that amounts to an abdication of the director’s or officer’s duties to the Corporation or its shareholders; (viii) for costs, charges, expenses, liabilities, and losses arising under Section 310 or 316 of the General Corporation Law of California (the "Law"); and (ix) as to circumstances in which indemnity is expressly prohibited by Section 317 of the Law. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that if the Law requires the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding, such advances shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts to the Corporation if it shall be ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified.
A person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any proceedings by reason of the fact that he or she is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as an employee or agent of another enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such action is an alleged action or inaction in an official capacity or in any other capacity while serving as an employee or agent, may, subject to the terms of any agreement between the Corporation and such person, be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by California law and the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation, against all costs, charges, expenses, liabilities, losses (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties, and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement), reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith. The immediately preceding sentence is not intended to be and shall not be considered to confer a contract right on any employee or agent (other than directors and officers) of the Corporation.
If a claim under Section 1 of this Article is not paid in full by the Corporation within 30 days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board, independent legal counsel, or its shareholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is permissible in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct, if any, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board, independent legal counsel,
or its shareholders) that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption for the purpose of an action that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
Section 4. Successful Defense
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, to the extent that a director or officer has been successful on the merits or otherwise (including the dismissal of an action without prejudice or the settlement of a proceeding or action without admission of liability) in defense of any proceeding referred to in Section 1 or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he or she shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith.
Section 5. Non-Exclusivity of Rights
The right to indemnification provided by this Article shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders, disinterested directors, or otherwise.
Section 6. Insurance
The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation or another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability, or loss under the law.
Section 7. Expenses as a Witness
To the extent that any director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation is by reason of such position, or a position with another entity at the request of the Corporation, a witness in any action, suit, or proceeding, he or she shall be indemnified against all costs and expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her on his or her behalf in connection therewith.
Section 8. Indemnity Agreements
The Corporation may enter into agreements with any director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation providing for indemnification to the fullest extent permissible under the law and the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation.
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Section 9. Separability
Each and every paragraph, sentence, term, and provision of this Article is separate and distinct so that if any paragraph, sentence, term, or provision hereof shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or unenforceability of any other paragraph, sentence, term, or provision hereof. To the extent required, any paragraph, sentence, term, or provision of this Article may be modified by a court of competent jurisdiction to preserve its validity and to provide the claimant with, subject to the limitations set forth in this Article and any agreement between the Corporation and claimant, the broadest possible indemnification permitted under applicable law.
Section 10. Effect of Repeal or Modification
Any repeal or modification of this Article shall not adversely affect any right of indemnification of a director or officer existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to any action or omission occurring prior to such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE IX
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Section 1. If there shall be a Chairman of the Board of Directors, he shall, when present, preside at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors, and perform such other duties as the Bylaws or the Board of Directors shall require of him.
ARTICLE X
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER; OTHER EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall, at their first regular meeting, elect such officers as are required by Article VI hereof and such additional officers authorized by Article VI hereof as the Board, in its discretion, may choose to elect. If at any time the Chief Executive Officer shall be unable to act, the President (if there shall be one who is not also the Chief Executive Officer) shall act in his place and perform his duties; if the President or next most senior officer is unable to perform such duties, then the vice presidents, in such sequence as the Board of Directors may specify, shall act. If all the foregoing shall be unable to act, the senior officer among them shall appoint some other person in whom shall be vested, for the time being, all the duties and functions of Chief Executive Officer, to act until the Board of Directors can be convened and elect appropriate officers. The Chief Executive Officer (or person acting as such) shall:
1. Preside (if there shall be no Chairman of the Board of Directors or in his absence) over all meetings of the shareholders and directors;
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2. Sign on behalf of the Corporation contracts and other instruments in writing within the scope of his authority or if, when, and as directed to do so by the Board of Directors, but nothing herein shall limit the power of the Board of Directors to authorize such contracts and other instruments in writing to be signed by any other officer or person or limit the power of the Chief Executive Officer to delegate his authority in any such matter to another officer or other officers of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer or any other officer specified by the Board of Directors may sign certificates of stock as provided in Article XIII hereof;
3. Delegate duties and responsibilities to any other officers and/or employees of the Corporation in any manner not prohibited by these Bylaws or by the Board of Directors, and change such duties and responsibilities so delegated from time to time at will;
4. Call the directors together when he deems it necessary, and have, subject to the advice of the directors, direction of the affairs of the Corporation; and
5. Generally discharge such other duties as may be required of him by the Bylaws of the Corporation.
ARTICLE XI
SECRETARY
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall elect a Secretary:
1. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a record of proceedings of the Board of Directors and of the shareholders, and to keep the corporate seal of the Corporation. He shall be responsible for maintaining proper records showing the number of shares of stock of all classes and series issued and transferred by any shareholder, and the dates of such issuance and transfer;
2. Whenever it is provided in these Bylaws that notice shall be given either of regular or special meetings of the shareholders, regular or special meetings of the directors, or otherwise, such notice shall be given by the Secretary or by the Chief Executive Officer or by any person designated by either of them, or by any authorized person who shall have signed the call for such meeting. Any notice which the Secretary may give or serve, or act required to be done by him, may with like effect be given or served or done by or under the direction of an Assistant Secretary;
3. The Secretary shall discharge such other duties as pertain to his office or which may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
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ARTICLE XII
TREASURER
Section 1. The Treasurer shall receive and keep all the funds of the Corporation and pay them out only on checks or otherwise, as directed by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may provide for a depository of the funds of the Corporation, and may by resolution prescribe the manner in which said funds shall be drawn from said depository.
ARTICLE XIII
CERTIFICATES OF STOCK
Section 1. Certificates of stock shall be of such form and device as the Board of Directors may lawfully direct, and shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by the genuine or facsimile signatures of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer or the President or any authorized Vice President and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. Each certificate shall express on its face its number, date of issuance, the number of shares for which and the person to whom it is issued, the kind of shares represented by said certificate, and such other matters as may be required by law. Certificates of stock may be issued prior to full payment, in harmony with all permits issued by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction in the premises, or as is otherwise allowed by law, but any certificate issued prior to full payment must show on its face what amount has been paid thereon.
ARTICLE XIV
TRANSFER OF STOCK
Section 1. Shares of stock of the Corporation may be transferred at any time by the holders, or by power of attorney, or by their legal representative, by endorsement on the certificate of stock, but no transfer is valid until the surrender of the endorsed certificate. A surrendered certificate shall be delivered up for cancellation before a new one is issued in lieu thereof, and the Secretary shall preserve the certificate so canceled or a suitable record thereof. If, however, a certificate is lost or destroyed, the Board of Directors may order a new certificate issued as is by law required or permitted.
ARTICLE XV
VOTING
Section 1. At all corporate meetings, each shareholder, either in person or by proxy, shall be entitled to as many votes as he owns shares of stock; however, every shareholder entitled to vote at any election for directors shall have the right to cumulate his votes.
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Section 2. 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; 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, which in no case shall exceed seven (7) years from the date of its execution.
ARTICLE XVI
INDEBTEDNESS
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall have power to incur indebtedness, and the terms and amount thereof shall be entered in the minutes. The Board of Directors shall have the power to secure said indebtedness, or any obligation or obligations of the Corporation, by pledge, mortgage, deed of trust, or other security given upon any property owned by it or in which it has any interest.
ARTICLE XVII
REGISTRAR AND/OR TRANSFER AGENT
Section 1. The Board of Directors may designate and appoint one or more registrars and/or transfer agents for the registration of the stock of the Corporation, and make such rules and regulations for the registrations of stock at the office of such registrars and/or transfer agents as may to the Board of Directors seem desirable. The Corporation may act as its own transfer agent, at the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, fix a transfer fee for transfer of stock certificates.
ARTICLE XVIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. Meetings. Notice. When Conclusive.
An entry made in the minutes of the directors or shareholders, pursuant to resolution or recital, to the effect that the notice of such meeting required by these Bylaws to be given has been given, shall be conclusive upon the Corporation, its directors, shareholders, and all other persons that such notice has been duly given in proper form and substance to the proper persons and for the requisite length of time.
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ARTICLE XIX
SEAL
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall provide a suitable seal containing the name of the Corporation, the year of its creation, and other appropriate words, and may alter the same at pleasure.
ARTICLE XX
AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS
Section 1. Power of Shareholders
New Bylaws may be adopted or these Bylaws may be amended or repealed by the vote of shareholders entitled to exercise a majority of the voting power of the Corporation or by the written assent of such shareholders, except as otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Incorporation.
Section 2. Power of Directors
Subject to the right of the shareholders as provided in Section 1 of this Article XX to adopt, amend, or repeal Bylaws, the Board of Directors may adopt, amend, or repeal any of the Bylaws of this Corporation, except that the powers of the Board of Directors to change, and/or establish the authorized number of directors of this Corporation shall be as set forth in Article III of these Bylaws.
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I hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true, and correct copy of the Bylaws of Southwest Gas Corporation, a California Corporation, as in effect on the date hereof.
WITNESS my hand this 2nd day of May 2007.
| Executive Vice President/Chief Financial |
| Officer and Corporate Secretary |
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