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Exhibit 3.10
BYLAWS
OF
ACAPULCO RESTAURANT OF VENTURA, INC.
ARTICLE I
Offices
Section 1. Principal Executive Office. The board of directors shall fix, and may from time to time change, the location of the principal executive office of the corporation at any place within or outside the State of California. If the principal executive office is outside this state, and if the corporation has one or more business offices in California, the board of directors shall fix and designate a principal business office in California.
Section 2. Other Offices. Branch or subordinate offices may at any time be established by the board of directors at any place or places where the corporation is qualified to do business.
ARTICLE II
Meetings of Shareholders
Section 1. Place of Meetings. All annual meetings of shareholders and all other meetings of shareholders shall be held either at the principal executive office of the corporation or at any other place within or without the State of California which may be designated either by the board of directors or by the written consent of all persons entitled to vote thereat and not present at the meeting, given either before or after the meeting and filed with the secretary of the corporation.
Section 2. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of shareholders shall be held each year on a date and at a time designated by the board of directors. The date so designated shall be within fifteen (15) months after the last annual meeting. At such meetings directors shall be elected, reports of the affairs of the corporation shall be considered, and any other business may be transacted which is within the power of the shareholders.
Section 3. Special Meeting. A special meeting of the shareholders may be called at any time by the board of directors, or by the chairman of the board, or by the president, or by one or more shareholders holding shares in the aggregate entitled to cast not less than 10% of the votes at that meeting.
If a special meeting is called by any person or persons other than the board of directors, the request shall be in writing to the chairman of the board, the president, any vice president, or the secretary of the corporation and shall specify the time of such meeting and 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. The officer receiving the request shall cause notice to be promptly given to the shareholders entitled to vote, in accordance with the provisions of Section 4 of this Article II, that a meeting will be held at the time requested by the person or persons calling the meeting, not less than thirty-five (35) nor more than sixty (60) days after the receipt of the request. If the notice is not given within twenty (20) days after receipt of the request, the person or persons requesting the meeting may give the notice. Nothing contained in this paragraph of this Section 3 shall be construed as limiting, fixing or affecting the time when a meeting of shareholders called by action of the board of directors may be held.
Section 4. Notice of Shareholders' Meetings. All notices of meetings of shareholders shall be sent or otherwise given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting. The notice shall specify the place, date and hour of the meeting and (i) in the case of a special
meeting, the general nature of the business to be transacted, or (ii) in the case of the annual meeting, those matters which the board of directors, at the time of giving the notice, intends to present for action by the shareholders. The notice of any meeting at which directors are to be elected shall include the name of any nominee or nominees whom, at the time of the notice, management intends to present for election.
If action is proposed to be taken at any meeting for approval of (i) a contract or transaction in which a director has a direct or indirect financial interest, pursuant to Section 310 of the Corporations Code of California, (ii) an amendment of the articles of incorporation, pursuant to Section 902 of that Code, (iii) a reorganization of the corporation, pursuant to Section 1201 of that Code, (iv) a voluntary dissolution of the corporation, pursuant to Section 1900 of that Code, or (v) a distribution in dissolution other than in accordance with the rights of outstanding preferred shares, pursuant to Section 2007 of that Code, the notice shall also state the general nature of that proposal.
Notice of any meeting of shareholders shall be given either personally or by first-class mail or telegraphic or other written communication, charges prepaid, addressed to the shareholder at the address of that shareholder appearing on the books of the corporation or given by the shareholder to the corporation for the purpose of notice. If no such address appears on the corporation's books or is given, notice shall be deemed to have been given if sent to that shareholder by first-class mail or telegraphic or other written communication to the corporation's principal executive office, or if published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where that office is located. Notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time when delivered personally or deposited in the mail or sent by telegram or other means of written communication.
If any notice addressed to a shareholder at the address of that shareholder appearing on the books of the corporation is returned to the corporation by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver the notice to the shareholder at that address, all future notices or reports shall be deemed to have been duly given without further mailing if these shall be available to the shareholder on written demand of the shareholder at the principal executive office of the corporation for a period of one year from the date of the giving of the notice.
An affidavit of the mailing or other means of giving any notice of any shareholders' meeting shall be executed by the secretary, assistant secretary, or any transfer agent of the corporation giving the notice, and shall be filed and maintained in the minute book of the corporation.
Section 5. Adjourned Meeting and Notice Thereof. Any shareholders' meeting, annual or special, whether or not a quorum is present, may be adjourned from time to time by the vote of a majority of the shares, the holders of which are either present in person or represented by proxy thereat, but in the absence of a quorum no other business may be transacted at such meeting, except as provided in Section 7 of Article II.
When any shareholders' meeting, either annual or special, is adjourned for forty-five days or more, or if after adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Except as provided above, it shall not be necessary to give any notice of the time and place of the adjourned meeting or of the business to be transacted thereat, other than by announcement of the time and place thereof at the meeting at which such adjournment is taken.
Section 6. Voting. The shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of Article VI, subject to the provisions of Sections 702 to 704, inclusive, of the Corporations Code of California (relating to voting shares held by a fiduciary, in the name of a corporation, or in joint ownership). The shareholders' vote may be by voice vote or, by ballot; provided, however, that any election for directors must be by ballot if demanded by any shareholder before the voting has begun. On any matter other than elections of
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directors, any shareholder may vote part of the shares in favor of the proposal and refrain from voting the remaining shares or vote them against the proposal, but, if the shareholder fails to specify the number of shares which the shareholder is voting affirmatively, it will be conclusively presumed that the shareholder's approving vote is with respect to all shares that the shareholder is entitled to vote. If a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of the majority of the shares represented and voting at the meeting (which shares voting affirmatively also constitute at least a majority of the required quorum) and entitled to vote on any matter (other than the election of directors) shall be the act of the shareholders, unless the vote of a greater number or voting by classes is required by California General Corporation Law or by the articles of incorporation.
At a shareholders' meeting at which directors are to be elected, no shareholder shall be entitled to cumulate votes (i.e., cast for any candidate a number of votes greater than the number of the shareholder's shares) unless the candidates' names have been placed in nomination prior to commencement of the voting and a shareholder has given notice prior to commencement of the voting of the shareholder's intention to cumulate votes. If any shareholder has given such a notice, then every shareholder entitled to vote may cumulate votes for candidates in nomination and give one candidate a number of votes equal to the number of directors to be elected multiplied by the number of votes to which that shareholder's shares are entitled, or distribute the shareholder's votes on the same principle among any or all of the candidates, as the shareholder thinks fit. The candidates receiving the highest number of votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, shall be elected.
Section 7. Quorum. The presence in person or by proxy of the persons entitled to vote a majority of the voting shares at any meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The shareholders present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to do business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough shareholders to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by at least a majority of the shares required to constitute a quorum.
Section 8. Validation of Defectively Called or Noticed Meetings. The transactions of any meeting of shareholders, either annual or special, however called and noticed, shall be as valid as though had at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum be present either in person or by proxy, and if, either before or after the meeting, each of the persons entitled to vote, not present in person or by proxy, or who, though present, has, at the beginning of the meeting, properly objected to the transaction of any business because the meeting was not lawfully called or convened, or to particular matters of business legally required to be included in the notice, but not so included, signs a written waiver of notice, or a consent to the holding of such meeting, or an approval of the minutes thereof. All such waivers, consents or approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting.
Section 9. Action Without Meeting. Directors may be elected without a meeting by a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, signed by all of the persons who would be entitled to vote for the election of directors, provided that, without notice except as hereinafter set forth, a director may be elected at any time to fill a vacancy (other than a vacancy created by removal) not filled by the directors by the written consent of persons holding a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote for the election of directors.
Any other action which, under any provision of the California General Corporation Law, may be taken at a meeting of the shareholders, may be taken without a meeting, and without notice except as hereinafter set forth, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by the holders of outstanding shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.
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All such written consents shall be filed with the secretary of the corporation. Any shareholder giving a written consent, or the shareholder's proxyholders, or a transferee of the shares or a personal representative of the shareholder or their respective proxyholders, may revoke the consent by a writing received by the corporation prior to the time that written consents of the number of shares required to authorize the proposed action have been filed with the secretary of the corporation, but may not do so thereafter. Such revocation is effective upon its receipt by the secretary of the corporation.
Unless the consents of all shareholders entitled to vote have been solicited in writing,
(a) Notice of any proposed shareholder approval of, (i) a contract or other transaction with an interested director, (ii) indemnification of an agent of the corporation as authorized by Article V of these bylaws, (iii) a reorganization of the corporation as defined in Section 181 of the General Corporation Law, or (iv) a distribution in dissolution other than in accordance with the rights of outstanding preferred shares, if any, without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent, shall be given at least ten (10) days before the consummation of the action authorized by such approval; and
(b) Prompt notice shall be given of the taking of any other corporate action approved by shareholders without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent, to those shareholders entitled to vote who have not consented in writing. Such notices shall be given in the manner and shall be deemed to have been given as provided in Section 4 of Article II of these bylaws.
Section 10. Proxies. Every person entitled to vote or execute consents shall have the right to do so either in person or by one or more agents authorized by a written proxy executed by such person or his duly authorized agent and filed with the secretary of the corporation. Any proxy duly executed is not revoked and continues in full force and effect until, (i) an instrument revoking it or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date is filed with the secretary of the corporation prior to the vote pursuant thereto, (ii) the person executing the proxy attends the meeting and votes in person, or (iii) written notice of the death or incapacity of the maker of such proxy is received by the corporation before the vote pursuant thereto is counted; provided that no such proxy shall be valid after the expiration of eleven (11) months from the date of its execution, unless the person executing it specifies therein the length of time for which such proxy is to continue in force.
Section 11. Inspectors of Election. In advance of any meeting of shareholders, the board of directors may appoint any persons other than nominees for office as inspectors of election to act at such meeting or any adjournment thereof. If inspectors of election be not so appointed, the chairman of any such meeting may, and on the request of any shareholder or his proxy shall, make such appointment at the meeting. The number of inspectors shall be either one or three. If appointed at a meeting on the request of one or more shareholders or proxies, the majority of shares represented in person or by proxy shall determine whether one or three inspectors are to be appointed. In case any person appointed as inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, the vacancy may, and on the request of any shareholder or a shareholder's proxy shall, be filled by appointment by the board of directors in advance of the meeting, or at the meeting by the chairman of the meeting.
The duties of such inspectors shall be as follows:
(a) Determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, and the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies;
(b) Receive votes, ballots or consents;
(c) Hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote;
(d) Count and tabulate all votes or consents;
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(e) Determine when the polls shall close;
(f) Determine the result; and
(g) Do any other acts that may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all shareholders.
The inspectors of election shall perform their duties impartially, in good faith, to the best of their ability and as expeditiously as is practical. If there are three inspectors of election, the decision, act or certificate of a majority is effective in all respects as the decision, act or certificate of all. Any report or certificate made by the inspectors of election is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
ARTICLE III
Directors
Section 1. Powers. Subject to the limitations of the articles of incorporation, of these bylaws and of the California General Corporation Law as to action to be authorized or approved by the shareholders, all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the corporation shall be controlled by, the board of directors. The board of directors may delegate the management of the day-to-day operation of the business of the corporation to a management company or other person provided that the business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed and all corporate powers shall be exercised under the ultimate direction of the board of directors. Without prejudice to such general powers, but subject to the same limitations, it is hereby expressly declared that the directors shall have the following powers in addition to the other powers enumerated in these bylaws:
(a) To select and remove all officers, agents and employees of the corporation, prescribe such powers and duties for them as may not be inconsistent with law, with the articles of incorporation or the bylaws, fix their compensation and require from them security for faithful service.
(b) To conduct, manage and control the affairs and business of the corporation, and to make such rules and regulations therefor not inconsistent with law, or with the articles of incorporation or the bylaws, as they may deem best.
(c) To adopt, make and use a corporate seal, and to prescribe the forms of certificates of stock, and to alter the form of such seal and of such certificates from time to time, as in their judgment they may deem best, provided such seal and such certificates shall at all times comply with the provisions of law.
(d) To authorize the issue of shares of stock of the corporation from time to time, upon such terms as may be lawful in consideration of money paid, labor done or services actually rendered, debts or securities cancelled or tangible or intangible property actually received.
(e) To borrow money and incur indebtedness for the purposes of the corporation, and to cause to be executed and delivered therefor, in the corporate name, promissory notes, bonds, debentures, deeds of trust, mortgages, pledges, hypothecations or other evidences of debt and securities therefor.
Section 2. Number and Qualification of Directors. The authorized number of directors shall be two (2) until changed by an amendment of the articles of incorporation or by an amendment to this bylaw duly adopted by the vote or written consent of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote; provided that a proposal to reduce the authorized number of directors below five cannot be adopted if the votes cast against its adoption at a meeting, or the shares not consenting in the case of action by written consent, are equal to more than 162/3 percent of the outstanding shares entitled to vote.
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Section 3. Election and Term of Office. The directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of shareholders but, if any such annual meeting is not held or the directors are not elected thereat, the directors may be elected at any special meeting of shareholders held for that purpose. All directors shall hold office until their respective successors are elected, subject to the General Corporation Law and the provisions of these bylaws with respect to vacancies on the board.
Section 4. Vacancies. A vacancy in the board of directors shall be deemed to exist in case of the death, resignation or removal of any director, or if the board of directors by resolution declares vacant the office of a director who has been declared of unsound mind by order of court or convicted of a felony, if the authorized number of directors be increased, or if the shareholders fail, at any annual or special meeting of shareholders at which any director or directors are to be elected, to elect the full authorized number of directors to be voted for at that meeting.
Vacancies in the board of directors, except for a vacancy created by the removal of a director, may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and each director so elected shall hold office until his successor is elected at an annual or a special meeting of the shareholders. A vacancy in the board of directors created by the removal of a director may only be filled by the vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote represented at a duly held meeting at which "a quorum is present, or by a written consent signed by all persons who would be entitled to vote for the election of directors.
The shareholders may elect a director or directors at any time to fill any vacancy or vacancies not filled by the directors. Any such election by written consent (other than to fill a vacancy created by removal) shall require the consent of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote.
Any director may resign effective upon giving written notice to the chairman of the board, the president, the secretary or the board of directors of the corporation, unless the notice specifies a later time for the effectiveness of such resignation. If the resignation is effective at a future time, the board or the shareholders shall have the power to elect a successor to take office when the resignation is to become effective.
No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director prior to the expiration of his term of office.
Section 5. Place of Meeting. Regular or special meetings of the board of directors shall be held at any place within or without the State of California which has been designated in the notice of the meeting or, if not stated in the notice or if there is no notice, which has been designated by resolution of the board or by written consent of all members of the board. In the absence of such designation, regular or special meetings shall be held at the principal executive office of the corporation.
Section 6. Organization Meeting. Immediately following each annual meeting of shareholders, the board of directors shall hold a regular meeting at the place of said annual meeting or at such other place as shall be fixed by the board of directors, for the purpose of organization, any desired election of officers, and the transaction of other business. Notice of such meeting is hereby dispensed with.
Section 7. Other Regular Meetings. Other regular meetings of the board of directors shall be held without call at such time as shall from time to time be fixed by the board of directors. Notice of such meetings is hereby dispensed with.
Section 8. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the board of directors for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the chairman of the board, the president, any vice president, the secretary or by any two directors.
Special meetings of the board of directors shall be held upon four (4) days' notice by first-class mail or 48 hours' notice given personally or by telephone, telegraph, telex or other similar means of communication. Any such notice shall be addressed, or delivered to each director at such director's
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address as it is shown upon the records of the corporation or as may have been given to the corporation by the director for purposes of notice or, if such address is not shown on such records and is not readily ascertainable, at the place in which the meetings of the directors are regularly held.
Notice by mail shall be deemed to have been given at the time a written notice is deposited in the United States mails, postage prepaid. Any other written notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time it is personally delivered to the recipient or is delivered to a common carrier for transmission, or actually transmitted by the person giving the notice by electronic means, to the recipient. Any oral notice given personally or by telephone may be communicated either to the director or to a person at the office of the director who the person giving the notice has reason to believe will promptly communicate it to the director. The notice need not specify the purpose of the meeting.
Section 9. Action Without Meeting. Any action by the board of directors may be taken without a meeting if all members of the board shall individually or collectively consent in writing to such action. Such written consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the board and shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of such directors.
Section 10. Action at a Meeting: Quorum and Required Vote. Presence of a majority of the authorized number of directors at a meeting of the board of directors constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business, except as hereinafter provided. Members of the board may participate in a meeting through use of conference telephone or similar communications equipment, so long as all members participating in such meeting can hear one another. Participation in a meeting as permitted in the preceding sentence constitutes presence in person at such meeting. Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the directors present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present shall be regarded as the act of the board of directors, unless a greater number, or the same number after disqualifying one or more directors from voting, is required by law, by the articles of incorporation, or by these bylaws. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, provided that any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for such meeting.
Section 11. Validation of Defectively Called or Noticed Meeting. The transactions of any meeting of the board of directors, however called and noticed or wherever held, shall be as valid as though had at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice if a quorum is present and if, either before or after the meeting, each of the directors not present signs a written waiver of notice, a consent to holding the meeting or an approval of the minutes. The waiver of notice or consent need not specify the purpose of the meeting. All such waivers, consents, and approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting. Notice of a meeting shall also be deemed given to any director who attends the meeting without protesting before or at its commencement the lack of notice to that director.
Section 12. Adjournment. A majority of the directors present, whether or not constituting a quorum, may adjourn any meeting to another time and place.
Section 13. Notice of Adjournment. Notice of the time and place of holding an adjourned meeting need not be given, unless the meeting is adjourned for more than twenty-four hours, in which case notice of the time and place shall be given before the time of the adjourned meeting, in the manner specified in Section 8 of this Article III, to the directors who were not present at the time of the adjournment.
Section 14. Fees and Compensation. Directors and members of committees may receive such compensation, if any, for their services, and such reimbursement for expenses, as may be fixed or determined by resolution of the board.
Section 15. Committees. The board of directors may, by a resolution adopted by a majority of the authorized number of directors, designate an executive and other committees, each consisting of
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two or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the board. The board may designate one or more directors as alternate members. The appointment of members or alternate members of a committee requires the vote of a majority of the authorized number of directors. The board of directors shall have the power to prescribe the manner in which proceedings of any such committee shall be conducted. In the absence of any such prescription, such committee shall have the power to prescribe the manner in which its proceedings shall be conducted. Unless the board or such committee shall otherwise provide, the provisions of these bylaws applicable to meetings and actions of the board shall govern. Minutes shall be kept of each meeting of each committee. Any such committee, to the extent provided in a resolution of the board, shall have all of the authority of the board, except with respect to:
(i) the approval of any action for which the General Corporation Law or the articles of incorporation also require shareholder approval;
(ii) the filling of vacancies on the board or in any committee;
(iii) the fixing of compensation of the directors for serving on the board or on any committee;
(iv) the adoption, amendment or repeal of bylaws;
(v) the amendment or repeal of any resolution of the board;
(vi) any distribution to the shareholders, except at a rate or in a periodic amount or within a price range determined by the board; and
(vii) the appointment of other committees of the board or the members thereof.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 1. Officers. The officers of the corporation shall be a president, a secretary and a chief financial officer. The corporation may also have, at the discretion of the board of directors, a chairman of the board, one or more vice presidents, one or more assistant secretaries, one or more assistant treasurers, and such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of this Article. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.
Section 2. Election. The officers of the corporation, except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 or Section 5 of this Article, shall be chosen by the board of directors, and each shall serve at the pleasure of the board.
Section 3. Subordinate Officers, Etc. The board of directors may appoint and may empower the president to appoint, such other officers as the business of the corporation may require, each of whom shall hold office, for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as are provided in the bylaws or as the board of directors may from time to time determine.
Section 4. Removal and Resignation. Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the board of directors, at any regular or special meeting thereof, or, except in case of an officer chosen by the board of directors, by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the board of directors.
Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the board of directors or to the chief executive officer, or to the secretary of the corporation, without prejudice, however, to the rights, if any, of the corporation under any contract to which such officer is a party. Any such resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of such notice or at any later time specified therein; and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
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Section 5. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or any other cause shall be filled in the manner prescribed in the bylaws for regular appointments to such office.
Section 6. Chairman of the Board. The chairman of the board shall be the general manager and 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. He shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and at all meetings of the board of directors. The chairman of the board shall have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the office of chairman of the board and general manager of a corporation, and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or the bylaws.
Section 7. President. In the absence of the chairman of the board, the president shall preside at all meetings of shareholders and at all meetings of the board of directors. The president shall exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may be from time to time assigned to him by the board of directors or prescribed by the bylaws.
Section 8. Vice President. In the absence or disability of the president, the vice presidents, if any, in order of their rank as fixed by the board of directors or, if not ranked, the vice president designated by the board of directors, shall perform all the duties of the president, and when so acting shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions upon, the president. The vice presidents shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed for them respectively by the board of directors or the bylaws.
Section 9. Secretary. The secretary shall record or cause to be recorded, and shall keep or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office and such other place as the board of directors may order, a book of minutes of actions taken at all meetings of shareholders, the board of directors and its committees, with the time and place of holding, whether regular or special, and, if special, how authorized, the notice thereof given, the names of those present at directors' and committee meetings, the number of shares present or represented at shareholders' meetings, and the proceedings thereof.
The secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office or at the office of the corporation's transfer agent, a share register, or a duplicate share register, showing the names of the shareholders and their addresses, the number and classes of shares held by each, the number and date of certificates issued for the same, and the number and date of cancellation of every certificate surrendered for cancellation.
The secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all the meetings of the shareholders and of the board of directors required by the bylaws or by law to be given, and he shall keep the seal of the corporation, if one be adopted, in safe custody, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or by the bylaws.
The secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the corporation's principal executive office, or if its principal executive office is not in the State of California, at its principal business office in this state, the original or a copy of the bylaws as amended to date, which shall be open to inspection by the shareholders at all reasonable times during office hours. If the principal executive office of the corporation is outside the State of California and the corporation has no principal business office in this state, the secretary shall, upon the written request of any shareholder, furnish to that shareholder a copy of the bylaws as amended to date.
Section 10. Chief Financial Officer. The chief financial officer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct accounts of the properties and business transactions of the corporation, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital, retained earnings and shares. The books of account shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by any director.
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The chief financial officer shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the corporation with such depositaries as may be designated by the board of directors. He shall disburse the funds of the corporation as may be ordered by the board of directors, shall render to the president and directors, whenever they request it, an account of all of his transactions as chief financial officer and of the financial condition of the corporation, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or the bylaws.
Section 11. Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers. In the absence of the secretary or in the event of his death, inability or refusal to act, the assistant secretaries, if any, in order of their rank as fixed by the board of directors or, if not ranked, the assistant secretary designated by the president or board of directors, shall perform the duties and exercise the authority of the secretary. In the absence of the chief financial officer or the event of his death, inability or refusal to act, the assistant treasurers, if any, in order of their rank as fixed by the board of directors or, if not ranked, the assistant treasurer designated by the president or board of directors, shall perform the duties and exercise the authority of the chief financial officer.
ARTICLE V
Indemnification of Directors, Officers,
Employees, and Other Agents
Section 1. Agents, Proceedings, and Expenses. For the purposes of this Article, "agent" means any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or other agent of this corporation, or is or was serving at the request of this corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or was a director, officer, employee, or agent, of a foreign or domestic corporation which was a predecessor corporation of this corporation or of another enterprise at the request of such predecessor corporation; "proceeding" means any threatened, pending or completed action or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative; and "expenses" includes, without limitation, attorneys' fees and any expenses of establishing a right to indemnification under Section 4 or Section 5(c) of this Article.
Section 2. Actions Other than by the Corporation. This corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of this corporation to procure a judgment in its favor) by reason of the fact that such person is or was an agent of this corporation, against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such proceeding if that person acted in good faith and in a manner that person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of this corporation and, in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct of that person was unlawful. The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of this corporation or that the person had reasonable cause to believe that the person's conduct was unlawful.
Section 3. Actions by the Corporation. This corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action by or in the right of this corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that that person is or was an agent of this corporation, against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by that person in connection with the defense or settlement of that action if that person acted in good faith, in a manner that person believed to be in the best interests of this corporation and with such care, including
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reasonable inquiry, as an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances. No indemnification shall be made under this Section 3:
(a) In respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which that person shall have been adjudged to be liable to this corporation in the performance of that person's duty to this corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which such proceeding is or was pending shall determine upon application that, in view of all circumstances of the case, that person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for the expenses which the court shall determine;
(b) Of amounts paid in settling or otherwise disposing of a threatened or pending action, with or without court approval; or
(c) Of expenses incurred in defending a threatened or pending action which is settled or otherwise disposed of without court approval.
Section 4. Successful Defense by Agent. To the extent that an agent of this corporation has been successful on the merits in defense of any proceeding referred to in Sections 2 or 3 of this Article, or in defense of any claim, issue, or matter therein, the agent shall be indemnified against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the agent in connection therewith.
Section 5. Required Approval. Except as provided in Section 4 of this Article, any indemnification under this Article shall be made by this corporation only if authorized in the specific case on a determination that indemnification of the agent is proper in the circumstances because the agent has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 2 or 3 of this Article, by:
(a) A majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to the proceeding;
(b) Approval by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of this corporation entitled to vote represented at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present or by the written consent of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote. For this purpose, the shares owned by the person to be indemnified shall not be considered outstanding or entitled to vote thereon; or
(c) The court in which the proceeding is or was pending, on application made by this corporation or the agent or the attorney or other person rendering services in connection with the defense, whether or not such application by the agent, attorney, or other person is opposed by this corporation.
Section 6. Advance of Expenses. Expenses incurred in defending any proceeding may be advanced by this corporation before the final disposition of the proceeding on receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the agent to repay the amount of the advance unless it shall be determined ultimately that the agent is entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Article.
Section 7. Other Indemnification. No provision made by the corporation to indemnify its or its subsidiary's directors or officers for the defense of any proceeding, whether contained in the articles of incorporation, bylaws, a resolution of shareholders or directors, an agreement, or otherwise, shall be valid unless consistent with this Article. Nothing contained in this Article shall affect any right to indemnification to which persons other than directors and officers of this corporation or any subsidiary hereof may be entitled by contract or otherwise.
Section 8. Limitations. No indemnification or advance shall be made under this Article, except as provided in Section 4 or Section 5(c), in any circumstance where it appears:
(a) That it would be inconsistent with a provision of the articles of incorporation, bylaws, a resolution of the shareholders, or an agreement in effect at the time of the accrual of the alleged cause of action asserted in the proceeding in which the expenses were incurred or other amounts were paid, which prohibits or otherwise limits indemnification; or
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(b) That it would be inconsistent with any condition expressly imposed by a court in approving a settlement.
Section 9. Insurance. Upon and in the event of a determination by the board of directors of this corporation to purchase such insurance, this corporation shall purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any agent of the corporation against any liability asserted against or incurred by the agent in such capacity or arising out of the agent's status as such whether or not this corporation would have the power to indemnify the agent against that liability under the provisions of this section.
Section 10. Fiduciaries of Corporate Employee Benefit Plans. This Article does not apply to any proceeding against any trustee, investment manager, or other fiduciary of an employee benefit plan in that person's capacity as such, even though that person may also be an agent of the corporation as defined in Section 1 of this Article. This corporation shall have the power to indemnify such a trustee, investment manager, or other fiduciary to the extent permitted by Subdivision (f) of Section 207 of the California General Corporation Law.
ARTICLE VI
Miscellaneous
Section 1. Record Date. The board of directors may fix a time in the future as a record date for the determination of the shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting of shareholders or entitled to give consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, to receive any report, to receive any dividend or distribution, or any allotment of rights, or to exercise rights in respect to any change, conversion, or exchange of shares. The record date so fixed shall be not more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days prior to the date of any meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other event for the purpose of which it is fixed. When a record date is so fixed, only shareholders of record at the close of business on that date are entitled to notice of and to vote at any such meeting, to give consent without a meeting, to receive any report, to receive a dividend, distribution, or allotment of rights, or to exercise the rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any shares on the books of the corporation after the record date, except as otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation, bylaws, or California General Corporation Law.
If no record date is fixed:
(i) The record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders shall be at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held;
(ii) The record date for determining shareholders entitled to give consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the board of directors is necessary, shall be the day on which the first written consent is given; and
(iii) The record date for determining shareholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the board of directors adopts the resolution relating thereto, or the 60th day prior to the date of such other action, whichever is later.
A determination of shareholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting unless the board of directors fixes a new record date for the adjourned meeting, but the board of directors shall fix a new record date if the meeting is adjourned for more than 45 days.
Section 2. Inspection of Corporate Records. The accounting books and records, the record of shareholders, and minutes of proceedings of the shareholders and the board and committees of the board of this corporation and any subsidiary of this corporation shall be open to inspection upon the
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written demand on the corporation of any shareholder or holder of a voting trust certificate at any reasonable time during usual business hours, for a purpose reasonably related to such holder's interests as a shareholder or as the holder of such voting trust certificate. Such inspection by a shareholder or holder of a voting trust certificate may be made in person or by agent or attorney, and the right of inspection includes the right to copy and make extracts.
A shareholder or shareholders holding at least 5 percent in the aggregate of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation or who hold at least 1 percent of such voting shares and have filed a Schedule 14B with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the election of directors of the corporation shall have (in person, or by agent or attorney) the right to inspect and copy the record of shareholders' names and addresses and shareholdings during usual business hours upon five business days' prior written demand upon the corporation and to obtain from the transfer agent for the corporation, upon written demand and upon the tender of its usual charges, a list of the shareholders' names and addresses, who are entitled to vote for the election of directors, and their shareholdings, as of the most recent record date for which it has been compiled or as of a date specified by the shareholder subsequent to the date of demand. The list shall be made available on or before the later of five business days after the demand is received or the date specified therein as the date as of which the list is to be compiled.
Every director shall have the absolute right at any reasonable time to inspect all books, records and documents of every kind and to inspect the physical properties of the corporation. Such inspection by a director may be made in person or by agent or attorney and the right of inspection includes the right to copy and make extracts.
Section 3. Annual Report. The annual report to shareholders referred to in Section 1501 of the California General Corporation Law is expressly dispensed with, but nothing herein shall be interpreted as prohibiting the board of directors from issuing annual or other periodic reports to shareholders.
Section 4. Financial Statements. A shareholder or shareholders holding at least 5 percent of the outstanding shares of any class of the corporation may make a written request to the corporation for an income statement of the corporation for the three-month, six-month or nine-month period of the current fiscal year ended more than 30 days prior to the date of the request and a balance sheet of the corporation as of the end of such period and, in addition, if no annual report for the last fiscal year has been sent to shareholders, the annual report for the last fiscal year. The corporation shall deliver or mail the statement to the person making the request within 30 days thereafter. A copy of any such statements shall be kept on file in the principal executive office of the corporation for 12 months and they shall be exhibited at all reasonable times to any shareholder demanding an examination of them or a copy shall be mailed to such shareholder.
The corporation shall, upon the written request of any shareholder, mail to the shareholder a copy of the last annual, semi-annual or quarterly income statement which it has prepared and a balance sheet as of the end of the period. The quarterly income statements and balance sheets referred to in this section shall be accompanied by the report thereon, if any, of any independent accountants engaged by the corporation or the certificate of an authorized officer of the corporation that such financial statements were prepared without audit from the books and records of the corporation.
Section 5. Checks, Drafts, Etc. All checks, drafts or other orders for payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness, issued in the name of or payable to the corporation, shall be signed or endorsed by such person or persons and in such manner as, from time to time, shall be determined by resolution of the board of directors.
Section 6. Contracts, Etc., How Executed. The board of directors, except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the corporation, and such authority may be
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general or confined to specific instances; and, unless so authorized by the board of directors, 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, to any amount.
Section 7. Certificate for Shares. Every holder of shares in the corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed in the name of the corporation by the chairman or vice chairman of the board or the president or a vice president and by the chief financial officer or an assistant treasurer or the secretary or any assistant secretary, certifying the number of shares and the class or series of shares owned by the shareholder. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be facsimile 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 by the corporation with the same effect as if such person were an officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
Except as provided in this Section 7, no new certificates for shares shall be issued to replace an old certificate unless the latter is surrendered to the corporation and cancelled at the same time. The board of directors may, in case any share certificate or certificate for any other security is lost, stolen, or destroyed, authorize the issuance of a replacement certificate on such terms and conditions as the board may require, including provision for indemnification of the corporation secured by a bond or other adequate security sufficient to protect the corporation against any claim that may be made against it, including any expense or liability, on account of the alleged loss, theft, or destruction of the certificate or the issuance of the replacement certificate.
Section 8. Representation of Shares of Other Corporations. The chairman of the board, the, president, or any vice president, or any other person authorized by resolution of the board of directors or by any of the foregoing designated officers, is authorized to vote on behalf of the corporation any and all shares of any other corporation or corporations, foreign or domestic, standing in the name of the corporation. The authority granted to these officers to vote or represent on behalf of the corporation any and all shares held by the corporation in any other corporation or corporations may be exercised by any of these officers in person or by any person authorized to do so by a proxy duly executed by these officers.
Section 9. Construction and Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires, the general provisions, rules of construction and definitions contained in the California General Corporation Law shall govern the construction of these bylaws. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter, the singular number includes the plural and the plural number includes the singular, and the term "person" includes a corporation as well as a natural person.
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Exhibit 3.10 Bylaws of Acapulco Restaurant of Ventura, Inc.