RESTATED BY-LAWS OF
TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
A NEVADA CORPORATION
AS AMENDED OCTOBER 16, 1996
ARTICLE I
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS
SECTION 1.1 PLACE OF MEETINGS.
All meetings of the shareholders shall be held at the principal office of
the Corporation in the State of California, or at any other place within or
without the State of Nevada as may be designated for that purpose from time to
time by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 1.2 ANNUAL MEETINGS.
The Annual meeting of the shareholders shall be held not later than 210
days after the close of the fiscal year, on the date and at the time set by the
Board of Directors, at which time the shareholders shall elect by plurality vote
an annual Class of the Board of Directors, consider reports of the affairs of
the Corporation, and transact such other business as may properly be brought
before the meeting.
SECTION 1.3 SPECIAL MEETINGS.
Special meetings of the shareholders, for any purpose or purposes
whatsoever, may be called at any time by the Chief Executive Officer or by the
Board of Directors.
SECTION 1.4 NOTICE OF MEETINGS.
1.4.1. Notice of each meeting of shareholders, whether annual or
special, shall be given at least 10 and not more than 60 days prior to the day
thereof by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary causing to be delivered to
each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting a written notice
stating the time and place of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which
the meeting is called. Such notice shall be signed by the Chief Executive
Officer, the President, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary and shall be
mailed postage prepaid to each shareholder at his address as it appears on the
stock books of the Corporation. If any shareholder has failed to supply an
address, notice shall be deemed to have been given if mailed to the address of
the principal office of the Corporation, or published at least once in a
newspaper having general circulation in the county in which the principal office
is located.
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1.4.2. It shall not be necessary to give any notice of the
adjournment of or the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting other
than by announcement at the meeting at which such adjournment is taken; provided
that when a meeting is adjourned for 30 days or more, notice of the adjourned
meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting.
SECTION 1.5 CONSENT BY SHAREHOLDERS.
Any action which may be taken at a regular meeting of the shareholders,
except election of directors, may be taken without a meeting, if authorized by a
writing signed by holders of the number of shares required under the law to give
their approval for such purpose.
SECTION 1.6 QUORUM.
1.6.1. The presence in person or by proxy of the persons entitled
to vote a majority of the voting shares at any meeting constitutes a quorum for
the transaction of business. Shares shall not be counted in determining the
number of shares represented or required for a quorum or in any vote at a
meeting, if voting of them at the meeting has been enjoined or for any reason
they cannot be lawfully voted at the meeting.
1.6.2. 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.
1.6.3. In the absence of a quorum, a majority of the shares present
in person or by proxy and entitled to vote may adjourn any meeting from time to
time, but not for a period of more than 30 days at any one time, until a quorum
shall attend.
SECTION 1.7 VOTING RIGHTS.
1.7.1. Every shareholder of record of the Corporation shall be
entitled at each meeting of the shareholders to one vote for each share of stock
standing in his name on the books of the Corporation. Except as otherwise
provided by law, or by the Articles of Incorporation or any amendment thereto,
or by the By-Laws, if a quorum is present, the majority of votes cast in person
or by proxy shall be binding upon all shareholders of the Corporation.
1.7.2. The Board of Directors shall designate a day not more than
60 days prior to any meeting of the shareholders as the day as of which
shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at such meetings shall be
determined.
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SECTION 1.8 PROXIES.
Every shareholder entitled to vote or to execute consents may do so either
in person or by written proxy executed in accordance with the provisions of
Section 78.355 of the Nevada Revised Statutes and filed with the Secretary of
the Corporation.
SECTION 1.9 MANNER OF CONDUCTING MEETINGS.
To the extent not in conflict with the provisions of the law relating
thereto, the Articles of Incorporation, or express provisions of these By-Laws,
meetings shall be conducted pursuant to such rules as may be adopted by the
chairman presiding at, or a majority of the shares represented at, the meeting.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS - MANAGEMENT
SECTION 2.1 POWERS.
Subject to the limitation of the Articles of Incorporation, of the By-Laws,
and of the laws of the State of Nevada as to action to be authorized or approved
by the shareholders, all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under
authority of, and the business and affairs of this Corporation shall be
controlled by, a Board of Directors.
SECTION 2.2 NUMBER AND QUALIFICATION.
The authorized number of directors of this Corporation shall be not less
than nine nor more than 15, with the exact number to be established from time to
time by resolution of the Board of Directors of this Corporation. All directors
of this Corporation shall be at least 21 years of age and at least a majority
shall be citizens of the United States.
SECTION 2.3 CLASSIFICATION AND ELECTION.
The Board of Directors shall be classified into three annual Classes, with
four directors in Class 1, four directors in Class 2, and five directors in
Class 3. Each Class of directors shall be elected for terms of three years.
Each term shall continue for the number of years stated and until their
successors are elected and have qualified. Their term of office shall begin
immediately after election. These By-Laws are being adopted subsequent to the
initial classification of directors in 1975. The directors in office as of the
date of adoption hereof shall continue to serve the terms for which they have
been previously elected.
SECTION 2.4 INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DIRECTORS.
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The Board of Directors may change the number of directors from time to
time; provided, however, neither the Board of Directors nor the shareholders may
ever increase the number of directorships by more than one during any
twelve-month period, except upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the
directors of each Class, or the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of
all outstanding shares voting together and not by class. This provision may not
be amended except by a like vote.
SECTION 2.5 VACANCIES.
2.5.1. Any vacancies in the Board of Directors, except vacancies
first filled by the shareholders, may be filled by the affirmative vote of
two-thirds of the remaining directors of each Class, though less than a quorum,
or by a sole remaining director. Each director so elected shall hold office for
the balance of the term of the resigning director and until his successor is
elected. The power to fill vacancies shall in no event be delegated to any
committee appointed in accordance with these By-Laws.
2.5.2. The shareholders may at any time elect a director to fill
any vacancy not filled by the directors, and may elect the additional directors
at the meeting at which an amendment of the By-Laws is voted authorizing an
increase in the number of directors.
2.5.3. A vacancy or vacancies shall be deemed to exist in case of
the death, resignation, or removal of any director, or if the directors or
shareholders shall increase the authorized number of directors but shall fail at
a meeting at which such increase is authorized or at an adjournment thereof to
elect the additional director so provided for, or in case the shareholders fail
at any time to elect the full number of authorized directors.
2.5.4. If the Board of Directors accepts the resignation of a
director tendered to take effect at a future time, the Board or the shareholders
shall have power to immediately elect a successor who shall take office when the
resignation shall become effective.
2.5.5. No reduction of the number of directors shall have the
effect of removing any director prior to the expiration of his term of office.
SECTION 2.6 REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS.
The entire Board of Directors or any individual director may be removed
from office, with or without cause, by the vote or written consent of
shareholders representing two-thirds of the issued and outstanding capital stock
entitled to vote.
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SECTION 2.7 RESIGNATIONS.
Any director of the Corporation may resign at any time either by oral
tender of resignation at any meeting of the Board or by giving written notice
thereof to the Secretary, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. Such
resignation shall take effect at the time it specifies, and the acceptance of
such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
SECTION 2.8 PLACE OF MEETINGS.
Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at the principal office of
the Corporation in the State of California, or at such other place within or
without the State of Nevada as may be designated for that purpose by the Board
of Directors. Any meeting shall be valid, wherever held, if held by the written
consent of all members of the Board of Directors, given before or after the
meeting and filed with the Secretary of the Corporation.
SECTION 2.9 MEETINGS AFTER ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING.
The first meeting of the Board of Directors held after the annual
shareholders' meeting shall be held at such time and place within or without the
State of Nevada as shall be fixed by announcement of the Chief Executive Officer
or the President given at the annual shareholders' meeting, and no other notice
of such meeting shall be necessary, provided a majority of the whole Board shall
be present. Alternatively, such meeting may be held at such time and place as
shall be fixed pursuant to notice given under other provisions of these By-Laws.
SECTION 2.10 OTHER REGULAR MEETINGS.
2.10.1. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at
such time and place within or without the State of Nevada as may be agreed upon
from time to time by the Board.
2.10.2. No notice need be given of regular meetings, except that a
written notice shall be given to each director of the resolution establishing
specific meeting dates or a regular meeting date, which notice shall set forth
the date of the month, the time, and the place of the meetings.
SECTION 2.11 SPECIAL MEETINGS.
Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held whenever called by
the Chief Executive Officer or the President or by two-thirds of the directors
of each Class. Notice of any such meeting shall be mailed to each director not
later than three days before the day on which the meeting is to be held, or
shall be sent to him by telegraph, or delivered personally or by telephone, not
later than midnight of the day before the day of the meeting. Any meeting of
the Board of Directors shall be a legal meeting without any notice thereof
having been given, if each
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director consents to the holding thereof or waives notice by a writing filed
with the Secretary, or is present thereat and their oral consents are entered on
the minutes, or they take part in the deliberations thereat without objection.
Except as otherwise provided in the By-Laws or as may be indicated in the notice
thereof, any and all business may be transacted at any special meeting.
SECTION 2.12 WAIVER OF NOTICE.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, notice of any meeting of
directors shall not be required as to any director who shall waive notice in
writing (including telex, facsimile telephonic transmission, telegram, cablegram
or radiogram) before or after such meeting.
SECTION 2.13 NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT.
Notice of the time and place of holding an adjourned meeting need not be
given to absent directors if the time and place is fixed at the meeting
adjourned.
SECTION 2.14 QUORUM.
A majority of the number of directors as fixed by the Articles of
Incorporation or By-Laws shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business, and the action of a majority of the directors present
at any meeting at which there is a quorum, when duly assembled, is valid as a
corporate act; provided, that a minority of the directors, in the absence of a
quorum, may adjourn from time to time or fill vacant directorships in accordance
with Section 2.5 but may not transact any business.
SECTION 2.15 ACTION BY UNANIMOUS WRITTEN CONSENT.
Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of
Directors may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board shall
individually or collectively consent in writing thereto. Such written consent
shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board and shall have
the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of such directors.
SECTION 2.16 COMPENSATION.
The directors may be paid their expenses of attendance at each meeting of
the Board of Directors. Additionally, the Board of Directors may from time to
time, in its discretion, pay to directors either or both a fixed sum for
attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated salary for
services as a director. No such payment shall preclude any director from
serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation
therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like
reimbursement and compensation for attending committee meetings.
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SECTION 2.17 TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS.
In the absence of fraud, no contract or other transaction of the
Corporation shall be affected or invalidated by the fact that any of the
directors of the Corporation are in any way interested in, or connected with,
any other party to, such contract or transaction or are themselves parties to
such contract or transaction, provided that such transaction satisfies Section
78.140 of the Nevada Revised Statutes; and each and every person who may become
a director of the Corporation is hereby relieved, to the extent permitted by
law, from any liability that might otherwise exist from contracting in good
faith with the Corporation for the benefit of himself or any person in which he
may be in any way interested or with which he may be in any way connected. Any
director of the Corporation may vote and act upon any matter, contract or
transaction between the Corporation and any other person without regard to the
fact that he is also a stockholder, director or officer of, or has any interest
in, such other person.
SECTION 2.18 EMERITUS POSITIONS.
The Board of Directors may authorize parties to serve in an emeritus
position with respect to the Board of Directors, included by way of example but
not by way of limitation, as an Emeritus Director, as a Chairman Emeritus of the
Board of Directors or as a Vice-Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Directors.
These positions shall be honorary positions and parties elected to those
positions may be asked to attend meetings of the board of directors and meeting
of the shareholders from time to time. A party holding an emeritus position
shall not be an officer or director of the Company, shall have no vote at a
director's meeting, shall receive no fees for service in that position and shall
not be given access to material, non-published information pertaining, to the
Company. A party filling an emeritus position shall be requested to do so
because of his or her experience with and contributions to the Company.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
SECTION 3.1 EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.
The executive officers of the Corporation shall be a Chairman, a Vice
Chairman, a Chief Executive Officer, a President, one or more Senior Executive
Vice Presidents, one or more Executive Vice Presidents, one or more Group
Presidents and Chief Executive Officers, one or more Senior Vice Presidents, one
or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. Any person may hold two
or more offices. The executive officers of the Corporation shall be elected
annually by the Board of Directors and shall hold office for one year or until
their respective successors shall be elected and shall qualify.
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SECTION 3.2 APPOINTED OFFICERS: TITLES.
3.2.1. The Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary in the case of
Assistant Secretaries or the Treasurer in the case of Assistant Treasurers may
appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries or one or more Assistant Treasurers,
each of whom shall hold such title at the pleasure of the appointing officer,
have such authority and perform such duties as are provided in the By-Laws, or
as the Chief Executive Officer or the appointing officer may determine from time
to time. Any person appointed under this Section 3.2.1 to serve in any of the
foregoing positions shall be deemed by reason of such appointment or service in
such capacity to be an "officer" of the corporation.
3.2.2. The Chief Executive Officer or a person designated by the
Chief Executive Officer may also appoint a president, one or more executive vice
presidents, one or more senior vice presidents, one or more vice presidents and
one or more assistant vice presidents for each operating group and division of
the Corporation and one or more senior vice presidents, one or more vice
presidents and one or more assistant vice presidents for each corporate staff
function and a corporate controller and one or more assistant controllers. Each
of such persons will hold such title at the pleasure of the Chief Executive
Officer and have authority to act for and shall perform duties with respect to
only the group, division or corporate staff function for which the person is
appointed. Any person appointed under this Section 3.2.2 to serve in any of the
foregoing positions shall not be deemed by reason of such appointment or service
in such capacity to be an "officer" of the Corporation.
SECTION 3.3 REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION.
3.3.1. Any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by
a majority of the directors at the time in office, at any regular or special
meeting of the Board. Any appointed person may be removed from such position at
any time by the person making such appointment or his successor.
3.3.2. Any officer may resign at any time, by giving written notice
to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the
Secretary of the Corporation. Any such resignation shall take effect at the
date of the receipt of such notice, or at any later time specified therein; and
unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not
be necessary to make it effective.
SECTION 3.4 VACANCIES.
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A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal,
disqualification or any other cause shall be filled in the manner prescribed in
the By-Laws for regular appointments to such office.
SECTION 3.5 CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN.
The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and
shall exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may be from time to
time assigned to him by the Board of Directors. The Vice Chairman shall, in the
absence of the Chairman, preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and
shall exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may be from time to
time assigned to him by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 3.6 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
The Chief Executive Officer shall, subject to the control of the Board of
Directors, have general supervision, direction, and control of the business and
affairs of the Corporation. He shall preside at all meetings of the
shareholders and, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board and the Vice
Chairman of the Board, at all meetings of the Board of Directors. He shall be
ex officio a member of the Executive Committee and shall have the general powers
and duties of management usually vested in the office of chief executive officer
of a corporation and such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the
Board of Directors.
SECTION 3.7 PRESIDENT.
In the absence or disability of the Chief Executive Officer, the President
shall perform all of the duties of the Chief Executive Officer and when so
acting shall have all the powers and be subject to all the restrictions upon the
Chief Executive Officer, including the power to sign all instruments and to take
all actions which the Chief Executive Officer is authorized to perform by the
Board of Directors or the By-Laws. The President shall have the general powers
and duties usually vested in the office of president of a corporation and such
other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Chief Executive Officer or
the Board of Directors.
SECTION 3.8 SENIOR EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, SENIOR
VICE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT.
In the absence or disability of the Chief Executive Officer and the
President, a Senior Executive Vice President, an Executive Vice President or a
Group President and Chief Executive Officer, in the order of his rank and
seniority shall perform all of the duties of the Chief Executive Officer, and
when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the
restrictions upon the Chief Executive Officer, including the power to sign all
instruments and to take all actions which the Chief Executive Officer is
authorized to perform by the Board of Directors or the By-Laws. The Senior
Executive Vice Presidents, Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents and
Vice Presidents shall have the general powers and duties usually
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vested in the office of a vice president of a corporation; the Group Presidents
and Chief Executive Officers shall have the general powers and duties of a
principal executive officer of an operating group of a corporation; and each of
them 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, the
Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or
the By-Laws.
SECTION 3.9 SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT SECRETARIES.
3.9.1. The Secretary shall (1) attend all sessions of the Board and
all meetings of the shareholders; and (2) record and keep, or cause to be kept,
all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that
purpose at the principal office of the Corporation, or at such other place as
the Board of Directors may from time to time determine, specifying therein (i)
the time and place of holding, (ii) whether regular or special, and if special,
how authorized, (iii) the notice thereof given, (iv) the names of those present
at directors' meetings, (v) the number of shares present or represented at
shareholders' meetings, and (vi) the proceedings thereof; and (3) perform like
duties for the Executive and other standing committees, when required. In
addition, he shall keep or cause to be kept, at the principal office of the
Corporation in the State of Nevada, those documents required to be kept thereat
by Section 5.2 of the By-Laws and Section 78.105 of the Nevada Revised Statutes.
3.9.2. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of
meetings of the shareholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and
shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors
or the Chief Executive Officer, under whose supervision he shall be. He shall
keep in safe custody the seal of the Corporation, and, when authorized by the
Board, affix the same to any instrument requiring it, and when so affixed, it
shall be attested by his signature or by the signature of the Treasurer or an
Assistant Secretary. The Secretary is hereby authorized to issue certificates,
to which the corporate seal may be affixed, attesting to the incumbency of
officers of this Corporation or to actions duly taken by the Board of Directors
or the shareholders.
3.9.3. The Assistant Secretaries, in the order of their seniority,
shall in the absence or disability of the Secretary, perform the duties and
exercise the powers of the Secretary, and shall perform such other duties as the
Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary shall prescribe.
SECTION 3.10 TREASURER AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS.
3.10.1. The Treasurer shall deposit all moneys and other valuables
in the name, and to the credit, of the Corporation, with such depositories as
may be ordered by the
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Board of Directors. He shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be
ordered by the Board of Directors, shall render to the Chief Executive Officer
and directors, whenever they request it, an account of all his transactions as
Treasurer, and of the financial condition of the Corporation, and shall have
such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the
Board of Directors or the By-Laws.
3.10.2. The Assistant Treasurers, in the order of their seniority,
shall in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, perform the duties and
exercise the powers of the Treasurer, and shall perform such other duties as the
Chief Executive Officer or the Treasurer shall prescribe.
SECTION 3.11 ADDITIONAL POWERS, SENIORITY AND SUBSTITUTION OF OFFICERS.
In addition to the foregoing powers and duties specifically prescribed for
the respective officers, the Board of Directors may from time to time by
resolution (i) impose or confer upon any of the officers such additional duties
and powers as the Board of Directors may see fit, (ii) determine the order of
seniority among the officers, and/or (iii) except as otherwise provided above,
provide that in the absence of any officer or officers, any other officer or
officers shall substitute for and assume the duties, powers and authority of the
absent officer or officers. Any such resolution may be final, subject only to
further action by the Board of Directors, or the resolution may grant such
discretion, as the Board of Directors deems appropriate, to the Chairman, the
Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President (or in his absence the
Senior Executive Vice President or the Executive Vice President serving in his
place) to impose or confer additional duties and powers, to determine the order
of seniority among officers, and/or to provide for substitution of officers as
above described.
SECTION 3.12 COMPENSATION.
The officers of the Corporation shall receive such compensation as shall be
fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors. No officer shall be
prohibited from receiving such salary by reason of the fact that he is also a
director of the Corporation.
SECTION 3.13 TRANSACTION INVOLVING INTEREST OF OFFICER.
In the absence of fraud, no contract or other transaction of the
Corporation shall be affected or invalidated by the fact that any of the
officers of the Corporation are in any way interested in, or connected with, any
other party to such contract or transaction, or are themselves parties to such
contract or transaction, provided that such transaction complies with
Section 78.140 of the Nevada Revised Statutes; and each and every person who is
or may become an officer of the Corporation is hereby relieved, to the extent
permitted by law, when acting in good faith, from any liability that might
otherwise exist from contracting with the Corporation for the benefit of himself
or any person in which he may be in any way interested or with which he may be
in any way connected.
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ARTICLE IV
EXECUTIVE AND OTHER COMMITTEES
SECTION 4.1 STANDING COMMITTEES.
The Board of Directors shall appoint an Executive Committee, an Audit
Committee and a Compensation and Stock Option Committee, consisting of such
number of its members as it may designate, consistent with the Articles of
Incorporation, the By-Laws and the laws of the State of Nevada.
4.1.1. The Executive Committee shall have and may exercise, when
the Board is not in session, all of the powers of the Board of Directors in the
management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, but the Executive
Committee shall not have the power to fill vacancies on the Board, or to change
the membership of or to fill vacancies in the Executive Committee or any other
Committee of the Board, or to adopt, amend or repeal the By-Laws, or to declare
dividends.
4.1.2. The Audit Committee shall select and engage on behalf of the
Corporation, subject to the consent of the shareholders, and fix the
compensation of, a firm of certified public accountants whose duty it shall be
to audit the books and accounts of the Corporation and its subsidiaries for the
fiscal year in which they are appointed, and who shall report to such Committee.
The Audit Committee shall confer with the auditors and shall determine, and from
time to time shall report to the Board of Directors upon, the scope of the
auditing of the books and accounts of the Corporation and its subsidiaries. The
Audit Committee shall also be responsible for determining that the business
practices and conduct of employees and other representatives of the Corporation
and its subsidiaries comply with the policies and procedures of the Corporation.
None of the members of the Audit Committee shall be officers or employees of the
Corporation.
4.1.3. The Compensation and Stock Option Committee shall establish
a general compensation policy for the Corporation and shall have responsibility
for the approval of increases in directors' fees and in salaries paid to
officers and senior employees earning in excess of an annual salary to be
determined by the Committee. The Compensation and Stock Option Committee shall
have all of the powers of administration under all of the Corporation's employee
benefit plans, including any stock option plans, long-term incentive plans,
bonus plans, retirement plans, stock purchase plans and medical, dental and
insurance plans. In connection therewith, the Compensation and Stock Option
Committee shall determine, subject to the provisions of the Corporation's plans,
the directors, officers and employees of the Corporation eligible to participate
in any of the plans, the extent of such participation and the terms and
conditions under which benefits may be vested, received or exercised. None of
the members of
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the Compensation and Stock Option Committee shall be officers or employees of
the Corporation.
SECTION 4.2 OTHER COMMITTEES.
Subject to the limitations of the Articles of Incorporation, the By-Laws
and the laws of the State of Nevada as to action to be authorized or approved by
the shareholders, or duties not delegable by the Board of Directors, any or all
of the corporate powers may be exercised by or under authority of, and the
business and affairs of this Corporation may be controlled by, such other
committee or committees as may be appointed by the Board of Directors. The
powers to be exercised by any such committee shall be designated by the Board of
Directors.
SECTION 4.3 PROCEDURES.
Subject to the limitations of the Articles of Incorporation, the By-Laws
and the laws of the State of Nevada regarding the conduct of business by the
Board of Directors and its appointed committees, any committee created under
this Article may use any procedures for conducting its business and exercising
its powers, including but not limited to actions by the unanimous written
consent of its members in the manner set forth in Section 2.15. A majority (but
not less than two members) shall constitute a quorum. Notices of meetings may
be in any reasonable manner and may be waived as for meetings of directors.
ARTICLE V
CORPORATE RECORDS AND REPORTS - INSPECTION
SECTION 5.1 RECORDS.
The Corporation shall maintain adequate and correct accounts, books and
records of its business and properties. All of such books, records and accounts
shall be kept at its principal place of business in the State of California, as
fixed by the Board of Directors from time to time.
SECTION 5.2 ARTICLES, BY-LAWS AND STOCK LEDGER.
The Corporation shall maintain and keep the following documents at its
principal place of business in the State of Nevada: (i) a certified copy of the
Articles of Incorporation and all amendments thereto; (ii) a certified copy of
the By-Laws and all amendments thereto; and (iii) a statement setting forth the
following: "The Secretary of the Corporation, whose address is 2700
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Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica California 90404, is the custodian of the
duplicate stock ledger of the Corporation."
SECTION 5.3 INSPECTION.
Any person who has been a shareholder of record for at least six months
immediately preceding his demand, or any person holding, or thereunto authorized
in writing by the holders of, at least five percent of all of the Corporation's
outstanding shares, upon at least five days' written demand, or any judgment
creditor without prior demand, shall have the right to inspect in person or by
agent or attorney, during usual business hours, the duplicate stock ledger of
the Corporation and to make extracts therefrom; provided, however, that such
inspection may be denied to any shareholder or other person upon his refusal to
furnish to the Corporation an affidavit that such inspection is not desired for
a purpose which is in the interest of a business or object other than the
business of the Corporation and that he has not at any time sold or offered for
sale any list of shareholders of any corporation or aided or abetted any person
in procuring any such record of shareholders for any such purpose.
SECTION 5.4 CHECKS, DRAFTS, ETC.
All checks, drafts, or other orders for payment of money, notes, or other
evidences of indebtedness, issued in the name of, or payable to, the
Corporation, shall be signed or endorsed by such person or persons, and in such
manner as shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of
Directors.
ARTICLE VI
OTHER AUTHORIZATIONS
SECTION 6.1 EXECUTION OF CONTRACTS.
The Board of Directors, except as the By-Laws otherwise provide, 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 by the Board of Directors, no officer, agent or employee shall have
any power or authority, except in the ordinary course of business, to bind the
Corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit, or to render
it liable for any purpose or in any amount.
SECTION 6.2 REPRESENTATION OF OTHER CORPORATIONS.
All shares of any other corporation, standing in the name of the
Corporation, shall be voted, represented, and all rights incidental thereto
exercised as directed by written consent or
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resolution of the Board of Directors expressly referring thereto. In general,
such rights shall be delegated by the Board of Directors under express
instructions from time to time as to each exercise thereof to the Chief
Executive Officer, the President, any Senior Executive Vice President, any
Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President, the
Treasurer or the Secretary of this Corporation, or any other person expressly
appointed by the Board of Directors. Such authority may be exercised by the
designated officers in person, or by any other person authorized so to do by
proxy, or power of attorney, duly executed by such officers.
SECTION 6.3 DIVIDENDS.
The Board of Directors may from time to time declare, and the Corporation
may pay, dividends on its outstanding shares in the manner and on the terms and
conditions provided by the laws of the State of Nevada, and the Articles of
Incorporation, subject to any contractual restrictions to which the Corporation
is then subject.
ARTICLE VII
CERTIFICATES FOR AND TRANSFER OF SHARES
SECTION 7.1 CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES.
7.1.1. Certificates for shares shall be of such form and device as
the Board of Directors may designate and shall be numbered and registered as
they are issued. Each shall state the name of the record holder of the shares
represented thereby; its number and date of issuance; the number of shares for
which it is issued; the par value; a statement of the rights, privileges,
preferences and restrictions, if any; a statement as to rights of redemption or
conversion, if any; and a statement of liens or restrictions upon transfer or
voting, if any, or, alternatively, a statement that certificates specifying such
matters may be obtained from the Secretary of the Corporation.
7.1.2. Every certificate for shares must be signed by the Chief
Executive Officer or the President and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary,
or must be authenticated by facsimiles of the signatures of the Chief Executive
Officer or the President and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. Before it
becomes effective, every certificate for shares authenticated by a facsimile or
a signature must be countersigned by a transfer agent or transfer clerk, and
must be registered by an incorporated bank or trust company, either domestic or
foreign, as registrar of transfers.
7.1.3. Even though an officer who signed, or whose facsimile
signature has been written, printed, or stamped on a certificate for shares
ceases, by death, resignation, or otherwise, to be an officer of the Corporation
before the certificate is delivered by the
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Corporation, the certificate shall be as valid as though signed by a duly
elected, qualified and authorized officer, if it is countersigned by the
signature or facsimile signature of a transfer clerk or transfer agent and
registered by an incorporated bank or trust company, as registrar of transfers.
7.1.4. Even though a person whose facsimile signature as, or on
behalf of, the transfer agent or transfer clerk has been written, printed or
stamped on a certificate for shares ceases, by death, resignation, or otherwise,
to be a person authorized to so sign such certificate before the certificate is
delivered by the Corporation, the certificate shall be deemed countersigned by
the facsimile signature of a transfer agent or transfer clerk for purposes of
meeting the requirements of this section.
SECTION 7.2 TRANSFER ON THE BOOKS.
Upon surrender to the Secretary or transfer agent of the Corporation of a
certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of
succession, assignment or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the
Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel
the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.
SECTION 7.3 LOST OR DESTROYED CERTIFICATES.
The Board of Directors may direct, or may authorize the Secretary to
direct, a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any
certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to
have been lost or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the
person claiming the certificate for shares so lost or destroyed. When
authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the Board of
Directors or Secretary may, in its or his discretion, and as a condition
precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost or destroyed
certificate or certificates, or his legal representative, to advertise the same
in such manner as it shall require and/or give the Corporation a bond in such
sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the
Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost or
destroyed.
SECTION 7.4 TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS.
The Board of Directors may appoint one or more transfer agents or transfer
clerks, and one or more registrars, who may be the same person, and may be the
Secretary of the Corporation, or an incorporated bank or trust company, either
domestic or foreign, who shall be appointed at such times and places as the
requirements of the Corporation may necessitate and the Board of Directors may
designate.
SECTION 7.5 FIXING RECORD DATE FOR DIVIDENDS, ETC.
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The Board of Directors may fix a time, not exceeding 50 days preceding the
date fixed for the payment of any dividend or distribution, or for the allotment
of rights, or when any change or conversion or exchange of shares shall go into
effect, as a record date for the determination of the shareholders entitled to
receive any such dividend or distribution, or any such allotment of rights, or
to exercise the rights in respect to any such change, conversion, or exchange of
shares, and, in such case, only shareholders of record on the date so fixed
shall be entitled to receive such 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 any record date
fixed as aforesaid.
SECTION 7.6 RECORD OWNERSHIP.
The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a
person registered as such on the books of the Corporation as the owner of shares
of the Corporation's stock to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and
shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in
such shares on the part of any other person, whether or not the Corporation
shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS
SECTION 8.1 BY SHAREHOLDERS.
New or restated by-laws may be adopted, or these By-Laws may be repealed or
amended, at the annual shareholders' meeting or at any other meeting of the
shareholders called for that purpose, by a vote of shareholders entitled to
exercise a majority of the voting power of the Corporation.
SECTION 8.2 BY DIRECTORS.
Subject to the right of the shareholders to adopt, amend, or repeal
by-laws, as provided in Section 8.1, the Board of Directors may adopt, amend, or
repeal any of these By-Laws by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the
directors of each Class except as otherwise provided in Section 2.4. This power
may not be delegated to any committee appointed in accordance with these
By-Laws.
SECTION 8.3 RECORD OF AMENDMENTS.
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Whenever an amendment or a new By-Law is adopted, it shall be copied in the
book of minutes with the original By-Laws, in the appropriate place. If any
By-Law is repealed, the fact of repeal, with the date of the meeting at which
the repeal was enacted, or written assent was filed, shall be stated in said
book.
ARTICLE IX
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
SECTION 9.1 POWER TO INDEMNIFY IN ACTIONS, SUITS OR PROCEEDINGS OTHER THAN
THOSE BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION.
Subject to Section 9.3 of this Article IX, each person who was or is a
party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit
or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(hereinafter a "proceeding") (other than an action by or in the right of the
Corporation), by reason of the fact that he, or a person of whom he is the legal
representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was
serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee,
fiduciary or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit
plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action or inaction in an
official capacity or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer,
employee, fiduciary or agent shall be indemnified and held harmless by the
Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of Nevada, as the same
exist or may hereafter be amended, against all costs, charges, expenses,
liabilities and losses (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, employee
benefit plan exercise taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in
settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection with
such proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe
his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order,
settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of NOLO CONTENDERE or its equivalent,
shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good
faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action
or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
SECTION 9.2 POWER TO INDEMNIFY IN ACTIONS, SUITS OR PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE
RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION.
Subject to Section 9.3 of this Article IX, the Corporation shall indemnify
any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the
Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he, or
a person of whom he is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer
of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a
director, officer,
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employee, fiduciary or agent of enterprise, including service with respect to
employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action
or inaction in an official capacity or in any other capacity while serving as a
director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent, against expenses (including
attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the
defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the Corporation; except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any
claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be
liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which
such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite
the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case,
such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses
which the court shall deem proper.
SECTION 9.3 AUTHORIZATION OF INDEMNIFICATION.
Any indemnification under this Article IX (unless ordered by a court or
advanced pursuant to Section 9.6 hereof) shall be made by the Corporation only
as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of
the director or officer is proper in the circumstances because he has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 9.1 or Section 9.2 of this
Article IX, as the case may be. Such determination shall be made (i) by the
Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who
were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (ii) if a majority vote
of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the act, suit or
proceeding so orders, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or
(iii) if such a quorum is not obtainable, by independent legal counsel in a
written opinion, or (iv) by the shareholders. To the extent, however, that a
director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or
otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described above, or in
the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified
against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by
him in connection therewith, without the necessity of authorization in the
specific case.
SECTION 9.4 GOOD FAITH DEFINED.
For purposes of any determination under Section 9.3 of this Article IX, a
person shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, or,
with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, to have had no reasonable
cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, if his action is based on the records
or books of account of the Corporation or another enterprise, or on information
supplied to him by the officers of the Corporation or another enterprise in the
course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Corporation or
another enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the
Corporation or another enterprise by an independent certified public accountant
or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the
Corporation or another enterprise. The term "another enterprise" as used
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in this Section 9.4 shall mean any other corporation or any partnership, joint
venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which such person
is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer,
employee or agent. The provisions of this Section 9.4 shall not be deemed to be
exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be
deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 9.1
or 9.2 of this Article IX, as the case may be.
SECTION 9.5 INDEMNIFICATION BY A COURT.
If a claim under Sections 9.1 or 9.2 is not paid in full by the Corporation
within thirty days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation,
the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to
recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part,
the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such
claim. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought
to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance
of its final disposition where the required undertaking, if any is required, has
been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has failed to meet a
standard of conduct which makes it permissible under Nevada law for the
Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed. Neither the
failure of the Corporation (including the Board, independent legal counsel, or
its shareholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such
action that indemnification of the claimant is permissible in the circumstances
because he has met such standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the
Corporation (including the Board, independent legal counsel, or its
shareholders) that the claimant has not met such standard of conduct, shall be a
defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has failed to
meet such standard of conduct.
SECTION 9.6 EXPENSES PAYABLE IN ADVANCE.
The right to indemnification conferred in this Article IX shall include the
right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such
proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, if the
Nevada General Corporation Law required, the payment of such expenses incurred
by a director or officer in his capacity as a director or officer (and not in
any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such person while a
director or officer, including, without limitation, service to any employee
benefit plan) in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding, shall be made
only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such
director of officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be
determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under
this Section 9.6 or otherwise.
SECTION 9.7 NONEXCLUSIVITY OF INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES.
The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in
defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this
Article IX shall not be exclusive
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of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any
statute, provision of the Articles of Incorporation, By-Law, agreement, vote of
shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
SECTION 9.8 INSURANCE.
The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself
and any director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the Corporation or
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation
would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or
loss under Nevada law.
SECTION 9.9 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Article IX, references to "the Corporation" shall
include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation
(including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or
merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and
authority to indemnify its directors or officers, so that any person who is or
was a director or officer of such constituent corporation, or is or was a
director or officer of such constituent corporation serving at the request of
such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or
other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this
Article IX with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he would
have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had
continued. For purposes of this Article IX, references to "fines" shall include
any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan;
and references to "serving at the request of the Corporation" shall include any
service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which
imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director or officer with
respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a
person who acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in
the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan
shall be deemed to have acted in a manner "not opposed to the best interests of
the Corporation" as referred to in this Article IX.
SECTION 9.10 SURVIVAL OF INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES.
The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted
pursuant to, this Article IX shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or
ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer,
employee, fiduciary or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his heirs,
executors and administrators.
SECTION 9.11 LIMITATION ON INDEMNIFICATION.
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Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article IX to the contrary,
except as provided in Section 9.3, the Corporation shall indemnify any such
person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof)
initiated by such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was
authorized or consented to by the Board.
SECTION 9.12 INDEMNIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS.
The Corporation may, by action of the Board, provide indemnification to
employees and agents of the Corporation with the same scope and effect as the
foregoing indemnification of directors and officers.
SECTION 9.13 INDEMNIFICATION OF WITNESSES.
To the extent that any director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of
the Corporation is by reason of such position, or a position with another entity
at the request of the Corporation, a witness in any action, suit or proceeding,
he shall be indemnified against all costs and expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.
SECTION 9.14 INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENTS.
The Corporation may enter into agreements with any director, officer,
employee, fiduciary or agent of the Corporation providing for indemnification to
the full extent permitted by Nevada law.
SECTION 9.15 DEFINITION OF BOARD.
For purposes of this Article IX, the term "Board" shall mean the Board of
Directors of the Corporation or, to the extent permitted by the laws of Nevada,
as the same exist or may hereafter be amended, its Executive Committee. On vote
of the Board, the Corporation may assent to the adoption of this Article IX by
any subsidiary, whether or not wholly owned.
SECTION 9.16 ACTIONS PRIOR TO ADOPTION OF ARTICLE IX.
The rights provided by this Article IX shall be available whether or not
the claim asserted against the director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent
is based on matters which antedate the adoption of this Article IX.
SECTION 9.17 SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this Article IX shall for any reason be determined to
be invalid, the remaining provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby but
shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 9.18 APPLICABILITY TO FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN ACT OF 1971, AS
AMENDED.
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The rights provided by this Article IX shall be applicable to the officers
(including without limitation the Chairman, Vice Chairman, treasurer and
assistant treasurer) appointed from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer
of the Corporation or his designee to serve in the administration and management
of any separate, segregated fund established for purposes of collecting and
distributing voluntary employee political contributions to federal election
campaigns pursuant to the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended.
ARTICLE X
CORPORATE SEAL
The corporate seal shall be circular in form and shall have inscribed
thereon the name of the Corporation, and the date of its incorporation, and the
word "Nevada".
ARTICLE XI
INTERPRETATION
Reference in these By-Laws to any provision of the Nevada Revised Statutes
shall be deemed to include all amendments thereto and the effect of the
construction and determination of validity thereof by the Nevada Supreme Court.
ARTICLE XII
APPLICABILITY OF CONTROL SHARE ACT
The provisions of Nevada Revised Statutes Sections 78.378 to 78.3792,
inclusive, shall not apply to any acquisition of a controlling interest by OrNda
Healthcorp in the Corporation pursuant to the terms of that certain Stock Option
Agreement between the Corporation and OrNda Healthcorp, as the same may be
amended, modified, supplemented or otherwise changed.