Exhibit 3.1
SIXTH AMENDED & RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
GRAN TIERRA ENERGY INC.
(Incorporated under the Laws of the State of Nevada)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES AND RECORDS
SECTION (1) Registered Office. The resident agent of the Corporation shall be established from time to time by the Board of Directors, and reported to the Secretary of State of Nevada as required by Nevada law.
SECTION (2) Other Offices. The Corporation may have such offices, either within or without the State of Nevada, as the Board of Directors may designate or as the business of the Corporation may from time to time require.
SECTION (3) Books and Records. The books and records of the Corporation may be kept at such place or places as may from time to time be designated by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE II
STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION (1) Annual Meeting. Annual meetings of stockholders for the election of directors, and for such other business as may be stated in the notice of the meeting, shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Nevada, and at such time and date as the Board of Directors, by resolution, shall determine and as set forth in the notice of the meeting. At each annual meeting, the stockholders entitled to vote shall elect a Board of Directors and they may transact such other corporate business as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting.
SECTION (2) Special Meeting. Special meetings of the stockholders may be held at such time and place as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting, and may be called only by the Chairman of the Board or by a vote of a majority of the directors then in office.
SECTION (3) Notice of Meeting. Written or printed notice, stating the place, day and hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered by the Corporation not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail with postage thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Corporation. Such further notice shall be given as may be required by law. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting.
SECTION (4) Quorum and Adjournment. Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Incorporation, the holders of outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Voting Stock”), which shares represent a majority of the total number of votes which may be cast by all holders of Voting Stock by virtue of holding such Voting Stock, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders. The Chairman of the meeting or a majority of the shares so
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represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time, whether or not there is such a quorum. No notice of the time and place of adjourned meetings need be given except as required by law. The stockholders present at a duly called 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.
SECTION (5) Voting. Each stockholder shall be entitled to vote in accordance with the terms of the Articles of Incorporation and in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws, in person or by proxy, but no proxy shall be voted after six (6) months from the date of its creation, unless such proxy provides for a longer period, which may not exceed 7 years from the date of its creation. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest legally sufficient to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing with the person recording the proceedings of the meeting an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or another duly executed proxy bearing a later date.
A complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the ensuing election, arranged in alphabetical order, with the address of each, and the number of shares held by each, 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 so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.
SECTION (6) Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.
a. Annual Meetings of the Stockholders. 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, (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 this Bylaw, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Bylaw.
(1) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a) above, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action. 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 60th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 90th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 60th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall the public announcement of 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 proposes 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 “Exchange 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
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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 and (ii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in 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 by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increase of the Board of Directors at least seventy (70) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Bylaw 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 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
b. Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders in 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) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Bylaw, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Bylaw. 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 its stockholder’s notice required by 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 10th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 60th day prior to such special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominee, 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.
c. General.
(1) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Bylaw shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders and shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures act forth in this Bylaw. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws, 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 this Bylaw and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Bylaw, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.
(2) For purposes of this Bylaw, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reportable by any 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 Exchange Act.
(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Bylaw, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Bylaw. Nothing in this Bylaw shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposal in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-5 under the Exchange Act.
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SECTION (7) Procedure for Election of Directors; Required Vote. Election of directors at all meetings of the stockholders at which directors are to be elected shall be by ballot, and, a plurality of the votes cast thereat shall elect directors. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Articles of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, in all matters other than the election or removal of directors, the affirmative vote of shares representing a majority of the votes present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter shall be the act of the stockholders.
SECTION (8) Inspectors of Elections; Opening and Closing the Polls. The Board of Directors by resolution may appoint one or more inspectors, which inspector or inspectors may include individuals who serve the Corporation in other capacities, including, without limitation, as officers, employees, agents or representatives, to act at the meetings of stockholders and make a written report thereof. One or more persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate has been appointed to act or is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the Chairman of the meeting may appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before discharging his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability.
The Chairman of the meeting shall fix and announce at the meeting the date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting.
SECTION (9) Action Without a Meeting. Unless otherwise provided by law, any action required to be taken at a meeting of the stockholders, or any other action which may be taken at a meeting of the stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if written consents are signed by stockholders holding Voting Stock representing a majority of votes entitled to be cast at such a meeting, except however, if a different portion of voting power is required by law, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, then that proportion of written consents is required. Such written consents must be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the stockholders of the Corporation.
SECTION (10) Sale, Lease or Exchange of Assets; Required Vote. In addition to the stockholder vote required under Nevada law and the Articles of Incorporation for the sale, lease or exchange of all of the Corporation’s property and assets, the Board of Directors shall have power and authority at any meeting to sell, lease or exchange substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation, including its good will and its corporate franchises, upon such terms and conditions as its Board of Directors deems expedient and for the best interests of the Corporation only when and as authorized by the affirmative vote of the stockholders holding stock entitling them to exercise at least a majority of the voting power given at a stockholders’ meeting called for that purpose, or when authorized by the written consent of the holders holding Voting Stock entitling them to exercise at least a majority of the voting power represented by all outstanding shares of Voting Stock.
SECTION (11) Dissenters’ Rights. Pursuant to NRS 92A.380(1)(c), any stockholder of any class is entitled to dissent from, and obtain payment of the fair market value of his shares in the event of the following corporate actions:
a. An amendment to the Articles of Incorporation to add, change or remove any (1) provision restricting or constraining the issue, transfer or ownership of shares of that class or (2) restriction on the business that may be conducted by the Corporation; or
b. The sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets.
ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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SECTION (1) General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. In addition to the powers and authorities by these Bylaws expressly conferred upon then, the Board of Directors may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Articles of Incorporation or by these Bylaws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
SECTION (2) Number, Tenure and Qualifications.
a. The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall consist of not less than one (1) and not more than nine (9) directors. The number of directors may be fixed and changed from time to time by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Corporation. All directors are in the same class and shall have equal voting rights.
b. The directors shall hold office until the next meeting of stockholders held for the purpose of electing the Board of Directors or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified, or until a director’s prior death, resignation or removal. Any director may resign at any time upon written notice of such resignation to the Corporation.
c. A vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors may be filled by the remaining Directors.
d. Between successive annual meetings, the directors shall have the power to appoint one or more additional directors to fill any vacancies. A director so appointed shall hold office only until the next following annual meeting of the Corporation or until his successor is duly elected and qualified, but such director shall be eligible for election at the next meeting of stockholders held for the purpose of electing directors and the number of directors will be increased accordingly.
SECTION (3) Notice of Meeting. A regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held without other notice than as provided by this Bylaw immediately after, and at the same place as, the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, provide the time and place for the holding of different or additional regular meetings without other notice than such resolution.
SECTION (4) Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be called at the request of the Chairman of the Board, the President or a majority of the directors then in office. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix the place and time of the meetings.
SECTION (5) Notice. Notice of any special meeting of directors shall be given to each director at his business or residence in writing, by hand delivery, first-class or overnight mail or courier service, telegram or facsimile transmission, electronic mail or other electronic transmission, or orally, including in person or by telephone. If mailed by first-class mail, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when deposited in the United States mails so addressed, with postage thereon prepaid, at least two (2) days before such meeting. If by telegram, overnight mail or courier service, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when the telegram is delivered to the telegraph company or the notice a delivered to the overnight mail or courier service at least twenty-four (24) hours before such meeting. If by facsimile transmission or electronic mail or other electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when the notice is transmitted at least twelve (12) hours before such meeting. If orally, including in person or by telephone, or by hand delivery, the notice shall be given at least twelve (12) hours prior to the time set for the meeting. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice of such meeting, except for amendments to these Bylaws, as provided under Article VIII. A meeting may be held at any time without notice if all the directors are present or if those not present waive notice of the meeting in accordance with Article VI, Section 3 of the Bylaws.
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SECTION (6) Action by Consent of Board of Directors. 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 or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.
SECTION (7) Conference Telephone Meetings. Members of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
SECTION (8) Quorum. Subject to Article III, Section 2, a whole number of directors equal to at least a majority of the directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but if at any meeting of the Board of Directors there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice. The act of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. The directors present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough directors to leave less than a quorum.
SECTION (9) Executive and Other Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted by a majority of the directors then in office, designate one or more committees to exercise, subject to applicable provisions at law, the powers of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation when the Board is not in session. Each such committee shall consist of two or more directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Any such committee may to the extent permitted by law exercise such powers and shall have such responsibilities as shall be specified in the designating resolution and in the charter of such committee. In the absence or disqualification of any member of such committee or committees, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not constituting 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. Each committee shall keep written minutes of its proceedings and shall report such proceedings to the Board of Directors when required.
A majority of any committee may determine its action and fix the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board of Directors shall otherwise provide. Notice of such meetings shall be given to each member of the committee in the manner provided for in Article III, Section 5 of these Bylaws. The Board of Directors shall have power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, or to dissolve any such committee. Nothing herein shall be deemed to prevent the Board of Directors from appointing one or more committees consisting in whole or in part of persons who are not directors of the Corporation; provided, however, that no such committees shall have or may exercise any authority of the Board of Directors.
SECTION (10) Removal. Any director, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office at any time by the affirmative vote of the stockholders of at least two-thirds of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of Voting Stock, voting together as a single class.
SECTION (11) Records. The Board of Directors shall cause to be kept a record containing the minutes of the proceedings of the meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders, appropriate stock books and registered and such books of records and accounts as may be necessary for the proper conduct of the business of the Corporation.
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SECTION (12) Compensation. Directors shall not receive any stated salary for their services as directors or as members of committees, but by resolution of the Board of Directors a fixed fee and expenses of attendance may be allowed for attendance at each meeting. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity as an officer, agent or otherwise, and receiving compensation therefore.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
SECTION (1) Elected Officers. The elected officers of the Corporation shall be: a Chairman of the Board of Directors, a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and such other officers as the Board of Directors from time to time may deem proper. The Chairman of the Board shall be chosen from among the directors. All officers elected by the Board of Directors shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this ARTICLE IV. Such officers shall also have such powers and duties as from time to time may he conferred by the Board of Directors or by any committee thereof. The Board of Directors or any committee thereof may from time to time elect, or the Chairman of the Board or President may appoint, such other officers (including one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, and Assistant Treasurers) and such agents, as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the Corporation. Such other officers and agents shall have such duties and shall hold their offices for such terms as shall be provided in these Bylaws or as may be prescribed by the Board or such committee or by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or President, as the case may be.
SECTION (2) Election and Term of Office. The elected officers of the Corporation shall be elected from time to time, but no less than annually, by the Board of Directors at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors. Each officer shall hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected and shall have qualified or until his death or until he shall resign, but any officer (other than the Chairman of the Board or President) may be removed from office at any time by either the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office or by the Chairman of the Board or President. The Chairman of the Board and the President may only be removed from office by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office. Such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights, if any, of the person so removed.
SECTION (3) Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall be responsible for the general management of the affairs of the Corporation and shall perform all duties incidental to his office which may be required by law and all such other duties as are properly required of him by the Board of Directors. He shall make reports to the Board of Directors and the stockholders, and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors and of any committee thereof are carried into effect. The Chairman of the Board may also serve as President, if so elected by the Board of Directors.
SECTION (4) President. The President shall act in a general executive capacity and shall assist the Chairman of the Board in the administration and operation of the Corporation’s business and general supervision of its policies and affairs. The President shall, in the absence of or because of the inability to act of the Chairman of the Board, perform all duties of the Chairman of the Board and preside at all meetings of stockholders and of the Board of Directors.
SECTION (5) Vice Presidents. Each Vice President shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President.
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SECTION (6) Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be a Vice President and act in an executive financial capacity. He shall assist the Chairman of the Board and the President in the general supervision of the Corporation’s financial policies and affairs. The Treasurer shall exercise general supervision over the receipt, custody and disbursement of corporate funds. The Treasurer shall cause the funds of the corporation to be deposited in such bank, as may be authorized by the Board of Directors, or in such banks as may be designated as depositaries in the manner provided by resolution of the Board of Directors. He shall have such further powers and duties and shall be subject to such directions as any be granted or imposed upon him from time to time, by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President.
SECTION (7) Secretary. The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept in one or more books provided for that purpose, the minutes of all meetings of the Board, the committees of the Board and the stockholders; he shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws and as required by law; he shall be custodian of the records; and he shall see that the books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by law to be kept and filed are properly kept and filed; and in general, he shall perform all the duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman of the Board or the President.
SECTION (8) Removal. Any officer elected, or agent appointed, by the Board of Directors may be removed by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office whenever, in their judgment, the best interests of the Corporation would be served thereby. Any officer or agent appointed by the Chairman of the Board or the President may be removed by him whenever, in his judgment, the best interests of the Corporation would be served thereby. No elected officer shall have any contractual rights against the Corporation for compensation by virtue of such election beyond the date of the election of his successor, his death, his resignation or his removal, whichever event shall first occur, except as otherwise provided in an employment contract or under an employee compensation plan.
SECTION (9) Vacancies. A newly created elected office and a vacancy in any elected office because of death, resignation, or removal may be filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term at any meeting of the Board of Directors. Any vacancy in an office appointed by the Chairman of the Board or the President because of death, resignation, or removal may be filled by the Chairman of the Board or the President, as the case may be.
ARTICLE V
STOCK, STOCK CERTIFICATES, TRANSFERS AND RECORD DATE
SECTION (1) Stock. Stock shall be issued in accordance with the Fourth section of the Articles of Incorporation at a fair market value determined by the Board of Directors. Consideration received by the Corporation for such shares shall not be in the form of promissory notes or services to be performed, or any combination thereof.
SECTION (2) Stock Certificates, Uncertificated Shares and Transfers. The interest of each stockholder of the Corporation shall be in shares of stock, which shall be either uncertificated shares or certificated shares. Certificated shares shall be evidenced by certificates for shares of stock in such form as the proper officers of the Corporation may from time to time prescribe. The certificates of stock shall be signed, counter-signed and registered in such manner as the Board of Directors may by resolution prescribe, which resolution may permit all or any of the signatures on such certificates to be in facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who have signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
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SECTION (3) Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. No certificate for shares of stock in the Corporation shall be issued in place of any certificate alleged to have been lost, destroyed or stolen, nor shall the shares of stock represented by such certificate alleged to have been lost, destroyed or stolen be represented by uncertificated shares, except on production of such evidence of such loss, destruction or theft of the certificate and on delivery to the Corporation of a bond of indemnity in such amount, upon such terms and secured by such surety, as the Board of Directors or any financial officer may in its or his discretion require.
SECTION (4) Transfer of Shares. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferable only upon its books by the holders thereof in person or by their duly authorized attorney or legal representatives, and upon such transfer the old certificates (in the case of shares of stock represented by certificates) shall be surrendered to the Corporation by the delivery thereof to the person in charge of the stock and transfer books and ledgers, or to such other person as the directors may designate, by whom they shall be cancelled, and new certificates (or no certificates in the event that such shares are to be uncertificated) shall thereupon be issued. A record shall be made of each transfer and whenever a transfer shall be made for collateral security, and not absolutely, it shall be so expressed in the entry of the transfer.
SECTION (5) Stockholders Record Date. 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, or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting (if permitted), or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or 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 shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than 60 (sixty) days prior to any other action. 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.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION (1) Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of January and end on the thirty-first day of December of each year.
SECTION (2) Dividends. The Board of Directors may from time to time declare, and the Corporation may pay, dividends on its outstanding shares in the manner and upon the terms and conditions provided by law and the Articles of Incorporation.
SECTION (3) Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given to any stockholder or director of the Corporation under the provisions of the Nevada Revised Statutes or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual or special meeting of the stockholders or the Board of Directors or committee thereof need be specified in any waiver of notice of such meeting.
SECTION (4) Resignations. Any director or any officer, whether elected or appointed, may resign at any time by giving written notice of such resignation to the Chairman of the Board, the President, or the Secretary, and such resignation shall be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the date said notice is received by the Chairman of the Board, the President, or the Secretary, or at such later time as is specified therein. No formal action shall be required of the Board of Directors or the stockholders to make any such resignation effective.
ARTICLE VII
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CONTRACTS, PROXIES, ETC.
SECTION (1) Contracts. Except as otherwise required by law, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any contracts or other instruments may be executed and delivered in the name and on the behalf of the Corporation by such officer or officers of the Corporation as the Board of Directors may from time to time direct. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances as the Board may determine. The Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice President may execute bonds, contracts, deeds, leases and other instruments to be made or executed for or on behalf of the Corporation. Subject to any restrictions imposed by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice President of the Corporation may delegate contractual powers to others under his jurisdiction, it being understood, however, that any such delegation of power shall not relieve such officer of responsibility with respect to the exercise of such delegated power.
SECTION (2) Voting of Shares in Other Corporations. Unless otherwise provided by resolution adopted by the board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice President may from time to time appoint an attorney or attorneys or agent or agents of the Corporation, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, to cast the votes which the Corporation may be entitled to cast as the holder of stock or other securities in any other corporation, any of whose stock or other securities may be held by the Corporation, at a meeting of the holders of the stock or other securities of such other corporation, or to consent in writing, in the name of the Corporation as such holder, to any action by such other corporation, and may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of casting such votes or giving such consent, and may execute or cause to be executed in the name and on behalf of the Corporation and under its corporate seal or otherwise, all such written proxies or other instruments as he may deem necessary or proper in the premises.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
SECTION (1) By Stockholders. All Bylaws of the Corporation shall be subject to alteration or repeal, and new Bylaws may be made by the stockholders holding no less than a majority of the votes represented by the then-issued and outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, at an annual meeting or special meeting called for that purpose.
SECTION (2) By Directors. The Board of Directors shall have the power to make, adopt, alter, amend and repeal, from time to time, the Bylaws of the Corporation.
ARTICLE IX
INDEMNITY
SECTION (1) Liabilities and Expenses in Actions. The Corporation shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by the Nevada Revised Statutes, all persons whom a corporation may indemnify pursuant to the Nevada Revised Statutes.
SECTION (2) Breach of Fiduciary Duty. No director or officer of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any of its stockholders for damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer involving any act or omission of any such director or officer; provided, however, that the foregoing provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director or officer (i) for acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law, or (ii) the payment of dividends in violation of Section 78.300 of the Nevada Revised Statutes. Any repeal or modification of this Bylaw by the stockholders of the corporation shall be prospective only, and shall not adversely affect any limitations on the personal liability of a director or officer of the Corporation for acts or omissions prior to such repeal or modification.
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SECTION (3) Repeal. No amendment to, or repeal of, any of the provisions of this Article IX will adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing hereunder with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment or repeal of these provisions.
SECTION (4) Advancement of Expenses. Expenses incurred by an officer or director in defending a civil or criminal action, suit, or proceeding may be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit, or proceeding. Such expenses incurred by employees and agents other than the officers and directors may be paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Board of Directors deems appropriate.
SECTION (5) Non-Exclusivity. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to the foregoing sections are not exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under Bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in their official capacity, and as to action in any other capacity while holding such office.
SECTION (6) Continuation. Indemnification and advancement of expenses as provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article shall continue, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee, or agent, and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such a person.
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