Document:

Exhibit

Exhibit 10.42

2020 Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement

January 1, 2020

59961097v.2

Ameren Corporation
2020 Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement
THIS AGREEMENT, effective as of the Grant Date set forth in the Notice of 2020 Restricted Stock Unit Award ("Notice"), represents the grant of Restricted Stock Units by Ameren Corporation (“Ameren”) to the Participant set forth in the Notice, pursuant to the provisions of the Ameren Corporation 2014 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, as it may be amended from time to time (the “Plan”).  The Notice is included in and made part of this Agreement.

The Plan provides a description of the terms and conditions governing the Restricted Stock Units. If there is any inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the Plan’s terms will completely supersede and replace the conflicting terms of this Agreement. All capitalized terms will have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan, unless specifically set forth otherwise herein.  The parties hereto agree as follows:

		
	1.
	Notice of Grant. The Notice, as attached hereto, sets forth the number of Restricted Stock Units (the “RSUs”) granted to the Participant and the Vesting Period.

Each RSU represents the right to receive one Share (as defined in the Plan) as of the Payment Date (defined in Section 2), to the extent the Participant is vested in such RSUs as of the Payment Date and subject to the terms of this Agreement and the Plan.

		
	2.
	Vesting of RSUs. Subject to provisions set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement related to a Change of Control (as defined in the Second Amended and Restated Ameren Corporation Change of Control Severance Plan, as amended (the “Change of Control Severance Plan”)) of Ameren, Section 7 of this Agreement relating to termination for Cause (as defined in the Change of Control Severance Plan), and Section 8 of this Agreement relating to Participant’s obligations, the RSUs will vest as set forth below.

		
	(a)
	Vesting Period. Provided the Participant has continued employment with Ameren or any Affiliate or Subsidiary (the “Company”) through the Vesting Period, one hundred percent (100%) of the Shares relating to all RSUs set forth in the Notice plus any accrued dividend equivalents will vest on the date on which Shares are delivered pursuant to this Section (the “Payment Date”). The restrictions set forth in this Agreement with respect to the RSUs shall lapse when the Shares are delivered to the Participant on the Payment Date, unless forfeited as described in this Section or as may be provided in accordance with Sections 8; or

		
	(b)
	Death. Provided the Participant has continued employment with the Company through the date of his death and such death occurs prior to the Payment Date, the Participant will be entitled to a prorated award based on the number of RSUs set forth in the Notice to this Agreement plus accrued dividend equivalents as of the date of death, with such prorated number based upon the total number of days the Participant worked during the Award Period, as defined in the Notice; or

		
	(c)
	Disability. Provided the Participant has continued employment with the Company through the date of his Disability (as defined in Code Section 409A) and such Disability occurs prior to the Payment Date, the Vesting Period shall continue to lapse and the Participant shall receive one hundred percent (100%) of the Shares relating to all RSUs set forth in the Notice plus any accrued dividend  equivalents he would have received had he remained employed by the Company through the Payment Date; or

		
	(d)
	Retirement. Provided the Participant has continued employment with the Company through the date of retirement (as described below) and such retirement occurs before the Payment Date if the Participant retires at an age of 55 or greater with five (5) or more years of service (as defined in the Ameren Retirement Plan, as supplemented and amended from time to time), the Vesting Period shall continue to lapse and the Participant is entitled to receive a prorated award based on the number of RSUs set forth in the Notice to this Agreement plus accrued dividend equivalents as of the Payment Date, with the prorated number based upon the total number of days the Participant worked during the Award Period, as defined in the Notice. The pro-rata number of Shares shall be delivered to the Participant on the Payment Date.

		
	(e)
	Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no Restricted Stock Units will be paid to the Participant, nor shall the Participant be entitled to payment, if the Participant’s employment with the Company terminates during the Vesting Period for any reason other than death, Disability, retirement as described above, or on or after a Change of Control in accordance with Section 6.

For purposes of this Agreement, any reference to a termination of employment shall be interpreted to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 409A”). To the extent payments are made during the periods permitted under Section 409A 

(including any applicable periods before or after the specified payment dates set forth in this Section), the Company shall be deemed to have satisfied its obligations under the Plan and shall be deemed not to be in breach of its payments obligations hereunder.

		
	3.
	Form and Timing of Payment. All payments of vested RSUs pursuant to this Agreement will be made in the form of Shares. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, payment will be made upon the earlier to occur of the following:

		
	(a)
	As soon as practicable after the expiration of the Award Period, as defined in the Notice;

		
	(b)
	The Participant’s death or as soon as practicable thereafter (but in no event later than March 15 of the calendar year following the year in which the Participant’s death occurred).

Fractional RSUs that constitute less than a single share may be rounded to the nearest full Share or converted to cash, at the Company’s option.

In the event the number of vested RSUs is mistakenly paid, the Company has the right to recover any overpayment of any Shares or to make an additional payment of Shares that were underpaid.

		
	4.
	Rights as Shareholder. The Participant shall not have voting or any other rights as a shareholder of the Company with respect to any RSUs. The Participant will obtain full voting and other rights as a shareholder of the Company upon the delivery of Shares as provided in Section 3 and 6 of this Agreement.

		
	5.
	Dividend Equivalents. The Participant shall be entitled to receive dividend equivalents, which represent the right to receive Shares measured by the dividend payable with respect to the corresponding number of unvested RSUs. Dividend equivalents on RSUs will accrue and be reinvested into additional RSUs throughout the Vesting Period. Subject to continued employment with the Company, the dividend equivalents shall vest and be settled at the same time and in the same proportion as the RSUs to which they relate. Participants will not be entitled to any dividend equivalent amount on RSUs covered by this Agreement which are not ultimately earned.

		
	6.
	Change of Control.

		
	(a)
	Company No Longer Exists. Upon a Change of Control which occurs on or before the last day of the Vesting Period in which the Company ceases to exist or is no longer publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market, Sections 2 and 3 of this Agreement, unless otherwise provided, shall no longer apply and instead, the amount distributed under this award shall be based on the number of RSUs awarded as set forth in the Notice to this Agreement plus any accrued dividend equivalents and interest as follows:

		
	(i)
	The amount underlying this award as of the date of the Change of Control shall equal the value of one Share based on the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange on the last trading day prior to the date of the Change of Control multiplied by the sum of the number of RSUs awarded as set forth in the Notice to this Agreement plus the additional RSUs attributable to accrued dividend equivalents as of the date of the Change of Control;

		
	(ii)
	Interest on this award shall accrue based on the prime rate (adjusted on the first day of each calendar quarter) as published in the “Money Rates” section in the Wall Street Journal from the date of the Change of Control until this award is distributed or forfeited;

		
	(iii)
	If the Participant remains employed with the Company or its successor until the Payment Date, this award, including interest, shall be paid to the Participant in an immediate lump sum in January of the third calendar year following the calendar year that includes the Grant Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter (but in no event later than March 15 of such calendar year);

		
	(iv)
	If the Participant retired (as described in Section 2(d) of this Agreement) or terminated employment due to Disability prior to the Change of Control under Section 6(a) of this Agreement, the Participant shall immediately receive payment under this award upon such Change of Control;

		
	(v)
	If the Participant remains employed with the Company or its successor until his death or Disability which occurs after the Change of Control and before the last day of the Vesting Period, the Participant (or his estate or designated beneficiary) shall immediately receive payment under this award, including interest (if any), upon such death or Disability;

		
	(vi)
	If the Participant has a qualifying termination (as defined in Section 6(c) of this  Agreement)  before the  last day of  the  Vesting  Period  or retires (as

described in Section 2(d) of this Agreement) after the Change of Control, the Participant shall immediately receive payment under this award, including interest (if any), upon such termination; and

		
	(vii)
	In the event the Participant terminates employment before the end of the Vesting Period for any reason other than as described in Sections (iv), (v) or (vi) above, the Participant shall not receive payment of this award, including interest (if any), nor be entitled to payment for, any RSUs.

		
	(b)
	Company Continues to Exist. If there is a Change of Control of the Company but the Company continues in existence and remains a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market, the RSUs will pay out upon the earliest to occur of the following:

		
	(i)
	In accordance with the vesting provisions of Sections 2 of this Agreement; or

		
	(ii)
	If the Participant experiences a qualifying termination (as defined in Section 6(c) of this Agreement) during the two-year period following the Change of Control and the termination occurs during the Vesting Period, the Participant will be entitled to one hundred percent (100%) of the RSUs he would have received had he remained employed by the Company for the entire Period. Such RSUs will vest on the last day of the Vesting Period and the vested RSUs will be paid in Shares in January of the calendar year immediately following the last day of the Vesting Period or as soon as practicable thereafter (but in no event later than March 15 of the third calendar year following the calendar year that includes the Grant Date).

		
	(c)
	Qualifying Termination. For purposes of Sections 6(a)(vi) and 6(b)(ii) of this Agreement, a qualifying termination means (i) an involuntary termination without Cause, (ii) for Change of Control Severance Plan participants, a voluntary termination of employment for Good Reason (as defined in the Change of Control Severance Plan) or (iii) an involuntary termination that qualifies for severance under the Ameren Corporation Severance Plan for Ameren Employees or the Ameren Corporation Severance Plan for Ameren Officers (as in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control).

		
	(d)
	Termination in Anticipation of Change of Control. If a Participant qualifies for benefits as provided in the last sentence of Section 4.1 of the Change of Control Severance Plan, or if a Participant is not a Participant in the Change of Control Severance Plan but is terminated within six (6) months prior to the Change of Control and qualifies for severance benefits under the Ameren Corporation Severance Plan for Ameren Employees or the Ameren Corporation Severance Plan for Ameren Officers and the Participant’s termination of employment occurs before the calculated RSUs are paid, then the Participant shall receive (i) upon a Change of Control described in Section 6(a) of this Agreement, an immediate cash payout equal to the value of one Share based on the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange on the last trading day prior to the date of the Change of Control multiplied by the sum of the number of RSUs awarded as set forth in the Notice to this Agreement plus the additional RSUs attributable to accrued dividend equivalents or (ii) upon a Change of Control described in Section 6(b) of this Agreement, the payout provided for in Section 6(b) of this Agreement.

		
	7.
	All Other Terminations. No distribution of any Shares will be made in the event of a termination of employment for any reason not otherwise described in Section 2 or 6, including a voluntary resignation (other than for Retirement), a termination for Cause or a termination without Cause (other than a qualifying termination), at any time prior to payout of the Shares.

		
	8.
	Participant Obligations.

		
	(a)
	Detrimental Conduct or Activity. If the Participant engages in conduct or activity that is detrimental to the Company, including but not limited to violating Sections 8(b) and 8(c) of this Agreement, after the RSUs are paid, or if the Company learns of the detrimental conduct or activity after the RSUs are paid, and such conduct occurred less than one year after the Participant's employment with the Company ended, the following shall apply.

		
	(i)
	If the Participant retired, the Participant shall not be entitled to receive payment of any Shares that would otherwise be payable to the Participant with respect to the last award of Restricted Stock Units granted to the Participant before his termination of employment due to retirement.

		
	(ii)
	In all other cases, the Participant shall repay to the Company the equivalent of the value of Shares received as of the payment date determined under Section 3 of this Agreement within thirty (30) days of receiving a demand from the Company for the repayment of the award.

		
	(b)
	Confidentiality. Participants, by virtue of their position with the Company, have access to and/or receive trade secrets and other confidential and proprietary information about the Company’s business that is not generally available to the public and which has been developed or acquired by the Company at considerable effort and expense (hereinafter “Confidential Information”). Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, information about the Company’s business plans and strategy, environmental strategy, legal strategy, legislative strategy, finances, marketing, management, operations, and/or personnel. The Participant agrees that, both during and after the Participant’s employment with the Company, the Participant:

		
	(i)
	will only use Confidential Information in connection with the Participant’s duties and activities on behalf of or for the benefit of the Company;

		
	(ii)
	will not use Confidential Information in any way that is detrimental to the Company;

		
	(iii)
	will hold the Confidential Information in strictest confidence and take reasonable efforts to protect such Confidential Information from disclosure to any third party or person who is not authorized to receive, review or access the Confidential Information;

		
	(iv)
	will not use Confidential Information for the Participant’s own benefit or the benefit of others, without the prior written consent of the Company; and

		
	(v)
	will return all Confidential Information to the Company within two business days of the Participant’s termination of employment or immediately upon the Company’s demand to return the Confidential Information to the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in accordance with the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, the Participant will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (A) is made (1) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (2) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document that is filed under seal in a lawsuit or other proceeding. If the Participant files a lawsuit for retaliation by the Company for reporting a suspected violation of law, the Participant may disclose the Company’s trade secrets to the Participant’s attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding if the Participant (A) files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and (B) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

		
	(c)
	Non-Solicitation. The Participant agrees that, for one year from the end of the Participant’s employment, the Participant will not, directly or indirectly, on behalf of the Participant or any other person, company or entity:

		
	(i)
	market, sell, solicit, or provide products or services competitive with or similar to products or services offered by the Company to any person, company or entity that: (i) is a customer or potential customer of the Company during the twelve (12) months prior to the Participant’s termination of employment and (ii) with which the Participant (A) had direct contact with during the twelve (12) months prior to the Participant’s termination of employment or (B) possessed, utilized or developed Confidential Information about during the twelve (12) months prior to the Participant’s termination of employment;

		
	(ii)
	raid, hire, solicit, encourage or attempt to persuade any employee or independent contractor of the Company, or any person who was an employee or independent contractor of the Company during the 24 months preceding the Participant’s termination, to leave the employ of, terminate or reduce the person’s employment or business relationship with the Company; or

		
	(iii)
	interfere with the performance of any Company employee or independent contractor’s duties for the Company.

		
	(d)
	Acknowledgments and Remedies. The Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Confidentiality and Non-Solicitation provisions set forth above are necessary to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests, such as its Confidential Information, goodwill and customer relationships. The Participant acknowledges and agrees that a breach by the Participant of either the Confidentiality or Non- Solicitation provision will cause irreparable damage to the Company for which monetary damages alone will not constitute an adequate remedy. In the event of such breach or threatened breach, the Company shall be entitled as a matter of right (without being required to prove damages or furnish any bond or other security) to obtain a restraining order, an injunction, or other equitable or extraordinary relief that restrains any further violation or threatened violation of either the Confidentiality or Non-Solicitation provision, as well as an order requiring

the Participant to comply with the Confidentiality and/or Non-Solicitation provisions. The Company’s right to a restraining order, an injunction, or other equitable or extraordinary relief shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies to which the Company may be entitled to in law or in equity, including, without limitation, the right to recover monetary damages for the Participant’s violation or threatened violation of the Confidentiality and/or Non-Solicitation provisions. Finally, the Company shall be entitled to an award of attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with securing any relief hereunder and/or pursuant to a breach or threatened breach of the Confidentiality and/or Non-Solicitation provisions.

		
	9.
	Nontransferability. RSUs awarded pursuant to this Agreement may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated (a “Transfer”) other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, except as provided in the Plan. If any Transfer, whether voluntary or involuntary, of RSUs is made, or if any attachment, execution, garnishment, or lien will be issued against or placed upon the RSUs, the Participant’s right to such RSUs will be immediately forfeited to the Company, and this Agreement will lapse.

		
	10.
	Requirements of Law. The granting of RSUs under the Plan and this Agreement will be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.

		
	11.
	Tax Withholding. The Company will have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary to remit to the Company, the minimum statutory amount to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes, domestic or foreign, required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of this Agreement.

		
	12.
	Stock Withholding. With respect to withholding required upon any taxable event arising as a result of RSUs granted hereunder, the Company, unless notified by the Participant in writing within thirty (30) days prior to the taxable event that the Participant will satisfy the entire minimum tax withholding requirement by means of personal check or other cash equivalent, will satisfy the tax withholding requirement by withholding Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to (i) the total minimum statutory amount required to be withheld on the transaction, or (ii) such other amount as may be withheld pursuant to the Plan and such withholding would not cause adverse accounting consequences or costs. The Participant agrees to pay to the Company, its Affiliates and/or its Subsidiaries any amount of tax that the Company, its Affiliates and/or its Subsidiaries may be required to withhold as a result of the Participant’s participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described.

		
	13.
	Administration. This Agreement and the Participant’s rights hereunder are subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time, as well as to such rules and regulations as the Committee may adopt for administration of the Plan. It is expressly understood that the Committee is authorized to administer, construe, and make all determinations necessary or appropriate to the administration of the Plan and this Agreement, all of which will be binding upon the Participant.

		
	14.
	Continuation of Employment. This Agreement does not confer upon the Participant any right to continuation of employment by the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries,

nor will this Agreement interfere in any way with the Company’s, its Affiliates’, and/or its Subsidiaries’ right to terminate the Participant’s employment at any time.

		
	15.
	Amendment to the Plan. The Plan is discretionary in nature and the Committee may terminate, amend, or modify the Plan; provided, however, that no such termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan may in any way adversely affect in any material way the Participant’s rights under this Agreement without the Participant’s written approval.

		
	16.
	Amendment to this Agreement. The Company may amend this Agreement in any manner, provided that no such amendment may adversely affect in any material way the Participant’s rights hereunder without the Participant’s written approval except as otherwise permitted by the Plan.

		
	17.
	Successor. All obligations of the Company under the Plan and this Agreement, with respect to the award will be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

		
	18.
	Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provisions are determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions will nevertheless be binding and enforceable.

		
	19.
	Applicable Laws and Consent to Jurisdiction. The validity, construction, interpretation, and enforceability of this Agreement will be determined and governed by the laws of the State of Missouri without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law. For the purpose of litigating any dispute that arises under this Agreement, the parties hereby consent to exclusive jurisdiction and agree that such litigation will be conducted in the federal or state courts of the State of Missouri.

		
	20.
	Section 409A of the Code. This Agreement shall be interpreted in a manner that satisfies the requirements of Code Section 409A. The Committee may make changes in the terms or operation of the Plan and/or this Agreement (including changes that may have retroactive effect) deemed necessary or desirable to comply with Code Section 409A. The Company makes no representations or covenants that this award will comply with Section 409A of the Code.Document

Exhibit 4.4

DESCRIPTION OF THE REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES
REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
The following summary of the capital stock of Echo Global Logistics, Inc. does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation (as amended, our “charter”), our amended and restated by-laws (our “bylaws”, and together with our charter, our “organizational documents”), each of which are incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of which this Exhibit is a part, and certain provisions of Delaware law. Unless the context requires otherwise, all references to “we”, “us,” “our” and “Echo” in this Exhibit refer solely to Echo Global Logistics, Inc. and not to our subsidiaries.
General
Under our charter, our authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 2,500,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share. As of February 27, 2020, there were 26,809,472 shares of Echo common stock outstanding and no shares of Echo preferred stock outstanding. All outstanding shares of Echo common stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “ECHO.”
Common Stock
Voting Rights. All shares of our common stock have identical rights and privileges. Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters subject to a vote of stockholders, subject to the rights of holders of any outstanding preferred stock. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors may elect all of the directors standing for election, subject to the rights of holders of any outstanding preferred stock.
Dividend Rights. Holders of common stock will be entitled to receive ratably any dividends that the board of directors may declare out of funds legally available therefor, subject to any preferential dividend rights of outstanding preferred stock.
Liquidation Rights. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of common stock will be entitled to receive ratably our net assets available after the payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the prior rights of holders of any outstanding preferred stock.  
Other. Holders of common stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock.
Preferred Stock 
We are authorized to issue 2,500,000 shares of preferred stock, which may be issued from time to time in one or more series upon authorization by the board of directors. Our board of directors, without further approval of the stockholders, is authorized to fix the number of shares constituting any series, as well as the dividend rights and terms, conversion rights and terms, voting rights and terms, redemption rights and terms, liquidation preferences and any other rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions applicable to each series of preferred stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could also adversely affect the voting power and dividend and liquidation rights of the holders of common stock. The issuance of preferred stock could also, under certain circumstances, have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or discouraging a third party from acquiring, a majority of our outstanding voting stock or otherwise adversely affect the market price of our common stock. It is not possible to state the actual effect of the issuance of any shares of preferred stock on the rights of holders of common stock until the board of directors determines the specific rights of that series of preferred stock.
You should refer to the certificate of designations establishing a particular series of preferred stock which will be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with any offering of preferred stock. 
 
Each prospectus relating to a series of preferred stock may describe material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase, holding and disposition of such series of preferred stock. 
 

Provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws that May Have an Anti-Takeover Effect 
 
Certain provisions in the charter and the bylaws, as well as Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), may have the effect of discouraging transactions that involve an actual or threatened change in control of Echo. In addition, provisions of the 

charter, the bylaws and the DGCL may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, deter or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider to be in its best interests. 
 
Special Meetings of Stockholders. The chairman of the board, the chief executive officer or the secretary pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the board of directors then in office or holders of not less than a majority of our issued and outstanding voting stock may call a special meeting of stockholders at any time and for any purpose. 
 
No Written Consent of Stockholders. Any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders must be effected at a duly held meeting of stockholders and may not be effected by the written consent of such stockholders. 

Blank Check Preferred Stock. The charter contains provisions that permit our board of directors to issue, without any further vote or action by the stockholders, up to 2,500,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting the series and the designation of the series, the voting powers, if any, of the shares of the series, and the preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions, of the shares of such series. Such provisions could have the effect of discouraging others from making tender offers or takeover attempts.

Number of Directors; Removal; Vacancies. Our bylaws provide that the number of directors shall be fixed by the board of directors, provided that in no event shall such number of directors be less than three nor more than fifteen. Vacancies on the board of directors may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office. Our bylaws provide that, subject to the rights of holders of any future series of preferred stock, directors may be removed, with or without cause, at meetings of stockholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

Advance Notice of Stockholder Action at a Meeting. Stockholders seeking to nominate directors or to bring business before a stockholder meeting must comply with certain timing requirements and submit certain information to us in advance of such meeting. 

Authorized but Unissued Shares. The authorized by unissued shares of common stock will be available for future issuance without stockholder approval. These additional shares may be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of common stock could render it more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise. 

Amendments; Vote Requirements. Certain provisions of our charter and bylaws provide that the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is required for stockholders to amend our charter or bylaws, including those provisions relating to action by written consent and the ability of stockholders to call special meetings.
 
Business Combinations. We have expressly elected not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL. 

Elimination of Liability in Certain Circumstances

Our charter eliminates the liability of our directors to us or our stockholders for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duties as directors. Directors remain liable for breaches of their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, as well as for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, and transactions from which a director derives improper personal benefit. Our charter does not absolve directors of liability for payment of dividends or stock purchases or redemptions by us in violation of Section 174 (or any successor provision) of the DGCL. 

The effect of this provision is to eliminate the personal liability of directors for monetary damages for actions involving a breach of their fiduciary duty of care, including any such actions involving gross negligence. We do not believe that this provision eliminates the liability of our directors to us or our stockholders for monetary damages under the federal securities laws. The charter and bylaws also provide indemnification for the benefit of our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it may be amended from time to time, including most circumstances under which indemnification otherwise would be discretionary.

Transfer Agent and Registrar  
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

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