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EXHIBIT 3.02
BYLAWS
OF
EGREETINGS MERGER CORPORATION
(A DELAWARE CORPORATION)
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BYLAWS
OF
EGREETINGS MERGER CORPORATION
(A DELAWARE CORPORATION)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
SECTION 1. REGISTERED OFFICE. The registered office of the corporation
in the State of Delaware shall be in the City of Dover, County of Kent.
SECTION 2. OTHER OFFICES. The corporation shall also have and maintain
an office or principal place of business at such place as may be fixed by the
Board of Directors, and may also have offices at such other places, both within
and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to
time determine or the business of the corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
CORPORATE SEAL
SECTION 3. CORPORATE SEAL. The corporate seal shall consist of a die
bearing the name of the corporation and the inscription, "Corporate
Seal-Delaware." Said seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be
impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
ARTICLE III
STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS
SECTION 4. PLACE OF MEETINGS. Meetings of the stockholders of the
corporation shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of
Delaware, as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors, or,
if not so designated, then at the office of the corporation required to be
maintained pursuant to Section 2 hereof.
SECTION 5. ANNUAL MEETINGS.
(a) The annual meeting of the stockholders of the corporation,
for the purpose of election of directors and for such other business as may
lawfully come before it, shall be held on such date and at such time as may be
designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.
(b) 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
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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 the
meeting by a stockholder. For business to be properly brought before an annual
meeting by a stockholder, (i) the stockholder must have given timely notice
thereof in writing to the Secretary of the corporation, (ii) such business must
be a proper matter for stockholder action under the Delaware General Corporation
Law ("DGCL"), (iii) if the stockholder, or the beneficial owner on whose behalf
any such proposal or nomination is made, has provided the corporation with a
Solicitation Notice (as defined in this Section 5(b)), such stockholder or
beneficial owner must, in the case of a proposal, have delivered a proxy
statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the
corporation's voting shares required under applicable law to carry any such
proposal, or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, have delivered a proxy
statement and form of proxy to holders of a percentage of the corporation's
voting shares reasonably believed by such stockholder or beneficial owner to be
sufficient to elect the nominee or nominees proposed to be nominated by such
stockholder, and must, in either case, have included in such materials the
Solicitation Notice, and (iv) if no Solicitation Notice relating thereto has
been timely provided pursuant to this section, the stockholder or beneficial
owner proposing such business or nomination must not have solicited a number of
proxies sufficient to have required the delivery of such a Solicitation Notice
under this Section 5. To be timely, a stockholder's notice shall be delivered to
the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later
than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the
close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the first
anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting; provided, however, that in
the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than thirty (30)
days prior to or delayed by more than thirty (30) days after the anniversary of
the preceding year's annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must
be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred
twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close
of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual
meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement
of the date of such meeting is first made. In no event shall the public
announcement of an adjournment of an annual meeting commence a new time period
for the giving of a stockholder's notice as described above. Such stockholder's
notice shall set forth: (A) as to each person whom the stockholder proposed to
nominate for election or reelection as a director all information relating to
such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for
election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each
case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "1934 Act") and Rule 14a-11 thereunder (including such person's
written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to
serving as a director if elected); (B) as to any other business that the
stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the
business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting
such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such
stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is
made; and (C) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner,
if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and
address of such stockholder, as they appear on the corporation's books, and of
such beneficial owner, (ii) the class and number of shares of the corporation
which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such
beneficial owner, and (iii)
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whether either such stockholder or beneficial owner intends to deliver a proxy
statement and form of proxy to holders of, in the case of the proposal, at least
the percentage of the corporation's voting shares required under applicable law
to carry the proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, a
sufficient number of holders of the corporation's voting shares to elect such
nominee or nominees (an affirmative statement of such intent, a "Solicitation
Notice").
(c) Notwithstanding anything in the third sentence of Section
5(b) of these Bylaws to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors
to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation is increased and
there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or
specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the corporation
at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding
year's annual meeting, a stockholder's notice required by this Section 5 shall
also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new
positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at
the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than the close of
business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public
announcement is first made by the corporation.
(d) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the
procedures set forth in this Section 5 shall be eligible to serve as directors
and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall
have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth
in this Section 5. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Chairman of the
meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any
business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made, or proposed, as the
case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and, if
any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to
declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall not be presented for
stockholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5,
in order to include information with respect to a stockholder proposal in the
proxy statement and form of proxy for a stockholder's meeting, stockholders must
provide notice as required by the regulations promulgated under the 1934 Act.
Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to
request inclusion of proposals in the corporation proxy statement pursuant to
Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act.
(f) For purposes of this Section 5, "public announcement" shall
mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service,
Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly
filed by the corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to
Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act.
SECTION 6. SPECIAL MEETINGS.
(a) Special meetings of the stockholders of the corporation may
be called, for any purpose or purposes, by (i) the Chairman of the Board of
Directors, (ii) the President or the Chief Executive Officer or (iii) the Board
of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number
of authorized directors (whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously
authorized directorships at the time any such resolution is presented to the
Board of
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Directors for adoption), and shall be held at such place, on such date, and at
such time as they, he or she shall fix.
At any time or times that the corporation is subject to Section 2115(b) of the
California General Corporation Law ("CGCL"), stockholders holding five percent
(5%) or more of the outstanding shares shall have the right to call a special
meeting of stockholders only as set forth in Section 18(c) herein
(b) If a special meeting is properly called by any person or
persons other than the Board of Directors, the request shall be in writing,
specifying the general nature of the business proposed to be transacted, and
shall be delivered personally or sent by registered mail or by telegraphic or
other facsimile transmission to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the
Chief Executive Officer, or the Secretary of the corporation. No business may be
transacted at such special meeting otherwise than specified in such notice. The
Board of Directors shall determine the time and place of such special meeting,
which shall be held not less than thirty-five (35) nor more than one hundred
twenty (120) days after the date of the receipt of the request. Upon
determination of the time and place of the meeting, the officer receiving the
request shall cause notice to be given to the stockholders entitled to vote, in
accordance with the provisions of Section 7 of these Bylaws. If the notice is
not given within one hundred (100) days after the receipt of the request, the
person or persons properly requesting the meeting may set the time and place of
the meeting and give the notice. Nothing contained in this paragraph (b) shall
be construed as limiting, fixing or affecting the time when a meeting of
stockholders called by action of the Board of Directors may be held.
(c) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors
may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be
elected pursuant to the corporation's notice of meeting (i) by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the
corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving notice provided
for in these Bylaws who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who
complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 6(c). In the event
the corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of
electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder
may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such
position(s) as specified in the corporation's notice of meeting, if the
stockholder's notice required by Section 5(b) of these Bylaws shall be delivered
to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not
earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day
prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the
later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such meeting or the tenth (10th) day
following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the
special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be
elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an
adjournment of a special meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a
stockholder's notice as described above.
SECTION 7. NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Except as otherwise provided by law or
the Certificate of Incorporation, written notice of each meeting of stockholders
shall be given not
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less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting
to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, such notice to specify the
place, date and hour and purpose or purposes of the meeting. Notice of the time,
place and purpose of any meeting of stockholders may be waived in writing,
signed by the person entitled to notice thereof, either before or after such
meeting, and will be waived by any stockholder by his attendance thereat in
person or by proxy, except when the stockholder 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. Any stockholder so waiving notice of such meeting shall be bound by
the proceedings of any such meeting in all respects as if due notice thereof had
been given.
SECTION 8. QUORUM. At all meetings of stockholders, except where
otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, or by
these Bylaws, the presence, in person or by proxy duly authorized, of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum,
any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned, from time to time, either by the
chairman of the meeting or by vote of the holders of a majority of the shares
represented thereat, but no other business shall be transacted at such meeting.
The stockholders present at a duly called or convened meeting, at which a quorum
is present, may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding
the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum. Except as
otherwise provided by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws,
in all matters other than the election of directors, the affirmative vote of the
majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and
entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders.
Except as otherwise provided by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or
these Bylaws, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the
shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to
vote on the election of directors. Where a separate vote by a class or classes
or series is required, except where otherwise provided by the statute or by the
Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a majority of the outstanding
shares of such class or classes or series, present in person or represented by
proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that
vote on that matter and, except where otherwise provided by the statute or by
the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the affirmative vote of the
majority (plurality, in the case of the election of directors) of the votes cast
by the holders of shares of such class or classes or series shall be the act of
such class or classes or series.
SECTION 9. ADJOURNMENT AND NOTICE OF ADJOURNED MEETINGS. Any meeting of
stockholders, whether annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time
either by the chairman of the meeting or by the vote of a majority of the shares
casting votes. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need
not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are
announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned
meeting, the corporation may transact any business which might have been
transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty
(30) days or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the
adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each
stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
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SECTION 10. VOTING RIGHTS. For the purpose of determining those
stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of the stockholders, except as
otherwise provided by law, only persons in whose names shares stand on the stock
records of the corporation on the record date, as provided in Section 12 of
these Bylaws, shall be entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders. Every
person entitled to vote or execute consents all have the right to do so either
in person or by an agent or agents authorized by a proxy granted in accordance
with Delaware law. An agent so appointed need not be a stockholder. No proxy
shall be voted after three (3) years from its date of creation unless the proxy
provides for a longer period.
SECTION 11. JOINT OWNERS OF STOCK. If shares or other securities having
voting power stand of record in the names of two (2) or more persons, whether
fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants
by the entirety, or otherwise, or if two (2) or more persons have the same
fiduciary relationship respecting the same shares, unless the Secretary is given
written notice to the contrary and is furnished with a copy of the instrument or
order appointing them or creating the relationship wherein it is so provided,
their acts with respect to voting shall have the following effect: (a) if only
one (1) votes, his act binds all; (b) if more than one (1) votes, the act of the
majority so voting binds all; (c) if more than one (1) votes, but the vote is
evenly split on any particular matter, each faction may vote the securities in
question proportionally, or may apply to the Delaware Court of Chancery for
relief as provided in the DGCL, Section 217(b). If the instrument filed with the
Secretary shows that any such tenancy is held in unequal interests, a majority
or even-split for the purpose of subsection (c) shall be a majority or
even-split in interest.
SECTION 12. LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS. The Secretary shall prepare and make,
at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of
the stockholders entitled to vote at said meeting, arranged in alphabetical
order, showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares
registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the
examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during
ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 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
specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall be
produced and kept at the time and place of meeting during the whole time thereof
and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.
SECTION 13. ACTION WITHOUT MEETING.
(a) Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of
Incorporation, any action required by statute to be taken at any annual or
special meeting of the stockholders, 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 take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon
were present and voted.
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(b) Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of
each stockholder who signs the consent, and no written consent shall be
effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within sixty
(60) days of the earliest dated consent delivered to the corporation in the
manner herein required, written consents signed by a sufficient number of
stockholders to take action are delivered to the corporation by delivery to its
registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business or
an officer or agent of the corporation having custody of the book in which
proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to a
corporation's registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered
mail, return receipt requested.
(c) Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a
meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those
stockholders who have not consented in writing. If the action which is consented
to is such as would have required the filing of a certificate under any section
of the DGCL if such action had been voted on by stockholders at a meeting
thereof, then the certificate filed under such section shall state, in lieu of
any statement required by such section concerning any vote of stockholders, that
written consent has been given in accordance with Section 228 of the DGCL.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such action by written
consent may be taken following the closing of the initial public offering
pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), covering the offer and sale of Common Stock
of the corporation (the "Initial Public Offering").
SECTION 14. ORGANIZATION.
(a) At every meeting of stockholders, the Chairman of the Board
of Directors, or, if a Chairman has not been appointed or is absent, the
President, or, if the President is absent, a chairman of the meeting chosen by a
majority in interest of the stockholders entitled to vote, present in person or
by proxy, shall act as chairman. The Secretary, or, in his absence, an Assistant
Secretary directed to do so by the President, shall act as secretary of the
meeting.
(b) The Board of Directors of the corporation shall be entitled
to make such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of stockholders as
it shall deem necessary, appropriate or convenient. Subject to such rules and
regulations of the Board of Directors, if any, the chairman of the meeting shall
have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures
and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are necessary,
appropriate or convenient for the proper conduct of the meeting, including,
without limitation, establishing an agenda or order of business for the meeting,
rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of
those present, limitations on participation in such meeting to stockholders of
record of the corporation and their duly authorized and constituted proxies and
such other persons as the chairman shall permit, restrictions on entry to the
meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof, limitations on the
time allotted to questions or comments by participants and regulation of the
opening and closing of the polls for balloting on matters which are to be voted
on by ballot. Unless and to the extent determined by
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the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders
shall not be required to be held in accordance with rules of parliamentary
procedure.
ARTICLE IV
DIRECTORS
SECTION 15. NUMBER AND TERM OF OFFICE. The authorized number of
directors of the corporation shall be determined from time to time by resolution
of the Board of Directors. Directors need not be stockholders unless so required
by the Certificate of Incorporation. If for any cause, the directors shall not
have been elected at an annual meeting, they may be elected as soon thereafter
as convenient at a special meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose
in the manner provided in these Bylaws.
SECTION 16. POWERS. The powers of the corporation shall be exercised,
its business conducted and its property controlled by the Board of Directors,
except as may be otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of
Incorporation. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 141(a))
SECTION 17. CLASSES OF DIRECTORS.
(a) Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of
Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances,
following the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the directors shall be
divided into three classes designated as Class I, Class II and Class III,
respectively. Directors shall be assigned to each class in accordance with a
resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors. At the first annual
meeting of stockholders following the closing of the Initial Public Offering,
the term of office of the Class I directors shall expire and Class I directors
shall be elected for a full term of three years. At the second annual meeting of
stockholders following the Initial Public Offering, the term of office of the
Class II directors shall expire and Class II directors shall be elected for a
full term of three years. At the third annual meeting of stockholders following
the Initial Public Offering, the term of office of the Class III directors shall
expire and Class III directors shall be elected for a full term of three years.
At each succeeding annual meeting of stockholders, directors shall be elected
for a full term of three years to succeed the directors of the class whose terms
expire at such annual meeting. During such time or times that the corporation is
subject to Section 2115(b) of the CGCL, this Section 17(a) shall become
effective and apply only when the corporation is a "listed" corporation within
the meaning of Section 301.5 of the CGCL.
(b) In the event that the corporation (i) is subject to Section
2115(b) of the CGCL AND (ii) is not a "listed" corporation or ceases to be a
"listed" corporation under Section 301.5 of the CGCL, Section 17(a) of these
Bylaws shall not apply and all directors shall be elected at each annual meeting
of stockholders to hold office until the next annual meeting.
(c) No person entitled to vote at an election for directors may
cumulate votes to which such person is entitled, unless, at the time of such
election, the corporation (i) is subject to Section 2115(b) of the CGCL AND (ii)
is not a "listed" corporation or ceases to be a "listed" corporation under
Section 301.5 of the CGCL. During this time, every stockholder entitled to
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vote at an election for directors may cumulate such stockholder's 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 such stockholder's shares are
otherwise entitled, or distribute the stockholder's votes on the same principle
among as many candidates as such stockholder thinks fit. No stockholder,
however, shall be entitled to so cumulate such stockholder's votes unless (i)
the names of such candidate or candidates have been placed in nomination prior
to the voting and (ii) the stockholder has given notice at the meeting, prior to
the voting, of such stockholder's intention to cumulate such stockholder's
votes. If any stockholder has given proper notice to cumulate votes, all
stockholders may cumulate their votes for any candidates who have been properly
placed in nomination. Under cumulative voting, the candidates receiving the
highest number of votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, are
elected.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, each director shall
serve until his successor is duly elected and qualified or until his death,
resignation or removal. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the
Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
SECTION 18. VACANCIES.
(a) Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of
Incorporation, any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death,
resignation, disqualification, removal or other causes and any newly created
directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall,
unless the Board of Directors determines by resolution that any such vacancies
or newly created directorships shall be filled by stockholders, be filled only
by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even
though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors. Any director elected in
accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of
the full term of the director for which the vacancy was created or occurred and
until such director's successor shall have been elected and qualified. A vacancy
in the Board of Directors shall be deemed to exist under this Section 18 in the
case of the death, removal or resignation of any director.
(b) If at the time of filling any vacancy or any newly created
directorship, the directors then in office shall constitute less than a majority
of the whole board (as constituted immediately prior to any such increase), the
Delaware Court of Chancery may, upon application of any stockholder or
stockholders holding at least ten percent (10%) of the total number of the
shares at the time outstanding having the right to vote for such directors,
summarily order an election to be held to fill any such vacancies or newly
created directorships, or to replace the directors chosen by the directors then
in offices as aforesaid, which election shall be governed by Section 211 of the
DGCL.
(c) At any time or times that the corporation is subject to
Section 2115(b) of the CGCL, if, after the filling of any vacancy, the directors
then in office who have been elected by stockholders shall constitute less than
a majority of the directors then in office, then
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(1) Any holder or holders of an aggregate of five percent
(5%) or more of the total number of shares at the time outstanding having the
right to vote for those directors may call a special meeting of stockholders; or
(2) The Superior Court of the proper county shall, upon
application of such stockholder or stockholders, summarily order a special
meeting of stockholders, to be held to elect the entire board, all in accordance
with Section 305(c) of the CGCL. The term of office of any director shall
terminate upon that election of a successor.
SECTION 19. RESIGNATION. Any director may resign at any time by
delivering his written resignation to the Secretary, such resignation to specify
whether it will be effective at a particular time, upon receipt by the Secretary
or at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. If no such specification is made,
it shall be deemed effective at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. When one
or more directors shall resign from the Board of Directors, effective at a
future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who
have so resigned, shall have power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote
thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become
effective, and each Director so chosen shall hold office for the unexpired
portion of the term of the Director whose place shall be vacated and until his
successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.
SECTION 20. REMOVAL.
(a) During such time or times that the corporation is subject to
Section 2115(b) of the CGCL, the Board of Directors or any individual director
may be removed from office at any time without cause by the affirmative vote of
the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on
such removal; provided, however, that unless the entire Board is removed, no
individual director may be removed when the votes cast against such director's
removal, or not consenting in writing to such removal, would be sufficient to
elect that director if voted cumulatively at an election which the same total
number of votes were cast (or, if such action is taken by written consent, all
shares entitled to vote were voted) and the entire number of directors
authorized at the time of such director's most recent election were then being
elected.
(b) Following any date on which the corporation is no longer
subject to Section 2115(b) of the CGCL and subject to any limitations imposed by
law, Section 20(a) above shall no longer apply and removal shall be as provided
in Section 141(k) of the DGCL.
SECTION 21. MEETINGS.
(a) ANNUAL MEETINGS. The annual meeting of the Board of Directors
shall be held immediately before or after the annual meeting of stockholders and
at the place where such meeting is held. No notice of an annual meeting of the
Board of Directors shall be necessary and such meeting shall be held for the
purpose of electing officers and transacting such other business as may lawfully
come before it.
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(b) REGULAR MEETINGS. Unless otherwise restricted by the
Certificate of Incorporation, regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be
held at any time or date and at any place within or without the State of
Delaware which has been designated by the Board of Directors and publicized
among all directors. No formal notice shall be required for regular meetings of
the Board of Directors.
(c) SPECIAL MEETINGS. Unless otherwise restricted by the
Certificate of Incorporation, special meetings of the Board of Directors may be
held at any time and place within or without the State of Delaware whenever
called by the Chairman of the Board, the President or any two of the directors.
(d) TELEPHONE MEETINGS. Any member of the Board of Directors, or
of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting 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 in a meeting
by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
(e) NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Notice of the time and place of all
special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be orally or in writing, by
telephone, including a voice messaging system or other system or technology
designed to record and communicate messages, facsimile, telegraph or telex, or
by electronic mail or other electronic means, during normal business hours, at
least twenty-four (24) hours before the date and time of the meeting, or sent in
writing to each director by first class mail, charges prepaid, at least three
(3) days before the date of the meeting. Notice of any meeting may be waived in
writing at any time before or after the meeting and will be waived by any
director by attendance thereat, except when the director attends the 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.
(f) WAIVER OF NOTICE. The transaction of all business at any
meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, however called or
noticed, or wherever held, shall be as valid as though had at a meeting duly
held after regular call and notice, if a quorum be present and if, either before
or after the meeting, each of the directors not present shall sign a written
waiver of notice. All such waivers shall be filed with the corporate records or
made a part of the minutes of the meeting.
SECTION 22. QUORUM AND VOTING.
(a) Unless the Certificate of Incorporation requires a greater
number and except with respect to indemnification questions arising under
Section 43 hereof, for which a quorum shall be one-third of the exact number of
directors fixed from time to time in accordance with the Certificate of
Incorporation, a quorum of the Board of Directors shall consist of a majority of
the exact number of directors fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors
in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation; provided, however, at any
meeting whether a quorum be present or otherwise, a majority of the directors
present may adjourn from time to time until the time fixed for the next regular
meeting of the Board of Directors, without notice other than by announcement at
the meeting.
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(b) At each meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum
is present, all questions and business shall be determined by the affirmative
vote of a majority of the directors present, unless a different vote be required
by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
SECTION 23. ACTION WITHOUT MEETING. Unless otherwise restricted by the
Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted
to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof
may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board of Directors or
committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and such writing or
writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or
committee.
SECTION 24. FEES AND COMPENSATION. Directors shall be entitled to such
compensation for their services as may be approved by the Board of Directors,
including, if so approved, by resolution of the Board of Directors, a fixed sum
and expenses of attendance, if any, for attendance at each regular or special
meeting of the Board of Directors and at any meeting of a committee of the Board
of Directors. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any
director from serving the corporation in any other capacity as an officer,
agent, employee, or otherwise and receiving compensation therefor.
SECTION 25. COMMITTEES.
(a) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Board of Directors may appoint an
Executive Committee to consist of one (1) or more members of the Board of
Directors. The Executive Committee, to the extent permitted by law and provided
in the resolution of the Board of Directors 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; but no such committee shall have
the power or authority in reference to (i) approving or adopting, or
recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the
DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, or (ii) adopting, amending or
repealing any bylaw of the corporation.
(b) OTHER COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors may, from time to
time, appoint such other committees as may be permitted by law. Such other
committees appointed by the Board of Directors shall consist of one (1) or more
members of the Board of Directors and shall have such powers and perform such
duties as may be prescribed by the resolution or resolutions creating such
committees, but in no event shall any such committee have the powers denied to
the Executive Committee in these Bylaws.
(c) TERM. Each member of a committee of the Board of Directors
shall serve a term on the committee coexistent with such member's term on the
Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, subject to any requirements of any
outstanding series of preferred Stock and the provisions of subsections (a) or
(b) of this Bylaw, may at any time increase or decrease the number of members of
a committee or terminate the existence of a committee. The membership of a
committee member shall terminate on the date of his death or voluntary
resignation from the committee or from the Board of Directors. The Board of
Directors may at any time for any
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reason remove any individual committee member and the Board of Directors may
fill any committee vacancy created by death, resignation, removal or increase in
the number of members of the committee. The Board of Directors may designate one
or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any
absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee, and, in addition,
in the absence or disqualification of any member of a committee, the member or
members thereof 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.
(d) MEETINGS. Unless the Board of Directors shall otherwise
provide, regular meetings of the Executive Committee or any other committee
appointed pursuant to this Section 25 shall be held at such times and places as
are determined by the Board of Directors, or by any such committee, and when
notice thereof has been given to each member of such committee, no further
notice of such regular meetings need be given thereafter. Special meetings of
any such committee may be held at any place which has been determined from time
to time by such committee, and may be called by any director who is a member of
such committee, upon written notice to the members of such committee of the time
and place of such special meeting given in the manner provided for the giving of
written notice to members of the Board of Directors of the time and place of
special meetings of the Board of Directors. Notice of any special meeting of any
committee may be waived in writing at any time before or after the meeting and
will be waived by any director by attendance thereat, except when the director
attends such special 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. A majority of the authorized number of
members of any such committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business, and the act of a majority of those present at any meeting at which a
quorum is present shall be the act of such committee.
SECTION 26. ORGANIZATION. At every meeting of the directors, the
Chairman of the Board of Directors, or, if a Chairman has not been appointed or
is absent, the President (if a director), or if the President is absent, the
most senior Vice President (if a director), or, in the absence of any such
person, a chairman of the meeting chosen by a majority of the directors present,
shall preside over the meeting. The Secretary, or in his absence, any Assistant
Secretary directed to do so by the President, shall act as secretary of the
meeting.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
SECTION 27. OFFICERS DESIGNATED. The officers of the corporation shall
include, if and when designated by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the
Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, one or more Vice
Presidents, the Secretary, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer and the
Controller, all of whom shall be elected at the annual organizational meeting of
the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may also appoint one or more
Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers, Assistant Controllers and such
other officers
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and agents with such powers and duties as it shall deem necessary. The Board of
Directors may assign such additional titles to one or more of the officers as it
shall deem appropriate. Any one person may hold any number of offices of the
corporation at any one time unless specifically prohibited therefrom by law. The
salaries and other compensation of the officers of the corporation shall be
fixed by or in the manner designated by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 28. TENURE AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS.
(a) GENERAL. All officers shall hold office at the pleasure of
the Board of Directors and until their successors shall have been duly elected
and qualified, unless sooner removed. Any officer elected or appointed by the
Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the Board of Directors. If the
office of any officer becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy may be filled
by the Board of Directors.
(b) DUTIES OF CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The Chairman of
the Board of Directors, when present, shall preside at all meetings of the
stockholders and the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board of Directors
shall perform other duties commonly incident to his office and shall also
perform such other duties and have such other powers, as the Board of Directors
shall designate from time to time. If there is no President, then the Chairman
of the Board of Directors shall also serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the
corporation and shall have the powers and duties prescribed in paragraph (c) of
this Section 28.
(c) DUTIES OF PRESIDENT. The President shall preside at all
meetings of the stockholders and at all meetings of the Board of Directors,
unless the Chairman of the Board of Directors has been appointed and is present.
Unless some other officer has been elected Chief Executive Officer of the
corporation, 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. The President shall perform other duties commonly incident to his
office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers, as
the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time.
(d) DUTIES OF VICE PRESIDENTS. The Vice Presidents may assume and
perform the duties of the President in the absence or disability of the
President or whenever the office of President is vacant. The Vice Presidents
shall perform other duties commonly incident to their office and shall also
perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors
or the President shall designate from time to time.
(e) DUTIES OF SECRETARY. The Secretary shall attend all meetings
of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors and shall record all acts and
proceedings thereof in the minute book of the corporation. The Secretary shall
give notice in conformity with these Bylaws of all meetings of the stockholders
and of all meetings of the Board of Directors and any committee thereof
requiring notice. The Secretary shall perform all other duties given him in
these Bylaws and other duties commonly incident to his office and shall also
perform such other duties and have such other powers, as the Board of Directors
shall designate from time to time. The President may direct any Assistant
Secretary to assume and perform the duties of the Secretary in the absence or
disability of the Secretary, and each Assistant Secretary shall perform
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other duties commonly incident to his office and shall also perform such other
duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the President
shall designate from time to time.
(f) DUTIES OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. The Chief Financial
Officer shall keep or cause to be kept the books of account of the corporation
in a thorough and proper manner and shall render statements of the financial
affairs of the corporation in such form and as often as required by the Board of
Directors or the President. The Chief Financial Officer, subject to the order of
the Board of Directors, shall have the custody of all funds and securities of
the corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall perform other duties commonly
incident to his office and shall also perform such other duties and have such
other powers as the Board of Directors or the President shall designate from
time to time. The President may direct the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer,
or the Controller or any Assistant Controller to assume and perform the duties
of the Chief Financial Officer in the absence or disability of the Chief
Financial Officer, and each Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer and each
Controller and Assistant Controller shall perform other duties commonly incident
to his office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other
powers as the Board of Directors or the President shall designate from time to
time.
SECTION 29. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY. The Board of Directors may from
time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officer
or agent, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
SECTION 30. RESIGNATIONS. Any officer may resign at any time by giving
written notice to the Board of Directors or to the President or to the
Secretary. Any such resignation shall be effective when received by the person
or persons to whom such notice is given, unless a later time is specified
therein, in which event the resignation shall become effective at such later
time. Unless otherwise specified in such notice, the acceptance of any such
resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation shall
be without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the corporation under any
contract with the resigning officer.
SECTION 31. REMOVAL. Any officer may be removed from office at any time,
either with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
directors in office at the time, or by the unanimous written consent of the
directors in office at the time, or by any committee or superior officers upon
whom such power of removal may have been conferred by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VI
EXECUTION OF CORPORATE INSTRUMENTS AND VOTING OF SECURITIES OWNED BY THE
CORPORATION
SECTION 32. EXECUTION OF CORPORATE INSTRUMENTS. The Board of Directors
may, in its discretion, determine the method and designate the signatory officer
or officers, or other person or persons, to execute on behalf of the corporation
any corporate instrument or document, or to sign on behalf of the corporation
the corporate name without limitation, or to enter into contracts
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on behalf of the corporation, except where otherwise provided by law or these
Bylaws, and such execution or signature shall be binding upon the corporation.
All checks and drafts drawn on banks or other depositaries on funds to
the credit of the corporation or in special accounts of the corporation shall be
signed by such person or persons as the Board of Directors shall authorize so to
do.
Unless authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors or within the
agency power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power
or authority to bind the corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge
its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.
SECTION 33. VOTING OF SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION. All stock and
other securities of other corporations owned or held by the corporation for
itself, or for other parties in any capacity, shall be voted, and all proxies
with respect thereto shall be executed, by the person authorized so to do by
resolution of the Board of Directors, or, in the absence of such authorization,
by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President, or any Vice President.
ARTICLE VII
SHARES OF STOCK
SECTION 34. FORM AND EXECUTION OF CERTIFICATES. Certificates for the
shares of stock of the corporation shall be in such form as is consistent with
the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. Every holder of stock in
the corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name
of the corporation by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the President
or any Vice President and by the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer or the
Secretary or Assistant Secretary, certifying the number of shares owned by him
in the corporation. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be
facsimiles. In case any officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or
whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased
to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar before such certificate is
issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he were such officer,
transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue. Each certificate shall state
upon the face or back thereof, in full or in summary, all of the powers,
designations, preferences, and rights, and the limitations or restrictions of
the shares authorized to be issued or shall, except as otherwise required by
law, set forth on the face or back a statement that the corporation will furnish
without charge to each stockholder who so requests 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. Within a reasonable time after
the issuance or transfer of uncertificated stock, the corporation shall send to
the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information
required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to this section or
otherwise required by law or with respect to this section a statement that the
corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the
powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other
special rights of each class
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of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions
of such preferences and/or rights. Except as otherwise expressly provided by
law, the rights and obligations of the holders of certificates representing
stock of the same class and series shall be identical.
SECTION 35. LOST CERTIFICATES. A new certificate or certificates shall
be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the
corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, upon the making of
an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be
lost, stolen, or destroyed. The corporation may require, as a condition
precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, the owner of
such lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his legal
representative, to agree to indemnify the corporation in such manner as it shall
require or to give the corporation a surety bond in such form and amount as it
may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the
corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen,
or destroyed.
SECTION 36. TRANSFERS.
(a) Transfers of record of shares of stock of the corporation
shall be made only upon its books by the holders thereof, in person or by
attorney duly authorized, and upon the surrender of a properly endorsed
certificate or certificates for a like number of shares.
(b) The corporation shall have power to enter into and perform
any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes of
stock of the corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the
corporation of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner
not prohibited by the DGCL.
SECTION 37. FIXING RECORD DATES.
(a) In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders
entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any
adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date,
which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing
the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date
shall, subject to applicable law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten
(10) days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the
Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to
notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of
business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or if
notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on
which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to
notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment
of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new
record date for the adjourned meeting.
(b) Prior to the Initial Public Offering, in order that the
corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate
action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record
date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution
fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which date
shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution
fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. Any stockholder of
record seeking to have the
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stockholders authorize or take corporate action by written consent shall, by
written notice to the Secretary, request the Board of Directors to fix a record
date. The Board of Directors shall promptly, but in all events within ten (10)
days after the date on which such a request is received, adopt a resolution
fixing the record date. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of
Directors within ten (10) days of the date on which such a request is received,
the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate
action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of
Directors is required by applicable law, shall be the first date on which a
signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is
delivered to the corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State
of Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the
corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of
stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the corporation's registered office
shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.
If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by
the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for determining
stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a
meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of
Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
(c) In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders
entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment
of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of
any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other
lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which
record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the
record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60)
days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for
determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business
on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating
thereto.
SECTION 38. REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS. The corporation shall be entitled
to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the
owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and shall not
be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share
or shares on the part of any other person whether or not it shall have express
or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.
ARTICLE VIII
OTHER SECURITIES OF THE CORPORATION
SECTION 39. EXECUTION OF OTHER SECURITIES. All bonds, debentures and
other corporate securities of the corporation, other than stock certificates
(covered in Section 34), may be signed by the Chairman of the Board of
Directors, the President or any Vice President, or such other person as may be
authorized by the Board of Directors, and the corporate seal impressed thereon
or a facsimile of such seal imprinted thereon and attested by the signature of
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or the Chief Financial Officer or
Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer; provided, however, that where any such
bond, debenture or other corporate security shall be authenticated by the manual
signature, or where permissible facsimile signature, of a
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trustee under an indenture pursuant to which such bond, debenture or other
corporate security shall be issued, the signatures of the persons signing and
attesting the corporate seal on such bond, debenture or other corporate security
may be the imprinted facsimile of the signatures of such persons. Interest
coupons appertaining to any such bond, debenture or other corporate security,
authenticated by a trustee as aforesaid, shall be signed by the Treasurer or an
Assistant Treasurer of the corporation or such other person as may be authorized
by the Board of Directors, or bear imprinted thereon the facsimile signature of
such person. In case any officer who shall have signed or attested any bond,
debenture or other corporate security, or whose facsimile signature shall appear
thereon or on any such interest coupon, shall have ceased to be such officer
before the bond, debenture or other corporate security so signed or attested
shall have been delivered, such bond, debenture or other corporate security
nevertheless may be adopted by the corporation and issued and delivered as
though the person who signed the same or whose facsimile signature shall have
been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer of the corporation.
ARTICLE IX
DIVIDENDS
SECTION 40. DECLARATION OF DIVIDENDS. Dividends upon the capital stock
of the corporation, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of
Incorporation and applicable law, if any, may be declared by the Board of
Directors pursuant to law at any regular or special meeting. Dividends may be
paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the
provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.
SECTION 41. DIVIDEND RESERVE. Before payment of any dividend, there may
be set aside out of any funds of the corporation available for dividends such
sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in their absolute
discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for
equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the
corporation, or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors shall think
conducive to the interests of the corporation, and the Board of Directors may
modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.
ARTICLE X
FISCAL YEAR
SECTION 42. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be
fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
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ARTICLE XI
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 43. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, OTHER
OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND OTHER AGENTS.
(a) DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. The corporation shall
indemnify its directors and executive officers (for the purposes of this Article
XI, "executive officers" shall have the meaning defined in Rule 3b-7 promulgated
under the 1934 Act) to the fullest extent not prohibited by the DGCL or any
other applicable law; provided, however, that the corporation may modify the
extent of such indemnification by individual contracts with its directors AND
executive officers; and, provided, further, that the corporation shall not be
required to indemnify any director or executive officer in connection with any
proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless (i) such
indemnification is expressly required to be made by law, (ii) the proceeding was
authorized by the Board of Directors of the corporation, (iii) such
indemnification is provided by the corporation, in its sole discretion, pursuant
to the powers vested in the corporation under the DGCL or any other applicable
law or (iv) such indemnification is required to be made under subsection (d).
(b) OTHER OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND OTHER AGENTS. The corporation
shall have power to indemnify its other officers, employees and other agents as
set forth in the DGCL or any other applicable law. The Board of Directors shall
have the power to delegate the determination of whether indemnification shall be
given to any such person to such officers or other persons as the Board of
Directors shall determine.
(c) EXPENSES. The corporation shall advance to any person who was
or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or executive
officer, of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the
corporation as a director or executive officer of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, prior to the final
disposition of the proceeding, promptly following request therefor, all expenses
incurred by any director OR EXECUTIVE OFFICER in connection with such proceeding
upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay said
amounts if it should be determined ultimately that such person is not entitled
to be indemnified under this Section 43 or otherwise.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise determined pursuant to
paragraph (e) of this Section 43, no advance shall be made by the corporation to
an executive officer of the corporation (except by reason of the fact that such
executive officer is or was a director of the corporation in which event this
paragraph shall not apply) in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative, if a determination is reasonably and
promptly made (i) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum
consisting of directors who were not parties to the proceeding, or (ii) if such
quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested
directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a
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written opinion, that the facts known to the decision-making party at the time
such determination is made demonstrate clearly and convincingly that such person
acted in bad faith or in a manner that such person did not believe to be in or
not opposed to the best interests of the corporation.
(d) ENFORCEMENT. Without the necessity of entering into an
express contract, all rights to indemnification and advances to directors and
executive officers under this Bylaw shall be deemed to be contractual rights and
be effective to the same extent and as if provided for in a contract between the
corporation and the director or executive officer. Any right to indemnification
or advances granted by this Section 43 to a director or executive officer shall
be enforceable by or on behalf of the person holding such right in any court of
competent jurisdiction if (i) the claim for indemnification or advances is
denied, in whole or in part, or (ii) no disposition of such claim is made within
ninety (90) days of request therefor. The claimant in such enforcement action,
if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid also the expense
of prosecuting his claim. In connection with any claim for indemnification, the
corporation shall be entitled to raise as a defense to any such action that the
claimant has not met the standards of conduct that make it permissible under the
DGCL or any other applicable law for the corporation to indemnify the claimant
for the amount claimed. In connection with any claim by an executive officer of
the corporation (except in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such
executive officer is or was a director of the corporation) for advances, the
corporation shall be entitled to raise a defense as to any such action clear and
convincing evidence that such person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such
person did not believe to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, or with respect to any criminal action or proceeding that such
person acted without reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was lawful.
Neither the failure of the corporation (including its Board of Directors,
independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination
prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is
proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of
conduct set forth in the DGCL or any other applicable law, nor an actual
determination by the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent
legal counsel or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable
standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption
that claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
(e) NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. The rights conferred on any person
by this Bylaw shall not be exclusive of any other right which such person may
have or hereafter acquire under any applicable statute, provision of the
Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity
and as to action in another capacity while holding office. The corporation is
specifically authorized to enter into individual contracts with any or all of
its directors, officers, employees or agents respecting indemnification and
advances, to the fullest extent not prohibited by the Delaware General
Corporation Law, or by any other applicable law.
(f) SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS. The rights conferred on any person by
this Bylaw shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director,
officer, employee or other agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs,
executors and administrators of such a person.
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(g) INSURANCE. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL or any
other applicable law, the corporation, upon approval by the Board of Directors,
may purchase insurance on behalf of any person required or permitted to be
indemnified pursuant to this Section 43.
(h) AMENDMENTS. Any repeal or modification of this Section 43
shall only be prospective and shall not affect the rights under this Bylaw in
effect at the time of the alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act
that is the cause of any proceeding against any agent of the corporation.
(i) SAVING CLAUSE. If this Bylaw or any portion hereof shall be
invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the
corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each director and executive officer to
the full extent not prohibited by any applicable portion of this Section 43 that
shall not have been invalidated, or by any other applicable law. If this Section
43 shall be invalid due to the application of the indemnification provisions of
another jurisdiction, then the corporation shall indemnify each director and
[EXECUTIVE] OFFICER to the full extent under any other applicable law.
(j) CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For the purposes of this Bylaw, the
following definitions shall apply:
(1) The term "proceeding" shall be broadly construed and
shall include, without limitation, the investigation, preparation, prosecution,
defense, settlement, arbitration and appeal of, and the giving of testimony in,
any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative.
(2) The term "expenses" shall be broadly construed and
shall include, without limitation, court costs, attorneys' fees, witness fees,
fines, amounts paid in settlement or judgment and any other costs and expenses
of any nature or kind incurred in connection with any proceeding.
(3) The term the "corporation" shall include, in addition
to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any
constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if
its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to
indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person
who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under
the provisions of this Section 43 with respect to the resulting or surviving
corporation as he would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its
separate existence had continued.
(4) References to a "director," "executive officer,"
"officer," "employee," or "agent" of the corporation shall include, without
limitation, situations where such person is serving at the request of the
corporation as, respectively, a director, executive officer,
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officer, employee, trustee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise.
(5) References to "other enterprises" shall include
employee benefit plans; references to "fines" shall include any excise taxes
assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to
"serving at the request of the corporation" shall include any service as a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on,
or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect
to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and a person
who acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the
interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall
be deemed to have acted in a manner "not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation" as referred to in this Section 43.
ARTICLE XII
NOTICES
SECTION 44. NOTICES.
(a) NOTICE TO STOCKHOLDERS. Whenever, under any provisions of
these Bylaws, notice is required to be given to any stockholder, it shall be
given in writing, timely and duly deposited in the United States mail, postage
prepaid, and addressed to his last known post office address as shown by the
stock record of the corporation or its transfer agent.
(b) NOTICE TO DIRECTORS. Any notice required to be given to any
director may be given by the method stated in subsection (a), or by overnight
delivery service, facsimile, telex or telegram, except that such notice other
than one which is delivered personally shall be sent to such address as such
director shall have filed in writing with the Secretary, or, in the absence of
such filing, to the last known post office address of such director.
(c) AFFIDAVIT OF MAILING. An affidavit of mailing, executed by a
duly authorized and competent employee of the corporation or its transfer agent
appointed with respect to the class of stock affected, specifying the name and
address or the names and addresses of the stockholder or stockholders, or
director or directors, to whom any such notice or notices was or were given, and
the time and method of giving the same, shall in the absence of fraud, be prima
facie evidence of the facts therein contained.
(d) TIME NOTICES DEEMED GIVEN. All notices given by mail or by
overnight delivery service, as above provided, shall be deemed to have been
given as at the time of mailing, and all notices given by facsimile, telex or
telegram shall be deemed to have been given as of the sending time recorded at
time of transmission.
(e) METHODS OF NOTICE. It shall not be necessary that the same
method of giving notice be employed in respect of all directors, but one
permissible method may be employed in respect of any one or more, and any other
permissible method or methods may be employed in respect of any other or others.
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(f) FAILURE TO RECEIVE NOTICE. The period or limitation of time
within which any stockholder may exercise any option or right, or enjoy any
privilege or benefit, or be required to act, or within which any director may
exercise any power or right, or enjoy any privilege, pursuant to any notice sent
him in the manner above provided, shall not be affected or extended in any
manner by the failure of such stockholder or such director to receive such
notice.
(g) NOTICE TO PERSON WITH WHOM COMMUNICATION IS UNLAWFUL.
Whenever notice is required to be given, under any provision of law or of the
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the corporation, to any person with
whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall
not be required and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental
authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person.
Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to any such
person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect
as if such notice had been duly given. In the event that the action taken by the
corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate under any
provision of the DGCL, the certificate shall state, if such is the fact and if
notice is required, that notice was given to all persons entitled to receive
notice except such persons with whom communication is unlawful.
(h) NOTICE TO PERSON WITH UNDELIVERABLE ADDRESS. Whenever notice
is required to be given, under any provision of law or the Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws of the corporation, to any stockholder to whom (i)
notice of two consecutive annual meetings, and all notices of meetings or of the
taking of action by written consent without a meeting to such person during the
period between such two consecutive annual meetings, or (ii) all, and at least
two, payments (if sent by first class mail) of dividends or interest on
securities during a twelve-month period, have been mailed addressed to such
person at his address as shown on the records of the corporation and have been
returned undeliverable, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be
required. Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to
such person shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly
given. If any such person shall deliver to the corporation a written notice
setting forth his then current address, the requirement that notice be given to
such person shall be reinstated. In the event that the action taken by the
corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate under any
provision of the DGCL, the certificate need not state that notice was not given
to persons to whom notice was not required to be given pursuant to this
paragraph.
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ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 45. AMENDMENTS. Subject to paragraph (h) of Section 43 of the
Bylaws, the Bylaws may be altered or amended or new Bylaws adopted by the
affirmative vote of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the
voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the voting stock of the
corporation entitled to vote. The Board of Directors shall also have the power
to adopt, amend, or repeal Bylaws.
ARTICLE XIV
LOANS TO OFFICERS
SECTION 46. LOANS TO OFFICERS. The corporation may lend money to, or
guarantee any obligation of, or otherwise assist any officer or other employee
of the corporation or of its subsidiaries, including any officer or employee who
is a Director of the corporation or its subsidiaries, whenever, in the judgment
of the Board of Directors, such loan, guarantee or assistance may reasonably be
expected to benefit the corporation. The loan, guarantee or other assistance may
be with or without interest and may be unsecured, or secured in such manner as
the Board of Directors shall approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of
shares of stock of the corporation. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to
deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the corporation at
common law or under any statute.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
----
ARTICLE I OFFICES................................................................. 1
Section 1 Registered Office.................................................. 1
Section 2. Other Offices...................................................... 1
ARTICLE II CORPORATE SEAL.......................................................... 1
Section 3. Corporate Seal..................................................... 1
ARTICLE III STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS.................................................. 1
Section 4. Place of Meetings.................................................. 1
Section 5. Annual Meetings.................................................... 1
Section 6. Special Meetings................................................... 3
Section 7. Notice of Meetings................................................. 4
Section 8. Quorum............................................................. 5
Section 9. Adjournment and Notice of Adjourned Meetings....................... 5
Section 10. Voting Rights...................................................... 5
Section 11. Joint Owners of Stock.............................................. 6
Section 12. List of Stockholders............................................... 6
Section 13. Action Without Meeting............................................. 6
Section 14. Organization....................................................... 7
ARTICLE IV DIRECTORS............................................................... 8
Section 15. Number and Term of Office.......................................... 8
Section 16. Powers............................................................. 8
Section 17. Classes of Directors............................................... 8
Section 18. Vacancies.......................................................... 9
Section 19. Resignation........................................................ 10
Section 20. Removal............................................................ 10
Section 21. Meetings........................................................... 10
Section 22. Quorum and Voting.................................................. 11
Section 23. Action Without Meeting............................................. 12
Section 24. Fees and Compensation.............................................. 12
Section 25. Committees......................................................... 12
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(CONTINUED)
Section 26. Organization....................................................... 13
ARTICLE V OFFICERS................................................................ 13
Section 27. Officers Designated................................................ 13
Section 28. Tenure and Duties of Officers...................................... 14
Section 29. Delegation of Authority............................................ 15
Section 30. Resignations....................................................... 15
Section 31. Removal............................................................ 15
ARTICLE VI EXECUTION OF CORPORATE INSTRUMENTS AND VOTING OF SECURITIES OWNED
BY THE CORPORATION...................................................... 15
Section 32. Execution of Corporate Instruments................................. 15
Section 33. Voting of Securities Owned by the Corporation...................... 16
ARTICLE VII SHARES OF STOCK......................................................... 16
Section 34. Form and Execution of Certificates................................. 16
Section 35. Lost Certificates.................................................. 17
Section 36. Transfers.......................................................... 17
Section 37. Fixing Record Dates................................................ 17
Section 38. Registered Stockholders............................................ 18
ARTICLE VIII OTHER SECURITIES OF THE CORPORATION..................................... 18
Section 39. Execution of Other Securities...................................... 18
ARTICLE IX DIVIDENDS............................................................... 19
Section 40. Declaration of Dividends........................................... 19
Section 41. Dividend Reserve................................................... 19
ARTICLE X FISCAL YEAR............................................................. 19
Section 42. Fiscal Year........................................................ 19
ARTICLE XI INDEMNIFICATION......................................................... .20
Section 43. Indemnification of Directors, Executive Officers, Other
Officers, Employees And Other Agents............................... 20
ARTICLE XII NOTICES................................................................. 23
Section 44. Notices............................................................ 23
ARTICLE XIII AMENDMENTS.............................................................. 25
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(CONTINUED)
Section 45. Amendments......................................................... 25
ARTICLE XIV LOANS TO OFFICERS....................................................... 25
Section 46. Loans To Officers.................................................. 25
iii.