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AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
OF
NETWORK PLUS CORP.
(effective as of May 8, 2001)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE I STOCKHOLDERS.................................................................................... 1
1.1 Place of Meetings............................................................................... 1
1.2 Annual Meeting.................................................................................. 1
1.3 Special Meetings................................................................................ 1
1.4 Notice of Meetings.............................................................................. 1
1.5 Voting List..................................................................................... 1
1.6 Quorum.......................................................................................... 2
1.7 Adjournments.................................................................................... 2
1.8 Voting and Proxies.............................................................................. 2
1.9 Action at Meeting............................................................................... 2
1.10 Nomination of Directors......................................................................... 3
1.11 Notice of Business at Annual Meetings........................................................... 3
1.12 Action without Meeting.......................................................................... 4
1.13 Organization.................................................................................... 5
ARTICLE II DIRECTORS....................................................................................... 5
2.1 General Powers.................................................................................. 5
2.2 Number, Election and Qualification.............................................................. 5
2.3 Classes of Directors............................................................................ 5
2.4 Terms of Office................................................................................. 6
2.5 Allocation of Directors Among Classes in the Event of Increases or Decreases in the Number of
Directors....................................................................................... 6
2.6 Vacancies....................................................................................... 6
2.7 Resignation..................................................................................... 6
2.8 Regular Meetings................................................................................ 6
2.9 Special Meetings................................................................................ 6
2.10 Notice of Special Meetings...................................................................... 7
2.11 Meetings by Telephone Conference Calls.......................................................... 7
2.12 Quorum.......................................................................................... 7
2.13 Action at Meeting............................................................................... 7
2.14 Action by Consent............................................................................... 7
2.15 Removal......................................................................................... 7
2.16 Committees...................................................................................... 7
2.17 Compensation of Directors....................................................................... 8
ARTICLE III OFFICERS........................................................................................ 8
3.1 Titles.......................................................................................... 8
3.2 Election........................................................................................ 8
3.3 Qualification................................................................................... 8
3.4 Tenure.......................................................................................... 8
3.5 Resignation and Removal......................................................................... 8
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3.6 Vacancies....................................................................................... 9
3.7 Chairman of the Board........................................................................... 9
3.8 President; Chief Executive Officer.............................................................. 9
3.9 Vice Presidents................................................................................. 9
3.10 Secretary and Assistant Secretaries............................................................. 10
3.11 Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers.............................................................. 10
3.12 Salaries........................................................................................ 10
ARTICLE IV CAPITAL STOCK................................................................................... 11
4.1 Issuance of Stock............................................................................... 11
4.2 Certificates of Stock........................................................................... 11
4.3 Transfers....................................................................................... 11
4.4 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.......................................................... 12
4.5 Record Date..................................................................................... 12
ARTICLE V GENERAL PROVISIONS.............................................................................. 12
5.1 Fiscal Year..................................................................................... 12
5.2 Corporate Seal.................................................................................. 12
5.3 Waiver of Notice............................................................................... 12
5.4 Voting of Securities............................................................................ 13
5.5 Evidence of Authority........................................................................... 13
5.6 Certificate of Incorporation.................................................................... 13
5.7 Transactions with Interested Parties............................................................ 13
5.8 Severability.................................................................................... 13
5.9 Pronouns....................................................................................... 14
ARTICLE VI AMENDMENTS...................................................................................... 14
6.1 By the Board of Directors....................................................................... 14
6.2 By the Stockholders............................................................................. 14
6.3 Certain Provisions.............................................................................. 14
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ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
1.1 Place of Meetings. All meetings of stockholders shall be held at
such place as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors, the
Chairman of the Board or the President or, if not so designated, at the
principal office of the corporation.
1.2 Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders for the election
of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be
brought before the meeting shall be held on a date and at a time designated by
the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President (which date
shall not be a legal holiday in the place where the meeting is to be held). If
no annual meeting is held in accordance with the foregoing provisions, a special
meeting may be held in lieu of the annual meeting, and any action taken at that
special meeting shall have the same effect as if it had been taken at the annual
meeting, and in such case all references in these By-laws to the annual meeting
of the stockholders shall be deemed to refer to such special meeting.
1.3 Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders may be called at
any time by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President or the Board
of Directors. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall
be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice
of meeting.
1.4 Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by law, written
notice of each meeting of stockholders, whether annual or special, shall be
given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to
each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. Without limiting the manner
by which notice otherwise may be given to stockholders, any notice shall be
effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to (in a
manner consistent with the Delaware General Corporation Law) by the stockholder
to whom the notice is given. The notices of all meetings shall state the place,
date and time of the meeting and the means of remote communications, if any, by
which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and
vote at such meeting. The notice of a special meeting shall state, in addition,
the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. If notice is given by
mail, such notice shall be deemed given when deposited in the United States
mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder's address
as it appears on the records of the corporation. If notice is given by
electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed given at the time specified
in Section 232 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
1.5 Voting List. The Secretary shall prepare, at least 10 days before
every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to
vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of
each stockholder and the number 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, for a period of at least 10 days prior to
the meeting: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that
the information required to gain access to such list is provided with notice of
the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of
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business of the corporation. 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.
1.6 Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of
Incorporation or these By-laws, the holders of a majority of the shares of the
capital stock of the corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at
the meeting, present in person, present by means of remote communication in a
manner, if any, authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, or
represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
A quorum, once established at a meeting, shall not be broken by the withdrawal
of enough votes to leave less than a quorum.
1.7 Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned from
time to time to any other time and to any other place at which a meeting of
stockholders may be held under these By-laws by the stockholders present or
represented at the meeting and entitled to vote, although less than a quorum,
or, if no stockholder is present, by any officer entitled to preside at or to
act as secretary of such meeting. It shall not be necessary to notify any
stockholder of any adjournment of less than 30 days if the time and place of the
adjourned meeting, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which
stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at
such adjourned meeting, are announced at the meeting at which adjournment is
taken, unless after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned
meeting. At the adjourned meeting, the corporation may transact any business
which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
1.8 Voting and Proxies. Each stockholder shall have one vote for each
share of stock entitled to vote held of record by such stockholder and a
proportionate vote for each fractional share so held, unless otherwise provided
by law or the Certificate of Incorporation. Each stockholder of record entitled
to vote at a meeting of stockholders may vote in person or may authorize another
person or persons to vote for such stockholder by a proxy executed or
transmitted in a manner permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware by
the stockholder or such stockholder's authorized agent and delivered (including
by electronic transmission) to the Secretary of the corporation. No such proxy
shall be voted upon after three years from the date of its execution, unless the
proxy expressly provides for a longer period.
1.9 Action at Meeting. When a quorum is present at any meeting, any
matter other than the election of directors to be voted upon by the stockholders
at such meeting shall be decided by the vote of the holders of shares of stock
having a majority of the votes cast by the holders of all of the shares of stock
present or represented and voting on such matter (or if there are two or more
classes of stock entitled to vote as separate classes, then in the case of each
such class, the holders of a majority of the stock of that class present or
represented and voting on such matter), except when a different vote is required
by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws. When a quorum is
present at any meeting, any election by stockholders of directors shall be
determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote
on the election.
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1.10 Nomination of Directors. Only persons who are nominated in
accordance with the following procedures shall be eligible for election as
directors. Nomination for election to the Board of Directors of the corporation
at a meeting of stockholders may be made by the Board of Directors or by any
stockholder of the corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors at
such meeting who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section
1.10. Such nominations, other than those made by or on behalf of the Board of
Directors, shall be made by notice in writing delivered or mailed by first class
United States mail, postage prepaid, to the Secretary, and received not less
than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to such meeting; provided, however,
that if less than 70 days' notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the
meeting is given to stockholders, such nomination shall have been mailed or
delivered to the Secretary not later than the close of business on the 10th day
following the date on which the notice of the meeting was mailed or such public
disclosure was made, whichever occurs first. Such notice shall set forth (a) as
to each proposed nominee (i) the name, age, business address and, if known,
residence address of each such nominee, (ii) the principal occupation or
employment of each such nominee, (iii) the number of shares of stock of the
corporation which are beneficially owned by each such nominee, and (iv) any
other information concerning the nominee that must be disclosed as to nominees
in proxy solicitations pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (including such person's written consent to be named as
a nominee and to serve as a director if elected); and (b) as to the stockholder
giving the notice (i) the name and address, as they appear on the corporation's
books, of such stockholder and (ii) the class and number of shares of the
corporation which are beneficially owned by such stockholder. The corporation
may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may
reasonably be required by the corporation to determine the eligibility of such
proposed nominee to serve as a director of the corporation.
The chairman of the meeting may, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to
the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing
procedure, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and
the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
1.11 Notice of Business at Annual Meetings. At an annual meeting of the
stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly
brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting,
business must be (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement
thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (b) otherwise
properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors, or (c) otherwise properly brought before an annual meeting by a
stockholder. For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a
stockholder, if such business relates to the election of directors of the
corporation, the procedures in Section 1.10 must be complied with. If such
business relates to any other matter, the stockholder must have given timely
notice thereof in writing to the Secretary. To be timely, a stockholder's notice
must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices
of the corporation not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the
meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than 70 days' notice or
prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to
stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not
later than the close of business on the 10th day following the date on which
such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was
made, whichever occurs first. A stockholder's notice to the Secretary shall set
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forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual
meeting (a) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the
annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual
meeting, (b) the name and address, as they appear on the corporation's books, of
the stockholder proposing such business, (c) the class and number of shares of
the corporation which are beneficially owned by the stockholder, and (d) any
material interest of the stockholder in such business. Notwithstanding anything
in these By-laws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at any annual
meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.11
and except that any stockholder proposal which complies with Rule 14a-8 of the
proxy rules (or any successor provision) promulgated under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is to be included in the corporation's
proxy statement for an annual meeting of stockholders shall be deemed to comply
with the requirements of this Section 1.11
The chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare
to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 1.11, and if he should so
determine, the chairman shall so declare to the meeting that any such business
not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.
1.12 Action without Meeting. Unless otherwise provided in the
Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken by
stockholders for or in connection with any corporate action may be taken without
a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in
writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of
outstanding stock having not less than the 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 Delaware by hand or
certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to its principal place
of business or to an officer or agent of the corporation having custody of the
book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Each such
written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs
the consent. No written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action
referred to therein unless written consents signed by a number of stockholders
sufficient to take such action are delivered to the corporation in the manner
specified in this paragraph within sixty days of the earliest dated consent so
delivered.
If action is taken by consent of stockholders and in accordance with the
foregoing, there shall be filed with the records of the meetings of stockholders
the writing or writings comprising such consent.
If action is taken by less than unanimous consent of stockholders, prompt notice
of the taking of such action without a meeting shall be given to those who have
not consented in writing and a certificate signed and attested to by the
Secretary of the corporation that such notice was given shall be filed with the
records of the meetings of stockholders.
In the event that the action which is consented to is such as would have
required the filing of a certificate under any provision of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, if such action had been voted upon by
the stockholders at a meeting thereof, the certificate filed under
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such provision shall state, in lieu of any statement required by such provision
concerning a vote of stockholders, that written consent has been given under
Section 228 of said General Corporation Law and that written notice has been
given as provided in such Section 228.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time the corporation shall have a class
of stock registered pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, for so long as such class is registered, any action by the
stockholders of such class must be taken at an annual or special meeting of
stockholders and may not be taken by written consent.
1.13 Organization. The Chairman of the Board, or in his absence the
Vice Chairman of the Board designated by the Chairman of the Board, or the
President, in the order named, shall call meetings of the stockholders to order,
and shall act as chairman of such meeting; provided, however, that the Board of
Directors may appoint any stockholder to act as chairman of any meeting in the
absence of the Chairman of the Board. The Secretary of the corporation shall act
as secretary at all meetings of the stockholders; but in the absence of the
Secretary at any meeting of the stockholders, the presiding officer may appoint
any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS
2.1 General Powers. The business and affairs of the corporation shall
be managed by or under the direction of a Board of Directors, who may exercise
all of the powers of the corporation except as otherwise provided by law, the
Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws. In the event of a vacancy in the
Board of Directors, the remaining directors, except as otherwise provided by
law, may exercise the powers of the full Board until the vacancy is filled.
2.2 Number, Election and Qualification. The number of directors which
shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be determined by resolution
of the Board of Directors, but in no event shall be less than three. The number
of directors may be decreased at any time and from time to time by a majority of
the directors then in office, but only to eliminate vacancies existing by reason
of the death, resignation, removal or expiration of the term of one or more
directors. The directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders
by such stockholders as have the right to vote on such election. Directors need
not be stockholders of the corporation.
2.3 Classes of Directors. The Board of Directors shall be and is
divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. No one class shall
have more than one director more than any other class. If a fraction is
contained in the quotient arrived at by dividing the designated number of
directors by three, then, if such fraction is one-third, the extra director
shall be a member of Class III, and if such fraction is two-thirds, one of the
extra directors shall be a member of Class III and one of the extra directors
shall be a member of Class II, unless otherwise provided from time to time by
resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.
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2.4 Terms of Office. Each director shall serve for a term ending on the
date of the third annual meeting following the annual meeting at which such
director was elected; provided, that each initial director in Class I shall
serve for a term ending on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders in
2000; each initial director in Class II shall serve for a term ending on the
date of the annual meeting of stockholders in 2001; and each initial director in
Class III shall serve for a term ending on the date of the annual meeting of
stockholders in 2002; and provided further, that the term of each director shall
be subject to the election and qualification of his successor and to his earlier
death, resignation or removal.
2.5 Allocation of Directors Among Classes in the Event of Increases or
Decreases in the Number of Directors. In the event of any increase or decrease
in the authorized number of directors, (i) each director then serving as such
shall nevertheless continue as a director of the class of which he is a member
and (ii) the newly created or eliminated directorships resulting from such
increase or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board of Directors among the
three classes of directors so as to ensure that no one class has more than one
director more than any other class. To the extent possible, consistent with the
foregoing rule, any newly created directorships shall be added to those classes
whose terms of office are to expire at the latest dates following such
allocation, and any newly eliminated directorships shall be subtracted from
those classes whose terms of offices are to expire at the earliest dates
following such allocation, unless otherwise provided from time to time by
resolution adopted by the Board of Director
2.6 Vacancies. Any vacancy in the Board of Directors, however
occurring, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of the size of the
Board, shall be filled only by vote of a majority of the directors then in
office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. A director
elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of his
predecessor in office, and a director chosen to fill a position resulting from
an increase in the number of directors shall hold office until the next election
of the class for which such director shall have been chosen, subject to the
election and qualification of his successor and to his earlier death,
resignation or removal.
2.7 Resignation. Any director may resign by delivering his written
resignation to the corporation at its principal office or to the President or
Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is
specified to be effective at some other time or upon the happening of some other
event.
2.8 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be
held without notice at such time and place, either within or without the State
of Delaware, as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors;
provided that any director who is absent when such a determination is made shall
be given notice of the determination. A regular meeting of the Board of
Directors may be held without notice immediately after and at the same place as
the annual meeting of stockholders.
2.9 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be
held at any time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, designated
in a call by the Chairman of the Board, President, two or more directors, or by
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one director in the event that there is only a single director in office.
2.10 Notice of Special Meetings. Notice of any special meeting of
directors shall be given to each director by the Secretary or by the officer or
one of the directors calling the meeting. Notice shall be duly given to each
director (i) by giving notice to such director in person or by telephone at
least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, (ii) by sending a telegram, telecopy,
telex or electronic mail message, or delivering written notice by hand, to his
last known business or home address at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting,
or (iii) by mailing written notice to his last known business or home address at
least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. A notice or waiver of notice of a
meeting of the Board of Directors need not specify the purposes of the meeting.
2.11 Meetings by Telephone Conference Calls. Directors or any members
of any committee designated by the directors may participate in a meeting of the
Board of Directors or such committee by means of conference telephone or similar
communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the
meeting can hear each other, and participation by such means shall constitute
presence in person at such meeting
2.12 Quorum. A majority of the total number of the whole Board of
Directors shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the Board of Directors.
In the event one or more of the directors shall be disqualified to vote at any
meeting, then the required quorum shall be reduced by one for each such director
so disqualified; provided, however, that in no case shall less than one-third
(1/3) of the number so fixed constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum at
any such meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting
from time to time without further notice other than announcement at the meeting,
until a quorum shall be present.
2.13 Action at Meeting. At any meeting of the Board of Directors at
which a quorum is present, the vote of a majority of those present shall be
sufficient to take any action, unless a different vote is specified by law, the
Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws.
2.14 Action by Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at
any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee of the Board of
Directors may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board or
committee, as the case may be, consent to the action in writing, and the written
consents are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.
2.15 Removal. Directors of the corporation may be removed only for
cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the shares of the
capital stock of the corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote.
2.16 Committees. The Board of Directors may designate one or more
committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the
corporation. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members
of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any
meeting of the committee. In the absence or
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disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members of the
committee present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or
not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of
the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or
disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the
resolution of the Board of Directors and subject to the provisions of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, shall have and may exercise
all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the
business and affairs of the corporation and may authorize the seal of the
corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. Each such
committee shall keep minutes and make such reports as the Board of Directors may
from time to time request. Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise
determine, any committee may make rules for the conduct of its business, but
unless otherwise provided by the directors or in such rules, its business shall
be conducted as nearly as possible in the same manner as is provided in these
By-laws for the Board of Directors.
2.17 Compensation of Directors. Directors may be paid such compensation
for their services and such reimbursement for expenses of attendance at meetings
as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. No such payment shall
preclude any director from serving the corporation or any of its parent or
subsidiary corporations in any other capacity and receiving compensation for
such service.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
3.1 Titles. The officers of the corporation shall consist of a
President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers with such other
titles as the Board of Directors may determine, including a Chairman of the
Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, and one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant
Treasurers, and Assistant Secretaries. The Board of Directors may appoint such
other officers as it may deem appropriate.
3.2 Election. The President, Treasurer and Secretary shall be elected
annually by the Board of Directors at its first meeting following the annual
meeting of stockholders. Other officers may be appointed by the Board of
Directors at such meeting or at any other meeting.
3.3 Qualification. No officer need be a stockholder. Any two or more
offices may be held by the same person.
3.4 Tenure. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of
Incorporation or by these By-laws, each officer shall hold office until such
officer's successor is elected and qualified, unless a different term is
specified in the resolution electing or appointing such officer, or until such
officer's earlier death, resignation or removal.
3.5 Resignation and Removal. Any officer may resign by delivering a
written resignation to the corporation at its principal office or to the Chief
Executive Officer or the Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon
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receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some later time or upon the
happening of some later event.
Any officer may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by vote
of a majority of the entire number of directors then in office.
Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine, no officer
who resigns or is removed shall have any right to any compensation as an officer
for any period following such officer's resignation or removal, or any right to
damages on account of such removal, whether such officer's compensation be by
the month or by the year or otherwise, unless such compensation is expressly
provided in a duly authorized written agreement with the corporation.
3.6 Vacancies. The Board of Directors may fill any vacancy occurring in
any office for any reason and may, in its discretion, leave unfilled for such
period as it may determine any offices other than those of President, Treasurer
and Secretary. Each such successor shall hold office for the unexpired term of
such officer's predecessor and until a successor is elected and qualified, or
until such officer's earlier death, resignation or removal.
3.7 Chairman of the Board. The Board of Directors may appoint from its
members a Chairman of the Board. If the Board of Directors appoints a Chairman
of the Board, such Chairman shall perform such duties and possess such powers as
are assigned by the Board of Directors and, if the Chairman of the Board is also
designated as the corporation's Chief Executive Officer, shall have the powers
and duties of the Chief Executive Officer prescribed in Section 3.8 of these
By-laws. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of
the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and
stockholders.
3.8 President; Chief Executive Officer. Unless the Board of Directors
has designated the Chairman of the Board or another person as the corporation's
Chief Executive Officer, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of
the corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general charge and
supervision of the business of the Corporation subject to the direction of the
Board of Directors. The President shall perform such other duties and shall have
such other powers as the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer (if
the Chairman of the Board or another person is serving in such position) may
from time to time prescribe.
3.9 Vice Presidents. Any Vice President shall perform such duties and
possess such powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may
from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal
to act of the Chief Executive Officer, the President (if the President is not
the Chief Executive Officer), and then the Vice President (or if there shall be
more than one, the Vice Presidents in the order determined by the Board of
Directors), shall perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer and when so
performing shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions
upon the Chief Executive Officer. The Board of Directors may assign to any Vice
President the title of Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or any
other title selected by the Board of Directors.
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3.10 Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary shall perform
such duties and shall have such powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief
Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe. In addition, the Secretary
shall perform such duties and have such powers as are incident to the office of
the secretary, including without limitation the duty and power to give notices
of all meetings of stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors,
to attend all meetings of stockholders and the Board of Directors and keep a
record of the proceedings, to maintain a stock ledger and prepare lists of
stockholders and their addresses as required, to be custodian of corporate
records and the corporate seal and to affix and attest to the same on documents.
Any Assistant Secretary shall perform such duties and possess such
powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary
may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or
refusal to act of the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary (or if there shall be
more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board of
Directors) shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary.
In the absence of the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary at any
meeting of stockholders or directors, the chairman of the meeting shall
designate a temporary secretary to keep a record of the meeting.
3.11 Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers. The Treasurer shall perform
such duties and shall have such powers as may from time to time be assigned by
the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. In addition, the
Treasurer shall perform such duties and have such powers as are incident to the
office of treasurer, including without limitation the duty and power to keep and
be responsible for all funds and securities of the corporation, to deposit funds
of the corporation in depositories selected in accordance with these By-laws, to
disburse such funds as ordered by the Board of Directors, to make proper
accounts of such funds, and to render as required by the Board of Directors
statements of all such transactions and of the financial condition of the
corporation.
The Assistant Treasurers shall perform such duties and possess such
powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Treasurer
may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or
refusal to act of the Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer (or if there shall be
more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order determined by the Board of
Directors) shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer.
3.12 Salaries. Officers of the corporation shall be entitled to such
salaries, compensation or reimbursement as shall be fixed or allowed from time
to time by the Board of Directors.
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ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL STOCK
4.1 Issuance of Stock. Unless otherwise voted by the stockholders and
subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the whole or any
part of any unissued balance of the authorized capital stock of the corporation
or the whole or any part of any shares of the authorized capital stock of the
corporation held in the corporation's treasury may be issued, sold, transferred
or otherwise disposed of by vote of the Board of Directors in such manner, for
such lawful consideration and on such terms as the Board of Directors may
determine.
4.2 Certificates of Stock. Every holder of stock of the corporation
shall be entitled to have a certificate, in such form as may be prescribed by
law and by the Board of Directors, certifying the number and class of shares
owned by such holder in the corporation. Each such certificate shall be signed
by, or in the name of the corporation by, the Chairman or Vice Chairman, if any,
of the Board of Directors, or the President or a Vice President, and the
Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
of the corporation. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a
facsimile.
Each certificate for shares of stock which are subject to any
restriction on transfer pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, these
By-laws, applicable securities laws or any agreement among any number of
stockholders or among such holders and the corporation shall have conspicuously
noted on the face or back of the certificate either the full text of the
restriction or a statement of the existence of such restriction.
There shall be set forth on the face or back of each certificate
representing shares of such class or series of stock of the corporation a
statement that the corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder
who so requests a copy of the full text of the powers, designations, preferences
and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of
stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of
such preferences and/or rights.
4.3 Transfers. Except as otherwise established by rules and regulations
adopted by the Board of Directors, and subject to applicable law, shares of
stock may be transferred on the books of the corporation by the surrender to the
corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate representing such shares
properly endorsed or accompanied by a written assignment or power of attorney
properly executed, and with such proof of authority or the authenticity of
signature as the corporation or its transfer agent may reasonably require.
Except as may be otherwise required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation
or by these By-laws, the corporation shall be entitled to treat the record
holder of stock as shown on its books as the owner of such stock for all
purposes, including the payment of dividends and the right to vote with respect
to such stock, regardless of any transfer, pledge or other disposition of such
stock until the shares have been transferred on the books of the corporation in
accordance with the requirements of these By-laws.
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4.4 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The corporation may issue a
new certificate of stock in place of any previously issued certificate alleged
to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, upon such terms and conditions as the
Board of Directors may prescribe, including the presentation of reasonable
evidence of such loss, theft or destruction and the giving of such indemnity as
the Board of Directors may require for the protection of the corporation or any
transfer agent or registrar.
4.5 Record Date. The Board of Directors may fix in advance a date as a
record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of or
to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights in respect of any
change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful
action. Such record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before
the date of such meeting, nor more than 60 days prior to any other action to
which such record date relates.
If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining
stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall
be at the close of business on the day before the day on which notice is given,
or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day before the day on
which the meeting is held. If no record date is fixed, the record date for
determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business
on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating to
such purpose.
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.
ARTICLE V
GENERAL PROVISIONS
5.1 Fiscal Year. Except as from time to time otherwise designated by
the Board of Directors, the fiscal year of the corporation shall begin on the
first day of January of each year and end on the last day of December in each
year.
5.2 Corporate Seal. The corporate seal shall be in such form as shall
be approved by the Board of Directors.
5.3 Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given by law,
by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws, a written waiver signed
by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the
person entitled to notice, whether before, at or after the time stated in such
notice, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a
meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the
person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning
of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not
lawfully called or convened.
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5.4 Voting of Securities. Except as the Board of Directors may
otherwise designate, the President or the Treasurer may waive notice of, and act
as, or appoint any person or persons to act as, proxy or attorney-in-fact for
this corporation (with or without power of substitution) at any meeting of
stockholders or shareholders of any other corporation or organization, the
securities of which may be held by this corporation.
5.5 Evidence of Authority. A certificate by the Secretary, or an
Assistant Secretary, or a temporary Secretary, as to any action taken by the
stockholders, directors, a committee or any officer or representative of the
corporation shall as to all persons who rely on the certificate in good faith be
conclusive evidence of such action.
5.6 Certificate of Incorporation. All references in these By-laws to
the Certificate of Incorporation shall be deemed to refer to the Certificate of
Incorporation of the corporation, as amended and in effect from time to time.
5.7 Transactions with Interested Parties. No contract or transaction
between the corporation and one or more of the directors or officers, or between
the corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association, or other
organization in which one or more of the directors or officers are directors or
officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for
this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or
participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee of the
Board of Directors at which the contract or transaction is authorized or solely
because any such director's or officer's votes are counted for such purpose, if:
(a) The material facts as to the director's or officer's
relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or
are known to the Board of Directors or the committee, and the Board or committee
in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of
a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested
directors be less than a quorum;
(b) The material facts as to the director's or officer's
relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or
are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or
transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders;
or
(c) The contract or transaction is fair as to the corporation
as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the Board of
Directors, a committee of the Board of Directors, or the stockholders.
Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the
presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee
which authorizes the contract or transaction.
5.8 Severability. Any determination that any provision of these By-laws
is for any reason inapplicable, illegal or ineffective shall not affect or
invalidate any other provision of these By-laws.
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5.9 Pronouns. All pronouns used in these By-laws shall be deemed to
refer to the masculine, feminine or neuter, singular or plural, as the identity
of the person or persons may require.
ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENTS
6.1 By the Board of Directors. These By-laws may be altered, amended or
repealed or new by-laws may be adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of
the directors present at any regular or special meeting of the Board of
Directors at which a quorum is present.
6.2 By the Stockholders. Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.3,
these By-laws may be altered, amended or repealed or new by-laws may be adopted
by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the
capital stock of the corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at
any regular or special meeting of stockholders, provided notice of such
alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption of new by-laws shall have been stated
in the notice of such regular or special meeting.
6.3 Certain Provisions. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, and notwithstanding the fact that
a lesser percentage may be specified by law, the affirmative vote of the holders
of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the shares of the
capital stock of the corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote
shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent
with Section 1.3, Section 1.10, Section 1.11, Section 1.12, Section 1.13,
Article 2 or Article 6 of these By-laws.
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