Exhibit (3)b
BY-LAWS
OF
KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION
As Amended Through April 24, 2003
Note: For convenience, the masculine has been used in these By-Laws with the
intention that it include the feminine as well.
CAPITAL STOCK
1. CERTIFICATES
Every stockholder shall be entitled to have a certificate in such form as
the Board shall from time to time approve, signed by the Chairman of the Board,
a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President and by the
Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary,
certifying the number of shares owned by him. Any of or all the signatures on
the certificate and the corporate seal may be facsimiles. In case any officer,
transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has
been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer
agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the
corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent, or
registrar at the date of issue. While the corporation is authorized to issue
more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, there shall
be set forth on the face or back of each certificate issued a statement that the
corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the
powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other
special rights of each class of stock or series thereof of the corporation and
the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or
rights.
2. RECORD OWNERSHIP
The name and address of the holder of each certificate, the number of shares
represented thereby, and the date of issuance thereof shall be recorded in the
corporation's books and records. The corporation shall be entitled to treat the
holder of record of any share of stock as the holder in fact thereof, and
accordingly shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or
interest in any share on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall
have express or other notice thereof, except as required by law.
3. TRANSFER
Transfer of stock shall be made on the books of the corporation only by
direction of the person named in the certificate or his attorney, lawfully
constituted in writing, and only upon the surrender for cancellation of the
certificate therefor and a written assignment of the shares evidenced thereby.
4. LOST CERTIFICATES
Any person claiming a stock certificate in lieu of one lost or destroyed
shall give the corporation an affidavit as to his ownership of the certificate
and of the facts which go to prove its loss or destruction. He shall also, if
required by the Board, give the corporation a bond or other indemnification, in
such form as may be approved by the Board, sufficient to indemnify the
corporation against any claim that may be made against it on account of the
alleged loss of the certificate or the issuance of a new certificate.
5. TRANSFER AGENT; REGISTRAR
The corporation shall maintain one or more transfer offices or agencies,
each in charge of a transfer agent designated by the Board, where the shares of
stock of the corporation shall be transferable. The corporation shall also
maintain one or more registry offices, each in charge of a registrar designated
by the Board, where such shares of stock shall be registered. The same entity
may be both transfer agent and registrar.
6. RECORD DATE; CLOSING TRANSFER BOOKS
So that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of
or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or any adjournment thereof, or
entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting as
provided in Article VI of the Certificate of Incorporation, or entitled to
receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of rights, or
entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange
of capital stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may
fix a record date which record date shall not precede the date upon which the
resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board and which record date
shall not be more than sixty days nor less than ten days before the date of such
meeting, nor more than ten days from the date upon which the resolution fixing
the record date is adopted by the Board in the case of a determination of the
stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action without a meeting,
nor more than sixty days before any other action, and only such stockholders as
shall be stockholders of record on the date so fixed shall be entitled to such
notice of and to vote at such meeting, or to give such consent, or to receive
such dividend or other distribution or allotment of rights, or to exercise such
rights, or to take such other lawful action, as the case may be, notwithstanding
any transfer of any stock on the books of the corporation after any such record
date fixed as aforesaid. 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 may fix a new record date for
the adjourned meeting.
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
7. ANNUAL
The annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and the
transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting
shall be held on the third Thursday in April in each year, or on such other day,
which shall not be a legal holiday, as shall be determined by the Board. The
annual meeting shall be held at such place and hour, within or without the State
of Delaware, as shall be determined by the Board. The day, place and hour of
each annual meeting shall be specified in the notice of the annual meeting. The
meeting may be adjourned by the chairman of the meeting from time to time and
place to place. At any adjourned meeting the corporation may transact any
business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. In accordance
with the provisions of applicable law, the Board acting by resolution may
postpone and reschedule any previously scheduled annual meeting of stockholders.
8. SPECIAL
Special meetings shall be held at such place, within or without the State of
Delaware, as may from time to time be fixed consistent with the provisions of
Article VI of the Certificate of Incorporation. In the event no such place has
been fixed, special meetings shall be held at the offices of the corporation
located in Dallas County, Texas. The meeting may be adjourned by the chairman of
the meeting from time to time and place to place. At any adjourned meeting the
corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the
original meeting. In accordance with the provisions of applicable law, the Board
acting by resolution may postpone and reschedule any previously scheduled
special meeting of stockholders.
9. NOTICE
Written notice of every meeting of stockholders, stating the place, day,
hour and purposes thereof, shall, except when otherwise required by law, be
mailed at least ten, but not more than sixty days before such meeting to each
stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat.
10. QUORUM
The holders of a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding
shares of capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote, present in person
or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting, except as
otherwise required by law. In the event of lack of a quorum, the chairman of the
meeting or a majority of the voting power of the shares of capital stock present
in person or represented by proxy may adjourn the meeting from time to time
without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be
obtained. At any such adjourned meeting at which there is a quorum, any business
may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting originally
called. The stockholders present at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is
present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the
withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.
11. CONDUCT OF MEETINGS
(a) The Chief Executive Officer, or in his absence such other officer as may
be designated by the Board, shall be the chairman at stockholders' meetings. The
Secretary of the corporation shall be the secretary at stockholders' meetings
but in his absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint a secretary for the
meeting. The opening and closing of the polls for matters upon which the
stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the
chairman of the meeting. The Board may, to the extent not prohibited by law,
adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of
stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent
with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the chairman of any
meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such
rules, regulations or procedures and to do all acts as, in the judgment of the
chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules,
regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the
chairman of the meeting, may to the extent not prohibited by law include,
without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order
of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at
the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at
or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the corporation,
their duly authorized and constituted proxies (which shall be reasonable in
number) or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine;
(iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the
commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or
comments by participants.
(b) At a meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted
as shall have been properly brought before the meeting in accordance with these
By-Laws. To be properly brought before a meeting, business must (a) be specified
in the notice of the meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the
direction of the Board, (b) otherwise properly be brought before the meeting by
or at the direction of the Board, or (c) otherwise (i) properly be requested to
be brought before the meeting by a stockholder of record entitled to vote in the
election of directors generally, and (ii) constitute a proper subject to be
brought before such meeting. For business to be properly requested to be brought
before an annual meeting of stockholders by a stockholder of record, any
stockholder who intends to bring any matter (other than in connection with the
election of directors) before an annual meeting of stockholders and is entitled
to vote on such matter must deliver written notice of such stockholder's intent
to bring the matter before the annual meeting of stockholders, either by
personal delivery or by United States mail, postage prepaid, to the Secretary of
the corporation. Such notice must be received by the Secretary not less than 75
days nor more than 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding
year's annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the
annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed by more than 60 days
from such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so
delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 100th day prior to such
annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 75th
day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which
public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. In no event shall
the public announcement of an adjournment of an annual meeting commence a new
time period for the giving of a stockholder notice as described above. For
purposes of this By-Law 11, "public announcement" shall mean the date disclosure
of the date of the meeting of stockholders is first made in a press release
reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national
news service, or in a document publicly filed by the corporation with the
Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14, or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Only such business shall be
conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before
the meeting pursuant to the corporation's notice of meeting.
A stockholder's notice to the Secretary required by this By-Law 11 shall set
forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting of
stockholders: (i) a brief description of the business to be brought before the
meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting; (ii) the
name and address of the stockholder intending to propose such business; (iii)
the number of shares of stock of the corporation beneficially held, either
personally or in concert with others, by the stockholder, and a representation
that the stockholder is a holder of stock of the corporation entitled to vote at
such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to
present such proposal; and (iv) any material interest of the stockholder in such
business. No business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders except in
accordance with the procedures set forth in this By-Law 11. The chairman of the
meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that
the business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the
provisions hereof and, if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the
meeting that any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not
be transacted.
12. VOTING
Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, at each
meeting of the stockholders, each holder of shares entitled to vote at such
meeting shall, as to all matters in respect of which such shares have voting
rights, be entitled to one vote in person or by written proxy for each share
held of record by him. No vote upon any matter, except the election of directors
or the amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation, is required to be by
ballot unless demanded by the holders of at least 10% of the voting power of the
shares of capital stock represented and entitled to vote at the meeting. All
motions to introduce a matter for a vote by the stockholders at a meeting
thereof, except for nominations for election as directors recommended by the
Nominating Committee and approved by the Board, shall be seconded prior to a
vote thereon by the stockholders.
A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for him as
proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a telegram, cablegram,
or other means of electronic transmission to the person who will be the holder
of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization
or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy
to receive such transmission, provided that any such telegram, cablegram or
other means of electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted
with information from which it can be determined that the telegram, cablegram or
other electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder.
The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter
upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the
meeting. No ballot, proxies or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes
thereto, shall be accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the polls. All
elections and questions shall be decided by plurality vote, except as otherwise
required by the laws of Delaware or the Certificate of Incorporation.
13. INSPECTORS OF ELECTION
The Chief Executive Officer shall, in advance of any meeting of
stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a
written report thereof. He may designate one or more persons as alternate
inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or
alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the
meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each
inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign
an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality
and according to the best of his ability.
The inspectors shall (i) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the
voting power of each, (ii) determine the number of shares represented at a
meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and
ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the
disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors, and
(v) certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the
meeting, and their count of all votes and ballots. The inspectors may appoint or
retain other persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance of
the duties of the inspectors. The inspectors shall determine the validity of and
count the proxies and ballots in accordance with applicable law.
14. LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS
A complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at stockholders'
meetings (arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each
stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder)
shall be prepared by the Secretary and filed at least ten days prior to each
meeting, either at a place specified in the notice of such meeting within the
city or town where such meeting is to be held, or if no such place is specified,
at the place where such meeting is to be held. Such list shall be open to the
examination of any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting, and shall
be produced and kept at the time and place of such meeting during the whole time
thereof, and subject to the inspection of any stockholder who may be present.
The original or duplicate stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are
stockholders entitled to inspect such list.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
15. RESIGNATION
A director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the
corporation, addressed to the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary. Such
resignation shall take effect at the date of receipt of such notice or at any
later time specified therein. Acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary
to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the notice.
16. ANNUAL MEETING
A meeting of the Board, to be known as the annual Board meeting, shall be
held without call or notice immediately after and at the same general place as
the annual meeting of the stockholders. The annual Board meeting shall be held
for the purpose of organizing the Board, electing officers, and transacting any
other business that may properly come before the meeting.
17. REGULAR MEETINGS
Regular meetings of the Board may be held without call or notice at such
place and at such time as shall be fixed by the Board.
18. SPECIAL MEETINGS
Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chief Executive Officer,
and shall be called by the Secretary upon the request in writing of not less
than two of the directors then in office. Special meetings of the Board may be
held at such place and at such time as shall be designated in the call thereof.
Notice of special meetings of the Board shall either be mailed by the Chief
Executive Officer or the Secretary to each director at least three days before
the meeting, or served upon, or sent by electronic means by the Chief Executive
Officer or the Secretary to, each director at least one day before the meeting,
but during an emergency as defined in By-Law 20, notice may be given only to
such of the directors as it may be feasible to reach at the time and by such
means as may be feasible at the time, including publications or private or
public electronic means. Unless required by law, the notice need not state the
purposes of the meeting.
19. TELEPHONIC MEETINGS
Members of the Board or any committee designated by the Board may
participate in a meeting of such Board or 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 shall
constitute presence in person at such meeting.
20. QUORUM
Except during the existence of an emergency and except as otherwise provided
in these By-Laws or in the Certificate of Incorporation, one-third of the total
number of directors, as fixed pursuant to Section (2) of Article VIII of the
Certificate of Incorporation, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business. During the existence of an emergency, three directors shall constitute
a quorum for the transaction of business. To the extent required to constitute a
quorum at any meeting of the Board during an emergency, the officers of the
corporation who are present shall be deemed, in order of rank and within the
same rank in order of seniority, directors for such meeting. Subject to the
provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the action of the majority of
directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of
the Board. In the event of lack of a quorum, a majority of the directors present
may adjourn the meeting from time to time without notice other than announcement
at the meeting until a quorum shall be obtained. At any such adjourned meeting
at which there is a quorum, any business may be transacted which might have been
transacted at the meeting originally called.
An "emergency" for the purpose of these By-Laws shall be any emergency
resulting from an attack on the United States or on a locality in which the
corporation conducts its business or customarily holds meetings of its Board or
its stockholders, or during any nuclear or atomic disaster, or during the
existence of any catastrophe, or other similar emergency condition, as a result
of which a quorum of the Board or a standing committee thereof cannot readily be
convened for action.
21. ACTION WITHOUT MEETING
Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board may
be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board consent thereto in
writing and such written consent is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of
the Board.
22. ORGANIZATION
The Chairman of the Board, or in his absence the Chief Executive Officer, or
in his absence a director chosen by the directors present, shall act as chairman
at meetings of the Board. The Secretary of the corporation shall act as
secretary at meetings of the Board but in his absence the chairman of the
meeting may appoint a secretary for the meeting.
23. COMPENSATION
The compensation of directors for services as directors and as members of
committees of the Board shall be as fixed by the Board from time to time. The
compensation, if any, of the directors need not be uniform as between directors
and the compensation, if any, of the members of the committees of the Board need
not be uniform either as between members of a committee or as between
committees. The Board shall provide for reimbursing the directors for expenses
incurred in attending meetings of the Board or committees thereof.
Any director may also serve the corporation in any other capacity and
receive compensation, including fees and expenses, for such service.
24. INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS
The nomination of an individual to serve as a member of the Board shall be
such that immediately after the election of such nominee to the Board a majority
of all directors holding office shall, in the determination of the Board, be
independent directors.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
25. STANDING AND OTHER COMMITTEES
The directors shall from time to time designate, by resolution passed by a
majority of the entire Board of Directors (as defined in Section (2) of Article
VIII of the Certificate of Incorporation), an Audit Committee, a Compensation
Committee, an Executive Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee, each of which shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board in
the direction of the business and affairs of the corporation in respect to the
matters and to the extent hereinafter set forth, subject to the power of the
Board to assign from time to time to any such committees or to any other
committees such powers in respect to specific matters as the Board may deem
desirable. These four committees shall be the standing committees of the
corporation. The Board may, by resolution passed by a majority of the entire
Board of Directors, designate such other committees as it from time to time may
deem appropriate; no such committee shall consist of fewer than two directors,
and the powers of each such committee shall be limited to those specified in the
resolution designating the committee.
26. PROCEDURE AND COMMITTEE CHARTERS
Each committee shall fix its own rules of procedure and shall meet where and
as provided by such rules, but the presence of a majority shall be necessary to
constitute a quorum, unless otherwise provided by these By-Laws. Each committee
shall keep minutes of its meetings. Any action required or permitted to be taken
at any meeting of any committee may be taken without a meeting if all the
members consent thereto in writing and such written consent is filed with the
minutes of the proceedings of such committee. All action by each committee shall
be reported to the Board. The Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committees shall each adopt, subject to the approval of the Board, a
committee charter that identifies the responsibilities and processes of such
committee.
27. AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee shall consist of three or more members. The Board shall
select the members of the Audit Committee from among the directors who are not
officers or employees of the corporation and shall designate the Chairman of the
Committee. The members of the Audit Committee shall meet the independence and
experience requirements of the New York Stock Exchange, the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission. All Audit Committee members shall be financially literate, and at
least one member shall be a financial expert, as defined by the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock
Exchange. The Audit Committee shall, with respect to the corporation and the
other entities as to which the corporation has power to select and engage
auditors, select and engage independent public accountants to audit books,
records and accounts, determine the scope of audits to be made by the auditors
and establish policy in connection with internal audit programs and the scope
thereof, and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time
prescribe, including those set forth in the Audit Committee charter.
28. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The Compensation Committee shall consist of three or more members. The Board
shall select the members of the Compensation Committee from among the
independent directors and shall designate the Chairman of the Committee. The
Compensation Committee shall constitute the Stock Option Committee provided for
under any stock option plan of the corporation. It shall from time to time fix
the compensation of employees who are directors of the corporation and, in
consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, the compensation of officers of
the corporation who are elected by the Board. The Compensation Committee shall
perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time prescribe,
including those set forth in the Compensation Committee charter.
29. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee shall consist of three or more members including, by
virtue of his office, the Chief Executive Officer. The Board shall select the
other members of the Committee from among the directors and shall designate the
Chairman thereof.
The Executive Committee, when the Board is not in session, shall have and
may exercise all of the powers of the Board to direct the business and the
affairs of the corporation, including but not limited to the power to declare
dividends and to authorize the issuance of stock, except the powers hereinafter
in these By-Laws assigned to any other standing committee and except to the
extent, if any, that the authority of the Committee may be limited in any
respect by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-Laws.
30. NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall consist of three or
more members. The Board shall select the members of the Nominating Committee
from among the independent directors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee shall have the power to: propose and consider suggestions as to
candidates for membership on the Board; periodically recommend to the Board
candidates for vacancies on the Board due to resignations or retirements or due
to such standards for composition of Board membership as may from time to time
legally prevail; review and recommend to the Board such modifications to the
prevailing Board of Directors retirement policy as may be deemed appropriate in
light of contemporary standards; propose to the Board on or before March 1 of
each year a slate of directors for submission to the stockholders at the annual
meeting; oversee matters of corporate governance, including advising the Board
on board organization, membership and function, committee structure and
membership, and succession planning for executive management of the corporation;
review and make recommendations to the Board from time to time with respect to
the compensation of directors pursuant to By-Law 23; and such other duties as
the Board may from time to time prescribe, including those set forth in the
Nominating and Corporate Governance charter.
31. ALTERNATES; VACANCIES IN COMMITTEES
The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any
committee. Alternate members shall serve, in the order in which the Board shall
determine, when one or more members of the committee shall be absent or
disqualified. Alternate members may attend committee meetings as observers,
without the right to vote when all members are present; when fewer than all are
present, only an alternate member serving in the place of an absent or
disqualified member shall have the right to vote. If no alternate is available,
the committee member or members thereof present at any meeting and not
disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may
unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in place
of any absent or disqualified member. All members of all committees (including
Chairmen) shall serve at the pleasure of the Board.
OFFICERS
32. DESIGNATION; ELECTION; QUALIFICATION; TERM
Each year at the annual Board meeting the directors shall elect a Chairman
of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a Secretary and a Treasurer. From time
to time the Board may also elect or appoint a Vice Chairman of the Board or Vice
Chairmen of the Board, a President, such Executive, Senior or other Vice
Presidents as it may deem appropriate, a Chief Financial Officer, and such other
officers, including a Controller, Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant
Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Controllers, as it may deem
appropriate. The Chief Executive Officer may appoint any officers of the
corporation not required to be elected by the Board, as he may deem appropriate.
The Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, and any Vice Chairman of
the Board must be directors; no other officer need be a director. Any number of
offices may be held by the same person. The term of each officer, whenever
elected or appointed, shall be until the election or appointment (as the case
may be) and qualification of his successor or until his earlier resignation or
removal.
33. DUTIES
The officers shall have such powers and perform such duties as are
prescribed in these By-Laws, or, in the case of an officer whose powers and
duties are not so prescribed, as may be assigned by the Board or delegated by or
through the Chief Executive Officer.
34. RESIGNATION; REMOVAL; VACANCIES
Any officer may resign at any time by giving notice to the corporation
addressed to the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary. Such resignation
shall take effect at the date of the receipt of such notice or at any later time
specified therein. Acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it
effective unless otherwise stated in the notice. Any officer may be removed by
the Board at any time with or without cause. Any appointed officer may be
removed by the Chief Executive Officer at any time with or without cause. A
vacancy in any office may be filled by the Board, and a vacancy in any appointed
office may be filled by the Chief Executive Officer, for the unexpired portion
of the term.
35. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
The Chief Executive Officer of the corporation shall be elected by the
Board. Subject to the Board, he shall be in general and active charge, control
and supervision over the management and direction of the business, property and
affairs of the corporation. He shall keep the Board fully informed, and shall
freely consult it, concerning the business of the corporation in his charge.
He shall, subject to these By-Laws, have authority to:
(i) appoint or approve the appointment of employees to various posts and
positions in the corporation bearing titles designated or approved by
him and to prescribe their authority and duties, which may include the
authority to appoint subordinates to various other posts and positions;
and
(ii) remove or approve the removal of employees so appointed; and
(iii) sign, execute and acknowledge, on behalf of the corporation, all
deeds, mortgages, bonds, notes, debentures, stock certificates,
contracts, including contracts of guaranty and suretyship, leases,
reports and other documents and instruments, except where the signing or
execution thereof by some other officer or employee of the corporation
shall be expressly authorized and directed by law, or by the Board, or
by these By-Laws. Unless otherwise provided by law, or by these By-Laws,
or by the Board, he may authorize in a writing filed with the Secretary,
any officer, employee, or agent of the corporation to sign, execute and
acknowledge, on behalf of the corporation and in his place and stead,
any or all such documents and instruments.
He shall have such other authority and perform such other duties as are
incident to the office of Chief Executive Officer and as may be prescribed from
time to time by the Board and these By-Laws.
In the absence or disability of the Chief Executive Officer, or in case of
an unfilled vacancy in that office, until such time as the Board shall elect his
successor, his duties shall be performed and his powers shall be exercised by
other elected officers of the corporation who are also directors (unless none
are directors) in the order in which such officers were listed in their
respective elections.
36. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND PRESIDENT
The Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman of the Board and the President,
each acting alone, shall have authority to sign, execute and acknowledge on
behalf of the corporation, all deeds, mortgages, bonds, notes, debentures, stock
certificates, contracts, including contracts of guaranty and suretyship, leases,
reports and other documents and instruments, except where the signing or
execution thereof by some other officer or employee shall be expressly
authorized and directed by law, or by the Board, or by the Chief Executive
Officer or by these By-Laws. Each shall have such additional powers and perform
such additional duties as may be assigned to him by the Board or as may be
delegated to him by the Chief Executive Officer.
37. VICE PRESIDENTS
Each Vice President shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be
assigned to him by the Board or as may be delegated to him by the Chief
Executive Officer.
Each Executive Vice President shall have authority to sign, execute and
acknowledge on behalf of the corporation, all deeds, mortgages, bonds, notes,
debentures, contracts, including contracts of guaranty and suretyship, leases,
reports and other documents and instruments, except where the signing or
execution thereof by some other officer or employee shall be expressly
authorized and directed by law, or by the Board, or by the Chief Executive
Officer, or by these By-Laws.
38. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
The Chief Financial Officer shall:
(i) be the principal financial officer of the corporation and have
responsibility for all financial affairs of the corporation; and
(ii) protect the cash, securities, receivables and other financial
resources of the corporation, have responsibility for investment,
receipt, custody and disbursement of such resources, and establish
policies for granting credit to customers; and
(iii) maintain the creditworthiness of the corporation; and
(iv) negotiate and procure capital required by the corporation,
including long-term debt and equity, maintain adequate sources for the
corporation's short-term financing requirements and maintain banking
relationships; and
(v) administer the accounting policies of the corporation and the
internal controls with respect to its financial affairs; and
(vi) supervise the corporation's books of account, and have access to
all records, including the Secretary's records; and
(vii) in general, have such other powers and perform such other duties
as may be assigned from time to time by the Board or by or through the
Chief Executive Officer.
39. CONTROLLER
The Controller shall:
(i) be the principal accounting officer of the corporation; and
(ii) have custody and charge of the corporation's books of account, and
have access to all records, including the Secretary's and the
Treasurer's records, for purpose of obtaining information necessary to
verify or complete the records of the Controller's office; and
(iii) implement the policies for granting credit to customers; and
(iv) implement the internal controls with respect to the financial
affairs of the corporation; and
(v) have the responsibility for processing vouchers for payment by the
Treasurer; and
(vi) in general, have such other powers and perform such other duties as
may be assigned from time to time by the Board or by or through the
Chief Executive Officer.
40. SECRETARY
The Secretary shall:
(i) attend and keep the minutes of all meetings of the stockholders, the
Board, and of such committees as the Board may direct; and
(ii) have custody of the corporate seal and all corporate records
(including transfer books and stock ledgers), contracts, papers,
instruments, documents and books of the corporation except those
required to be kept by other officers under these By-Laws; and
(iii) sign on behalf of the corporation such documents and instruments
as require his signature when approved in accordance with these By-Laws,
and to such documents he shall affix the corporate seal when necessary
and may do so when he deems it desirable; and
(iv) see that notices are given and records and reports are properly
kept and filed by the corporation as required by these By-Laws or as
required by law; and
(v) in general, have such other powers and perform such other duties as
are incident to the office of Secretary and as may be assigned to him
from time to time by the Board or by or through the Chief Executive
Officer.
41. TREASURER
The Treasurer shall:
(i) receive and sign receipts for all moneys paid to the corporation and
shall deposit the same in the name and to the credit of the corporation
in authorized banks or depositories; and
(ii) when necessary or desirable, endorse for collection on behalf of
the corporation all checks, drafts, notes and other obligations payable
to it; and
(iii) disburse the funds of the corporation only upon vouchers duly
processed and under such rules and regulations as the Board may from
time to time adopt; and
(iv) keep full and accurate accounts of the transactions of his office
in books belonging to the corporation; and
(v) render as the Board may direct an account of the transactions of his
office; and
(vi) in general, have such other powers and perform such other duties as
are incident to the office of Treasurer and as may be assigned to him
from time to time by the Board or by or through the Chief Executive
Officer.
MISCELLANEOUS
42. OFFICES
The registered office of the corporation in the State of Delaware shall be
located at 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 and the name of the
registered agent in charge thereof shall be The Corporation Trust Company. The
corporation may have such other offices as the Board may from time to time
determine. The books of the corporation may be kept outside the State of
Delaware.
43. SEAL
The corporation's seal shall be circular in form with "KIMBERLY-CLARK
CORPORATION -- DELAWARE" around the periphery and "1928 -- CORPORATE SEAL"
within.
44. FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the corporation shall begin on January 1 of each year.
45. ANNUAL REPORT
At least fifteen days in advance of the annual meeting of stockholders, but
not later than three months after the close of the fiscal year, the Board shall
publish and submit to the stockholders a consolidated balance sheet of the
corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the end of the previous
fiscal year and the related consolidated income and cash flow statements of the
corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries for the previous fiscal year.
46. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
The corporation shall:
(i) indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be
made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other
than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact
that he is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or is or was
serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of
another corporation, or in the case of an officer or director of the
corporation is or was serving as an employee or agent of a partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including
attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually
and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or
proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or
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
he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful; and
(ii) indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be
made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in
the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of
the fact that he is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or is
or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of
another corporation, or in the case of an officer or director of the
corporation is or was serving as an employee or agent of a partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including
attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with
the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith
and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be
made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall
have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the
extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit
was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication
of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person
is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the
Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
The corporation shall be required to indemnify an indemnitee in connection
with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee against the
corporation or any of its directors, officers or employees only if the
initiation of such proceeding (or part thereof) by the indemnitee was authorized
by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the corporation shall be required
to indemnify an indemnitee in connection with a proceeding seeking to enforce
rights to indemnification without the authorization of the Board to the extent
that such proceeding is successful on the merits. To the extent that a director
or officer of the corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in
defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (i) and
(ii), or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be
indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection therewith.
Any indemnification under subsections (i) and (ii) (unless ordered by a
court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case
upon a determination that indemnification of the director or officer is proper
in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set
forth in subsections (i) and (ii). Such determination shall be made (1) by a
majority vote of the directors who were not parties to such action, suit or
proceedings, even though less than a quorum; or (2) if there are no such
directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a
written opinion; or (3) by the stockholders.
Expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred in defending any civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid
by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or
proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or
officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not
entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this By-Law.
The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted
pursuant to, the other paragraphs of this By-Law shall not be deemed exclusive
of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of
expenses may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity
and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall
continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall
inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a
person.
The corporation's obligation, if any, to indemnify any person who was or is
serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity
shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification from
such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or
nonprofit entity.
The Board may authorize and direct that insurance be purchased and
maintained on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director or officer of another corporation, or in the case of an officer or
director of the corporation is or was serving as an employee or agent of a
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability
asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of
his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to
indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this By-Law.
47. RELIANCE ON RECORDS
Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board, and
each officer, shall, in the performance of his duties, be fully protected in
relying in good faith upon the records of the corporation and upon such
information, opinion, reports or statements presented to the corporation by any
of the corporation's officers or employees, or committees of the Board, or by
any other person as to matters the director, member or officer reasonably
believes are within such other person's professional or expert competence and
who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the corporation.
48. INSPECTION OF BOOKS
The directors shall determine from time to time whether, and, to what extent
and at what times and places and under what conditions and regulations the
accounts and other books and records of the corporation (except such as may by
statute be specifically open to inspection) or any of them, shall be open to the
inspection of the stockholders, and the stockholders' rights in this respect are
and shall be restricted and limited accordingly.
49. TRANSACTIONS WITH THE CORPORATION
No contract or transaction between the corporation and one or more of its
directors or officers, or between the corporation and any other corporation,
partnership, association, or other organization in which one or more of its
directors or officers are directors or officers, or have a financial interest,
shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director
or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board or
committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely
because his or their votes are counted for such purpose, if:
(i) the material facts as to his relationship or interest and as to the
contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board or the
committee, and the Board or committee in good faith authorizes the
contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the
disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less
than a quorum; or
(ii) the material facts as to his relationship or interest and as to the
contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders
entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is
specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or
(iii) the contract or transaction is fair as to the corporation as of
the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the Board, a
committee thereof, or the stockholders.
Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of
a quorum at a meeting of the Board or of a committee which authorizes the
contract or transaction.
No other contract or transaction in which a director or officer has an
interest and which may, under law, be authorized, approved or ratified by the
Board, a committee thereof, or the stockholders shall be void or voidable if
authorized, approved or ratified by the body which under law may authorize,
approve or ratify such contract or transaction.
50. RATIFICATION
Any transaction questioned in any stockholders' derivative suit on the
ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest
of director, officer or stockholder, nondisclosure, miscomputation, or the
application of improper principles or practices of accounting may be ratified
before or after judgment, by the Board or by the stockholders in case less than
a quorum of directors is qualified; and, if so ratified, shall have the same
force and effect as if the questioned transaction had been originally duly
authorized, and said ratification shall be binding upon the corporation and its
stockholders and shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any
judgment in respect to such questioned transaction.
51. VOTING OF STOCKS
Unless otherwise ordered by the Board, any one of the Chief Executive
Officer, the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice Chairman of the
Board, any Executive Vice President or any Senior Vice President shall have full
power and authority, on behalf of the corporation, to consent to or approve of
any action by, and to attend, act and vote at any meeting of stockholders of,
any company in which the corporation may hold shares of stock, and in giving
such consent or approval or at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise
any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership of such shares and which
as the holder thereof, the corporation might possess and exercise if personally
present, and may exercise such power and authority through the execution of
proxies or may delegate such power and authority to any other officer, agent or
employee of the corporation.
52. NOTICE
Any notice which the corporation is required to give under these By-Laws may
be given personally or it may be given in writing by depositing the notice in
the post office or letter box in a postpaid envelope directed to such address as
appears on the books of the corporation. Such notice shall be deemed to be given
at the time of mailing.
53. WAIVER OF NOTICE
Whenever any notice is required to be given, a waiver thereof in writing
signed by the person or persons entitled to the notice, whether before or after
the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto.
54. DISPENSING WITH NOTICE
No notice need be given to any person with whom communication is made
unlawful by any law of the United States or any rule, regulation, proclamation
or executive order issued under any such law.
55. AMENDMENTS
Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-Laws
may be altered, amended or repealed by the stockholders or by the Board.