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EXHIBIT 3.4
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS
OF
CARDIOVASCULAR DYNAMICS, INC.
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
SECTION 1. The registered office shall be in the City of Dover,
County of Kent, State of Delaware.
SECTION 2. 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. All meetings of the stockholders for the election of
directors shall be held at such place as may be fixed from time to time by the
Board of Directors, or at such other place either within or without the State of
Delaware as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and
stated in the notice of the meeting. Meetings of stockholders for any other
purpose may be held at such time and place, within or without the State of
Delaware, as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed
waiver of notice thereof.
SECTION 2. Annual meetings of stockholders, commencing with the
year 1996, shall be held at such date and time as shall be designated from time
to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting, at
which they shall elect directors by a plurality vote and transact such other
business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
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SECTION 3. At the direction of the Board of Directors, the
President or the Secretary of the corporation, written notice of the annual
meeting stating the place, date and hour of the meeting shall be given to each
stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten (10) nor more
than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting.
SECTION 4. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the
corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten 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
ten 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 5. Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose
or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the certificate of
incorporation, may be called by the president and shall be called by the
president or secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the Board of
Directors, or at the request in writing of stockholders owning not less than
fifty percent (50%) of the entire capital stock of the corporation issued and
outstanding and entitled to vote. Such request shall state the purpose or
purposes of the proposed meeting.
SECTION 6. At the direction of the Board of Directors, the
President or the Secretary, written notice of a special meeting stating the
place, date and hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the
meeting is called, shall be given not fewer than ten (10) nor more than sixty
(60) days before the date of the meeting, to each stockholder entitled to vote
at such meeting.
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SECTION 7. Business transacted at any special meeting of
stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.
SECTION 8. 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 shall not be present or
represented at any meeting of the stockholders, 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 shall be present or represented. At such adjourned
meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented any business may be
transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally
notified. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (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.
SECTION 9. When a quorum is present 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 provision of the statutes 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.
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SECTION 10. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of
incorporation and subject to Article VI, Section 5 each stockholder shall at
every meeting of the stockholders be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy
for each share of the capital stock having voting power held by such
stockholder, but no proxy shall be voted on after three (3) years from its date,
unless the proxy provides for a longer period.
SECTION 11. To be properly brought before an annual meeting or
special meeting, nominations for the election of director or other business must
be (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by
or at the direction of the board of directors, (b) otherwise properly brought
before the meeting by or at the direction of the board of directors, or (c)
otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder. For such
nominations or other business to be considered properly brought before the
meeting by a stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice and in
proper form of such stockholder's intent to bring such business before such
meeting. To be timely, such stockholder's notice must be delivered or mailed to
and received by the secretary of the corporation not less than 90 days prior to
the meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than 100 days notice
or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to
stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not
later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which
such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was
made. To be in proper form, a stockholder's notice to the secretary shall set
forth:
(i) the name and address of the stockholder who intends to make
the nominations or propose the business, and, as the case may be, the
name and address of the person or persons to be nominated or the nature
of the business to be proposed;
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(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.
SECTION 12. 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.
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ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. The number of directors which shall constitute the
whole Board shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors, with the
number initially fixed at five (5). Each director shall be elected by the
stockholders at the annual meeting and shall hold office until the next annual
meeting and until his successor is elected and qualified, or until his earlier
death, resignation or removal. Directors need not be stockholders of the
corporation.
SECTION 2. Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting
from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by a
majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by a
sole remaining director, and the directors so chosen shall hold office until the
next annual election and until their successors are duly elected and qualified
or until his earlier resignation or removal. If there are no directors in
office, then an election of directors may be held in the manner provided by
statute.
SECTION 3. The business of the corporation shall be managed by or
under the direction of its board of directors which may exercise all such powers
of the corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute
or by the certificate of incorporation or by these bylaws directed or required
to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 4. The Board of Directors of the corporation may hold
meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of
Delaware.
SECTION 5. The first meeting of each newly elected Board of
Directors shall be held at such time and place as shall be fixed by the vote of
the stockholders at the annual meeting and no notice of such meeting shall be
necessary to the newly elected directors in order legally to constitute the
meeting, provided a quorum shall be present.
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In the event of the failure of the stockholders to fix the time or place of such
first meeting of the newly elected Board of Directors, or in the event such
meeting is not held at the time and place so fixed by the stockholders, the
meeting may be held at such time and place as shall be specified in a notice
given as hereinafter provided for special meetings of the Board of Directors, or
as shall be specified in a written waiver signed by all of the directors.
SECTION 6. 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.
SECTION 7. Special meetings of the board may be called by the
President on forty-eight (48) hours notice to each director either personally,
or by telephone, telegram or facsimile; special meetings shall be called by the
President or Secretary in like manner and on like notice on the written request
of two directors unless the board consists of only one director, in which case
special meetings shall be called by the President or Secretary in like manner
and on like notice on the written request of the sole director. A written waiver
of notice, signed by the person entitled thereto, whether before or after the
time of the meeting stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.
SECTION 8. At all meetings of the board a majority of the total
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. 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.
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SECTION 9. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of
incorporation of 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.
SECTION 10. 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.
COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 11. 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. 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 the committee, the member or
members 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 the place of any such
absent or disqualified member. Any such committee,
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to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, 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 which may require it; but no
such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following
matters: (i) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any
action or matter expressly required by the Delaware General Corporation Law to
be submitted to stockholders for approval or (ii) adopting, amending or
repealing any by-law of the Corporation. Each committee which may be established
by the Board of Directors pursuant to these By-Laws may fix its own rules and
procedures. Notice of meetings of committees, other than regular meetings
provided for by the rules, shall be given to committee members.
SECTION 12. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its
meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 13. 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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REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 14. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of
incorporation or bylaw, any director or the entire Board of Directors may be
removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of shares entitled
to vote at an election of directors.
ARTICLE IV
NOTICES
SECTION 1. Whenever, under the provisions of the statutes or of
the certificate of incorporation or of these bylaws, notice is required to be
given to any director or stockholder, it shall not be construed to mean personal
notice (except as provided in Section 7 of Article III of these Bylaws), but
such notice may be given in writing, by mail, addressed to such director or
stockholder, at his address as it appears on the records of the corporation,
with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the
time when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail. Notice to
directors may also be given by telephone, telegram or facsimile.
SECTION 2. Whenever any notice is required to be given under the
provisions of the statutes or of the certificate of incorporation or of these
bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to
said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed
equivalent thereto.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
SECTION 1. The officers of the corporation shall be chosen by the
Board of Directors and shall be a President, Chief Financial Officer and a
Secretary. The Board of Directors may elect from among its members a Chairman of
the Board and a Vice Chairman of the Board. The Board of Directors may also
choose one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Treasurers and
Assistant Treasurers. Any number of offices may be held by the same person,
unless the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws otherwise provide.
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SECTION 2. The Board of Directors at its first meeting after each
annual meeting of stockholders shall choose a President, a Chief Financial
Officer, and a Secretary and may choose Vice Presidents.
SECTION 3. The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers
and agents as it shall deem necessary who shall hold their offices for such
terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be
determined from time to time by the board.
SECTION 4. The salaries of all officers of the corporation shall
be fixed by the Board of Directors. The salaries of agents of the corporation
shall, unless fixed by the Board of Directors, be fixed by the President or any
Vice-President of the corporation.
SECTION 5. The officers of the corporation shall hold office
until their successors are chosen and qualify. Any officer elected or appointed
by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of
a majority of the Board of Directors. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the
corporation shall be filled by the Board of Directors.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
SECTION 6. The Chairman of the Board, if any, shall preside at
all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders at which he shall
be present. He/she shall have and may exercise such powers as are, from time to
time, assigned to him by the Board and as may be provided by law.
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SECTION 7. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the Vice
Chairman of the Board, if any, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of
Directors and of the stockholders at which he shall be present. He shall have
and may exercise such powers as are, from time to time, assigned to him by the
Board and as may be provided by law.
THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENTS
SECTION 8. The President shall be the chief executive officer of
the corporation; and in the absence of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the
Board he/she shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of
Directors; he/she shall have general and active management of the business of
the corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of
Directors are carried into effect.
SECTION 9. The President or any Vice President shall 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 10. In the absence of the President or in the event of
his inability or refusal to act, the Vice-President, if any, (or in the event
there be more than one Vice-President, the Vice-Presidents in the order
designated by the directors, or in the absence of any designation, then in the
order of their election) shall perform the duties of the President, and when so
acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon
the President. The Vice-Presidents shall perform such other duties and have such
other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
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THE SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY
SECTION 11. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board
of Directors and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings
of the meetings of the corporation and of the Board of Directors in a book to be
kept for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing committees
when required. He/she shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings
of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall
perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or
President, under whose supervision he/she shall be. He/she shall have custody of
the corporate seal of the corporation and he/she, or an Assistant Secretary,
shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it and when
so affixed, it may be attested by his 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 signature.
SECTION 12. The Assistant Secretary, or if there be more than
one, the Assistant secretaries in the order determined by the 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 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 may from time to time prescribe.
THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, TREASURERS
AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS
SECTION 13. The Chief Financial Officer of the corporation shall
have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and
accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the
corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name
and to the credit of the corporation in such depositories as may be designated
by the Board of Directors.
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SECTION 14. He/she shall disburse the funds of the corporation as
may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such
disbursements, and shall render to the President and the Board of Directors, at
its regular meetings, or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of
all his transactions as Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition
of the corporation.
SECTION 15. If required by the Board of Directors, he/she shall
give the corporation a bond (which shall be renewed every six years) in such sum
and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of
Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of his/her office and for
the restoration to the corporation, in case of his/her death, resignation,
retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and
other property of whatever kind in his possession or under his/her control
belonging to the corporation.
SECTION 16. The Treasurer, or Assistant Treasurer, or if there
shall be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order determined by the
Board of Directors (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of
their election) shall, in the absence of the Chief Financial Officer or in the
event of his inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the
powers of the Chief Financial Officer and shall perform such other duties and
have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time
prescribe.
ARTICLE VI
CERTIFICATE OF STOCK
SECTION 1. 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 Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the President or a
Vice-President and the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer or an Assistant
Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the corporation,
certifying the number of shares owned by him/her in the corporation.
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Certificates may be issued for partly paid shares and in such
case upon the face or back of the certificates issued to represent any such
partly paid shares, the total amount of the consideration to be paid therefor,
and the amount paid thereon shall be specified.
If the corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one
class of stock or more than one series of any class, the powers, designations,
preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of
each class of stock or series thereof and the qualification, 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 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, designations, preferences and
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.
SECTION 2. Any of or all the signatures on the certificate may be
facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or
whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased
to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is
issued, it may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if he/she
were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
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LOST CERTIFICATES
SECTION 3. The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate or
certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates
theretofore 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/her
legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as it shall require
and/or to give the corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity
against any claim that may be made against the corporation with respect to the
certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
TRANSFER OF STOCK
SECTION 4. 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 upon its books.
FIXING RECORD DATE
SECTION 5. 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 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 sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the
date of such meeting. 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.
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REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 6. 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, and to hold liable for calls and
assessments a 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 any other person, whether or not it shall have
express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of
Delaware.
ARTICLE VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
DIVIDENDS
SECTION 1. 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.
SECTION 2. 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 for such other
purposes as the directors shall think conducive to the interest of the
corporation, and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the
manner in which it was created.
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CHECKS
SECTION 3. All checks or demands for money and notes of the
corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or
persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.
FISCAL YEAR
SECTION 4. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed by
resolution of the Board of Directors.
SEAL
SECTION 5. The Board of Directors may adopt a corporate seal
having inscribed thereon the name of the corporation, the year of its
organization and the words "Corporate Seal, Delaware." The seal may be used by
causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or
otherwise.
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 1. 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 which he or she is the representative, is or was a director or officer of the
corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of another corporation or of a
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall be indemnified and
held harmless by the corporation to the fullest extent which it is empowered to
do so unless prohibited from doing so by the General Corporation Law of
Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be
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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 the corporation shall indemnify any such
person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding initiated by such
person only if such proceeding was authorized by the board of directors of the
corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article VIII shall
be a contract right and shall include the right to require the corporation, from
time to time, to advance any necessary and reasonable amounts for the
preparation and/or conduct of the defense incurred in defending any such
proceeding in advance of its final disposition unless otherwise determined by
the board of directors in the specific case and upon receipt of an undertaking
by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay such amount if it shall be
ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the
corporation. 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. The rights to indemnification and the payment of
expenses incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition
conferred in this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other right which
any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the
certificate of incorporation, bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors or otherwise.
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SECTION 3. The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on
its own behalf and on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer,
employee, fiduciary, or agent of the corporation or was serving at the request
of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in
any such capacity, whether or not the corporation would have the power to
indemnify such person against such liability under this Article VIII.
SECTION 4. Persons who are not covered by the foregoing
provisions of this Article VIII and who are or were employees, fiduciaries or
agents of the corporation, or who are or were serving at the request of the
corporation as directors, officers, employees, fiduciaries or agents of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, may be
indemnified to the extent authorized at any time or from time to time by the
board of directors.
SECTION 5. The provisions of this Article VIII 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 VIII and the relevant
provisions of the General Corporation Law of Delaware or other applicable law
are in effect, and any repeal or modification of this Article VIII or any such
law shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing with respect to any
state of facts or proceeding then existing.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1. These bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed or
new bylaws may be adopted by the stockholders or by the Board of Directors, when
such power is conferred upon the Board of Directors by the certificate of
incorporation, at any regular meeting of the stockholders or of the Board of
Directors or at any special meeting of the stockholders or of the Board of
Directors if notice of such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption of new
bylaws be contained in the notice of such special meeting. If the power to
adopt, amend or repeal bylaws is conferred upon the Board of Directors by the
certificate or incorporation it shall not divest or limit the power of the
stockholders to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws.
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