adoption thereof.

 

SIXTH:  The stockholders of the Corporation duly approved and adopted said proposed amendment at a Special Meeting of Stockholders held on November 9, 2012, in accordance with Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned affirms as true the foregoing under penalties of perjury, and has executed this Certificate of Amendment this 14th day of December, 2012.

 

 

	
 
    	
NRG ENERGY, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Brian Curci
    
	
 
    	
Name:   Brian Curci
    
	
 
    	
Title:   Corporate SecretaryExhibit 4.3

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

BY-LAWS

OF

NRG ENERGY, INC.

A Delaware Corporation

 

(Amended and Restated as of December 14, 2012)

 

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

 

Section 1.  Registered Office. The registered office of NRG Energy, Inc. (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware shall be located at 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801. The name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address shall be The Corporation Trust Company. The registered office and/or registered agent of the Corporation may be changed from time to time by action of the Board of Directors.

 

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.

 

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 1.  Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held at such date and time specified by the Board of Directors for the purpose of electing Directors and conducting such other proper business as may come before the annual meeting. At the annual meeting, stockholders shall elect Directors and transact such other business as properly may be brought before the annual meeting pursuant to Section 11 of ARTICLE II hereof.

 

Section 2.  Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders may only be called in the manner provided in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 3.  Place of Meetings. The Board of Directors may designate any place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the place of meeting for any annual meeting or for any special meeting. If no designation is made, or if a special meeting be otherwise called, the place of meeting shall be the principal executive office of the Corporation. If for any reason any annual meeting shall not be held during any year, the business thereof may be transacted at any special meeting of the stockholders.

 

Section 4.  Notice. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take action at a meeting, written or printed notice stating the place, date, time and, in the case of special meetings, the purpose or purposes, of such meeting, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote on the record date, determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of ARTICLE VI. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his, her or its address as the same appears on the records of the Corporation. An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary or of the transfer agent of the Corporation that the notice required by this Section 4 has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. Whenever the giving of any notice to stockholders is required by applicable law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, a waiver thereof, given by the person entitled to said notice, whether before or after the event as to which such notice is required, 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 for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any waiver of notice unless so required by applicable law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws.

 

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Section 5.  Stockholders List. The officer having charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall make, at least 10 days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting arranged in alphabetical order, 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, the stockholder’s agent or attorney, at the stockholder’s expense, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting, (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. 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. Except as provided by applicable law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list of stockholders or the books of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 6.  Quorum. The holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote at the meeting of stockholders, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders, except as otherwise provided by the Delaware General Corporation Law or by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. If a quorum is not present, the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting, and entitled to vote at the meeting, may adjourn the meeting to another time and/or place. When a specified item of business requires a vote by the holders of a class or series of shares of capital stock (if the Corporation shall then have outstanding shares of more than one class or series) voting as a class or series, the holders of a majority of the shares of such class or series shall constitute a quorum (as to such class or series) for the transaction of such item of business, except as otherwise provided by the Delaware General Corporation Law or by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 7.  Adjourned Meetings. When a meeting is adjourned to another time and place, 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 Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 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 of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

Section 8.  Vote Required. When a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of the majority in voting power of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders, unless (i) by express provisions of an applicable law, the rules and regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question, or (ii) the subject matter is the election of Directors, in which case ARTICLES SIX and TEN of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall govern and control the approval of such subject matter.

 

Section 9.  Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided by the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, every stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall at every meeting of the stockholders be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question.

 

Section 10.  Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for him or her by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the Corporation generally. Any proxy is suspended when the person executing the proxy is present at a meeting of stockholders and elects to vote, except that when such proxy is

 

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coupled with an interest and the fact of the interest appears on the face of the proxy, the agent named in the proxy shall have all voting and other rights referred to in the proxy, notwithstanding the presence of the person executing the proxy. At each meeting of the stockholders, and before any voting commences, all proxies filed at or before the meeting shall be submitted to and examined by the secretary or a person designated by the secretary, and no shares may be represented or voted under a proxy that has been found to be invalid or irregular.

 

Section 11.  Business Brought Before a Meeting of the Stockholders.

 

(A) Annual Meetings.

 

(1) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors shall be considered and such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, nominations and other business must be (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (b) brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (c) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder who (i) is a stockholder of record of the Corporation (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such business is proposed or such nomination or nominations are made, only if such beneficial owner is the beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation) both at the time the notice provided for in paragraph (A) of this Section 11 is delivered to the secretary of the Corporation and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting of stockholders, (ii) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (iii) complies with the notice procedures set forth in paragraph (A) of this Section 11. For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing and in proper form to the secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received 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 in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder must be so delivered 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 by the Corporation). In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by paragraph (A) of this Section 11 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to 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.

 

(2) A stockholder’s notice providing for the nomination of a person or persons for election as a Director or Directors of the Corporation shall set forth (a) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made (and for purposes of clauses (ii) through (ix) below, including any interests described therein held by any affiliates or associates (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) for purposes of these Bylaws) of such stockholder or beneficial owner or by any member of such stockholder’s or beneficial owner’s immediate family sharing the same household, in each case as of the date of such stockholder’s notice, which information shall be confirmed or updated, if necessary, by such stockholder and beneficial owner (x) not later than ten (10) days after

 

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the record date for the notice of the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date for the notice of the meeting, and (y) not later than eight (8) business days before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof to disclose such ownership as of the date that is ten (10) business before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (or if not practicable to provide such updated information not later than eight (8) business days before any adjournment or postponement, on the first practicable date before any such adjournment or postponement)) (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) (provided that a person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation as to which such person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future) and owned of record by such stockholder or beneficial owner, (iii) the class or series, if any, and number of options, warrants, puts, calls, convertible securities, stock appreciation rights, or similar rights, obligations or commitments with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares or other securities of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares or other securities of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument, right, obligation or commitment shall be subject to in the underlying class or series of shares or other securities of the Corporation (each a “Derivative Security”), which are, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned by such stockholder or beneficial owner, (iv) any agreement, arrangement, understanding, or relationship, including any repurchase or similar so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such stockholder or beneficial owner, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of any class or series of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation by, manage the risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder or beneficial owner with respect to any class or series of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation, or that provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit from any decrease in the price or value of any class or series of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation, (v) a description of any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit (including any performance-based fees) derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares or other securities of the Corporation, (vi) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or beneficial owner has a right to vote any shares or other securities of the Corporation, (vii) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder or such beneficial owner that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (viii) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Securities held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or beneficial owner is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, if any, (ix) a description of all agreements, arrangements, and understandings between such stockholder or beneficial owner and any other person(s) (including their name(s)) in connection with or related to the ownership or voting of capital stock of the Corporation or Derivative Securities, (x) any other information relating to such stockholder or beneficial owner that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (xi) a statement as to whether either such stockholder or beneficial owner intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to elect such stockholder’s nominees and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from the stockholders in support of such nomination and (xii) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such nomination, and (b) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a Director, (i) all information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be

 

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made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected), (ii) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant, (iii) a completed and signed questionnaire regarding the background and qualifications of such person to serve as a director, a copy of which may be obtained upon request to the Secretary of the Corporation, (iv) all information with respect to such person that would be required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice pursuant to this Section 11 if such person were a stockholder or beneficial owner, on whose behalf the nomination was made, submitting a notice providing for the nomination of a person or persons for election as a Director or Directors of the Corporation in accordance with this Section 11, and (v) such additional information that the Corporation may reasonably request to determine the eligibility or qualifications of such person to serve as a director or an independent director of the Corporation, or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the qualifications and/or independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee as a director.

 

(3) A stockholder’s notice regarding business proposed to be brought before a meeting of stockholders other than the nomination of persons for election to the Board of Directors shall set forth (a) as to the stockholder giving notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, the information called for by clauses (a)(ii) through (a)(ix) of the immediately preceding paragraph (2) (including any interests described therein held by any affiliates or associates of such stockholder or beneficial owner or by any member of such stockholder’s or beneficial owner’s immediate family sharing the same household, in each case as of the date of such stockholder’s notice, which information shall be confirmed or updated, if necessary, by such stockholder and beneficial owner (x) not later than ten (10) days after the record date for the notice of the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date for the notice of the meeting, and (y) not later than eight (8) business days before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof to disclose such ownership as of the date that is ten (10) business before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (or if not practicable to provide such updated information not later than eight (8) business days before any adjournment or postponement, on the first practicable date before any such adjournment or postponement)), (b) a brief description of (i) the business desired to be brought before such meeting, (ii) the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and (iii) any material interest of such stockholder or beneficial owner in such business, including a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder or beneficial owner and any other person(s) (including the name(s) of such other person(s)) in connection with or related to the proposal of such business by the stockholder, (c) as to the stockholder giving notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, (i) a statement as to whether either such stockholder or beneficial owner intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to approve the proposal and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal and (ii) any other information relating to such stockholder or beneficial owner that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (d) if the matter such stockholder proposes to bring before any meeting of stockholders involves an amendment to the Corporation’s By-laws, the specific wording of

 

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such proposed amendment, (e) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business and (f) such additional information that the Corporation may reasonably request regarding such stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, and/or the business that such stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting. The foregoing notice requirements shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his or her intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.

 

(4) Notwithstanding anything in these By-laws to the contrary, only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in paragraph (A) of this Section 11 shall be eligible to be elected at an annual meeting to serve as directors and no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11. The presiding officer of an annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not properly made or any business was not properly brought before the meeting, as the case may be, in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11; if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such nomination not properly made or any business not properly brought before the meeting, as the case may be, shall not be transacted.

 

(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 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 meeting (1) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (2) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who (a) is a stockholder of record of the Corporation (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such nomination or nominations are made, only if such beneficial owner is the beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation) both at the time the notice provided for in paragraph (B) of this Section 11 is delivered to the Corporation’s secretary and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting, (b) is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election, and (c) complies with the notice procedures set forth in the third sentence of paragraph (B) of this Section 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 entitled to vote in such election of directors 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 paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 11 shall be delivered to the Corporation’s secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) 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. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

(C) General.

 

(1) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11 shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation 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 11. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or business, such

 

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nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation.

 

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

 

(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 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 in this Section 11.

 

(4) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to (a) 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, (b) confer upon any stockholder a right to have a nominee or any proposed business included in the Corporation’s proxy statement, or (c) affect any rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 12.  Voting Procedures and Inspectors of Election at Meetings of Stockholders. The Board of Directors, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, may, and shall if required by applicable law, appoint one or more inspectors, who may be employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Board of Directors 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, the person presiding at the meeting may, and shall if required by applicable law, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall (a) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, (b) determine the shares represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (c) count all votes and ballots, (d) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors, and (e) 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 their duties. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, 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 determined by the person presiding at the meeting and shall be announced at the meeting. No ballot, proxies or votes, or any revocation thereof or change thereto, shall be accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware upon application by a stockholder shall determine otherwise. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. No person who is a candidate for office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.

 

Section 13.  Conduct of Meetings; Organization. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. The chairman of the board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders. If the chairman of the board is not present at a meeting of the stockholders, the vice chairman shall preside at such meeting.  If neither the chairman nor the vice chairman of the board is present at a meeting of the stockholders, the chief executive officer or the president (if the president is a Director and is not also the chairman of the board) shall preside at such meeting, and, if the chief executive officer or the president is not present at such meeting, a majority of the Directors present at such meeting shall elect one of their members to so preside. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the person presiding over any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and to adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such person, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules,

 

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regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the presiding officer of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the person presiding over the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The presiding officer at any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such presiding officer should so determine, such person shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure. The secretary, or in his or her absence, one of the assistant secretaries, shall act as secretary of the meeting. In case none of the officers above designated to act as the person presiding over the meeting or as secretary of the meeting, respectively, shall be present, a person presiding over the meeting or a secretary of the meeting, as the case may be, shall be designated by the Board of Directors, and in case the Board of Directors has not so acted, in the case of the designation of a person to act as secretary of the meeting, designated by the person presiding over the meeting.

 

Section 14.  Order of Business. The order of business at all meetings of stockholders shall be as determined by the person presiding over the meeting.

 

ARTICLE III

DIRECTORS

 

Section 1.  General Powers. Except as provided in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. In addition to such powers as are herein and in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation expressly conferred upon it, the Board of Directors shall have and may exercise all the powers of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the laws of Delaware, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and these By-laws.

 

Section 2.  Number, Election and Term of Office. The number of Directors which constitute the entire Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be such number as is specified in, and the Directors shall be elected and shall hold office only in the manner provided in, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Article IX hereof.

 

Section 3.  Resignation. Any Director may resign at any time upon written or electronic notice to the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect at the time therein specified, and, unless otherwise specified in such resignation, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

 

Section 4.  Vacancies. Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the total number of Directors may be filled only in the manner provided in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Article IX hereof.

 

Section 5.  Nominations.

 

(a) Subject to the provisions contained in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these By-laws shall be eligible to serve as Directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be made at a meeting of stockholders (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in these By-laws, who is entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors at the meeting and who shall have complied with the notice procedures set forth in Section 11 of ARTICLE II.

 

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(b) Subject to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, no person shall be eligible to serve as a Director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 11 of ARTICLE II. The person presiding over the meeting of the stockholders shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by this section, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded. A stockholder seeking to nominate a person to serve as a Director must also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this section.

 

Section 6.  Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held without other notice than these By-laws immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 7.  Other Meetings and Notice. Regular meetings, other than the annual meeting, of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the chief executive officer of the Corporation, the most senior executive officer of the Corporation (if there is no chief executive officer), the chairman of the board, the vice chairman of the board, or a majority of the total number of Directors then in office, on at least 24 hours’ notice to each Director, either personally, by telephone, by mail, by telecopy or by other means of electronic transmission (notice by mail shall be deemed delivered three days after deposit in the U.S. mail).

 

Section 8.  Quorum, Required Vote and Adjournment. A majority of the total number of Directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Unless by express provision of an applicable law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws a different vote is required, the vote of a majority of Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present 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. At least 24 hours’ notice of any adjourned meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given to each Director whether or not present at the time of the adjournment, if such notice shall be given by one of the means specified in Section 7 of this ARTICLE III other than by mail, or at least three days’ notice if by mail. Any business may be transacted at an adjourned meeting that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

 

Section 9.  Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the total number of Directors then in office, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the Directors of the Corporation, which to the extent provided in said resolution or resolutions shall have and may exercise the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation (including the power and authority to designate other committees of the Board of Directors); provided, however, that no such committee shall have 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 General Corporation law of the State of Delaware to be submitted to stockholders for approval, or (ii) adopting, amending, or repealing any Bylaw 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. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors upon request. Each committee designated by the Board of Directors shall be formed and function in compliance with applicable law and the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange on which any securities of the Corporation are listed.

 

Section 10.  Committee Rules. Subject to applicable law, the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange on which any securities of the Corporation are listed and these

 

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By-laws, each committee of the Board of Directors may fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, the presence of at least a majority of the members of the committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, in the event that a member and that member’s alternate, if alternates are designated by the Board of Directors, of such committee is or are absent or disqualified, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.

 

Section 11.  Communications Equipment. Members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may participate in and act at any meeting of such board or committee through the use of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear and speak with each other, and participation in the meeting pursuant to this section shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

 

Section 12.  Waiver of Notice and Presumption of Assent. Any member of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof who is present at a meeting shall be conclusively presumed to have waived notice of such meeting except when such member attends 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. Such member shall be conclusively presumed to have assented to any action taken unless his or her dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless his or her written dissent to such action shall be filed with the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall be forwarded by registered mail to the secretary of the Corporation immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to any member who voted in favor of such action.

 

Section 13.  Action by Written Consent. Unless otherwise restricted by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, 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 such board 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 or committee.

 

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

 

Section 1.  Number. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall consist of a chairman of the board, a vice chairman of the board, a chief executive officer, a president, one or more vice-presidents, a secretary, a chief financial officer and such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed necessary or desirable by the Board of Directors. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, except that neither the chief executive officer nor the president shall also hold the office of secretary. In its discretion, the Board of Directors may choose not to fill any office for any period as it may deem advisable, except that the offices of president and secretary shall be filled as expeditiously as possible.

 

Section 2.  Election and Term of Office. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at its first meeting held after each annual meeting of stockholders or as soon thereafter as convenient. Vacancies may be filled or new offices created and filled at any meeting of the Board of Directors. Each officer shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal as hereinafter provided.

 

Section 3.  Removal. Any officer or agent elected by the Board of Directors may be removed by the Board of Directors at its discretion, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.

 

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Section 4.  Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise may be filled by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5.  Compensation. Subject to applicable law and the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange on which any securities of the Corporation are listed, the compensation of all executive officers shall be approved by the Board of Directors, and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by virtue of his or her also being a Director of the Corporation.

 

Section 6.  Chairman of the Board and Vice Chairman of the Board. Subject to Article IX, the Board of Directors shall elect, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of Directors then in office, a chairman of the board and a vice chairman of the board. The chairman of the board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed to him or her by the Board of Directors or provided in these By-laws. If the chairman of the board is not present at a meeting of the stockholders or the Board of Directors, the vice chairman shall preside at such meeting.  If neither the chairman of the board nor the vice chairman of the board is present at a meeting of the stockholders or the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer or the president (if the president is a Director and is not also the chairman of the board) shall preside at such meeting, and, if the chief executive officer or the president is not present at such meeting, a majority of the Directors present at such meeting shall elect one of their members to so preside. The vice chairman shall be permitted to attend all meetings of standing committees of the board of directors on an ex officio basis.

 

Section 7.  Chief Executive Officer. The chief executive officer shall have the powers and perform the duties incident to that position. Subject to the powers of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer shall be in the general and active charge of the entire business and affairs of the Corporation, and shall be its chief policy making officer. The chief executive officer shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or provided in these By-laws. The chief executive officer is authorized to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation. Whenever the president is unable to serve, by reason of sickness, absence or otherwise, the chief executive officer shall perform all the duties and responsibilities and exercise all the powers of the president.

 

Section 8.  The President. The president of the Corporation shall, subject to the powers of the Board of Directors and the chief executive officer, have general charge of the business, affairs and property of the Corporation, and control over its officers, agents and employees. The president shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. The president is authorized to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation. The president shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the chief executive officer, the Board of Directors or as may be provided in these By-laws.

 

Section 9.  Vice Presidents. The vice president, or if there shall be more than one, the vice presidents in the order determined by the Board of Directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the president, act with all of the powers and be subject to all the restrictions of the president. The vice presidents shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president or these By-laws may, from time to time, prescribe. The vice presidents may also be designated as executive vice presidents or senior vice presidents, as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

Section 10.  The Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors, all meetings of the committees thereof and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings in a book or books to be kept for that purpose or shall ensure that his or her designee

 

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attends each such meeting to act in such capacity. Under the chairman of the board’s supervision, the secretary shall give, or cause to be given, all notices required to be given by these By-laws or by law; shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president or these By-laws may, from time to time, prescribe; and shall have custody of the corporate seal of the Corporation. The secretary, or an assistant secretary, shall have authority to affix the corporate seal to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by his or her signature or by the signature of such assistant secretary. The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing by his or her signature. The assistant secretary, or if there be more than one, any of the assistant secretaries, shall in the absence or disability of the secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president, or the secretary may, from time to time, prescribe.

 

Section 11.  The Chief Financial Officer. The chief financial officer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities; shall keep full and accurate all books and accounts of the Corporation as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with applicable law or generally accepted accounting principles; shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation as may be ordered by the chief executive officer or the Board of Directors; shall cause the funds of the Corporation to be disbursed when such disbursements have been duly authorized, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements; shall render to the Board of Directors, at its regular meeting or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of the Corporation; and shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president or these By-laws may, from time to time, prescribe. If required by the Board of Directors, the chief financial officer shall give the Corporation a bond (which shall be rendered every six years) in such sums and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of the office of chief financial officer and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of death, resignation, retirement or removal from office of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in the possession or under the control of the chief financial officer belonging to the Corporation.

 

Section 12.  Other Officers, Assistant Officers and Agents. Officers, assistant officers and agents, if any, other than those whose duties are provided for in these By-laws, shall have such authority and perform such duties as may from time to time be prescribed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 13.  Absence or Disability of Officers. In the case of the absence or disability of any officer of the Corporation and of any person hereby authorized to act in such officer’s place during such officer’s absence or disability, the Board of Directors may by resolution delegate the powers and duties of such officer to any other officer or to any Director, or to any other person selected by it.

 

ARTICLE V

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 (including involvement as a witness) in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a Director or officer of the Corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation or, while a Director, officer or employee of the Corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, fiduciary or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other entity or enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “indemnitee”), 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, against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification

 

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shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a Director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, fiduciary or agent 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 V with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification or advance of expenses, the Corporation shall not indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee except to the extent such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized in writing by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this Section 1 of this ARTICLE V shall be a contract right and shall include the obligation of the Corporation to pay the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (an “advance of expenses”); provided, however, that an advance of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a Director or officer shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (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 (a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 1 of this ARTICLE V or otherwise. For purposes of this ARTICLE V, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation shall be deemed to include any subsidiary for which nominal equity interests have been issued to persons other than the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to the laws of such subsidiary’s jurisdiction of incorporation or organization.

 

Section 2.  Procedure for Indemnification. Any indemnification of an indemnitee or advance of expenses under Section 1 of this ARTICLE V shall be made promptly, and in any event within thirty days (or, in the case of an advance of expenses, twenty days), upon the written request of the indemnitee. If the Corporation denies a written request for indemnification or advance of expenses, in whole or in part, or if payment in full pursuant to such request is not made within thirty days (or, in the case of an advance of expenses, twenty days), the right to indemnification or advances as granted by this ARTICLE V shall be enforceable by the indemnitee in any court of competent jurisdiction. Such person’s costs and expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing his or her right to indemnification or advance of expenses, in whole or in part, in any such action shall also be indemnified by the Corporation.

 

Section 3.  Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on its own behalf and on behalf of any person who is or was a Director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation or was serving at the request of the Corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation as a Director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, fiduciary or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other entity or enterprise against any expense, liability or loss asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expenses, liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

Section 4.  Amendment or Repeal. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this ARTICLE V shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any indemnitee in respect of any act, omission or condition existing or event or circumstance occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

 

Section 5.  Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights to indemnification and to the advance of expenses conferred in this ARTICLE V and in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire hereunder or under any statute, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested Directors or otherwise.

 

Section 6.  Other Sources. The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or to advance expenses to any Director, officer or employee who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another entity shall be reduced by any amount such Director, officer or employee may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other entity.

 

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Section 7.  Other Indemnification and Prepayment of Expenses. This ARTICLE V shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner permitted by applicable law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Directors or officers (including employees and agents) with the same or lesser scope and effect as provided herein when and as authorized by appropriate corporate action.

 

Section 8.  Merger or Consolidation. For purposes of this ARTICLE V, references to the “Corporation” shall include, in addition to the corporation resulting from or surviving a consolidation or merger with the Corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger with the Corporation which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its Directors, officers or employees, so that any person who is or was a Director or officer of such constituent corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary of such constituent corporation or, while a Director, officer or employee of such constituent corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary of such constituent corporation is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, fiduciary or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other entity or enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, shall stand in the same position under this ARTICLE V with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

 

Section 9.  Severability. If any provision of this ARTICLE V shall be found to be invalid or limited in application by reason of any law or regulation, it shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions hereof.

 

ARTICLE VI

CERTIFICATES OF STOCK

 

Section 1.  General. Every holder of stock in the Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate, signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by the president or vice president and the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation, provided that the Board of Directors of the Corporation may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares (except that the foregoing shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation). If a certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent or a registrar, the required signatures may be facsimiles. In case any officer or officers who have signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used on, any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Corporation whether because of death, resignation or otherwise before such certificate or certificates have been delivered by the Corporation, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Corporation. All certificates for shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified. The name of the person to whom the shares represented thereby are issued, with the number of shares and date of issue, shall be entered on the books of the Corporation. Shares of stock of the Corporation shall only be transferred on the books of the Corporation by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, upon surrender to the Corporation of the certificate or certificates for such shares endorsed by the appropriate person or persons, with such evidence of the authenticity of such endorsement, transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps. In that event, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate or certificates and record the transaction on its books. Each such new certificate will be registered in such name as is requested by the holder of the surrendered certificate and shall be substantially identical in form to the surrendered certificate. Upon the receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered owner of uncertificated shares, if any, such uncertificated shares shall be cancelled, issuance of new equivalent uncertificated or certificated shares shall be made to the stockholder entitled thereto and the transaction shall

 

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recorded upon the books and records of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may appoint one or more transfer agents or registrars or both in connection with the transfer of any class or series of securities of the Corporation.

 

Section 2.  Lost Certificates. The Corporation may issue (i) a new certificate or certificates of stock or (ii) uncertificated shares in place of any certificate or certificates previously issued by the Corporation, as applicable, in place of any certificate or certificates previously 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 of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the Corporation may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.

 

Section 3.  Fixing a Record Date for Stockholder Meetings. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be the close of business on the next day preceding the day on which notice is first given. 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 4.  Fixing a Record Date for Other Purposes. In order that the Corporation may determine: (i) the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment or any rights; or (ii) the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purposes of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days nor less than 10 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

Section 5.  Registered Stockholders. Prior to the surrender to the Corporation of the certificate or certificates for a share or shares of stock with a request to record the transfer of such share or shares, the Corporation may treat the registered owner as the person entitled to receive dividends, to vote, to receive notifications and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of an owner. The Corporation 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.

 

Section 6.  Subscriptions for Stock. Unless otherwise provided for in any subscription agreement, subscriptions for shares shall be paid in full at such time, or in such installments and at such times, as shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Any call made by the Board of Directors for payment on subscriptions shall be uniform as to all shares of the same class or as to all shares of the same series. In case of default in the payment of any installment or call when such payment is due, the Corporation may proceed to collect the amount due in the same manner as any debt due the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE VII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 1.  Dividends. Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting, in accordance with applicable law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or any other purpose and the Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

 

Section 2.  Checks, Drafts or Orders. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money by or to the Corporation and all notes and other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the Corporation, and in such manner, as shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof.

 

Section 3.  Contracts. In addition to the powers otherwise granted to officers pursuant to ARTICLE IV hereof, the Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, or any agent or agents, of the Corporation to enter into any contract or to execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

 

Section 4.  Loans. The Corporation may lend money to, or guarantee any obligation of, or otherwise assist any officer or other employee of the Corporation or of its subsidiaries, including any officer or employee who is a Director of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, whenever, in the judgment of the Directors, such loan, guaranty or assistance may reasonably be expected to benefit the Corporation and would not violate applicable law. The loan, guaranty or other assistance may be with or without interest, and may be unsecured, or secured in such manner as the Board of Directors shall approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of shares of stock of the Corporation, subject to applicable law. Nothing in this Section 4 shall be deemed to deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the Corporation at common law or under any statute.

 

Section 5.  Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 6.  Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors may provide a corporate seal which shall be in the form of a circle and shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware.” The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.

 

Section 7.  Voting Securities Owned By Corporation. Voting securities in any other company held by the Corporation shall be voted by the chief executive officer, the president or a vice president, unless the Board of Directors specifically confers authority to vote with respect thereto, which authority may be general or confined to specific instances, upon some other person or officer. Any person authorized to vote securities shall have the power to appoint proxies, with general power of substitution.

 

Section 8.  Inspection of Books and Records. The Board of Directors shall have power from time to time to determine to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions and regulations the accounts and books of the Corporation, or any of them, shall be open to the inspection of the stockholders; and no stockholder shall have any right to inspect any account or book or document of the Corporation, except as conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, unless and until authorized so to do by resolution of the Board of Directors or of the stockholders of the Corporation.

 

Section 9.  Section Headings. Section headings in these By-laws are for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.

 

Section 10.  Inconsistent Provisions. In the event that any provision of these By-laws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Exchange Act or any regulation thereunder, or any other applicable law or regulation, the provision of these By-laws shall not be given any effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full force and effect.

 

Section 11.  Notices. Except as provided in Section 4 of ARTICLE II hereof and Section 7 of ARTICLE III hereof, all notices referred to herein shall be in writing, shall be delivered personally or by first class mail, postage prepaid, and shall be deemed to have been given when so delivered or mailed to the Corporation at its principal

 

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executive offices and to any stockholder at such holder’s address as it appears in the stock records of the Corporation (unless otherwise specified in a written notice to the Corporation by such holder).

 

Section 12.  Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Unless the context requires otherwise, references in these By-laws to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as it may be amended and restated from time to time) shall also be deemed to include any duly authorized certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation that may be outstanding from time to time.

 

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS

 

In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend, change, add to or repeal these By-laws by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of Directors then in office (except as set forth in Article IX), subject to further action by stockholders. Any alteration or repeal of these By-laws by the stockholders of the Corporation shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled to vote on such alteration or repeal.

 

ARTICLE IX

CERTAIN GOVERNANCE MATTERS

 

Section 1.  Size and Composition of the Board of Directors.  Following the Effective Time of the Merger contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated July 20, 2012, by and among the Corporation, GenOn Energy, Inc. (“GenOn”) and Plus Merger Corporation (the “Merger Agreement”), the Board of Directors shall have sixteen members as set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, which shall consist of (A) ten individuals (other than the persons referred to in clauses (B) and (C) below) who are serving as directors of the Corporation immediately prior to the Effective Time designated by the Corporation, (B) the person holding the position of chairman of the Board of Directors immediately prior to the Effective Time, (C) the person holding the positions of chief executive officer and president of the Corporation immediately prior to the Effective Time, (D) three individuals (other than the person referred to in clause (E) below) who are serving as directors of GenOn immediately prior to the Effective Time as designated by the board of directors of GenOn prior to the Effective Time, each of whom shall meet the independence standards of the New York Stock Exchange with respect to the Corporation, and (E) the person holding the positions of chairman and chief executive officer of GenOn immediately prior to the Effective Time.  The directors referred to in clauses (A), (B) and (C) are each a “Continuing Director” and the directors referred to in clauses (D) and (E) are each a “New Director”.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article IX, from and after the Effective Time, each person designated as a director of the Corporation shall serve as a director until such person’s successor shall be elected and qualified or such person’s earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.  Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Article IX shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

 

Section 2.  Classification of Directors.  As of the Effective Time, one New Director shall be designated by the Board of Directors as a Class I director with a term expiring at the 2013 annual meeting of stockholders, two New Directors shall be designated by the Board of Directors as Class II directors with terms expiring at the 2014 annual meeting of stockholders and one New Director shall be designated by the Board of Directors as a Class III director with a term expiring at the 2015 annual meeting of stockholders.  All Continuing Directors shall remain in their respective classes without any change (except as contemplated by Article Ten of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation).  The Corporation, through the Board of Directors of the Corporation and subject to the fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors of the Corporation to the stockholders of the Corporation, shall take all necessary action to nominate and recommend the New Director designated as a Class I director for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation in the proxy statement relating to the 2013 annual meeting of stockholders.

 

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Section 3.  Status of Vice Chairman.  As of the Effective Time, the person holding the positions of chairman and chief executive officer of GenOn immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be vice chairman of the Board of Directors, and, subject to the fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors, shall hold such position until at least the 2014 annual meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 4.  Committee Chairmanship.  From the Effective Time and until the 2013 annual meeting of stockholders, a New Director (other than the vice chairman), subject to the fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors, shall be the co-chairman of one of the standing committees of the Board of Directors as determined by the Board of Directors. From the 2013 annual meeting of stockholders and until at least the 2014 annual meeting of stockholders, such New Director, subject to the fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors, shall be the chairman of such committee of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5.  Amendment.  Any provision of these By-laws to the contrary notwithstanding (except the last sentence of Article VIII), prior to the conclusion of the 2014 annual meeting of stockholders, in addition to any other vote required by these By-laws, the affirmative vote of at least 90% of the total number of Directors then in office shall be required to amend any provision of this Article IX, any provision in these By-laws regarding the office or responsibilities of the vice chairman, or Sections 2, 4 or 10 of Article III.

 

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