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BY-LAWS
OF
MILLER & BENSON INTERNATIONAL, LTD.
(A DELAWARE CORPORATION)
ARTICLE I - STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Annual Meeting.
An annual meeting of the stockholders, for the election of directors to
succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business
as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, on such
date, and at such time as the Board of Directors shall each year fix, which
date shall be within thirteen months subsequent to the later of the date of
incorporation or the last annual meeting of stockholders.
Section 2. Special Meetings.
Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or purposes
prescribed in the notice of the meeting, may be called by the Board of
Directors or the President and shall be held at such place, on such date, and
at such time as they or he or she shall fix.
Section 3. Notice of Meetings.
Written notice of the place, date, and time of all meetings of the
stockholders shall be given, not less than ten nor more than sixty days before
the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to
vote at such meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law
(meaning, here and hereinafter, as required from time to time by the Delaware
General Corporation Law or the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation).
When a meeting is adjourned to another place, date or time, written
notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the place, date and time
thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken;
provided, however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than
thirty days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, or if
a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, written notice of the
place, date, and time of the adjourned meeting shall be given in conformity
herewith. At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might
have been transacted at the original meeting.
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Section 4. Quorum.
At any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority of all of
the shares of the stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or
by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for all purposes, unless or except to the
extent that the presence of a larger number may be required by law.
If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairman of the
meeting or the holders of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote
who are present, in person or by proxy, may adjourn the meeting to another
place, date, or time.
If a notice of any adjourned special meeting of stockholders is sent to
all stockholders entitled to vote thereat, stating that it will be held with
those present constituting a quorum, then except as otherwise required by law,
those present at such adjourned meeting shall constitute a quorum, and all
matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast at such meeting.
Section 5. Organization.
Such person as the Board of Directors may have designated or, in the
absence of such person, the President of the Corporation or, in his or her
absence, such person as may be chosen by the holders of a majority of the
shares entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, shall call to
order any meeting of the stockholders and act as chairman of the meeting. In
the absence of the Secretary of the Corporation, the secretary of the meeting
shall be such person as the chairman appoints.
Section 6. Conduct of Business.
The chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order
of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of the
manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seem to him or her in order.
Section 7. Proxies and Voting.
At any meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder entitled to vote
may vote in person or by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing filed in
accordance with the procedure established for the meeting.
Each stockholder shall have one vote for every share of stock entitled
to vote which is registered in his
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or her name on the record date for the meeting, except as otherwise provided
herein or required by law.
All voting, including on the election of directors but excepting where
otherwise required by law, may be by a voice vote; provided, however, that upon
demand therefor by a stockholder entitled to vote or his or her proxy, a stock
vote shall be taken. Every stock vote shall be taken by ballots, each of which
shall state the name of the stockholder or proxy voting and such other
information as may be required under the procedure established for the meeting.
Every vote taken by ballots shall be counted by an inspector or inspectors
appointed by the chairman of the meeting.
All elections shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast, and
except as otherwise required by law, all other matters shall be determined by a
majority of the votes cast.
Section 8. Stock List.
A complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of
stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and
showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares
registered in his or her name, shall be open to the examination of any such
stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business
hours for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, either at a
place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be
specified in the notice of the meeting, or if not so specified, at the place
where the meeting is to be held.
The stock list shall also be kept at the place of the meeting during
the whole time thereof and shall be open to the examination of any such
stockholder who is present. This list shall presumptively determine the
identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of
shares held by each of them.
Section 9. Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting.
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 the stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without
prior notice and without a vote, if a consent 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
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take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were
present and voted.
ARTICLE II - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. Number and Term of Office.
The number of directors who shall constitute the whole board shall be
such number as the Board of Directors shall at the time have designated, except
that in the absence of any such designation, such number shall be one (1). Each
director shall be elected for a term of one year and until his or her successor
is elected and qualified, except as otherwise provided herein or required by
law.
Whenever the authorized number of directors is increased between annual
meetings of the stockholders, a majority of the directors then in office shall
have the power to elect such new directors for the balance of a term and until
their successors are elected and qualified. Any decrease in the authorized
number of directors shall not become effective until the expiration of the term
of the directors then in office unless, at the time of such decrease, there
shall be vacancies on the board which are being eliminated by the decrease.
Section 2. Vacancies
If the office of any director becomes vacant by reason of death,
resignation, disqualification, removal or other cause, a majority of the
directors remaining in office, although less than a quorum, may elect a
successor for the unexpired term and until his or her successor is elected and
qualified.
Section 3. Regular Meetings.
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place
or places, on such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been
established by the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors. A
notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.
Section 4. Special Meetings.
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by one-third
of the directors then in office (rounded up to the nearest whole number) or by
the President and shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time
as they or he shall fix. Notice of the place, date, and time of each such
special meeting shall be given each director by whom it is not waived by
mailing written notice
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not less than five days before the meeting or by telegraphing or telecopying
the same not less than twenty-four hours before the meeting. Unless otherwise
indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a
special meeting.
Section 5. Quorum.
At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the total
number of the whole Board shall constitute a quorum for all purposes. If a
quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, a majority of those present may
adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time, without further notice or
waiver thereof.
Section 6. Participation in Meetings By Conference Telephone.
Members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may
participate in a meeting of such Board or 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 such participation shall
constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 7. Conduct of Business.
At any meeting of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted
in such order and manner as the Board may from time to time determine, and all
matters shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the directors present,
except as otherwise provided herein or required by law. Action may be taken by
the Board of Directors without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto
in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of
proceedings of the Board of Directors.
Section 8. Powers.
The Board of Directors may, except as otherwise required by law,
exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things that may be exercised
or done by the Corporation, including, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the unqualified power:
(1) To declare dividends from time to time in accordance with law;
(2) To purchase or otherwise acquire any property, rights or privileges
on such terms as it shall determine;
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(3) To authorize the creation, making and issuance, in such form as it
may determine, of written obligations of every kind, negotiable or
non-negotiable, secured or unsecured, and to do all things necessary in
connection therewith;
(4) To remove any officer of the Corporation with or without cause,
and from time to time to devolve the powers and duties of any officer upon any
other person for the time being;
(5) To confer upon any officer of the Corporation the power to
appoint, remove and suspend subordinate officers, employees and agents;
(6) To adopt from time to time such stock, option, stock purchase,
bonus or other compensation plans for directors, officers, employees and agents
of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as it may determine;
(7) To adopt from time to time such insurance, retirement, and other
benefit plans for directors, officers, employees and agents of the Corporation
and its subsidiaries as it may determine; and
(8) To adopt from time to time regulations, not inconsistent with
these by-laws, for the management of the Corporation's business and affairs.
Section 9. Compensation of Directors.
Directors, as such, may receive, pursuant to resolution of the Board of
Directors, fixed fees and other compensation for their services as directors,
including, without limitation, their services as members of committees of the
Board of Directors.
ARTICLE III - COMMITTEES
Section 1. Committees of the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors, by a vote of a majority of the whole Board, may
from time to time designate committees of the Board, with such lawfully
delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers, to serve at the pleasure of
the Board and shall, for those committees and any others provided for herein,
elect a director or directors to serve as the member or members, designating,
if it desires, other directors as alternate members who may replace any absent
or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Any committee so
designated may exercise the power and authority of the Board of Directors to
declare a dividend or to authorize the
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issuance of stock if the resolution which designates the committee or a
supplemental resolution of the Board of Directors shall so provide. In the
absence or disqualification of any member of any committee and any alternate
member in his place, the member or members of the committee present at the
meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they
constitute a quorum, may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the Board
of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified
member.
Section 2. Conduct of Business.
Each committee may determine the procedural rules for meeting and
conducting its business and shall act in accordance therewith, except as
otherwise provided herein or required by law. Adequate provision shall be made
for notice to members of all meetings; one-third of the members shall
constitute a quorum unless the committee shall consist of one or two members,
in which event one member shall constitute a quorum; and all matters shall be
determined by a majority vote of the members present. Action may be taken by
any committee without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in
writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of the
proceedings of such committee.
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
Section 1. Generally.
The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a President, a Secretary,
a Chief Financial Officer and such other officers, including one or more Vice
Presidents, as may from time to time be appointed by the Board of Directors.
Officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors, which shall consider that
subject at its first meeting after every annual meeting of stockholders. Each
officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified
or until his or her earlier resignation or removal. The President shall be a
member of the Board of Directors. Any number of offices may be held by the same
person.
Section 2. President.
The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation.
Subject to the provisions of these bylaws and to the direction of the Board of
Directors, he or she shall have the responsibility for the general management
and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall perform all
duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of chief
executive or which
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are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors. He or she shall have the
power to sign all stock certificates, contracts and other instruments of the
Corporation which are authorized and shall have general supervision and
direction of all of the other officers, employees and agents of the Corporation.
Section 3. Vice President.
If the Board of Directors appoints one or more Vice Presidents, each
Vice President shall have such powers and duties as may be delegated to him or
her by the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors appoints one or more
Vice Presidents, one Vice President shall be designated by the Board to perform
the duties and exercise the powers of the President in the event of the
President's absence or disability.
Section 4. Chief Financial Officer.
The Chief Financial Officer shall have the responsibility for
maintaining the financial records of the Corporation and shall have custody of
all monies and securities of the Corporation. He or she shall make such
disbursements of the funds of the Corporation as are authorized and shall
render from time to time an account of all such transactions and of the
financial condition of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall also
perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time
prescribe.
Section 5. Secretary.
The Secretary shall issue all authorized notices for, and shall keep
minutes of, all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. He or
she shall have charge of the corporate books and shall perform such other
duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
Section 6. Delegation of Authority.
The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or
duties of any officer to any other officers or agents, notwithstanding any
provision hereof.
Section 7. Removal.
Any officer of the Corporation may be removed at any time, with or
without cause, by the Board of Directors.
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Section 8. Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations.
Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the President or
any officer of the Corporation authorized by the President shall have the power
to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy,
at any meeting of stockholders of or with respect to any action of the
stockholders of any other corporation in which this Corporation may hold
securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this
Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other
corporation.
ARTICLE V -- STOCK
Section 1. Certificates of Stock.
Each stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate signed by, or in
the name of the Corporation by, the President or a Vice President, and by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or the Chief Financial Officer or an
Assistant Chief Financial Officer, certifying the number of shares owned by him
or her. Any of or all the signatures on the certificate may be facsimile.
Section 2. Transfers of Stock.
Transfers of stock shall be made only upon the transfer books of the
Corporation kept at an office of the Corporation or by transfer agents
designated to transfer shares of the stock of the Corporation. Except where a
certificate is issued in accordance with Section 4 of Article V of these
by-laws, an outstanding certificate for the number of shares involved shall be
surrendered for cancellation before a new certificate is issued therefor.
Section 3. Record Date.
The Board of Directors may fix a record date, which shall not be more
than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of any meeting of
stockholders, nor more than sixty days prior to the time for the other action
hereinafter described, as of which there shall be determined the stockholders
who are entitled: to notice or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any
adjournment thereof; to express consent to corporate action in writing without a
meeting; to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment
of any rights; or to exercise any rights with respect to any change, conversion
or exchange of stock or with respect to any other lawful action.
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Section 4. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.
In the event of the loss, theft or destruction of any certificate of
stock, another may be issued in its place pursuant to such regulations as the
Board of Directors may establish concerning proof of such loss, theft or
destruction and concerning the giving of a satisfactory bond or bonds of
indemnity.
Section 5. Regulations.
The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificates of stock
shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may
establish.
ARTICLE VI - NOTICES
Section 1. Notices.
Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or required by law, all
notices required to be given to any stockholder, director, officer, employee or
agent shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by
hand delivery to the recipient thereof, by depositing such notice in the mails,
postage paid, or by sending such notice by prepaid telegram or mailgram. Any
such notice shall be addressed to such stockholder, director, officer, employee
or agent at his or her last known address as the same appears on the books of
the Corporation. The time when such notice is received, if hand delivered, or
dispatched, if delivered through the mails or by telegram or mailgram, shall be
the time of the giving of the notice.
Section 2. Waivers.
A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder, director,
officer, employee or agent, whether before or after the time of the event for
which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required
to be given to such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent. Neither
the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver.
ARTICLE VII - MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. Facsimile Signatures.
In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere
specifically authorized in these by-laws, facsimile signatures of any officer
or officers of the
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Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors or
a committee thereof.
Section 2. Corporate Seal.
The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name
of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary. If and
when so directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates
of the seal may be kept and used by the Chief Financial Officer or by an
Assistant Secretary or Assistant Chief Financial Officer.
Section 3. Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records.
Each Director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of
Directors, and each officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his
duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account
or other records of the Corporation, including reports made to the Corporation
by any of its officers, by an independent certified public accountant, or by an
appraiser selected with reasonable care.
Section 4. Fiscal Year.
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as fixed by the Board of
Directors.
Section 5. Time Periods.
In applying any provision of these by-laws which require that an act be
done or not done a specified number of days prior to any event or that an act
be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event,
calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded,
and the day of the event shall be included.
ARTICLE VIII - INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Section 1. Right to Indemnification.
Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be a party to
or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigate (hereinafter a "proceeding"), by reason
of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation
or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer
of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture,
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trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee
benefit plan (hereinafter an "indemnitee"), whether the basis of such
proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer,
or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, shall be
indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent
authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law, 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 such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior
to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including
attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts
paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in
connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an
indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the
benefit of the indemnitee's heirs, executors and administrators; provided,
however, that except as provided in Section 2 hereof with respect to
proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall
indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof)
initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was
authorized by the board of directors of the Corporation. The right to
indemnification conferred in this Section shall be a contract right and shall
include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in
defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter
an "advancement of expenses"); provided, however, that, if the Delaware General
Corporation Law requires an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee
in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other
capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including,
without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan), such an advancement
of expenses shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an
undertaking (hereinafter an "undertaking"), by or on behalf of such indemnitee,
to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final
judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a
"final adjudication") that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified
for such expenses under this Section or otherwise.
Section 2. Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit.
If a claim under Section 1 of this Article is not paid in full by the
Corporation within sixty days after a written claim has been received by the
Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in
which case the applicable period shall be twenty days, the
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indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to
recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in
any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an
advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee
shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such
suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to
indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to
enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and
(ii) in any suit by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses
pursuant to the terms of an undertaking the Corporation shall be entitled to
recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not
met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General
Corporation Law. 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 suit that indemnification of the
indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation
Law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its board of
directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the
indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a
presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct
or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such
suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to
indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the
Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an
undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be
indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article or
otherwise shall be on the Corporation.
Section 3. Non-Exclusivity of Rights.
The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses
conferred in this Article shall not be exclusive of any other right which any
person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the Corporation's
certificate of incorporation, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors or otherwise.
Section 4. Insurance.
The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect
itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
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against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would
have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss
under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Section 5. Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation.
The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the
board of directors, grant rights to indemnification, and to the advancement of
expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation (or to any person who is
or was serving at the request of the Corporation as an employee or agent of
another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan) to the
fullest extent of the provisions of this Article with respect to the
indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the
Corporation.
ARTICLE IX -- AMENDMENTS
These by-laws may be amended or repealed by the Board of Directors at
any meeting or by the stockholders at any meeting or by written consent.