KENETECH CORPORATION
-----------------------
RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
KENETECH CORPORATION
A Delaware Corporation
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. Registered Office. The registered office of the corporation in
the State of Delaware shall be located at the Corporation Trust Center, 1209
Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of the
corporation's registered agent at such address shall be the Corporation Trust
Company. The registered office and/or registered agent of the corporation may be
changed from time to time by action of the board of directors.
Section 2. Other Offices. 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. Place and Time of Meetings. An annual meeting of stockholders
shall be held each year at such place as shall be determined by the board of
directors of the corporation, for the purpose of electing directors and
conducting such other proper business as may come before the meeting. The date,
time and place of the annual meeting shall be determined by the board of
directors.
Section 2. Special Meetings. [amended 11/16/95] Special meetings of
stockholders may be called for any purpose and may be held at such time and
place, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be stated in a notice
of meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof. Such meetings may be
called at any time by the board of directors, the president or the chief
executive officer of the corporation. No business may be transacted at any
special meeting otherwise than as specified in the notice to stockholders of
such meeting.
Section 3. Place of Meetings. The board of directors may designate any
place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the place of meeting
for any annual meeting or for any special meeting called by the board of
directors. If no designation is made, or if a special meeting is otherwise
called, the place of meeting shall be the principal executive office of the
corporation.
Section 4. Notice. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take
action at a meeting, written or printed notice stating the place, date, time,
and, in the case of special meetings, the purpose or purposes, of such 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. All such notices
shall be delivered, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the
board of directors, the president or the secretary, and if mailed, such notice
shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail,
postage prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his, her or its address as the
same appears on the records of the corporation. Attendance of a person at a
meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the
person attends for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the
meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully
called or convened.
Section 5. Stockholders List. The officer having charge of the stock
ledger of the corporation shall make, at least 10 days before every meeting of
the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at such
meeting arranged in alphabetical order, showing the address of each stockholder
and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list
shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to
the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 10 days
prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to
be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting or, if not
so specified, at the place where the meeting is to held. The list shall also be
produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time
thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.
Section 6. Quorum. The holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
capital stock, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a
quorum at all meetings of the stockholders, except as otherwise provided by
statute or by the certificate of incorporation. If a quorum is not present, the
holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at
the meeting, and entitled to vote at the meeting, may adjourn the meeting to
another time and/or place.
Section 7. Adjourned Meetings. When a meeting is adjourned to another time
and place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and
place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At
the adjourned meeting the corporation may transact any business which might have
been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than
thirty 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. Vote Required. When a quorum is present, the affirmative vote
of the majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the
meeting and entitled to vote the subject matter shall be the act of the
stockholders, unless the question is one upon which by express provisions of an
applicable law 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. Where a separate vote by class is required, the
affirmative vote of the majority of shares of such class present in person or
represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter
shall be the act of such class.
Section 9. Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided by the General
Corporation Law of Delaware or by the certificate of incorporation of the
corporation or any amendments thereto and subject to Section 3 of Article VI
hereof, every stockholder shall at every meeting of the stockholders be entitled
to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of common stock held by such
stockholder. The holders of preferred stock will be entitled to vote as provided
by law and by the corporation's certificate of incorporation or any amendments
thereto.
Section 10. Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of
stockholders to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing
without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for him, her or
it by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years
from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed
proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only
as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an
irrevocable power. A proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the
interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an
interest in the corporation generally. Any proxy is suspended when the person
executing the proxy is present at a meeting of stockholders and elects to vote,
except that when such proxy is coupled with an interest and the fact of the
interest appears on the face of the proxy, the agent named in the proxy shall
have all voting and other rights referred to in the proxy, notwithstanding the
presence of the person executing the proxy. At each meeting of the stockholders,
and before any voting commences, all proxies filed at or before the meeting
shall be submitted to and examined by the secretary or a person designated by
the secretary, and no shares may be represented or voted under a proxy that has
been found to be invalid or irregular.
Section 11. Advance Notice of Stockholder Nominees and Stockholder
Business. To be properly brought before an annual meeting or special meeting,
nominations for the election of director or other business must be (a) specified
in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the
direction of the board of directors, (b) otherwise properly brought before the
meeting by or at the direction of the board of directors, or (c) otherwise
properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder. For such nominations or
other business to be considered properly brought before the meeting by a
stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice and in proper form
of such stockholder's intent to bring such business before such meeting. To be
timely, such stockholder's notice must be delivered or mailed to and received by
the secretary of the corporation not less than 90 days prior to the meeting;
provided, however, that in the event that less than 100 days notice or prior
public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders,
notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the
close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such notice of the
date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. To be in
proper form, a stockholder's notice to the secretary shall set forth:
(i) the name and address of the stockholder who intends to make the
nominations or propose the business, and, as the case may be, the name and
address of the person or persons to be nominated or the nature of the
business to be proposed;
(ii) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of
stock of the corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and, if
applicable, intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to
nominate the person or persons specified in the notice or introduce the
business specified in the notice;
(iii) if applicable, a description of all arrangements or
understandings between the stockholder and each nominee and any other
person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the
nomination or nominations are to be made by the stockholder;
(iv) such other information regarding each nominee or each matter of
business to be proposed by such stockholder as would be required to be
included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission had the nominee been nominated, or
intended to be nominated, or the matter been proposed, or intended to be
proposed by the board of directors; and
(v) if applicable, the consent of each nominee to serve as director of
the corporation if so elected.
The chairman of the meeting may refuse to acknowledge the nomination
of any person or the proposal of any business not made in compliance with
the foregoing procedure.
ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. General Powers. The business and affairs of the corporation
shall be managed by or under the direction of the board of directors.
Section 2. Number, Election and Term of Office. [amended 2/27/97] The
number of directors which shall constitute the board of directors shall be fixed
by resolution of the board of directors from time to time, but in no event shall
be less than one nor more than nine. The directors shall be elected by a
plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy
at the meeting and entitled to vote in the election of directors. The directors
shall be elected in this manner at the annual meeting of the stockholders,
except as provided in Section 5 of this Article III.
Section 3. Classes of Directors. The directors shall be divided and
elected into three classes designated as Class I, Class II and Class III,
respectively. At the first annual meeting of stockholders following the initial
election and designation of directors into classes, the term of office of the
Class I directors shall expire and Class I directors shall be elected for a full
term of three years. At the second annual meeting of stockholders following the
initial election and designation, the term of office of the Class II directors
shall expire and Class II directors shall be elected for a full term of three
years. At the third annual meeting of stockholders following the initial
election and designation, the term of office of the Class III directors shall
expire and Class III directors shall be elected for a full term of three years.
At each succeeding annual meeting of stockholders, directors shall be elected
for a full term of three years to succeed the directors of the class whose terms
expire at such annual meeting.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article, each director
shall serve until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until
his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the number of
directors constituting the board of directors shall shorten the term of any
incumbent director.
Section 4. Removal and Resignation. Any director or the entire board of
directors of the corporation may be removed at any time, but only for cause and
only by the affirmative vote of the holders of 75% or more of the outstanding
shares of capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors (considered for this purpose as one class) cast at a
meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, and except as otherwise required by law, whenever the holders of any
class or series are entitled to elect one or more directors by the provisions of
the corporation's certificate of incorporation, the provisions of this Section
shall apply, in respect to the removal of a director or directors so elected, to
the vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of that class or series and
not to the vote of the outstanding shares as a whole. Any director may resign at
any time upon written notice to the corporation.
Section 5. Vacancies. Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting
from any increase in the authorized number of directors shall be filled by the
holders of a majority of the corporation's outstanding stock entitled to vote
for the election of directors. Each director so chosen shall hold office until a
successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death,
resignation or removal as herein provided.
Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or these
bylaws:
(i) Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any
increase in the authorized number of directors elected by all of the
stockholders having the right to vote as a single class may be filled by a
majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or
by a sole remaining director.
(ii) Whenever the holders of any class or classes of stock or series
thereof are entitled to elect one or more directors by the provisions of
the certificate of incorporation, vacancies and newly created
directorships of such class or classes or series may be filled by a
majority of the directors elected by such class or classes or series
thereof then in office, or by a sole remaining director so elected.
If at any time, by reason of death or resignation or other cause, the
corporation should have no directors in office, then any officer or any
stockholder or an executor, administrator, trustee or guardian of a stockholder,
or other fiduciary entrusted with like responsibility for the person or estate
of stockholder, may call a special meeting of stockholders in accordance with
the provisions of the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, or may apply
to the Court of Chancery for a decree summarily ordering an election as provided
in Section 211 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
If, at the time of filling any vacancy or any newly created directorship,
the directors then in office constitute less than a majority of the whole board
of directors (as constituted immediately prior to any such increase), then the
Court of Chancery may, upon application of any stockholder or stockholders
holding at least ten (10) percent of the total number of the shares at the time
outstanding having the right to vote for such directors, summarily order an
election to be held to fill any such vacancies or newly created directorships,
or to replace the directors chosen by the directors then in office as aforesaid,
which election shall be governed by the provisions of Section 211 of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware as far as applicable.
Section 6. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of each newly elected board
of directors shall be held without other notice than this bylaw immediately
after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of stockholders.
Section 7. Other Meetings and Notice. Regular meetings, other than the
annual meeting, 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 resolution of
the board of directors. Special meetings of the board of directors may be called
by or at the request of the president or any two directors on at least 48 hours
notice to each director, either personally, by telephone, by mail, by telegraph,
by facsimile transmission or by other like electronic means.
Section 8. Quorum, Required Vote and Adjournment. A majority of the total
number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
The vote of a majority of directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is
present shall be the act of the board of directors. 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. Committees. The board of directors may, by resolution passed by
a majority of the whole board, designate one or more committees, each committee
to consist of one or more of the directors of the corporation, which to the
extent provided in such resolution or these bylaws shall have and may exercise
the powers of the board of directors in the management and affairs of the
corporation except as otherwise limited by law. The board of directors may
designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may
replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. 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. Each committee
shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the board of
directors when required.
Section 10. Committee Rules. Each committee of the board of directors may
fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such
rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the board of
directors designating such committee. Unless otherwise provided in such a
resolution, the presence of at least a majority of the members of the committee
shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. In the event that a member and that
member's alternate, if alternates are designated by the board of directors as
provided in Section 9 of this Article III, of such committee is or are absent or
disqualified, 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 place of any such absent or disqualified member.
Section 11. Communications Equipment. Members of the board of directors or
any committee thereof may participate in and act at any meeting of such board or
committee through the use of a conference telephone or other communications
equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear
each other, and participation in the meeting pursuant to this Section shall
constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 12. Waiver of Notice and Presumption of Assent. Any member of the
board of directors or any committee thereof who is present at a meeting shall be
conclusively presumed to have waived notice of such meeting except when such
member attends for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the
meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully
called or convened. Such member shall be conclusively presumed to have assented
to any action taken unless his or her dissent shall be entered in the minutes of
the meeting or unless his or her written dissent to such action shall be filed
with the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment
thereof or shall be forwarded by registered mail to the secretary of the
corporation immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to
dissent shall not apply to any member who voted in favor of such action.
Section 13. Action by Written Consent. Unless otherwise restricted by the
certificate of incorporation of the corporation, 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.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. Number. The officers of the corporation shall be elected by the
board of directors and shall consist of a chief executive officer, one or more
vice-presidents, a secretary and a chief financial officer, and such other
officers and assistant officers as may be deemed necessary or desirable by the
board of directors. The corporation may also have, at the discretion of the
board of directors, a chairman of the board, a president, a chief operating
officer, one or more executive, senior or assistant vice presidents, assistant
secretaries and any such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with
the provisions of Section 2 of Article IV of these bylaws. Any number of offices
may be held by the same person. In its discretion, the board of directors may
choose not to fill any office for any period as it may deem advisable.
Section 2. Election and Term of Office. The officers of the corporation
shall be elected annually by the board of directors at its first meeting held
after each annual meeting of stockholders or as soon thereafter as conveniently
may be. Vacancies may be filled or new offices created and filled at any meeting
of the board of directors. Each officer shall hold office until a successor is
duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or
removal as hereinafter provided.
Section 3. Removal and Resignation. Any officer or agent elected by the
board of directors may be removed by the board of directors whenever in its
judgment the best interest of the corporation would be served thereby, but such
removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person
so removed.
Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the
corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of
that notice or at any later time specified in that notice; and, unless otherwise
specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be
necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the
rights, if any, of the corporation under any contract to which the officer is a
party.
Section 4. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in any office because of
death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise, may be filled by the
board of directors for the unexpired portion of the term by the board of
directors then in office.
Section 5. Compensation. Compensation of all officers shall be fixed by the
board of directors, and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such
compensation by virtue of his or her also being a director of the corporation.
Section 6. Chairman of the Board. The chairman of the board, if such an
officer be elected, shall, if present, preside at meetings of the board of
directors and exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may from time
to time be assigned to him or her by the board of directors or as may be
prescribed by these bylaws. If there is no chief executive officer, then the
chairman of the board shall also be the chief executive officer of the
corporation and shall have the powers and duties prescribed in Section 7 of
Article IV of the bylaws.
Section 7. Chief Executive Officer. The chief executive officer of the
corporation shall, subject to the control of the board of directors, have
general supervision, direction and control of the business and the officers of
the corporation. He or she shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders
and, in the absence or nonexistence of a chairman of the board at all meetings
of the board of directors. He or she shall have the general powers and duties of
management usually vested in the chief executive officer of a corporation,
including general supervision, direction and control of the business and
supervision of other officers of the corporation, and shall have such other
powers and duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or these
bylaws.
The chief executive officer shall, without limitation, have the authority
to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal
of the corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise
signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be
expressly delegated by the board of directors to some other officer or agent of
the corporation.
Section 8. President. Subject to such supervisory powers as may be given
by these bylaws or the board of directors to the chairman of the board or the
chief executive officer, if there be such officers, the president shall have
general supervision, direction and control of the business and supervision of
other officers of the corporation, and shall have such other powers and duties
as may be prescribed by the board of directors or these bylaws. In the event a
chief executive officer shall not be appointed, the president shall have the
duties of such office.
Section 9. Vice-Presidents. The vice-president, or if there shall be more
than one, the vice-presidents in the order determined by the board of directors,
shall, in the absence or disability of the president, act with all of the powers
and be subject to all the restrictions of the president. The vice-presidents
shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of
directors, the president or these bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe.
Section 10. The Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The secretary shall
attend all meetings of the board of directors, all meetings of the committees
thereof and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings of
the meetings in a book or books to be kept for that purpose. Under the
president's supervision, the secretary shall give, or cause to be given, all
notices required to be given by these bylaws or by law; shall have such powers
and perform such duties as the board of directors, the president or these bylaws
may, from time to time, prescribe; and shall have custody of the corporate seal
of the corporation. The secretary, or an assistant secretary, shall have
authority to affix the corporate seal to any instrument requiring it and when so
affixed, it may be attested by his or her signature or by the signature of such
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 assistant secretary, or if there be more than one, the
assistant secretaries in the other determined by the board of directors, shall,
in the absence or disability of the secretary, perform the duties and exercise
the powers of the secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such
other powers as the board of directors, the president or secretary may, from
time to time, prescribe.
Section 11. Chief Financial Officer. The chief financial officer shall
keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct
books and records of accounts of the properties and business transactions of the
corporation, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts,
disbursements, gains, losses, capital, retained earnings and shares. The books
of account shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by any director.
The chief financial officer shall deposit all money and other valuables in
the name and to the credit of the corporation with such depositories as may be
designated by the board of directors. He or she shall disburse the funds of the
corporation as may be ordered by the board of directors, shall render to the
chief executive officer and directors, whenever they request it, an account of
all of his or her transactions as chief financial officer and of the financial
condition of the corporation, and shall have such other powers and perform such
other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or these bylaws.
Section 12. Other Officers, Assistant Officers and Agents. Officers,
assistant officers and agents, if any, other than those whose duties are
provided for in these bylaws, shall have such authority and perform such duties
as may from time to time be prescribed by the board of directors or the
president.
Section 13. Absence or Disability of Officers. In the case of the absence
or disability of any officer of the corporation and of any person hereby
authorized to act in such officer's place during such officer's absence or
disability, the board of directors may delegate the powers and duties of such
officer to any other officer or to any director, or to any other person who it
may select.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND OTHERS
Section 1. Nature of Indemnity. Each person who was or is made a party or
is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(hereinafter a "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person
of whom he or she is the representative, is or was a director or officer of the
corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of another corporation or of a
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall be indemnified and
held harmless by the corporation to the fullest extent which it is empowered to
do so unless prohibited from doing so by the General Corporation Law of
Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of
any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the
corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted
the corporation to provide prior to such amendment) against all expense,
liability and loss including attorneys' fees actually and reasonably incurred by
such person in connection with such proceeding, and such indemnification shall
inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators;
provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 2 hereof, the corporation
shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a
proceeding initiated by such person only if such proceeding was authorized by
the board of directors of the corporation. The right to indemnification
conferred in this Article V shall be a contract right and, subject to Sections 2
and 5 hereof, shall include the right to require the corporation, from time to
time, to advance any necessary and reasonable amounts for the preparation and/or
conduct of the defense incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of
its final disposition. The corporation may, by action of its board of directors,
provide indemnification to employees and agents of the corporation with the same
scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification of directors and officers.
Section 2. Procedure for Indemnification of Directors and Officers. Any
indemnification of a director or officer of the corporation under Section 1 of
this Article V or advance of expenses under Section 5 of this Article V shall be
made promptly, and in any event within 30 days, upon the written request of the
director or officer. If a determination by the corporation that the director or
officer is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article V is required,
and the corporation fails to respond within 60 days to a written request for
indemnity, the corporation shall be deemed to have approved the request. If the
corporation denies a written request for indemnification or advancing of
expenses, in whole or in part, or if payment in full pursuant to such request is
not made within 60 days, the right to indemnification or advances as granted by
this Article V shall be enforceable by the director or officer in any court of
competent jurisdiction. Such person's costs and expenses incurred in connection
with successfully establishing his or her right to indemnification, in whole or
in part, in any such action shall also be indemnified by the corporation. It
shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a
claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final
disposition where the required undertaking, if any, has been tendered to the
corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make
it permissible under the General Corporation Law of Delaware for the corporation
to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of such defense
shall be on the corporation. Neither the failure of the corporation (including
its board of directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have
made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that
indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she
has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the General Corporation
Law of Delaware, nor an actual determination by the corporation (including its
board of directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the
claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to
the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable
standard of conduct.
Section 3. Article Not Exclusive. The rights to indemnification and the
payment of expenses incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its final
disposition conferred in this Article V shall not be exclusive of any other
right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute,
provision of the certificate of incorporation, bylaw, agreement, vote of
stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
Section 4. Insurance. The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance
on its own behalf and on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer,
employee, fiduciary, or agent of the corporation or was serving at the request
of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in
any such capacity, whether or not the corporation would have the power to
indemnify such person against such liability under this Article V.
Section 5. Expenses. Expenses incurred by any person described in Section
1 of this Article V in defending a proceeding shall be paid by the corporation
in advance of such proceeding's final disposition unless otherwise determined by
the board of directors in the specific case, 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 or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the
corporation. Such expenses incurred by other employees and agents may be so paid
upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the board of directors deems
appropriate.
Section 6. Employees and Agents. Persons who are not covered by the
foregoing provisions of the Article V and who are or were employees, fiduciaries
or agents of the corporation, or who are or were serving at the request of the
corporation as directors, officers, employees, fiduciaries or agents of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, may be
indemnified to the extent authorized at any time or from time to time by the
board of directors.
Section 7. Contract Rights. The provisions of this Article V shall be
deemed to be a contract right between the corporation and each director or
officer who serves in any such capacity at any time while this Article V and the
relevant provisions of the General Corporation Law of Delaware or other
applicable law are in effect, and any repeal or modification of this Article V
or any such law shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing with
respect to any state of facts or proceeding then existing.
Section 8. Merger or Consolidation. For purposes of this Article V,
references to "the corporation" shall include, in addition to the resulting
corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a
constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate
existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its
directors, officers, and employees, fiduciaries or agents, so that any person
who is or was a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of such
constituent corporation , or is or was serving at the request of such
constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
shall stand in the same position under this Article V with respect to the
resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such
constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
ARTICLE VI
CERTIFICATES OF STOCK
Section 1. Form. Every holder of stock in the corporation shall be
entitled to have a certificate, signed by, or in the name of the corporation by
the president or a vice-president and the chief financial officer, the secretary
or an assistant secretary of the corporation, certifying the number of shares
owned by such holder in the corporation. If such a certificate is countersigned
(1) by a transfer agent or an assistant transfer agent other than the
corporation or its employee or (2) by a registrar, other than the corporation or
its employee, the signature of any such president, vice-president, chief
financial officer, secretary, or assistant secretary may be facsimiles. In case
any officer or officers who have signed, or whose facsimile signature or
signatures have been used on, any such certificate or certificates shall cease
to be such officer or officers of the corporation whether because of death,
resignation or otherwise before such certificate or certificates have been
delivered by the corporation, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless
be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such
certificate or certificates or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been
used thereon had not ceased to be such officer of the corporation. All
certificates for shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified.
The name of the person to whom the shares represented thereby are issued, with
the number of shares and date of issue, shall be entered on the books of the
corporation. Shares of stock of the corporation shall only be transferred on the
books of the corporation by the holder of record thereof or by such holder's
attorney duly authorized in writing, upon surrender to the corporation of the
certificate or certificates for such shares endorsed by the appropriate person
or persons, with such evidence of the authenticity of such endorsement,
transfer, authorization, and other matters as the corporation may reasonably
require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps. In that event,
it shall be the duty of the corporation to issue a new certificate to the person
entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate or certificates, and record the
transaction on its books. The board of directors may appoint a bank or trust
company organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof to
act as its transfer agent or registrar, or both in connection with the transfer
of any securities of the corporation.
Section 2. Lost Certificates. The board of directors may direct a new
certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or
certificates previously 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, 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 his or her legal representative, to give the corporation a bond
sufficient to indemnify the corporation against any claim that may be made
against the corporation on account of the loss, theft or destruction of any such
certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.
Section 3. Fixing a Record Date for Stockholder Meetings. 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, the board of
directors 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 of
directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than
ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the
board of directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to
notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be the close of business
on the next day preceding the day on which notice is given, or if notice is
waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the
meeting is held. 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.
Section 4. Fixing a Record Date for Action by Written Consent. In order
that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to
corporate action in writing without a meeting (if such action by written consent
is permitted by the certificate of incorporation of the corporation), the board
of directors 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 of
directors, and which date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date
upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the board of
directors. If no record date has been fixed by the board of directors, the
record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action
in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the board of directors is
required by statute, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent
setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the
corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its
principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the corporation having
custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are
recorded. Delivery made to the corporation's registered office shall be by hand
or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date
has been fixed by the board of directors and prior action by the board of
directors is required by statute, the record date for determining stockholders
entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at
the close of business on the day on which the board of directors adopts the
resolution taking such prior action.
Section 5. Fixing a Record Date for Other Purposes. In order that the
corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or other distribution or allotment or any rights or the stockholders
entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange
of stock, or for the purpose of any lawful action, the board of directors may
fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the
resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not
more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the
record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the
close of business on the day on which the board of directors adopts the
resolution relating thereto.
Section 6. Registered Stockholders. Prior to the surrender to the
corporation of the certificate or certificates for a share or shares of stock
with a request to record the transfer of such share or shares, the corporation
may treat the registered owner as the person entitled to receive dividends, to
vote, to receive notifications, and otherwise to exercise all the rights and
powers of an owner. The corporation 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.
Section 7. Subscriptions for Stock. Unless otherwise provided for in the
subscription agreement, subscriptions for shares shall be paid in full at such
time, or in such installments and at such times, as shall be determined by the
board of directors. Any call made by the board of directors for payment on
subscriptions shall be uniform as to all shares of the same class or as to all
shares of the same series. In case of default in the payment of any installment
or call when such payment is due, the corporation may proceed to collect the
amount due in the same manner as any debt due the corporation.
ARTICLE VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Dividends. 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. 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 any other purpose, and the directors may
modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.
Section 2. Checks, Drafts or Orders. All checks, drafts, or other orders
for the payment of money by or to the corporation and all notes and other
evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the corporation shall be signed
by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the corporation, and in such
manner, as shall be determined by the board of directors or a duly authorized
committee thereof.
Section 3. Contracts. The board of directors or the chief executive
officer of the president may authorize any officer or officers, or any agent or
agents, of the corporation to enter into any contract or to execute and deliver
any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the corporation, and such
authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
Section 4. Loans. The corporation may lend money to, or guarantee any
obligation of, or otherwise assist any officer or other employee of the
corporation or of a subsidiary, including any officer or employee who is a
director of the corporation or a subsidiary, whenever, in the judgment of the
directors such loan, guaranty or assistance may reasonably be expected to
benefit the corporation. The loan, guaranty or other assistance may be with or
without interest and may be unsecured or secured in such manner as the board of
directors shall approve, including without limitation a pledge of shares of
stock of the corporation. Nothing in this Section contained shall be deemed to
deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the corporation at
common law or under any statute.
Section 5. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed
by the board of directors.
Section 6. Corporate Seal. The board of directors shall provide a
corporate seal which shall be in the form of a circle and shall have inscribed
thereon the name of the corporation and the words "Corporate Seal, Delaware".
The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or
affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
Section 7. Voting Securities Owned by Corporation. Voting securities in
any other corporation held by the corporation shall be voted by the chief
executive officer, president, chief financial officer or secretary, unless the
board of directors specifically confers authority to vote with respect thereto,
which authority may be general or confined to specific instances, upon some
other person or officer. Any person authorized to vote securities shall have the
power to appoint proxies, with general power of substitution.
Section 8. Inspection of Books and Records. Any stockholder of record, in
person or by attorney or other agent, shall, upon written demand under oath
stating the purpose thereof, have the right during the usual hours for business
to inspect for any proper purpose the corporation's stock ledger, a list of its
stockholders, and its other books and records, and to make copies or extracts
therefrom. A proper purpose shall mean any purpose reasonably related to such
person's interest as a stockholder. In every instance where an attorney or other
agent shall be the person who seeks the right to inspection, the demand under
oath shall be accompanied by a power of attorney or such other writing which
authorizes the attorney or other agent to so act on behalf of the stockholder.
The demand under oath shall be directed to the corporation at its registered
office in the State of Delaware or at its principal place of business.
Section 9. Section Headings. Section headings in these bylaws are for
convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in
limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.
Section 10. Inconsistent Provisions. In the event that any provision of
these bylaws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the certificate of
incorporation, the General Corporation Law of Delaware or any other applicable
law, the provision of these bylaws shall not be given any effect to the extent
of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full force and effect.
ARTICLE VIII
ELECTION NOT TO BE GOVERNED BY SECTION 203
This Corporation elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware. This Article 8 was added by action of the board of
directors of this corporation taken on March 10, 1988, adopting an amendment
adding this Article to these bylaws, and such amendment shall not be further
amended by the board of directors of this corporation.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
Except as otherwise restricted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware,
these bylaws may be amended, altered, or repealed and new bylaws adopted at any
meeting of the board of directors by a majority vote. The fact that the power to
adopt, amend, alter, or repeal the bylaws has been conferred upon the board of
directors shall not divest the stockholders of the same powers.