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EXHIBIT 3.3
BYLAWS
OF
CORPORATE PROPERTY INVESTORS, INC.
(HEREINAFTER CALLED THE "CORPORATION")
ARTICLE 1
OFFICES AND RECORDS
SECTION 1.01. Registered Office. The current registered office of the
Corporation in the State of Delaware shall be located at 1209 Orange Street in
the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of the Corporation's
registered agent at that address, upon whom legal process against the
Corporation may be served, is CT Corporation System.
SECTION 1.02. Other Offices. The Corporation may have such other
offices, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of
Directors may designate or as the business of the Corporation may from time to
time require.
ARTICLE 2
STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 2.01. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the stockholders of
the Corporation shall be held at such date, place and time as may be fixed by
resolution of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2.02. Special Meeting. Subject to the rights of the holders of
any series of preferred stock of the Corporation (the "Preferred Stock") or any
other series or class of stock as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation,
special meetings of the stockholders may be called at any time only by the
Secretary at the direction of the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution
adopted by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2.03. Place of Meeting. The Board of Directors may designate
the place of meeting for any meeting of the stockholders. If no designation is
made by the Board of Directors, the place of meeting shall be the principal
office of the Corporation.
SECTION 2.04. Notice of Meeting. Written or printed notice, stating the
place, day and hour of the meeting and, in the case of special meetings, the
purpose or purposes for which such special meeting is called, shall be prepared
and delivered by the Corporation not less than ten days nor more than sixty days
before the date of the meeting, either personally, or by mail, to each
stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. Such further notice
shall be given as may be required by law. Only such business shall be conducted
at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the
meeting pursuant to the Corporation's notice of meeting. Any
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previously scheduled meeting of the stockholders may be postponed, and (unless
the Certificate of Incorporation otherwise provides) any special meeting of the
stockholders may be canceled, by resolution of the Board of Directors upon
public notice given prior to the time previously scheduled for such meeting of
stockholders.
SECTION 2.05. Quorum and Adjournment. Except as otherwise provided by
law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of the
voting power of the outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors (the "Voting Stock"), represented in
person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders,
except that when specified business is to be voted on by a class or series
voting as a class, the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares
of such class or series shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of such
business. The Chairman of the Board or the holders of a majority of the voting
power of the shares of Voting Stock so represented may adjourn the meeting from
time to time, whether or not there is such a quorum (or, in the case of
specified business to be voted on by a class or series, the Chairman of the
Board or the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of such
class or series so represented may adjourn the meeting with respect to such
specified business). No notice of the time and place of adjourned meetings need
be given except as required by law. The stockholders present at a duly organized
meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the
withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.
SECTION 2.06. Proxies. At all meetings of stockholders, a stockholder
may vote by proxy as may be permitted by law; provided, that no proxy shall be
voted after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer
period. Any proxy to be used at a meeting of stockholders must be filed with the
Secretary of the Corporation or his representative at or before the time of the
meeting.
SECTION 2.07. Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.
(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders.
(i) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of
the Corporation and the proposal of business to be considered by the
stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (A) pursuant to
the Corporation's notice of meeting delivered pursuant to Section 2.04 of these
Bylaws, (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (C) by any
stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who
complied with the notice procedures set forth in clauses (ii) and (iii) of this
Section 2.07(a) and who was a stockholder of record at the time such notice is
delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation.
(ii) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an
annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (C) of paragraph (a)(i) of
this Bylaw, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to
the Secretary of the Corporation and, in the case of business other than
nominations, such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for
stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder's notice shall be delivered to
the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less
than ninety days nor more than one hundred and twenty days prior to the first
anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting; provided however, that with
respect to the annual meeting to be held in 1999, the anniversary date shall be
deemed to be
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March 12, 1998; provided further, that in the event that the date of the annual
meeting is advanced by more than thirty days, or delayed by more than ninety
days, from such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be
so delivered not earlier than the one hundred and twentieth day prior to such
annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the
ninetieth day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on
which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. In no event
shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual
meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder's notice as
described in this Section 2.07(a). Such stockholder's notice shall set forth (A)
as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or
reelection as a director all information relating to such person that is
required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors
in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to
Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act") and Rule 14a-11 thereunder, including such person's written
consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a
director if elected; (B) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes
to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be
brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the
meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the
beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (C) as to
the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose
behalf the nomination or proposal is made (1) the name and address of such
stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation's books, and of such beneficial
owner and (2) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned
beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of clause (ii) of
this Section 2.07(a) to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors
to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation is increased and
there is no public announcement naming all the nominees for director or
specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the Corporation
at least one hundred days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year's
annual meeting, a stockholder's notice required by this Bylaw shall also be
considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions
created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the
principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of
business on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is
first made by the Corporation.
(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders.
Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of
stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the
Corporation's notice of meeting pursuant to Section 2.04 of these Bylaws.
Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a
special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to
the Corporation's notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote
at the meeting, who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Bylaw
and who is a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the
Secretary of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation calls a special
meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the
Board of Directors, any such stockholder may nominate such number of persons for
election to such
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position(s) as are specified in the Corporation's Notice of Meeting, if the
stockholder's notice as required by clause (ii) of Section 2.07(a) of these
Bylaws shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of
the Corporation not earlier than the one hundred and twentieth day prior to such
special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the
ninetieth day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day
on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting
and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such
meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or
postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a
stockholder's notice as described above.
(c) General
(i) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures
set forth in this Bylaw shall be eligible to be elected as directors at a
meeting of stockholders and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting
of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with
the procedures set forth in this Bylaw. Except as otherwise provided by law, the
Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Chairman of the Board shall
have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business
proposed to be brought before the meeting was made in accordance with the
procedures set forth in this Bylaw and, if any proposed nomination or business
is not in compliance with this Bylaw, to declare that such defective proposal or
nomination shall be disregarded.
(ii) For purposes of this Bylaw, "public announcement" shall mean
disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated
Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the
Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13,
14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Bylaw, a
stockholder shall 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 Bylaw. Nothing in this Bylaw shall be deemed to affect any rights
of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation's proxy
statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
SECTION 2.08. Procedure For Election of Directors; Voting. The election
of directors submitted to stockholders at any meeting shall be decided by a
plurality of the votes cast thereon, except as otherwise set forth in the
Certificate of Incorporation with respect to the right of the holders of any
series of Preferred Stock or any other series or class of stock to elect
additional directors under specified circumstances. Except as otherwise provided
by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, all matters other than
the election of directors submitted to the stockholders at any meeting shall be
decided by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the shares
present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote
thereon, and where a separate vote by class is required, a majority of the
voting power of the shares of that class present in person or represented by
proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon.
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The vote on any matter, including the election of directors,
shall be by written ballot. Each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder
voting, or by such stockholder's proxy, and shall state the number of shares
voted.
SECTION 2.09. Inspectors of Elections; Opening and Closing the Polls.
(a) The Board of Directors by resolution shall appoint one or more
inspectors, which inspector or inspectors may not be directors, officers or
employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting and make a written report
thereof. One or more persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to
replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate has been
appointed to act, or if all inspectors or alternates who have been appointed are
unable to act, at a meeting of stockholders, the Chairman of the Board shall
appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before
discharging his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute
the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of
his or her ability. The inspectors shall have the duties prescribed by the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
(b) The Chairman of the Board shall fix and announce at the meeting the
date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon
which the stockholders will vote at the meeting.
ARTICLE 3
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 3.01. General Powers. The business and affairs of the
Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of its Board of
Directors. In addition to the powers and authorities by these Bylaws expressly
conferred upon them, the Board of Directors may exercise all such powers of the
Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not, by law or by
Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, required to be exercised or
done by the stockholders.
SECTION 3.02. Number, Tenure and Qualifications. Subject to Section
3.12 of these Bylaws and to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred
Stock, or any other series or class of stock as set forth in the Certificate of
Incorporation, to elect directors under specified circumstances, the number of
directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution
adopted by the Board of Directors, but shall consist of not less than three nor
more than 24 directors. However, no decrease in the number of directors
constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent
director. The directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of
any series of Preferred Stock, or any other series or class of stock as set
forth in the Certificate of Incorporation, shall be divided into such classes
and hold office for such terms as set forth in, and may be removed only in
accordance with, the Certificate of Incorporation.
SECTION 3.03. Regular Meetings. A regular meeting of the Board of
Directors shall be held without other notice than this Bylaw immediately after,
and at the same place as, each annual meeting of stockholders. The Board of
Directors may, by
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resolution, provide the time and place for the holding of additional regular
meetings without other notice than such resolution. Unless otherwise determined
by the Board of Directors, the Secretary of the Corporation shall act as
secretary at all regular meetings of the Board of Directors and in the
Secretary's absence a temporary secretary shall be appointed by the chairman of
the meeting.
SECTION 3.04. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of
Directors shall be called at the request of the Chairman of the Board and the
President, acting together, or a majority of the Board of Directors or such
other person as the Board of Directors by resolution shall designate. The person
or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix
the place and time of the meetings. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of
Directors, the Secretary of the Corporation shall act as secretary at all
special meetings of the Board of Directors and in the Secretary's absence a
temporary secretary shall be appointed by the chairman of the meeting.
SECTION 3.05. Notice. Notice of any special meeting shall be mailed to
each director at his business or residence not later than three days before the
day on which such meeting is to be held or shall be sent to either of such
places by telegraph or facsimile or other electronic transmission, or be
communicated to each director personally or by telephone, not later than the day
before such day of meeting. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the
purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be
specified in the notice of such meeting, except for amendments to these Bylaws
as provided pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof. A meeting may be held at any time
without notice if all the directors are present (except as otherwise provided by
law) or if those present waive notice of the meeting in accordance with Section
6.04 hereof, either before or after such meeting.
SECTION 3.06. Action Without Meeting. Any action required or permitted
to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof
may be taken without a meeting if a written consent thereto is signed by all
members of the Board or of such committee, as the case may be, and such written
consent is filed with the records of the proceedings of the Board or such
committee.
SECTION 3.07. Conference Telephone Meetings. 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 conference telephone or similar
communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the
meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall
constitute presence in person at such meeting.
SECTION 3.08. Quorum. At all meetings of the Board of Directors or any
committee, a majority of the entire Board of Directors (as defined in Section
3.09(a)) or the entire committee (assuming no vacancies), as the case may be,
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a
majority of the directors or members, as the case may be, present at any meeting
at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors or such
committee, as the case may be, except as otherwise provided in the Delaware
General Corporation Law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. If a
quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors or any
committee, a majority of the directors or members, as the case may be, present
thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice
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other than announcement at the meeting. If permitted by applicable law, the
directors or members, as the case may be, present at a duly authorized meeting
may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the
withdrawal of enough directors to leave less than a quorum.
SECTION 3.09. Committees. (a) The Corporation shall have [five]
standing committees: the executive committee, the nominating and directors
committee, the audit committee, the compensation committee and the investment
committee. The executive committee shall have those powers and authority as are
delegated to it from time to time pursuant to a resolution passed by a
three-quarters vote of the total number of directors specified in the resolution
pursuant to Section 3.02 of these Bylaws which the Corporation would have if
there were no vacancies (the "entire Board of Directors").
(b) The nominating and directors committee shall have the following
exclusive powers and authority: (i) evaluating and recommending director
candidates to the Board of Directors, (ii) assessing Board of Directors
performance not less frequently than every three years, (iii) recommending
director compensation and benefits philosophy for the Corporation, (iv)
reviewing individual director performance as issues arise and (v) periodically
reviewing the Corporation's corporate governance profile. None of the members of
the nominating and directors committee shall be a member of the executive
committee or an officer or full-time employee of the Corporation or of any
subsidiary or affiliate of the Corporation.
(c) The audit committee shall have the following powers and authority:
(i) employing independent public accountants to audit the books of account,
accounting procedures, and financial statements of the Corporation and to
perform such other duties from time to time as the audit committee may
prescribe, (ii) receiving the reports and comments of the Corporation's internal
auditors and of the independent public accountants employed by the committee and
to take such action with respect thereto as may seem appropriate, (iii)
requesting the Corporation's consolidated subsidiaries and affiliated companies
to employ independent public accountants to audit their respective books of
account, accounting procedures, and financial statements, (iv) requesting the
independent public accountants to furnish to the compensation committee the
certifications required under any present or future stock option, incentive
compensation or employee benefit plan of the Corporation, (v) reviewing the
adequacy of internal financial controls, (vi) approving the accounting
principles employed in financial reporting, (vii) approving the appointment or
removal of the Corporation's general auditor and (viii) reviewing the accounting
principles employed in financial reporting. None of the members of the audit
committee shall be a member of the executive committee or an officer or
full-time employee of the Corporation or of any subsidiary or affiliate of the
Corporation.
(d) The compensation committee shall have the following powers and
authority: (i) determining and fixing the compensation for all senior officers
of the Corporation and those of its Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 6.07(f))
that the compensation committee shall from time to time consider appropriate, as
well as all employees of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries compensated at a
rate in excess of such amount per annum as may be fixed or determined from time
to time by the Board of Directors, (ii) performing the duties of the committees
of the Board of Directors provided for in any present or future stock option,
incentive compensation or employee benefit plan of the Corporation or, if
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the compensation committee shall so determine, any such plan of any Subsidiary
and (iii) reviewing the operations of and policies pertaining to any present or
future stock option, incentive compensation or employee benefit plan of the
Corporation or any Subsidiary that the compensation committee shall from time to
time consider appropriate. None of the members of the compensation committee
shall be a member of the executive committee or an officer or full-time employee
of the Corporation or of any subsidiary or affiliate of the Corporation.
(e) The investment committee shall have the following powers and
authority: maximizing the effective utilization of the assets of the Corporation
and its subsidiaries and reviewing capital expenditures and appropriations and
all other investments of the Corporation. None of the members of the investment
committee shall be a member of the executive committee or an officer or
full-time employee of the Corporation or of any subsidiary or affiliate of the
Corporation.
(f) In addition, the Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a
three-quarters vote of the entire Board of Directors, designate one or more
additional committees, with each such committee consisting of one or more
directors of the Corporation and having such powers and authority as the Board
of Directors shall designate by such resolutions.
(g) Any modification to the powers and authority of any committee shall
require the adoption of a resolution by a three-quarters vote of the entire
Board of Directors.
(h) All acts done by any committee within the scope of its powers and
authority pursuant to these Bylaws and the resolutions adopted by the Board of
Directors in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to be, and may be
certified as being, done or conferred under authority of the Board of Directors.
The Secretary or any Assistant Secretary is empowered to certify that any
resolution duly adopted by any such committee is binding upon the Corporation
and to execute and deliver such certifications from time to time as may be
necessary or proper to the conduct of the business of the Corporation.
(i) Regular meetings of committees shall be held at such times as may
be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors or the committee in
question and no notice shall be required for any regular meeting other than such
resolution. A special meeting of any committee shall be called by resolution of
the Board of Directors, or by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary upon the
request of the chairman or a majority of the members of any committee. Notice of
special meetings shall be given to each member of the committee in the same
manner as that provided for in Section 3.05 of these Bylaws.
SECTION 3.10. Committee Members. (a) Each member of any committee of
the Board of Directors shall hold office until such member's successor is
elected and has qualified, unless such member sooner dies, resigns or is
removed. The number of directors which shall constitute any committee shall be
determined by resolution adopted by a three-quarters vote of the entire Board of
Directors.
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(b) The Board of Directors may remove a director from a committee or
change the chairmanship of a committee only by resolution adopted by a
three-quarters vote of the entire Board of Directors.
(c) The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as
alternate members of any committee to fill any vacancy on a committee and to
fill a vacant chairmanship of a committee, occurring as a result of a member or
chairman leaving the committee, whether through death, resignation, removal or
otherwise; provided, that any such designation may only be amended by a
three-quarters vote of the entire Board of Directors.
SECTION 3.11. Committee Secretary. The Board of Directors may elect a
secretary of any such committee. If the Board of Directors does not elect such a
secretary, the committee shall do so. The secretary of any committee need not be
a member of the committee, but shall be selected from a member of the staff of
the office of the Secretary of the Corporation, unless otherwise provided by the
Board of Directors or the committee, as applicable.
SECTION 3.12. Certain Modifications. Except as otherwise provided in
the Certificate of Incorporation, any action by the Board of Directors to change
the number of directors comprising the Board of Directors or comprising any
class of directors to other than an even number of directors shall require a
three-quarters vote of the entire Board of Directors.
SECTION 3.13. Compensation. The directors may be paid their expenses,
if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid
compensation as director or chairman of any committee and for attendance at each
meeting of the Board of Directors. Members of special or standing committees may
be allowed like compensation and payment of expenses for attending committee
meetings.
ARTICLE 4
OFFICERS
SECTION 4.01. General. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected
by the Board of Directors and shall consist of: a Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer; a President and Chief Operating Officer; a General
Counsel; one or more assistant General Counsels; one or more Senior Vice
Presidents; one or more Vice Presidents; a Secretary; one or more Assistant
Secretaries; a Treasurer; one or more Assistant Treasurers; a Controller; one or
more assistant controllers and such other officers as in the judgment of the
Board of Directors may be necessary or desirable. All officers chosen by the
Board of Directors shall have such powers and duties as generally pertain to
their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this Article 4.
Such officers shall also have powers and duties as from time to time may be
conferred by the Board of Directors or any committee thereof. Any number of
offices may be held by the same person, unless otherwise prohibited by law, the
Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. The officers of the Corporation
need not be stockholders or directors of the Corporation.
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SECTION 4.02. Election and Term of Office. Subject to Section 4.08 of
these Bylaws, the elected officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually
by the Board of Directors at the regular meeting of the Board of Directors held
after each annual meeting of the stockholders. If the election of officers shall
not be held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as
convenient. Subject to Section 4.08 of these Bylaws, 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 resign or be removed.
SECTION 4.03. Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. The
Chairman of the Board shall be a member of the Board of Directors and shall be
an officer of the Corporation. The Chairman of the Board shall be the Chief
Executive Officer of the Corporation and shall supervise, coordinate and manage
the Corporation's business and activities and supervise, coordinate and manage
its operating expenses and capital allocation, shall have general authority to
exercise all the powers necessary for the Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as
may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws, all in accordance
with basic policies as established by and subject to the oversight of the Board
of Directors. The Chairman of the Board, if present, shall preside at all
meetings of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 4.04. President and Chief Operating Officer. The President and
Chief Operating Officer shall be a member of the Board of Directors and an
officer of the Corporation. The President and Chief Operating Officer shall
supervise, coordinate and manage the Corporation's business and activities and
supervise, coordinate and manage its operating expenses and capital allocation,
shall have general authority to exercise all the powers necessary for the
President and Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation and shall perform such
other duties and have such other powers as may be prescribed by the Board of
Directors or these Bylaws, all in accordance with basic policies as established
by and subject to the oversight of the Board of Directors and the Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer. In the absence or disability of the Chairman of the
Board and Chief Executive Officer, the duties of the Chairman of the Board shall
be performed and the Chairman of the Board's authority may be exercised by the
President and Chief Operating Officer, and in the event the President and Chief
Operating Officer is absent or disabled, such duties shall be performed and such
authority may be exercised by a director designated for this purpose by the
Board of Directors.
SECTION 4.05. General Counsel. The General Counsel shall have
responsibility for the legal affairs of the Corporation and for the performance
of the duties of the Secretary. The General Counsel shall perform such other
duties and have such other powers as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors
or these Bylaws, all in accordance with basic policies as established by and
subject to the oversight of the Board of Directors, the Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer and the President and Chief Operating Officer.
SECTION 4.06. Certain Actions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in these Bylaws, the removal of the current Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer or the current President and Chief Operating Officer as of the
date of adoption of these Bylaws, or any modification to either of their
respective roles, duties or authority shall require a three-quarters vote of the
entire Board of Directors.
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SECTION 4.07. Vacancies. A newly created office and a vacancy in any
office because of death, resignation, or removal may be filled by the Board of
Directors for the unexpired portion of the terms at any meeting of the Board of
Directors.
ARTICLE 5
STOCK CERTIFICATES AND TRANSFERS
SECTION 5.01. Stock Certificates and Transfers. (a) The interest of
each stockholder of the Corporation shall be evidenced by certificates for
shares of stock in such form as the appropriate officers of the Corporation may
from time to time prescribe; provided that the Board of Directors may provide by
resolution or resolutions that all or some of all classes or series of the stock
of the Corporation shall be represented by uncertificated shares.
Notwithstanding the adoption of such a resolution by the Board of Directors,
every holder of stock represented by certificates and upon request every holder
of uncertificated shares shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or
in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the
President or any other authorized officer and by the Treasurer or an Assistant
Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation
representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. Except as
otherwise expressly provided by law, the rights and obligations of the holders
of uncertificated stock and the rights and obligations of the holders of
certificates representing stock of the same class and series shall be identical.
(b) The certificates of stock shall be signed, countersigned and
registered in such manner as the Board of Directors may by resolution prescribe,
which resolution may permit all or any of the signatures on such certificates to
be in facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed
or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be
such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it
may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were such
officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
(c) The shares of the stock of the Corporation represented by
certificates shall be transferred on the books of the Corporation by the holder
thereof in person or by his attorney, upon surrender for cancelation of
certificates for the same number of shares, with an assignment and power of
transfer endorsed thereon or attached thereto, duly executed, with such proof of
the authenticity of the signature as the Corporation or its agents may
reasonably require. Upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the
registered owner of uncertificated shares such uncertificated shares shall be
canceled and issuance of new equivalent uncertificated shares or certificated
shares shall be made to the person entitled thereto and the transaction shall be
recorded upon the books of the Corporation. Within a reasonable time after the
issuance or transfer of uncertificated stock, the Corporation shall send to the
registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to
be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to the Delaware General
Corporation Law or, unless otherwise provided by the Delaware General
Corporation Law, a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to
each stockholder who so requests the powers, 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.
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SECTION 5.02. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. No certificate
for shares or uncertificated shares of stock in the Corporation shall be issued
in place of any certificate alleged to have been lost, destroyed or stolen,
except on production of such evidence of such loss, destruction or theft and on
delivery to the Corporation of a bond of indemnity in such amount, upon such
terms and secured by such surety, as the Board of Directors or its designee may
in its or his discretion require.
ARTICLE 6
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 6.01. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be
as specified by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 6.02. Dividends. The Board of Directors may from time to time
declare, and the Corporation may pay, dividends on its outstanding shares in the
manner and upon the terms and conditions provided by law and the Certificate of
Incorporation.
SECTION 6.03. Seal. The corporate seal shall have thereon the name of
the Corporation and shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time
by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be
given to any stockholder or director of the Corporation under the provisions of
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, a waiver thereof in
writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before
or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of
such notice. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any
annual or special meeting of the stockholders or any meeting of the Board of
Directors or committee thereof need be specified in any waiver of notice of such
meeting.
SECTION 6.05. Audits. The accounts, books and records of the
Corporation shall be audited upon the conclusion of each fiscal year by an
independent certified public accountant selected by the audit committee, and it
shall be the duty of the audit committee to cause such audit to be made
annually.
SECTION 6.06. Resignations. Any director or any officer, whether
elected or appointed, may resign at any time upon notice of such resignation to
the Corporation.
SECTION 6.07. Indemnification and Insurance.
(a) Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made
a party to or is involved in any manner in any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (hereinafter a "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he or she
or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative is or was a director
or officer of the Corporation or a director or elected officer of a Subsidiary,
shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent
permitted from time to time by the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, if
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permitted by applicable law, in the case of any such amendment, only to the
extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader
indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior
to such amendment) or any other applicable laws as presently or hereafter in
effect, and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to
be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs,
executors and administrators; provided, however, that the Corporation shall
indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a
proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such proceeding
(or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors or is a proceeding to
enforce such person's claim to indemnification pursuant to the rights granted by
this Bylaw. The Corporation shall pay the expenses incurred by such person in
defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition upon receipt
(unless the Corporation upon authorization of the Board of Directors waives such
requirement to the extent permitted by applicable law) of an undertaking by or
on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be
determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation
as authorized in this Bylaw or otherwise.
(b) The indemnification and the advancement of expenses incurred in
defending a proceeding prior to its final disposition provided by, or granted
pursuant to this Bylaw shall not be exclusive of any other right which any
person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the
Certificate of Incorporation, other provision of these Bylaws, agreement, vote
of stockholders or resolution of the Board of Directors or otherwise. No repeal,
modification or amendment of, or adoption of any provision inconsistent with,
this Section 6.07, nor to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any
modification of law, shall adversely affect any right or protection of any
person granted pursuant hereto existing at, or with respect to any events that
occurred prior to, the time of such repeal, amendment, adoption or modification.
(c) The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect
itself and any person who is or was a director, officer, partner, member,
employee or agent of the Corporation or a Subsidiary or of another corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would
have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss
under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
(d) The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by
the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification, and rights to be paid
by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance
of its final disposition, to any person who is or was an employee or agent
(other than a director or officer) of the Corporation or a Subsidiary and to any
person who is or was serving at the request of the Corporation or a Subsidiary
as a director, officer, partner, member, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans
maintained or sponsored by the Corporation or a Subsidiary, to the fullest
extent of the provisions of this Bylaw with respect to the indemnification and
advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation.
(e) If any provision or provisions of this Bylaw shall be held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, (1) the validity,
the legality and
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enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Bylaw (including, without
limitation, each portion of any paragraph or clause of this Bylaw containing any
such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself
held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected
or impaired thereby and (2) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of
this Bylaw (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of
this Bylaw containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested
by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
(f) For purposes of these Bylaws:
(1) "Disinterested Director" means a director of the
Corporation who is not and was not a party to the proceeding
or matter in respect of which indemnification is sought by the
claimant.
(2) "Subsidiary" means a corporation, a majority of
the capital stock of which is owned directly or indirectly by
the Corporation, other than directors' qualifying shares.
(g) Any notice, request, or other communication required or permitted
to be given to the Corporation under this Bylaw shall be in writing and either
delivered in person or sent by telecopy, telex, telegram, overnight mail or
courier service, or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return
receipt requested, to the Secretary of the Corporation and shall be effective
only upon receipt by the Secretary.
ARTICLE 7
CONTRACTS, PROXIES, ETC.
SECTION 7.01. Contracts. Except as otherwise required by law, the
Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any contracts or other instruments
may be executed and delivered in the name and on the behalf of the Corporation
by such officer or officers of the Corporation as the Board of Directors may
from time to time direct. Such authority may be general or confined to specific
instances as the Board may determine. Subject to the control and direction of
the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive, the
President and Chief Operating Officer, the General Counsel, the Treasurer and
any Senior Vice President, or any Vice President may execute bonds, promissory
notes, contracts, agreements, deeds, leases, guarantees, loans, commitments,
obligations, liabilities and other instruments to be made or executed for or on
behalf of the Corporation. Subject to any restrictions imposed by the Board of
Directors, such officers of the Corporation may delegate such powers to others
under his or her jurisdiction, it being understood, however, that any such
delegation of power shall not relieve such officer of responsibility with
respect to the exercise of such delegated power.
SECTION 7.02. Proxies. Unless otherwise provided by resolution adopted
by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President may from
time to time appoint an attorney or attorneys or agent or agents of the
Corporation, in the name and behalf of the Corporation, to cast the votes which
the Corporation may be entitled to cast as the holder of stock or other
securities in any other corporation or entity, any of
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whose stock or other securities may be held by the Corporation, at meetings of
the holders of the stock or other securities of such other corporation or
entity, or to consent in writing, in the name of the Corporation as such holder,
to any action by such other corporation or entity, and may instruct the person
or persons so appointed as to the manner of casting such vote or giving such
consent, and may execute or cause to be executed in the name and on behalf of
the Corporation and under its corporate seal or otherwise, all such written
proxies or other instruments as he may deem necessary or proper in the premises.
ARTICLE 8
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 8.01. Amendments. These Bylaws may be altered, amended or
repealed, in whole or in part, or new Bylaws may be adopted by the stockholders
or by the Board of Directors at any meeting thereof; provided, however, that
notice of such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption of new Bylaws is
contained in the notice of meeting of stockholders. Unless a higher percentage
is required by the Certificate of Incorporation as to any matter which is the
subject of these Bylaws, all such amendments must be approved by either the
holders of eighty percent (80%) of the Voting Stock or by a majority of the
Board of Directors; provided further that notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Board of Directors may alter, amend or repeal, or adopt new Bylaws in conflict
with, (i) any provision of these Bylaws which requires a three-quarters vote of
the entire Board of Directors for action to be taken thereunder, (ii) Section
4.08 of these Bylaws and (iii) this proviso to this Section 8.01 of these Bylaws
only by a resolution adopted by a three-quarters vote of the entire Board of
Directors.
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