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EXHIBIT 3.4
BY-LAWS
OF
CATALYST SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
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 Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange
Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 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 the
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.
Section 2. Special Meetings. 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 or the president and shall be called by the president
upon the written request of holders of shares entitled to cast not less than ten
percent (10%) of the votes at the meeting. 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, if a special meeting be otherwise called,
the place of meeting shall be the principal executive office of the corporation.
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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 be 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 on 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
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shares of such class present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting
shall be the act of such class.
Section 9. Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided by the General
Corporation Law of the State 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 or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing
without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for him or her
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 his 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:
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(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
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. The number of directors
which shall constitute the first board shall be three (3). Thereafter, the
number of directors shall be established from time to time by resolution of the
board of directors or the stockholders. 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. At the first annual meeting of
stockholders scheduled to be held after such time as shares of capital stock of
the corporation are designated as qualified for trading as National Market
System securities on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Automated Quotation System (or any successor national market system) (the "First
Public Company Annual Meeting"), 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 First Public Company
Annual Meeting, the term of office of the Class
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II directors shall expire and Class II directors shall be elected for a full
term of three years. At the second annual meeting of stockholders following the
First Public Company Annual Meeting, 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 the third annual meeting of stockholders following the First
Public Company Annual Meeting, 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
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 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.
Section 4. Removal and Resignation. Prior to the First Public Company
Annual Meeting, any director or the entire board of directors may be removed at
any time, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then
entitled to vote at an election of directors. After the First Public Company
Annual Meeting, 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 a majority 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 a
majority of the holders of the corporation's outstanding stock entitled thereon.
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
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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 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
(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 by-law 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. 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 or by telegraph.
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 by-laws 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
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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, 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
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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 interests 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 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.
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,
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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 by-laws 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 by-laws or by law; shall have such powers
and perform such duties as the board of directors, the president or these
by-laws 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 order 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 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 by laws.
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 by-laws, shall have such authority and perform such
duties as may from time to time be prescribed by resolute of the board of
directors.
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 by resolution delegate the powers and
duties of such officer to any other officer or to any director, or to any other
person whom 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 the
State 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
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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 be paid by the corporation the expenses 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 the State 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 the State 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, by-law, 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,
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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, 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 this Article V and who are or were employees or agents
of the corporation, or who are or were serving at the request of the corporation
as employees 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 the State 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 or agents, so that any person who is or 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 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 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
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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, 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 or officers 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 class or series of 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
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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, 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 purposes of any other 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
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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 resolution of the board of directors or a duly authorized
committee thereof.
Section 3. Contracts. The board of directors 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 its subsidiary, including any officer or employee who is a
director of the corporation or its 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 resolution of 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
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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 president,
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 by-laws 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 by-laws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the certificate
of incorporation, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or any
other applicable law, the provision of these by-laws shall not be given any
effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full
force and effect.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
These by-laws may be amended, altered, or repealed and new by-laws 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 by-laws has been conferred upon the
board of directors shall not divest the stockholders of the same powers.
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