Exhibit 3.2
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS OF
F5 NETWORKS, INC.
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| |
|
|
| |
|
PAGE |
ARTICLE 1 OFFICES |
|
1 |
|
|
|
1.1 Principal Office |
|
1 |
|
|
|
1.2 Registered Office and Registered Agent |
|
1 |
|
|
|
1.3 Other Offices |
|
1 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 2 SHAREHOLDERS |
|
1 |
|
|
|
2.1 Annual Meeting |
|
1 |
|
|
|
2.2 Special Meetings |
|
2 |
|
|
|
2.3 Notice of Meetings |
|
2 |
|
|
|
(a) Notice of Special Meeting |
|
3 |
|
|
|
(b) Proposed Articles of Amendment or Dissolution |
|
3 |
|
|
|
(c) Proposed Merger, Consolidation, Exchange, Sale, Lease or
Disposition |
|
3 |
|
|
|
(d) Declaration of Mailing |
|
3 |
|
|
|
(e) Waiver of Notice |
|
3 |
|
|
|
2.4 Quorum |
|
3 |
|
|
|
2.5 Voting of Shares |
|
4 |
|
|
|
2.6 Adjourned Meetings |
|
4 |
|
|
|
2.7 Record Date |
|
4 |
|
|
|
2.8 Record of Shareholders Entitled to Vote |
|
4 |
|
|
|
2.9 Telephonic Meetings |
|
5 |
|
|
|
2.10 Proxies |
|
5 |
|
|
|
2.11 Organization |
|
5 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 3 BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
|
5 |
|
|
|
3.1 Management Responsibility |
|
5 |
|
|
|
3.2 Number of Directors, Qualification |
|
5 |
|
|
|
3.3 Election |
|
6 |
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)
| |
|
|
| |
|
PAGE |
3.4 Vacancies |
|
6 |
|
|
|
3.5 Removal |
|
6 |
|
|
|
3.6 Resignation |
|
7 |
|
|
|
3.7 Annual Meeting |
|
7 |
|
|
|
3.8 Regular Meetings |
|
7 |
|
|
|
3.9 Special Meetings |
|
7 |
|
|
|
3.10 Notice of Meeting |
|
7 |
|
|
|
3.11 Quorum of Directors |
|
8 |
|
|
|
3.12 Presumption of Assent |
|
8 |
|
|
|
3.13 Action by Directors Without a Meeting |
|
8 |
|
|
|
3.14 Telephonic Meetings |
|
8 |
|
|
|
3.15 Compensation |
|
9 |
|
|
|
3.16 Committees |
|
9 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 4 OFFICERS |
|
9 |
|
|
|
4.1 Appointment |
|
9 |
|
|
|
4.2 Qualification |
|
10 |
|
|
|
4.3 Officers Designated |
|
10 |
|
|
|
(a) President |
|
10 |
|
|
|
(b) Vice Presidents |
|
10 |
|
|
|
(c) Secretary |
|
10 |
|
|
|
(d) Chief Financial Officer |
|
11 |
|
|
|
(e) Treasurer |
|
11 |
|
|
|
4.4 Delegation |
|
11 |
|
|
|
4.5 Resignation |
|
11 |
|
|
|
4.6 Removal |
|
11 |
|
|
|
4.7 Vacancies |
|
11 |
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)
| |
|
|
| |
|
PAGE |
4.8 Compensation |
|
11 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 5 EXECUTION OF CORPORATION INSTRUMENTS AND VOTING
OF SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION |
|
12 |
|
|
|
5.1 Execution of Corporate Instruments |
|
12 |
|
|
|
5.2 Voting of Securities Owned by the Corporation |
|
12 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 6 STOCK |
|
12 |
|
|
|
6.1 Form and Execution of Certificates |
|
12 |
|
|
|
6.2 Lost Certificates |
|
13 |
|
|
|
6.3 Transfers |
|
13 |
|
|
|
6.4 Registered Shareholders |
|
13 |
|
|
|
6.5 Execution of Other Securities |
|
13 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 7 BOOKS AND RECORDS |
|
14 |
|
|
|
7.1 Books of Accounts, Minutes and Share Register |
|
14 |
|
|
|
7.2 Copies of Resolutions |
|
15 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 8 FISCAL YEAR |
|
15 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 9 CORPORATE SEAL |
|
15 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 10 INDEMNIFICATION |
|
15 |
|
|
|
10.1 Right to Indemnification |
|
15 |
|
|
|
10.2 Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit |
|
16 |
|
|
|
10.3 Nonexclusivity of Rights |
|
16 |
|
|
|
10.4 Insurance, Contracts and Funding |
|
16 |
|
|
|
10.5 Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation |
|
17 |
|
|
|
10.6 Persons Serving Other Entities |
|
17 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 11 AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS |
|
17 |
iv
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS OF
F5 NETWORKS, INC.
These Third Amended and Restated Bylaws are promulgated pursuant to the Washington Business
Corporation Act, as set forth in Title 23B of the Revised Code of Washington.
ARTICLE 1
OFFICES
1.1 PRINCIPAL OFFICE. The principal office of the corporation shall be located at the
principal place of business or such other place as the Board of Directors may designate.
1.2 REGISTERED OFFICE AND REGISTERED AGENT. The registered office of the corporation shall
be located in the State of Washington at such place as may be fixed from time to time by the Board
of Directors upon filing of such notices as may be required by law, and the registered agent shall
have a business office identical with such registered office. Any change in the registered agent
or registered office shall be effective upon filing such change with the office of the Secretary of
State of the State of Washington.
1.3 OTHER OFFICES. The Corporation shall also have and maintain an office or principal place
of business at such place as may be fixed by the Board of Directors, and may also have offices at
such other places, both within and without the State of Washington, as the Board of Directors may
from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE 2
SHAREHOLDERS
2.1 ANNUAL MEETING
(a) The annual meeting of the shareholders of the corporation for the election of directors
and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be
held each year on a date and at a time and place to be set by the Board of Directors.
(b) At an annual meeting of the shareholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall
have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting,
business must be: (i) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or
at the direction of the Board of Directors, (ii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by
or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the
meeting by a shareholder. For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a
shareholder, the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of
the corporation. To be timely, a shareholders notice must be delivered to or mailed and received
at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than the close of
1
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 years annual meeting;
provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the
date of the annual meeting has been changed by more than thirty (30) days from the date
contemplated at the time of the previous years proxy statement, notice by the shareholder to be
timely must be so received not earlier than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior
to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the sixtieth (60th)
day prior to such annual meeting or, in the event public announcement of the date of such annual
meeting is first made by the corporation fewer than seventy (70) days prior to the date of such
annual meeting, the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public
announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the corporation. A shareholders notice
to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the shareholder proposes to bring before the
annual meeting: (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual
meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (B) the name and
address, as they appear on the corporations books, of the shareholder proposing such business, (C)
the class and number of shares of the corporation which are beneficially owned by the shareholder,
(D) any material interest of the shareholder in such business and (E) any other information that is
required to be provided by the shareholder pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), in his capacity as a proponent to a shareholder proposal.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in order to include information with respect to a shareholder
proposal in the proxy statement and form of proxy for a shareholders meeting, shareholders must
provide notice as required by the regulations promulgated under the 1934 Act. Notwithstanding
anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at any annual meeting
except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this paragraph (b). The chairman of the
annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare at the meeting that business was
not properly brought before the meeting and in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph
(b), and, if he should so determine, he shall so declare at the meeting that any such business not
properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.
2.2 SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the shareholders for any purpose or purposes may
be called at any time by a majority of the Board of Directors or by the Chairperson of the Board
(if one be elected) or by the President. The Board of Directors may designate any place as the
place of any special meeting called by the Chairperson, the President or the Board.
2.3 NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Except as otherwise provided in Subsections 2.3(b) and 2.3(c) below,
the Secretary, Assistant Secretary, or any transfer agent of the corporation shall deliver, either
personally or by mail, private carrier, telegraph or teletype, or telephone, wire or wireless
equipment which transmits a facsimile of the notice, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty
(60) days before the date of any meeting of shareholders, written notice stating the place, day,
and time of the meeting to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. If mailed
in the United States, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United
States mail, with first-class postage thereon prepaid, addressed to the shareholder at his address
as it appears on the corporations record of shareholders. If mailed outside the United States,
such notice shall be deemed to be delivered five (5) days after being deposited in the mail, with
first-class airmail postage thereon, return receipt requested, addressed to the shareholder at the
shareholders address as it appears on the corporations record of shareholders.
2
(a) NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING. In the case of a special meeting, the written notice shall
also state with reasonable clarity the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called and the
actions sought to be approved at the meeting. No business other than that specified in the notice
may be transacted at a special meeting.
(b) PROPOSED ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT OR DISSOLUTION. If the business to be conducted at any
meeting includes any proposed amendment to the Articles of Incorporation or the proposed voluntary
dissolution of the corporation, then the written notice shall be given not less than twenty (20)
nor more than sixty (60) days before the meeting date and shall state that the purpose or one of
the purposes is to consider the advisability thereof, and, in the case of a proposed amendment,
shall be accompanied by a copy of the amendment.
(c) PROPOSED MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, EXCHANGE, SALE, LEASE OR DISPOSITION. If the business to
be conducted at any meeting includes any proposed plan of merger or share exchange, or any sale,
lease, exchange, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the corporations property
otherwise than in the usual or regular course of its business, then the written notice shall state
that the purpose or one of the purposes is to consider the proposed plan of merger or share
exchange, sale, lease, or disposition, as the case may be, shall describe the proposed action with
reasonable clarity, and, if required by law, shall be accompanied by a copy or a detailed summary
thereof; and written notice shall be given to each shareholder of record, whether or not entitled
to vote at such meeting, not less than twenty (20) nor more than sixty (60) days before such
meeting, in the manner provided in Section 2.3 above.
(d) DECLARATION OF MAILING. A declaration of the mailing or other means of giving any notice
of any shareholders meeting, executed by the Secretary, Assistant Secretary, or any transfer agent
of the corporation giving the notice, shall be prima facie evidence of the giving of such notice.
(e) WAIVER OF NOTICE. Notice of any shareholders meeting may be waived in writing by any
shareholder at any time, either before or after the meeting. Except as provided below, the waiver
must be signed by the shareholder entitled to the notice, and be delivered to the corporation for
inclusion in the minutes or filing with the corporate records. A shareholders attendance at a
meeting waives objection to lack of notice, or defective notice, unless the shareholder at the
beginning of the meeting objects to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting.
2.4 QUORUM. A quorum shall exist at any meeting of shareholders if a majority of the shares
entitled to vote is represented in person or by proxy. Shares entitled to vote as a separate
voting group may take action on a matter at a meeting only if a quorum of those shares exists with
respect to that matter. The shareholders present at a duly organized meeting may continue to
transact business at such meeting and at any adjournment of such meeting (unless a new record date
is or must be set for the adjourned meeting), notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough shareholders
from either meeting to leave less than a quorum. Once a share is represented for any purpose at a
meeting other than solely to object to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting,
it is deemed present for quorum purposes for the remainder
3
of the meeting and for any adjournment of that meeting unless a new record date is or must be set
for the adjourned meeting.
2.5 VOTING OF SHARES. Except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or these
Bylaws, every shareholder of record shall have the right at every shareholders meeting to one vote
for every share standing in his name on the books of the corporation. If a quorum exists, action
on a matter, other than the election of directors, is approved by a voting group if the votes cast
within the voting group favoring the action exceed the votes cast within the voting group opposing
the action, unless a greater number is required by the Articles of Incorporation or the Washington
Business Corporation Act.
2.6 ADJOURNED MEETINGS. A majority of the shares represented at a meeting, even if less than
a quorum, may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice. When a meeting is
adjourned to another time or 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. However, if a
new record date for the adjourned meeting is or must be fixed in accordance with the Washington
Business Corporation Act, notice of the adjourned meeting must be given to persons who are
shareholders as of the new record date. At any adjourned meeting, the corporation may transact any
business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
2.7 RECORD DATE. For the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to
vote at any meeting of shareholders, or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of
any dividend, the Board of Directors may fix in advance a record date for any such determination of
shareholders, such date to be not more than seventy (70) days and, in the case of a meeting of
shareholders, not less than ten (10) days prior to the meeting or action requiring such
determination of shareholders. If no record date is fixed for the determination of shareholders
entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders, or shareholders entitled to receive
payment of a dividend, the day before the date on which notice of the meeting is mailed or the date
on which the resolution of the Board of Directors declaring such dividend is adopted, as the case
may be, shall be the record date for such determination of shareholders. When a determination of
shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders has been made as provided in this
section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof, unless the Board of Directors
fixes a new record date, which it must do if the meeting is adjourned more than one hundred twenty
(120) days after the date is fixed for the original meeting.
2.8 RECORD OF SHAREHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE. After fixing a record date for a shareholders
meeting, the corporation shall prepare an alphabetical list of the names of all shareholders on the
record date who are entitled to notice of the shareholders meeting. The list shall be arranged by
voting group, and within each voting group by class or series of shares, and show the address of
and number of shares held by each shareholder. A shareholder, shareholders agent, or a
shareholders attorney may inspect the shareholders list, beginning ten days prior to the
shareholders meeting and continuing through the meeting, at the corporations principal office or
at a place identified in the meeting notice in the city where the meeting will be held during
regular business hours and at the shareholders expense. The shareholders list shall be kept open
for inspection during such meeting or any adjournment. Failure to comply with the requirements of
this section shall not affect the validity of any action taken at such meeting.
4
2.9 TELEPHONIC MEETINGS. Shareholders may participate in a meeting by means of a conference
telephone or other communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting can
hear each other during the meeting, and participation by such means shall constitute presence in
person at a meeting.
2.10 PROXIES. At all meetings of shareholders, a shareholder may vote by proxy executed in
writing by the shareholder or by his duly authorized attorney in fact. Such proxy shall be filed
with the secretary of the corporation before or at the time of the meeting. No proxy shall be
valid after eleven (11) months from the date of its execution, unless otherwise provided in the
proxy.
2.11 ORGANIZATION
(a) At every meeting of shareholders, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, or, if a
Chairperson has not been appointed or is absent, the President, or, if the President is absent, a
chairman of the meeting chosen by a majority in interest of the shareholders entitled to vote,
present in person or by proxy, shall act as chairman. The Secretary, or, in his absence, an
Assistant Secretary directed to do so by the President, shall act as secretary of the meeting.
(b) The Board of Directors of the corporation shall be entitled to make such rules or
regulations for the conduct of meetings of shareholders as it shall deem necessary, appropriate or
convenient. Subject to such rules and regulations of the Board of Directors, if any, the chairman
of the meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and
procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are necessary, appropriate
or convenient for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, establishing an
agenda or order of business for the meeting, rules and procedures for maintaining order at the
meeting and the safety of those present, limitations on participation in such meeting to
shareholders of record of the corporation and their duly authorized and constituted proxies and
such other persons as the chairman shall permit, restrictions on entry to the meeting after the
time fixed for the commencement thereof, limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments
by participants and regulation of the opening and closing of the polls for balloting on matters
which are to be voted on by ballot. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors
or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of shareholders shall not be required to be held in
accordance with rules of parliamentary procedure.
ARTICLE 3
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
3.1 MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY. All corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the
authority of, and the business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed under the direction
of, the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or
the Washington Business Corporation Act.
3.2 NUMBER OF DIRECTORS, QUALIFICATION. The authorized number of directors of the
corporation shall be not less than five (5) nor more than nine (9), the specific number to be
5
set by resolution of the Board of Directors. Directors need not be shareholders. No reduction of
the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director before that
directors term of office expires.
3.3 ELECTION. At each annual shareholders meeting, the shareholders shall elect directors to
hold office for the term for which elected and, except as otherwise provided in this Section 3.3,
until their respective successors are elected and qualified.
In a non-contested election, a nominee for director shall be elected by the vote of a majority
of the votes cast. A majority of votes cast means that the number of shares cast for a nominees
election exceeds the number of votes cast against that nominees election. The following shall
not be votes cast: (a) a share whose ballot is marked as withheld; (b) a share otherwise present
at the meeting but for which there is an abstention; and (c) a share otherwise present at the
meeting as to which a shareholder gives no authority or direction. In a contested election,
directors shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of the votes cast. A contested election is
one in which the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected.
The following procedures apply in a non-contested election. A nominee who does not receive a
majority vote shall not be elected. An incumbent director who is not elected because he or she
does not receive a majority vote shall continue to serve as a holdover director until the earliest
of (a) ninety (90) days after the date on which an inspector determines the voting results as to
that director pursuant to RCW 23B.07.035(2); (b) the date on which the Board of Directors appoints
an individual to fill the office held by such director, which appointment shall constitute the
filling of a vacancy by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 3.4; or (c) the date of the
directors resignation. Any vacancy resulting from the non-election of a director under this
Section 3.3 may be filled by the Board of Directors as provided in Section 3.4. The Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee will consider promptly whether to fill the office of a nominee
failing to receive a majority vote and make a recommendation to the Board of Directors about
filling the office. The Board of Directors will act on the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committees recommendation and within ninety (90) days after the certification of the shareholder
vote will disclose publicly its decision. No holdover director will participate in the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee recommendation or Board decision about filling his or her
office.
3.4 VACANCIES. Unless otherwise provided by the Washington Business Corporation Act, in case
of any vacancy in the Board of Directors, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the
number of directors or non-election of a director pursuant to Section 3.3, the remaining directors,
whether constituting a quorum or not, may fill the vacancy. A director elected to fill any vacancy
shall hold office until the next shareholders meeting at which directors are elected at which time
such director may be elected to serve until the expiration of the term of the class in which such
vacancy was filled.
3.5 REMOVAL. One or more members of the Board of Directors (including the entire Board) may
be removed, with or without cause, at a meeting of shareholders called expressly for that purpose.
A director may be removed only if the number of votes cast to remove the director exceeds the
number of votes cast not to remove the director.
6
3.6 RESIGNATION. Any director may resign at any time by delivering his written resignation
to the Secretary, such resignation to specify whether it will be effective at a particular time,
upon receipt by the Secretary or at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. If no such
specification is made, it shall be deemed effective at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. When
one or more directors shall resign from the Board of Directors, effective at a future date, a
majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have power to
fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or
resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office until the next
shareholders meeting at which directors are elected at which time such director may be elected to
serve until the expiration of the term of the class in which such vacancy was filled.
3.7 ANNUAL MEETING. The first meeting of each newly elected Board of Directors shall be
known as the annual meeting thereof and shall be held without notice immediately after the annual
shareholders meeting or any special shareholders meeting at which a Board is elected. Said
meeting shall be held at the same place as such shareholders meeting unless some other place shall
be specified by resolution of the Board of Directors.
3.8 REGULAR MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors or of any committee
designated by the Board may be held at such place and such day and hour as shall from time to time
be fixed by resolution of the Board or committee, without other notice than the delivery of such
resolution as provided in Section 3.10 below.
3.9 SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee designated
by the Board may be called by the President or the Chairperson of the Board (if one be elected) or
any director or committee member, to be held at such place and such day and hour as specified by
the person or persons calling the meeting.
3.10 NOTICE OF MEETING. Notice of the date, time, and place of all special meetings of the
Board of Directors or any committee designated by the Board shall be given by the Secretary, or by
the person calling the meeting, by mail, private carrier, telegram, facsimile transmission, or
personal communication over the telephone or otherwise, provided such notice is received at least
two (2) days prior to the day upon which the meeting is to be held.
No notice of any regular meeting need be given if the time and place thereof shall have been
fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors or any committee designated by the Board and a copy
of such resolution has been delivered by mail, private carrier, telegram or facsimile transmission
to every director or committee member and is received at least two (2) days before the first
meeting held in pursuance thereof.
Notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee designated by the Board need
not be given to any director or committee member if it is waived in a writing signed by the
director entitled to the notice, whether before or after such meeting is held.
A directors attendance at or participation in a meeting waives any required notice to the
director of the meeting unless the director at the beginning of the meeting, or promptly upon the
directors arrival, objects to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting and does
not thereafter vote for or assent to action taken at the meeting. Neither the business to be
7
transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors or any
committee designated by the Board need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such
meeting unless required by the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
Any meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee designated by the Board shall be a
legal meeting without any notice thereof having been given if all of the directors or committee
members have received valid notice thereof, are present without objecting, or waive notice thereof
in a writing signed by the director and delivered to the corporation for inclusion in the minutes
or filing with the corporate records, or any combination thereof.
3.11 QUORUM OF DIRECTORS. A majority of the number of directors fixed by or in the manner
provided by these Bylaws shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum is
present when a vote is taken, the affirmative vote of a majority of directors present is the act of
the Board of Directors unless the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws require the vote of a
greater number of directors.
A majority of the directors present, whether or not constituting a quorum, may adjourn any
meeting to another time and place. If the meeting is adjourned for more than forty-eight (48)
hours, then notice of the time and place of the adjourned meeting shall be given before the
adjourned meeting takes place, in the manner specified in Section 3.10 of these Bylaws, to the
directors who were not present at the time of the adjournment.
3.12 PRESUMPTION OF ASSENT. Any director who is present at any meeting of the Board of
Directors at which action on any corporate matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to
the action taken unless (a) the director objects at the beginning of the meeting, or promptly upon
the directors arrival, to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting; (b) the
directors dissent or abstention from the action taken is entered in the minutes of the meeting; or
(c) the director delivers written notice of dissent or abstention to the presiding officer of the
meeting before the adjournment thereof or to the corporation within a reasonable time after
adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent or abstain shall not be available to any
director who voted in favor of such action.
3.13 ACTION BY DIRECTORS WITHOUT A MEETING. Any action required by law to be taken or which
may be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee thereof may be taken without
a meeting if one or more written consents, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by
all of the directors or all of the members of the committee, as the case may be, either before or
after the action taken and delivered to the corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with
the corporate records. Such consent shall have the same effect as a unanimous vote at a meeting
duly held upon proper notice on the date of the last signature thereto, unless the consent
specifies a later effective date.
3.14 TELEPHONIC MEETINGS. Members of the Board of Directors or any committee designated by
the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board or committee by means of a conference telephone
or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can
hear each other during the meeting. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in
person at a meeting.
8
3.15 COMPENSATION. By resolution of the Board of Directors, the directors and committee
members may be paid their expenses, if any, or a fixed sum or a stated salary as a director or
committee member for attendance at each meeting of the Board or of such committee as the case may
be. No such payment shall preclude any director or committee member from serving the corporation
in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
3.16 COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the full
Board, may from time to time designate from among its members one or more committees, each of which
must have two (2) or more members and, to the extent provided in such resolution, shall have and
may exercise all the authority of the Board of Directors, except that no such committee shall have
the authority to:
(a) authorize or approve a distribution except according to a general formula or method
prescribed by the Board of Directors;
(b) approve or propose to shareholders action that the Washington Business Corporation Act
requires to be approved by shareholders;
(c) fill vacancies on the Board of Directors or on any of its committees;
(d) adopt any amendment to the Articles of Incorporation;
(e) adopt, amend or repeal these Bylaws;
(f) approve a plan of merger; or
(g) authorize or approve the issuance or sale or contract for sale of shares, or determine
the designation and relative rights, preferences and limitations of a class or series of shares,
except that the Board of Directors may authorize a committee, or a senior executive officer of the
corporation, to do so within limits specifically prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Meetings of such committees shall be governed by the same procedures as govern the meetings of
the Board of Directors. All committees so appointed shall keep regular minutes of their meetings
and shall cause them to be recorded in books kept for that purpose at the office of the
corporation.
ARTICLE 4
OFFICERS
4.1 APPOINTMENT. The officers of the corporation shall be appointed annually by the Board of
Directors at its annual meeting held after the annual meeting of the shareholders. If the
appointment of officers is not held at such meeting, such appointment shall be held as soon
thereafter as a Board meeting conveniently may be held. Except in the case of death, resignation
or removal, each officer shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors until the next
annual meeting of the Board and until his successor is appointed and qualified.
9
4.2 QUALIFICATION. None of the officers of the corporation need be a director, except as
specified below. Any two or more of the corporate offices may be held by the same person.
4.3 OFFICERS DESIGNATED. The officers of the corporation shall be a President, one or more
Vice Presidents (the number thereof to be determined by the Board of Directors), a Secretary, a
Chief Financial Officer and a Treasurer, each of whom shall be elected by the Board of Directors.
Such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed necessary may be appointed by the Board
of Directors.
The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, appoint a Chairperson of the Board of
Directors; and, if a Chairperson has been appointed, the Chairperson shall, when present, preside
at all meetings of the Board of Directors and the shareholders and shall have such other powers
commonly incident to his office and as the Board may prescribe.
(a) PRESIDENT. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation and,
subject to the direction and control of the Board, shall supervise and control all of the assets,
business, and affairs of the corporation. The President shall vote the shares owned by the
corporation in other corporations, domestic or foreign, unless otherwise prescribed by resolution
of the Board. In general, the President shall perform all duties incident to the office of
President and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time.
The President shall, unless a Chairperson of the Board of Directors has been appointed and is
present, preside at all meetings of the shareholders and the Board of Directors.
(b) VICE PRESIDENTS. In the absence of the President or his inability to act, the Vice
Presidents, if any, in order of their rank as fixed by the Board of Directors or, if not ranked a
Vice President designated by the Board shall perform all the duties of the President and when so
acting shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions upon, the President;
provided that no such Vice President shall assume the authority to preside as Chairperson of
meetings of the Board unless such Vice President is a member of the Board. The Vice Presidents
shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be respectively
prescribed for them by the Board, these Bylaws or the President.
(c) SECRETARY. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the shareholders and of the Board
of Directors and shall record all acts and proceedings thereof in the minute book of the
corporation. The Secretary shall give notice in conformity with these Bylaws of all meetings of
the shareholders and of all meetings of the Board of Directors and any committee thereof requiring
notice. The Secretary shall perform all other duties given him in these Bylaws and other duties
commonly incident to his office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other
powers, as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time. The President may direct any
Assistant Secretary to assume and perform the duties of the Secretary in the absence or disability
of the Secretary, and each Assistant Secretary shall perform other duties commonly incident to his
office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of
Directors or the President shall designate from time to time.
10
(d) CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. The Chief Financial Officer shall keep or cause to be kept the
books of account of the corporation in a thorough and proper manner and shall render statements of
the financial affairs of the corporation in such form and as often as required by the Board of
Directors or the President. The Chief Financial Officer, subject to the order of the Board of
Directors, shall have the custody of all funds and securities of the corporation. The Chief
Financial Officer shall perform other duties commonly incident to his office and shall also perform
such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the President shall
designate from time to time. The President may direct the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, or
the Controller or any Assistant Controller to assume and perform the duties of the Chief Financial
Officer in the absence or disability of the Chief Financial Officer, and each Treasurer and
Assistant Treasurer and each Controller and Assistant Controller shall perform other duties
commonly incident to his office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers
as the Board of Directors or the President shall designate from time to time.
(e) TREASURER. Subject to the direction and control of the Board of Directors, the Treasurer
shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the
corporation; and, at the expiration of his term of office, he shall turn over to his successor all
property of the corporation in his possession.
In the absence of the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer may perform the duties of the
Treasurer.
4.4 DELEGATION. In case of the absence or inability to act of any officer of the corporation
and of any person herein authorized to act in his place, the Board of Directors may from time to
time delegate the powers or duties of such officer to any other officer or director or other person
whom it may select.
4.5 RESIGNATION. Any officer may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the
Corporation. Any such resignation shall take effect when the notice is delivered unless the notice
specifies a later date. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, acceptance of such resignation
by the corporation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation shall be without
prejudice to the rights, if any, of the corporation under any contract to which the officer is a
party.
4.6 REMOVAL. Any officer or agent elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be
removed by the Board at any time with or without cause. Election or appointment of an officer or
agent shall not of itself create contract rights.
4.7 VACANCIES. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal,
disqualification, creation of a new office, or any other cause may be filled by the Board of
Directors for the unexpired portion of the term or for a new term established by the Board.
4.8 COMPENSATION. Compensation, if any, for officers and other agents and employees of the
corporation shall be determined by the Board of Directors, or by the President to the extent such
authority may be delegated to him by the Board. No officer shall be prevented from
11
receiving compensation in such capacity by reason of the fact that he is also a director of the
corporation.
ARTICLE 5
EXECUTION OF CORPORATION INSTRUMENTS AND VOTING
OF SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION
5.1 EXECUTION OF CORPORATE INSTRUMENTS. The Board of Directors may, in its discretion,
determine the method and designate the signatory officer or officers, or other person or persons,
to execute on behalf of the corporation any corporate instrument or document, or to sign on behalf
of the corporation the corporate name without limitation, or to enter into contracts on behalf of
the corporation, except where otherwise provided by law or these Bylaws, and such execution or
signature shall be binding upon the corporation.
All checks and drafts drawn on banks or other depositaries on funds to the credit of the
corporation or in special accounts of the corporation shall be signed by such person or persons as
the Board of Directors shall authorize so to do.
Unless authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors or within the agency power of an
officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the corporation by
any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for
any amount.
5.2 VOTING OF SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION. All stock and other securities of other
corporations owned or held by the corporation for itself, or for other parties in any capacity,
shall be voted, and all proxies with respect thereto shall be executed, by the person authorized so
to do by resolution of the Board of Directors, or, in the absence of such authorization, by the
Chairperson of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice
President.
ARTICLE 6
STOCK
6.1 FORM AND EXECUTION OF CERTIFICATES. Certificates for the shares of stock of the
corporation shall be in such form as is consistent with the Articles of Incorporation and
applicable law. 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 Chairperson of the Board of Directors, or the
President or any Vice President and by the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or
Assistant Secretary, certifying the number of shares owned by him in the corporation. Any or all
of the signatures on the certificate may be facsimiles. In case any officer, transfer agent, or
registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have
ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may
be issued with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date
of issue. Each certificate shall state upon the face or back thereof, in full or in summary, all
of the powers, designations, preferences, and rights, and the limitations or restrictions of the
shares
12
authorized to be issued or shall, except as otherwise required by law, set forth on the face or
back a statement that the corporation will furnish without charge to each shareholder who so
requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional, or other
special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or
restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or
transfer of uncertificated stock, the corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a
written notice containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates
pursuant to this section or otherwise required by law or with respect to this section a statement
that the corporation will furnish without charge to each shareholder who so requests the powers,
designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights of each
class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such
preferences and/or rights. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the rights and
obligations of the holders of certificates representing stock of the same class and series shall be
identical.
6.2 LOST CERTIFICATES. A new certificate or certificates shall be issued in place of any
certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the corporation alleged to have been lost,
stolen, or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the
certificate of stock to be lost, stolen, or destroyed. The corporation may require, as a condition
precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, the owner of such lost, stolen, or
destroyed certificate or certificates, or his legal representative, to agree to indemnify the
corporation in such manner as it shall require or to give the corporation a surety bond in such
form and amount as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the
corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed.
6.3 TRANSFERS
(a) Transfers of record of shares of stock of the corporation shall be made only upon its
books by the holders thereof, in person or by attorney duly authorized, and upon the surrender of a
properly endorsed certificate or certificates for a like number of shares.
(b) The corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number
of shareholders of any one or more classes of stock of the corporation to restrict the transfer of
shares of stock of the corporation of any one or more classes owned by such shareholders in any
manner not prohibited by the Act.
6.4 REGISTERED SHAREHOLDERS. The corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive
right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote
as such owner, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in
such share or shares on the part of any other person whether or not it shall have express or other
notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Washington.
6.5 EXECUTION OF OTHER SECURITIES. All bonds, debentures and other corporate securities of
the corporation, other than stock certificates (covered in Section 6.1), may be signed by the
Chairperson of the Board of Directors, the President or any Vice President, or such other person as
may be authorized by the Board of Directors, and the corporate seal impressed thereon or a
facsimile of such seal imprinted thereon and attested by the signature of the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary, or the Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer;
13
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that where any such bond, debenture or other corporate security shall be
authenticated by the manual signature, or where permissible facsimile signature, of a trustee under
an indenture pursuant to which such bond, debenture or other corporate security shall be issued,
the signatures of the persons signing and attesting the corporate seal on such bond, debenture or
other corporate security may be the imprinted facsimile of the signatures of such persons.
Interest coupons appertaining to any such bond, debenture or other corporate security,
authenticated by a trustee as aforesaid, shall be signed by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer
of the corporation or such other person as may be authorized by the Board of Directors, or bear
imprinted thereon the facsimile signature of such person. In case any officer who shall have
signed or attested any bond, debenture or other corporate security, or whose facsimile signature
shall appear thereon or on any such interest coupon, shall have ceased to be such officer before
the bond, debenture or other corporate security so signed or attested shall have been delivered,
such bond, debenture or other corporate security nevertheless may be adopted by the corporation and
issued and delivered as though the person who signed the same or whose facsimile signature shall
have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer of the corporation.
Except as otherwise specifically provided in these Bylaws, no shares of stock shall be
transferred on the books of the corporation until the outstanding certificate therefor has been
surrendered to the corporation. All certificates surrendered to the corporation for transfer shall
be cancelled, and no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate for a like number
of shares shall have been surrendered and cancelled, except that in case of a lost, destroyed, or
mutilated certificate a new one may be issued therefor upon such terms (including indemnity to the
corporation) as the Board of Directors may prescribe.
ARTICLE 7
BOOKS AND RECORDS
7.1 BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS, MINUTES AND SHARE REGISTER. The corporation shall keep as permanent
records minutes of all meetings of its shareholders and Board of Directors, a record of all actions
taken by the shareholders or Board of Directors without a meeting, and a record of all actions
taken by a committee of the Board of Directors exercising the authority of the Board of Directors
on behalf of the corporation. The corporation shall maintain appropriate accounting records. The
corporation or its agent shall maintain a record of its shareholders, in a form that permits
preparation of a list of the names and addresses of all shareholders, in alphabetical order by
class of shares showing the number and class of shares held by each. The corporation shall keep a
copy of the following records at its principal office: the Articles or Restated Articles of
Incorporation and all amendments to them currently in effect; the Bylaws or Restated Bylaws and all
amendments to them currently in effect; the minutes of all shareholders meetings, and records of
all actions taken by shareholders without a meeting, for the past three years; its financial
statements for the past three years, including balance sheets showing in reasonable detail the
financial condition of the corporation as of the close of each fiscal year, and an income statement
showing the results of its operations during each fiscal year prepared on the basis of generally
accepted accounting principles or, if not, prepared on a basis explained therein; all written
communications to shareholders generally within the past three
14
years; a list of the names and business addresses of its current directors and officers; and its
most recent annual report delivered to the Secretary of State of Washington.
7.2 COPIES OF RESOLUTIONS. Any person dealing with the corporation may rely upon a copy of
any of the records of the proceedings, resolutions, or votes of the Board of Directors or
shareholders, when certified by the President or Secretary.
ARTICLE 8
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the corporation shall be set by resolution of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE 9
CORPORATE SEAL
The Board of Directors may adopt a corporate seal for the corporation which shall have
inscribed thereon the name of the corporation, the year and state of incorporation and the words
corporate seal.
ARTICLE 10
INDEMNIFICATION
10.1 RIGHT TO INDEMNIFICATION. Each individual (hereinafter an indemnitee) who was or is
made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved (including, without
limitation, as a witness) in any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative and whether formal or informal (hereinafter a
proceeding), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the
corporation or that, while serving as a director or officer of the corporation, he or she is or was
also serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee
or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation or of a foreign or domestic partnership, joint
venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, whether the basis of the proceeding is
alleged action in an official capacity as such a director, officer, employee, partner, trustee, or
agent or in any other capacity while serving as such director, officer, employee, partner, trustee,
or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the corporation to the full extent permitted by
applicable law as then in effect, against all expense, liability and loss (including, without
limitation, attorneys fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts to be
paid in settlement) incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith, and such
indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer,
employee, partner, trustee, or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitees heirs,
executors and administrators; provided, however, that no indemnification shall be provided to any
such indemnitee if the corporation is prohibited by the Washington Business Corporation Act or
other applicable law as then in effect from paying such indemnification; and provided, further,
that except as provided in Section 10.2 of this Article with respect to proceedings
15
seeking to enforce rights to indemnification, the corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee
in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such
proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors. The right to
indemnification conferred in this Section 10.1 shall be a contract right and shall include the
right to be paid by the corporation the expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of
its final disposition (hereinafter an advancement of expenses). Any advancement of expenses
shall be made only upon delivery to the corporation of a written undertaking (hereinafter an
undertaking), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall
ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal
that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 10.1
and upon delivery to the corporation of a written affirmation (hereinafter an affirmation) by the
indemnitee of his or her good faith belief that such indemnitee has met the standard of conduct
necessary for indemnification by the corporation pursuant to this Article.
10.2 RIGHT OF INDEMNITEE TO BRING SUIT. If a written claim for indemnification under Section
10.1 of this Article is not paid in full by the corporation within ninety (90) days after the
corporations receipt thereof, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in
which case the applicable period shall be twenty (20) days, the indemnitee may at any time
thereafter bring suit against the corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If
successful, in whole or in part, in any such suit or in a suit brought by the corporation to
recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be
entitled to be paid also the expenses of prosecuting or defending such suit. The indemnitee shall
be presumed to be entitled to indemnification under this Article upon submission of a written claim
(and, in an action brought to enforce a claim for an advancement of expenses, where the required
undertaking and affirmation have been tendered to the corporation) and thereafter the corporation
shall have the burden of proof to overcome the presumption that the indemnitee is so entitled.
Neither the failure of the corporation (including the Board of Directors, independent legal counsel
or the shareholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that
indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances nor an actual determination by the
corporation (including the Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or the shareholders) that
the indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification shall be a defense to the suit or create a
presumption that the indemnitee is not so entitled.
10.3 NONEXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. The right to indemnification and the advancement of expenses
conferred in this Article X shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or
hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the
corporation, general or specific action of the Board of Directors, contract or otherwise.
10.4 INSURANCE, CONTRACTS AND FUNDING. The corporation may maintain insurance, at its
expense, to protect itself and any individual who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent
of the corporation or who, while a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, is or
was serving at the request of the corporation as a agent of another foreign or domestic
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against
any expense, liability or loss asserted against or incurred by the individual in that capacity or
arising from the individuals status as a director, officer, employee or agent, whether
16
or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense,
liability or loss under the Washington Business Corporation Act. The corporation may enter into
contracts with any director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation in furtherance of the
provisions of this Article and may create a trust fund, grant a security interest or use other
means (including, without limitation, a letter of credit) to ensure the payment of such amounts as
may be necessary to effect indemnification as provided in this Article.
10.5 INDEMNIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS OF THE CORPORATION. The corporation may, by
action of the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses to
employees and agents of the corporation with the same scope and effect as the provisions of this
Article with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers
of the corporation or pursuant to rights granted pursuant to, or provided by, the Washington
Business Corporation Act or otherwise.
10.6 PERSONS SERVING OTHER ENTITIES. Any individual who is or was a director, officer or
employee of the corporation who, while a director, officer or employee of the corporation, is or
was serving (a) as a director or officer of another foreign or domestic corporation of which a
majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of its directors is held by the
corporation, (b) as a trustee of an employee benefit plan and the duties of the director or officer
to the corporation also impose duties on, or otherwise involve services by, the director or officer
to the plan or to participants in or beneficiaries of the plan or (c) in an executive or management
capacity in a foreign or domestic partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise of which
the corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary of the corporation is a general partner or has a
majority ownership or interest shall be deemed to be so serving at the request of the corporation
and entitled to indemnification and advancement of expenses under this Article.
ARTICLE 11
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
11.1 These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed and new Bylaws may be adopted by the
Board, except that the Board may not repeal or amend any Bylaw that the shareholders have expressly
provided, in amending or repealing such Bylaw, may not be amended or repealed by the Board. The
shareholders may also alter, amend and repeal these Bylaws or adopt new Bylaws. All Bylaws made by
the Board may be amended, repealed, altered or modified by the shareholders.
The foregoing Bylaws were read, approved, and duly adopted by the Board of Directors, of F5
Networks, Inc., on the 7th day of January 2009, and the Secretary of the corporation was empowered
to authenticate such Bylaws by his signature below.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Jeffrey A. Christianson |
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey A. Christianson
|
|
|
|
|
Secretary |
|
|
17