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Exhibit 3.2
BYLAWS
OF
NEW FOCUS, INC.
A DELAWARE CORPORATION
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I CORPORATE OFFICES.......................................................................................... 1
1.1 REGISTERED OFFICE.................................................................................. 1
1.2 OTHER OFFICES...................................................................................... 1
ARTICLE II MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS.................................................................................. 1
2.1 PLACE OF MEETINGS.................................................................................. 1
2.2 ANNUAL MEETING..................................................................................... 1
2.3 SPECIAL MEETING.................................................................................... 1
2.4 NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS................................................................... 2
2.5 ADVANCE NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER NOMINEES AND STOCKHOLDER BUSINESS.................................... 2
2.6 MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE....................................................... 3
2.7 QUORUM............................................................................................. 4
2.8 ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE.......................................................................... 4
2.9 VOTING............................................................................................. 4
2.10 WAIVER OF NOTICE................................................................................... 4
2.11 STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING............................................ 5
2.12 RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDER NOTICE; VOTING; GIVING CONSENTS........................................ 5
2.13 PROXIES............................................................................................ 6
2.14 LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE.............................................................. 6
2.15 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS................................................................................ 6
ARTICLE III DIRECTORS................................................................................................ 7
3.1 POWERS............................................................................................. 7
3.2 NUMBER............................................................................................. 7
3.3 CLASSES OF DIRECTORS............................................................................... 7
3.4 RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES.......................................................................... 8
3.5 PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE........................................................... 9
3.6 REGULAR MEETINGS................................................................................... 9
3.7 SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE........................................................................... 9
3.8 QUORUM............................................................................................. 9
3.9 WAIVER OF NOTICE................................................................................... 10
3.10 ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE.......................................................................... 10
3.11 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS................................................................................ 10
3.12 BOARD ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING.................................................. 10
3.13 FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS................................................................. 10
3.14 REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS............................................................................... 11
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(CONTINUED)
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ARTICLE IV COMMITTEES................................................................................................ 11
4.1 COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS............................................................................ 11
4.2 COMMITTEE MINUTES.................................................................................. 12
4.3 MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES.................................................................. 12
ARTICLE V OFFICERS................................................................................................... 12
5.1 OFFICERS........................................................................................... 12
5.2 APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS............................................................................ 12
5.3 REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS................................................................ 13
5.4 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.............................................................................. 13
5.5 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER............................................................................ 13
5.6 PRESIDENT.......................................................................................... 13
5.7 VICE PRESIDENT..................................................................................... 14
5.8 SECRETARY.......................................................................................... 14
5.9 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER............................................................................ 14
5.10 ASSISTANT SECRETARY................................................................................ 15
5.11 AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS................................................................... 15
ARTICLE VI INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND OTHER AGENTS........................................ 15
6.1 INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.......................................................... 15
6.2 INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHERS.......................................................................... 16
6.3 INSURANCE.......................................................................................... 16
6.4 EXPENSES........................................................................................... 16
6.5 NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS.......................................................................... 17
6.6 SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS................................................................................. 17
6.7 AMENDMENTS......................................................................................... 17
6.8 THE CORPORATION.................................................................................... 17
6.9 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS............................................................................. 18
ARTICLE VII RECORDS AND REPORTS...................................................................................... 18
7.1 MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF RECORDS.............................................................. 18
7.2 INSPECTION BY DIRECTORS............................................................................ 18
7.3 REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS..................................................... 19
ARTICLE VIII GENERAL MATTERS......................................................................................... 19
8.1 CHECKS............................................................................................. 19
8.2 EXECUTION OF CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS................................................... 19
8.3 STOCK CERTIFICATES; PARTLY PAID SHARES............................................................. 19
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(CONTINUED)
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8.4 SPECIAL DESIGNATION ON CERTIFICATES................................................................ 20
8.5 LOST CERTIFICATES.................................................................................. 20
8.6 CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS.......................................................................... 21
8.7 DIVIDENDS.......................................................................................... 21
8.8 FISCAL YEAR........................................................................................ 21
8.9 SEAL............................................................................................... 21
8.10 TRANSFER OF STOCK.................................................................................. 21
8.11 STOCK TRANSFER AGREEMENTS.......................................................................... 21
8.12 REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS............................................................................ 22
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS................................................................................................ 22
ARTICLE X DISSOLUTION................................................................................................ 22
ARTICLE XI CUSTODIAN................................................................................................. 23
11.1 APPOINTMENT OF A CUSTODIAN IN CERTAIN CASES........................................................ 23
11.2 DUTIES OF CUSTODIAN................................................................................ 23
ARTICLE XII LOANS TO OFFICERS........................................................................................ 23
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BYLAWS
OF
NEW FOCUS, INC.
ARTICLE I
CORPORATE OFFICES
1.1 REGISTERED OFFICE
The registered office of the Corporation shall be 1209 Orange Street,
City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware, 19801. The name of
the registered agent of the Corporation at such location is The Corporation
Trust Company.
1.2 OTHER OFFICES
The board of directors may at any time establish other offices at any
place or places where the Corporation is qualified to do business.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
2.1 PLACE OF MEETINGS
Meetings of stockholders shall be held at any place, within or outside
the State of Delaware, designated by the board of directors. In the absence of
any such designation, stockholders' meetings shall be held at the registered
office of the Corporation.
2.2 ANNUAL MEETING
The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held each year on a date
and at a time designated by the board of directors. At the meeting, directors
shall be elected and any other proper business may be transacted.
2.3 SPECIAL MEETING
A special meeting of the stockholders may be called at any time by the
(i) board of directors, (ii) the chairman of the board or (iii) the chief
executive officer. In addition, prior to the Effective Date (as defined in
Section 2.11 hereof), stockholders owning 10% or more of the outstanding shares
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entitled to vote in elections for the board of directors may call a special
meeting of the stockholders. Only such business shall be considered at a special
meeting as shall have been stated in the notice for such meeting.
If a special meeting is called by any person other than the board of
directors, the request shall be in writing, specifying the time of such meeting
and the general nature of the business proposed to be transacted, and shall be
delivered personally or sent by registered mail or by telegraphic or other
facsimile transmission to the chairman of the board, the chief executive
officer, the president, any vice president, or the secretary of the corporation.
No business may be transacted at such special meeting otherwise than specified
in such notice. The officer receiving the request shall cause notice to be
promptly given to the stockholders entitled to vote, in accordance with the
provisions of Sections 2.4 and 2.5 of this Article II, that a meeting will be
held at the time requested by the person or persons who called the meeting, not
less than thirty-five (35) nor more than sixty (60) days after the receipt of
the request. If the notice is not given within twenty (20) days after the
receipt of the request, the person or persons requesting the meeting may give
the notice. Nothing contained in this paragraph of this Section 2.3 shall be
construed as limiting, fixing, or affecting the time when a meeting of
stockholders called by action of the board of directors may be held.
2.4 NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS
All notices of meetings with stockholders shall be in writing and shall
be sent or otherwise given in accordance with Section 2.6 of these Bylaws not
less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each
stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify the
place, date and hour of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the
purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.
2.5 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 (i) specified
in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the
direction of the board of directors, (ii) otherwise properly brought before the
meeting by or at the direction of the board of directors, or (iii) 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 his intent to bring such business before such meeting. To be timely, such
stockholder's notice must be delivered to or mailed and received by the
secretary of the Corporation at the Corporation's principal executive offices on
the date one year later which is not less than 120 calendar days nor more than
150 calendar days before the date of the Corporation's proxy statement released
to stockholders in connection with the prior year's annual meeting. However, if
no annual meeting was held in the previous year, or if the date of the
applicable annual meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date
contemplated at the time of the previous year's proxy statement, a stockholder's
notice must be received by the secretary of the
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Corporation at the Corporation's principal executive offices not later than 60
days before the date the Corporation commences mailing of its proxy materials in
connection with the applicable annual meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this Section 2.5, a stockholder who seeks to have any proposal
included in the Corporation's proxy materials shall comply with the requirements
of Rule 14a-8 under Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. 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, 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.
2.6 MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE
Written notice of any meeting of stockholders, if mailed, is given when
deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the
stockholder at his address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. An
affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary or of the transfer agent of
the Corporation that the notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud,
be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
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2.7 QUORUM
The holders of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and
entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall
constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of
business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the certificate of
incorporation. If, however, such quorum is not present or represented at any
meeting of the stockholders, then either (i) the chairman of the meeting, or
(ii) the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented
by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without
notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present or
represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present or
represented, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at
the meeting as originally noticed.
When a quorum is present or represented at any meeting, the vote of the
holders of a majority of the stock having voting power present in person or
represented by proxy shall decide any question brought before such meeting,
unless the question is one upon which, by express provisions of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware or of the certificate of incorporation, a different
vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control
the decision of the question.
2.8 ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE
When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, unless these
Bylaws otherwise require, 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
that might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is
for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed
for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to
each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
2.9 VOTING
The stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall
be determined in accordance with the provisions of Sections 2.12 and 2.14 of
these Bylaws, subject to the provisions of Sections 217 and 218 of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware (relating to voting rights of fiduciaries, pledgors
and joint owners of stock and to voting trusts and other voting agreements).
Except as may be otherwise provided in the certificate of
incorporation, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of
capital stock held by such stockholder.
2.10 WAIVER OF NOTICE
Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the
General Corporation Law of Delaware or of the certificate of incorporation or
these Bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the person entitled to notice,
whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to
notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice
of such
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meeting, except when the person attends a meeting 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. Neither the business to
be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the
stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice unless so
required by the certificate of incorporation or these Bylaws.
2.11 STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING
Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.11, any action required
to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of a Corporation,
or any action that may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such
stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, and without
a vote if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by
the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of
votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at
which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.
Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting
by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who
have not consented in writing. If the action which is consented to is such as
would have required the filing of a certificate under any section of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware if such action had been voted on by stockholders at
a meeting thereof, then the certificate filed under such section shall state, in
lieu of any statement required by such section concerning any vote of
stockholders, that written notice and written consent have been given as
provided in Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, effective upon the listing of the Common
Stock of the Corporation on the Nasdaq Stock Market on the New York Stock
Exchange and the registration of any class of securities of the Corporation
pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Effective Date"), the stockholders of the Corporation may not take action
by written consent without a meeting but must take any such actions at a duly
called annual or special meeting.
2.12 RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDER NOTICE; VOTING; GIVING CONSENTS
In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled
to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment
thereof, or entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a
meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or
allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any
change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful
action, the board of directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall
not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting, nor
more than 60 days prior to any other action.
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If the board of directors does not so fix a record date, the fixing of
such record date shall be governed by the provisions of Section 213 of the
General Corporation Law of Delaware.
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.
2.13 PROXIES
Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to
express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may
authorize another person or persons to act for him by a written proxy, signed by
the stockholder and filed with the secretary of the Corporation, but no such
proxy shall be voted or acted upon after 3 years from its date, unless the proxy
provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be deemed signed if the
stockholder's name is placed on the proxy (whether by manual signature,
typewriting, telegraphic transmission or otherwise) by the stockholder or the
stockholder's attorney-in-fact. The revocability of a proxy that states on its
face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section
212(c) of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
2.14 LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE
The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of a Corporation shall
prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders, a
complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in
alphabetical order, and 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 be held. The stock ledger 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. The stock
ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to
examine the stock ledger, the list of stockholders or the books of the
Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders and
of the number of shares held by each such stockholder.
2.15 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the chairman of the
board, if any, or in his absence by the chief executive officer, or in his
absence by the president, or in his absence by a vice president, or in the
absence of the foregoing persons by a chairman designated by the board of
directors, or in the absence of such designation by a chairman chosen at the
meeting. The secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his absence
the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the
meeting.
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The chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of
business and the procedures at the meeting, including such matters as the
regulation of the manner of voting and conduct of business.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
3.1 POWERS
Subject to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of Delaware
and any limitations in the certificate of incorporation or these Bylaws relating
to action required to be approved by the stockholders or by the outstanding
shares, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed and all
corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the direction of the board of
directors.
3.2 NUMBER
The authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be seven
(7) and, thereafter, shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board
of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number
of authorized directorships at the time any such resolution is presented to the
Board for adoption. No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall
have the effect of removing any director before that director's term of office
expires.
3.3 CLASSES OF DIRECTORS
Upon the Effective Date (as defined in Section 2.11 hereof), the
Directors shall be divided as nearly equal in number as reasonably possible,
into three classes designated as Class I, Class II and Class III, respectively.
Directors shall be assigned to each class in accordance with a resolution or
resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors and may be reassigned among such
classes as determined by the Board of Directors. At the first annual meeting of
stockholders following the Effective Time, 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
Effective Time, 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 Effective Time, 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.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article, each Director
shall serve until his successor is duly elected and qualified or until his
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.
3.4 RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES
Any director may resign at any time upon written notice to the
Corporation. Stockholders may remove directors with or without cause. Any
vacancy occurring in the board of directors with or without cause may be filled
by a majority of the remaining members of the board of directors, although such
majority is less than a quorum, or by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting
of stockholders, and each director so elected shall hold office until the
expiration of the term of office of the director whom he has replaced.
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 a stockholder, 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 (as constituted immediately prior to any such increase), then
the Court of Chancery may, upon application of any stockholder or stockholders
holding at least 10% 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.
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3.5 PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE
The board of directors of the Corporation may hold meetings, both
regular and special, either within or outside the State of Delaware.
Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or
these Bylaws, members of the board of directors, or any committee designated by
the board of directors, may participate in a meeting of the board of directors,
or any committee, by means of conference telephone or similar communications
equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear
each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in
person at the meeting.
3.6 REGULAR MEETINGS
Regular meetings of the board of directors may be held without notice
at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the
board.
3.7 SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE
Special meetings of the board of directors for any purpose or purposes
may be called at any time by the chairman of the board, the president, any vice
president, the secretary or any two directors.
Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be delivered
personally or by telephone to each director or sent by first-class mail or
telegram, charges prepaid, addressed to each director at that director's address
as it is shown on the records of the Corporation. If the notice is mailed, it
shall be deposited in the United States mail at least 4 days before the time of
the holding of the meeting. If the notice is delivered personally or by
telephone or by telegram, it shall be delivered personally or by telephone or to
the telegraph company at least 48 hours before the time of the holding of the
meeting. Any oral notice given personally or by telephone may be communicated
either to the director or to a person at the office of the director who the
person giving the notice has reason to believe will promptly communicate it to
the director. The notice need not specify the purpose or the place of the
meeting, if the meeting is to be held at the principal executive office of the
Corporation.
3.8 QUORUM
At all meetings of the board of directors, a majority of the authorized
number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business
and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there
is a quorum shall be the act of the board of directors, except as may be
otherwise specifically provided by statute or by the certificate of
incorporation.
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3.9 WAIVER OF NOTICE
Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the
General Corporation Law of Delaware or of the certificate of incorporation or
these Bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the person entitled to notice,
whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to
notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice
of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting 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. Neither the
business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting
of the directors, or members of a committee of directors, need be specified in
any written waiver of notice unless so required by the certificate of
incorporation or these Bylaws.
3.10 ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE
If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the board of directors,
then the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time,
without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is
present.
3.11 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
Meetings of the board of directors shall be presided over by the
chairman of the board, if any, or in his absence by the chief executive officer,
or in their absence by a chairman chosen at the meeting. The secretary shall act
as secretary of the meeting, but in his absence the chairman of the meeting may
appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. The chairman of any
meeting shall determine the order of business and the procedures at the meeting.
3.12 BOARD ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING
Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or
these Bylaws, 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.
3.13 FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or
these Bylaws, the board of directors shall have the authority to fix the
compensation of directors. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of
attendance at each meeting of the board of directors and may be paid a fixed sum
for attendance at each meeting of the board of directors or a stated salary as
director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the
Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members
of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for attending
committee meetings.
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3.14 REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS
Unless otherwise restricted by statute, by the certificate of
incorporation or by these Bylaws, any director or the entire board of directors
may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the
shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors. If at any time a class
or series of shares is entitled to elect one or more directors, the provisions
of this Section 3.14 shall apply to the vote of that class or series and not to
the vote of the outstanding shares as a whole.
ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEES
4.1 COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS
The board of directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the
whole board, designate one or more committees, with each committee to consist of
one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The board may designate one or
more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent
or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or
disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof
present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or
they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the board of
directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified
member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the
board of directors or in the Bylaws of the Corporation, shall have and may
exercise all the powers and authority of the board of directors in the
management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the
seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it; but no
such committee shall have the power or authority to (i) amend the certificate of
incorporation (except that a committee may, to the extent authorized in the
resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of shares of stock adopted
by the board of directors as provided in Section 151(a) of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware, fix any of the preferences or rights of such shares
relating to dividends, redemption, dissolution, any distribution of assets of
the Corporation or the conversion into, or the exchange of such shares for,
shares of any other class or classes or any other series of the same or any
other class or classes of stock of the Corporation), (ii) adopt an agreement of
merger or consolidation under Sections 251 or 252 of the General Corporation Law
of Delaware, (iii) recommend to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of
all or substantially all of the Corporation's property and assets, (iv)
recommend to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation
of a dissolution, or (v) amend the Bylaws of the Corporation; and, unless the
board resolution establishing the committee, the Bylaws or the certificate of
incorporation expressly so provides, no such committee shall have the power or
authority to declare a dividend, to authorize the issuance of stock, or to adopt
a certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to Section 253 of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware.
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4.2 COMMITTEE MINUTES
Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report
the same to the board of directors when required.
4.3 MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES
Meetings and actions of committees shall be governed by, and held and
taken in accordance with, the provisions of Article III of these Bylaws, Section
3.5 (place of meetings and meetings by telephone), Section 3.6 (regular
meetings), Section 3.7 (special meetings and notice), Section 3.8 (quorum),
Section 3.9 (waiver of notice), Section 3.10 (adjournment and notice of
adjournment), Section 3.11 (conduct of business) and 3.12 (action without a
meeting), with such changes in the context of those Bylaws as are necessary to
substitute the committee and its members for the board of directors and its
members; provided, however, that the time of regular meetings of committees may
also be called by resolution of the board of directors and that notice of
special meetings of committees shall also be given to all alternate members, who
shall have the right to attend all meetings of the committee. The board of
directors may adopt rules for the government of any committee not inconsistent
with the provisions of these Bylaws.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
5.1 OFFICERS
The officers of the Corporation shall be a chief executive officer, one
or more vice presidents, a secretary and a chief financial officer. The
Corporation may also have, at the discretion of the board of directors, a
chairman of the board, 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 5.2 of these Bylaws. Any number of offices may be held by the same
person.
5.2 APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS
Except as otherwise provided in this Section 5.2, the officers of the
Corporation shall be appointed by the board of directors, subject to the rights,
if any, of an officer under any contract of employment. The board of directors
may appoint, or empower an officer to appoint, such officers and agents of the
business as the Corporation may require (whether or not such officer or agent is
described in this Article V), each of whom shall hold office for such period,
have such authority, and perform such duties as are provided in these Bylaws or
as the board of directors may from time to time determine. Any vacancy occurring
in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the board of directors or
may be filled by the officer, if any, who appointed such officer.
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5.3 REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS
Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of
employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by an
affirmative vote of the majority of the board of directors at any regular or
special meeting of the board or, except in the case of an officer chosen by the
board of directors, by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be
conferred by the board of directors or, in the case of an officer appointed by
another officer, by such other officer.
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.
5.4 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 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 5.5 of these Bylaws.
5.5 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.
5.6 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
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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.
5.7 VICE PRESIDENT
In the absence or disability of the president, the vice presidents, if
any, in order of their rank as fixed by the board of directors or, if not
ranked, a vice president designated by the board of directors, shall perform all
the duties of the chief executive officer and when so acting shall have all the
powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions upon, the chief executive
officer. The vice presidents shall have such other powers and perform such other
duties as from time to time may be prescribed for them respectively by the board
of directors, these Bylaws, the chief executive officer or the chairman of the
board.
5.8 SECRETARY
The secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, at the principal
executive office of the Corporation or such other place as the board of
directors may direct, a book of minutes of all meetings and actions of
directors, committees of directors, and stockholders. The minutes shall show the
time and place of each meeting, whether regular or special (and, if special, how
authorized and the notice given), the names of those present at directors'
meetings or committee meetings, the number of shares present or represented at
stockholders' meetings, and the proceedings thereof.
The secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal
executive office of the Corporation or at the office of the Corporation's
transfer agent or registrar, as determined by resolution of the board of
directors, a share register, or a duplicate share register, showing the names of
all stockholders and their addresses, the number and classes of shares held by
each, the number and date of certificates evidencing such shares, and the number
and date of cancellation of every certificate surrendered for cancellation.
The secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings
of the stockholders and of the board of directors required to be given by law or
by these Bylaws. He shall keep the seal of the Corporation, if one be adopted,
in safe custody and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties
as may be prescribed by the board of directors or by these Bylaws.
5.9 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.
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The chief financial officer shall deposit all money and other valuables
in the name and to the credit of the Corporation with such depositaries as may
be designated by the board of directors. He shall disburse the funds of the
Corporation as may be ordered by the board of directors, shall render to the
chief executive officer and directors, whenever they request it, an account of
all of his transactions as treasurer 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.
5.10 ASSISTANT SECRETARY
The assistant secretary, or, if there is more than one, the assistant
secretaries in the order determined by the stockholders or board of directors
(or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their election)
shall, in the absence of the secretary or in the event of his or her inability
or refusal to act, 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 or the stockholders may from time to time prescribe.
5.11 AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS
In addition to the foregoing authority and duties, all officers of the
Corporation shall respectively have such authority and perform such duties in
the management of the business of the Corporation as may be designated from time
to time by the board of directors or the stockholders.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES
AND OTHER AGENTS
6.1 INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
The Corporation shall, to the maximum extent and in the manner
permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, indemnify each of its
directors and officers against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments,
fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in
connection with any proceeding, arising by reason of the fact that such person
is or was an agent of the Corporation; provided, however, that the Corporation
may modify the extent of such indemnification by individual contracts with its
directors and executive officers and, provided, further, that the corporation
shall not be required to indemnify any director or officer in connection with
any proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless (i) such
indemnification is expressly required to be made by law, (ii) the proceeding was
authorized in advance by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, (iii) such
indemnification is provided by the corporation, in its sole discretion, pursuant
to the powers vested in the corporation under the General Corporation Law of
Delaware or (iv) such indemnification is required to be made pursuant to an
individual contract. For purposes of this Section 6.1, a "director" or "officer"
of the corporation includes any person (i) who
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is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, (ii) who is or was serving
at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or (iii) who
was a director or officer of a corporation which was a predecessor corporation
of the Corporation or of another enterprise at the request of such predecessor
corporation.
6.2 INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHERS
The Corporation shall have the power, to the maximum extent and in the
manner permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, to indemnify each
of its employees and agents (other than directors and officers) against expenses
(including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts
actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any proceeding, arising by
reason of the fact that such person is or was an agent of the Corporation. For
purposes of this Section 6.2, an "employee" or "agent" of the Corporation (other
than a director or officer) includes any person (i) who is or was an employee or
agent of the Corporation, (ii) who is or was serving at the request of the
Corporation as an employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, or (iii) who was an employee or agent of a
corporation which was a predecessor corporation of the Corporation or of another
enterprise at the request of such predecessor corporation.
6.3 INSURANCE
The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any
person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation,
or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer,
employee 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, or arising out of his or her status as such,
whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her
against such liability under the provisions of the General Corporation Law of
Delaware.
6.4 EXPENSES
The Corporation shall advance to 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, by
reason of the fact that he or she 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, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, prior to the final disposition of the proceeding, promptly
following request therefor, all expenses incurred by any director or officer in
connection with such proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf
of such person to repay said amounts if it should be determined ultimately that
such person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Bylaw or otherwise;
provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be required to advance
expenses to any director or officer in connection with any proceeding (or part
thereof) initiated by such person unless the proceeding was authorized in
advance by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise determined pursuant to
Section 6.5, no advance shall be made by the Corporation to an officer of the
Corporation (except by reason of the fact that such officer is or was a director
of the Corporation in which event this paragraph shall not apply) in any action,
suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, if
a determination is reasonably and promptly made (i) by the Board of Directors by
a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the
proceeding, or (ii) if such quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, a
quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a
written opinion, that the facts known to the decision-making party at the time
such determination is made demonstrate clearly and convincingly that such person
acted in bad faith or in a manner that such person did not believe to be in or
not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation.
6.5 NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS
The rights conferred on any person by this Bylaw shall not be exclusive
of any other right which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any
statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, 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 office.
The Corporation is specifically authorized to enter into individual contracts
with any or all of its directors, officers, employees or agents respecting
indemnification and advances, to the fullest extent not prohibited by the
General Corporation law of Delaware.
6.6 SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS
The rights conferred on any person by this Bylaw shall continue as to a
person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or other agent and
shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a
person.
6.7 AMENDMENTS
Any repeal or modification of this Bylaw shall only be prospective and
shall not affect the rights under this bylaw in effect at the time of the
alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that is the cause of any
proceeding against any agent of the corporation.
6.8 THE CORPORATION
For purposes of this Article VI, 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 or agents, so that
any person who is was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position
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under and subject to the provisions of this Article VI with respect to the
resulting or surviving corporation as he would have with respect to such
constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
6.9 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
For purposes of this Article VI, references to "other enterprises"
shall include employee benefit plans; references to "fines" shall include any
excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and
references to "serving at the request of the Corporation" shall include any
service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which
imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or
agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or
beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably deemed to have acted in a manner "not opposed to the best interests
of the Corporation" as referred to in this Article VI.
ARTICLE VII
RECORDS AND REPORTS
7.1 MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF RECORDS
The Corporation shall, either at its principal executive office or at
such place or places as designated by the board of directors, keep a record of
its stockholders listing their names and addresses and the number and class of
shares held by each stockholder, a copy of these Bylaws as amended to date,
accounting books, and other 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 a
purpose reasonably related to such person's interest as a stockholder. In every
instance where an attorney or other agent is the person who seeks the right to
inspection, the demand under oath shall be accompanied by a power of attorney or
such other writing that 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 Delaware or at its principal place of
business.
7.2 INSPECTION BY DIRECTORS
Any director shall have the right to examine the Corporation's stock
ledger, a list of its stockholders and its other books and records for a purpose
reasonably related to his position as a director. The Court of Chancery is
hereby vested with the exclusive jurisdiction to determine whether a director is
entitled to the inspection sought. The Court may summarily order the Corporation
to permit the director to inspect any and all books and records, the stock
ledger, and the
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stock list and to make copies or extracts therefrom. The Court may, in its
discretion, prescribe any limitations or conditions with reference to the
inspection, or award such other and further relief as the Court may deem just
and proper.
7.3 REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS
The chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, any vice
president, the chief financial officer, the secretary or assistant secretary of
this Corporation, or any other person authorized by the board of directors or
the chief executive officer or a vice president, is authorized to vote,
represent, and exercise on behalf of this Corporation all rights incident to any
and all shares of any other corporation or corporations standing in the name of
this Corporation. The authority granted herein may be exercised either by such
person directly or by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or power of
attorney duly executed by such person having the authority.
ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL MATTERS
8.1 CHECKS
From time to time, the board of directors shall determine by resolution
which person or persons may sign or endorse all checks, drafts, other orders for
payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness that are issued in
the name of or payable to the Corporation, and only the persons so authorized
shall sign or endorse those instruments.
8.2 EXECUTION OF CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS
The board of directors, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws,
may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any
contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the
Corporation; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
Unless so authorized or ratified by the board of directors or within the agency
power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or
authority to bind the Corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its
credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.
8.3 STOCK CERTIFICATES; PARTLY PAID SHARES
The shares of a corporation shall be represented by certificates,
provided that the board of directors of the Corporation may provide by
resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of
its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to
shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the
Corporation. Notwithstanding the adoption of such a resolution by the board of
directors, every holder of stock represented by certificates and upon request
every holder of uncertificated shares shall be entitled to have a certificate
signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by the chairman or vice-chairman of
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the board of directors, or the president or vice-president, and by the treasurer
or an assistant treasurer, or the secretary or an assistant secretary of such
Corporation representing the number of shares registered in certificate form.
Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any
officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature
has been placed upon a certificate has 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.
The Corporation may issue the whole or any part of its shares as partly
paid and subject to call for the remainder of the consideration to be paid
therefor. Upon the face or back of each stock certificate issued to represent
any such partly paid shares, upon the books and records of the Corporation in
the case of uncertificated partly paid shares, the total amount of the
consideration to be paid therefor and the amount paid thereon shall be stated.
Upon the declaration of any dividend on fully paid shares, the Corporation shall
declare a dividend upon partly paid shares of the same class, but only upon the
basis of the percentage of the consideration actually paid thereon.
8.4 SPECIAL DESIGNATION ON CERTIFICATES
If the Corporation is authorized to issue more than one class of stock
or more than one series of any class, then the powers, the designations, the
preferences, and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights
of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or
restrictions of such preferences and or rights shall be set forth in full or
summarized on the face or back of the certificate that the Corporation shall
issue to represent such class or series of stock; provided, however, that,
except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the General Corporation Law of
Delaware, in lieu of the foregoing requirements there may be set forth on the
face or back of the certificate that the Corporation shall issue to represent
such class or series of stock a statement that the Corporation will furnish
without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, the designations,
the preferences, and the relative, participating, optional or other special
rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
8.5 LOST CERTIFICATES
Except as provided in this Section 8.5, no new certificates for shares
shall be issued to replace a previously issued certificate unless the latter is
surrendered to the Corporation and cancelled at the same time. The Corporation
may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of
any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or
destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or
destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to give the Corporation a
bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on
account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the
issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.
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8.6 CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS
Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of
construction, and definitions in the Delaware General Corporation Law shall
govern the construction of these Bylaws. Without limiting the generality of this
provision, the singular number includes the plural, the plural number includes
the singular, and the term "person" includes both a Corporation and a natural
person.
8.7 DIVIDENDS
The directors of the Corporation, subject to any restrictions contained
in the certificate of incorporation, may declare and pay dividends upon the
shares of its capital stock pursuant to the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the Corporation's
capital stock.
The directors of the Corporation may set apart out of any of the funds
of the Corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper
purpose and may abolish any such reserve. Such purposes shall include but not be
limited to equalizing dividends, repairing or maintaining any property of the
Corporation, and meeting contingencies.
8.8 FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the
board of directors and may be changed by the board of directors.
8.9 SEAL
The Corporation may adopt a corporate seal, which may be altered at
pleasure, and may use the same by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be
impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.
8.10 TRANSFER OF STOCK
Upon surrender to the Corporation or the transfer agent of the
Corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper
evidence of succession, assignation or authority to transfer, it shall be the
duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled
thereto, cancel the old certificate, and record the transaction in its books.
8.11 STOCK TRANSFER AGREEMENTS
The Corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any
agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes of stock of
the Corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation
of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not
prohibited by the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
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8.12 REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS
The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a
person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and
to vote as such owner, shall be entitled to hold liable for calls and
assessments the person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall
not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such
share or shares on the part of another person, whether or not it shall have
express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of
Delaware.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
The original or other Bylaws of the Corporation may be adopted, amended
or repealed by the stockholders entitled to vote; provided, however, that the
Corporation may, in its certificate of incorporation, confer the power to adopt,
amend or repeal Bylaws upon the directors. The fact that such power has been so
conferred upon the directors shall not divest the stockholders of the power, nor
limit their power to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws.
ARTICLE X
DISSOLUTION
If it should be deemed advisable in the judgment of the board of
directors of the Corporation that the Corporation should be dissolved, the
board, after the adoption of a resolution to that effect by a majority of the
whole board at any meeting called for that purpose, shall cause notice to be
mailed to each stockholder entitled to vote thereon of the adoption of the
resolution and of a meeting of stockholders to take action upon the resolution.
At the meeting a vote shall be taken for and against the proposed
dissolution. If a majority of the outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled
to vote thereon votes for the proposed dissolution, then a certificate stating
that the dissolution has been authorized in accordance with the provisions of
Section 275 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware and setting forth the
names and residences of the directors and officers shall be executed,
acknowledged, and filed and shall become effective in accordance with Section
103 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware. Upon such certificate's becoming
effective in accordance with Section 103 of the General Corporation Law of
Delaware, the Corporation shall be dissolved.
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ARTICLE XI
CUSTODIAN
11.1 APPOINTMENT OF A CUSTODIAN IN CERTAIN CASES
The Court of Chancery, upon application of any stockholder, may appoint
one or more persons to be custodians and, if the Corporation is insolvent, to be
receivers, of and for the Corporation when:
(i) at any meeting held for the election of directors the
stockholders are so divided that they have failed to
elect successors to directors whose terms have
expired or would have expired upon qualification of
their successors; or
(ii) the business of the Corporation is suffering or is
threatened with irreparable injury because the
directors are so divided respecting the management of
the affairs of the Corporation that the required vote
for action by the board of directors cannot be
obtained and the stockholders are unable to terminate
this division; or
(iii) the Corporation has abandoned its business and has
failed within a reasonable time to take steps to
dissolve, liquidate or distribute its assets.
11.2 DUTIES OF CUSTODIAN
The custodian shall have all the powers and title of a receiver
appointed under Section 291 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, but the
authority of the custodian shall be to continue the business of the Corporation
and not to liquidate its affairs and distribute its assets, except when the
Court of Chancery otherwise orders and except in cases arising under Sections
226(a)(3) or 352(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
ARTICLE XII
LOANS TO OFFICERS
The Corporation may lend money to, or guarantee any obligation of, or
otherwise assist any officer or other employee of the Corporation or of its
subsidiaries, including any officer or employee who is a Director of the
Corporation or its subsidiaries, whenever, in the judgment of the Board of
Directors, such loan, guarantee or assistance may reasonably be expected to
benefit the Corporation.
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The loan, guarantee 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 Bylaw shall be deemed to deny, limit or restrict the powers of
guaranty or warranty of the Corporation at common law or under any statute.
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