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EXHIBIT 3.2
BY-LAWS
OF
TITANIUM METALS CORPORATION
A Delaware Corporation
As Amended and Restated February 14, 1997
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. Registered Office. The registered office of the corporation
in the State of Delaware shall be located at Corporation Trust Center, 1209
Orange Street, 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 other places, both within and without the State of Delaware, as the board
of directors may from time to time determine or the business of the corporation
may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Place and Time of Meetings. An annual meeting of the
stockholders 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 chairman of the board or the
chief executive officer of the corporation; provided, that if neither the
chairman of the board nor the chief executive officer acts, the board of
directors shall determine the date, time and place of such meeting.
Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders may be
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. Such meetings may be called at any
time by the board of directors, the chairman of the board or the chief
executive officer and shall be called by the chief executive officer upon the
written request of holders of shares entitled to cast not less than 20 percent
of the votes at the meeting, such written request shall state the purpose or
purposes of the meeting and shall be delivered to the chief executive officer.
On such written request, the chief executive officer shall fix a date and time
for such meeting within thirty (30) days of the date requested for such meeting
in such written request.
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Section 3. Place of Meetings. The board of directors may designate any
place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the place of meeting
for any annual meeting or for any special meeting 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
take action at a meeting, written or printed notice stating the place, date,
time, and, in the case of special meetings, the purpose or purposes, of such
meeting, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting
not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting. All
such notices shall be delivered, either personally or by mail, by or at the
direction of the board of directors, the chairman of the board, the chief
executive officer or the secretary, and if mailed, such notice shall be deemed
to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to the stockholder at his, her or its address as the same appears on
the records of the corporation. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall
constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends
for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the
transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or
convened.
Section 5. Stockholders List. The officer having charge of the stock
ledger of the corporation shall make, at least 10 days before every meeting of
the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at such
meeting arranged in alphabetical order, showing the address of each stockholder
and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list
shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to
the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 10 days
prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to
be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting or, if not
so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also
be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time
thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.
Section 6. Quorum. At any meeting of stockholders, the holders of a
majority of the shares of capital stock entitled to vote at such meeting,
present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum, 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. When a
specified item of business requires a vote by a class or series (if the
corporation shall then have outstanding shares of more than one class or
series) voting as a class, the holders of a majority of the shares of such
class or series shall constitute a
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quorum (as to such class or series) for the transaction of such item of
business.
Section 7. Adjourned Meetings. When a meeting is adjourned to another
time and place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time
and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is
taken. At the adjourned meeting the corporation may transact any business
which might have been transacted at the original meeting. 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 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
required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the
decision of such question. Where a separate vote by class is required, the
affirmative vote of the majority of shares of such class present in person or
represented by proxy at the meeting shall be the act of such class.
Section 9. Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided by the General
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
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 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
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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.
Section 12. Confidential Voting. All proxies, ballots and vote
tabulations that identify the particular vote of a stockholder shall be kept
confidential, except that disclosure may be made (i) to allow the inspectors to
certify the results of the vote; (ii) as necessary to meet applicable legal
requirements, including the pursuit or defense of judicial actions; or (iii)
when expressly requested by such stockholder.
Proxy cards shall be returned in envelopes addressed to the inspectors,
which shall receive, inspect and tabulate the proxies. Comments written on
proxies, consents or ballots shall be transcribed and provided to the secretary
of the corporation with the name and address of the stockholder. The vote of
the stockholder shall not be disclosed at the time any such comment is provided
to the secretary except where such bote is included in the comment or
disclosure is necessary, in the opinion of the inspector, for an understanding
of the comment.
Nothing in this by-law shall prohibit the inspector from making
available to the corporation, during the period prior to any annual or special
meeting, information as to which stockholders have not voted and periodic
status reports on the aggregate vote.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 1. General Powers. The business and affairs of the corporation
shall be managed by or under the direction of the board of directors.
Section 2. Number, Election and Term of Office. The number of
directors which shall constitute the board of directors shall be seven or
fewer. 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.
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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
of directors may be removed at any time, with or without 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.
Section 4. Vacancies. Vacancies and newly created directorships
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; provided, that (a) in the event the holders of a
majority of the shares then entitled to vote to remove a director (as provided
in Section 3 of Article III of these by-laws), as a part of such removal such
majority shall also be entitled to elect a replacement therefor, and (b) if any
such vacancy has not been filled by the remaining directors within seven days
of the date such vacancy was created, the holders of a majority of the shares
then entitled to vote may fill such vacancy. 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. Whenever holders of
any class or classes of stock or series thereof are entitled to elect one or
more directors by the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, vacancies
and newly created directorships of such class or classes or series may be
filled by a majority of the directors elected by such class or classes or
series thereof then in office, or by a sole remaining director so elected.
Section 5. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of each newly elected
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 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 chairman of the board or the chief executive officer on
at least 24 hours notice to each director, either personally, by telephone, by
mail, by facsimile or by telegraph; in like manner and on like notice the chief
executive officer must call a special meeting on the written request of at
least two (2) of the directors.
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Section 7. Quorum, Required Vote and Adjournment. A majority of the
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
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 or
other persons, 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
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. Unless otherwise provided in such a
resolution, the presence of at least a majority of the members of the committee
shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. 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
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
the board of directors or any committee thereof who is present at a meeting
shall be conclusively presumed to have waived notice of such meeting except
when such member attends for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning
of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not
lawfully called or convened. Such member shall be conclusively presumed to
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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 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
OFFICERS
Section 1. Number. The officers of the corporation shall be elected by
the board of directors and shall consist of a chairman of the board, a chief
executive officer, a president, one or more vice presidents, a secretary, a
treasurer, and such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed
necessary or desirable by the board of directors. Any number of offices may be
held by the same person except that neither the chairman of the board nor the
president shall also hold the office of secretary. In its discretion, the
board of directors may choose not to fill any office for any period as it may
deem advisable.
Section 2. Election and Term of Office. The officers of the
corporation shall be elected annually by the board of directors at its first
meeting held after each annual meeting of 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
directors may be removed by the board of directors or the chairman of the board
whenever in its or his 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.
Section 4. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in any office because of
death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise, may be filled by
the board of directors for the unexpired portion of the term by the board of
directors then in office.
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Section 5. Compensation. Compensation of all officers shall be fixed
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. Chairman of the Board. The chairman of the board shall
preside at all meetings of the board of directors and stockholders, may
exercise all of the powers of the chief executive officer or president and
shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed
by the board of directors or provided in these by-laws. Whenever the chief
executive officer or president is unable to serve, by reason of sickness,
absence or otherwise, the chairman of the board shall perform all the duties
and responsibilities thereof.
Section 7. The Chief Executive Officer. The chief executive officer
shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation and, subject to the
powers of the board of directors and the chairman of the board, 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 chief
executive officer shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as
may be prescribed by the chairman of the board or the board of directors or as
may be provided in these by-laws.
Section 8. The President. The president shall have such powers and
perform such duties as may be prescribed by the chairman of the board, the
board of directors, or these bylaws.
Section 9. Vice Presidents. The vice president, or if there shall be
more than one, the vice presidents in the order determined by the board of
directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the president, act with all
of the powers and be subject to all the restrictions of the president. The
vice presidents shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers
as the board of directors, the chairman of the board, the chief executive
officer or these by-laws may, from time to time, prescribe.
Section 10. The Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The secretary
shall attend all meetings of the board of directors, all meetings of the
committees thereof and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the
proceedings of the meetings in a book or books to be kept for that purpose.
Under the chief executive officer's supervision, the secretary shall give, or
cause to be given, all notices required to be given by these by-laws or by law;
shall have such powers and perform such duties as the board of directors, the
chairman of the board, the chief executive officer or these by-laws may, from
time to time, prescribe; and shall have custody of the corporate seal of the
corporation. The secretary, or an assistant secretary, shall have authority to
affix the corporate seal to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it
may be attested by his or her signature or by the signature of such assistant
secretary. The board of directors may give general authority to any other
officer to affix the seal of
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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 chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, or
secretary may, from time to time, prescribe.
Section 11. The Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. The treasurer 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 chief executive officer 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 chairman of the board, the chief executive
officer 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 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 chairman of
the board, the chief executive officer or treasurer may, from time to time,
prescribe.
Section 12. Other Officers, Assistant Officers and Agents. Officers,
assistant officers and agents, if any, other than those whose duties are
provided for in these by-laws, shall have such authority and perform such
duties as may from time to time be prescribed by resolution of the board of
directors.
Section 13. Absence or Disability of Officers. In the case of the
absence or disability of any officer of the corporation and of any person
hereby authorized to act in such officer's place during such officer's absence
or disability, the board of directors may by resolution delegate the powers and
duties of such officer to any other officer or to any director, or to any other
person whom it may select.
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ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND OTHERS
Section 1. Nature of Indemnity. Each person who was or is made a party
or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(hereinafter a "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person
of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director, officer,
employee or agent 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,
shall be indemnified and held harmless by the corporation unless prohibited
from doing so by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the
same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such
amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the corporation to
provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the corporation
to provide prior to such amendment) 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.
Section 2. Procedure for Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Any indemnification of a director or officer of the corporation under Section 1
of 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 or officer. If a determination by the corporation that
the director or officer 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 director or officer may
petition any court of competent jurisdiction to determine his or her right to
indemnification or advances pursuant to this Article V. 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
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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 permissible 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
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
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, 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
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 shall 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
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 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
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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. The adoption of this Article V
shall not abridge or limit any rights of any person otherwise entitled to
indemnification from the corporation pursuant to any prior by-law provision,
resolution of the directors, contract or otherwise.
Section 8. Merger or Consolidation. For purposes of this Article V,
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 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.
ARTICLE VI
CERTIFICATES OF STOCK
Section 1. Form. Every holder of stock in the corporation shall be
entitled to have a certificate, signed by, or in the name of the corporation by
the chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president or a vice
president and the secretary or an assistant secretary of the corporation,
certifying the number of shares owned by such holder in the corporation. If
such a certificate is countersigned (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 any
such chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president, vice president,
secretary, or assistant secretary may be facsimiles. In case any officer or
officers who have signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been
used on, any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or
officers of the corporation whether because of death, resignation or otherwise
before such certificate or certificates have been delivered by the corporation,
such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be issued and delivered as
though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or
whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used thereon had not ceased
to be such officer or officers of the corporation. All certificates for shares
shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified. The name of the
person to whom the shares 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
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transferred on the books of the corporation by the holder of record thereof or
by such holder's attorney duly authorized in writing, upon surrender to the
corporation of the certificate or certificates for such shares endorsed by the
appropriate person or persons, with such evidence of the authenticity of such
endorsement, transfer, authorization, and other matters as the corporation may
reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps. In
that event, it shall be the duty of the corporation to issue a new certificate
to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate or certificates, and
record the transaction on its books. The board of directors may appoint a bank
or trust company organized under the laws of the United States or any state
thereof to act as its transfer agent or registrar, or both in connection with
the transfer of any class or series of securities of the corporation.
Section 2. Lost Certificates. The board of directors may direct a new
certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or
certificates previously issued by the corporation alleged to have been lost,
stolen, or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the
person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen, or destroyed.
When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the 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
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
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
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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
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 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
corporation of the certificate or certificates for a share or shares of stock
with a request to record the transfer of such share or shares, the corporation
may treat the registered owner as the person entitled to receive dividends, to
vote, to receive notifications, and otherwise to exercise all the rights and
powers of an owner. The corporation shall not be bound to recognize any
equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of
any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof.
Section 7. Subscriptions for Stock. Unless otherwise provided for in
the subscription agreement, subscriptions for shares shall be paid in full at
such time, or in such installments and at such times, as shall be determined by
the board of directors. Any call made by the board of directors for payment on
subscriptions shall be uniform as to all shares of the same class or as to all
shares of the same series. In case of default in the
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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
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Dividends. Dividends upon the capital stock of the
corporation, subject to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, if
any, may be declared by the board of directors at any regular or special
meeting, 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 of the corporation, or any other purpose
and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which
it was created.
Section 2. Checks, Drafts or Orders. All checks, drafts, or other
orders for the payment of money by or to the corporation and all notes and
other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the corporation shall be
signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the corporation, and in
such manner, as shall be determined by resolution of the board of directors or
a duly authorized committee thereof.
Section 3. Contracts. The board of directors may authorize any officer
or officers, or any agent or agents, of the corporation to enter into any
contract or to execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf
of the corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific
instances.
Section 4. Loans. The corporation may lend money to, or guarantee any
obligation of, or otherwise assist any officer or other employee of the
corporation or of its 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 be
fixed by resolution of the board of directors.
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Section 6. Corporate Seal. The board of directors shall provide a
corporate seal which shall be in the form of a circle and shall have inscribed
thereon the name of the corporation and the words "Corporate Seal, Delaware".
The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or
affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
Section 7. Voting Securities Owned By Corporation. Voting securities
in any other corporation held by the corporation shall be voted by the chairman
of the board or the chief executive officer, unless the board of directors
specifically confers authority to vote with respect thereto, which authority
may be general or confined to specific instances, upon some other person or
officer. Any person authorized to vote securities shall have the power to
appoint proxies, with general power of substitution.
Section 8. Inspection of Books and Records. Any stockholder of 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 for
convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in
limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.
Section 10. Inconsistent Provisions. In the event that any provision
of these by-laws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the
certificate of incorporation, the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware or any other applicable law, the provision of these by-laws shall not
be given any effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be
given full force and effect.
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ARTICLE 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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