EXHIBIT 3.3
[FORM OF BY-LAWS]
BY-LAWS
OF
ALLIANCE LAUNDRY HOLDINGS INC.
a Delaware corporation
(Adopted as of , 2004)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. Registered Office. The registered office of Alliance Laundry
Holdings Inc. (the "Corporation") in the State of Delaware shall be located at
1209 Orange Street, Corporate Trust Center, in the City of Wilmington, Delaware
19801, in the County of New Castle. The name of the Corporation's registered
agent at such address shall be The Corporation Trust Company. The registered
office and/or registered agent of the Corporation may be changed from time to
time by action of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board of
Directors").
Section 2. Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such
other places, both within and without the State of Delaware, as the Board of
Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may
require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of the stockholders shall be
held each year within 150 days after the close of the immediately preceding
fiscal year of the Corporation or at such other time specified by the Board of
Directors for the purpose of electing Directors of the Corporation (each, a
"Director") and conducting such other proper business as may come before the
annual meeting. At the annual meeting, stockholders shall elect Directors and
transact such other business as properly may be brought before the annual
meeting pursuant to Section 11 of ARTICLE II hereof.
Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders may only
be called in the manner provided in the Corporation's certificate of
incorporation as in effect (the "Certificate of Incorporation").
Section 3. Place of Meetings. The Board of Directors may designate any
place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the place of meeting
for any annual meeting or for any special meeting. If no designation is made, or
if a special meeting be otherwise called, the place of meeting shall be the
principal executive office of the Corporation. If for any reason any annual
meeting shall not be held during any year, the business thereof may be
transacted at any special meeting of the stockholders.
Section 4. Notice. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take
action at a meeting, written or printed notice stating the place, date, time
and, in the case of special meetings, the purpose or purposes, of such meeting,
shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less
than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting. All such notices
shall be delivered, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the
Board of Directors, the chairman of the board, the president or the secretary,
and if mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the
United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his, her or
its address as the same appears on the records of the Corporation. Attendance of
a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting,
except when the person attends 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 5. Stockholders List. The officer having charge of the stock
ledger of the Corporation shall make, at least 10 days before every meeting of
the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at such
meeting arranged in alphabetical order, showing the address of each stockholder
and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list
shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to
the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 10 days
prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to
be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting or, if not
so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also
be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time
thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.
Section 6. Quorum. The holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
capital stock entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, shall
constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders, except as otherwise
provided by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or by the
Certificate of Incorporation. If a quorum is not present, the holders of a
majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting,
and entitled to vote at the meeting, may adjourn the meeting and the Board shall
determine the time and/or place. When a specified item of business requires a
vote by a class or series (if the Corporation shall then have outstanding shares
of more than one class or series) voting as a class or series, the holders of a
majority of the shares of such class or series shall constitute a quorum (as to
such class or series) for the transaction of such item of business.
Section 7. Adjourned Meetings. When a meeting is adjourned to another time
and place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and
place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At
the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any business which might have
been transacted at the original meeting.
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If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new
record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned
meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the
meeting.
Section 8. Vote Required. When a quorum is present, the affirmative vote
of the majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the
meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the
stockholders, unless (i) by express provisions of an applicable law or of the
Certificate of Incorporation a different vote is required, in which case such
express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question, or
(ii) the subject matter is the election of Directors, in which case Section 2 of
ARTICLE III hereof shall govern and control the approval of such subject matter.
Section 9. Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided by the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation of
the Corporation or any amendments thereto or these By-laws, every stockholder
shall at every meeting of the stockholders be entitled to one vote in person or
by proxy for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder.
Section 10. Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of
stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing
without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for him or her
by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from
its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy
shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as
long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an
irrevocable power. A proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the
interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an
interest in the Corporation generally. Any proxy is suspended when the person
executing the proxy is present at a meeting of stockholders and elects to vote,
except that when such proxy is coupled with an interest and the fact of the
interest appears on the face of the proxy, the agent named in the proxy shall
have all voting and other rights referred to in the proxy, notwithstanding the
presence of the person executing the proxy. At each meeting of the stockholders,
and before any voting commences, all proxies filed at or before the meeting
shall be submitted to and examined by the secretary or a person designated by
the secretary, and no shares may be represented or voted under a proxy that has
been found to be invalid or irregular.
Section 11. Business Brought Before an Annual Meeting. At an annual
meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have
been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an
annual meeting, business must be (i) specified in the notice of meeting (or any
supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (ii)
brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or
(iii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder. For
business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the
stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of
the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's notice must be delivered to or
mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, not
less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the meeting; provided, however,
that in the event that less than 70 days' notice or prior public announcement of
the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice by the
stockholder to be timely must be so received not
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later than the close of business on the 10th day following the date on which
such notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or such public
announcement was made. A stockholder's notice to the secretary shall set forth
as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting
(i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual
meeting, (ii) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation's books,
of the stockholder proposing such business, (iii) the class and number of shares
of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by the stockholder and (iv) any
material interest of the stockholder in such business. Notwithstanding anything
in these By-laws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at an annual
meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section. The
presiding officer of an annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine
and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the
meeting and in accordance with the provisions of this section; if he should so
determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly
brought before the meeting shall not be transacted. For purposes of this
section, "public announcement" shall mean disclosure in a press release reported
by Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable national news
service. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to affect any rights of
stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation's proxy
statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act").
ARTICLE III
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. In
addition to such powers as are herein and in the Certificate of Incorporation
expressly conferred upon it, the Board of Directors shall have and may exercise
all the powers of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the laws of
Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation and these By-laws.
Section 2. Number, Election and Term of Office. The number of Directors
which shall constitute the board shall initially be five (5). Thereafter, the
number of Directors shall be established from time to time by resolution of the
board. The Directors shall be divided into three classes in the manner set forth
in the Certificate of Incorporation, each class to be elected for the term
setforth therein. The Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of
the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled
to vote in the election of directors. The Directors shall be elected in this
manner at the annual meeting of the stockholders, except as provided in Section
4 of this Article III. Each Director elected shall hold office until a successor
is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or
removal as hereinafter provided.
Section 3. Removal and Resignation. No Director may be removed from office
without cause and without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of
the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to
vote generally in the election of Directors voting together as a single class;
provided, however, that if the holders of any class or series of capital stock
are entitled by the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation (it being
understood that any references to the Certificate of Incorporation shall include
any duly
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authorized certificate of designation) to elect one or more Directors, such
Director or Directors so elected may be removed without cause only by the vote
of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class or series
of capital stock entitled to vote. Any director may resign at any time upon
written notice to the Corporation.
Section 4. Vacancies. Vacancies occurring on the Board of Directors for
any reason may be filled by vote of a majority of the remaining members of the
Board of Directors, even if less than a quorum, at any meeting of the Board of
Directors. A Person so elected by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy shall
hold office until the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders of the
Corporation and until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and
qualified.
Section 5. Nominations.
(a) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures
set forth in these By-laws shall be eligible to serve as Directors. Nominations
of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a meeting of
stockholders (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any
stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time of
giving of notice provided for in this By-law, who is entitled to vote generally
in the election of Directors at the meeting and who shall have complied with the
notice procedures set forth below in Section 5(b).
(b) In order for a stockholder to nominate a person for election to
the Board of Directors at a meeting of stockholders, such stockholder shall have
delivered timely notice of such stockholder's intent to make such nomination in
writing to the secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's
notice shall be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive
offices of the Corporation (i) in the case of an annual meeting, not less than
60 nor more than 90 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year's
annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual
meeting is changed by more than 30 days from such anniversary date, notice by
the stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the close of
business on the 10th day following the earlier of the day on which notice of the
date of the meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the meeting was made, and
(ii) in the case of a special meeting at which directors are to be elected, not
later than the close of business on the 10th day following the earlier of the
day on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or public disclosure
of the meeting was made. Such stockholder's notice shall set forth (i) as to
each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a Director
at such meeting all information relating to such person that is required to be
disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise
required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act
(including such person's written consent to being named in the proxy statement
as a nominee and to serving as a Director if elected); (ii) as to the
stockholder giving the notice (A) the name and address, as they appear on the
Corporation's books, of such stockholder and (B) the class and number of shares
of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by such stockholder and also
which are owned of record by such stockholder; and (iii) as to the beneficial
owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, (A) the name and address
of such person and (B) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which
are beneficially owned by such person. At the request of the Board of Directors,
any person
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nominated by the Board of Directors for election as a Director shall furnish to
the secretary of the Corporation that information required to be set forth in a
stockholder's notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee.
(c) No person shall be eligible to serve as a Director unless
nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section. The
chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to
the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures
prescribed by this section, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare
to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded. A stockholder
seeking to nominate a person to serve as a Director must also comply with all
applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations
thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this section.
Section 6. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of the Board of Directors
shall be held without other notice than this By-law immediately after, and at
the same place as, the annual meeting of stockholders.
Section 7. Other Meetings and Notice. Regular meetings, other than the
annual meeting, of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such
time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of
the Board of Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called
by the chairman of the board, the president (if the president is a Director) or,
upon the written request of at least a majority of the Directors then in office,
the secretary of the Corporation on at least 24 hours notice to each Director,
either personally, by telephone, by mail or by telecopy.
Section 8. Chairman of the Board, Quorum, Required Vote and Adjournment.
The Board of Directors shall elect, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
total number of Directors then in office, a chairman of the board, who shall
preside at all meetings of the stockholders and Board of Directors at which he
or she is present and shall have such powers and perform such duties as the
Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. If the chairman of the board
is not present at a meeting of the stockholders or the Board of Directors, the
president (if the president is a Director and is not also the chairman of the
board) shall preside at such meeting, and, if the president is not present at
such meeting (and is not a Director), a majority of the Directors present at
such meeting shall elect one of their members to so preside. A majority of the
total number of Directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. Unless by express provision of an applicable law, the
Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws a different vote is required, the
vote of a majority of Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is
present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. If a quorum shall not be
present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the Directors present thereat
may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than
announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
Section 9. Committees. In addition to the committees established below,
the Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the total
number of Directors then in office, designate one or more committees, each
committee to consist of one or more of the Directors, which to the extent
provided in such resolution or these By-laws shall have, and
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may exercise, the powers of the Board of Directors in the management and affairs
of the Corporation, except as otherwise limited by law. 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.
Such committee or committees shall have such name or names 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 upon request.
(a) Audit and Compliance Committee. The corporation shall have an
Audit and Compliance Committee. The number of Directors who shall serve on the
Audit and Compliance Committee from time to time shall be as determined in
accordance with Section 9 hereof. The Audit and Compliance Committee shall (i)
review and, as it deems appropriate, recommend to the Board of Directors,
internal accounting and financial controls for the corporation and accounting
principles and auditing practices and procedures to be employed in the
preparation and review of financial statements of the Corporation, (ii) make
recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning the engagement of the
independent public accountants to audit the annual financial statements of the
corporation and the scope of the audit to be undertaken by such accountants and
(iii) review and, as it deems appropriate, recommend to the Board of Directors
actions relating to the Corporation's regulatory compliance.
(b) Compensation Committee. The Corporation shall have a
Compensation Committee. The number of Directors who shall serve on the
Compensation Committee from time to time shall be as determined in accordance
with Section 9 hereof. The Compensation Committee shall (i) review and, as it
deems appropriate, recommend to the Board of Directors policies, practices and
procedures relating to the compensation of employees and the establishment and
administration of employee benefit plans and (ii) review and, as it deems
appropriate, recommend to the Board of Directors actions, policies, procedures
and amendments relating to any employee stock option plans of the Corporation
and (iii) otherwise advise and consult with the officers of the Corporation as
may be requested regarding managerial personnel policies.
(c) Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The Corporation
shall have a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The number of
directors who shall serve on the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
from time to time shall be as determined in accordance with Section 9 hereof.
The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee shall be responsible for
matters related to service on the Board of Directors of the Corporation and
associated issues of corporate governance. Prior to each annual meeting of
stockholders, the committee shall recommend to the Board of Directors the
individuals to constitute the nominees of the Board of Directors, so that the
Board of Directors may solicit proxies for their election. The committee shall
review the qualifications of individuals for consideration as Director
candidates and shall recommend to the Board of Directors, for its consideration,
the names of individuals for election by the Board of Directors.
Section 10. Committee Rules. Each committee of the Board of Directors may
fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such
rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the Board of
Directors designating such committee.
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Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, the presence of at least a
majority of the members of the committee shall be necessary to constitute a
quorum. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, in the event that a
member and that member's alternate, if alternates are designated by the Board of
Directors, of such committee is or are absent or disqualified, the member or
members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether
or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint
another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any
such absent or disqualified member.
Section 11. Communications Equipment. Members of the Board of Directors or
any committee thereof may participate in and act at any meeting of such board or
committee through the use of a conference telephone or other communications
equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear
and speak with each other, and participation in the meeting pursuant to this
section shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 12. Waiver of Notice and Presumption of Assent. Any member of the
Board of Directors or any committee thereof who is present at a meeting shall be
conclusively presumed to have waived notice of such meeting except when such
member attends 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. Such member shall be conclusively presumed to have assented
to any action taken unless his or her dissent shall be entered in the minutes of
the meeting or unless his or her written dissent to such action shall be filed
with the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment
thereof or shall be forwarded by registered mail to the secretary of the
Corporation immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to
dissent shall not apply to any member who voted in favor of such action.
Section 13. Action by Written Consent. Unless otherwise restricted by the
Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at
any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken
without a meeting if all members of such board or committee, as the case may be,
consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the
minutes of proceedings of the board or committee.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. Number. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the
Board of Directors and shall include a president and secretary any may include a
chairman of the board, a chief executive officer, one or more vice-presidents, a
chief financial officer, a chief legal officer and such other officers and
assistant officers as may be deemed necessary or desirable by the Board of
Directors. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, except that the
president shall not also hold the office of secretary. In its discretion, the
Board of Directors may choose not to fill any office for any period as it may
deem advisable, except that the offices of president and secretary shall be
filled as expeditiously as possible.
Section 2. Election and Term of Office. The officers of the Corporation
shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at its first meeting held
after each annual meeting of
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stockholders or as soon thereafter as convenient. Vacancies may be filled or new
offices created and filled at any meeting of the Board of Directors. Each
officer shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and qualified or
until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal as hereinafter provided.
Section 3. Removal. Any officer or agent elected by the Board of Directors
may be removed by the Board of Directors at its discretion, but such removal
shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so
removed.
Section 4. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in any office because of
death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise may be filled by the
Board of Directors.
Section 5. Compensation. Compensation of all executive officers shall be
approved by the Board of Directors, and no officer shall be prevented from
receiving such compensation by virtue of his or her also being a Director of the
Corporation; provided however, that compensation of all executive officers may
be determined by a committee established for that purpose if so authorized by
the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Chairman of the Board. The chairman of the board, if one shall
have been elected, shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the
Board of Directors and shall have such other powers and perform such other
duties as may be prescribed to him or her by the Board of Directors or provided
in these By-laws. The chairman of the board shall also serve as president of the
Corporation at any time such office and the office of chief executive officer
shall be vacant.
Section 7. Chief Executive Officer. The chief executive officer shall have
the powers and perform the duties incident to that position. Subject to the
powers of the Board of Directors and the chairman of the board, the chief
executive officer shall be in the general and active charge of the entire
business and affairs of the Corporation, and shall be its chief policy making
officer. The chief executive officer shall have such other powers and perform
such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or provided in
these By-laws. The chief executive officer is authorized to execute bonds,
mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the
Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed
and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be
expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of
the Corporation. Whenever the president is unable to serve, by reason of
sickness, absence or otherwise, the chief executive officer shall perform all
the duties and responsibilities and exercise all the powers of the president.
The chief executive officer shall also serve as president of the Corporation at
any time such office shall be vacant.
Section 8. The President. The president of the Corporation shall, subject
to the powers of the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board and the chief
executive officer, have general charge of the business, affairs and property of
the Corporation, and control over its officers, agents and employees. The
president shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors
are carried into effect. The president is authorized to execute bonds, mortgages
and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except
where
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required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except
where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the
Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation. The
president shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be
prescribed by the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, the Board
of Directors or as may be provided in these By-laws.
Section 9. Vice-Presidents. The vice-president, or if there shall be more
than one, the vice-presidents in the order determined by the Board of Directors
or the chairman of the board, shall, in the absence or disability of the
president, act with all of the powers and be subject to all the restrictions of
the president. The vice-presidents shall also perform such other duties and have
such other powers as the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board, the
chief executive officer, the president or these By-laws may, from time to time,
prescribe. The vice-presidents may also be designated as executive
vice-presidents or senior vice-presidents, as the Board of Directors may from
time to time prescribe.
Section 10. The Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The secretary shall
attend all meetings of the Board of Directors, all meetings of the committees
thereof and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings of
the meetings in a book or books to be kept for that purpose or shall ensure that
his or her designee attends each such meeting to act in such capacity. Under the
chairman of the board's supervision, the secretary shall give, or cause to be
given, all notices required to be given by these By-laws or by law; shall have
such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the chairman of
the board, the chief executive officer, the president or these By-laws may, from
time to time, prescribe; and shall have custody of the corporate seal of the
Corporation. The secretary, or an assistant secretary, shall have authority to
affix the corporate seal to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it
may be attested by his or her signature or by the signature of such assistant
secretary. The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other
officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing by his
or her signature. The assistant secretary, or if there be more than one, any of
the assistant secretaries, 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 and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the
chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, the president, or secretary
may, from time to time, prescribe.
Section 11. The Chief Financial Officer. The chief financial officer shall
have the custody of the corporate funds and securities; shall keep full and
accurate all books and accounts of the Corporation as shall be necessary or
desirable in accordance with applicable law or generally accepted accounting
principles; shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name and
to the credit of the Corporation as may be ordered by the chairman of the board
or the Board of Directors; shall cause the funds of the Corporation to be
disbursed when such disbursements have been duly authorized, taking proper
vouchers for such disbursements; shall render to the Board of Directors, at its
regular meeting or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of the
Corporation; shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of
Directors, the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, the president
or these By-laws may, from time to time, prescribe and shall oversee all
treasury (such as managing relationships with commercial bankers, structuring
credit arrangements, monitoring operating cash requirements, ensuring debt
covenant compliance, communicating with external investors
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and creditors) and risk management functions. If required by the Board of
Directors, the chief financial officer shall give the Corporation a bond (which
shall be rendered every six years) in such sums and with such surety or sureties
as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance
of the duties of the office of chief financial officer and for the restoration
to the Corporation, in case of death, resignation, retirement or removal from
office of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind
in the possession or under the control of the chief financial officer belonging
to the Corporation.
Section 12. Chief Legal Officer. The chief legal officer shall have such
power and exercise such authority and provide such counsel to the Corporation as
deemed necessary or desirable to enforce the rights and protect the business
affairs, property and integrity of the Corporation, shall also have the power,
authority and responsibility for securing for the Corporation all legal advice,
service, and counseling, and shall perform all of the duties incident to the
position of chief legal officer, as well as such other duties as may be assigned
by the chief executive officer or the Board of Directors.
Section 13. Other Officers, Assistant Officers and Agents. Officers,
assistant officers and agents, if any, other than those whose duties are
provided for in these By-laws, shall have such authority and perform such duties
as may from time to time be prescribed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 14. Absence or Disability of Officers. In the case of the absence
or disability of any officer of the Corporation and of any person hereby
authorized to act in such officer's place during such officer's absence or
disability, the Board of Directors may by resolution delegate the powers and
duties of such officer to any other officer or to any Director, or to any other
person selected by it.
ARTICLE V
CERTIFICATES OF STOCK
Section 1. Form. 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, the chief executive officer or the president and the
secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation, certifying the number of
shares owned by such holder in the Corporation. If such a certificate is
countersigned (i) by a transfer agent or an assistant transfer agent other than
the Corporation or its employee or (ii) by a registrar, other than the
Corporation or its employee, the signature of any such chairman of the board,
chief executive officer, president, secretary or assistant secretary may be
facsimiles. In case any officer or officers who have signed, or whose facsimile
signature or signatures have been used on, any such certificate or certificates
shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Corporation whether because of
death, resignation or otherwise before such certificate or certificates have
been delivered by the Corporation, such certificate or certificates may
nevertheless be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed
such certificate or certificates or whose facsimile signature or signatures have
been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the
Corporation. All certificates for shares shall be consecutively numbered or
otherwise identified. The name of the person to whom the shares
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represented thereby are issued, with the number of shares and date of issue,
shall be entered on the books of the Corporation. Shares of stock of the
Corporation shall only be transferred on the books of the Corporation by the
holder of record thereof or by such holder's attorney duly authorized in
writing, upon surrender to the Corporation of the certificate or certificates
for such shares endorsed by the appropriate person or persons, with such
evidence of the authenticity of such endorsement, transfer, authorization and
other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all
necessary stock transfer stamps. In that event, it shall be the duty of the
Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel
the old certificate or certificates and record the transaction on its books. The
Board of Directors may appoint a bank or trust company organized under the laws
of the United States or any state thereof to act as its transfer agent or
registrar, or both in connection with the transfer of any class or series of
securities of the Corporation.
Section 2. Lost Certificates. The Board of Directors may direct a new
certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or
certificates previously issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost,
stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person
claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When
authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the Corporation
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 or her legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to
indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the
Corporation on account of the loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate
or the issuance of such new certificate.
Section 3. Fixing a Record Date for Stockholder Meetings. 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, the Board of
Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date
upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of
Directors, and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days
before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board of
Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or
to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be the close of business on the next
day preceding the day on which notice is first given. 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 4. Fixing a Record Date for Other Purposes. In order that the
Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or other distribution or allotment or any rights or the stockholders
entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange
of stock, or for the purposes of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors
may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which
the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be
not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the
record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the
close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the
resolution relating thereto.
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Section 5. Registered Stockholders. Prior to the surrender to the
Corporation of the certificate or certificates for a share or shares of stock
with a request to record the transfer of such share or shares, the Corporation
may treat the registered owner as the person entitled to receive dividends, to
vote, to receive notifications and otherwise to exercise all the rights and
powers of an owner. The Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any
equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of
any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof.
Section 6. Subscriptions for Stock. Unless otherwise provided for in the
subscription agreement, subscriptions for shares shall be paid in full at such
time, or in such installments and at such times, as shall be determined by the
Board of Directors. Any call made by the Board of Directors for payment on
subscriptions shall be uniform as to all shares of the same class or as to all
shares of the same series. In case of default in the payment of any installment
or call when such payment is due, the Corporation may proceed to collect the
amount due in the same manner as any debt due the Corporation.
ARTICLE VI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Dividends. Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation,
subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, if any, may be
declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting, in
accordance with applicable law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in
shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of
Incorporation. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any
funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the
Directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a
reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for
repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or any other purpose
and the Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which
it was created.
Section 2. Checks, Drafts or Orders. All checks, drafts or other orders
for the payment of money by or to the Corporation and all notes and other
evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation shall be signed
by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the Corporation, and in such
manner, as shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors or a duly
authorized committee thereof.
Section 3. Contracts. In addition to the powers otherwise granted to
officers pursuant to ARTICLE IV hereof, the Board of Directors may authorize any
officer or officers, or any agent or agents, of the Corporation to enter into
any contract or to execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on
behalf of the Corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to
specific instances.
Section 4. Loans. Subject to compliance with applicable laws (including
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended), the Corporation may lend money to,
or guarantee any obligation of, or otherwise assist any officer or other
employee of the Corporation or of its subsidiaries,
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including any officer or employee who is a Director of the Corporation's
subsidiaries, whenever, in the judgment of the Directors, such loan, guaranty or
assistance may reasonably be expected to benefit the Corporation. The loan,
guaranty or other assistance may be with or without interest, and may be
unsecured, or secured in such manner as the Board of Directors shall approve,
including, without limitation, a pledge of shares of stock of the Corporation.
Nothing in this section shall be deemed to deny, limit or restrict the powers of
guaranty or warranty of the Corporation at common law or under any statute.
Section 5. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed
by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors may provide a corporate
seal which shall be in the form of a circle and shall have inscribed thereon the
name of the Corporation and the words "Corporate Seal, Delaware." The seal may
be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or
reproduced or otherwise. No seal shall be required by virtue of this Section.
Section 7. Voting Securities Owned By Corporation. Voting securities in
any other Corporation held by the Corporation shall be voted by the chief
executive officer, the president or a vice-president, unless the Board of
Directors specifically confers authority to vote with respect thereto, which
authority may be general or confined to specific instances, upon some other
person or officer. Any person authorized to vote securities shall have the power
to appoint proxies, with general power of substitution.
Section 8. Inspection of Books and Records. The Board of Directors shall
have power from time to time to determine to what extent and at what times and
places and under what conditions and regulations the accounts and books of the
Corporation, or any of them, shall be open to the inspection of the
stockholders; and no stockholder shall have any right to inspect any account or
book or document of the Corporation, except as conferred by the laws of the
State of Delaware, unless and until authorized so to do by resolution of the
Board of Directors or of the stockholders of the Corporation.
Section 9. Section Headings. Section headings in these By-laws are for
convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in
limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.
Section 10. Inconsistent Provisions. In the event that any provision of
these By-laws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the Certificate
of Incorporation, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or any
other applicable law, the provision of these By-laws shall not be given any
effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full
force and effect.
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ARTICLE VII
SPECIAL RESTRICTIONS REGARDING ISSUANCE OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK
The Corporation shall not issue any shares of Class A Common Stock as long
as any Income Deposit Securities ("IDSs") are outstanding unless (i) such shares
are issued together with the Corporation's % Senior Subordinated Notes due
2014 (the "Senior Subordinated Notes") in the form of IDSs of the Corporation in
a transaction that has been registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") or (ii) any IDSs that may result from the combination of
such shares of Class A Common Stock and the Senior Subordinated Notes have been
issued in a transaction registered with the SEC.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute,
the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend, change,
add to or repeal these By-laws by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
total number of Directors then in office. Any alteration or repeal of these
By-laws by the stockholders of the Corporation shall require the affirmative
vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled to vote
on such alteration or repeal; provided, however, that Section 11 of ARTICLE II
and Sections 2, 3, 4 and 5 of ARTICLE III and this ARTICLE VII of these By-laws
shall not be altered, amended or repealed and no provision inconsistent
therewith shall be adopted without the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least eighty percent (80%) of the combined voting power of all of the then
outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled to vote on such alteration or
repeal.
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