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EXHIBIT 3.2
BY-LAWS
OF
CONOCO INC.
(hereinafter called the "Corporation")
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. Registered Office. The registered office of the
Corporation shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of
Delaware.
Section 2. Other Offices. The Corporation may also have
offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as
the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Place of Meetings. Meetings of the stockholders for
the election of directors or for any other purpose shall be held at such time
and place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be
designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Annual Meetings. The annual meetings of
stockholders for the election of directors shall be held on such date and at
such time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Any other proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting of
stockholders.
Section 3. Special Meetings. Unless otherwise required by law
or by the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, as amended and
restated from time to time (including any
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certificates of designation with respect to any Preferred Stock, the
"Certificate of Incorporation"), special meetings of stockholders, for any
purpose or purposes, may only be called by the Board of Directors pursuant to a
resolution stating the purpose or purposes thereof or by the Chairman, if there
be one, and any power of stockholders to call a special meeting is specifically
denied. Written notice of a special meeting stating the place, date and hour of
the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called shall be
given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of
the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. Only such
business shall be conducted at a special meeting as shall be specified in the
notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto).
Section 4. Adjournments. Any meeting of the stockholders may
be adjourned from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and
notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place
thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the
adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have
been transacted at the original meeting. 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, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each
stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
Section 5. Quorum. Unless otherwise required by law or the
Certificate of Incorporation, the presence in person or by proxy of the holders
of shares of capital stock entitled to cast a majority of all the votes which
could be cast at such meeting by the holders of all of the outstanding shares of
capital stock entitled to vote on every matter that is to be voted on at such
meeting shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the
transaction of business. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the
withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. If, however, such quorum
shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the
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stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or
represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time,
in the manner provided in Section 4 of this Article II, until a quorum shall be
present or represented.
Section 6. Voting. Unless otherwise required by law, the
Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any question brought before any
meeting of stockholders, other than the election of directors, shall be decided
by the vote of the holders of a majority of the votes of shares of capital stock
represented and entitled to vote thereat, voting as a single class. Every
reference in these ByLaws to a majority or other proportion of shares, or a
majority or other proportion of the votes of shares, of capital stock shall
refer to such majority or other proportion of the votes to which such shares of
capital stock are entitled as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.
Votes of stockholders entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may be cast
in person or by proxy but no proxy shall be voted on or after three (3) years
from its date, unless such proxy provides for a longer period. The Board of
Directors, in its discretion, or the officer of the Corporation presiding at a
meeting of stockholders, in such officer's discretion, may require that any
votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.
Section 7. No Action by Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of
Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the
Corporation may be effected only at a duly called annual or special meeting of
such holders and may not be effected by a consent in writing by such holders in
lieu of such a meeting.
Section 8. List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The officer
of the Corporation who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall
prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a
complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in
alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number
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of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to
the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting,
during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (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 of the Corporation who is
present.
Section 9. Stock Ledger. The stock ledger of the Corporation
shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine
the stock ledger, the list required by Section 8 of this Article II or the books
of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of
stockholders.
Section 10. Nomination of Directors. Only persons who are
nominated in accordance with the following procedures shall be eligible for
election as directors of the Corporation, except as may be otherwise provided in
the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation with respect to the right of
holders of Preferred Stock of the Corporation to nominate and elect a specified
number of directors in certain circumstances. Nominations of persons for
election to the Board of Directors may be made at any annual meeting of
stockholders (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly
authorized committee thereof) or (b) by any stockholder of the Corporation (i)
who is a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of the notice provided
for in this Section 10 and on the record date for the determination of
stockholders entitled to vote at such annual meeting and (ii) who complies with
the notice procedures set forth in this Section 10.
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In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a
nomination to be made by a stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely
notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation.
To be timely, a stockholder's notice to the Secretary must be
delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the
Corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred and twenty
(120) days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual
meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual
meeting is called for a date that is not within thirty (30) days before or after
such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder in order to be timely must be
so received not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day
following the day on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was
mailed or such public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting was made,
whichever first occurs.
To be in proper written form, a stockholder's notice to the
Secretary must set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to
nominate for election as a director (i) the name, age, business address and
residence address of the person, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of
the person, (iii) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of
the Corporation which are owned beneficially or of record by the person that
would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required
to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors
pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (b)
as to the stockholder giving the notice (i) the name and record address of such
stockholder, (ii) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of
the Corporation which are owned beneficially or of record by such stockholder,
(iii) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such
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stockholder and each proposed nominee and any other person or persons (including
their names) pursuant to which the nomination (s) are to be made by such
stockholder, (iv) a representation that such stockholder intends to appear in
person or by proxy at the annual meeting to nominate the persons named in its
notice and (v) any other information relating to such stockholder that would be
required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be
made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors
pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder. Such notice must be accompanied by a written consent of
each proposed nominee to being named as a nominee and to serve as a director if
elected.
No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the
Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this
Section 10. If the chairman of the annual meeting determines that a nomination
was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedures, the chairman shall
declare to the meeting that the nomination was defective and such defective
nomination shall be disregarded.
Section 11. Business at Annual Meetings. No business may be
transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders, other than business that is
either (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given
by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized
committee thereof), (b) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by
or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee
thereof) or (c) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by any
stockholder of the Corporation (i) who is a stockholder of record on the date of
the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 11 and on the record date
for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such annual meeting
and (ii) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11.
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In addition to any other applicable requirements, for business
to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, such
stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the
Secretary of the Corporation.
To be timely, a stockholder's notice to the Secretary must be
delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the
Corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred and twenty
(120) days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual
meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual
meeting is called for a date that is not within thirty (30) days before or after
such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder in order to be timely must be
so received not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day
following the day on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was
mailed or such public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting was made,
whichever first occurs.
To be in proper written form, a stockholder's notice to the
Secretary must set forth as to each matter such stockholder proposes to bring
before the annual meeting (i) a brief description of the business desired to be
brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business
at the annual meeting, (ii) the name and record address of such stockholder,
(iii) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the
Corporation which are owned beneficially or of record by such stockholder, (iv)
a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder and
any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the
proposal of such business by such stockholder and any material interest of such
stockholder in such business and (v) a representation that such stockholder
intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such
business before the meeting.
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No business shall be conducted at the annual meeting of
stockholders except business brought before the annual meeting in accordance
with the procedures set forth in this Section 11; provided, however, that, once
business has been properly brought before the annual meeting in accordance with
such procedures, nothing in this Section 11 shall be deemed to preclude
discussion by any stockholder of any such business. If the chairman of an annual
meeting determines that business was not properly brought before the annual
meeting in accordance with the foregoing procedures, the chairman shall declare
to the meeting that the business was not properly brought before the meeting and
such business shall not be transacted.
Section 12. Conduct of Meetings. The Board of Directors of the
Corporation may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct
of the meetings of the stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the
extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of
Directors, the chairman of any meeting of the stockholders shall have the right
and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all
such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper
conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted
by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may
include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda
or order of business for the meeting; (ii) the determination of when the polls
shall open and close for any given matter to be voted on at the meeting; (iii)
rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of
those present; (iv) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting
to stockholders of record of the corporation, their duly authorized and
constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall
determine; (v) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the
commencement thereof; and (vi) limitations on the time allotted to questions or
comments by participants.
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ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 1. Number and Election of Directors. The Board of
Directors shall consist initially of nine (9) members, the exact number of which
shall be not less than six (6) nor more than fifteen (15) as determined from
time to time by the Board of Directors as provided in the Certificate of
Incorporation. The directors shall be divided into three (3) classes, designated
Class I, Class II and Class III, as provided in the Certificate of
Incorporation. Any director may resign at any time upon written notice to the
Corporation. Directors need not be stockholders.
Section 2. Vacancies. Unless otherwise required by law or the
Certificate of Incorporation, vacancies arising through death, resignation,
removal, an increase in the number of directors or otherwise may be filled by a
majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by a
sole remaining director, or by the stockholders if such vacancy resulted from
the action of stockholders (in which event such vacancy may not be filled by the
directors or a majority thereof), and the directors so chosen shall hold office
until the next election for such class and until their successors are duly
elected and qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation or removal.
Section 3. Duties and Powers. The business and affairs of the
Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors
which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful
acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or
by these By-Laws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
Section 4. Meetings. The Board of Directors may hold meetings,
both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware.
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such
time and at such place as may from time to time be determined by the Board of
Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the
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Chairman, if there be one, the President, or by any director. Notice thereof
stating the place, date and hour of the meeting shall be given to each director
either by mail not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the time of the
meeting, by telephone, telegram or facsimile transmission not less than
twenty-four (24) hours before the time of the meeting, or on such shorter notice
as the person or persons calling such meeting may deem necessary or appropriate
in the circumstances.
Section 5. Quorum. Except as otherwise required by law or the
Certificate of Incorporation, at all meetings of the Board of Directors, a
majority of the entire Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business and the act of a majority of the directors present at
any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of
Directors. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of
Directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to
time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting of the time and
place of the adjourned meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
Section 6. Actions by Written Consent of the Board. Unless
otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, 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 the
members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent
thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of
proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.
Section 7. Meetings by Means of Conference Telephone. Unless
otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, members of the Board of
Directors of the Corporation, or any committee thereof, may participate in a
meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of a conference
telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all
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persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a
meeting pursuant to this Section 7 shall constitute presence in person at such
meeting.
Section 8. Standing Committees. The Board of Directors, by
resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board, shall appoint from among
its members (i) an Audit and Compliance Committee and (ii) a Compensation
Committee (together, the "Standing Committees") each consisting of three (3) (or
such greater number as the Board of Directors may designate) directors, to
perform the functions traditionally performed by such Board committees.
Section 9. Committees. The Board of Directors may designate
one or more other committees (in addition to the Standing Committees), each such
other committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation.
With respect to all Board committees, 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 any such committee. With respect
to all Board committees, in the absence or disqualification of a member of a
committee, and in the absence of a designation by the Board of Directors of an
alternate member to replace the absent or disqualified member, the member or
members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether
or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint
another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of
any absent or disqualified member. Any Board committee, to the extent permitted
by law and provided in the resolution establishing such committee, 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 which may require it. Each
Board committee shall keep regular minutes and report to the Board of Directors
when required.
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Section 10. Compensation. The directors may be paid their
expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and
shall receive such compensation for their services as directors as shall be
determined by the Board of Directors. No such payment shall preclude any
director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving
compensation therefor. Members of Board committees may be allowed like
compensation for attending committee meetings.
Section 11. Removal. A director may only be removed for cause,
such removal to be by the affirmative vote of the shares representing a majority
of the votes entitled to be cast by the Voting Stock. For purposes of these
By-Laws, Voting Stock shall mean the then outstanding shares of capital stock
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and shall exclude any
class or series of capital stock only entitled to vote in the event of dividend
arrearages thereon, whether or not at the time of determination there are any
dividend arrearages. Unless the Board of Directors has made a determination that
removal is in the best interests of the Corporation (in which case the following
definition shall not apply), "cause" for removal of a director shall be deemed
to exist only if (i) the director whose removal is proposed has been convicted,
or when a director is granted immunity to testify when another has been
convicted, of a felony by a court of competent jurisdiction and such conviction
is no longer subject to direct appeal; (ii) such director has been found by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office at any regular or
special meeting of the Board of Directors called for that purpose, or by a court
of competent jurisdiction to have been guilty of willful misconduct in the
performance of his duties to the Corporation in a matter of substantial
importance to the Corporation; or (iii) such director has been adjudicated by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be mentally incompetent, which mental
incompetency directly affects his ability as a director of the Corporation.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever holders of
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outstanding shares of one or more series of Preferred Stock are entitled to
elect directors of the Corporation pursuant to the provisions applicable in the
case of arrearages in the payment of dividends or other defaults contained in
the resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors providing for the
establishment of any such series, any such director of the Corporation so
elected may be removed in accordance with the provisions of such resolution or
resolutions.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. General. The officers of the Corporation shall be
chosen by the Board of Directors and shall be a President, a Secretary and a
Treasurer. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, also may choose a Chairman
of the Board of Directors (who must be a director) and one or more Vice
Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers and other officers. Any
number of offices may be held by the same person, unless otherwise prohibited by
law or the Certificate of Incorporation. The officers of the Corporation need
not be stockholders of the Corporation nor, except in the case of the Chairman
of the Board of Directors, need such officers be directors of the Corporation.
Section 2. Election. The Board of Directors, at its first
meeting held after each annual meeting of stockholders, shall elect the officers
of the Corporation who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall
exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to
time by the Board of Directors; and all officers of the Corporation shall hold
office until their successors are chosen and qualified, or until their earlier
death, resignation or removal. Any officer elected by the Board of Directors may
be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of the Board of Directors. Any
vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board
of Directors.
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Section 3. Voting Securities Owned by the Corporation. Powers
of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents and other
instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in
the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the President or any Vice
President or any other officer authorized to do so by the Board of Directors and
any such officer may, in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, take all
such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy
at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation
may own securities and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise any
and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such securities and which,
as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed if
present. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, from time to time confer
like powers upon any other person or persons.
Section 4. Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Chairman of
the Board of Directors, if there be one, shall preside at all meetings of the
stockholders and of the Board of Directors. Except where by law the signature of
the President is required, the Chairman of the Board of Directors shall possess
the same power as the President to sign all contracts, certificates and other
instruments of the Corporation which may be authorized by the Board of
Directors. During the absence or disability of the President, the Chairman of
the Board of Directors shall exercise all the powers and discharge all the
duties of the President. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall also
perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to
time be assigned by these By-Laws or by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. President. The President shall be the chief
executive officer of the Corporation and, subject to the control of the Board of
Directors, shall have general supervision of the business of the Corporation and
shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried
into effect. The President shall execute all bonds, mortgages, contracts and
other
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instruments of the Corporation requiring a seal, under the seal of the
Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed
and executed and except that the other officers of the Corporation may sign and
execute documents when so authorized by these By-Laws, the Board of Directors or
the President. In the absence or disability of the Chairman of the Board of
Directors, or if there be none, the President shall preside at all meetings of
the stockholders and the Board of Directors. The President shall also perform
such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be
assigned to such officer by these By-Laws or by the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Vice Presidents. At the request of the President or
in the President's absence or in the event of the President's inability or
refusal to act (and if there be no Chairman of the Board of Directors), the Vice
President, or the Vice Presidents if there is more than one (in the order
designated by the Board of Directors), shall perform the duties of the
President, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to
all the restrictions upon the President. Each Vice President shall perform such
other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors from time to
time may prescribe. If there be no Chairman of the Board of Directors and no
Vice President, the Board of Directors shall designate the officer of the
Corporation who, in the absence of the President or in the event of the
inability or refusal of the President to act, shall perform the duties of the
President, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to
all the restrictions upon the President.
Section 7. Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all meetings
of the Board of Directors and all meetings of stockholders and record all the
proceedings thereat in a book or books to be kept for that purpose; the
Secretary shall also perform like duties for committees of the Board of
Directors when required. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice
of all meetings
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of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall
perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, the
Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President, under whose supervision the
Secretary shall be. If the Secretary shall be unable or shall refuse to cause to
be given notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the
Board of Directors, and if there be no Assistant Secretary, then either the
Board of Directors or the President may choose another officer to cause such
notice to be given. The Secretary shall have custody of the seal of the
Corporation and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, if there be one, shall
have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it and when so
affixed, it may be attested by the signature of the Secretary or by the
signature of any such Assistant Secretary. The Board of Directors may give
general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and
to attest to the affixing by such officer's signature. The Secretary shall see
that all books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and
records required by law to be kept or filed are properly kept or filed, as the
case may be.
Section 8. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the custody of
the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of
receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall
deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of
the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of
Directors. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be
ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such
disbursements, and shall render to the President and the Board of Directors, at
its regular meetings, or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of
all transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.
If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall give the Corporation
a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to
the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties
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of the office of the Treasurer and for the restoration to the Corporation, in
case of the Treasurer's death, resignation, retirement or removal from office,
of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in the
Treasurer's possession or under the Treasurer's control belonging to the
Corporation.
Section 9. Assistant Secretaries. Assistant Secretaries, if
there be any, shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to
time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the President, any Vice
President, if there be one, or the Secretary, and in the absence of the
Secretary or in the event of the Secretary's disability or refusal to act, shall
perform the duties of the Secretary, and when so acting, shall have all the
powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Secretary.
Section 10. Assistant Treasurers. Assistant Treasurers, if
there be any, shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to
time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the President, any Vice
President, if there be one, or the Treasurer, and in the absence of the
Treasurer or in the event of the Treasurer's disability or refusal to act, shall
perform the duties of the Treasurer, and when so acting, shall have all the
powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Treasurer. If required
by the Board of Directors, an Assistant Treasurer shall give the Corporation a
bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to
the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of the office
of Assistant Treasurer and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of
the Assistant Treasurer's death, resignation, retirement or removal from office,
of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in the
Assistant Treasurer's possession or under the Assistant Treasurer's control
belonging to the Corporation.
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Section 11. Other Officers. Such other officers as the Board
of Directors may choose shall perform such duties and have such powers as from
time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors. The Board of
Directors may delegate to any other officer of the Corporation the power to
choose such other officers and to prescribe their respective duties and powers.
ARTICLE V
STOCK
Section 1. Uncertificated and Certificated Shares; Form of
Certificates. Effective at such time as the President or any Vice President or
the Treasurer of the Corporation designates in writing to the Corporate
Secretary and any transfer agents of the Corporation with respect to any class
of stock of the Corporation, the shares of such class shall be uncertificated
shares, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to shares represented by a
certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation and
provided upon request every holder of uncertificated shares shall be entitled,
to the extent provided in Section 158 of the Delaware General Corporation Law,
to have a certificate signed, in the name of the Corporation (i) by the
President or a Vice President and (ii) 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.
Section 2. Signatures. Any or all of the signatures on a
certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar
who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate
shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such
certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect
as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of
issue.
Section 3. Lost Certificates. The Board of Directors may
direct a new certificate to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore
issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost,
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stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person
claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When
authorizing such issue of a new certificate, the Board of Directors may, in its
discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the
owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or the owner's legal
representative, to advertise the same in such manner as the Board of Directors
shall require and/or to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct
as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with
respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed or the
issuance of such new certificate.
Section 4. Transfers. Stock of the Corporation shall be
transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these By-Laws. Transfers of
stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the person named as
the holder thereof on the stock records of the Corporation by such person's
attorney lawfully constituted in writing, and in the case of shares represented
by a certificate upon the surrender of the certificate therefor, which shall be
canceled before a new certificate shall be issued. No transfer of stock shall be
valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been
entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing from and to
whom transferred. To the extent designated by the President or any Vice
President or the Treasurer of the Corporation, the Corporation may recognize the
transfer of fractional uncertificated shares, but shall not otherwise be
required to recognize the transfer of fractional shares.
Section 5. Record Date.
(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the
stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or
any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which
record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the
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record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall
not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such
meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date
for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of
stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day
on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on
the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. 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.
(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the
stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution
or allotment of any rights or the stockholders 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 a record date, which
record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the
record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60)
days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for
determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business
on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating
thereto.
Section 6. Record Owners. The Corporation shall be entitled to
recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner
of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable
for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of
shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or
interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not
it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise required by
law.
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ARTICLE VI
NOTICES
Section 1. Notices. Whenever written notice is required by
law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, to be given to any
director, member of a committee or stockholder, such notice may be given by
mail, addressed to such director, member of a committee or stockholder, at such
person's address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage
thereon prepaid, and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when
the same shall be deposited in the United States mail. Written notice may also
be given personally or by telegram, telex or cable.
Section 2. Waivers of Notice. Whenever any notice is required
by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, to be given to any
director, member of a committee or stockholder, a waiver thereof in writing,
signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after
the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto. Attendance of a
person at a meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute
a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where the person attends the 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.
ARTICLE VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Dividends. Dividends upon the capital stock of the
Corporation, subject to the requirements of the Delaware General Corporation Law
and the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, if any, may be declared
by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board of
Directors (or any action by written consent in lieu thereof in accordance with
Section
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6 of Article III hereof), and may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of
the Corporation's capital stock. Before payment of any dividend, there may be
set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum
or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in its absolute discretion,
deems proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing
dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or
for any proper purpose, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any
such reserve.
Section 2. Disbursements. All checks or demands for money and
notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such
other person or persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time
designate.
Section 3. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation
shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Corporate Seal. The corporate seal shall have
inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and
the words "Corporate Seal, Delaware". The seal may be used by causing it or a
facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings
other than Those by or in the Right of the Corporation. Subject to Section 3 of
this Article VIII, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a
party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by
reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the
Corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the
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Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against expenses (including
attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or
proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such 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 such person's conduct was unlawful. The termination
of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or
upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a
presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such
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
reasonable cause to believe that such person's conduct was unlawful.
Section 2. Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings
by or in the Right of the Corporation. Subject to Section 3 of this Article
VIII, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or
suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by
reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the
Corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at
the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or
other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement
of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such
person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Corporation; except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any
claim,
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issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to
the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the
court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application
that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances
of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such
expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Section 3. Authorization of Indemnification. Any
indemnification under this Article VIII (unless ordered by a court) shall be
made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a
determination that indemnification of the director or officer is proper in the
circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set
forth in Section 1 or Section 2 of this Article VIII, as the case may be. Such
determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or
officer at the time of such determination, (i) by a majority vote of the
directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though
less than a quorum, or (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by a
majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if
there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent
legal counsel in a written opinion or (iv) by the stockholders. Such
determination shall be made, with respect to former directors and officers, by
any person or persons having the authority to act on the matter on behalf of the
Corporation. To the extent, however, that a present or former director or
officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in
defense of any action, suit or proceeding described above, or in defense of any
claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against
expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such
person in connection therewith, without the necessity of authorization in the
specific case.
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Section 4. Good Faith Defined. For purposes of any
determination under Section 3 of this Article VIII, a person shall be deemed to
have acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be
in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, or, with respect to
any criminal action or proceeding, to have had no reasonable cause to believe
such person's conduct was unlawful, if such person's action is based on good
faith reliance on the records or books of account of the Corporation or another
enterprise, or on information supplied to such person by the officers of the
Corporation or another enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the
advice of legal counsel for the Corporation or another enterprise or on
information or records given or reports made to the Corporation or another
enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or
other expert selected with reasonable care by the Corporation or another
enterprise. The term "another enterprise" as used in this Section 4 shall mean
any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit
plan or other enterprise of which such person is or was serving at the request
of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent. The provisions of
this Section 4 shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the
circumstances in which a person may be deemed to have met the applicable
standard of conduct set forth in Section 1 or 2 of this Article VIII, as the
case may be.
Section 5. Indemnification by a Court. Notwithstanding any
contrary determination in the specific case under Section 3 of this Article
VIII, and notwithstanding the absence of any determination thereunder, any
director or officer may apply to the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware
for indemnification to the extent otherwise permissible under Sections 1 and 2
of this Article VIII. The basis of such indemnification by a court shall be a
determination by such court that indemnification of the director or officer is
proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standards
of conduct set forth in Section 1 or 2 of this Article VIII, as the case may
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be. Neither a contrary determination in the specific case under Section 3 of
this Article VIII nor the absence of any determination thereunder shall be a
defense to such application or create a presumption that the director or officer
seeking indemnification has not met any applicable standard of conduct. Notice
of any application for indemnification pursuant to this Section 5 shall be given
to the Corporation promptly upon the filing of such application. If successful,
in whole or in part, the director or officer seeking indemnification shall also
be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such application.
Section 6. Expenses Payable in Advance. Expenses incurred by a
director or officer in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation in
advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt
of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer 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 Article VIII.
Section 7. Nonexclusivity of Indemnification and Advancement
of Expenses. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or
granted pursuant to this Article VIII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other
rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be
entitled under the Certificate of Incorporation, any By-Law, agreement, vote of
stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such
person's official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding
such office, it being the policy of the Corporation that indemnification of the
persons specified in Sections 1 and 2 of this Article VIII shall be made to the
fullest extent permitted by law. The provisions of this Article VIII shall not
be deemed to preclude the indemnification of any person who is not specified in
Section
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1 or 2 of this Article VIII but whom the Corporation has the power or obligation
to indemnify under the provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or
otherwise.
Section 8. Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and
maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer
of the Corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation
serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee
benefit plan or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such
person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such
person's status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power or
the obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under the
provisions of this Article VIII.
Section 9. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Article
VIII, references to "the Corporation" shall include, in addition to the
resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of
a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate
existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its
directors or officers, so that any person who is or was a director or officer of
such constituent corporation, or is or was a director or officer of such
constituent corporation serving at the request of such constituent corporation
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, shall stand in
the same position under the provisions of this Article VIII with respect to the
resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to
such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued. For
purposes of this Article VIII, references to "fines" shall include any excise
taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and
references to "serving at the request of the Corporation" shall include any
service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation
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which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director or officer with
respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a
person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed
to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee
benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner "not opposed to the best
interests of the Corporation" as referred to in this Article VIII.
Section 10. Survival of Indemnification and Advancement of
Expenses. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or
granted pursuant to, this Article VIII shall, unless otherwise provided when
authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director
or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and
administrators of such a person.
Section 11. Limitation on Indemnification. Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Article VIII to the contrary, except for proceedings
to enforce rights to indemnification (which shall be governed by Section 5 of
this Article VIII), the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any
director or officer in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated
by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or
consented to by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
Section 12. Indemnification of Employees and Agents. The
Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of
Directors, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses
to employees and agents of the Corporation similar to those conferred in this
Article VIII to directors and officers of the Corporation.
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ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Amendments. These By-Laws may be altered, amended
or repealed, in whole or in part, and new By-Laws may be adopted (i) by the
affirmative vote of the shares representing a majority of the votes entitled to
be cast by the Voting Stock; provided, however, that any proposed alteration,
amendment or repeal of, or the adoption of any By-Law inconsistent with,
Sections 3, 7, 10 or 11 of Article II of these By-Laws or Sections 1, 2 or 11 of
Article III of these By-Laws or this sentence, by the stockholders shall require
the affirmative vote of shares representing (x) not less than 80% of the votes
entitled to be cast by the Voting Stock and, in addition, (if there are multiple
classes of Common Stock outstanding), (y) a majority of the votes entitled to be
cast by the holders of each class of Common Stock, voting separately by class;
and provided further, however, that in the case of any such stockholder action
at a meeting of stockholders, notice of the proposed alteration, amendment,
repeal or adoption of the new By-Law or By-Laws must be contained in the notice
of such meeting, or (ii) by action of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
The provisions of this Section 1 are subject to any contrary provisions and any
provisions requiring a greater vote that are set forth in the Certificate of
Incorporation.
Section 2. Entire Board of Directors. As used in these By-Laws
generally, the term "entire Board of Directors" means the total number of
directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies.
* * *
Adopted as of: October 18, 1998
Last Amended as of: October 28, 1999
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