GILEAD SCIENCES, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ARTICLE I OFFICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Section 1. Registered Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Section 2. Other Offices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
ARTICLE II CORPORATE SEAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Section 3. Corporate Seal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
ARTICLE III STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Section 4. Place of Meetings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Section 5. Annual Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Section 6. Special Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Section 7. Notice of Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Section 8. Quorum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Section 9. Adjournment and Notice of Adjourned Meetings . . . . . . 5
Section 10. Voting Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Section 11. Joint Owners of Stock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Section 12. List of Stockholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Section 13. Action Without Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Section 14. Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
ARTICLE IV DIRECTORS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Section 15. Number and Term of Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Section 16. Powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Section 18. Vacancies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Section 19. Resignation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Section 20. Removal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Section 21. Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
(a) Annual Meetings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
(b) Regular Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
(c) Special Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
(d) Telephone Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
(e) Notice of Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
(f) Waiver of Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
i.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(CONTINUED)
PAGE
Section 22. Quorum and Voting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Section 23. Action Without Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Section 24. Fees and Compensation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Section 25. Committees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
(a) Executive Committee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
(b) Other Committees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
(c) Term . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
(d) Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Section 26. Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
ARTICLE V OFFICERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Section 27. Officers Designated. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Section 28. Tenure and Duties of Officers. . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
(a) General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
(b) Duties of Chairman of the Board of Directors . . . . . .11
(c) Duties of President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
(d) Duties of Vice Presidents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
(e) Duties of Secretary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
(f) Duties of Chief Financial Officer. . . . . . . . . . . .12
Section 29. Delegation of Authority. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Section 30. Resignations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Section 31. Removal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
ARTICLE VI EXECUTION OF CORPORATE INSTRUMENTS AND VOTING OF
SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION. . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Section 32. Execution of Corporate Instruments . . . . . . . . . . .13
Section 33. Voting of Securities Owned by the Corporation. . . . . .13
ARTICLE VII SHARES OF STOCK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Section 34. Form and Execution of Certificates . . . . . . . . . . .13
Section 35. Lost Certificates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Section 36. Transfers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Section 37. Fixing Record Dates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
ii.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(CONTINUED)
PAGE
Section 38. Registered Stockholders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
ARTICLE VIII OTHER SECURITIES OF THE CORPORATION. . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Section 39. Execution of Other Securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
ARTICLE IX DIVIDENDS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Section 40. Declaration of Dividends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Section 41. Dividend Reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
ARTICLE X FISCAL YEAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Section 42. Fiscal Year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
ARTICLE XI INDEMNIFICATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
(a) Directors and Executive Officers . . . . . . . . . . . .16
(b) Other Officers, Employees and Other Agents . . . . . . .17
(c) Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
(d) Enforcement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
(e) Non-Exclusivity of Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
(f) Survival of Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
(g) Insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
(h) Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
(i) Saving Clause. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
(j) Certain Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
ARTICLE XII NOTICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Section 44. Notices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
(a) Notice to Stockholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
(b) Notice to Directors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
(c) Affidavit of Mailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
(d) Time Notices Deemed Given. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
(e) Methods of Notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
(f) Failure to Receive Notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
(g) Notice to Person with Whom Communication Is Unlawful . .20
(h) Notice to Person with Undeliverable Address. . . . . . .20
ARTICLE XIII AMENDMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
iii.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(CONTINUED)
PAGE
Section 45. Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
ARTICLE XIV LOANS TO OFFICERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Section 46. Loans to Officers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
iv.
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
GILEAD SCIENCES, INC.
(A DELAWARE CORPORATION)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
SECTION 1. REGISTERED OFFICE. The registered office of the
corporation in the State of Delaware shall be in the City of Wilmington,
County of New Castle.
SECTION 2. OTHER OFFICES. The corporation shall also have and
maintain an office or principal place of business in California, 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 Delaware as the Board
of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the
corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
CORPORATE SEAL
SECTION 3. CORPORATE SEAL. The corporate seal shall consist of a
die bearing the name of the corporation and the inscription, 'Corporate
Seal-Delaware.' Said seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof
to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
ARTICLE III
STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS
SECTION 4. PLACE OF MEETINGS. Meetings of the stockholders of the
corporation shall be held at such place, either within or without the State
of Delaware, as may be designated from time to time by the Board of
Directors, or, if not so designated, then at the office of the corporation
required to be maintained pursuant to Section 2 hereof.
SECTION 5. ANNUAL MEETING.
(a) The annual meeting of the stockholders of the
corporation, for the purpose of election of directors and for such other
business as may lawfully come before it, shall be held on such date and at
such time as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the
corporation and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders
may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders: (i) pursuant to the
corporation's notice of meeting of stockholders; (ii) by or at the direction
of the Board of Directors; or (iii) by any stockholder of the corporation who
was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in
the following paragraph, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who
complied with the notice procedures set forth in Section 5.
1.
(b) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such
business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the
meeting. For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an
annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 5(a) of
these Bylaws, (i) the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in
writing to the Secretary of the corporation, (ii) such other business must be
a proper matter for stockholder action under the Delaware General Corporation
Law, (iii) if the stockholder, or the beneficial owner on whose behalf any
such proposal or nomination is made, has provided the corporation with a
Solicitation Notice (as defined in this Section 5(b)), such stockholder or
beneficial owner must, in the case of a proposal, have delivered a proxy
statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the
corporation's voting shares required under applicable law to carry any such
proposal, or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, have delivered a
proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of a percentage of the
corporation's voting shares reasonably believed by such stockholder or
beneficial owner to be sufficient to elect the nominee or nominees proposed
to be nominated by such stockholder, and must, in either case, have included
in such materials the Solicitation Notice, and (iv) if no Solicitation Notice
relating thereto has been timely provided pursuant to this section, the
stockholder or beneficial owner proposing such business or nomination must
not have solicited a number of proxies sufficient to have required the
delivery of such a Solicitation Notice under this Section 5. To be timely, a
stockholder's notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal
executive offices of the corporation not later than the close of business on
the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one
hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding
year's annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of
the annual meeting is advanced more than thirty (30) days prior to or delayed
by more than thirty (30) days after the anniversary of the preceding year's
annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered
not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th)
day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on
the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the
tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date
of such meeting is first made. In no event shall the public announcement of
an adjournment of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving
of a stockholder's notice as described above. Such stockholder's notice
shall set forth: (A) as to each person whom the stockholder proposed to
nominate for election or reelection as a director all information relating to
such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for
election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in
each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the '1934 Act') and Rule 14a-11 thereunder (including such
person's written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee
and to serving as a director if elected); (B) as to any other business that
the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of
the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for
conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such
business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose
behalf the proposal is made; and (C) as to the stockholder giving the notice
and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal
is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the
corporation's books, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class and number
of shares of the corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by
such stockholder and such beneficial owner, and (iii) whether either such
stockholder or beneficial owner intends to deliver a proxy statement and form
of proxy to holders of, in the case of the proposal, at least the percentage
of the
2.
corporation's voting shares required under applicable law to carry the
proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, a sufficient number
of holders of the corporation's voting shares to elect such nominee or
nominees (an affirmative statement of such intent, a 'Solicitation Notice').
(c) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of
Section 5(b) of these Bylaws to the contrary, in the event that the number of
directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the corporation is
increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for
director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by
the corporation at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first
anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting, a stockholder's notice
required by this Section 5 shall also be considered timely, but only with
respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it
shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the
corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day
following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the
corporation.
(d) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with
the procedures set forth in this Section 5 shall be eligible to serve as
directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of
stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with
the procedures set forth in this Section 5. Except as otherwise provided by
law, the Chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine
whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the
meeting was made, or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the
procedures set forth in these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or
business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such
defective proposal or nomination shall not be presented for stockholder
action at the meeting and shall be disregarded.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
Section 5, in order to include information with respect to a stockholder
proposal in the proxy statement and form of proxy for a stockholder's
meeting, stockholders must provide notice as required by the regulations
promulgated under the 1934 Act. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to
affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the
corporation proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act.
(f) For purposes of this Section 5, 'public announcement'
shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News
Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a
document publicly filed by the corporation with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act.
SECTION 6. SPECIAL MEETINGS.
(a) Special meetings of the stockholders of the corporation
may be called, for any purpose or purposes, by (i) the Chairman of the Board
of Directors, (ii) the Chief Executive Officer, or (iii) the Board of
Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number
of authorized directors (whether or not there exist any vacancies in
previously authorized directorships at the time any such resolution is
presented to the Board of Directors for adoption) and shall be held at such
place, on such date, and at such time as the Board of Directors shall fix.
3.
(b) If a special meeting is properly called by any person
or persons other than the Board of Directors, the request shall be in
writing, specifying the general nature of the business proposed to be
transacted, and shall be delivered personally or sent by registered mail or
by telegraphic or other facsimile transmission to the Chairman of the Board
of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Secretary of the
corporation. No business may be transacted at such special meeting otherwise
than specified in such notice. The Board of Directors shall determine the
time and place of such special meeting, which shall be held not less than
thirty-five (35) nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the date
of the receipt of the request. Upon determination of the time and place of
the meeting, the officer receiving the request shall cause notice to be given
to the stockholders entitled to vote, in accordance with the provisions of
Section 7 of these Bylaws. If the notice is not given within one hundred
(100) days after the receipt of the request, the person or persons properly
requesting the meeting may set the time and place of the meeting and give the
notice. Nothing contained in this paragraph (b) shall be construed as
limiting, fixing, or affecting the time when a meeting of stockholders called
by action of the Board of Directors may be held.
(c) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of
Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors
are to be elected pursuant to the corporation's notice of meeting (i) by or
at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the
corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving notice
provided for in these Bylaws who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and
who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 6(c). In
the event the corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the
purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such
stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for
election to such position(s) as specified in the corporation's notice of
meeting, if the stockholder's notice required by Section 5(b) of these Bylaws
shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the
corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred
twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the
close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such
meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public
announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the
nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting.
In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment of a special
meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder's notice
as described above.
SECTION 7. NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Except as otherwise provided by
law or the Certificate of Incorporation, written notice of each meeting of
stockholders shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60)
days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at
such meeting, such notice to specify the place, date and hour and purpose or
purposes of the meeting. Notice of the time, place and purpose of any
meeting of stockholders may be waived in writing, signed by the person
entitled to notice thereof, either before or after such meeting, and will be
waived by any stockholder by his attendance thereat in person or by proxy,
except when the stockholder attends a meeting for the express purpose of
objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any
business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Any
stockholder so waiving notice of such meeting shall be bound by the
proceedings of any such meeting in all respects as if due notice thereof had
been given.
4.
SECTION 8. QUORUM. At all meetings of stockholders, except where
otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, or by
these Bylaws, the presence, in person or by proxy duly authorized, of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of
a quorum, any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned, from time to time,
either by the chairman of the meeting or by vote of the holders of a majority
of the shares represented thereat, but no other business shall be transacted
at such meeting. The stockholders present at a duly called or convened
meeting, at which a quorum is present, may continue to transact business
until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to
leave less than a quorum. Except as otherwise provided by statute, the
Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, in all matters other than the
election of directors, the affirmative vote of the majority of shares present
in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the
subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders. Except as otherwise
provided by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws,
directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present
in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the
election of directors. Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series
is required, except where otherwise provided by the statute or by the
Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a majority of the outstanding
shares of such class or classes or series, present in person or represented
by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to
that vote on that matter and, except where otherwise provided by the statute
or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the affirmative vote
of the majority (plurality, in the case of the election of directors) of the
votes cast by the holders of shares ofsuch class or classes or series shall
be the act of such class or classes or series.
SECTION 9. ADJOURNMENT AND NOTICE OF ADJOURNED MEETINGS. Any
meeting of stockholders, whether annual or special, may be adjourned from
time to time either by the chairman of the meeting or by the vote of a
majority of the shares casting votes. 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. At the adjourned meeting, the corporation may transact any business
which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment
is for more than thirty (30) days or if after the adjournment a new record
date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting
shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
SECTION 10. VOTING RIGHTS. For the purpose of determining those
stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of the stockholders, except as
otherwise provided by law, only persons in whose names shares stand on the
stock records of the corporation on the record date, as provided in Section
12 of these Bylaws, shall be entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders.
Cumulative voting shall not be available to stockholders. Every person
entitled to vote shall have the right to do so either in person or by an
agent or agents authorized by a proxy granted in accordance with Delaware
law. An agent so appointed need not be a stockholder. No proxy shall be
voted after three (3) years from its date of creation unless the proxy
provides for a longer period.
SECTION 11. JOINT OWNERS OF STOCK. If shares or other securities
having voting power stand of record in the names of two (2) or more persons,
whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in
common, tenants by the entirety, or otherwise, or if two (2)
5.
or more persons have the same fiduciary relationship respecting the same
shares, unless the Secretary is given written notice to the contrary and is
furnished with a copy of the instrument or order appointing them or creating
the relationship wherein it is so provided, their acts with respect to voting
shall have the following effect: (a) if only one (1) votes, his act binds
all; (b) if more than one (1) votes, the act of the majority so voting binds
all; (c) if more than one (1) votes, but the vote is evenly split on any
particular matter, each faction may vote the securities in question
proportionally, or may apply to the Delaware Court of Chancery for relief as
provided in the Delaware General Corporation Law, Section 217(b). If the
instrument filed with the Secretary shows that any such tenancy is held in
unequal interests, a majority or even-split for the purpose of subsection (c)
shall be a majority or even-split in interest.
SECTION 12. LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS. The Secretary shall prepare and
make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete
list of the stockholders entitled to vote at said meeting, arranged in
alphabetical order, showing the address of each stockholder and the number of
shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open
to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the
meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10)
days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the
meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the
meeting, or, if not specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held.
The list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of meeting during
the whole time thereof and may be inspected by any stockholder who is
present.
SECTION 13. ACTION WITHOUT MEETING. No action shall be taken by
the stockholders except at an annual or special meeting of stockholders
called in accordance with these Bylaws, and no action shall be taken by the
stockholders by written consent.
SECTION 14. ORGANIZATION.
(a) At every meeting of stockholders, the Chairman of the
Board of Directors, or, if a Chairman 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 stockholders 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
stockholders 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 stockholders 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
6.
the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of
stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with rules of
parliamentary procedure.
ARTICLE IV
DIRECTORS
SECTION 15. NUMBER AND TERM OF OFFICE. The authorized number of
directors of the corporation shall be fixed in accordance with the
Certificate of Incorporation. Directors need not be stockholders unless so
required by the Certificate of Incorporation. If for any cause, the
directors shall not have been elected at an annual meeting, they may be
elected as soon thereafter as convenient at a special meeting of the
stockholders called for that purpose in the manner provided in these Bylaws.
SECTION 16. POWERS. The powers of the corporation shall be
exercised, its business conducted and its property controlled by the Board of
Directors, except as may be otherwise provided by statute or by the
Certificate of Incorporation.
SECTION 17. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Subject to the rights of the
holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under
specified circumstances, directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of
stockholders for a term of one year. Each director shall serve until his
successor is duly elected and qualified or until his death, resignation or
removal. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of
Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
SECTION 18. VACANCIES. Unless otherwise provided in the
Certificate of Incorporation, any vacancies on the Board of Directors
resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal or other causes
shall be filled by either (i) the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of voting stock
of the corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors
(the 'Voting Stock') voting together as a single class; or (ii) by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office,
even though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors. Newly created
directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall,
unless the Board of Directors determines by resolution that any such newly
created directorship shall be filled by the stockholders, be filled only by
the affirmative vote of the directors then in office, even though less than a
quorum of the Board of Directors. Any director elected in accordance with
the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of the full term
of the class of directors in which the new directorship was created or the
vacancy occurred and until such director's successor shall have been elected
and qualified. A vacancy in the Board of Directors shall be deemed to exist
under this Bylaw in the case of the death, removal or resignation of any
Director, or if the stockholders fail at any meeting of stockholders at which
Directors are to be elected (including any meeting referred to in Section 22
below) to elect the number of Directors then constituting the whole Board of
Directors.
SECTION 19. 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
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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 for the unexpired portion of the term of the
director whose place shall be vacated and until his successor shall have been
duly elected and qualified.
SECTION 20. REMOVAL. Subject to any limitations imposed by law or
the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors, or any individual
director, may be removed from office at any time (i) with cause by the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the then
outstanding shares of Voting Stock; or (ii) without cause by an affirmative
vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of
such outstanding shares.
SECTION 21. MEETINGS.
(a) ANNUAL MEETINGS. The annual meeting of the Board of
Directors shall be held immediately before or after the annual meeting of
stockholders and at the place where such meeting is held. No notice of an
annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be necessary and such meeting
shall be held for the purpose of electing officers and transacting such other
business as may lawfully come before it.
(b) REGULAR MEETINGS. Unless otherwise restricted by the
Certificate of Incorporation, regular meetings of the Board of Directors may
be held at any time or date and at any place within or without the State of
Delaware which has been designated by the Board of Directors and publicized
among all directors. No formal notice shall be required for regular meetings
of the Board or Directors.
(c) SPECIAL MEETINGS. Unless otherwise restricted by the
Certificate of Incorporation, special meetings of the Board of Directors may
be held at any time and place within or without the State of Delaware
whenever called by the Chairman of the Board, the President or any two of the
directors.
(d) TELEPHONE MEETINGS. Any member of the Board of
Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting by means
of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which
all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and
participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person
at such meeting.
(e) NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Notice of the time and place of
all special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be orally or in writing,
by telephone, including a voice messaging system or other system or
technology designed to record and communicate messages, facsimile, telegraph
or telex, or by electronic mail or other electronic means, during normal
business hours, at least twenty-four (24) hours before the date and time of
the meeting, or sent in writing to each director by first class mail, charges
prepaid, at least three (3) days before the date of the meeting. Notice of
any meeting may be waived in writing at any time before or after the meeting
and will be waived by any director by attendance thereat, except when the
director attends the meeting for
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the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the
transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or
convened.
(f) WAIVER OF NOTICE. The transaction of all business at
any meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, however
called or noticed, or wherever held, shall be as valid as though had at a
meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum be present and
if, either before or after the meeting, each of the directors not present
shall sign a written waiver of notice. All such waivers shall be filed with
the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting.
SECTION 22. QUORUM AND VOTING.
(a) Unless the Certificate of Incorporation requires a
greater number and except with respect to indemnification questions arising
under Section 43 hereof, for which a quorum shall be one-third of the exact
number of directors fixed from time to time in accordance with the
Certificate of Incorporation, a quorum of the Board of Directors shall
consist of a majority of the exact number of directors fixed from time to
time by the Board of Directors in accordance with the Certificate of
Incorporation; provided, however, at any meeting whether a quorum be present
or otherwise, a majority of the directors present may adjourn from time to
time until the time fixed for the next regular meeting of the Board of
Directors, without notice other than by announcement at the meeting.
(b) At each meeting of the Board of Directors at which a
quorum is present, all questions and business shall be determined by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present, unless a different
vote be required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
SECTION 23. ACTION WITHOUT MEETING. Unless otherwise restricted by
the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or
permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any
committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board
of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing,
and such writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the
Board of Directors or committee.
SECTION 24. FEES AND COMPENSATION. Directors shall be entitled to
such compensation for their services as may be approved by the Board of
Directors, including, if so approved, by resolution of the Board of
Directors, a fixed sum and expenses of attendance, if any, for attendance at
each regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors and at any meeting
of a committee of the Board of Directors. Nothing herein contained shall be
construed to preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other
capacity as an officer, agent, employee, or otherwise and receiving
compensation therefor.
SECTION 25. COMMITTEES.
(a) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Board of Directors may
appoint an Executive Committee to consist of one (1) or more members of the
Board of Directors. The Executive Committee, to the extent permitted by law
and provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors shall have and may
exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in
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the management of the business and affairs of the corporation, and may
authorize the seal of the corporation to be affixed to all papers which may
require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in
reference to (i) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders,
any action or matter expressly required by the Delaware General Corporation
Law to be submitted to stockholders for approval, or (ii) adopting, amending
or repealing any bylaw of the corporation.
(b) OTHER COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors may, from
time to time, appoint such other committees as may be permitted by law. Such
other committees appointed by the Board of Directors shall consist of one (1)
or more members of the Board of Directors and shall have such powers and
perform such duties as may be prescribed by the resolution or resolutions
creating such committees, but in no event shall any such committee have the
powers denied to the Executive Committee in these Bylaws.
(c) TERM. Each member of a committee of the Board of
Directors shall serve a term on the committee coexistent with such member's
term on the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, subject to any
requirements of any outstanding series of preferred Stock and the provisions
of subsections (a) or (b) of this Bylaw, may at any time increase or decrease
the number of members of a committee or terminate the existence of a
committee. The membership of a committee member shall terminate on the date
of his death or voluntary resignation from the committee or from the Board of
Directors. The Board of Directors may at any time for any reason remove any
individual committee member and the Board of Directors may fill any committee
vacancy created by death, resignation, removal or increase in the number of
members of the committee. The Board of Directors may designate one or more
directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent
or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee, and, in addition, in
the absence or disqualification of any member of a committee, the member or
members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting,
whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint
another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place
of any such absent or disqualified member.
(d) MEETINGS. Unless the Board of Directors shall
otherwise provide, regular meetings of the Executive Committee or any other
committee appointed pursuant to this Section 24 shall be held at such times
and places as are determined by the Board of Directors, or by any such
committee, and when notice thereof has been given to each member of such
committee, no further notice of such regular meetings need be given
thereafter. Special meetings of any such committee may be held at any place
which has been determined from time to time by such committee, and may be
called by any director who is a member of such committee, upon written notice
to the members of such committee of the time and place of such special
meeting given in the manner provided for the giving of written notice to
members of the Board of Directors of the time and place of special meetings
of the Board of Directors. Notice of any special meeting of any committee
may be waived in writing at any time before or after the meeting and will be
waived by any director by attendance thereat, except when the director
attends such special meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the
beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the
meeting is not lawfully called or convened. A majority of the authorized
number of members of any such committee shall constitute a quorum for the
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transaction of business, and the act of a majority of those present at any
meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of such committee.
SECTION 26. ORGANIZATION. At every meeting of the directors, the
Chairman of the Board of Directors, or, if a Chairman has not been appointed
or is absent, the President (if a director), or if the President is absent,
the most senior Vice President (if a director), or, in the absence of any
such person, a chairman of the meeting chosen by a majority of the directors
present, shall preside over the meeting. The Secretary, or in his absence,
any Assistant Secretary directed to do so by the President, shall act as
secretary of the meeting.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
SECTION 27. OFFICERS DESIGNATED. The officers of the corporation
shall include, if and when designated by the Board of Directors, the Chairman
of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, one or
more Vice Presidents, the Secretary, the Chief Financial Officer, the
Treasurer and the Controller, all of whom shall be elected at the annual
organizational meeting of the Board of Directors. The order of the seniority
of the Vice Presidents shall be in the order of their nomination, unless
otherwise determined by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may
also appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers,
Assistant Controllers and such other officers and agents with such powers and
duties as it shall deem necessary. The Board of Directors may assign such
additional titles to one or more of the officers as it shall deem
appropriate. Any one person may hold any number of offices of the
corporation at any one time unless specifically prohibited therefrom by law.
The salaries and other compensation of the officers of the corporation shall
be fixed by or in the manner designated by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 28. TENURE AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS.
(a) GENERAL. All officers shall hold office at the
pleasure of the Board of Directors and until their successors shall have been
duly elected and qualified, unless sooner removed. Any officer elected or
appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the Board
of Directors. If the office of any officer becomes vacant for any reason, the
vacancy may be filled by the Board of Directors.
(b) DUTIES OF CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The
Chairman of the Board of Directors, when present, shall preside at all
meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the
Board of Directors 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 shall designate from time to time. If there is no
President, then the Chairman of the Board of Directors shall also serve as
the Chief Executive Officer of the corporation and shall have the powers and
duties prescribed in paragraph (c) of this Section 28.
(c) DUTIES OF PRESIDENT. The President shall preside at
all meetings of the stockholders and at all meetings of the Board of
Directors, unless the Chairman of the Board of Directors has been appointed
and is present. Unless some other officer has been elected Chief
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Executive Officer of the corporation, the President shall be the chief
executive officer of the corporation and shall, subject to the control of the
Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction and control of the
business and officers of the corporation. The President 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 shall designate
from time to time.
(d) DUTIES OF VICE PRESIDENTS. The Vice Presidents may
assume and perform the duties of the President in the absence or disability
of the President or whenever the office of President is vacant. The Vice
Presidents shall perform other duties commonly incident to their 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) DUTIES OF SECRETARY. The Secretary shall attend all
meetings of the stockholders 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 stockholders 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.
(f) DUTIES OF 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.
SECTION 29. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY. The Board of Directors may
from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other
officer or agent, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
SECTION 30. RESIGNATIONS. Any officer may resign at any time by
giving written notice to the Board of Directors or to the President or to the
Secretary. Any such resignation shall be effective when received by the
person or persons to whom such notice is given, unless a later time is
specified therein, in which event the resignation shall become effective at
such later
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time. Unless otherwise specified in such notice, the acceptance of any such
resignation 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 with the resigning officer.
SECTION 31. REMOVAL. Any officer may be removed from office at any
time, either with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of
the directors in office at the time, or by the unanimous written consent of
the directors in office at the time, or by any committee or superior officers
upon whom such power of removal may have been conferred by the Board of
Directors.
ARTICLE VI
EXECUTION OF CORPORATE INSTRUMENTS AND
VOTING OF SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION
SECTION 32. 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.
SECTION 33. 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 Chairman of the Board of Directors, the
Chief Executive Officer, the President, or any Vice President.
ARTICLE VII
SHARES OF STOCK
SECTION 34. FORM AND EXECUTION OF CERTIFICATES. Certificates for
the shares of stock of the corporation shall be in such form as is consistent
with the Certificate 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 Chairman 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 and
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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 the powers,
designations, preferences, and rights, and the limitations or restrictions of
the shares 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 stockholder 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 stockholder who so requests the powers,
designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or othe
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.
SECTION 35. 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.
SECTION 36. 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 stockholders 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
stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the Delaware General Corporation
Law.
SECTION 37. FIXING RECORD DATES.
(a) In order that the corporation may determine the
stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders
or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a
record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the
resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and
which
14.
record date shall, subject to applicable law, not be more than sixty (60) nor
less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If no record date
is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining
stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders
shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which
notice is given, or if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day
next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of
stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of
stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided,
however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the
adjourned meeting.
(b) In order that the corporation may determine the
stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other
distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to
exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of
stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors
may fix, in advance, a record date, which record date shall not precede the
date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which
record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If
no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any
such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board
of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
SECTION 38. REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS. 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 Delaware.
ARTICLE VIII
OTHER SECURITIES OF THE CORPORATION
SECTION 39. EXECUTION OF OTHER SECURITIES. All bonds, debentures
and other corporate securities of the corporation, other than stock
certificates (covered in Section 34), may be signed by the Chairman 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; 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
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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.
ARTICLE IX
DIVIDENDS
SECTION 40. DECLARATION OF DIVIDENDS. Dividends upon the capital
stock of the corporation, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of
Incorporation and applicable law, if any, may be declared by the Board of
Directors pursuant to law at any regular or special meeting. Dividends may
be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock, subject to
the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.
SECTION 41. DIVIDEND RESERVE. Before payment of any dividend,
there may be set aside out of any funds of the corporation available for
dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in
their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet
contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining
any property of the corporation, or for such other purpose as the Board of
Directors shall think conducive to the interests of the corporation, and the
Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in
which it was created.
ARTICLE X
FISCAL YEAR
SECTION 42. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the corporation shall
be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE XI
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 43. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND
OTHER AGENTS.
(a) DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. The corporation
shall indemnify its directors and executive officers (for the purposes of
this Article XI, 'executive officers' shall have the meaning defined in Rule
3b-7 promulgated under the 1934 Act) to the fullest extent not prohibited by
the Delaware General Corporation Law or any other applicable law; provided,
however, that the corporation may modify the extent of such indemnification
by individual contracts with its directors and executive officers; and,
provided, further, that the corporation shall not be required to indemnify
any director or executive officer in connection with any proceeding (or part
thereof) initiated by such person unless (i) such indemnification is
expressly required to be made by law, (ii) the proceeding was authorized by
the Board of Directors of the corporation, (iii) such indemnification is
provided by the corporation, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers
vested in the corporation under the Delaware General Corporation Law or
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any other applicable law or (iv) such indemnification id required to be made
under subsection (d).
(b) OTHER OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND OTHER AGENTS. The
corporation shall have power to indemnify its other officers, employees and
other agents as set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law or any
other applicable law.
(c) EXPENSES. The corporation shall advance to any person
who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he is or was a
director or executive officer, of the corporation, or is or was serving at
the request of the corporation as a director or executive officer of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, prior to
the final disposition of the proceeding, promptly following request therefor,
all expenses incurred by any director or executive officer in connection with
such proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person
to repay said amounts if it should be determined ultimately that such person
is not entitled to be indemnified under this Bylaw or otherwise.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise determined pursuant to
paragraph (d) of this Bylaw, no advance shall be made by the corporation to
an executive officer of the corporation (except by reason of the fact that
such executive officer is or was a director of the corporation in which event
this paragraph shall not apply) in any action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, if a determination is
reasonably and promptly made (i) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote
of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the proceeding,
or (ii) if such quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, a quorum of
disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written
opinion, that the facts known to the decision-making party at the time such
determination is made demonstrate clearly and convincingly that such person
acted in bad faith or in a manner that such person did not believe to be in
or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation.
(d) ENFORCEMENT. Without the necessity of entering into an
express contract, all rights to indemnification and advances to directors and
executive officers under this Bylaw shall be deemed to be contractual rights
and be effective to the same extent and as if provided for in a contract
between the corporation and the director or executive officer. Any right to
indemnification or advances granted by this Bylaw to a director or executive
officer shall be enforceable by or on behalf of the person holding such right
in any court of competent jurisdiction if (i) the claim for indemnification
or advances is denied, in whole or in part, or (ii) no disposition of such
claim is made within ninety (90) days of request therefor. The claimant in
such enforcement action, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled
to be paid also the expense of prosecuting his claim. In connection with any
claim for indemnification, the corporation shall be entitled to raise as a
defense to any such action that the claimant has not met the standards of
conduct that make it permissible under the Delaware General Corporation Law
or any other applicable law for the corporation to indemnify the claimant for
the amount claimed. In connection with any claim by an executive officer of
the corporation (except in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such
executive officer is or was a director of the corporation) for advances, the
corporation shall be entitled to raise a defense as to any such action clear
and convincing evidence that such
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person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such person did not believe to
be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, or with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding that such person acted without
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was lawful. Neither the failure
of the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal
counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the
commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in
the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set
forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law or any other applicable law,
nor an actual determination by the corporation (including its Board of
Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the claimant
has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the
action or create a presumption that claimant has not met the applicable
standard of conduct. In any suit brought by a director or executive officer
to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses
hereunder, the burden of proving that the director or executive officer is
not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under
this Article XI or otherwise shall be on the corporation.
(e) NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. The rights conferred on any
person by this Bylaw shall not be exclusive of any other right which such
person may have or hereafter acquire under any applicable statute, provision
of the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders
or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official
capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding office. The
corporation is specifically authorized to enter into individual contracts
with any or all of its directors, officers, employees or agents respecting
indemnification and advances, to the fullest extent not prohibited by the
Delaware General Corporation Law or any other applicable law.
(f) SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS. The rights conferred on any person
by this Bylaw shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director,
officer, employee or other agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs,
executors and administrators of such a person.
(g) INSURANCE. To the fullest extent permitted by the
Delaware General Corporation Law or any other applicable law, the
corporation, upon approval by the Board of Directors, may purchase insurance
on behalf of any person required or permitted to be indemnified pursuant to
this Bylaw.
(h) AMENDMENTS. Any repeal or modification of this Bylaw
shall only be prospective and shall not affect the rights under this Bylaw in
effect at the time of the alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act
that is the cause of any proceeding against any agent of the corporation.
(i) SAVING CLAUSE. If this Bylaw or any portion hereof
shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction,
then the corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each director and executive
officer to the full extent not prohibited by any applicable portion of this
Bylaw that shall not have been invalidated, or by any other applicable law.
If this Section 43 shall be invalid due to the application of the
indemnification provisions of another jurisdiction, then the corporation
shall indemnify each director and executive officer to the full extent under
any other applicable law.
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(j) CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For the purposes of this Bylaw,
the following definitions shall apply:
(i) The term 'proceeding' shall be broadly
construed and shall include, without limitation, the investigation,
preparation, prosecution, defense, settlement, arbitration and appeal of, and
the giving of testimony in, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit
or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative.
(ii) The term 'expenses' shall be broadly construed
and shall include, without limitation, court costs, attorneys' fees, witness
fees, fines, amounts paid in settlement or judgment and any other costs and
expenses of any nature or kind incurred in connection with any proceeding.
(iii) The term the 'corporation' shall include, in
addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including
any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger
which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and
authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so
that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such
constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such
constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall
stand in the same position under the provisions of this Bylaw with respect to
the resulting or surviving corporation as he would have with respect to such
constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(iv) References to a 'director,' 'executive
officer,' 'officer,' 'employee,' or 'agent' of the corporation shall include,
without limitation, situations where such person is serving at the request of
the corporation as, respectively, a director, executive officer, officer,
employee, trustee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise.
(v) References to 'other enterprises' shall include
employee benefit plans; references to 'fines' shall include any excise taxes
assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references
to 'serving at the request of the corporation' shall include any service as a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties
on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with
respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and
a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be
in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit
plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner 'not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation' as referred to in this Bylaw.
ARTICLE XII
NOTICES
SECTION 44. NOTICES.
(a) NOTICE TO STOCKHOLDERS. Whenever, under any provisions
of these Bylaws, notice is required to be given to any stockholder, it shall
be given in writing, timely and
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duly deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, and addressed to
his last known post office address as shown by the stock record of the
corporation or its transfer agent.
(b) NOTICE TO DIRECTORS. Any notice required to be given
to any director may be given by the method stated in subsection (a), or by
overnight delivery service, facsimile, telex or telegram, except that such
notice other than one which is delivered personally shall be sent to such
address as such director shall have filed in writing with the Secretary, or,
in the absence of such filing, to the last known post office address of such
director.
(c) AFFIDAVIT OF MAILING. An affidavit of mailing,
executed by a duly authorized and competent employee of the corporation or
its transfer agent appointed with respect to the class of stock affected,
specifying the name and address or the names and addresses of the stockholder
or stockholders, or director or directors, to whom any such notice or notices
was or were given, and the time and method of giving the same, shall in the
absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts therein contained.
(d) TIME NOTICES DEEMED GIVEN. All notices given by mail
or by overnight delivery service, as above provided, shall be deemed to have
been given as at the time of mailing, and all notices given by facsimile,
telex or telegram shall be deemed to have been given as of the sending time
recorded at time of transmission.
(e) METHODS OF NOTICE. It shall not be necessary that the
same method of giving notice be employed in respect of all directors, but one
permissible method may be employed in respect of any one or more, and any
other permissible method or methods may be employed in respect of any other
or others.
(f) FAILURE TO RECEIVE NOTICE. The period or limitation of
time within which any stockholder may exercise any option or right, or enjoy
any privilege or benefit, or be required to act, or within which any director
may exercise any power or right, or enjoy any privilege, pursuant to any
notice sent him in the manner above provided, shall not be affected or
extended in any manner by the failure of such stockholder or such director to
receive such notice.
(g) NOTICE TO PERSON WITH WHOM COMMUNICATION IS UNLAWFUL.
Whenever notice is required to be given, under any provision of law or of the
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the corporation, to any person with
whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person
shall not be required and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental
authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such
person. Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to
any such person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force
and effect as if such notice had been duly given. In the event that the
action taken by the corporation is such as to require the filing of a
certificate under any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the
certificate shall state, if such is the fact and if notice is required, that
notice was given to all persons entitled to receive notice except such
persons with whom communication is unlawful.
(h) NOTICE TO PERSON WITH UNDELIVERABLE ADDRESS. Whenever
notice is required to be given, under any provision of law or the Certificate
of Incorporation or Bylaws of the corporation, to any stockholder to whom (i)
notice of two consecutive annual meetings, and
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all notices of meetings or of the taking of action by written consent without
a meeting to such person during the period between such two consecutive
annual meetings, or (ii) all, and at least two, payments (if sent by first
class mail) of dividends or interest on securities during a twelve-month
period, have been mailed addressed to such person at his address as shown on
the records of the corporation and have been returned undeliverable, the
giving of such notice to such person shall not be required. Any action or
meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to such person shall have
the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. If any such
person shall deliver to the corporation a written notice setting forth his
then current address, the requirement that notice be given to such person
shall be reinstated. In the event that the action taken by the corporation
is such as to require the filing of a certificate under any provision of the
Delaware General Corporation Law, the certificate need not state that notice
was not given to persons to whom notice was not required to be given pursuant
to this paragraph.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 45. AMENDMENTS. Subject to paragraph (h) of Section 43 of
the Bylaws, the Bylaws may be altered or amended or new Bylaws adopted by the
affirmative vote of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of
the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the voting stock of
the corporation entitled to vote. The Board of Directors shall also have the
power to adopt, amend, or repeal the Bylaws.
ARTICLE XIV
LOANS TO OFFICERS
SECTION 46. LOANS TO OFFICERS. The corporation may lend money to,
or guarantee any obligation of, or otherwise assist any officer or other
employee of the corporation or of its subsidiaries, including any officer or
employee who is a director of the corporation or its subsidiaries, whenever,
in the judgment of the Board of Directors, such loan, guarantee or assistance
may reasonably be expected to benefit the corporation. The loan, guarantee
or other assistance may be with or without interest and may be unsecured, or
secured in such manner as the Board of Directors shall approve, including,
without limitation, a pledge of shares of stock of the corporation. Nothing
in these Bylaws shall be deemed to deny, limit or restrict the powers of
guaranty or warranty of the corporation at common law or under any statute.
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