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EXHIBIT 3.2
BY-LAWS
OF
BIO-PLEXUS DELAWARE, INC.
(A Delaware corporation)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
SECTION 1. Registered Office. The registered office of the Corporation
within the State of Delaware shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New
Castle.
SECTION 2. Other Offices. The Corporation may also have an office or
offices other than said registered office at such place or places, either within
or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors shall from time to
time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 1. Place of Meetings. All meetings of the stockholders for the
election of directors or for any other purpose shall be held at any such place,
either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated from time
to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of meeting or in a
duly executed waiver thereof.
SECTION 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders shall be
held at such date and time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board
of Directors and stated in the notice of meeting or in a duly executed waiver
thereof. At such annual meeting, the stockholders shall elect, by a plurality
vote, a Board of Directors and transact such other business as may properly be
brought before the meeting.
SECTION 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders, unless
otherwise prescribed by statute, may be called at any time by the Board of
Directors or the Chairman of the Board, if one shall have been elected, or the
President and shall be called by the Secretary upon the request in writing of a
stockholder or stockholders holding of record at least fifty percent of the
voting power of the issued and outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation
entitled to vote at such meeting.
SECTION 4. Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise expressly required
by statute, written notice of each annual and special meeting of stockholders
stating the date, place and hour
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of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes
for which the meeting is called, shall be given to each stockholder of record
entitled to vote thereat not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the
date of the meeting. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders
shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice. Notice shall be given
personally or by mail and, if by mail, shall be sent in a postage prepaid
envelope, addressed to the stockholder at his address as it appears on the
records of the Corporation. Notice by mail shall be deemed given at the time
when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid.
Notice of any meeting shall not be required to be given to any person who
attends such meeting, except when such person attends the meeting in person or
by proxy for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting,
to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or
convened, or who, either before or after the meeting, shall submit a signed
written waiver of notice, in person or by proxy. Neither the business to be
transacted at, nor the purpose of, an annual or special meeting of stockholders
need be specified in any written waiver of notice.
SECTION 5. List of Stockholders. The officer who has charge of the
stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten days before
each meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to
vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, showing the address of and
the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall
be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the
meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten days prior
to the meeting, either at a place within the city, town or village where the
meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of meeting,
or, if not specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list
shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole
time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.
SECTION 6. Quorum, Adjournments. The holders of a majority of the
voting power of the issued and outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to
vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of stockholders, except
as otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation. If,
however, such quorum shall not be present or represented by proxy at any meeting
of stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or
represented by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to
time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum
shall be present or represented by proxy. At such adjourned meeting at which a
quorum shall be present or represented by proxy, any business may be transacted
which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called. If the
adjournment is for more than thirty days, or, if after adjournment a new record
date is set, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each
stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
SECTION 7. Organization. At each meeting of stockholders, the Chairman
of the Board, if one shall have been elected, or, in his absence or if one shall
not have been elected, the President shall act as chairman of the meeting. The
Secretary or, in his absence or inability to act, the person whom the chairman
of the meeting shall appoint secretary of the meeting shall act as secretary of
the meeting and keep the minutes thereof.
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SECTION 8. Order of Business. The order of business at all meetings of
the stockholders shall be as determined by the chairman of the meeting.
SECTION 9. Voting. Except as otherwise provided by statute or the
Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder of the Corporation shall be
entitled at each meeting of stockholders to one vote for each share of capital
stock of the Corporation standing in his name on the record of stockholders of
the Corporation:
(a) on the date fixed pursuant to the provisions of Section 7
of Article V of these By-Laws as the record date for the determination
of the stockholders who shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at
such meeting; or
(b) if no such record date shall have been so fixed, then at
the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice
thereof shall be given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of
business on the date next preceding the day on which the meeting is
held.
Each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders may
authorize another person or persons to act for him by a proxy signed by such
stockholder or his attorney-in-fact, but no proxy shall be voted after three
years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. Any such
proxy shall be delivered to the secretary of the meeting at or prior to the time
designated in the order of business for so delivering such proxies. When a
quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the
voting power of the issued and outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to
vote thereon, present in person or represented by proxy, shall decide any
question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which by
express provision of statute or of the Certificate of Incorporation or of these
By-Laws, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision
shall govern and control the decision of such question. Unless required by
statute, or determined by the chairman of the meeting to be advisable, the vote
on any question need not be by ballot. On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall be
signed by the stockholder voting, or by his proxy, if there be such proxy, and
shall state the number of shares voted.
SECTION 10. Inspectors. The Board of Directors may, in advance of any
meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at such meeting
or any adjournment thereof. If any of the inspectors so appointed shall fail to
appear or act, the chairman of the meeting shall, or if inspectors shall not
have been appointed, the chairman of the meeting may, appoint one or more
inspectors. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his duties,
shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector at
such meeting with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.
The inspectors shall determine the number of shares of capital stock of the
Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each, the number of shares
represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, the validity and effect
of proxies, and shall receive votes, ballots or consents, hear and determine all
challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote, count and
tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, determine the results, and do such acts
as are proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders.
On request of the chairman of the meeting, the inspectors shall make a report in
writing of any challenge, request or matter determined by them and shall execute
a certificate of
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any fact found by them. No director or candidate for the office of director
shall act as an inspector of an election of directors. Inspectors need not be
stockholders.
SECTION 11. Action by Consent. Whenever the vote of stockholders at a
meeting thereof is required or permitted to be taken for or in connection with
any corporate action, by any provision of statute or of the Certificate of
Incorporation or of these By-Laws, the meeting and vote of stockholders may be
dispensed with, and the action taken without such meeting and vote, if a consent
in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of
outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be
necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of
stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.
ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation
shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board
of Directors may exercise all such authority and powers of the Corporation and
do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or the Certificate of
Incorporation directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
SECTION 2. Number, Qualifications, Election and Term of Office. The
number of directors constituting the initial Board of Directors shall be five.
Thereafter, the number of directors may be fixed, from time to time, by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors or by action of
the stockholders of the Corporation. Any decrease in the number of directors
shall be effective at the time of the next succeeding annual meeting of
stockholders unless there shall be vacancies in the Board of Directors, in which
case such decrease may become effective at any time prior to the next succeeding
annual meeting to the extent of the number of such vacancies. Directors need not
be stockholders. Except as otherwise provided by statute or these By-Laws, the
directors (other than members of the initial Board of Directors) shall be
elected at the annual meeting of stockholders. Each director shall hold office
until his successor shall have been elected and qualified, or until his death,
or until he shall have resigned, or have been removed, as hereinafter provided
in these By-Laws.
SECTION 3. Place of Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall
be held at such place or places, within or without the State of Delaware, as the
Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as shall be specified in
the notice of any such meeting.
SECTION 4. Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors shall meet for the
purpose of organization, the election of officers and the transaction of other
business, as soon as practicable after each annual meeting of stockholders, on
the same day and at the same place where such annual meeting shall be held.
Notice of such meeting need not be given. In the event such annual meeting is
not so held, the annual meeting of the Board of Directors may be held at such
other time or place (within or without the State of Delaware) as shall be
specified in a notice thereof given as hereinafter provided in Section 7 of this
Article III.
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SECTION 5. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors
shall be held at such time and place as the Board of Directors may fix. If any
day fixed for a regular meeting shall be a legal holiday at the place where the
meeting is to be held, then the meeting which would otherwise be held on that
day shall be held at the same hour on the next succeeding business day. Notice
of regular meetings of the Board of Directors need not be given except as
otherwise required by statute or these By-Laws.
SECTION 6. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors
may be called by the Chairman of the Board, if one shall have been elected, or
by two or more directors of the Corporation or by the President.
SECTION 7. Notice of Meetings. Notice of each special meeting of the
Board of Directors (and of each regular meeting for which notice shall be
required) shall be given by the Secretary as hereinafter provided in this
Section 7, in which notice shall be stated the time and place of the meeting.
Except as otherwise required by these By-Laws, such notice need not state the
purposes of such meeting. Notice of each such meeting shall be mailed, postage
prepaid, to each director, addressed to him at his residence or usual place of
business, by first class mail, at least two days before the day on which such
meeting is to be held, or shall be sent addressed to him at such place by
telegraph, cable, telex, telecopier or other similar means, or be delivered to
him personally or be given to him by telephone or other similar means, at least
twenty-four hours before the time at which such meeting is to be held. Notice of
any such meeting need not be given to any director who shall, either before or
after the meeting, submit a signed waiver of notice or who shall attend such
meeting, except when he shall attend for the express purpose of objecting, at
the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the
meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
SECTION 8. Quorum and Manner of Acting. A majority of the entire Board
of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any
meeting of the Board of Directors, and, except as otherwise expressly required
by statute or the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, the act of a
majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present
shall be the act of the Board of Directors. In the absence of a quorum at any
meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the directors present thereat
may adjourn such meeting to another time and place. Notice of the time and place
of any such adjourned meeting shall be given to all of the directors unless such
time and place were announced at the meeting at which the adjournment was taken,
in which case such notice shall only be given to the directors who were not
present thereat. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any
business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as
originally called. The directors shall act only as a Board and the individual
directors shall have no power as such.
SECTION 9. Organization. At each meeting of the Board of Directors, the
Chairman of the Board, if one shall have been elected, or, in the absence of the
Chairman of the Board or if one shall not have been elected, the President (or,
in his absence, another director chosen by a majority of the directors present)
shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat. The Secretary or, in
his absence, any person appointed by the chairman shall act as secretary of the
meeting and keep the minutes thereof.
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SECTION 10. Resignations. Any director of the Corporation may resign at
any time by giving written notice of his resignation to the Corporation. Any
such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time
when it shall become effective shall not be specified therein, immediately upon
its receipt. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such
resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
SECTION 11. Vacancies. Any vacancy in the Board of Directors, whether
arising from death, resignation, removal (with or without cause), an increase in
the number of directors or any other cause, may be filled by the vote of a
majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by the
sole remaining director or by the stockholders at the next annual meeting
thereof or at a special meeting thereof. Each director so elected shall hold
office until his successor shall have been elected and qualified.
SECTION 12. Removal of Directors. Any director may be removed, either
with or without cause, at any time, by the holders of a majority of the voting
power of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to
vote at an election of directors.
SECTION 13. Compensation. The Board of Directors shall have authority
to fix the compensation, including fees and reimbursement of expenses, of
directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity.
SECTION 14. Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution
passed by a majority of the entire Board of Directors, designate one or more
committees, including an executive committee, each committee to consist of one
or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may
designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may
replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee.
Except to the extent restricted by statute or the Certificate of Incorporation,
each such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution creating it, shall
have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors and
may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which
require it. Each such committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of
Directors and have such name as may be determined from time to time by
resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. Each committee shall keep regular
minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors.
SECTION 15. Action by Consent. Unless restricted by the Certificate of
Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of
Directors or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members
of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto
in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of the
proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be.
SECTION 16. Telephonic Meeting. Unless restricted by the Certificate of
Incorporation, any one or more members of the Board of Directors or any
committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such
committee by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment
by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other.
Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a
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meeting.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
SECTION 1. Number and Qualifications. The officers of the Corporation
shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall include the President, one
or more Vice Presidents, and a Secretary. If the Board of Directors wishes, it
may also elect as an officer of the Corporation a Chairman of the Board and may
elect other officers (including one or more Vice Presidents and/or Assistant
Secretaries) as may be necessary or desirable for the business of the
Corporation. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person, and no
officer except the Chairman of the Board need be a director. Each officer shall
hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected and shall have
qualified, or until his death, or until he shall have resigned or have been
removed, as hereinafter provided in these By-Laws.
SECTION 2. Resignations. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at
any time by giving written notice of his resignation to the Corporation. Any
such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time
when it shall become effective shall not be specified therein, immediately upon
receipt. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of any such
resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
SECTION 3. Removal. Any officer of the Corporation may be removed,
either with or without cause, at any time, by the Board of Directors at any
meeting thereof.
SECTION 4. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board, if one
shall have been elected, shall be a member of the Board, an officer of the
Corporation and, if present, shall preside at each meeting of the Board of
Directors or the stockholders of the Corporation. He shall provide advice and
counsel to the President, and in his absence with other executives of the
Corporation, and shall perform such other duties as may from time to time be
assigned to him by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 5. The President. The President shall be the chief executive
officer of the Corporation. He shall, in the absence of the Chairman of the
Board or if a Chairman of the Board shall not have been elected, preside at each
meeting of the Board of Directors or the stockholders of the Corporation. He
shall perform all duties incident to the office of President and chief executive
officer and such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the
Board of Directors.
SECTION 6. Vice President. Each Vice President shall perform all such
duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors or
the President. At the request of the President or in his absence or in the event
of his inability or refusal to act, the Vice President, or if there shall be
more than one, the Vice Presidents in the order determined by the Board of
Directors (or if there be no such determination, then the Vice Presidents in the
order of their election), shall perform the duties of the President, and, when
so acting, shall have the powers of and be subject to the restrictions placed
upon the President in respect of the performance of such duties.
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SECTION 7. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall
(a) have charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all
the funds and securities of the Corporation;
(b) keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and
disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation;
(c) deposit all moneys and other valuables to the credit of
the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board
of Directors or pursuant to its direction;
(d) receive, and give receipts for, moneys due and payable to
the Corporation from any source whatsoever;
(e) disburse the funds of the Corporation and supervise the
investments of its funds, taking proper vouchers therefore;
(f) render to the Board of Directors, whenever the Board of
Directors may require, an account of the financial condition of the
Corporation; and
(g) in general, perform all duties incident to the office of
Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to
him by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 8. Secretary. The Secretary shall
(a) keep or cause to be kept in one or more books provided for
the purpose, the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors, the
committees of the Board of Directors and the stockholders;
(b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the
provisions of these By-Laws and as required by law;
(c) be custodian of the records and the seal of the
Corporation and affix and attest the seal to all certificates for
shares of the Corporation (unless the seal of the Corporation on such
certificates shall be a facsimile, as hereinafter provided) and affix
and attest the seal to all other documents to be executed on behalf of
the Corporation under its seal;
(d) see that the books, reports, statements, certificates and
other documents and records required by law to be kept and filed are
properly kept and filed; and
(e) in general, perform all duties incident to the office of
Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to
him by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 9. The Assistant Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurer, or if
there shall be more
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than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order determined by the Board of
Directors (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their
election), shall, in the absence of the Treasurer or in the event of his
inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the
Treasurer and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be
assigned by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 10. The Assistant Secretary. The Assistant Secretary, or if
there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the
Board of Directors (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of
their election), shall, in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of his
inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the
Secretary and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be
assigned by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 11. Officers' Bonds or Other Security. If required by the Board
of Directors, any officer of the Corporation shall give a bond or other security
for the faithful performance of his duties, in such amount and with such surety
as the Board of Directors may require.
SECTION 12. Compensation. The compensation of the officers of the
Corporation for their services as such officers shall be fixed from time to time
by the Board of Directors. An officer of the Corporation shall not be prevented
from receiving compensation by reason of the fact that he is also a director of
the Corporation.
ARTICLE V
STOCK CERTIFICATES AND THEIR TRANSFER
SECTION 1. Stock Certificates. Every holder of stock in the Corporation
shall be entitled to have a certificate, signed by, or in the name of the
Corporation by, the Chairman of the Board or the President or a Vice President
and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by him in
the Corporation. If the Corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one
class of stock or more than one series of any class, the designations,
preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of
each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or
restriction of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or
summarized on the face or back of the certificate which the Corporation shall
issue to represent such class or series of stock, provided that, except as
otherwise provided in Section 202 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the
face or back of the certificate which the Corporation shall issue to represent
such class or series of stock, a statement that the Corporation will furnish
without charge to each stockholder who so requests the designations, preferences
and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of
stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of
such preferences and/or rights.
SECTION 2. Facsimile Signatures. Any or all of the signatures on a
certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar
who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate
shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such
certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same
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effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of
issue.
SECTION 3. Lost Certificates. The Board of Directors may direct a new
certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or
certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost,
stolen, or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or
certificates, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition
precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen, or
destroyed certificate or certificates, or his legal representative, to give the
Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct sufficient to indemnify it
against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the
alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of
such new certificate.
SECTION 4. Transfers of Stock. Upon surrender to the Corporation or the
transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or
accompanied by proper evidence of succession, 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 records; provided, however, that the Corporation shall be
entitled to recognize and enforce any lawful restriction on transfer. Whenever
any transfer of stock shall be made for collateral security, and not absolutely,
it shall be so expressed in the entry of transfer if, when the certificates are
presented to the Corporation for transfer, both the transferor and the
transferee request the Corporation to do so.
SECTION 5. Transfer Agents and Registrars. The Board of Directors may
appoint, or authorize any officer or officers to appoint, one or more transfer
agents and one or more registrars.
SECTION 6. Regulations. The Board of Directors may make such additional
rules and regulations, not inconsistent with these By-Laws, as it may deem
expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for
shares of stock of the Corporation.
SECTION 7. Fixing the Record Date. In order that the Corporation may
determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of
stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to corporate
action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to
exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or
for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in
advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty nor less than ten
days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty days prior to any
other action. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or
to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the
meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record
date for the adjourned meeting.
SECTION 8. Registered Stockholders. The Corporation shall be entitled
to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its records as the
owner of shares of stock to receive dividends and to vote as such owner, shall
be entitled to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its
records as the owner of shares of stock, and shall not be bound to recognize any
equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares of stock on the
part
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of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice
thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
SECTION 1. General. 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, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by
reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or 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 action, suit or 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 2. Derivative Actions. 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 is
or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was
serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise 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, provided 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 of Chancery of the State of
Delaware or 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 of Chancery or such other court
shall deem proper.
SECTION 3. Indemnification in Certain Cases. To the extent that a
director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation has been successful on
the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to
in Sections 1 and 2 of this Article VI, or in 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.
SECTION 4. Procedure. Any indemnification under Sections 1 and 2 of
this Article VI
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(unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized
in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director,
officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in such Sections 1 and 2. Such
determination shall be made (a) 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 (b) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable a
quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a
written opinion, or (c) by the stockholders.
SECTION 5. Advances for Expenses. Expenses incurred in defending a
civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Corporation in
advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt
of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director, officer, employee or agent to
repay such amount if it shall be ultimately determined that he is not entitled
to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article VI.
SECTION 6. Rights Not-Exclusive. The indemnification and advancement of
expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this
Article VI shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those
seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any
law, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or
otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in
another capacity while holding such office.
SECTION 7. Insurance. The Corporation shall have power to purchase and
maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer,
employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the
Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability
asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of
his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to
indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Article VI.
SECTION 8. Definition of Corporation. For the purposes of this Article
VI, references to "the Corporation" include all constituent corporations
absorbed in a consolidation or merger as well as the resulting or surviving
corporation so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent of such a constituent corporation or is or was serving at the request of
such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise shall
stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article VI with respect
to the resulting or surviving corporation as he would if he had served the
resulting or surviving corporation in the same capacity.
SECTION 9. Survival of Rights. The indemnification and advancement of
expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to this Article VI shall continue as
to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and
shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a
person.
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ARTICLE VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 1. Dividends. Subject to the provisions of statute and the
Certificate of Incorporation, dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the
Corporation may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special
meeting. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of stock of the
Corporation, unless otherwise provided by statute or the Certificate of
Incorporation.
SECTION 2. Reserves. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set
aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or
sums as the Board of Directors may, from time to time, in its absolute
discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for
equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the
Corporation or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors may think
conducive to the interests of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may modify
or abolish any such reserves in the manner in which it was created.
SECTION 3. Seal. The seal of the Corporation shall be in such form as
shall be approved by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 4. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be
fixed, and once fixed, may thereafter be changed, by resolution of the Board of
Directors.
SECTION 5. Checks, Notes, Drafts, Etc. All checks, notes, drafts or
other orders for the payment of money of the Corporation shall be signed,
endorsed or accepted in the name of the Corporation by such officer, officers,
person or persons as from time to time may be designated by the Board of
Directors or by an officer or officers authorized by the Board of Directors to
make such designation.
SECTION 6. Execution of Contracts, Deeds, Etc. The Board of Directors
may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents, in the name and on
behalf of the Corporation to enter into or execute and deliver any and all
deeds, bonds, mortgages, contracts and other obligations or instruments, and
such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
SECTION 7. Voting of Stock in Other Corporations. Unless otherwise
provided by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the
President or the Vice Presidents, from time to time, may (or may appoint one or
more attorneys or agents to) cast the votes which the Corporation may be
entitled to cast as a shareholder or otherwise in any other corporation, any of
whose shares or securities may be held by the Corporation, at meetings of the
holders of the shares or other securities of such other corporation. In the
event one or more attorneys or agents are appointed, the Chairman of the Board
or the President may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the
manner of casting such votes or giving such consent. The Chairman of the Board
or the President may, or may instruct the attorneys or agents appointed to,
execute or cause to be executed in the name and on behalf of the Corporation and
under its seal or otherwise, such written proxies, consents, waivers or other
instruments as may be necessary or proper in the circumstances.
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ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be amended or repealed or new by-laws adopted (a) by action of
the stockholders entitled to vote thereon at any annual or special meeting of
stockholders or (b) if the Certificate of Incorporation so provides, by action
of the Board of Directors at a regular or special meeting thereof. Any by-law
made by the Board of Directors may be amended or repealed by action of the
stockholders at any annual or special meeting of stockholders.