Exhibit 3.4
ENGINEERED PIPE SYSTEMS, INC.
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BY-LAWS
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ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. The registered office shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware.
Section 2. The corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the board of directors may from time to time determine or the business of the corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. All meetings of the stockholders for the election of directors shall be held at such place either within or without the State of Delaware as shall be designated from time to time by the board of directors and stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof. Meetings of stockholders for any other purpose may be held at such time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof.
Section 2. Annual meetings of stockholders, commencing with the year 1999, shall be held on the 15th day of April, if not a legal holiday, and if a legal holiday, then on the next secular day following, at 2:00 PM, or at such other date and time as shall be designated from time to time by the board of directors and stated in the notice of the meeting, at which stockholders shall elect by a plurality vote a board of directors, and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
Section 3. Written notice of the annual meeting of stockholders stating the place, date and hour of the meeting shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting.
Section 4. Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the certificate of incorporation, may be called by the president and shall be called by the president or secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the board of directors, or at the request in writing of stockholders owning a majority in amount of the entire capital stock of the corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote. Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.
Section 5. Written notice of a special meeting of stockholders stating the place, date and hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting.
Section 6. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice of meeting.
Section 7. The holders of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the certificate of incorporation. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
Section 8. When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock having voting power present in person or represented by proxy shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which by express provision of the statutes or of the certificate of incorporation, a different vote is required in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.
Section 9. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, each stockholder shall at every meeting of the stockholders be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of the capital stock having voting power held by such stockholder, but no proxy shall be voted on after 3 years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period.
Section 10. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the corporation, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock 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. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 1. The number of directors which shall constitute the whole board shall be not less than 2 nor more than 5. The first board shall consist of 3 directors. Thereafter, within the limits above specified, the number of directors may be changed by resolution of the board of directors or by the stockholders at the annual meeting. The directors shall be elected at the
annual meeting of the stockholders, except as provided in Section 2 of this Article, and each director elected shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified. Directors need not be stockholders.
Section 2. Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and the directors so chosen shall hold office until the next annual election and until their successors are duly elected and shall qualify, unless sooner displaced. If there are no directors in office, then an election of directors may be held in the manner provided by statute.
Section 3. The business of the corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of its board of directors which may exercise all such powers of the corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the certificate of incorporation or by these by-laws directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 4. The board of directors of the corporation may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware.
Section 5. The first meeting of each newly elected board of directors shall be held at such time and place as shall be fixed by the vote of the stockholders at the annual meeting and no notice of such meeting shall be necessary to the newly elected directors in order legally to constitute the meeting, provided a quorum shall be present. In the event of the failure of the stockholders to fix the time or place of such first meeting of the newly elected board of directors, or in the event such meeting is not held at the time and place so fixed by the stockholders, the meeting may be held immediately following the annual meeting of stockholders or at such time and place as shall be specified in a notice given as hereinafter provided for special meetings of the board of directors, or as shall be specified in a written waiver signed by all of the directors.
Section 6. Regular meetings of the board of directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the board.
Section 7. Special meetings of the board may be called by the president on 5 days’ notice to each director, either personally or by mail or by facsimile communication; special meetings shall be called by the president or secretary in like manner and on like notice on the written request of two directors unless the board consists of only one director; in which case special meetings shall be called by the president or secretary in like manner and on like notice on the written request of the sole director.
Section 8. At all meetings of the board, a majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the board of directors, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute or by the certificate of incorporation. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the board of directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
Section 9. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws, 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 10. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws, members of the board of directors, or any committee designated by the board of directors, may participate in a meeting of the board of directors, or any 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 the meeting.
COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS
Section 11. The board of directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the corporation. The board 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.
In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the board of directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.
Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the board of directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the board of directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation, and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (i) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the General Corporation Law of Delaware to be submitted to stockholders for approval or (ii) adopting, amending or repealing any by-law of the corporation. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the board of directors.
Section 12. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the board of directors when required.
REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS
Section 13. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or by law, any director or the entire board of directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of shares entitled to vote at an election of directors.
ARTICLE IV
NOTICES
Section 1. Whenever, under the provisions of the statutes or of the certificate of incorporation or of these by-laws, notice is required to be given to any director or stockholder, it shall not be construed to mean personal notice, but such notice may be given in writing, by mail, addressed to such director or stockholder, at his or her address as it appears on the records of the corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail. Notice to directors may also be given by facsimile telecommunication.
Section 2. Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of the statutes or of the certificate of incorporation or of these by-laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of the corporation shall be chosen by the board of directors and shall be a president, a vice-president, a secretary and a treasurer. The board of directors may also choose additional vice-presidents, and one or more assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, unless the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws otherwise provide.
Section 2. The board of directors at its first meeting after each annual meeting of stockholders shall choose a president, one or more vice-presidents, a secretary and a treasurer.
Section 3. The board of directors may appoint such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary, who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the board.
Section 4. The officers of the corporation shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualify. Any officer elected or appointed by the board of directors may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the board of directors. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the corporation shall be filled by the board of directors.
THE PRESIDENT
Section 5. The president shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation, shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and the board of directors, shall have general and active management of the business of the corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the board of directors are carried into effect.
THE VICE-PRESIDENTS
Section 6. In the absence of the president or in the event of the president’s inability or refusal to act, the vice-president (or in the event there be more than one vice-president, the
vice-presidents in the order designated by the directors, or in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their election) shall perform 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 perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of directors may from time to time prescribe.
THE SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT SECRETARIES
Section 7. The secretary shall attend all meetings of the board of directors and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings of the corporation and of the board of directors in a book to be kept for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when required. The secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the board of directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or president. The secretary shall have custody of the corporate seal of the corporation and the secretary, or an assistant secretary, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it and, when so affixed, it may be attested by the signature of the secretary or an assistant secretary. The board of directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the corporation and to attest the affixing by his or her signature.
THE TREASURER AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS
Section 8. The treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the board of directors.
Section 9. The treasurer shall disburse the funds of the corporation as may be ordered by the board of directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the president and the board of directors, at its regular meetings, or when the board of directors so requires, an account of all his or her transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the corporation.
INCIDENTAL DUTIES
Section 10. The officers of the corporation shall perform all other duties usually incident to their respective offices, or which may be required by the stockholders or board of directors.
Section 11. Unless otherwise directed by the board of directors, each officer elected by the board of directors shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of stockholders of, or with respect to any action of stockholders of, any other corporation in which this corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation.
ARTICLE VI
CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES
Section 1. The shares of the corporation shall be represented by a certificate or shall be uncertificated. Certificates shall be signed by, or in the name of the corporation by, the chairman or vice-chairman of the board of directors, or the president or a vice-president, and by the treasurer or an assistant treasurer, or the secretary or an assistant secretary, of the corporation.
Section 2. Any of or all the signatures on a 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 individual were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
LOST CERTIFICATES
Section 3. The board of directors may direct a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares, the board of directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or such owner’s legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as it shall require and/or to give the corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
TRANSFER OF STOCK
Section 4. Upon surrender to the corporation or the transfer agent of the corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books. Upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered owner of uncertificated shares, such uncertificated shares shall be cancelled and issuance of new equivalent uncertificated shares or certificated shares shall be made to the person entitled thereto and the transaction shall be recorded upon the books of the corporation.
FIXING RECORD DATE
Section 5. 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, 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 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting, nor more than 60 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.
REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS
Section 6. The corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.
ARTICLE VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
DIVIDENDS
Section 1. Dividends upon the capital stock of the corporation, subject to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, if any, may be declared by the board of directors at any regular or special meeting, pursuant to law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation.
Section 2. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the corporation, or for such other purpose as the directors shall think conducive to the interest of the corporation, and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.
CHECKS
Section 3. All checks or demands for money and notes of the corporation shall be signed by the Treasurer or by such other officer or officers or such other person or persons as the board of directors may from time to time designate.
FISCAL YEAR
Section 4. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the board of directors or, in the absence of any such resolution, shall be the calendar year.
SEAL
Section 5. The corporate seal shall be in such form as shall be fixed by resolution of the board of directors or, in the absence of any such resolution, the corporate seal shall be circular in form and shall contain the name of the corporation, the year of its incorporation and the words “Corporate Seal” and “Delaware”. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 6. The corporation shall indemnify its officers and directors to the extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware. The corporation may also indemnify any other persons whom it shall have power to indemnify under any applicable law from time to time in effect to the extent permitted by such law.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. These by-laws may be amended by a majority vote of the stockholders entitled to vote at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders provided notice of the proposed amendment shall be included in the notice of the meeting. The board of directors, by a majority vote of the whole board at any meeting, may amend these by-laws, including by-laws adopted by the stockholders, provided that the stockholders may from time to time specify particular provisions of the by-laws which shall not be amended by the board of directors.