APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENt TO OUR
RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO PERMIt THE
EXCULPATION OF OFFICERS FROm PERSONAL LIABILITY FOR
CERTAIN BREACHES OF THE DUTY OF CARE
Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL was amended effective August 1, 2022, to authorize exculpation of officers of Delaware corporations. Specifically, the amendment permits Delaware corporations to exculpate their officers, in addition to their directors, for personal liability for breach of the duty of care in certain actions. This exculpation would not protect officers from liability for breach of the duty of loyalty, acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, or any transaction in which the officer derived an improper personal benefit. Nor would this exculpation shield such officers from liability for claims brought by or in the right of the corporation, such as derivative claims.
Our Board believes it is necessary to provide protection to officers to the fullest extent permitted by law in order to attract and retain highly-qualified senior leadership. The nature of the role of directors and officers often requires them to make decisions on crucial matters often in time-sensitive situations, which can create substantial risk of investigations, claims, actions, suits or proceedings seeking to impose liability on the basis of hindsight, especially in the current litigious environment and regardless of merit. Limiting concern about personal risk would empower both directors and officers to best exercise their business judgment in furtherance of stockholder interests. Many competitor companies have adopted, and we expect additional competitors will likely adopt, exculpation clauses that limit the personal liability of officers in their charters and failing to adopt the amendment to our current Charter could negatively affect our ability to recruit and retain high-caliber officer candidates.
The proposed amendment to our current Charter is not being proposed in response to any specific resignation, threat of resignation or refusal to serve by any director or officer. This protection has long been afforded to directors, and our Board believes that extending similar exculpation to our officers is fair and in the best interests of our Company and its stockholders. Accordingly, our Board has unanimously approved the amendment to the Charter (the Charter Amendment) in the form attached to this Proxy Statement as 附錄 B反映了上述修訂,宣布將修憲視為合適並符合我們和我們的股東最佳利益,並建議我們的股東投票“贊成”修憲。
如果我們的股東批准修憲,我們的董事會已授權我們的官員向特拉華州州務卿提交修憲,以州務卿接受後生效。我們的董事會打算在本次年度股東大會通過本提案後盡快採取這一步驟。然而,即使我們的股東通過修憲,我們的董事會仍可在向特拉華州州務卿提交修憲生效之前放棄修憲,如果放棄,修憲將不生效。如果我們的董事會放棄修憲,將公開披露該事實及其決定原因。
如果我們的股東未批准此提案,或者我們的董事會放棄修憲,那麼修憲將不得到採納,現行修憲將繼續有效。
需要全體普通股持有人以單一類別投票的全部已發行普通股授權在年度股東大會表決有投票權的持有人的表決權中的多數通過,以批准修憲。您可對此提案投票“贊成”,“反對”或“棄權”。 棄權票和經紀人不投票票處理方式與對此提案投票“反對”相同。
董事會一致建議您投票“贊成”修憲的通過
(您的代理人卡上的第4號提案)