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EXHIBIT 3.2
BY-LAWS
OF
INVESTMENT AGENTS, INC.
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. PRINCIPAL OFFICE. The principal office for the transaction of
business of the corporation shall be fixed or may be changed by approval of a
majority of the authorized Directors, and additional offices may be established
and maintained at such other place or places as the Board of Directors may from
time to time designate.
Section 2. OTHER OFFICES. Branch or subordinate offices may at any time
be established by the Board of Directors at any place or places where the
corporation is qualified to do business.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS - MANAGEMENT
Section 1. RESPONSIBILITY OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Subject to the
provisions of applicable law and to any limitations in the Articles of
Incorporation of the corporation relating to action required to be approved by
the Shareholders, or by the outstanding shares, the business and affairs of the
corporation shall be managed and all corporate powers shall be exercised by or
under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board may delegate the
management of the day-to-day operation of the business of the corporation to an
executive committee or others, provided that the business and affairs of the
corporation shall be managed and all corporate powers shall be exercised under
the ultimate direction of the Board.
Section 2. STANDARD OF CARE. Each Director shall perform the duties of a
Director, including the duties as a member of any committee of the Board upon
which the Director may serve, in good faith, in a manner such Director believes
to be in the best interests of the corporation, and with such care, including
reasonable inquiry, as an ordinary prudent person in a like position would use
under similar circumstances.
Section 3. NUMBER AND QUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS. The authorized number
of Directors shall be three (3) until changed by
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a duly adopted amendment to the Articles of Incorporation or by an amendment to
this by-law adopted by the vote or written consent of holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares entitled to vote.
Section 4. ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS. Directors shall be
elected at each annual meeting of the Shareholders to hold office until the
next annual meeting. Each Director, including a Director elected to fill a
vacancy, shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which elected
and until a successor has been elected and qualified.
Section 5. VACANCIES. Vacancies in the Board of Directors may be filled
by a majority of the remaining Directors, though less than a quorum, or by a
sole remaining Director, except that a vacancy created by the removal of a
Director by the vote or written consent of the Shareholders or by court order
may be filled only by the vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote
represented at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present, or by the
written consent of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to
vote. Each Director so elected shall hold office until the next annual meeting
of the Shareholders and until a successor has been elected and qualified.
A vacancy or vacancies in the Board of Directors shall be deemed to
exist in the event of the death, resignation, or removal of any Director, or if
the Board of Directors by resolution declares vacant the office of a Director
who has been declared of unsound mind by an order of court or convicted of a
felony, or if the authorized number of Directors is increased, or if the
Shareholders fail, at any meeting of Shareholders at which any Director or
Directors are elected, to elect the number of Directors to be voted for at that
meeting.
The Shareholders may elect a Director or Directors at any time to fill
any vacancy or vacancies not filled by the Directors, but any such election by
written consent shall require the consent of a majority of the outstanding
shares entitled to vote.
Any Director may resign effective on giving written notice to the
Chairman of the Board, the President, the Secretary, or the Board of Directors,
unless the notice specifies a later time for that resignation to become
effective. If the resignation of a Director is effective at a future time, the
Board of Directors may elect a successor to take office when the resignation
becomes effective.
No reduction of the authorized number of Directors shall have the effect
of removing any Director before that Directors' term of office expires.
Section 6. REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS. Subject to applicable law, the entire
Board of Directors or any individual Director may
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be removed from office. In such case, the remaining Board members may elect a
successor Director to fill such vacancy for the remaining unexpired term of the
Director so removed.
Section 7. NOTICE, PLACE AND MANNER OF MEETINGS. Meetings of the Board
of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, or the President, or
any Vice President, or the Secretary, or any two (2) Directors and shall be held
at the principal executive office of the corporation, unless some other place is
designated in the notice of the meeting. Members of the Board may participate in
a meeting through use of a conference telephone or similar communications
equipment so long as all members participating in such a meeting can hear one
another. Accurate minutes of any meeting of the Board or any committee thereof,
shall be maintained by the Secretary or other Officer designated for that
purpose.
Section 8. ORGANIZATIONAL MEETINGS. The organizational meetings of the
Board of Directors shall be held immediately following the adjournment of the
Annual Meetings of the Shareholders.
Section 9. OTHER REGULAR MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the Board of
Directors shall be held at the corporate offices, or such other place as may be
designated by the Board of Directors, as follows:
Time of Regular Meeting: 9:00 A.M.
Date of Regular Meeting: Last Friday of every month
If said day shall fall upon a holiday, such meetings shall be held on
the next succeeding business day thereafter. No notice need be given of such
regular meetings.
Section 10. SPECIAL MEETINGS - NOTICES - WAIVERS. Special meetings of
the Board may be called at any time by the President or, if he or she is absent
or unable or refuses to act, by any Vice President or the Secretary or by any
two (2) Directors, or by one (1) Director if only one is provided.
At least forty-eight (48) hours notice of the time and place of special
meetings shall be delivered personally to the Directors or personally
communicated to them by a corporate Officer by telephone or telegraph. If the
notice is sent to a Director by letter, it shall be addressed to him or her at
his or her address as it is shown upon the records of the corporation, or if it
is not so shown on such records or if not readily ascertainable, at the place in
which the meetings of the Directors are regularly held. In case such notice is
mailed, it shall be deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, in the
place in which the principal executive officer of the corporation is located at
least four (4) days prior to the time of the holding of the meeting. Such
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mailing, telegraphing, telephoning or delivery as above provided shall be due,
legal and personal notice to such Director.
When all of the Directors are present at any Directors' meeting,
however, called or noticed, and either (i) sign a written consent thereto on the
records of such meeting, or, (ii) if a majority of the Directors is present and
if those not present sign a waiver of notice of such meeting or a consent to
holding the meeting or an approval of the minute thereof, whether prior to or
after the holding of such meeting, which said waiver, consent or approval shall
be filed with the Secretary of the corporation, or, (iii) if a Director attends
a meeting without notice but without protesting, prior thereto or at its
commencement, the lack of notice, then the transactions thereof are as valid as
if had at a meeting regularly called and noticed.
Section 11. DIRECTORS' ACTION BY UNANIMOUS WRITTEN CONSENT. Any action
required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors may be taken without
a meeting and with the same force and effect as if taken by a unanimous vote of
Directors, if authorized by a writing signed individually or collectively by all
members of the Board. Such consent shall be filed with the regular minutes of
the Board.
Section 12. QUORUM. A majority of the number of Directors as fixed by
the Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws shall be necessary to constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business, and the action of a majority of the
Directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum, when duly
assembled, is valid as a corporate act; provided that a minority of the
Directors, in the absence of a quorum, may adjourn from time to time, but may
not transact any business. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may
continue to transact business, notwithstanding the withdrawal of Directors, if
any action taken is approved by a majority of the required quorum for such
meeting.
Section 13. NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT. Notice of the time and place of
holding an adjourned meeting need not be given to absent Directors if the time
and place be fixed at the meeting adjourned and held within twenty-four (24)
hours, but if adjourned more than twenty-four (24) hours, notice shall be given
to all Directors not present at the time of the adjournment.
Section 14. COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS. Directors, as such, shall not
receive any stated salary for their services, but by resolution of the Board a
fixed sum and expense of attendance, if any, may be allowed for attendance at
each regular and special meeting of the Board; provided that nothing herein
contained shall be construed to preclude any Director from serving the
corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
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Section 15. COMMITTEES. Committees of the Board may be appointed by
resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board. Committees shall be composed
of two (2) or more members of the Board and shall have such powers of the Board
as may be expressly delegated to it by resolution of the Board of Directors,
except those powers expressly made non-delegable by applicable law.
Section 16. ADVISORY DIRECTORS. The Board of Directors from time to time
may elect one or more persons to be Advisory Directors who shall not by such
appointment be members of the Board of Directors. Advisory Directors shall be
available from time to time to perform special assignments specified by the
President, to attend meetings of the Board of Directors upon invitation and to
furnish consultation to the Board. The period during which the title shall be
held may be prescribed by the Board of Directors. If no period is prescribed,
the title shall be held at the pleasure of the Board.
Section 17. RESIGNATIONS. Any Director may resign effective upon giving
written notice to the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Secretary or the
Board of Directors of the Corporation, unless the notice specifies a later time
for the effectiveness of such resignation. If the resignation is effective at a
future time, a successor may be elected to take office when the resignation
becomes effective.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
Section 1. OFFICERS. The Officers of the corporation shall be a
President, a Secretary, and a Chief Financial Officer. The corporation may also
have, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, a Chairman of the Board, one
or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries, or one or more
Assistant Treasurers, and such other Officers as may be appointed in accordance
with the provisions of Section 3 of this Article. Any number of offices may be
held by the same person.
Section 2. ELECTION. The Officers of the corporation, except such
Officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 or
Section 5 of this Article, shall be chosen annually by the Board of Directors,
and each shall hold office until he or she shall resign or shall be removed or
otherwise disqualified to serve or a successor shall be elected and qualified.
Section 3. SUBORDINATE OFFICERS, ETC. The Board of Directors may appoint
such other Officers as the business of the corporation may require, each of whom
shall hold office for such
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period, have such authority and perform such duties as are provided by the
By-Laws or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Section 4. REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS. Subject to the rights,
if any, of any Officer under any contract of employment, any Officer may be
removed, either with or without cause, by the Board of Directors, at any regular
or special meeting of the Board, or except in case of an Officer chosen by the
Board of Directors by any Officer upon whom such power of removal may be
conferred by the Board of Directors.
Any Officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the
corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of
that notice or at any later time specified in that notice; and, unless otherwise
specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be
necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the
rights, if any, of the corporation under any contract to which the Officer is a
party.
Section 5. VACANCIES. A vacancy in any office because of death,
resignation, removal, disqualification or any other cause shall be filed in the
manner prescribed in the By-Laws for regular appointment to that office.
Section 6. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The Chairman of the Board, if such an
officer be elected, shall, if present, preside at meetings of the Board of
Directors and exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may be from
time to time assigned by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the By-Laws. If
there is no President, the Chairman of the Board shall in addition be the Chief
Executive Officer of the corporation and shall have the powers and duties
prescribed in Section 7 of this Article.
Section 7. PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. Subject to such
supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the Board of Directors to the
Chairman of the Board, if there be such an Officer, the President shall be the
Chief Executive Officer of the corporation and shall, subject to the control of
the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction and control of the
business and Officers of the corporation. He or she shall preside at all
meetings of the Shareholders and in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, or
if there be none, at all meetings of the Board of Directors. The President shall
be ex officio a member of all the standing committees, including the Executive
Committee, if any, and shall have the general powers and duties of management
usually vested in the office of President of a corporation, and shall have such
other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the
By-Laws.
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Section 8. VICE PRESIDENT. In the absence or disability of the
President, the Vice Presidents, if any, in order of their rank as fixed by the
Board of Directors, or if not ranked, the Vice President designated by the Board
of Directors, shall perform all the duties of the President, and when so acting
shall have all the powers of, and be subject to, all the restrictions upon, the
President. The Vice Presidents shall have such other powers and perform such
other duties as from time to time may be prescribed for them respectively by the
Board of Directors or the By-Laws.
Section 9. SECRETARY. The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, a
book of minutes at the principal office or such other place as the Board of
Directors may order, of all meetings of Directors and Shareholders, with the
time and place of holding, whether regular or special, and if special, how
authorized, the notice thereof given, the names of those present at Directors'
meetings, the number of shares present or represented at Shareholders' meetings
and the proceedings thereof.
The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal office
or at the office of the corporation's transfer agent, a share register, or
duplicate share register showing the names of the Shareholders and their
addresses, the number and classes of shares held by each, the number and date of
certificates issued for the same, and the number and date of cancellation of
every certificate surrendered for cancellation.
The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all the
meetings of the Shareholders and of the Board of Directors required by the
By-Laws or by law to be given. He or she shall keep the seal of the corporation
in safe custody, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties
as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or by the By-Laws.
Section 10. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. The Chief Financial Officer shall
keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, adequate and correct accounts of the
properties and business transactions of the corporation, including accounts of
its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital,
earnings (or surplus) and shares. The books of accounts shall at all reasonable
times be open to inspection by any Director.
This Officer shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name
and to the credit of the corporation with such depositaries as may be
designated by the Board of Directors. He or she shall disburse the funds of the
corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, shall render to the
President and Directors, whenever they request it, an account of all of his or
her transactions and of the financial condition of the corporation, and shall
have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the
Board of Directors or the By-Laws.
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ARTICLE IV
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS
Section 1. PLACE OF MEETINGS. All meetings of the Shareholders shall be
held at the principal executive office of the corporation unless some other
appropriate and convenient location be designated for that purpose from time to
time by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. ANNUAL MEETINGS. The annual meetings of the Shareholders
shall be held, each year, at the time and on the day following:
Time of Meeting: 10:00 A.M.
Date of Meeting: April 20th
If this day shall be a legal holiday, then the meeting shall be held on
the next succeeding business day, at the same hour. At the annual meeting, the
Shareholders shall elect a Board of Directors, consider reports of the affairs
of the corporation and transact such other business as may be properly brought
before the meeting.
Section 3. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Shareholders may be
called at any time by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the
President, a Vice President, the Secretary, or by one or more Shareholders
holding not less than one-tenth (1/10) of the voting power of the corporation.
Except as next provided, notice shall be given as for the annual meeting.
Upon receipt of a written request addressed to the Chairman, President,
Vice President, or Secretary, mailed or delivered personally to such Officer by
any person (other than the Board) entitled to call a special meeting of
Shareholders, such Officer shall cause notice to be given, to the Shareholders
entitled to vote, that a meeting will be held at a time requested by the person
or persons calling the meeting, not less than thirty-five (35) nor more than
sixty (60) days after the receipt of such request. If such notice is not given
within twenty (20) days after receipt of such request, the persons calling the
meeting may give notice thereof in the same manner provided by these By-Laws.
Section 4. NOTICE OF MEETINGS - REPORTS. Notice of meetings, annual or
special, shall be given in writing not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty
(60) days before the date of the meeting to Shareholders entitled to vote
thereat. Such notice shall be given by the Secretary or the Assistant Secretary,
or if there be no such Officer, or in the case of his or her neglect or refusal,
by any Director or Shareholder.
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Such notices or any reports shall be given personally or by mail and
shall be sent to the Shareholder's address appearing on the books of the
corporation, or supplied by him or her to the corporation for the purpose of the
notice.
Notice of any meeting of Shareholders shall specify the place, the day
and the hour of meeting, and (1) in case of a special meeting, the general
nature of the business to be transacted and no other business may be transacted,
or (2) in the case of an annual meeting, those matters which Board at date of
mailing, intends to present for action by the Shareholders. At any meetings
where Directors are to be elected notice shall include the names of the
nominees, if any, intended at date of notice to be presented by management for
election.
If a Shareholder supplies no address, notice shall be deemed to have
been given if mailed to the place where the principal executive office of the
corporation is situated, or published at least once in some newspaper of general
circulation in the County of said principal office.
Notice shall be deemed given at the time it is delivered personally or
deposited in the mail or sent by other means of written communication. The
Officer giving such notice or report shall prepare and file an affidavit or
declaration thereof.
When a meeting is adjourned for forty-five (45) days or more, notice of
the adjourned meeting shall be given as in case of an original meeting. Save, as
aforesaid, it shall not be necessary to give any notice of adjournment or of the
business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting other than by announcement at
the meeting at which said adjournment is taken.
Section 5. WAIVER OF NOTICE OR CONSENT BY ABSENT SHAREHOLDERS. The
transactions of any meeting of Shareholders, however called and notice, shall be
valid as through had at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a
quorum be present either in person or by proxy, and if, either before or after
the meeting, each of the Shareholders entitled to vote, not present in person or
by proxy, sign a written waiver of notice, or a consent to the holding of such
meeting or an approval shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part
of the minutes of the meeting. Attendance shall constitute a waiver of notice,
unless objection shall be made as provided in applicable law.
Section 6. SHAREHOLDERS ACTING WITHOUT A MEETING - DIRECTORS. Any action
which may be taken at a meeting of the Shareholders, may be taken without a
meeting or notice of meeting if authorized by a writing signed by all of the
Shareholders entitled to vote at a meeting for such purpose, and filed with the
Secretary of the corporation, provided, further, that while ordinarily Directors
can be elected by unanimous written consent, if the Directors fail to fill a
vacancy, then a Director to fill
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that vacancy may be elected by the written consent of persons holding a majority
of shares entitled to vote for the election of Directors.
Section 7. OTHER ACTIONS WITHOUT A MEETING. Unless otherwise provided
for under applicable law or the Articles of Incorporation, any action which may
be taken at any annual or special meeting of Shareholders may be taken without a
meeting and without prior notice, if a consent in writing, setting forth the
action so taken, signed by the holders of outstanding shares having not less
than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize to take
such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were
present and voted.
Unless the consents of all Shareholders entitled to vote have been
solicited in writing,
(1) Notice of any Shareholder approval without a meeting by less
than unanimous written consent shall be given at least ten (10) days
before the consummation of the action authorized by such approval, and
(2) Prompt notice shall be given of the taking of any other
corporate action approved by Shareholders without a meeting be less than
unanimous written consent, to each of those Shareholders entitled to
vote who have not consented in writing.
Any Shareholder giving a written consent, or the Shareholder's
proxyholders, or a transferee of the shares of a personal representative of the
Shareholder or their respective proxyholders, may revoke the consent by a
writing received by the corporation prior to the time that written consents of
the number of shares required to authorize the proposed action have been filed
with the Secretary of the corporation, but may not do so thereafter. Such
revocation is effective upon its receipt by the Secretary of the corporation.
Section 8. QUORUM. The holder of a majority of the shares entitled to
vote thereat, present in person, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a
quorum at all meetings of the Shareholders for the transaction of business
except as otherwise provided by law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or by
these By-Laws. If, however, such majority shall not be present or represented at
any meeting of the Shareholders, the shareholders entitled to vote thereat,
present in person, or by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from
time to time, until the requisite amount of voting shares shall be present. At
such adjourned meeting at which the requisite amount of voting shares shall be
represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at
a meeting as originally notified.
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If a quorum be initially present, the Shareholders may continue to
transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough
Shareholders to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken is approved by a
majority of the Shareholders required to initially constitute a quorum.
Section 9. VOTING. Only persons in whose names shares entitled to vote
stand on the stock records of the corporation on the day of any meeting of
Shareholders, unless some other day be fixed by the Board of Directors for the
determination of Shareholders of record, and then on such other day, shall be
entitled to vote at such meeting.
Provided the candidate's name has been placed in nomination prior to the
voting and one or more Shareholders has given notice at the meeting prior to the
voting of the Shareholder's intent to cumulate the Shareholder's votes, every
Shareholder entitled to vote at any election for Directors of any corporation
for profit may cumulate their votes and give one candidate a number of votes
equal to the number of Directors to be elected multiplied by the number of votes
to which his or her shares are entitled to, or distribute his or her votes on
the same principle among as many candidates as he or she thinks fit.
The candidates receiving the highest number of votes up to the number of
Directors to be elected are elected.
The Board of Directors may fix a time in the future not exceeding thirty
(30) days preceding the date of any meeting of Shareholders or the date fixed
for the payment of any dividend or distribution, or for the allotment of rights,
or when any change or conversion or exchange of shares shall go into effect, as
a record date for the determination of the Shareholders entitled to notice of
and to vote at any such meeting, or entitled to receive any such dividend or
distribution, or any allotment of rights or to exercise the rights in respect to
any such change, conversion or exchange of shares. In such case only
Shareholders of record on the date so fixed shall be entitled to notice of and
to vote at such meeting, to receive such dividends, distribution or allotment of
rights, or to exercise such rights, as the case may be notwithstanding any
transfer of any share on the books of the corporation after any record date
fixed as aforesaid. The Board of Directors may close the books of the
corporation against transfers of shares during the whole or any part of such
period.
Section 10. PROXIES. Every Shareholder entitled to vote, or to execute
consents, may do so, either in person or by written proxy, executed in
accordance with the provisions of applicable law filed with the Secretary of the
corporation.
Section 11. ORGANIZATION. The President, or in the absence of the
President, any Vice President, shall call the meeting of the Shareholders to
order, and shall act as Chairman of the meeting.
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In the absence of the President and all of the Vice Presidents, Shareholders
shall appoint a Chairman for such meeting. The Secretary of the corporation
shall act as Secretary of all meetings of the Shareholders, but in the absence
of the Secretary at any meeting of the Shareholders, the presiding Officer may
appoint any person to act as Secretary of the meeting.
Section 12. INSPECTORS OF ELECTION. In advance of any meeting of
Shareholders, the Board of Directors may, if they so elect, appoint inspectors
of election to act at such meeting or any adjournment thereof. If inspectors of
election be not so appointed, or if any persons so appointed fail to appear or
refuse to act, the chairman of any such meeting may, and on the request of any
Shareholder or his or her proxy shall, make such appointment at the meeting in
which case the number of inspectors shall be either one (1) or three (3) as
determined by a majority of the Shareholders represented at the meeting.
ARTICLE V
CERTIFICATES AND TRANSFER OF SHARES
Section 1. CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES. Certificates for shares shall be of
such form and device as the Board of Directors may designate and shall state the
name of the record holder of the shares represented thereby; its number; date of
issuance; the number of shares for which it is issued; a statement of the
rights, privileges preferences and restriction, if any; a statement as to the
redemption or conversion, if any; a statement of liens or restrictions upon
transfer or voting, if any; if the shares be assessable or, if assessments are
collectible by personal action, a plain statement of such facts.
All certificates shall be signed in the name of the corporation by the
Chairman of the Board or Vice Chairman of the Board or the President or Vice
President and by the Chief Financial Officer or an Assistant Treasurer or the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, certifying the number of shares and the
class or series of shares owned by the Shareholder.
Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be facsimile. In
case any Officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile
signature has been placed on a certificate shall have ceased to be that Officer,
transfer agent, or registrar before that certificate is issued, it may be issued
by the corporation with the same effect as if that person were an Officer,
transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issuance.
Section 2. TRANSFER ON THE BOOKS. Upon surrender to the Secretary or
transfer agent of the corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or
accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to
transfer, it shall be the duty of
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the corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto,
cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.
Section 3. LOST OR DESTROYED CERTIFICATES. Any person claiming a
certificate of stock to be lost or destroyed shall make an affidavit or
affirmation of that fact and shall, if the Directors so require, give the
corporation a bond of indemnity, in form and with one or more sureties
satisfactory to the Board, in at least double the value of the stock represented
by said certificate, whereupon a new certificate may be issued in the same
tender and for the same number of shares as the one alleged to be lost or
destroyed.
Section 4. TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS. The Board of Directors may
appoint one or more transfer agents or transfer clerks, and one or more
registrars which shall be an incorporated bank or trust company, either domestic
or foreign, who shall be appointed at such times and places as the requirements
of the corporation may necessitate and the Board of Directors may designate.
Section 5. CLOSING STOCK TRANSFER BOOKS - RECORD DATE. In order that the
corporation may determine the Shareholders entitled to notice of any meeting or
to vote or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or
allotment of any rights or entitled to exercise any rights in respect to any
other lawful action, the Board may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall
not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days prior to the date
of such meeting nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action.
If no record date is fixed; the record date for determining Shareholders
entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Shareholders shall be at the
close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which notice is
given or if notice is waived, at the close of business on the business day next
preceding the day on which the meeting is held. The record date for determining
Shareholders entitled to give consent to corporate action in writing without a
meeting, when no prior action by the Board is necessary, shall be the day on
which the first written consent is given.
The record date for determining Shareholders for any other purpose shall
be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution
relating thereto, or the sixtieth (60th) day prior to the date of such other
action, whichever is later.
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ARTICLE VI
RECORDS - REPORTS - INSPECTION
Section 1. RECORDS. The corporation shall maintain, in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, adequate and correct accounts, books
and records of its business and properties. All of such books, records and
accounts shall be kept at its principal executive office as fixed by the Board
of Directors from time to time.
Section 2. INSPECTION OF BOOKS AND RECORDS. All books and records shall
be open to inspection of the Directors and Shareholders from time to time and in
the manner provided under applicable law.
Section 3. CERTIFICATION AND INSPECTION OF BY-LAWS. The original or a
copy of these By-Laws, as amended or otherwise altered to date, certified by the
Secretary, shall be kept at the corporation's principal executive office and
shall be open to inspection by the Shareholders at all reasonable times during
office hours.
Section 4. CHECK, DRAFTS, ETC. All checks, drafts, or other orders for
payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness, issued in the name
of or payable to the corporation, shall be signed or endorsed by such person or
persons and in such manner as shall be determined from time to time by the Board
of Directors.
Section 5. CONTRACT, ETC. -- HOW EXECUTED. The Board of Directors,
except as in the By-Laws otherwise provided, may authorize any Officer or
Officers, agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument
in the name of and on behalf of the corporation. Such authority may be general
or confined to specific instances. Unless so authorized by the Board of
Directors, no Officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to
bind the corporation by any contract or agreement, or to pledge its credit, or
to render it liable for any purpose or to any amount except as may be provided
under applicable law.
ARTICLE VII
ANNUAL REPORTS
Section 1. REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS, DUE DATE. The Board of Directors
shall cause an annual report to be sent to the Share holders not later than one
hundred twenty (120) days after the close of the fiscal or calendar year adopted
by the corporation. This report shall be sent at least fifteen (15) days before
the annual meeting of Shareholders to be held during the next fiscal year and in
the manner specified in Section 4 of the Article IV of
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these By-Laws for giving notice to Shareholders of the corporation. The annual
report shall contain a balance sheet as of the end of the fiscal year and an
income statement and statement of changes in financial position for the fiscal
year, accompanied by any report of independent accountants or, if there is no
such report, the certificate of an authorized officer of the corporation that
the statements were prepared without audit from the books and records of the
corporation.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS
Section 1. AMENDMENT BY SHAREHOLDERS. New By-Laws may be adopted or
these By-Laws may be amended or repealed by the vote or written consent of
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote; provided,
however, that if the Articles of Incorporation of the corporation set forth the
number of authorized Directors of the corporation, the authorized number of
Directors may be changed only by an amendment of the Article of Incorporation.
Section 2. POWERS OF DIRECTORS. Subject to the right of the Shareholders
to adopt, amend or repeal By-Laws, as provided in Section 1 of this Article
VIII, and the limitations, if any, under law, the Board of Directors may adopt,
amend or repeal any of these By-Laws other than a By-Law or amendment thereof
changing the authorized number of Directors.
Section 3. RECORD OF AMENDMENTS. Whenever an amendment or new By-Law is
adopted, it shall be copied in the book of By-Laws with the original By-Laws, in
the appropriate place. If any By-Law is repealed, the fact of repeal with the
date of the meeting at which the repeal was enacted or written assent was filed
shall be stated in said book.
ARTICLE IX
CORPORATE SEAL
Section 1. Seal. The corporate seal shall be circular in form, and shall
have inscribed thereon the name of the corporation, the date and State of
incorporation.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. REPRESENTATION OF SHARES IN OTHER CORPORATIONS. Shares of
other corporations standing in the name of this
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corporation may be voted or represented and all incidents thereto may be
exercised on behalf of the corporation by the Chairman of the Board, the
President or any Vice President and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary.
Section 2. SUBSIDIARY CORPORATIONS. Shares of this corporation owned by
a subsidiary shall not be entitled to vote on any matter. A subsidiary for these
purposes is defined as a corporation, the shares of which possessing more than
25% of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares entitled to
vote, are owned directly or indirectly through one (1) or more subsidiaries.
Section 3. INDEMNITY. Subject to applicable law, the corporation may
indemnify any Director, Officer, agent or employee as to those liabilities and
on those terms and conditions as appropriate. In any event, the corporation
shall have the right to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any such
persons whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such
person against the liability insured against.
Section 4. ACCOUNTING YEAR. The accounting year of the corporation shall
be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.