AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
LIVINGSTON ENTERPRISES, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF
LIVINGSTON ENTERPRISES, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE I CORPORATE OFFICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1 PRINCIPAL OFFICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 OTHER OFFICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
ARTICLE II MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2.1 PLACE OF MEETINGS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2.2 ANNUAL MEETING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2.3 SPECIAL MEETING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.4 NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.5 ADVANCE NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDER NOMINEES AND
SHAREHOLDER BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.6 MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE . . . . . . 4
2.7 QUORUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.8 ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.9 VOTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.10 VALIDATION OF MEETINGS; WAIVER OF NOTICE; CONSENT. . . . 6
2.11 SHAREHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT
A MEETING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.12 RECORD DATE FOR SHAREHOLDER NOTICE; VOTING; GIVING
CONSENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.13 PROXIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.14 INSPECTORS OF ELECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
ARTICLE III DIRECTORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.1 POWERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.2 NUMBER OF DIRECTORS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.3 ELECTION QUALIFICATION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTOR. . 9
3.4 RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
3.5 PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE . . . . . . . .11
3.6 REGULAR MEETINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
3.7 SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
3.8 QUORUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
3.9 WAIVER OF NOTICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)
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3.10 ADJOURNMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
3.11 NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
3.12 BOARD ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING. . . .12
3.13 FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS . . . . . . . . . . .12
3.14 APPROVAL OF LOANS TO OFFICERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
ARTICLE IV COMMITTEES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
4.1 COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
4.2 MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES. . . . . . . . . . . .14
ARTICLE V OFFICERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
5.1 OFFICERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
5.2 ELECTION OF OFFICERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
5.3 SUBORDINATE OFFICERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
5.4 REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS. . . . . . . . . . .15
5.5 VACANCIES IN OFFICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
5.6 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
5.7 PRESIDENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
5.8 VICE PRESIDENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
5.9 SECRETARY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
5.10 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
ARTICLE VI INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND OTHER
AGENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
6.1 INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS . . . . . . .17
6.2 INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
6.3 PAYMENT OF EXPENSES IN ADVANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
6.4 INDEMNITY NOT EXCLUSIVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
6.5 INSURANCE INDEMNIFICATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
6.6 CONFLICTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
ARTICLE VII RECORDS AND REPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
7.1 MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF SHARE REGISTER . . . . . .18
7.2 MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF BYLAWS . . . . . . . . . .19
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)
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7.3 MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF OTHER CORPORATE RECORDS. .19
7.4 INSPECTION BY DIRECTORS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
7.5 ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS; WAIVER. . . . . . . . . .20
7.6 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
7.7 REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS . . . . .21
ARTICLE VIII GENERAL MATTERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
8.1 RECORD DATE FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN NOTICE AND VOTING. .21
8.2 CHECKS; DRAFTS; EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS. . . . . . . .21
8.3 CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS: HOW EXECUTED. . . .22
8.4 CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
8.5 LOST CERTIFICATES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
8.6 CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
9.1 AMENDMENT BY SHAREHOLDERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
9.2 AMENDMENT BY DIRECTORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
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AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
LIVINGSTON ENTERPRISES, INC.
ARTICLE I
CORPORATE OFFICES
1.1 PRINCIPAL OFFICE
The board of directors shall fix the location of the principal executive
office of the corporation at any place within or outside the State of
California. If the principal executive office is located outside such state
and the corporation has one or more business offices in such state, then the
board of directors shall fix and designate a principal business office in the
State of California.
1.2 OTHER OFFICES
The board of directors may at any time establish branch or subordinate
offices at any place or places where the corporation is qualified to do
business.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
2.1 PLACE OF MEETINGS
Meetings of shareholders shall be held at any place within or outside the
State of California designated by the board of directors. In the absence of
any such designation, shareholders' meetings shall be held at the principal
executive office of the corporation.
2.2 ANNUAL MEETING
The annual meeting of shareholders shall be held each year within 180
days from the end of the corporation's fiscal year as determined by the Board
of Directors or such other time as the Board of Directors may designate.
However, if such day falls on a legal holiday, then the meeting shall be held
at the same time and place on the next succeeding full business day. At the
meeting, directors shall be elected, and any other proper business may be
transacted.
2.3 SPECIAL MEETING
A special meeting of the shareholders may be called at any time by the
board of directors, or by the chairman of the board, or by the president, or
by one or more shareholders holding shares in the aggregate entitled to cast
not less than ten percent (10%) of the votes at that meeting.
If a special meeting is called by any person or persons other than the
board of directors or the president or the chairman of the board, then the
request shall be in writing, specifying the time of such meeting and the
general nature of the business proposed to be transacted, and shall be
delivered personally or sent by registered mail or by telegraphic or other
facsimile transmission to the chairman of the board, the president, any vice
president or the secretary of the corporation. The officer receiving the
request shall cause notice to be promptly given to the shareholders entitled
to vote, in accordance with the provisions of Sections 2.4 and 2.5 of these
bylaws, that a meeting will be held at the time requested by the person or
persons calling the meeting, so long as that time is not less than
thirty-five (35) nor more than sixty (60) days after the receipt of the
request. If the notice is not given within twenty (20) days after receipt of
the request, then the person or persons requesting the meeting may give the
notice. Nothing contained in this paragraph of this Section 2.3 shall be
construed as limiting, fixing or affecting the time when a meeting of
shareholders called by action of the board of directors may be held.
2.4 NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS
All notices of meetings of shareholders shall be sent or otherwise given
in accordance with Section 2.5 of these bylaws not less than ten (10) (or, if
sent by third-class mail pursuant to Section 2.5 of these bylaws, thirty
(30)) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting. The
notice shall specify the place, date, and hour of the meeting and (i) in the
case of a special meeting, the general nature of the business to be
transacted (no business other than that specified in the notice may be
transacted) or (ii) in the case of the annual meeting, those matters which
the board of directors, at the time of giving the notice, intends to present
for action by the shareholders (but subject to the provisions of the next
paragraph of this Section 2.4 any proper matter may be presented at the
meeting for such action). The notice of any meeting at which directors are
to be elected shall include the name of any nominee or nominees who, at the
time of the notice, the board intends to present for election.
If action is proposed to be taken at any meeting for approval of (i) a
contract or transaction in which a director has a direct or indirect
financial interest, pursuant to Section 310 of the Corporations Code of
California (the "Code"), (ii) an amendment of the articles of incorporation,
pursuant to Section 902 of the Code, (iii) a reorganization of the
corporation, pursuant to Section 1201 of the Code, (iv) a voluntary
dissolution of the corporation, pursuant to Section 1900 of the Code, or (v)
a distribution in dissolution other than in accordance with the rights of
outstanding preferred shares, pursuant to Section 2007 of the Code, then the
notice shall also state the general nature of that proposal.
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2.5 ADVANCE NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDER NOMINEES AND SHAREHOLDER BUSINESS
To be properly brought before an annual meeting or special meeting,
nominations for the election of director or other business must be (a)
specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at
the direction of the board of directors, (b) otherwise properly brought
before the meeting by or at the direction of the board of directors, or (c)
otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a shareholder. For such
nominations or other business to be considered properly brought before the
meeting by a shareholder, such shareholder must have given timely notice and
in proper form of his intent to bring such business before such meeting. To
be timely, such shareholder's notice must be delivered to or mailed and
received by the secretary of the corporation not less than ninety (90) days
prior to the meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than one
hundred (100) days notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the
meeting is given or made to shareholders, notice by the shareholder 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
shareholder's notice to the secretary shall set forth:
(a) the name and address of the shareholder 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;
(b) a representation that the shareholder 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 to introduce the business specified in the notice;
(c) if applicable, a description of all arrangements or
understandings between the shareholder 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 shareholder;
(d) such other information regarding each nominee or each matter of
business to be proposed by such shareholder 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
(e) if applicable, the consent of each nominee to serve as director
of the corporation if so elected.
The chairman of the meeting any refuse to acknowledge the nomination of
any person or the proposal of any business not made in compliance with the
foregoing procedure.
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2.6 MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE
Written notice of any meeting of shareholders shall be given either (i)
personally or (ii) by first-class mail or (iii) by third-class mail but only
if the corporation has outstanding shares held of record by five hundred
(500) or more persons (determined as provided in Section 605 of the Code) on
the record date for the shareholders' meeting, or (iv) by telegraphic or
other written communication. Notices not personally delivered shall be sent
charges prepaid and shall be addressed to the shareholder at the address of
that shareholder appearing on the books of the corporation or given by the
shareholder to the corporation for the purpose of notice. If no such address
appears on the corporation's books or is given, notice shall be deemed to
have been given if sent to that shareholder by mail or telegraphic or other
written communication to the corporation's principal executive office, or if
published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county
where that office is located. Notice shall be deemed to have been given at
the time when delivered personally or deposited in the mail or sent by
telegram or other means of written communication.
If any notice addressed to a shareholder at the address of that
shareholder appearing on the books of the corporation is returned to the
corporation by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the
United States Postal Service is unable to deliver the notice to the
shareholder at that address, then all future notices or reports shall be
deemed to have been duly given without further mailing if the same shall be
available to the shareholder on written demand of the shareholder at the
principal executive office of the corporation for a period of one (1) year
from the date of the giving of the notice.
An affidavit of the mailing or other means of giving any notice of any
shareholders' meeting, executed by the secretary, assistant secretary or any
transfer agent of the corporation giving the notice, shall be prima facie
evidence of the giving of such notice.
2.7 QUORUM
The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the
shares entitled to vote thereat constitutes a quorum for the transaction of
business at all meetings of shareholders. The shareholders present at a duly
called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to do
business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough
shareholders to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than
adjournment) is approved by at least a majority of the shares required to
constitute a quorum.
2.8 ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE
Any shareholders' meeting, annual or special, whether or not a quorum is
present, may be adjourned from time to time by the vote of the majority of
the shares represented at that meeting, either in person or by proxy. In the
absence of a quorum, no other business may be transacted at that meeting
except as provided in Section 2.6 of these bylaws.
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When any meeting of shareholders, either annual or special, is adjourned
to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting
if the time and place are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment
is taken. However, if a new record date for the adjourned meeting is fixed or
if the adjournment is for more than forty-five (45) days from the date set
for the original meeting, then notice of the adjourned meeting shall be
given. Notice of any such adjourned meeting shall be given to each
shareholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting in accordance
with the provisions of Sections 2.4 and 2.6 of these bylaws. At any
adjourned meeting the corporation may transact any business which might have
been transacted at the original meeting.
2.9 VOTING
The shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders shall be
determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.11 of these bylaws,
subject to the provisions of Sections 702 through 704 of the Code (relating
to voting shares held by a fiduciary, in the name of a corporation or in
joint ownership).
The shareholders' vote may be by voice vote or by ballot; provided,
however, that any election for directors must be by ballot if demanded by any
shareholder at the meeting and before the voting has begun.
Except as provided in the last paragraph of this Section 2.9, or as may
be otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation, each outstanding
share, regardless of class, shall be entitled to one vote on each matter
submitted to a vote of the shareholders. Any shareholder entitled to vote on
any matter may vote part of the shares in favor of the proposal and refrain
from voting the remaining shares or, except when the matter is the election
of directors, may vote them against the proposal; but, if the shareholder
fails to specify the number of shares which the shareholder is voting
affirmatively, it will be conclusively presumed that the shareholder's
approving vote is with respect to all shares which the shareholder is
entitled to vote.
If a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of the majority of the
shares represented and voting at a duly held meeting (which shares voting
affirmatively also constitute at least a majority of the required quorum)
shall be the act of the shareholders, unless the vote of a greater number or
a vote by classes is required by the Code or by the articles of incorporation.
At a shareholders' meeting at which directors are to be elected, a
shareholder shall be entitled to cumulate votes (i.e., cast for any candidate
a number of votes greater than the number of votes which such shareholder
normally is entitled to cast) if the candidates' names have been placed in
nomination prior to commencement of the voting and the shareholder has given
notice prior to commencement of the voting of the shareholder's intention to
cumulate votes. If any shareholder has given such a notice, then every
shareholder entitled to vote may cumulate votes for candidates in nomination
either (i) by giving one candidate a number of votes equal to the number of
directors to be elected multiplied by the number of votes to which that
shareholder's shares are normally entitled or (ii) by distributing the
shareholder's votes on the same principle among any or all of the candidates,
as the shareholder thinks fit. The candidates receiving the highest number of
affirmative votes, up to the
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number of directors to be elected, shall be elected; votes against any
candidate and votes withheld shall have no legal effect. Effective upon such
time as (i) shares of the capital stock of the corporation are designated as
qualified for trading as National Market System securities on the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System (or any
successor national system) ("Qualified Public Offering") and (ii) the
corporation has at least 800 holders of shares of its capital stock,
shareholders shall no longer be entitled to cumulate votes.
2.10 VALIDATION OF MEETINGS; WAIVER OF NOTICE; CONSENT
The transactions of any meeting of shareholders, either annual or
special, however called and noticed, and wherever held, shall be as valid as
though they had been taken at a meeting duly held after regular call and
notice, if a quorum be present either in person or by proxy, and if, either
before or after the meeting, each person entitled to vote, who was not
present in person or by proxy, signs a written waiver of notice or a consent
to the holding of the meeting or an approval of the minutes thereof. The
waiver of notice or consent or approval need not specify either the business
to be transacted or the purpose of any annual or special meeting of
shareholders, except that if action is taken or proposed to be taken for
approval of any of those matters specified in the second paragraph of Section
2.4 of these bylaws, the waiver of notice or consent or approval shall state
the general nature of the proposal. All such waivers, consents, and
approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the
minutes of the meeting.
Attendance by a person at a meeting shall also constitute a waiver of
notice of and presence at that meeting, except when the person objects at the
beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the
meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Attendance at a meeting is not a
waiver of any right to object to the consideration of matters required by the
Code to be included in the notice of the meeting but not so included, if that
objection is expressly made at the meeting.
2.11 SHAREHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING
Any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of
shareholders may be taken without a meeting and without prior notice, if a
consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by the
holders of outstanding shares having not less than the minimum number of
votes that would be necessary to authorize or take that action at a meeting
at which all shares entitled to vote on that action were present and voted.
In the case of election of directors, such a consent shall be effective
only if signed by the holders of all outstanding shares entitled to vote for
the election of directors. However, a director may be elected at any time to
fill any vacancy on the board of directors, provided that it was not created
by removal of a director and that it has not been filled by the directors, by
the written consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares
entitled to vote for the election of directors.
All such consents shall be maintained in the corporate records. Any
shareholder giving a written consent, or the shareholder's proxy holders, or
a transferee of the shares, or a personal representative of the shareholder,
or their respective proxy holders, may revoke the consent by a
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writing received by the secretary of the corporation before written consents
of the number of shares required to authorize the proposed action have been
filed with the secretary.
If the consents of all shareholders entitled to vote have not been
solicited in writing and if the unanimous written consent of all such
shareholders has not been received, then the secretary shall give prompt
notice of the corporate action approved by the shareholders without a
meeting. Such notice shall be given to those shareholders entitled to vote
who have not consented in writing and shall be given in the manner specified
in Section 2.6 of these bylaws. In the case of approval of (i) a contract or
transaction in which a director has a direct or indirect financial interest,
pursuant to Section 310 of the Code, (ii) indemnification of a corporate
"agent," pursuant to Section 317 of the Code, (iii) a reorganization of the
corporation, pursuant to Section 1201 of the Code, and (iv) a distribution in
dissolution other than in accordance with the rights of outstanding preferred
shares, pursuant to Section 2007 of the Code, the notice shall be given at
least ten (10) days before the consummation of any action authorized by that
approval.
2.12 RECORD DATE FOR SHAREHOLDER NOTICE; VOTING; GIVING
CONSENTS
For purposes of determining the shareholders entitled to notice of any
meeting or to vote thereat or entitled to give consent to corporate action
without a meeting, the board of directors may fix, in advance, a record date,
which shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days
before the date of any such meeting nor more than sixty (60) days before any
such action without a meeting, and in such event only shareholders of record
on the date so fixed are entitled to notice and to vote or to give consents,
as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any shares on the books
of the corporation after the record date, except as otherwise provided in the
Code.
If the board of directors does not so fix a record date:
(a) the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice
of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders shall be at the close of business
on the business day next preceding the day on which notice is given or, if
notice is waived, at the close of business on the business day next preceding
the day on which the meeting is held; and
(b) the record date for determining shareholders entitled to give
consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, (i) when no prior
action by the board has been taken, shall be the day on which the first
written consent is given, or (ii) when prior action by the board has been
taken, shall be at the close of business on the day on which the board adopts
the resolution relating to that action, or the sixtieth (60th) day before the
date of such other action, whichever is later.
The record date for any other purpose shall be as provided in Article
VIII of these bylaws.
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2.13 PROXIES
Every person entitled to vote for directors, or on any other matter,
shall have the right to do so either in person or by one or more agents
authorized by a written proxy signed by the person and filed with the
secretary of the corporation. A proxy shall be deemed signed if the
shareholder's name is placed on the proxy (whether by manual signature,
typewriting, telegraphic transmission or otherwise) by the shareholder or the
shareholder's attorney-in-fact. A validly executed proxy which does not
state that it is irrevocable shall continue in full force and effect unless
(i) the person who executed the proxy revokes it prior to the time of voting
by delivering a writing to the corporation stating that the proxy is revoked
or by executing a subsequent proxy and presenting it to the meeting or by
voting in person at the meeting, or (ii) written notice of the death or
incapacity of the maker of that proxy is received by the corporation before
the vote pursuant to that proxy is counted; provided, however, that no proxy
shall be valid after the expiration of eleven (11) months from the date of
the proxy, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. The dates contained on the
forms of proxy presumptively determine the order of execution, regardless of
the postmark dates on the envelopes in which they are mailed. The
revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall
be governed by the provisions of Sections 705(e) and 705(f) of the Code.
2.14 INSPECTORS OF ELECTION
Before any meeting of shareholders, the board of directors may appoint an
inspector or inspectors of election to act at the meeting or its adjournment.
If no inspector of election is so appointed, then the chairman of the meeting
may, and on the request of any shareholder or a shareholder's proxy shall,
appoint an inspector or inspectors of election to act at the meeting. The
number of inspectors shall be either one (1) or three (3). If inspectors are
appointed at a meeting pursuant to the request of one (1) or more
shareholders or proxies, then the holders of a majority of shares or their
proxies present at the meeting shall determine whether one (1) or three (3)
inspectors are to be appointed. If any person appointed as inspector fails
to appear or fails or refuses to act, then the chairman of the meeting may,
and upon the request of any shareholder or a shareholder's proxy shall,
appoint a person to fill that vacancy.
Such inspectors shall:
(a) determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power
of each, the number of shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a
quorum, and the authenticity, validity, and effect of proxies;
(b) receive votes, ballots or consents;
(c) hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way
arising in connection with the right to vote;
(d) count and tabulate all votes or consents;
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(e) determine when the polls shall close;
(f) determine the result; and
(g) do any other acts that may be proper to conduct the election or
vote with fairness to all shareholders.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
3.1 POWERS
Subject to the provisions of the Code and any limitations in the articles
of incorporation and these bylaws relating to action required to be approved
by the shareholders or by the outstanding shares, the business and affairs of
the corporation shall be managed and all corporate powers shall be exercised
by or under the direction of the board of directors.
3.2 NUMBER OF DIRECTORS
The number of directors of the corporation shall be not less than six (6)
nor more than nine (9). The exact number of directors shall be six (6)
until changed, within the limits specified above, by a bylaw amending this
Section 3.2, duly adopted by the board of directors or by the shareholders.
The indefinite number of directors may be changed, or a definite number may
be fixed without provision for an indefinite number, by a duly adopted
amendment to the articles of incorporation or by an amendment to this bylaw
duly adopted by the vote or written consent of holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares entitled to vote; provided, however, that an amendment
reducing the fixed number or the minimum number of directors to a number less
than five (5) cannot be adopted if the votes cast against its adoption at a
meeting, or the shares not consenting in the case of an action by written
consent, are equal to more than sixteen and two-thirds percent (16-2/3%) of
the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon. No amendment may change the
stated maximum number of authorized directors to a number greater than two
(2) times the stated minimum number of directors minus one (1).
3.3 ELECTION QUALIFICATION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS
Except as provided in Section 3.4 of these bylaws, at each annual meeting
of shareholders, directors of the corporation shall be elected to hold office
until the expiration of the term for which they are elected, and until their
successors have been duly elected and qualified; except that if any such
election shall not be so held, such election shall take place at a
shareholders' meeting called and held in accordance with the Code. Effective
upon such time as (i) shares of the capital stock of the corporation are
designated as qualified for trading as National Market System securities on
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation
System (or any successor
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national system) ("Qualified Public Offering") and (ii) the corporation has
at least 800 holders of shares of its capital stock, the directors of the
corporation shall be divided into two classes as nearly equal in size as is
practicable, hereby designated Class I and Class II. The term of office of
the initial Class I directors shall expire at the next succeeding annual
meeting of shareholders and the term of office of the initial Class II
directors shall expire at the second succeeding annual meeting of
shareholders. For the purposes hereof, the initial Class I and Class II
directors shall be those directors so designated and elected at the first
annual meeting of shareholders scheduled to be held after the consummation of
such a Qualified Public Offering. At each annual meeting after the annual
meeting of shareholders scheduled to be held thereafter, directors to replace
those of a Class office whose terms expire at such annual meeting shall be
elected to hold office until the second succeeding annual meeting and until
their respective successors shall have been duly elected and qualified. If
the number of directors is hereafter changed, any newly created directorships
or decrease in directorships shall be so apportioned among the classes as to
make both classes as nearly equal in number as is practicable.
Directors need not be shareholders unless so required by the articles of
incorporation or these bylaws, wherein other qualifications for directors may
be prescribed. Election of directors need not be by written ballot.
3.4 RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES
Any director may resign effective on giving written notice to the
chairman of the board, the president, the secretary or the board of
directors, unless the notice specifies a later time for that resignation to
become effective. If the resignation of a director is effective at a future
time, the board of directors may elect a successor to take office when the
resignation becomes effective.
Vacancies in the board of directors may be filled by a majority of the
remaining directors, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining
director; however, a vacancy created by the removal of a director by the vote
or written consent of the shareholders or by court order may be filled only
by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares represented and voting at
a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present (which shares voting
affirmatively also constitute a majority of the required quorum), or by the
unanimous written consent of all shares entitled to vote thereon. Each
director so elected shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the
shareholders and until a successor has been elected and qualified.
A vacancy or vacancies in the board of directors shall be deemed to exist
(i) in the event of the death, resignation or removal of any director, (ii)
if the board of directors by resolution declares vacant the office of a
director who has been declared of unsound mind by an order of court or
convicted of a felony, (iii) if the authorized number of directors is
increased, or (iv) if the shareholders fail, at any meeting of shareholders
at which any director or directors are elected, to elect the number of
directors to be elected at that meeting.
The shareholders may elect a director or directors at any time to fill
any vacancy or vacancies not filled by the directors, but any such election
other than to fill a vacancy created by removal, if by
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written consent, shall require the consent of the holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon.
3.5 PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE
Regular meetings of the board of directors may be held at any place
within or outside the State of California that has been designated from time
to time by resolution of the board. In the absence of such a designation,
regular meetings shall be held at the principal executive office of the
corporation. Special meetings of the board may be held at any place within
or outside the State of California that has been designated in the notice of
the meeting or, if not stated in the notice or if there is no notice, at the
principal executive office of the corporation.
Any meeting, regular or special, may be held by conference telephone or
similar communication equipment, so long as all directors participating in
the meeting can hear one another; and all such directors shall be deemed to
be present in person at the meeting.
3.6 REGULAR MEETINGS
Regular meetings of the board of directors may be held without notice if
the times of such meetings are fixed by the board of directors.
3.7 SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE
Special meetings of the board of directors for any purpose or purposes
may be called at any time by the chairman of the board, the president, any
vice president, the secretary or any two directors.
Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be delivered
personally or by telephone to each director or sent by first-class mail or
telegram, charges prepaid, addressed to each director at that director's
address as it is shown on the records of the corporation. If the notice is
mailed, it shall be deposited in the United States mail at least four (4)
days before the time of the holding of the meeting. If the notice is
delivered personally or by telephone or telegram, it shall be delivered
personally or by telephone or to the telegraph company at least forty-eight
(48) hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. Any oral notice
given personally or by telephone may be communicated either to the director
or to a person at the office of the director who the person giving the notice
has reason to believe will promptly communicate it to the director. The
notice need not specify the purpose or the place of the meeting, if the
meeting is to be held at the principal executive office of the corporation.
3.8 QUORUM
A majority of the authorized number of directors shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business, except to adjourn as provided in
Section 3.10 of these bylaws. Every act or decision done or made by a
majority of the directors present at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is
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present shall be regarded as the act of the board of directors, subject to
the provisions of Section 310 of the Code (as to approval of contracts or
transactions in which a director has a direct or indirect material financial
interest), Section 311 of the Code (as to appointment of committees), Section
317(e) of the Code (as to indemnification of directors), the articles of
incorporation, and other applicable law.
A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact
business notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is
approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting.
3.9 WAIVER OF NOTICE
Notice of a meeting need not be given to any director (i) who signs a
waiver of notice or a consent to holding the meeting or an approval of the
minutes thereof, whether before or after the meeting, or (ii) who attends the
meeting without protesting, prior thereto or at its commencement, the lack of
notice to such directors. All such waivers, consents, and approvals shall be
filed with the corporate records or made part of the minutes of the meeting.
A waiver of notice need not specify the purpose of any regular or special
meeting of the board of directors.
3.10 ADJOURNMENT
A majority of the directors present, whether or not constituting a
quorum, may adjourn any meeting to another time and place.
3.11 NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT
Notice of the time and place of holding an adjourned meeting need not be
given unless the meeting is adjourned for more than twenty-four (24) hours.
If the meeting is adjourned for more than twenty-four (24) hours, then notice
of the time and place of the adjourned meeting shall be given before the
adjourned meeting takes place, in the manner specified in Section 3.7 of
these bylaws, to the directors who were not present at the time of the
adjournment.
3.12 BOARD ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING
Any action required or permitted to be taken by the board of directors
may be taken without a meeting, provided that all members of the board
individually or collectively consent in writing to that action. Such action
by written consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote
of the board of directors. Such written consent and any counterparts thereof
shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the board.
3.13 FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Directors and members of committees may receive such compensation, if
any, for their services and such reimbursement of expenses as may be fixed or
determined by resolution of the
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board of directors. This Section 3.13 shall not be construed to preclude any
director from serving the corporation in any other capacity as an officer,
agent, employee or otherwise and receiving compensation for those services.
3.14 APPROVAL OF LOANS TO OFFICERS*
The corporation may, upon the approval of the board of directors alone,
make loans of money or property to, or guarantee the obligations of, any
officer of the corporation or its parent or subsidiary, whether or not a
director, or adopt an employee benefit plan or plans authorizing such loans
or guaranties provided that (i) the board of directors determines that such a
loan or guaranty or plan may reasonably be expected to benefit the
corporation, (ii) the corporation has outstanding shares held of record by
100 or more persons (determined as provided in Section 605 of the Code) on
the date of approval by the board of directors, and (iii) the approval of the
board of directors is by a vote sufficient without counting the vote of any
interested director or directors.
ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEES
4.1 COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS
The board of directors may, by resolution adopted by a majority of the
authorized number of directors, designate one (1) or more committees, each
consisting of two or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the board.
The board may designate one (1) or more directors as alternate members of any
committee, who may replace any absent member at any meeting of the committee.
The appointment of members or alternate members of a committee requires the
vote of a majority of the authorized number of directors. Any committee, to
the extent provided in the resolution of the board, shall have all the
authority of the board, except with respect to:
(a) the approval of any action which, under the Code, also
requires shareholders' approval or approval of the outstanding shares;
(b) the filling of vacancies on the board of directors or in any
committee;
(c) the fixing of compensation of the directors for serving on the
board or any committee;
(d) the amendment or repeal of these bylaws or the adoption of new
bylaws;
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* This section is effective only if it has been approved by the
shareholders in accordance with Sections 315(b) and 152 of the Code.
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(e) the amendment or repeal of any resolution of the board of
directors which by its express terms is not so amendable or repealable;
(f) a distribution to the shareholders of the corporation, except
at a rate or in a periodic amount or within a price range determined by the
board of directors; or
(g) the appointment of any other committees of the board of
directors or the members of such committees.
4.2 MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES
Meetings and actions of committees shall be governed by, and held and
taken in accordance with, the provisions of Article III of these bylaws,
Section 3.5 (place of meetings), Section 3.6 (regular meetings), Section 3.7
(special meetings and notice), Section 3.8 (quorum), Section 3.9 (waiver of
notice), Section 3.10 (adjournment), Section 3.11 (notice of adjournment),
and Section 3.12 (action without meeting), with such changes in the context
of those bylaws as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members
for the board of directors and its members; provided, however, that the time
of regular meetings of committees may be determined either by resolution of
the board of directors or by resolution of the committee, that special
meetings of committees may also be called by resolution of the board of
directors, and that notice of special meetings of committees shall also be
given to all alternate members, who shall have the right to attend all
meetings of the committee. The board of directors may adopt rules for the
government of any committee not inconsistent with the provisions of these
bylaws.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
5.1 OFFICERS
The officers of the corporation shall be a president, a secretary, and a
chief financial officer. The corporation may also have, at the discretion of
the board of directors, a chairman of the board, one or more vice presidents,
one or more assistant secretaries, one or more assistant treasurers, and such
other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of
Section 5.3 of these bylaws. Any number of offices may be held by the same
person.
5.2 ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The officers of the corporation, except such officers as may be
appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3 or Section 5.5 of
these bylaws, shall be chosen by the board, subject to the rights, if any, of
an officer under any contract of employment.
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5.3 SUBORDINATE OFFICERS
The board of directors may appoint, or may empower the president to
appoint, such other officers as the business of the corporation may require,
each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and
perform such duties as are provided in these bylaws or as the board of
directors may from time to time determine.
5.4 REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS
Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of
employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the
board of directors at any regular or special meeting of the board or, except
in case of an officer chosen by the board of directors, by any officer upon
whom such power of removal may be conferred by the board of directors.
Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the
corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of
that notice or at any later time specified in that notice; and, unless
otherwise specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall
not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice
to the rights, if any, of the corporation under any contract to which the
officer is a party.
5.5 VACANCIES IN OFFICES
A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal,
disqualification or any other cause shall be filled in the manner prescribed
in these bylaws for regular appointments to that office.
5.6 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
The chairman of the board, if such an officer be elected, shall, if
present, preside at meetings of the board of directors and exercise and
perform such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to
him by the board of directors or as may be prescribed by these bylaws. If
there is no president, then the chairman of the board shall also be the chief
executive officer of the corporation and shall have the powers and duties
prescribed in Section 5.7 of these bylaws.
5.7 PRESIDENT
Subject to such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the board
of directors to the chairman of the board, if there be such an officer, the
president shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation and shall,
subject to the control of the board of directors, have general supervision,
direction, and control of the business and the officers of the corporation.
He shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and, in the absence or
nonexistence of a chairman of the board, at all meetings of the board of
directors. He shall have the general powers and duties of management usually
vested in the office of president of a corporation, and shall have such other
powers and duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or these
bylaws.
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5.8 VICE PRESIDENTS
In the absence or disability of the president, the vice presidents, if
any, in order of their rank as fixed by the board of directors or, if not
ranked, a vice president designated by the board of directors, shall perform
all the duties of the 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 have such other powers and perform such other duties as from
time to time may be prescribed for them respectively by the board of
directors, these bylaws, the president or the chairman of the board.
5.9 SECRETARY
The secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, at the principal executive
office of the corporation or such other place as the board of directors may
direct, a book of minutes of all meetings and actions of directors,
committees of directors and shareholders. The minutes shall show the time
and place of each meeting, whether regular or special (and, if special, how
authorized and the notice given), the names of those present at directors'
meetings or committee meetings, the number of shares present or represented
at shareholders' meetings, and the proceedings thereof.
The secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal
executive office of the corporation or at the office of the corporation's
transfer agent or registrar, as determined by resolution of the board of
directors, a share register, or a duplicate share register, showing the names
of all shareholders and their addresses, the number and classes of shares
held by each, the number and date of certificates evidencing such shares, and
the number and date of cancellation of every certificate surrendered for
cancellation.
The secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings
of the shareholders and of the board of directors required to be given by law
or by these bylaws. He shall keep the seal of the corporation, if one be
adopted, in safe custody and shall have such other powers and perform such
other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or by these
bylaws.
5.10 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
The chief financial officer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept
and maintained, adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the
properties and business transactions of the corporation, including accounts
of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital,
retained earnings, and shares. The books of account shall at all reasonable
times be open to inspection by any director.
The chief financial officer shall deposit all money and other valuables
in the name and to the credit of the corporation with such depositaries as
may be designated by the board of directors. He shall disburse the funds of
the corporation as may be ordered by the board of directors, shall render to
the president and directors, whenever they request it, an account of all of
his transactions as chief financial officer and of the financial condition of
the corporation, and shall have such other powers and perform such other
duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or these bylaws.
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ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES,
AND OTHER AGENTS
6.1 INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
The corporation shall, to the maximum extent and in the manner
permitted by the Code, indemnify each of its directors and officers against
expenses (as defined in Section 317(a) of the Code), judgments, fines,
settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection
with any proceeding (as defined in Section 317(a) of the Code), arising by
reason of the fact that such person is or was an agent of the corporation.
For purposes of this Section 6, a "director" or "officer" of the corporation
includes any person (i) who is or was a director or officer of the
corporation, (ii) who is or was serving at the request of the corporation as
a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, or (iii) who was a director or officer of a
corporation which was a predecessor corporation of the corporation or of
another enterprise at the request of such predecessor corporation.
6.2 INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHERS
The corporation shall have the power, to the extent and in the manner
permitted by the Code, to indemnify each of its employees and agents (other
than directors and officers) against expenses (as defined in Section 317(a)
of the Code), judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts actually and
reasonably incurred in connection with any proceeding (as defined in Section
317(a) of the Code), arising by reason of the fact that such person is or was
an agent of the corporation. For purposes of this Section 6, an "employee"
or "agent" of the corporation (other than a director or officer) includes any
person (i) who is or was an employee or agent of the corporation, (ii) who is
or was serving at the request of the corporation as an employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
or (iii) who was an employee or agent of a corporation which was a
predecessor corporation of the corporation or of another enterprise at the
request of such predecessor corporation.
6.3 PAYMENT OF EXPENSES IN ADVANCE
Expenses incurred in defending any civil or criminal action or
proceeding for which indemnification is required pursuant to Section 6.1 or
for which indemnification is permitted pursuant to Section 6.2 following
authorization thereof by the Board of Directors shall be paid by the
corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding
upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the indemnified party to
repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that the indemnified
party is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Section 6.
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6.4 INDEMNITY NOT EXCLUSIVE
The indemnification provided by this Section 6 shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be
entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested
directors or otherwise, both as to action in an official capacity and as to
action in another capacity while holding such office, to the extent that such
additional rights to indemnification are authorized in the Articles of
Incorporation.
6.5 INSURANCE INDEMNIFICATION
The corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance
on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent
of the corporation against any liability asserted against or incurred by such
person in such capacity or arising out of such person's status as such,
whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him against
such liability under the provisions of this Section 6.
6.6 CONFLICTS
No indemnification or advance shall be made under this Section 6, except
where such indemnification or advance is mandated by law or the order,
judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, in any
circumstance where it appears:
(a) That it would be inconsistent with a provision of the
Articles of Incorporation, these bylaws, a resolution of the shareholders or
an agreement in effect at the time of the accrual of the alleged cause of the
action asserted in the proceeding in which the expenses were incurred or
other amounts were paid, which prohibits or otherwise limits indemnification;
or
(b) That it would be inconsistent with any condition expressly
imposed by a court in approving a settlement.
ARTICLE VII
RECORDS AND REPORTS
7.1 MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF SHARE REGISTER
The corporation shall keep either at its principal executive office or
at the office of its transfer agent or registrar (if either be appointed), as
determined by resolution of the board of directors, a record of its
shareholders listing the names and addresses of all shareholders and the
number and class of shares held by each shareholder.
A shareholder or shareholders of the corporation who holds at least five
percent (5%) in the aggregate of the outstanding voting shares of the
corporation or who holds at least one percent (1%) of such voting shares and
has filed a Schedule 14B with the Securities and Exchange Commission
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relating to the election of directors, may (i) inspect and copy the records
of shareholders' names, addresses, and shareholdings during usual business
hours on five (5) days' prior written demand on the corporation, (ii) obtain
from the transfer agent of the corporation, on written demand and on the
tender of such transfer agent's usual charges for such list, a list of the
names and addresses of the shareholders who are entitled to vote for the
election of directors, and their shareholdings, as of the most recent record
date for which that list has been compiled or as of a date specified by the
shareholder after the date of demand. Such list shall be made available to
any such shareholder by the transfer agent on or before the later of five (5)
days after the demand is received or five (5) days after the date specified
in the demand as the date as of which the list is to be compiled.
The record of shareholders shall also be open to inspection on the
written demand of any shareholder or holder of a voting trust certificate, at
any time during usual business hours, for a purpose reasonably related to the
holder's interests as a shareholder or as the holder of a voting trust
certificate.
Any inspection and copying under this Section 7.1 may be made in person
or by an agent or attorney of the shareholder or holder of a voting trust
certificate making the demand.
7.2 MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF BYLAWS
The corporation shall keep at its principal executive office or, if its
principal executive office is not in the State of California, at its
principal business office in California the original or a copy of these
bylaws as amended to date, which bylaws shall be open to inspection by the
shareholders at all reasonable times during office hours. If the principal
executive office of the corporation is outside the State of California and
the corporation has no principal business office in such state, then the
secretary shall, upon the written request of any shareholder, furnish to that
shareholder a copy of these bylaws as amended to date.
7.3 MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF OTHER CORPORATE RECORDS
The accounting books and records and the minutes of proceedings of the
shareholders, of the board of directors, and of any committee or committees
of the board of directors shall be kept at such place or places as are
designated by the board of directors or, in absence of such designation, at
the principal executive office of the corporation. The minutes shall be kept
in written form, and the accounting books and records shall be kept either in
written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written
form.
The minutes and accounting books and records shall be open to inspection
upon the written demand of any shareholder or holder of a voting trust
certificate, at any reasonable time during usual business hours, for a
purpose reasonably related to the holder's interests as a shareholder or as
the holder of a voting trust certificate. The inspection may be made in
person or by an agent or attorney and shall include the right to copy and
make extracts. Such rights of inspection shall extend to the records of each
subsidiary corporation of the corporation.
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7.4 INSPECTION BY DIRECTORS
Every director shall have the absolute right at any reasonable time to
inspect all books, records, and documents of every kind as well as the
physical properties of the corporation and each of its subsidiary
corporations. Such inspection by a director may be made in person or by an
agent or attorney. The right of inspection includes the right to copy and
make extracts of documents.
7.5 ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS; WAIVER
The board of directors shall cause an annual report to be sent to the
shareholders not later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the close of
the fiscal year adopted by the corporation. Such report shall be sent at
least fifteen (15) days (or, if sent by third-class mail, thirty-five (35)
days) before the annual meeting of shareholders to be held during the next
fiscal year and in the manner specified in Section 2.5 of these bylaws for
giving notice to shareholders of the corporation.
The annual report shall contain (i) a balance sheet as of the end of the
fiscal year, (ii) an income statement, (iii) a statement of changes in
financial position for the fiscal year, and (iv) any report of independent
accountants or, if there is no such report, the certificate of an authorized
officer of the corporation that the statements were prepared without audit
from the books and records of the corporation.
The foregoing requirement of an annual report shall be waived so long as
the shares of the corporation are held by fewer than one hundred (100)
holders of record.
7.6 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
If no annual report for the fiscal year has been sent to shareholders,
then the corporation shall, upon the written request of any shareholder made
more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the close of such fiscal year,
deliver or mail to the person making the request, within thirty (30) days
thereafter, a copy of a balance sheet as of the end of such fiscal year and
an income statement and statement of changes in financial position for such
fiscal year.
If a shareholder or shareholders holding at least five percent (5%) of
the outstanding shares of any class of stock of the corporation makes a
written request to the corporation for an income statement of the corporation
for the three-month, six-month or nine-month period of the then current
fiscal year ended more than thirty (30) days before the date of the request,
and for a balance sheet of the corporation as of the end of that period, then
the chief financial officer shall cause that statement to be prepared, if not
already prepared, and shall deliver personally or mail that statement or
statements to the person making the request within thirty (30) days after the
receipt of the request. If the corporation has not sent to the shareholders
its annual report for the last fiscal year, the statements referred to in the
first paragraph of this Section 7.6 shall likewise be delivered or mailed to
the shareholder or shareholders within thirty (30) days after the request.
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The quarterly income statements and balance sheets referred to in this
section shall be accompanied by the report, if any, of any independent
accountants engaged by the corporation or by the certificate of an authorized
officer of the corporation that the financial statements were prepared
without audit from the books and records of the corporation.
7.7 REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS
The chairman of the board, the president, any vice president, the chief
financial officer, the secretary or assistant secretary of this corporation,
or any other person authorized by the board of directors or the president or
a vice president, is authorized to vote, represent, and exercise on behalf of
this corporation all rights incident to any and all shares of any other
corporation or corporations standing in the name of this corporation. The
authority herein granted may be exercised either by such person directly or
by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or power of attorney duly
executed by such person having the authority.
ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL MATTERS
8.1 RECORD DATE FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN NOTICE AND VOTING
For purposes of determining the shareholders entitled to receive payment
of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the
shareholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any other lawful
action (other than action by shareholders by written consent without a
meeting), the board of directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which
shall not be more than sixty (60) days before any such action. In that case,
only shareholders of record at the close of business on the date so fixed are
entitled to receive the dividend, distribution or allotment of rights, or to
exercise such rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any
shares on the books of the corporation after the record date so fixed, except
as otherwise provided in the Code.
If the board of directors does not so fix a record date, then the record
date for determining shareholders for any such purpose shall be at the close
of business on the day on which the board adopts the applicable resolution or
the sixtieth (60th) day before the date of that action, whichever is later.
8.2 CHECKS; DRAFTS; EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS
From time to time, the board of directors shall determine by resolution
which person or persons may sign or endorse all checks, drafts, other orders
for payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness that are
issued in the name of or payable to the corporation, and only the persons so
authorized shall sign or endorse those instruments.
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8.3 CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS: HOW EXECUTED
The board of directors, except as otherwise provided in these bylaws,
may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any
contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the
corporation; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
Unless so authorized or ratified by the board of directors or within the
agency power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any
power or authority to bind the corporation by any contract or engagement or
to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.
8.4 CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES
A certificate or certificates for shares of the corporation shall be
issued to each shareholder when any of such shares are fully paid. The board
of directors may authorize the issuance of certificates for shares partly
paid provided that these certificates shall state the total amount of the
consideration to be paid for them and the amount actually paid. All
certificates shall be signed in the name of the corporation by the chairman
of the board or the vice chairman of the board or the president or a vice
president and by the chief financial officer or an assistant treasurer or the
secretary or an assistant secretary, certifying the number of shares and the
class or series of shares owned by the shareholder. Any or all of 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 on a certificate ceases to be that
officer, transfer agent or registrar before that certificate is issued, it
may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if that person were
an officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
8.5 LOST CERTIFICATES
Except as provided in this Section 8.5, no new certificates for shares
shall be issued to replace a previously issued certificate unless the latter
is surrendered to the corporation and cancelled at the same time. The board
of directors may, in case any share certificate or certificate for any other
security is lost, stolen or destroyed, authorize the issuance of replacement
certificates on such terms and conditions as the board may require; the board
may require indemnification of the corporation secured by a bond or other
adequate security sufficient to protect the corporation against any claim
that may be made against it, including any expense or liability, on account
of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of the certificate or the issuance
of the replacement certificate.
8.6 CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS
Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of
construction, and definitions in the Code shall govern the construction of
these bylaws. Without limiting the generality of this provision, the
singular number includes the plural, the plural number includes the singular,
and the term "person" includes both a corporation and a natural person.
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ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
9.1 AMENDMENT BY SHAREHOLDERS
New bylaws may be adopted or these bylaws may be amended or repealed by
the vote or written consent of holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares entitled to vote; provided, however, that if the articles of
incorporation of the corporation set forth the number of authorized directors
of the corporation, then the authorized number of directors may be changed
only by an amendment of the articles of incorporation.
9.2 AMENDMENT BY DIRECTORS
Subject to the rights of the shareholders as provided in Section 9.1 of
these bylaws, bylaws, other than a bylaw or an amendment of a bylaw changing
the authorized number of directors (except to fix the authorized number of
directors pursuant to a bylaw providing for a variable number of directors),
may be adopted, amended or repealed by the board of directors.
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