EXHIBIT 3.2
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BY-LAWS OF L-1 IDENTITY SOLUTIONS, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Article 1 Stockholders.................................................1
1.1 Place of Meetings............................................1
1.2 Annual Meeting...............................................1
1.3 Matters to be Considered at Annual Meeting...................1
1.4 Special Meetings.............................................3
1.5 Notice of Meetings...........................................3
1.6 Voting List..................................................3
1.7 Quorum.......................................................4
1.8 Adjournments.................................................4
1.9 Voting and Proxies...........................................4
1.10 Action at Meeting............................................4
1.11 Action without Meeting.......................................4
1.12 Presiding Officer............................................5
1.13 Voting Procedures and Inspectors of Elections................5
Article 2 Directors....................................................5
2.1 General Powers...............................................5
2.2 Number and Terms.............................................5
2.3 Director Nominations.........................................6
2.4 Qualification................................................8
2.5 Enlargement of the Board.....................................8
2.6 Vacancies....................................................8
2.7 Resignation..................................................8
2.8 Regular Meetings.............................................9
2.9 Special Meetings.............................................9
2.10 Notice of Special Meetings...................................9
2.11 Meetings by Telephone Conference Calls.......................9
2.12 Quorum.......................................................9
2.13 Action at Meeting............................................9
2.14 Action by Consent...........................................10
2.15 Removal.....................................................10
2.16 Committees..................................................10
2.17 Compensation of Directors...................................10
Article 3 Officers....................................................11
3.1 Enumeration.................................................11
3.2 Election....................................................11
3.3 Qualification...............................................11
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
3.4 Tenure......................................................11
3.5 Resignation and Removal.....................................11
3.6 Vacancies...................................................11
3.7 Chairman of the Board and Vice-Chairman of the Board........11
3.8 President...................................................12
3.9 Vice Presidents.............................................12
3.10 Secretary and Assistant Secretaries.........................12
3.11 Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers..........................13
3.12 Salaries....................................................13
Article 4 Capital Stock...............................................13
4.1 Issuance of Stock...........................................13
4.2 Certificates of Stock.......................................13
4.3 Transfers...................................................14
4.4 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates......................14
4.5 Record Date.................................................14
Article 5 Indemnification.............................................15
Article 6 General Provisions..........................................16
6.1 Fiscal Year.................................................16
6.2 Corporate Seal..............................................16
6.3 Waiver of Notice............................................16
6.4 Voting of Securities........................................16
6.5 Evidence of Authority.......................................16
6.6 Certificate of Incorporation................................16
6.7 Transactions with Interested Parties........................16
6.8 Severability................................................17
6.9 Pronouns....................................................17
Article 7 Amendments..................................................17
7.1 By the Board of Directors...................................17
7.2 By the Stockholders.........................................17
ii
BY-LAWS
OF
L-1 IDENTITY SOLUTIONS, INC.
ARTICLE 1
Stockholders
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1.1 Place of Meetings. All meetings of stockholders shall be held at such
place within or without the State of Delaware, U.S.A. as may be designated from
time to time by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board or the Chief
Executive Officer or, if not so designated, at the registered office of the
corporation.
1.2 Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders for the election of
directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be
brought before the meeting shall be held on the 2nd Tuesday of May in each year,
at a time fixed by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the
Chief Executive Officer, which date and time may be changed at any time by vote
of the Board of Directors. If the designated date shall fall upon a legal
holiday at the place of the meeting, then such meeting shall be held on the next
succeeding business day at the same hour. If no annual meeting is held in
accordance with the foregoing provisions, the Board of Directors shall cause the
meeting to be held as soon thereafter as convenient. If no annual meeting is
held in accordance with the foregoing provisions, a special meeting may be held
in lieu of the annual meeting, so long as it is called and conducted in
accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, and any
action taken at that special meeting shall have the same effect as if it had
been taken at the annual meeting, and in such case all references in these
By-Laws to the annual meeting of the stockholders shall be deemed to refer to
such special meeting.
1.3 Matters to be Considered at Annual Meeting. At an annual meeting of
stockholders, only such business shall be conducted, and only such proposals
shall be acted upon, as shall have been properly brought before the annual
meeting (a) by, or at the direction of, the Board of Directors or (b) by any
holder of record (both as of the time notice of such proposal is given by the
stockholder as set forth below and as of the record date for the annual meeting
in question) of any shares of capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote
at such annual meeting who complies with the procedures set forth in this
Section. In addition to any other applicable requirements, for business to be
properly brought before an annual meeting by a holder of record of any shares of
capital stock entitled to vote at such meeting, the stockholder must have given
timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the corporation as set
forth in this Section and such stockholder or his or her representative must be
present at the annual meeting. To be timely, a stockholder's notice must be
delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the
corporation (a) not less than 75 days nor more than 120 days prior to the
anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of
stockholders (the "Anniversary Date") or (b) in the event that the annual
meeting of stockholders is called for a date more than seven days prior to the
Anniversary Date, not later than the close of business on (i) the 20th day (or
if that day is not a business day of the corporation, on the next succeeding
business day) following the first date on which the date of such meeting was
publicly disclosed or (ii) if such date of public disclosure occurs more than 75
days prior to such scheduled date of such meeting, then the later of (1) the
20th day (or if that day is not a business day for the corporation, on the next
succeeding business day) following the first date of public disclosure or (2)
the 75th day prior to such scheduled date of such meeting (or if that day is not
a business day for the corporation, on the next succeeding business day). Any
public disclosure of the scheduled date of the meeting made by the corporation
by means of a press release, a report or other document filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, or a letter or report sent to stockholders
of record of the corporation, shall be deemed to be sufficient public disclosure
of the date of such meeting for purposes of these By-Laws.
A stockholder's notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter
the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (a) a brief
description of the proposal desired to be brought before the annual meeting and
the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (b) the name and
address, as they appear on the corporation's stock transfer books, of the
stockholder proposing such business and of the beneficial owners (if any) of the
stock registered in such stockholder's name and the name and address of other
stockholders known by such stockholder to be supporting such proposal on the
date of the stockholder notice, (c) the class and number of shares of the
corporation's capital stock which are held of record, beneficially owned or
represented by proxy by the stockholder and by any other stockholders known by
such stockholder to be supporting such proposal on the record date for the
annual meeting in question (if such date shall then have been made publicly
available) and on the date of such stockholder's notice, and (d) any material
interest of the stockholder in such proposal.
If the Board of Directors, or a designated committee thereof, determines
that any stockholder proposal was not timely made in accordance with the
provisions of this Section, or that the information provided in a stockholder's
notice does not satisfy the informational requirements of this Section in any
material respect, then such proposal shall not be presented for action at the
annual meeting in question. If neither the Board of Directors nor such committee
makes a determination as to the validity of any stockholder proposal, the
presiding officer of the annual meeting shall determine and declare at the
annual meeting whether the stockholder proposal was made in accordance with the
terms of this Section. If the presiding officer determines that a stockholder
proposal was made in accordance with the terms of this Section, he shall so
declare at the annual meeting and ballots shall be provided for use at the
meeting with respect to any such proposal. If the presiding officer determines
that a stockholder proposal was not made in accordance with the terms of this
Section, he shall so declare at the annual meeting and any such proposal shall
not be acted upon at the annual meeting.
The provisions of this By-Law shall not prevent the consideration and
approval or disapproval at the annual meeting of reports of officers, Directors
and committees of the
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Board of Directors, but in connection with such reports, no new business shall
be acted upon at such annual meeting unless stated, filed and received as herein
provided or properly brought before such annual meeting by, or at the direction
of, the Board of Directors or a designated committee thereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this By-Law, a stockholder
shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and the rules and regulations
thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this By-Law. Nothing in this
By-Law shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion
of proposals in the corporation's proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under
the Exchange Act.
1.4 Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders may be called at any
time only by (i) the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution duly approved
by a majority of the Directors then in office, (ii) the Chairman of the Board,
if one is elected, or (iii) the Chief Executive Officer, unless otherwise
provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or required by law. Business
transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to matters
relating to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting, unless
otherwise provided by law.
1.5 Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by law, written notice
of each meeting of stockholders, whether annual or special, shall be given (as
described below) 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 notices of all
meetings shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting. The notice of a
special meeting shall state, in addition, the purpose or purposes for which the
meeting is called. If mailed, notice is deemed given when deposited in the
United States mail, with the United States Postal Service for delivery by
Express Mail or comparable service, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder
at his address as it appears on the records of the corporation.
Notice of an annual or special meeting of stockholders need not be given to
a stockholder if a written waiver of notice is signed before or after such
meeting by such stockholder or if such stockholder attends such meeting, unless
such attendance was for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the
meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting was not lawfully
called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose
of, any annual or special meeting of stockholders need be specified in any
written waiver of notice.
1.6 Voting List. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the
corporation shall prepare or have prepared, 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, at a place within the city where the meeting is to
be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time
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and place of the meeting during the whole time of the meeting, and may be
inspected by any stockholder who is present.
1.7 Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of
Incorporation or these By-Laws, the holders of a majority of the shares of the
capital stock of the corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at
the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business.
1.8 Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned to any other
time and to any other place at which a meeting of stockholders may be held under
these By-Laws by the stockholders present or represented at the meeting and
entitled to vote, although less than a quorum, or, if no stockholder is present,
by any officer entitled to preside at or to act as Secretary of such meeting. It
shall not be necessary to notify any stockholder of any adjournment of less than
30 days if the time and place of the adjourned meeting are announced at the
meeting at which adjournment is taken, unless after the adjournment a new record
date is fixed for the adjourned meeting. At the adjourned meeting, the
corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the
original meeting.
1.9 Voting and Proxies. Each stockholder shall have one vote for each share
of stock entitled to vote held of record by such stockholder and a proportionate
vote for each fractional share so held, unless otherwise provided in the
Certificate of Incorporation. Each stockholder of record entitled to vote at a
meeting of stockholders, or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in
writing without a meeting, may vote or express such consent or dissent in person
or may authorize another person or persons to vote or act for him by written
proxy executed by the stockholder or his authorized agent and delivered to the
Secretary of the corporation. No such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after
three years from the date of its execution, unless the proxy expressly provides
for a longer period. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a
stockholder shall be deemed to be valid, and the burden of proving invalidity
shall rest on the challenger.
1.10 Action at Meeting. When a quorum is present at any meeting, the
holders of a majority of the stock present or represented and voting on a matter
(or if there are two or more classes of stock entitled to vote as separate
classes, then in the case of each such class, the holders of a majority of the
stock of that class present or represented and voting on a matter) shall decide
any matter to be voted upon by the stockholders at such meeting, except when a
different vote is required by express provision of law, the Certificate of
Incorporation or these By-Laws. Any election by stockholders shall be determined
by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote at the
election, except where a larger vote is required by law, by the Certificate of
Incorporation or by these By-Laws.
1.11 Action without Meeting. No action that is required or permitted to be
taken by the stockholders of the corporation at any annual or special meeting of
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stockholders may be effected by written consent of stockholders in lieu of a
meeting of stockholders, unless the action to be effected by written consent of
stockholders and the taking of such action by such written consent have
expressly been approved in advance by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
1.12 Presiding Officer. The Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, or if
elected but absent, the Vice Chairman shall preside at all annual or special
meetings of stockholders. The order of business and all other matters of
procedure at any meeting of the stockholders shall be determined by the
presiding officer.
1.13 Voting Procedures and Inspectors of Elections. The corporation shall,
in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act
at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The corporation may designate
one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails
to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of
stockholders, the presiding officer shall appoint one or more inspectors to act
at the meeting. Any inspector may, but need not, be an officer, employee or
agent of the corporation. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of
his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of
inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her
ability. The inspectors shall perform such duties as are required by the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time,
including the counting of all votes and ballots.
The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist
the inspectors in the performance of the duties of the inspectors. The presiding
officer may review all determinations made by the inspector(s), and in so doing
the presiding officer shall be entitled to exercise his or her sole judgment and
discretion and he or she shall not be bound by any determinations made by the
inspector(s). All determinations by the inspector(s) and, if applicable, the
presiding officer shall be subject to further review by any court of competent
jurisdiction.
ARTICLE 2
Directors
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2.1 General Powers. The business and affairs of the corporation shall be
managed by or under the direction of a Board of Directors, who may exercise all
of the powers of the corporation except as otherwise provided by law, the
Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws. In the event of a vacancy in the
Board of Directors, the remaining directors, except as otherwise provided by law
or the Certificate of Incorporation, may exercise the powers of the full Board
until the vacancy is filled.
2.2 Number and Terms. Except as otherwise fixed pursuant to the provisions
of Article IV of the Certificate of Incorporation relating to the rights of the
holders of any series of preferred stock to elect Directors, the number of
Directors of the corporation shall be fixed by resolution duly adopted from time
to time by the Board of Directors. The Directors shall be classified with
respect to the time for which they severally hold
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office, into three classes, as nearly equal in number as determined by the Board
of Directors, with one class to be elected annually.
The initial Directors of the corporation shall hold office as follows: the
Class I Directors shall hold office initially for a term expiring at the annual
meeting of stockholders to be held in 1997, the Class II Directors shall hold
office initially for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders to be
held in 1998, and the Class III Directors shall hold office initially for a term
expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 1999, with the
members of each class to hold office until their respective successors are duly
elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal. At each
annual meeting of the stockholders of the corporation, Directors elected to
succeed those whose terms are expiring at that meeting shall be elected to hold
office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the
third year following the year of their election and until their respective
successors are duly elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or
removal.
2.3 Director Nominations. In order to be eligible for election as a
Director to the Board of Directors, an individual must have been nominated in
accordance with the provisions of these By-Laws. Nominations of candidates for
election as Directors of the corporation at any annual meeting of stockholders
may be made (a) by, or at the direction of, a majority of the Board of Directors
or a designated committee thereof, or (b) by any holder of record (both as of
the time notice of such nomination is given by the stockholder as set forth
below and as of the record date for the annual meeting in question) of any
shares of the capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote at such annual
meeting who complies with the procedures set forth in this Section. Any
stockholder who seeks to make such a nomination, or his or her representative,
must be present in person at the annual meeting. Only persons nominated in
accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section shall be eligible for
election as Directors at an annual meeting of stockholders.
Nominations, other than those made by, or at the direction of, the Board of
Directors or a designated committee thereof, shall be made pursuant to timely
notice in writing to the Secretary of the corporation as set forth in this
Section. To be timely, a stockholder's notice shall be delivered to, or mailed
and received, at the principal executive offices of the corporation (a) not less
than 75 days nor more than 120 days prior to the Anniversary Date or (b) in the
event that the annual meeting of stockholders is called for a date more than
seven days prior to the Anniversary Date, not later than the close of business
on (i) the 20th day (or if that day is not a business day for the corporation,
on the next succeeding business day) following the first date on which the date
of such meeting was publicly disclosed or (ii) if such date of public disclosure
occurs more than 75 days prior to such scheduled date of such meeting, then the
later of (1) the 20th day (or if that day is not a business day for the
corporation, on the next succeeding business day) following the first date of
public disclosure of the date of such meeting or (2) the 75th day prior to such
scheduled date of such meeting (or if that day is not a business day for the
corporation, on the next succeeding business day). Any public disclosure of the
scheduled date of the meeting made by the corporation by means of a
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press release, a report or other document filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or a letter or report sent to stockholders of record of the
corporation, shall be deemed to be sufficient public disclosure of the date of
such meeting for purposes of these By-Laws. Such stockholder's notice shall set
forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for
election or re-election as a director, (i) the name, age, business address and
residence address of such person, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of
such person during the past five years, (iii) the class and number of shares of
the corporation's capital stock which are beneficially owned by such person on
the date of such stockholder notice, (iv) a description of any of the following
events that has occurred within the last five years and that is material to the
evaluation of the ability or integrity of such proposed nominee: (1) a petition
under Federal bankruptcy laws or any state insolvency laws was filed by or
against such person, (2) such person was convicted in a criminal proceeding, or
was a named subject of a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and
other minor offenses), (3) such person was found by any court of competent
jurisdiction to have violated any Federal or state securities law or Federal
commodities law, which judgment or finding has not been subsequently reversed,
suspended or vacated, or (4) such person was the subject of any order, judgment
or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of
competent jurisdiction or of any Federal or state governmental or
quasi-governmental agency, authority or commission enjoining him or otherwise
limiting him from engaging in any type of business practice or in any activity
in connection with the purchase or sale of any security or commodity, and (v)
the consent of each nominee to serve as a Director if so elected, and (b) as to
the stockholder giving the notice, (i) the name and address, as they appear on
the corporation's stock transfer books, of such stockholder and of the
beneficial owners (if any) of the stock registered in such stockholder's name
and the name and address of other stockholders known by such stockholder to be
supporting such nominees, (ii) the class and number of shares of the
corporation's capital stock which are beneficially owned by such stockholder and
such beneficial owners (if any) on the date of such stockholder notice and by
any other stockholders known by such stockholder to be supporting such nominees
on the date of such stockholder notice, (iii) a representation that the
stockholder or his or her representative intends to appear in person at the
meeting or nominate the person or persons specified in the notice, (iv) a
description of all arrangements or understandings between such 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 such
stockholders; provided, however, that nothing in subsection (a) or (b) of this
Section shall require the stockholder giving such notice to provide to the
corporation copies of such stockholder's preliminary or definitive proxy, proxy
statement, or other soliciting material filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. At the request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated by,
or at the direction of, the Board of Directors for election as a Director at an
annual meeting shall furnish to the Secretary of the corporation that
information required to be set forth in a stockholder's notice of nomination
which pertains to such nominee.
No person shall be elected by the stockholders as a Director of the
corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this
Section. Election of
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Directors at the annual meeting need not be written ballot, unless otherwise
provided by the Board of Directors or presiding officer at such annual meeting.
If written ballots are to be used, ballots bearing the names of all the persons
who have been nominated for election as Directors at the annual meeting in
accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section shall be provided for
use at the annual meeting.
If the Board of Directors, or a designated committee thereof, determines
that any stockholder nomination was not timely made in accordance with the terms
of this Section or that the information provided in a stockholder's notice does
not satisfy the informational requirements of this Section in any material
respect, then such nomination shall not be considered at the annual meeting in
question. If neither the Board of Directors nor such committee makes a
determination as to the validity of any nominations by a stockholder as set
forth above, the presiding officer of the annual meeting shall determine and
declare at the annual meeting whether a nomination was made in accordance with
the terms of this Section. If the presiding officer determines that a nomination
was made in accordance with the terms of this Section, he shall so declare at
the annual meeting and ballots shall be provided for use at the meeting with
respect to such nomination. If the presiding officer determines that a
nomination was not made in accordance with the terms of this Section, he shall
so declare at the annual meeting and such nomination shall be disregarded.
2.4 Qualification. Directors need not be stockholders of the corporation.
2.5 Enlargement of the Board. Except as otherwise provided by law or the
Certificate of Incorporation, the number of directors may be increased at any
time and from time to time by the stockholders or by a majority of the directors
then in office.
2.6 Vacancies. Except as otherwise fixed pursuant to the provisions of
Article IV of the Certificate of Incorporation relating to the rights of the
holders of any class or series of preferred stock to elect Directors, any
vacancy occurring on the Board of Directors, including any vacancy created by
reason of an increase in the number of Directors or resulting from death,
resignation, disqualification, removal or other causes, shall be filled solely
by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Directors then in office,
even if less than a quorum of the Board of Directors. Any Director appointed in
accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of
the full term of the class of Directors in which the new directorship was
created or the vacancy occurred and until such Director's successor shall have
been duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or
removal. When the number of Directors is increased or decreased, the Board of
Directors shall determine the class or classes to which the increased or
decreased number of Directors shall be apportioned; provided, however, that no
decrease in the number of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent
Director.
2.7 Resignation. Any director may resign by delivering his written
resignation to the corporation at its principal office or to the Chairman of the
Board, Chief Executive Officer or Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective
upon receipt
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unless it is specified to be effective at some other time or upon the happening
of some other event.
2.8 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be
held without notice at such time and place, either within or without the State
of Delaware, U.S.A., as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of
Directors; provided that any director who is absent when such a determination is
made shall be given notice of the determination. A regular meeting of the Board
of Directors may be held without notice immediately after and at the same place
as the annual meeting of stockholders.
2.9 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be
held at any time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, U.S.A.,
designated in a call by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, or
by a majority of the directors.
2.10 Notice of Special Meetings. Notice of any special meeting of directors
shall be given to each director by the Secretary or by the officer or one of the
directors calling the meeting. Notice shall be duly given to each director (i)
by giving notice to such director in person or by telephone at least five days
in advance of the meeting, (ii) by sending a facsimile or telegram, or
delivering written notice by hand, to his last known business or home address at
least five days in advance of the meeting, or (iii) by mailing written notice
(by courier service, in the case of mail addressed to another country) to his
last known business or home address at least ten days in advance of the meeting.
A notice or waiver of notice of a meeting of the Board of Directors need not
specify the purposes of the meeting.
2.11 Meetings by Telephone Conference Calls. Directors or any members of
any committee designated by the directors may participate in a meeting of the
Board of Directors or such 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 participation by such means shall constitute
presence in person at such meeting.
2.12 Quorum. A majority of the directors then in office shall constitute a
quorum at all meetings of the Board of Directors. In the event one or more of
the directors shall be disqualified to vote at any meeting, then the required
quorum shall be reduced by one for each such director so disqualified. In the
absence of a quorum at any such meeting, a majority of the directors present may
adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice other than
announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
2.13 Action at Meeting. At any meeting of the Board of Directors at which a
quorum is present, the vote of a majority of those present shall be sufficient
to take any action, unless a different vote is specified by law, the Certificate
of Incorporation or these By-Laws.
9
2.14 Action by Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any
meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee of the Board of Directors
may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board or committee, as the
case may be, consent to the action in writing before or after said action is
taken, and the written consents are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the
Board or committee.
2.15 Removal. Subject to the rights, if any, of any class or series of
preferred stock to elect Directors and to remove any Director whom the holders
of any such stock had the right to elect, any Director (including persons
elected by Directors to fill vacancies in the Board of Directors) may be removed
from office only with cause and by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds
of the total votes which would be eligible to be cast by stockholders in the
election of such Director only at a duly constituted meeting of stockholders
called expressly for such purpose. A Director may not be removed from office
without cause. At least 30 days prior to any meeting of stockholders at which it
is proposed that any Director be removed from office, written notice shall be
sent to the Director whose removal will be considered at the meeting.
2.16 Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a
majority of the directors then in office, 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 a committee, the
member or members of the committee 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 and subject to the
provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, 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. Each
such committee shall keep minutes and make such reports as the Board of
Directors may from time to time request. Except as the Board of Directors may
otherwise determine, any committee may make rules for the conduct of its
business, but unless otherwise provided by the directors or in such rules, its
business shall be conducted as nearly as possible in the same manner as is
provided in these By-Laws for the Board of Directors.
2.17 Compensation of Directors. Directors may be paid such compensation for
their services and such reimbursement for expenses of attendance at meetings as
the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. No such payment shall
preclude any director from serving the corporation or any of its parent or
subsidiary corporations in any other capacity and receiving compensation for
such service.
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ARTICLE 3
Officers
--------
3.1 Enumeration. The officers of the corporation shall consist of a
President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers with such other
titles as the Board of Directors shall determine, including a Chairman of the
Board, a Vice-Chairman of the Board, and one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant
Treasurers, and Assistant Secretaries. The Board of Directors may appoint such
other officers as it may deem appropriate.
3.2 Election. The President, Treasurer and Secretary shall be elected
annually by the Board of Directors at its first meeting following the annual
meeting of stockholders. Other officers may be appointed by the Board of
Directors at such meeting or at any other meeting.
3.3 Qualification. No officer need be a stockholder. Any two or more
offices may be held by the same person.
3.4 Tenure. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of
Incorporation or by these By-Laws, each officer shall hold office until his
successor is elected and qualified, unless a different term is specified in the
vote choosing or appointing him, or until his earlier death, resignation or
removal.
3.5 Resignation and Removal. Any officer may resign by delivering his
written resignation to the corporation at its principal office or to the
President or Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless
it is specified to be effective at some other time or upon the happening of some
other event.
Except as otherwise provided by law, any officer may be removed at any
time, with or without cause, by vote of a majority of the directors then in
office.
Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine, no officer who
resigns or is removed shall have any right to any compensation as an officer for
any period following his resignation or removal, or any right to damages on
account of such removal, whether his compensation be by the month or by the year
or otherwise, unless such compensation is expressly provided in a duly
authorized written agreement with the corporation.
3.6 Vacancies. The Board of Directors may fill any vacancy occurring in any
office for any reason and may, in its discretion, leave unfilled for such period
as it may determine any offices other than those of President, Treasurer and
Secretary. Each such successor shall hold office for the unexpired term of his
predecessor and until his successor is elected and qualified, or until his
earlier death, resignation or removal.
3.7 Chairman of the Board and Vice-Chairman of the Board. The Board of
Directors may appoint a Chairman of the Board and may (but shall not be required
to)
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designate the Chairman of the Board as Chief Executive Officer. If the Board of
Directors appoints a Chairman of the Board, he shall perform such duties and
possess such powers as are assigned to him by the Board of Directors. If the
Board of Directors appoints a Vice-Chairman of the Board, he shall, in the
absence or disability of the Chairman of the Board, perform the duties and
exercise the powers of the Chairman of the Board and shall perform such other
duties and possess such other powers as may from time to time be vested in him
by the Board of Directors.
3.8 President. The President shall be the Chief Operating Officer of the
corporation. Unless the Board of Directors has designated the Chairman of the
Board as Chief Executive Officer, the President shall also be the Chief
Executive Officer of the corporation. The President shall, subject to the
direction of the Board of Directors, have general charge and supervision of the
business of the corporation. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of
Directors, he shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders, if he is a
director, and at all meetings of the Board of Directors. The President shall
perform such other duties and shall have such other powers as the Board of
Directors may from time to time prescribe.
3.9 Vice Presidents. Any Vice President shall perform such duties and
possess such powers as the Board of Directors or the President may from time to
time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the
President, the Vice President (or if there shall be more than one, the Vice
Presidents in the order determined by the Board of Directors) shall perform the
duties of the President and when so performing shall have all the powers of and
be subject to all the restrictions upon the President. The Board of Directors
may assign to any Vice President the title of Executive Vice President, Senior
Vice President or any other title selected by the Board of Directors.
3.10 Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary shall perform such
duties and shall have such powers as the Board of Directors or the President may
from time to time prescribe. In addition, the Secretary shall perform such
duties and have such powers as are incident to the office of the secretary,
including without limitation the duty and power to give notices of all meetings
of stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, to attend all
meetings of stockholders and the Board of Directors and keep a record of the
proceedings, to maintain a stock ledger and prepare lists of stockholders and
their addresses as required, to be custodian of corporate records and the
corporate seal and to affix and attest to the same on documents.
Any Assistant Secretary shall perform such duties and possess such powers
as the Board of Directors, the President or the Secretary may from time to time
prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the
Secretary, the Assistant Secretary, (or if there shall be more than one, the
Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board of Directors) shall
perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary.
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In the absence of the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary at any meeting
of stockholders or directors, the person presiding at the meeting shall
designate a temporary secretary to keep a record of the meeting.
3.11 Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers. The Treasurer shall perform such
duties and shall have such powers as may from time to time be assigned to him by
the Board of Directors or the President. In addition, the Treasurer shall
perform such duties and have such powers as are incident to the office of
treasurer, including without limitation the duty and power to keep and be
responsible for all funds and securities of the corporation, to deposit funds of
the corporation in depositories selected in accordance with these By-Laws, to
disburse such funds as ordered by the Board of Directors, to make proper
accounts of such funds, and to render as required by the Board of Directors
statements of all such transactions and of the financial condition of the
corporation.
The Assistant Treasurers shall perform such duties and possess such powers
as the Board of Directors, the President or the Treasurer may from time to time
prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the
Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer, (or if there shall be more than one, the
Assistant Treasurers in the order determined by the Board of Directors) shall
perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer.
3.12 Salaries. Officers of the corporation shall be entitled to such
salaries, compensation or reimbursement as shall be fixed or allowed from time
to time by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE 4
Capital Stock
-------------
4.1 Issuance of Stock. Unless otherwise voted by the stockholders and
subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the whole or any
part of any unissued balance of the authorized capital stock of the corporation
or the whole or any part of any unissued balance of the authorized capital stock
of the corporation held in its treasury may be issued, sold, transferred or
otherwise disposed of by vote of the Board of Directors in such manner, for such
consideration and on such terms as the Board of Directors may determine.
4.2 Certificates of Stock. Every holder of stock of the corporation shall
be entitled to have a certificate, in such form as may be prescribed by law and
by the Board of Directors, certifying the number and class of shares owned by
him in the corporation. Each such certificate shall be signed by, or in the name
of the corporation by, the Chairman or Vice-Chairman, if any, of the Board of
Directors, or the President or a Vice President, and the Treasurer or an
Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
corporation. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile.
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Each certificate for shares of stock which are subject to any restriction
on transfer pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, the By-Laws,
applicable securities laws or any agreement among any number of shareholders or
among such holders and the corporation shall have conspicuously noted on the
face or back of the certificate either the full text of the restriction or a
statement of the existence of such restriction.
4.3 Transfers. Except as otherwise established by rules and regulations
adopted by the Board of Directors, and subject to applicable law, shares of
stock may be transferred on the books of the corporation by the surrender to the
corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate representing such shares
properly endorsed or accompanied by a written assignment or power of attorney
properly executed, and with such proof of authority or the authenticity of
signature as the corporation or its transfer agent may reasonably require.
Except as may be otherwise required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation
or by these By-Laws, the corporation shall be entitled to treat the record
holder of stock as shown on its books as the owner of such stock for all
purposes, including the payment of dividends and the right to vote with respect
to such stock, regardless of any transfer, pledge or other disposition of such
stock until the shares have been transferred on the books of the corporation in
accordance with the requirements of these By-Laws.
4.4 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The corporation may issue a new
certificate of stock in place of any previously issued certificate alleged to
have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, upon such terms and conditions as the
Board of Directors may prescribe, including the presentation of reasonable
evidence of such loss, theft or destruction and the giving of such indemnity as
the Board of Directors may require for the protection of the corporation or any
transfer agent or registrar.
4.5 Record Date. The Board of Directors may fix in advance a date as a
record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of or
to vote at any meeting of stockholders or to express consent (or dissent) to
corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of
any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights in respect of any
change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful
action. Such record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, 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 to which such record date relates.
If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders
entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the
close of business on the day before the day on which notice is given, or, if
notice is waived, at the close of business on the day before the day on which
the meeting is held. The record date for determining stockholders entitled to
express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior
action by the Board of Directors is necessary, shall be the day on which the
first written consent is expressed. The record date for determining stockholders
for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the
Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating to such purpose.
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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.
ARTICLE 5
Indemnification
---------------
The corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by and in accordance
with Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, as that Section may
be amended and supplemented from time to time, indemnify any director, officer
or trustee which it shall have power to indemnify under that Section against any
expenses, liabilities or other matters referred to in or covered by that
Section; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not require the corporation
to indemnify or advance expenses to any person in connection with any action,
suit, proceeding, claim or counterclaim initiated by or on behalf of such
person. The corporation may, in the discretion of the Board of Directors,
indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by and in accordance with Section 145
of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, as that Section may be amended and
supplemented from time to time, any other employee or agent of the corporation
(i.e., an employee or agent who is not a director, officer or trustee of the
corporation) which it shall have power to indemnify under that Section against
any expenses, liabilities or other matters referred to in or covered by that
Section. The indemnification provided for in this Article (i) shall not be
deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled
under any by-law, agreement or vote of stockholders or disinterested directors
or otherwise, both as to action in their official capacities and as to action in
another capacity while holding such office or position, (ii) shall continue as
to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, trustee, or other employee
or agent and (iii) shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and
administrators of such a person. The corporation's obligation to provide
indemnification under this Article shall be offset to the extent of any other
source of indemnification or any otherwise applicable insurance coverage under a
policy maintained by the corporation or any other person.
To assure indemnification under this Article of all such persons who are
determined by the corporation or otherwise to be or to have been "fiduciaries"
of any employee benefit plan of the corporation which may exist from time to
time, such Section 145 shall, for the purposes of this Article, be interpreted
as follows: an "other enterprise" shall be deemed to include such an employee
benefit plan, including, without limitation, any plan of the corporation which
is governed by the Act of Congress entitled "Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974," as amended from time to time; the corporation shall be deemed to
have requested a person to serve an employee benefit plan where the performance
by such person of his duties to the corporation also imposes duties on, or
otherwise involves services by, such person to the plan or participants or
beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an
employee benefit plan pursuant to such Act of Congress shall be deemed "fines";
and action taken or omitted by
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a person with respect to an employee benefit plan in the performance of such
person's duties for a purpose reasonably believed by such person to be in the
interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be
for a purpose which is not opposed to the best interests of the corporation.
ARTICLE 6
General Provisions
------------------
6.1 Fiscal Year. Except as from time to time otherwise designated by the
Board of Directors, the fiscal year of the corporation shall begin on the first
day of January in each year and end on the last day of December in each year.
6.2 Corporate Seal. The corporate seal shall be in such form as shall be
approved by the Board of Directors.
6.3 Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice whatsoever is required to be
given by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-Laws, a waiver
of such notice either in writing signed by the person entitled to such notice or
such person's duly authorized attorney, or by telegraph, cable or any other
available method, whether before, at or after the time stated in such waiver, or
the appearance of such person or persons at such meeting in person or by proxy,
shall be deemed equivalent to such notice.
6.4 Voting of Securities. Except as the directors may otherwise designate,
the Chairman of the Board, President or Treasurer may waive notice of, and act
as, or appoint any person or persons to act as, proxy or attorney-in-fact for
this corporation (with or without power of substitution) at, any meeting of
stockholders or shareholders of any other corporation or organization, the
securities of which may be held by this corporation.
6.5 Evidence of Authority. A certificate by the Secretary, or an Assistant
Secretary, or a temporary Secretary, as to any action taken by the stockholders,
directors, a committee or any officer or representative of the corporation shall
as to all persons who rely on the certificate in good faith be conclusive
evidence of such action.
6.6 Certificate of Incorporation. All references in these By-Laws to the
Certificate of Incorporation shall be deemed to refer to the Certificate of
Incorporation of the corporation, as amended and in effect from time to time.
6.7 Transactions with Interested Parties. Subject at all times and in all
respects to the provisions of Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware, as amended from time to time, no contract or transaction
between the corporation and one or more of the directors or officers, or between
the corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association, or other
organization in which one or more of the directors or officers are directors or
officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for
this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or
participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee of the
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Board of Directors which authorizes the contract or transaction or solely
because his or their votes are counted for such purpose, if:
(1) The material facts as to his relationship or interest and as to the
contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors or
the committee, and the Board or committee in good faith authorizes the contract
or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested
directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum;
(2) The material facts as to his relationship or interest and as to the
contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled
to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in
good faith by vote of the stockholders; or
(3) The contract or transaction is fair as to the corporation as of the
time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the Board of Directors, a
committee of the Board of Directors, or the stockholders.
Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence
of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee which
authorizes the contract or transaction.
6.8 Severability. Any determination that any provision of these By-Laws is
for any reason inapplicable, illegal or ineffective shall not affect or
invalidate any other provision of these By-Laws.
6.9 Pronouns. All pronouns used in these By-Laws shall be deemed to refer
to the masculine, feminine or neuter, singular or plural, as the identity of the
person or persons may require.
ARTICLE 7
Amendments
----------
7.1 By the Board of Directors. These By-Laws may be altered, amended or
repealed or new by-laws may be adopted by the Board of Directors of the
corporation; provided, however, that unless otherwise provided by law or the
Certificate of Incorporation, any such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption
shall require the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then
in office.
7.2 By the Stockholders. These By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed
or new by-laws may be adopted by the stockholders of the corporation; provided,
however, that unless otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of
Incorporation, any such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption shall require
the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the total votes eligible to be
cast by stockholders
17
with respect to such action, voting together as a single class, at a duly
constituted meeting of stockholders called expressly for such purpose.
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