EXHIBIT 3.1
BYLAWS
OF
HOMESTORE, INC.
A Delaware Corporation
Adopted effective as of March 4, 2005
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 1.1: ANNUAL MEETINGS. Unless directors are elected by written
consent in lieu of an annual meeting, as permitted by Section 211 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law, an annual meeting of stockholders shall be
held for the election of directors at such date, time and place, either within
or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors shall each year fix.
Any other proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting.
SECTION 1.2: SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of stockholders for
any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Board of Directors, the
Chairperson of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the
President of the Corporation, or by a majority of the members of the Board of
Directors. Special meetings may not be called by any other person or persons. If
a special meeting of stockholders is called by any person or persons other than
by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, then such person or
persons shall call such meeting by delivering a written request to call such
meeting to each member of the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors
shall then determine the time, date and place of such special meeting, which
shall be held not more than one hundred twenty (120) nor less than thirty-five
(35) days after the written request to call such special meeting was delivered
to each member of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 1.3: NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Written notice of all meetings of
stockholders shall be given stating the place, date and time of the meeting and,
in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting
is called. Unless otherwise required by applicable law or the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Corporation, such notice shall be given not less than ten
(10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each
stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting.
SECTION 1.4: ADJOURNMENTS. Any meeting of stockholders may adjourn
from time to time to reconvene at the same or another place, and notice need not
be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time, date and place thereof are
announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however,
that if the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the
adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, then a notice
of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled
to vote at the meeting. At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact
any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting.
SECTION 1.5: QUORUM. At each meeting of stockholders the holders of a
majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in
person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business, except if otherwise required by applicable law. If a quorum shall fail
to attend any meeting, the chairperson of the meeting or the holders of a
majority of the shares entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy,
at the meeting may adjourn the meeting. Shares of the Corporation's stock
belonging to the Corporation (or to another corporation, if a majority of the
shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation
are held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation), shall neither be entitled
to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the
foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or any other corporation
to vote any shares of the Corporation's stock held by it in a fiduciary
capacity.
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SECTION 1.6: ORGANIZATION. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided
over by such person as the Board of Directors may designate, or, in the absence
of such a person, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, or, in the absence
of such person, the President of the Corporation, or, in the absence of such
person, such person as may be chosen by the holders of a majority of the shares
entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting. Such
person shall be chairperson of the meeting and, subject to Section 1.11 hereof,
shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting,
including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion
as seems to him or her to be in order. The Secretary of the Corporation shall
act as secretary of the meeting, but in such person's absence the chairperson of
the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
SECTION 1.7: VOTING; PROXIES. Unless otherwise provided by law or the
Certificate of Incorporation, and subject to the provisions of Section 1.8 of
these Bylaws, each stockholder shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share
of stock held by such stockholder. 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
such stockholder by proxy. Such a proxy may be prepared, transmitted and
delivered in any manner permitted by applicable law. Voting at meetings of
stockholders need not be by written ballot unless such is demanded at the
meeting before voting begins by a stockholder or stockholders holding shares
representing at least one percent (1%) of the votes entitled to vote at such
meeting, or by such stockholder's or stockholders' proxy; provided, however,
that an election of directors shall be by written ballot if demand is so made by
any stockholder at the meeting before voting begins. If a vote is to be taken by
written ballot, then each such ballot shall state the name of the stockholder or
proxy voting and such other information as the chairperson of the meeting deems
appropriate. 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 on the election of directors. Unless otherwise provided by applicable law,
the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, every matter other than the
election of directors shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of
a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote thereon that are present in
person or represented by proxy at the meeting and are voted for or against the
matter.
SECTION 1.8: FIXING DATE FOR DETERMINATION OF STOCKHOLDERS OF RECORD.
In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice
of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to
express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to
receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any
rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion
or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of
Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not precede the date
upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of
Directors and which shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10)
days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any
other action. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, then the
record date shall be as provided by applicable law. 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 1.9: LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE. A complete list of
stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in
alphabetical order and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of
shares registered in the name of each stockholder, shall be open to the
examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during
ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (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 at the meeting.
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SECTION 1.10: ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT OF STOCKHOLDERS.
(a) Procedure. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of
Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or
special meeting of the stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without
prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting
forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock
having not less than the number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or
take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were
present and voted. Written stockholder consents shall bear the date of signature
of each stockholder who signs the consent and shall be delivered to the
Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, to
its principal place of business or to any officer or agent of the Corporation
having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are
recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation's registered office shall be by hand
or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. No written consent
shall be effective to take the action set forth therein unless, within sixty
(60) days of the earliest dated consent delivered to the Corporation in the
manner provided above, written consents signed by a sufficient number of
stockholders to take the action set forth therein are delivered to the
Corporation in the manner provided above.
(b) Notice of Consent. Prompt notice of the taking of corporate action
by stockholders without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent of the
stockholders shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented thereto
in writing and, who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been
entitled to notice of the meeting, if the record date for such meeting had been
the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take
the action were delivered to the Corporation. In the case of a Certificate of
Action (as defined below), if the Delaware General Corporation Law so requires,
such notice shall be given prior to filing of the certificate in question. If
the action which is consented to requires the filing of a certificate under the
Delaware General Corporation Law (the "CERTIFICATE OF ACTION"), then if the
Delaware General Corporation Law so requires, the certificate so filed shall
state that written stockholder consent has been given in accordance with Section
228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and that written notice of the
taking of corporate action by stockholders without a meeting as described herein
has been given as provided in such section.
SECTION 1.11: INSPECTORS OF ELECTIONS.
(a) Applicability. Unless otherwise provided in the Corporation's
Certificate of Incorporation or required by the Delaware General Corporation
Law, the following provisions of this Section 1.11 shall apply only if and when
the Corporation has a class of voting stock that is: (i) listed on a national
securities exchange; (ii) authorized for quotation on an automated interdealer
quotation system of a registered national securities association; or (iii) held
of record by more than two thousand (2,000) stockholders. In all other cases,
observance of the provisions of this Section 1.11 shall be optional, and at the
discretion of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
(b) Appointment. The Corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of
stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting
and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more
persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no
inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person
presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the
meeting.
(c) Inspector's Oath. Each inspector of election, before entering upon
the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute
the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of
such inspector's ability.
(d) Duties of Inspectors. At a meeting of stockholders, the inspectors
of election shall (i) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting
power of each share, (ii) determine the shares represented at a meeting and the
validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv)
determine and retain for a reasonable period of time a record of the disposition
of any challenges made to
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any determination by the inspectors, and (v) certify their determination of the
number of shares represented at the meeting, and their count of all votes and
ballots. The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to
assist the inspectors in the performance of the duties of the inspectors.
(e) Opening and Closing of Polls. The date and time of the opening and
the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote
at a meeting shall be announced by the inspectors at the meeting. No ballot,
proxies or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes thereto, shall be
accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the Court of
Chancery upon application by a stockholder shall determine otherwise.
(f) Determinations. In determining the validity and counting of
proxies and ballots, the inspectors shall be limited to an examination of the
proxies, any envelopes submitted with those proxies, any information provided in
connection with proxies in accordance with Section 212(c)(2) of the Delaware
General Corporation Law, ballots and the regular books and records of the
Corporation, except that the inspectors may consider other reliable information
for the limited purpose of reconciling proxies and ballots submitted by or on
behalf of banks, brokers, their nominees or similar persons which represent more
votes than the holder of a proxy is authorized by the record owner to cast or
more votes than the stockholder holds of record. If the inspectors consider
other reliable information for the limited purpose permitted herein, the
inspectors at the time they make their certification of their determinations
pursuant to this Section 1.11 shall specify the precise information considered
by them, including the person or persons from whom they obtained the
information, when the information was obtained, the means by which the
information was obtained and the basis for the inspectors' belief that such
information is accurate and reliable.
SECTION 1.12: NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER BUSINESS; NOMINATIONS.
(a) Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
(i) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of
Directors and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders
shall be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (A) pursuant to the
Corporation's notice of such meeting, (B) by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors or (C) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of
record at the time of giving of the notice provided for in this Section 1.12,
who is entitled to vote at such meeting and who complies with the notice
procedures set forth in this Section 1.12.
(ii) For nominations or other business to be properly brought
before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (C) of subparagraph
(a)(i) of this Section 1.12, the stockholder must have given timely notice
thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and such other business
must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a
stockholder's notice must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal
executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the
sixtieth (60th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the ninetieth
(90th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting
(except in the case of the 2000 annual meeting, for which such notice shall be
timely if delivered in the same time period as if such meeting were a special
meeting governed by subparagraph (b) of this Section 1.12); provided, however,
that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30)
days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, notice by
the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of
business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later
than the close of business on the later of the sixtieth (60th) day prior to such
annual meeting or the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the
day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by
the Corporation. 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, or is otherwise
required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (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; (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
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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 that are owned beneficially and held of record by
such stockholder and such beneficial owner.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of
subparagraph (a)(ii) of this Section 1.12 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 by the Corporation naming all
of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of
Directors at least seventy (70) days prior to the first anniversary of the
preceding year's annual meeting (or, if the annual meeting is held more than
thirty (30) days before or sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, at least
seventy (70) days prior to such annual meeting), a stockholder's notice required
by this Section 1.12 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 of the Corporation at the principal executive office
of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) 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 such meeting. 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 such meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors or (ii) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that
directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the
Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice of
the special meeting, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who
complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.12. 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 a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such
position(s) as specified in the Corporation's notice of meeting, if the
stockholder's notice required by subparagraph (a)(ii) of this Section 1.12 shall
be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive
offices of the Corporation not earlier than the ninetieth (90th) day prior to
such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of
the sixtieth (60th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) 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.
(c) General.
(i) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with
the procedures set forth in this Section 1.12 shall be eligible to serve as
directors 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 Section 1.12. Except as otherwise provided by law or these
Bylaws, the chairperson of the meeting shall have the power and duty to
determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the
meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the
procedures set forth in this Section 1.12 and, if any proposed nomination or
business is not in compliance herewith, to declare that such defective proposal
or nomination shall be disregarded.
(ii) For purposes of this Section 1.12, the term "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
Section 1.12, 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 herein. Nothing in this Section 1.12 shall be
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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.
ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 2.1: NUMBER; QUALIFICATIONS. The Board of Directors shall
consist of one or more members. The initial number of directors shall be eight
(8), and thereafter shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board
of Directors; provided, however, that the number of directors shall not be
increased above eleven (11) directors nor decreased below seven (7) directors
without stockholder approval. No decrease in the authorized number of directors
constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent
director. Directors need not be stockholders of the Corporation.
SECTION 2.2: ELECTION; RESIGNATION; REMOVAL; VACANCIES. Subject to the
rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional
directors under specified circumstances, the directors shall be divided, with
respect to the time for which they severally hold office, into three classes
designated as Class I, Class II and Class III, respectively. Directors shall be
assigned to each class in accordance with a resolution or resolutions adopted by
the Board of Directors, with the number of directors in each class to be divided
as equally as reasonably possible. The term of office of the Class I directors
shall expire at the corporation's first annual meeting of stockholders following
the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the term of office of the Class II
directors shall expire at the corporation's second annual meeting of
stockholders following the closing of the Initial Public Offering, and the term
of office of the Class III directors shall expire at the corporation's third
annual meeting of stockholders following the closing of the Initial Public
Offering. At each annual meeting of stockholders commencing with the first
annual meeting of stockholders following the closing of the Initial Public
Offering, directors elected to succeed those directors of the class whose terms
then expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third
succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election. Prior to the
closing of the Initial Public Offering, each director shall hold office until
the next annual meeting of stockholders and until such director's successor is
elected and qualified, or until such director's earlier death, resignation or
removal. Any director may resign at any time upon written notice to the
Corporation. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred
Stock, any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors for any cause, and any
newly created directorship resulting from any increase in the authorized number
of directors, shall, unless (i) the Board of Directors determines by resolution
that any such vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled by the
stockholders, or (ii) as otherwise provided by law, be filled only by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although less
than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and not by the stockholders. Any
director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for
the remainder of the full term of the director for which the vacancy was created
or occurred. Subject to the rights of any holders of Preferred Stock, a director
may be removed only for cause by, and only by, the holders of a majority of the
shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors.
SECTION 2.3: REGULAR MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the Board of
Directors may be held at such places, within or without the State of Delaware,
and at such times as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Notice of regular meetings need not be given if the date, times and places
thereof are fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2.4: SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board of
Directors may be called by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, the
President or a majority of the members of the Board of Directors then in office
and may be held at any time, date or place, within or without the State of
Delaware, as the person or persons calling the meeting shall fix. Notice of the
time, date and place of such meeting shall be given, orally or in writing, by
the person or persons calling the meeting to all directors at least four (4)
days before the meeting if the notice is mailed, or at least twenty-four (24)
hours before the meeting if such notice is given by telephone, hand delivery,
telegram, telex, mailgram, facsimile or similar communication method. Unless
otherwise indicated in the notice, any and all business may be transacted at a
special meeting.
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SECTION 2.5: TELEPHONIC MEETINGS PERMITTED. Members of the Board of
Directors, or any committee of the Board, 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 participation in a meeting pursuant to
conference telephone or similar communications equipment shall constitute
presence in person at such meeting.
SECTION 2.6: QUORUM; VOTE REQUIRED FOR ACTION. At all meetings of the
Board of Directors a majority of the total number of authorized directors shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except as otherwise
provided herein or in the Certificate of Incorporation, or required by law, the
vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is
present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2.7: ORGANIZATION. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be
presided over by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, or in such person's
absence by the President, or in such person's absence by a chairperson chosen at
the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in such
person's absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as
secretary of the meeting.
SECTION 2.8: WRITTEN ACTION BY DIRECTORS. 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 the Board of
Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and
the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board
of Directors or committee, respectively.
SECTION 2.9: POWERS. The Board of Directors may, except as otherwise
required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, exercise all such powers
and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation.
SECTION 2.10: COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS. Directors, as such, may
receive, pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, fees and other
compensation for their services as directors, including without limitation their
services as members of committees of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
SECTION 3.1: COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors may designate one or
more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of
the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as
alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified
member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a
member of the committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting of
such committee who are 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. Any such committee, to the extent provided in a resolution
of the Board of Directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and
authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and
affairs of the Corporation and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be
affixed to all papers that may require it; but no such committee shall have the
power or authority in reference to the following matters: (i) approving,
adopting, or recommending to the stockholders any action or matter expressly
required by the Delaware General Corporation Law to be submitted to stockholders
for approval or (ii) adopting, amending or repealing any bylaw of the
Corporation.
SECTION 3.2: COMMITTEE RULES. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise
provides, each committee designated by the Board of Directors may make, alter
and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules
each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of
Directors conducts its business pursuant to Article II of these Bylaws.
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ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
SECTION 4.1: GENERALLY. The officers of the Corporation shall consist
of a Chief Executive Officer and/or a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a
Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers, including a Chairperson of the
Board of Directors and/or Chief Financial Officer, as may from time to time be
appointed by the Board of Directors. All officers shall be elected by the Board
of Directors; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may empower the
Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation to appoint officers other than the
Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief
Financial Officer or the Treasurer. Each officer shall hold office until such
person's successor is elected and qualified or until such person's earlier
resignation or removal. Any number of offices may be held by the same person;
provided, however, that the same person shall not serve as Chairperson of the
Board and as any of the Chief Executive Officer, President, Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer, or any other officer of the Corporation, except that the
Chief Executive Officer may serve as Chairperson of the Board on an interim
basis not to exceed six months. Any officer may resign at any time upon written
notice to the Corporation. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the
Corporation by death, resignation, removal or otherwise may be filled by the
Board of Directors.
SECTION 4.2: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. Subject to the control of the
Board of Directors and such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the
Board of Directors, the powers and duties of the Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation are:
(a) To act as the general manager and, subject to the control of the
Board of Directors, to have general supervision, direction and control of the
business and affairs of the Corporation;
(b) To preside at all meetings of the stockholders;
(c) To call meetings of the stockholders to be held at such times and
subject to the limitations prescribed by law or by these Bylaws, at such places
as he or she shall deem proper; and
(d) To affix the signature of the Corporation to all deeds,
conveyances, mortgages, guarantees, leases, obligations, bonds, certificates and
other papers and instruments in writing which have been authorized by the Board
of Directors or which, in the judgment of the Chief Executive Officer, should be
executed on behalf of the Corporation; to sign certificates for shares of stock
of the Corporation; and, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, to
have general charge of the property of the Corporation and to supervise and
control all officers, agents and employees of the Corporation.
The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation unless the Board of Directors shall designate another officer to be
the Chief Executive Officer. If there is no President, and the Board of
Directors has not designated any other officer to be the Chief Executive
Officer, then the Chairperson of the Board of Directors shall be the Chief
Executive Officer; provided, however, that the Chief Executive Officer may not
serve as Chairperson of the Board for a period exceeding six months.
SECTION 4.3: CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The Chairperson of the Board of
Directors shall have the power to preside at all meetings of the Board of
Directors and shall have such other powers and duties as provided in these
Bylaws and as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 4.4: PRESIDENT. The President shall be the Chief Executive
Officer of the Corporation unless the Board of Directors shall have designated
another officer as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. Subject to
the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors,
and subject to the supervisory powers of the Chief Executive Officer (if the
Chief Executive Officer is an officer other than the President), and subject to
such supervisory powers and authority as may be given by the Board of Directors
to the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, and/or to any other officer, the
8
President shall have the responsibility for the general management the control
of the business and affairs of the Corporation and the general supervision and
direction of all of the officers, employees and agents of the Corporation (other
than the Chief Executive Officer, if the Chief Executive Officer is an officer
other than the President) and shall perform all duties and have all powers that
are commonly incident to the office of President or that are delegated to the
President by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 4.5: VICE PRESIDENT. Each Vice President shall have all such
powers and duties as are commonly incident to the office of Vice President, or
that are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors or the Chief
Executive Officer. A Vice President may be designated by the Board of Directors
to perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chief Executive Officer in
the event of the Chief Executive Officer's absence or disability.
SECTION 4.6: CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. The Chief Financial Officer
shall be the Treasurer of the Corporation unless the Board of Directors shall
have designated another officer as the Treasurer of the Corporation. Subject to
the direction of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer, the
Chief Financial Officer shall perform all duties and have all powers that are
commonly incident to the office of Chief Financial Officer.
SECTION 4.7: TREASURER. The Treasurer shall have custody of all moneys
and securities of the Corporation. The Treasurer shall make such disbursements
of the funds of the Corporation as are authorized and shall render from time to
time an account of all such transactions. The Treasurer shall also perform such
other duties and have such other powers as are commonly incident to the office
of Treasurer, or as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may
from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 4.8: SECRETARY. The Secretary shall issue or cause to be
issued all authorized notices for, and shall keep, or cause to be kept, minutes
of all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. The Secretary
shall have charge of the corporate minute books and similar records and shall
perform such other duties and have such other powers as are commonly incident to
the office of Secretary, or as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive
Officer may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 4.9: DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY. The Board of Directors may from
time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officers
or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
SECTION 4.10: REMOVAL. Any officer of the Corporation shall serve at
the pleasure of the Board of Directors and may be removed at any time, with or
without cause, by the Board of Directors. Such removal shall be without
prejudice to the contractual rights of such officer, if any, with the
Corporation.
ARTICLE V
STOCK
SECTION 5.1: CERTIFICATES. Every holder of stock shall be entitled to
have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the
Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors, or the President or a
Vice President, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary, of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares
owned by such stockholder in the Corporation. Any or all of the signatures on
the certificate may be a facsimile.
SECTION 5.2: LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED STOCK CERTIFICATES; ISSUANCE OF
NEW CERTIFICATES. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in the
place of any certificate previously issued by it, alleged to have been lost,
stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost,
stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner's legal representative, to agree
to indemnify the Corporation and/or to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to
indemnify it, against any claim that may be made against it on account of the
alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of
such new certificate.
9
SECTION 5.3: OTHER REGULATIONS. The issue, transfer, conversion and
registration of stock certificates shall be governed by such other regulations
as the Board of Directors may establish.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 6.1: INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS. Each person
who was or is made a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, or is
involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative (the "PROCEEDING"), by reason of the fact that
such person (or a person of whom such person is the legal representative), is or
was a director or officer of the Corporation or a Reincorporated Predecessor (as
defined below) or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation or a
Reincorporated Predecessor (as defined below) as a director or officer of
another corporation, or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, shall be
indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted
by the Delaware General Corporation Law, against all expenses, liability and
loss (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and
penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or
suffered by such person in connection therewith, provided such person acted in
good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any
criminal action or Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person's
conduct was unlawful. Such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has
ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of such
person's heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnity 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 of the Corporation.
As used herein, the term the "REINCORPORATED PREDECESSOR" means a corporation
that is merged with and into the Corporation in a statutory merger where (a) the
Corporation is the surviving corporation of such merger; (b) the primary purpose
of such merger is to change the corporate domicile of the Reincorporated
Predecessor to Delaware.
SECTION 6.2: ADVANCE OF EXPENSES. The Corporation shall pay all
expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by such a director or officer in
defending any such Proceeding as they are incurred in advance of its final
disposition; provided, however, that if the Delaware General Corporation Law
then so requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by such a director or
officer in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding shall be made
only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such
director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it should be determined
ultimately that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under
this Article VI or otherwise; and provided, further, that the Corporation shall
not be required to advance any expenses to a person against whom the Corporation
directly brings a claim, in a Proceeding, alleging that such person has breached
such person's duty of loyalty to the Corporation, committed an act or omission
not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation
of law, or derived an improper personal benefit from a transaction.
SECTION 6.3: NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. The rights conferred on any
person in this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other right that such
person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the
Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaw, agreement, vote or consent of stockholders
or disinterested directors, or otherwise. Additionally, nothing in this Article
VI shall limit the ability of the Corporation, in its discretion, to indemnify
or advance expenses to persons whom the Corporation is not obligated to
indemnify or advance expenses pursuant to this Article VI.
SECTION 6.4: INDEMNIFICATION CONTRACTS. The Board of Directors is
authorized to cause the Corporation to enter into indemnification contracts with
any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or any person
serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, including employee
10
benefit plans, providing indemnification rights to such person. Such rights may
be greater than those provided in this Article VI.
SECTION 6.5: EFFECT OF AMENDMENT. Any amendment, repeal or
modification of any provision of this Article VI shall be prospective only, and
shall not adversely affect any right or protection conferred on a person
pursuant to this Article VI and existing at the time of such amendment, repeal
or modification.
ARTICLE VII
NOTICES
SECTION 7.1: NOTICE. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein
or required by law, all notices required to be given pursuant to these Bylaws
shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand
delivery (including use of a delivery service), by depositing such notice in the
mail, postage prepaid, or by sending such notice by prepaid telegram, telex,
overnight express courier, mailgram or facsimile. Any such notice shall be
addressed to the person to whom notice is to be given at such person's address
as it appears on the records of the Corporation. The notice shall be deemed
given (i) in the case of hand delivery, when received by the person to whom
notice is to be given or by any person accepting such notice on behalf of such
person, (ii) in the case of delivery by mail, upon deposit in the mail, (iii) in
the case of delivery by overnight express courier, when dispatched, and (iv) in
the case of delivery via telegram, telex, mailgram, or facsimile, when
dispatched.
SECTION 7.2: WAIVER OF NOTICE. Whenever notice is required to be given
under any provision of these Bylaws, a written waiver of notice, signed by the
person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein,
shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall
constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a
meeting 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. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any
regular or special meeting of the stockholders, directors or members of a
committee of directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice.
ARTICLE VIII
INTERESTED DIRECTORS
SECTION 8.1: INTERESTED DIRECTORS; QUORUM. No contract or transaction
between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between
the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association or other
organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or
officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for
this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or
participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof that
authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because his, her or their
votes are counted for such purpose, if: (i) the material facts as to his, her or
their relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are
disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors or the committee, and the Board
of Directors or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction
by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even
though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; (ii) the material
facts as to his, her or their relationship or interest and as to the contract or
transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote
thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith
by vote of the stockholders; or (iii) the contract or transaction is fair as to
the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the
Board of Directors, a committee thereof, or the stockholders. Interested
directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of
the Board of Directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract or
transaction.
11
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1: FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be
determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 9.2: SEAL. The Board of Directors may provide for a corporate
seal, which shall have the name of the Corporation inscribed thereon and shall
otherwise be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board of
Directors.
SECTION 9.3: FORM OF RECORDS. Any records maintained by the
Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger,
books of account and minute books, may be kept on, or be in the form of,
magnetic tape, diskettes, photographs, microphotographs or any other information
storage device, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly
legible form within a reasonable time. The Corporation shall so convert any
records so kept upon the request of any person entitled to inspect the same.
SECTION 9.4: RELIANCE UPON BOOKS AND RECORDS. A member of the Board of
Directors, or a member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors
shall, in the performance of such person's duties, be fully protected in relying
in good faith upon records of the Corporation and upon such information,
opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the
Corporation's officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or
by any other person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such
other person's professional or expert competence and who has been selected with
reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.
SECTION 9.5: CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION GOVERNS. In the event of any
conflict between the provisions of the Corporation's Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws, the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation
shall govern.
SECTION 9.6: SEVERABILITY. If any provision of these Bylaws shall be
held to be invalid, illegal, unenforceable or in conflict with the provisions of
the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation, then such provision shall
nonetheless be enforced to the maximum extent possible consistent with such
holding and the remaining provisions of these Bylaws (including without
limitation, all portions of any section of these Bylaws containing any such
provision held to be invalid, illegal, unenforceable or in conflict with the
Certificate of Incorporation, that are not themselves invalid, illegal,
unenforceable or in conflict with the Certificate of Incorporation) shall remain
in full force and effect.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENT
SECTION 10.1: AMENDMENTS. Stockholders of the Corporation holding a
majority of the Corporation's outstanding voting stock shall have the power to
adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws. To the extent provided in the Corporation's
Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall
also have the power to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws of the Corporation, except
insofar as Bylaws adopted by the stockholders shall otherwise provide.
12
BYLAWS
OF
HOMESTORE, INC.
A DELAWARE CORPORATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No.
ARTICLE I - STOCKHOLDERS...........................................................1
Section 1.1: Annual Meetings..............................................1
Section 1.2: Special Meetings.............................................1
Section 1.3: Notice of Meetings...........................................1
Section 1.4: Adjournments.................................................1
Section 1.5: Quorum.......................................................1
Section 1.6: Organization.................................................2
Section 1.7: Voting; Proxies..............................................2
Section 1.8: Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record......2
Section 1.9: List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote........................2
Section 1.10: Action by Written Consent of Stockholders....................3
Section 1.11: Inspectors of Elections......................................3
Section 1.12: Notice of Stockholder Business; Nominations..................4
ARTICLE II - BOARD OF DIRECTORS....................................................6
Section 2.1: Number; Qualifications.......................................6
Section 2.2: Election; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies....................6
Section 2.3: Regular Meetings.............................................6
Section 2.4: Special Meetings.............................................6
Section 2.5: Telephonic Meetings Permitted................................7
Section 2.6: Quorum; Vote Required for Action.............................7
Section 2.7: Organization.................................................7
Section 2.8: Written Action by Directors..................................7
Section 2.9: Powers.......................................................7
Section 2.10: Compensation of Directors....................................7
ARTICLE III - COMMITTEES...........................................................7
Section 3.1: Committees...................................................7
Section 3.2: Committee Rules..............................................7
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS 8
Section 4.1: Generally....................................................8
Section 4.2: Chief Executive Officer......................................8
Section 4.3: Chairman of the Board........................................8
Section 4.4: President....................................................8
Section 4.5: Vice President...............................................9
Section 4.6: Chief Financial Officer......................................9
Section 4.7: Treasurer....................................................9
Section 4.8: Secretary....................................................9
Section 4.9: Delegation of Authority......................................9
Section 4.10: Removal......................................................9
ARTICLE V - STOCK .............................................................9
Section 5.l: Certificates.................................................9
Section 5.2: Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance
of New Certificate...........................................9
Section 5.3: Other Regulations............................................10
ARTICLE VI - INDEMNIFICATION.......................................................10
Section 6.1: Indemnification of Officers and Directors....................10
Section 6.2: Advance of Expenses..........................................10
Page No.
Section 6.3: Non-Exclusivity of Rights....................................10
Section 6.4: Indemnification Contracts....................................10
Section 6.5: Effect of Amendment..........................................11
ARTICLE VII - NOTICES 11
Section 7.l: Notice.......................................................11
Section 7.2: Waiver of Notice.............................................11
ARTICLE VIII - INTERESTED DIRECTORS................................................11
Section 8.1: Interested Directors; Quorum.................................11
ARTICLE IX - MISCELLANEOUS.........................................................12
Section 9.1: Fiscal Year..................................................12
Section 9.2: Seal.........................................................12
Section 9.3: Form of Records..............................................12
Section 9.4: Reliance Upon Books and Records..............................12
Section 9.5: Certificate of Incorporation Governs.........................12
Section 9.6: Severability.................................................12
ARTICLE X - AMENDMENT..............................................................12
Section 10.1: Amendments...................................................12