Exhibit 3.2
BY-LAWS
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OF
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DADE INTERNATIONAL INC.
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A Delaware Corporation
ARTICLE I
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OFFICES
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Section 1. Registered Office. The registered office of the corporation in
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the State of Delaware shall be located at Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange
Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of the
corporation's registered agent at such address shall be the Corporation Trust
Company. The registered office and/or registered agent of the corporation may
be changed from time to time by action of the board of directors.
Section 2. Other Offices. The corporation may also have offices at such
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other places, both within and without the State of Delaware, as the board of
directors may from time to time determine or the business of the corporation may
require.
ARTICLE II
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MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
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Section 1. Place and Time of Meetings. An annual meeting of the
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stockholders shall be held each year within one hundred twenty (120) days after
the close of the immediately preceding fiscal year of the corporation for the
purpose of electing directors and conducting such other proper business as may
come before the meeting. The date, time and place of the annual meeting shall be
determined by the president of the corporation; provided, that if the president
does not act, the board of directors shall determine the date, time and place of
such meeting.
Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders may be
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called for any purpose and may be held at such time and place, within or without
the State of Delaware, as shall be stated in a notice of meeting or in a duly
executed waiver of notice thereof.
Section 3. Place of Meetings. The board of directors may designate any
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place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the place of meeting
for any annual meeting or for any special meeting called by the board of
directors. If no
designation is made, or if a special meeting be otherwise called, the place of
meeting shall be the principal executive office of the corporation.
Section 4. Notice. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to
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take action at a meeting, written or printed notice stating the place, date,
time, and, in the case of special meetings, the purpose or purposes, of such
meeting, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting.
Section 5. Stockholders List. The officer having charge of the stock
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ledger of the corporation shall make, at least 10 days before every meeting of
the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at such
meeting arranged in alpha betical order, showing the address of each stockholder
and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list
shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to
the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 10 days
prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to
be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting or, if not
so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also
be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time
thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.
Section 6. Quorum. The holders of a majority of the outstanding shares
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of capital stock, present in person or repre sented by proxy, shall constitute a
quorum at all meetings of the stockholders, except as otherwise provided by
statute or by the certificate of incorporation. If a quorum is not present, the
holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at
the meeting, and entitled to vote at the meeting, may adjourn the meeting to
another time and/or place.
Section 7. Adjourned Meetings. When a meeting is adjourned to another
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time and place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time
and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is
taken. At the adjourned meeting the corporation may transact any business which
might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for
more than thirty days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed
for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to
each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
Section 8. Vote Required. When a quorum is present, the affirmative vote
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of the majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the
meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the
stockholders, unless the question is one upon which by express provisions of an
applicable law or of the certificate of incorporation a different vote is
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required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the
decision of such question.
Section 9. Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided by the General
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Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or by the certificate of incorporation
of the corporation or any amendments thereto and subject to Section 3 of Article
VI hereof, every stockholder shall at every meeting of the stockholders be
entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of common stock held
by such stockholder.
Section 10. Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of
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stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing
without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for him or her
by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from
its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period.
Section 11. Action by Written Consent. Unless otherwise provided in the
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certificate of incorporation, any action required to be taken at any annual or
special meeting of stockholders of the corporation, or any action which may be
taken at any annual or special meeting of such 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 and bearing the dates of
signature of the stockholders who signed the consent or consents, shall be
signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum
number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a
meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and
shall be delivered to the corporation by delivery to its registered office in
the state of Delaware, or the corporation's principal place of business, or an
officer or agent of the corporation having custody of the book or books in which
proceedings of meetings of the stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the
corporation's registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered
mail, return receipt requested. All consents properly delivered in accordance
with this section shall be deemed to be recorded when so delivered. No written
consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein
unless, within sixty days of the earliest dated consent delivered to the
corporation as required by this section, written consents signed by the holders
of a sufficient number of shares to take such corporate action are so recorded.
Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less
than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not
consented in writing. Any action taken pursuant to such written consent or
consents of the stockholders shall have the same force and effect as if taken by
the stockholders at a meeting thereof.
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ARTICLE III
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DIRECTORS
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Section 1. General Powers. The business and affairs of the
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corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the board of
directors.
Section 2. Number, Election and Term of Office. The number of
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directors shall be established from time to time by resolution of the board.
The directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present
in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote in the
election of directors. The directors shall be elected in this manner at the
annual meeting of the stockholders, except as provided in Section 4 of this
Article III. Each director elected shall hold office until a successor is duly
elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal
as hereinafter provided.
Section 3. Removal and Resignation. Any director or the entire board
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of directors may be removed at any time, with or with out cause, by the holders
of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors.
Whenever the holders of any class or series are entitled to elect one or more
directors by the provisions of the corporation's certificate of incorporation,
the provisions of this section shall apply, in respect to the removal without
cause of a director or directors so elected, to the vote of the holders of the
outstanding shares of that class or series and not to the vote of the
outstanding shares as a whole. Any director may resign at any time upon written
notice to the corporation.
Section 4. Vacancies. Vacancies and newly created directorships
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resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled
by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by
a sole remaining director. Each director so chosen shall hold office until a
successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death,
resignation or removal as herein provided.
Section 5. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of each newly elected
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board of directors shall be held without other notice than this by-law
immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of stockholders.
Section 6. Other Meetings and Notice. Regular meetings, other than
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the annual meeting, of the board of directors may be held without notice at such
time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of
the board. Special meetings of the board of directors may be called by or at
the request of the president on at least 24 hours notice to each
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director, either personally, by telephone, by mail, or by telegraph.
Section 7. Quorum, Required Vote and Adjournment. A majority of the
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total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business. The vote of a majority of directors present at a meeting at which a
quorum is present shall be the act of the board of directors. If a quorum shall
not be present at any meeting of the board of directors, the directors present
thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than
announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
Section 8. Committees. The board of directors may, by resolution
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passed by a majority of the whole board, designate one or more committees, each
committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the corporation, which
to the extent provided in such resolution or these by-laws shall have and may
exercise the powers of the board of directors in the management and affairs of
the corporation except as otherwise limited by law. The board of directors may
designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may
replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Such
committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from
time to time by resolution adopted by the board of directors. Each committee
shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the board of
directors when required.
Section 9. Committee Rules. Each committee of the board of directors
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may fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by
such rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the board of
directors designating such committee. In the event that a member and that
member's alternate, if alternates are designated by the board of directors as
provided in Section 8 of this Article III, of such committee is or are absent or
disqualified, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not
disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a
quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the board of directors to act
at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.
Section 10. Communications Equipment. Members of the board of
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directors or any committee thereof may participate in and act at any meeting of
such board or committee through the use of a conference telephone or other
communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the
meeting can hear each other, and participation in the meeting pursuant to this
section shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 11. Waiver of Notice and Presumption of Assent. Any member of
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the board of directors or any committee thereof who is present at a meeting
shall be conclusively presumed to have
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waived notice of such meeting except when such member attends for the express
purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any
business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Such member
shall be conclusively presumed to have assented to any action taken unless his
or her dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless his or
her written dissent to such action shall be filed with the person acting as the
secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall be forwarded by
registered mail to the secretary of the corporation immediately after the
adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to any member
who voted in favor of such action.
Section 12. Action by Written Consent. Unless otherwise restricted
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by the certificate of incorporation, any action required or permitted to be
taken at any meeting of the board of directors, or of any committee thereof, may
be taken without a meeting if all members of the board or committee, as the case
may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with
the minutes of proceedings of the board or committee.
ARTICLE IV
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OFFICERS
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Section 1. Number. The officers of the corporation shall be elected
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by the board of directors and shall consist of a chief executive officer,
president, any number of vice presidents, a secretary, any number of assistant
secretaries and such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed
necessary or desirable by the board of directors. Any number of offices may be
held by the same person. In its discretion, the board of directors may choose
not to fill any office for any period as it may deem advisable, except that the
offices of president and secretary shall be filled as expeditiously as possible.
Section 2. Election and Term of Office. The officers of the
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corporation shall be elected annually by the board of directors at its first
meeting held after each annual meeting of stockholders or as soon thereafter as
conveniently may be. Vacancies may be filled or new offices created and filled
at any meeting of the board of directors. Each officer shall hold office until
a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death,
resignation or removal as hereinafter provided.
Section 3. Removal. Any officer or agent elected by the board of
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directors may be removed by the board of directors whenever in its judgment the
best interests of the corporation would be served thereby, but such removal
shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so
removed.
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Section 4. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in any office because of
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death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise, may be filled by the
board of directors for the unexpired portion of the term by the board of
directors then in office.
Section 5. Compensation. Compensation of all officers shall be fixed
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by the board of directors, and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such
compensation by virtue of his or her also being a director of the corporation.
Section 6. Chief Executive Officer. The chief executive officer of
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the corporation, subject to the powers of the board of directors, shall have
general and active management of the business of the corporation; and shall see
that all orders and resolutions of the board of directors are carried into
effect. The chief executive officer shall have such other powers and perform
such other duties as may be prescribed by the chairman of the board, the chief
executive officer or the board of directors or as may be provided in these by-
laws.
Section 7. President. The president shall be the chief executive
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officer of the corporation; shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders
and board of directors at which he or she is present; subject to the powers of
the board of directors, shall have general charge of the business, affairs and
property of the corporation, and control over its officers, agents and
employees; and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the board of
directors are carried into effect. The president shall execute bonds, mortgages
and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the corporation, except
where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and
except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by
the board of directors to some other officer or agent of the corporation. The
president shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be
prescribed by the board of directors, the chief executive officer or as may be
provided in these by-laws.
Section 8. Vice-presidents. The vice-president, or if there shall be
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more than one, the vice-presidents in the order determined by the board of
directors shall, in the absence or disability of the president, act with all of
the powers and be subject to all the restrictions of the president. The vice-
presidents shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as
the board of directors, the chief executive officer, the president or these by-
laws may, from time to time, prescribe.
Section 9. The Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The secretary
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shall attend all meetings of the board of directors, all meetings of the
committees thereof and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the
proceedings of the meetings in a book or books to be kept for that purpose.
Under the president's
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supervision, the secretary shall give, or cause to be given, all notices
required to be given by these by-laws or by law; shall have such powers and
perform such duties as the board of directors, the president or these by-laws
may, from time to time, prescribe; and shall have custody of the corporate seal
of the corporation. The secretary, or an assistant secretary, shall have
authority to affix the corporate seal to any instrument requiring it and when so
af fixed, it may be attested by his or her signature or by the signature of such
assistant secretary. The board of directors may give general authority to any
other officer to affix the seal of the corporation and to attest the affixing by
his or her signature. The assistant secretary, or if there be more than one, the
assistant secretaries in the order determined by the board of directors, shall,
in the absence or disability of the secretary, perform the duties and exercise
the powers of the secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such
other powers as the board of directors, the chief executive officer or the
president may, from time to time, prescribe.
Section 10. The Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. The treasurer
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shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities; shall keep full
and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the
corporation; shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name and
to the credit of the corporation as may be ordered by the board of directors;
shall cause the funds of the corporation to be disbursed when such disbursements
have been duly authorized, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements; and
shall render to the president and the board of directors, at its regular meeting
or when the board of directors so requires, an account of the corporation; shall
have such powers and perform such duties as the board of directors, the
president or these by-laws may, from time to time, prescribe. If required by
the board of directors, the treasurer shall give the corporation a bond (which
shall be rendered every six years) in such sums and with such surety or sureties
as shall be satisfactory to the board of directors for the faithful performance
of the duties of the office of the treasurer and for the restoration to the
corporation, in case of death, resignation, retirement, or removal from office,
of all books, papers, vouchers, money, and other property of whatever kind in
the possession or under the control of the treasurer belonging to the
corporation. The assistant treasurer, or if there shall be more than one, the
assistant treasurers in the order determined by the board of directors, shall in
the absence or disability of the treasurer, perform the duties and exercise the
powers of the treasurer. The assistant treasurers shall perform such other
duties and have such other powers as the board of directors, the chief executive
officer or the president may, from time to time, prescribe.
Section 11. Other Officers, Assistant Officers and Agents. Officers,
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assistant officers and agents, if any, other than those whose duties are
provided for in these by-laws, shall
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have such authority and perform such duties as may from time to time be
prescribed by resolution of the board of directors.
Section 12. Absence or Disability of Officers. In the case of the
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absence or disability of any officer of the corporation and of any person hereby
authorized to act in such officer's place during such officer's absence or
disability, the board of directors may by resolution delegate the powers and
duties of such officer to any other officer or to any director, or to any other
person whom it may select.
ARTICLE V
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INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND OTHERS
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Section 1. Nature of Indemnity. Each person who was or is made a
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party or is threatened to be made a party to or is in volved in any action, suit
or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(hereinafter a "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he or she, is or was a
director or officer, of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of
the corporation as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary, or agent of another
corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of
such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director,
officer, employee, fiduciary or agent or in any other capacity while serving as
a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent, shall be indemnified and held
harmless by the corporation to the fullest extent which it is empowered to do so
by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same exists or
may hereafter be amended against all expense, liability and loss (including
attorneys' fees actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection
with such proceeding) and such indemnification shall inure to the benefit of his
or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as
provided in Section 2 hereof, the corporation shall indemnify any such person
seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding initiated by such person
only if such proceeding was authorized by the board of directors of the
corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article V shall be
a contract right and, subject to Sections 2 and 5 hereof, shall include the
right to be paid by the corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such
proceeding in advance of its final disposition. The corporation may, by action
of its board of directors, provide indemnification to employees and agents of
the corporation with the same scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification
of directors and officers.
Section 2. Procedure for Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
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Any indemnification of a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the
corporation under Section 1 of
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this Article V or advance of expenses under Section 5 of this Article V shall be
made promptly, and in any event within 30 days, upon the written request of the
director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent. If a determination (as defined
in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware) by the corporation that
the director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent is entitled to
indemnification pursuant to this Article V is required, and the corporation
fails to respond within sixty days to a written request for indemnity, the
corporation shall be deemed to have approved the request. If the corporation
denies a written request for indemnification or advancing of expenses, in whole
or in part, or if payment in full pursuant to such request is not made within 30
days, the right to indemnification or advances as granted by this Article V
shall be enforceable by the director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent in
any court of competent jurisdiction. Such person's costs and expenses incurred
in connection with successfully establishing his or her right to
indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such action shall also be
indemnified by the corporation. It shall be a defense to any such action (other
than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any
proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking,
if any, has been tendered to the corporation) that the claimant has not met the
standards of conduct which make it permissible under the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware for the corporation to indemnify the claimant for the
amount claimed, but the burden of such defense shall be on the corporation.
Neither the failure of the corporation (including its board of directors,
independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination
prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is
proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of
conduct set forth in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, nor
an actual determination by the corporation (including its board of directors,
independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met
such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create
a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
Section 3. Article Not Exclusive. The rights to indemnification and
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the payment of expenses incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its
final disposition conferred in this Article V shall not be exclusive of any
other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute,
provision of the certificate of incorporation, by-law, agreement, vote of
stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
Section 4. Insurance. The corporation may purchase and maintain
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insurance on its own behalf and on behalf of any person who is or was a
director, officer, employee, fiduciary, or agent of the corporation or was
serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation,
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partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability
asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity,
whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person
against such liability under this Article V.
Section 5. Expenses. Expenses incurred by any person described in
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Section 1 of this Article V in defending a proceeding shall be paid by the
corporation in advance of such proceeding's final disposition upon receipt of an
undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay such amount if
it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be
indemnified by the corporation. Such expenses incurred by other employees and
agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the board of
directors deems appropriate.
Section 6. Employees and Agents. Persons who are not covered by the
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foregoing provisions of this Article V and who are or were employees or agents
of the corporation, or who are or were serving at the request of the corporation
as employees or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust
or other enterprise, may be indemnified to the extent authorized at any time or
from time to time by the board of directors.
Section 7. Contract Rights. The provisions of this Article V shall
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be deemed to be a contract right between the corporation and each director or
officer who serves in any such capacity at any time while this Article V and the
relevant provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or
other applicable law are in effect, and any repeal or modification of this
Article V or any such law shall not affect any rights or obligations then
existing with respect to any state of facts or proceeding then existing.
Section 8. Merger or Consolidation. For purposes of this Article V,
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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, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or
was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director,
officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this
Article V with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she
would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate
existence had continued.
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ARTICLE VI
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CERTIFICATES OF STOCK
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Section 1. Form. Every holder of stock in the corporation shall be
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entitled to have a certificate, signed by, or in the name of the corporation by
the chief executive officer, the president, or a vice-president and the
secretary or any assistant secretary of the corporation, certifying the number
of shares owned by such holder in the corporation. If such a certificate is
countersigned (1) by a transfer agent or an assistant transfer agent other than
the corporation or its employee or (2) by a registrar, other than the
corporation or its employee, the signature of the chief executive officer, the
president, any vice-president, secretary, or any assistant secretary may be
facsimiles. In case any officer or officers who have signed, or whose facsimile
signature or signatures have been used on, any such certificate or certificates
shall cease to be such officer or officers of the corporation whether because of
death, resignation or otherwise before such certificate or certificates have
been delivered by the corporation, such certificate or certificates may
nevertheless be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed
such certificate or certificates or whose facsimile signature or signatures have
been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the
corporation. All certificates for shares shall be consecutively numbered or
otherwise identified. The name of the person to whom the shares represented
thereby are issued, with the number of shares and date of issue, shall be
entered on the books of the corporation. Shares of stock of the corporation
shall only be transferred on the books of the corporation by the holder of
record thereof or by such holder's attorney duly authorized in writing, upon
surrender to the corporation of the certificate or certificates for such shares
endorsed by the appropriate person or persons, with such evidence of the
authenticity of such endorsement, transfer, authorization, and other matters as
the corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock
transfer stamps. In that event, it shall be the duty of the corporation to
issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old
certificate or certificates, and record the transaction on its books. The board
of directors may appoint a bank or trust company organized under the laws of the
United States or any state thereof to act as its transfer agent or registrar, or
both in connection with the transfer of any class or series of securities of the
corporation.
Section 2. Lost Certificates. The board of directors may direct a
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new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or
certificates previously issued by the corpo ration alleged to have been lost,
stolen, or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person
claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen, or destroyed. When
authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the
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board of directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the
issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen, or destroyed
certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, to give the
corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify the corporation against any claim
that may be made against the corporation on account of the loss, theft or
destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.
Section 3. Fixing a Record Date for Stockholder Meetings. In order
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that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to
vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the board of
directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date
upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the board of
directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty nor less than ten
days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the board
of directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of
or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be the close of business on the
next day preceding the day on which notice is 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.
Section 4. Fixing a Record Date for Action by Written Consent. In
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order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to
corporate action in writing without a meeting, the board of directors may fix a
record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the
resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the board of directors, and
which date shall not be more than ten days after the date upon which the
resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the board of directors. If no
record date has been fixed by the board of directors, the record date for
determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing
without a meeting, when no prior action by the board of directors is required by
statute, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth
the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the corporation by
delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place
of business, or an 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. If no record date has been fixed by
the board of directors and prior action by the board of directors is required by
statute, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to
corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business
on the
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day on which the board of directors adopts the resolution taking such prior
action.
Section 5. Fixing a Record Date for Other Purposes. In order that
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the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of
any dividend or other distribution or allotment or any rights or the
stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change,
conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purposes of any other lawful action,
the board of directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not
precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted,
and which record date shall be not more than sixty 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. Registered Stockholders. Prior to the surrender to the
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corporation of the certificate or certificates for a share or shares of stock
with a request to record the transfer of such share or shares, the corporation
may treat the registered owner as the person entitled to receive dividends, to
vote, to receive notifications, and otherwise to exercise all the rights and
powers of an owner.
Section 7. Subscriptions for Stock. Unless otherwise provided for in
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the subscription agreement, subscriptions for shares shall be paid in full at
such time, or in such installments and at such times, as shall be determined by
the board of direc tors. Any call made by the board of directors for payment on
subscriptions shall be uniform as to all shares of the same class or as to all
shares of the same series. In case of default in the payment of any installment
or call when such payment is due, the corporation may proceed to collect the
amount due in the same manner as any debt due the corporation.
ARTICLE VII
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GENERAL PROVISIONS
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Section 1. Dividends. Dividends upon the capital stock of the
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corporation, subject to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, if
any, may be declared by the board of directors at any regular or special
meeting, pursuant to law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in
shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions of the certificate of
incorporation. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any
funds of the corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the
directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a
reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for
repairing or maintaining any property
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of the corporation, or any other purpose and the directors may modify or abolish
any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.
Section 2. Checks, Drafts or Orders. All checks, drafts, or other
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orders for the payment of money by or to the corporation and all notes and other
evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the corporation shall be signed
by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the corporation, and in such
manner, as shall be determined by resolution of the board of directors or a duly
authorized committee thereof.
Section 3. Contracts. The board of directors may authorize any
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officer or officers, or any agent or agents, of the corporation to enter into
any contract or to execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on
behalf of the corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to
specific instances.
Section 4. Loans. The corporation may lend money to, or guarantee
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any obligation of, or otherwise assist any officer or other employee of the
corporation or of its subsidiary, including any officer or employee who is a
director of the corporation or its subsidiary, whenever, in the judgment of the
directors, such loan, guaranty or assistance may reasonably be expected to
benefit the corporation. The loan, guaranty or other assistance may be with or
without interest, and may be unsecured, or secured in such manner as the board
of directors shall approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of shares of
stock of the corporation. Nothing in this section contained shall be deemed to
deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the corporation at
common law or under any statute.
Section 5. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the corporation shall
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be fixed by resolution of the board of directors.
Section 6. Corporate Seal. The board of directors may provide a
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corporate seal which shall be in the form of a circle and shall have inscribed
thereon the name of the corporation and the words "Corporate Seal, Delaware".
The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or
affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
Section 7. Voting Securities Owned By Corporation. Voting securities
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in any other corporation held by the corporation shall be voted by the
president, unless the board of directors specifically confers authority to vote
with respect thereto, which authority may be general or confined to specific
instances, upon some other person or officer. Any person authorized to vote
securities shall have the power to appoint proxies, with general power of
substitution.
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Section 8. Inspection of Books and Records. Any stockholder of
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record, in person or by attorney or other agent, shall, upon written demand
under oath stating the purpose thereof, have the right during the usual hours
for business to inspect for any proper purpose the corporation's stock ledger, a
list of its stockholders, and its other books and records, and to make copies or
extracts therefrom. A proper purpose shall mean any purpose reasonably related
to such person's interest as a stockholder. In every instance where an attorney
or other agent shall be the person who seeks the right to inspection, the demand
under oath shall be accompanied by a power of attorney or such other writing
which authorizes the attorney or other agent to so act on behalf of the
stockholder. The demand under oath shall be directed to the corporation at its
registered office in the State of Delaware or at its principal place of
business.
Section 9. Section Headings. Section headings in these by-laws are
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for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect
in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.
Section 10. Inconsistent Provisions. In the event that any provision
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of these by-laws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the
certificate of incorporation, the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware or any other applicable law, the provision of these by-laws shall not
be given any effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be
given full force and effect.
ARTICLE VIII
------------
AMENDMENTS
----------
These by-laws may be amended, altered, or repealed and new by-laws
adopted at any meeting of the board of directors by a majority vote. The fact
that the power to adopt, amend, alter, or repeal the by-laws has been conferred
upon the board of directors shall not divest the stockholders of the same
powers.
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