Exhibit 99.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
OF
EQUIDYNE CORPORATION
(A DELAWARE CORPORATION)
ARTICLE I.
OFFICES
Section 1. Registered Office. The registered office of Equidyne Corporation
(the "Corporation") shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle,
State of Delaware.
Section 2. Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices in such
other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of
Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may
require.
ARTICLE II.
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Place of Meeting. All meetings of the stockholders for the
election of directors shall be held at such place either within or without the
State of Delaware as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of
Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting. Meetings of stockholders for
any other purpose may be held at such time and place, within or without the
State of Delaware, as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly
executed waiver of notice thereof.
Section 2. Annual Meeting. Annual meetings of stockholders shall be held at
such date and time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of
Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting, if not a legal holiday, and
if a legal holiday, then on the next secular day following, at which they shall
elect a Board of Directors, and transact such other business as may properly be
brought before the meeting.
Section 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders, for any
purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the
Certificate of Incorporation, may be called by the Chairman, the Chief Executive
Officer or the President and shall be called by the President or Secretary at
the request in writing of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors,
or at the request in writing of stockholders owning a majority in amount of the
entire capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to
vote. Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.
Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to
the purposes stated in the notice.
Section 4. Stockholder List. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger
of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten days before every
meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at
the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order,
and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered
in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of
any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary
business hours, for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting, either
at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be
specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place
where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the
time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be
inspected by any stockholder who is present. The stock ledger shall be the only
evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger,
the list of stockholders or the books of the Corporation, or to vote at any
meeting of stockholders.
Section 5. Notice of Meetings. Written notice of the annual meeting stating
the place, date and hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes of the
meeting in accordance with Section 11 of this Article, shall be given to each
stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten nor more than
sixty days before the date of the annual meeting. Written notice of a special
meeting stating the place, date and hour of the meeting and the purpose or
purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given not less than ten nor
more than sixty days before the date of the meeting, to each stockholder
entitled to vote at such special meeting.
Section 6. Quorum. The holders of a majority of the stock issued and
outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by
proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the
transaction of business, except as otherwise provided by statute or by the
Certificate of Incorporation. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or
represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders entitled to
vote a majority of shares thereat, present in person or represented by proxy,
shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other
than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or
represented. At such adjourned meeting, at which a quorum shall be present or
represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at
the meeting as originally notified. If the adjournment is for more than thirty
days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned
meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of
record entitled to vote at the meeting.
Section 7. Voting. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of
Incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders
shall be entitled to one vote for each share of the capital stock held by him
having voting power upon the matter in question. When a quorum is present at any
meeting for the election of directors, a plurality of the votes cast of shares
present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote
for the election of directors shall be sufficient to elect directors, and all
other elections or questions shall be decided by the vote of the holders of a
majority of the stock having voting power present in person or represented by
proxy before such meeting, unless the election or question is one upon which by
express provision of the statutes or of the Certificate of Incorporation, a
different vote is required in which case such express provision shall govern and
control the decision of such question. Voting at meetings of stockholders other
than the election of directors need not be by written ballot and, unless
otherwise required by law, need not be conducted by inspectors of election
unless so determined by the Board of Directors, the chairman of the meeting or
by the holders of shares of stock having a majority of the votes which could be
cast by the holders of all
2
outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon which are present in person
or by proxy at such meeting.
Section 8. Proxies. Each stockholder may authorize another person or
persons to act for him by proxy, but no proxy shall be voted on after three
years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy
shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as
long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an
irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable
by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing an instrument in
writing revoking the proxy or by delivering a proxy in accordance with
applicable law bearing a later date to the Secretary of the Corporation.
Section 9. Organization. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by
the Chairman of the Board, or in his absence by the Vice Chairman of the Board,
if any, or in his absence by the Chief Executive Officer, or in his absence by
the President, or in his absence by a Vice-President, or in the absence of the
foregoing persons by a chairman designated by the Board of Directors, or in the
absence of such designation by a chairman chosen at the meeting. The Secretary
shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his absence or unavailability, the
chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the
meeting.
Section 10. Conduct of Meetings. The Board of Directors of the Corporation
may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the
meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent
inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of
Directors, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and
authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such
acts, in the judgment of such chairman, as are appropriate for the proper
conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted
by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may
include, without limitation, the following: (i) establishment of an agenda or
order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining
order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on
attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the
Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons
as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (iv) opening and closing of the
polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote; (v) restrictions on
entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (vi)
limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants.
Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of
the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in
accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
Section 11. Advance Notice of Stockholder Business. At any annual meeting
of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been
brought before the meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors
or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote with
respect thereto and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this
Section 11. For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a
stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in voting to
the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's notice must be
delivered or mailed to and received at the principal executive offices of the
Corporation not less than sixty
3
days nor more than ninety days prior to the date of the annual meeting;
provided, however, that in the event that less than fifty days' notice or prior
public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders,
notice by the stockholder to be timely must be received not later than the close
of business on the tenth day following the day on which such notice of the date
of the annual meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. A
stockholder's notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter such
stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, the following:
(i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the
annual meeting and the reasons for conducting business at the annual meeting;
(ii) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation's books, of
the stockholder proposing such business;
(iii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation's voting stock that
are beneficially owned by such stockholder; and
(iv) any material interest of such stockholder in such business.
Notwithstanding anything in these By-Laws to the contrary, no business shall be
brought before or conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 11. The chairman of the annual meeting shall, if the
facts so warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business was not
properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 11 and, if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting
and any such business so determined to be not properly brought before the
meeting shall not be transacted.
ARTICLE III.
DIRECTORS
Section 1. General Powers. The business of the Corporation shall be managed
by or under the direction of its Board of Directors which may exercise all such
powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by
statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-Laws directed or
required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
Section 2. Number; Term. The number of director that shall constitute the
entire board shall be not less than four nor more than ten. Within the limits
above specified, the number of directors shall be determined from time to time
by resolution of the Board of Directors or by the stockholders at the annual
meeting. The directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the
stockholders, except as provided in Section 3 of this Article, and each director
elected shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified, or until
his death, or until he shall have resigned, or have been removed, as hereinafter
provided in these By-Laws, or as otherwise provided by statute or the
Certificate of Incorporation. Directors need not be stockholders.
4
Section 3. Vacancies. Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting
from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by a
majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by a
sole remaining director, and the directors so chosen shall hold office until the
next annual election and until their successors are duly elected and shall
qualify, unless sooner displaced. If there are no directors in office, then an
election of directors may be held in the manner provided by statute. 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 entire board (as
constituted immediately prior to any such increase), the Court of Chancery may,
upon application of any stockholder or stockholders holding at least ten percent
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 office.
Section 4. Place of Meeting. The Board of Directors of the Corporation may
hold meetings, both annual, regular and special, either within or without the
State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Section 5. Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors shall meet for the
purpose of organization, the election of officers and the transaction of other
business, as soon as practicable after each annual meeting of the stockholders,
on the same day and at the same place where such annual meeting shall be held.
Notice of such meeting need not be given. Such meeting may be held at any other
time or place which shall be specified in a notice thereof given as hereinafter
provided in Section 7 of this Article III.
Section 6. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board shall be held at
such time and place as the Board may from time to time determine. If any day
fixed for a regular meeting shall be a legal holiday at the place where the
meeting is to be held, then the meeting which would otherwise be held on that
day shall be held at the same hour on the next succeeding business day. Notice
of regular meetings of the Board need not be given except as otherwise required
by statute or these By-Laws.
Section 7. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may
be called by the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President on one
day's notice to each director either personally or by mail or by telegram
electronically, special meetings shall be called by the President or Secretary
in like manner and on like notice on the written request of two directors unless
the Board of Directors consists of only one director; in which case special
meeting shall be called by the President or Secretary in like manner and on like
notice on the written request of the sole director.
Section 8. Quorum. At all meetings of the Board of Directors a majority of
the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the
act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a
quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise
specifically provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation. If a
quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the
directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without
notice other than
5
announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
Section 9. Consent. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of
Incorporation or these By-Laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at
any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any Committee thereof may be taken
without a meeting, if all members of the Board or Committee, as the case may be,
consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the
minutes of proceedings of the Board or Committee.
Section 10. Telephonic Participation. Unless otherwise restricted by the
Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, members of the Board of
Directors, or any Committee designated by the Board of Directors, may
participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors, or any 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 in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 11. Compensation. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of
Incorporation or these By-Laws, the Board of Directors shall have the authority
to fix the compensation of directors. The directors may be paid their expenses,
if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid
a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated
salary as director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the
Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members
of special or standing Committees may be allowed like compensation for attending
Committee meetings.
Section 12. Removal of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the
Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any director or the entire Board
of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority
of shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors.
Section 13. Nominating Procedure. Only persons who are nominated in
accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 13 shall be eligible
for election as directors of the Corporation by stockholders. Nominations of
persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be made at
a meeting of stockholders at which Directors are to be elected only (i) by or at
the direction of the Board of Directors; or (ii) by any stockholder of the
Corporation entitled to vote for the election of Directors at the meeting who
complies with the notice procedures set forth below. Nominations for election as
a director of the Corporation, other than those made by or at the direction of
the Board of Directors, shall be made by timely notice in writing to the
Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's notice shall be
delivered or mailed to and received at the principal executive offices of the
Corporation not less than sixty days or more than ninety days prior to the date
of the meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than fifty days'
notice or prior disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to
stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not
later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on
which such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public
disclosure was made. Such stockholder's notice shall set forth:
6
(x) as to each person whom such stockholder proposes 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, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including such person's
written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to
serving as a director if elected); and
(y) as to the stockholder giving the notice (I) the name and address, as
they appear on the Corporation's books, of such stockholder, and (II) the class
and number of shares of the Corporation's voting capital stock that are
beneficially owned by such stockholder.
At the request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated by the Board of
Directors for election as a director shall furnish to the Secretary of the
Corporation that information required to be set forth in a stockholder's notice
of nomination which pertains to the nominee. No person shall be eligible for
election as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with
the provisions of this Section 13. The chairman of the meeting shall, if the
facts so warrant, determine that a nomination was not made in accordance with
such provisions and, if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the
meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
ARTICLE IV.
COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. Committee. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a
majority of the entire Board, designate one or more Committees, each Committee
to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. 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. In the absence or disqualification of a 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. The Board of Directors shall have the
power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, or to
dissolve any such committee.
Section 2. Powers. Any Committee, to the extent 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 amending the Certificate of Incorporation,
adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the
stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the
Corporation's property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a
dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation of a dissolution, or amending the
By-Laws of the Corporation; and, unless the resolution or the
7
Certificate of Incorporation expressly so provides, no Committee shall have the
power or authority to declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of capital
stock. Any Committee or Committees shall have such name or names as may be
determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Procedure. A majority of the Board members of any Committee may
determine its action and fix the time and place of its meetings, unless the
Board shall otherwise provide. Notice of such meetings shall be given to each
member of the Committee in the manner provided for in Section 1 of Article V.
Each Committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to
the Board of Directors when required.
ARTICLE V.
NOTICES
Section 1. General. Whenever, under the provisions of the statutes or of
the Certificate of Incorporation or of these By-Laws, notice is required to be
given to any director or stockholder, it shall not be construed to mean personal
notice, but such notice may be given in writing, by mail, addressed to such
director or stockholder, at his address as it appears on the records of the
Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice shall be deemed to be
given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail.
Notice to directors may also be given by telegram, facsimile or other electronic
means as permitted by the statutes.
Section 2. Waiver. Whenever any notice is required to be given under the
provisions of the statutes or of the Certificate of Incorporation or of these
By-Laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled
to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed
equivalent thereto.
ARTICLE VI.
OFFICERS
Section 1. Positions; Terms. The officers of the Corporation shall be
chosen by the Board of Directors and shall be a Chairman of the Board, a Chief
Executive Officer, a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary and a Treasurer.
The Board of Directors at its first meeting after each annual meeting of
stockholders shall choose a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a
President, one or more Vice-Presidents, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board
of Directors may also choose a Vice Chairman, additional Vice-Presidents, and
one or more Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers. Any number of
offices may be held by the same person, unless the statute, the Certificate of
Incorporation or these By-Laws otherwise provide. The officers of the
Corporation shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualify. Any
officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed at any
time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors. Any
vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board
of Directors.
8
Section 2. Appointments. The Board of Directors may appoint, or delegate to
the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer or the President the power to appoint,
such other officers (including one or more Assistant Vice-Presidents, Assistant
Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries) and agents as it or he shall deem
necessary who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such
powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the
Board or the officer making such appointment.
Section 3. Resignation. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any
time by giving written notice of his resignation to the Board, the Chairman of
the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. Any such
resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time when
it shall become effective shall not be specified herein, immediately upon its
receipt; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such
resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 4. Removal. Any officer or agent of the Corporation may be removed,
either with or without cause, at any time, by the vote of the majority of the
entire Board at any meeting of the Board called for such person. Any officer or
agent appointment by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or
the President pursuant to Section 2 of this Article may be removed, either with
or without cause, by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or
President. Such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights, if
any, of the person so removed.
Section 5. Compensation. The salaries of all officers and agents of the
Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that
the Board may delegate to the Chairman of the Board or the President the power
to fix the compensation of officers and agents appointed by the Chairman of the
Board or the President, as the case may be. An officer of the Corporation shall
not be prevented from receiving compensation by reason of the fact that he is
also a director of the Corporation, but any such officer who shall also be a
director shall not have any vote in the determination of the amount of
compensation paid to him.
Section 6. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board, if one be
elected, shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation; he shall
preside at all meetings of the stockholders and directors, shall be ex officio a
member of all standing committees, shall have general and active management of
the business of the Corporation, shall see that all orders and resolutions of
the Board of Directors are carried into effect and shall perform such other
duties as the Board of Directors shall prescribe; provided, however, that a
person serving as acting, interim or non-executive Chairman of the Board shall
not also be chief executive officer of the Corporation nor shall such person
have general and active management of the business of the Corporation.
Section 7. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer, if other
than the Chairman of the Board, shall be the chief executive officer of the
Corporation. If there is no Chairman of the Board or during the absence or
disability of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall
exercise all of the powers and discharge all of the duties of the Chairman of
the Board. He shall possess power to sign all certificates, contracts, and other
9
instruments of the Corporation. He shall, in the absence of the Chairman of the
Board, preside at all of the meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of
Directors. He shall perform all such other duties as are incident to his office
or are properly required of him by the Board of Directors.
Section 8. Vice Chairman of the Board. The Vice Chairman of the Board, if
one be elected, shall have such powers and perform all such duties as from time
to time may be assigned to him by the Board or the Chairman of the Board and,
unless otherwise provided by the Board, shall in the case of the absence or
inability to act of the Chairman of the Board, perform the duties of the
Chairman of the Board and when so acting shall have all the powers of, and be
subject to all the restrictions upon, the Chairman of the Board.
Section 9. President. The President of the Corporation shall be the chief
operating and administrative officer of the Corporation. If there is no Chairman
of the Board and no Chief Executive Officer or during the absence or disability
of the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, the President
shall exercise all of the powers and discharge all of the duties of the Chairman
of the Board. He shall possess power to sign all certificates, contracts, and
other instruments of the Corporation. He shall, in the absence of the Chairman
of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, preside at all of the meetings of
the stockholders and of the Board of Directors. He shall perform all such other
duties as are incident to his office or are properly required of him by the
Board of Directors. He shall execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts
requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or
permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the
signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of
Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation.
Section 10. Vice-Presidents. In the absence of the President or in the
event of his inability or refusal to act, the Vice-President (or in the event
there be more than one Vice-President, the Vice-Presidents in the order
designated by the Board of Directors, or in the absence of any designation, then
in the order of their election) shall perform the duties of the President, and
when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the
restrictions upon the President. The Vice-Presidents shall perform such other
duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to
time prescribe.
Section 11. Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board
of Directors and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings
of the meetings of the Corporation and of the Board of Directors in a book to be
kept for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing Committees
when required. He shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of
the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, the Chief
Executive Officer or the President, under whose supervision he shall be. He
shall have custody of the corporate seal of the Corporation and he, or an
Assistant Secretary, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument
requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by his signature or by the
signature of such Assistant Secretary. The Board of Directors may give general
authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to
attest the affixing by his signature.
10
Section 12. Assistant Secretary. The Assistant Secretary, or if there be
more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board of
Directors (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their
election), shall, in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of his
inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the
Secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the
Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
Section 13. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the custody of the
corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of
receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall
deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of
the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of
Directors. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be
ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers of the Corporation for
such disbursements, and shall render to the President, Chief Executive Officer
and Board of Directors, at its regular meetings, or when the Board of Directors
so requires, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and the financial
condition of the Corporation. If required by the Board of Directors, the
Treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or
sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful
performance of the duties of his office and for the restoration to the
Corporation, in case of his death, resignation, retirement or removal from
office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever
kind in his possession or under his control belonging to the Corporation.
Section 14. Assistant Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurer, or if there shall
be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order determined by the Board
of Directors (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their
election), shall, in the absence of the Treasurer or in the event of his
inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the
Treasurer and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the
Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
ARTICLE VII.
CONTRACTS, LOANS, BANK ACCOUNTS, ETC.
Section 1. Execution of Contracts. Except as otherwise required by statute,
the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any contracts or other
instruments may be executed and delivered in the name and on behalf of the
Corporation by such officer or officers (including any assistant officer) of the
Corporation as the Board may from time to time direct. Such authority may be
general or confined to specific instances as the Board may determine. Unless
authorized by the Board or expressly permitted by these By-Laws, an officer or
agent or employee shall not have any power or authority to bind the Corporation
by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it
pecuniarily liable for any purpose or to any amount.
Section 2. Loans. Unless the Board of Directors shall otherwise determine,
either the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer or the
11
President, singly, or a Vice-President, together with the Treasurer, may effect
loans and advances at any time for the Corporation or guarantee any loans and
advances to any subsidiary of the Corporation, from any bank, trust company or
other institution, or from any firm, corporation or individual, and for such
loans and advances may make, execute and deliver promissory notes, bonds or
other certificates or evidences or indebtedness of the Corporation, or guarantee
of indebtedness of subsidiaries of the Corporation, but no officer or officers
other than in the ordinary course of business shall mortgage, pledge,
hypothecate or transfer any securities or other property of the Corporation,
except when authorized by the Board.
Section 3. Check, Drafts, Etc. All checks, drafts, bills of exchange or
other orders for the payment of money out of the funds of the Corporation, and
all notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Corporation, shall be signed
in the name and on behalf of the Corporation by such person or persons and in
such manner as shall from time to time be authorized by the Board.
Section 4. Deposits. All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed
shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Corporation in such
banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Board may from time to time
designate or as may be designated by any officer or officers of the Corporation
to whom such power of designation may from time to time be delegated by the
Board. For the purpose of deposit and for the purpose of collection for the
account of the Corporation, checks, drafts and other orders for the payment of
money which are payable to the order of the Corporation may be endorsed,
assigned and delivered by any officer or agent of the Corporation, or in such
other manner as the Board may determine.
Section 5. General and Special Bank Accounts. The Board may from time to
time authorize the opening and keeping of general and special bank accounts with
such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Board may designate or
as may be designated by any officer or officers of the Corporation to whom such
power of designation may from time to time be delegated by the Board. The Board
may make such special rules and regulations with respect to such bank accounts,
not inconsistent with the provisions of these By-Laws, as it may deem expedient.
Section 6. Proxies in Respect of Securities of other Corporations. Unless
otherwise provided by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors, the Chairman
of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President, or a Vice-President may from time to time appoint an attorney or
attorneys or agent or agents, of the Corporation, in the name and on behalf of
the Corporation to cast the votes which the Corporation may be entitled to cast
as the holder of stock or other securities in any other corporation, any of
whose stock or other securities may be held by the Corporation, at meetings of
the holders of the stock or other securities of such other corporation, or to
consent in writing, in the name of the Corporation as such holder, to any action
by such other corporation, and may instruct the person or persons so appointed
as to the manner of casting such votes or giving such consent, and may execute
or cause to be executed in the name and on behalf of the Corporation and under
its corporate seal, or otherwise, all such written proxies or other instruments
as he may deem necessary or proper.
ARTICLE VIII.
12
CERTIFICATES OF STOCK
Section 1. Certificates. 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 or Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive
Officer, or the President or a Vice-President and the Treasurer or, an Assistant
Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation,
certifying the number of shares owned by him in the Corporation. Certificates
may be issued for partly paid shares and in such case upon the face or back of
the certificates issued to represent any such partly paid shares, the total
amount of the consideration to be paid therefor, and the amount paid thereon
shall be specified.
Section 2. Facsimile Signatures. Any of or all the signatures on the
certificate may be facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar
who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate
shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such
certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect
as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
Section 3. Lost Certificates. The Board of Directors may direct a new
certificate or certificates to 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. When
authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the Board of
Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance
thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or
certificates, or his legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner
as it shall require and/or to give the Corporation a bond in such sum 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 4. Transfers of Stock. Upon surrender to the Corporation or the
transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or
accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to
transfer, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to
the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the
transaction upon its books.
Section 5. Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record. 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, or
entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment
of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change,
conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action
(other than action by consent 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 record date: (i) in the case of determination of
stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders or adjournment
thereof, shall, unless otherwise required by law, be not more than sixty (60)
nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such
13
meeting; and (ii) in the case of any other action (other than action by consent
in writing without a meeting), shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to
such other action. If no record date is fixed: (i) 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; and (ii) the record
date for determining stockholders for any other purpose (other than action by
consent in writing without a meeting) shall be at the close of business on the
day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto. A
determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a
meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided,
however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned
meeting.
Section 6. 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 to hold liable
for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of
shares 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.
Section 7. Action by Written Consent. (a) 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
stockholders authorize or take corporate action by written consent shall, by
written notice to the Secretary, request that the Board of Directors fix a
record date. The Board of Directors shall promptly, but in all events within ten
(10) days after the date on which such written notice is received, adopt a
resolution fixing the record date (unless a record date has previously been
fixed by the Board of Directors pursuant to the first sentence of this Section
7(a)). If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors pursuant to
the first sentence of this Section 7(a) or otherwise within ten (10) days after
the date on which such written notice 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 after the expiration of such ten (10)
day time period 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 Delaware, its principal place of business, or to any
officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which
proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. If no record date has been
fixed by the Board of Directors pursuant to the first sentence of this Section
7(a), the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to
corporate action in writing without a meeting if prior action by the Board of
Directors is required by applicable law shall be at the close of business on the
date on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior
action.
14
(b) In the event of the delivery, in the manner provided by this Section 7
and applicable law, to the Corporation of written consent or consents to take
corporate action and/or any related revocation or revocations, the Corporation
shall engage an independent inspector or inspectors of elections for the purpose
of performing promptly a ministerial review of the validity of the consents and
revocations. For the purpose of permitting the inspector or inspectors to
perform such review, no action by written consent and without a meeting shall be
effective until such inspector or inspectors have completed their review,
determined that the requisite number of valid and unrevoked consents delivered
to the Corporation in accordance with this Section 7 and applicable law have
been obtained to authorize or take the action specified in the consents, and
certified such determination for entry in the records of the Corporation kept
for the purpose of recording the proceedings of meetings of stockholders.
Nothing contained in this Section 7(b) shall in any way be construed to suggest
or imply that the Board of Directors or any stockholder shall not be entitled to
contest the validity of any consent or revocation thereof, whether before or
after such certification by the independent inspector or inspectors, or to take
any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution
or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive
relief in such litigation).
(c) 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
after the earliest dated written consent received in accordance with this
Section 7, a valid written consent or valid written consents signed by a
sufficient number of stockholders to take such action are delivered to the
Corporation in the manner prescribed in this Section 7 and applicable law, and
not revoked.
ARTICLE IX.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Declaration of Dividends. Dividends upon the capital stock of
the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation,
if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special
meeting, pursuant to law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in
shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of
Incorporation.
Section 2. Payment of Dividends. 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 shall think conducive to the
interest of the Corporation, and Board may modify or abolish any such reserve in
the manner in which it was created.
Section 3. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed
by resolution of the Board of Directors.
15
Section 4. Seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name
of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words "Corporate Seal,
Delaware". The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be
impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
ARTICLE X.
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. Authority. The Corporation shall indemnify each director,
officer, employee and agent of the Corporation, his heirs, executors,
administrators and all persons whom the Corporation is authorized to indemnify
under the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
(the "DGCL"), to the fullest extent permitted by law, (i) against all the
expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with any
action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative,
investigative, or in connection with any appeal therein, or otherwise, and (ii)
against all expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of any action or
suit by or in the right of the Corporation, or in connection with any appeal
therein, or otherwise, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and
with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe his conduct was unlawful. No provision of the By-Laws is intended to be
construed as limiting, prohibiting, denying or abrogating any of the general or
specific powers or rights conferred under the DGCL upon the Corporation to
furnish, or upon any court to award, such indemnification as otherwise
authorized pursuant to the DGCL or any other law now or hereafter in effect.
Section 2. Prepayment of Expenses. The Corporation may, in its discretion,
pay the expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred in defending any
proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that the
payment of expenses incurred by a director or officer in advance of the final
disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking
by the director or officer to repay all amounts advanced if it should be
ultimately determined that the director or officer is not entitled to be
indemnified under this Article or otherwise. Such expenses (including attorneys'
fees) incurred by other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and
conditions, if any, as the Board of Directors deems appropriate.
Section 3. Claims. If a claim for indemnification or payment of expenses
under this Article is not paid in full within sixty days after a written claim
therefor has been received by the Corporation, the claimant may file suit to
recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part,
shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any such
action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the claimant was
not entitled to the requested indemnification or payment of expenses under
applicable law.
Section 4. Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any person by
this Article
16
shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or
hereafter acquire under any statute, including the DGCL, provision of the
Certificate of Incorporation, these By-Laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors or otherwise.
Section 5. Other Indemnification; Insurance. The Corporation's obligation,
if any, to indemnify any person who was or is serving at its request as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise shall be
reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification from such other
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, or
other enterprise. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf
of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise against any
liability asserted against him in any such capacity, or arising out of his
status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify
him against such liability under the provisions of law or this section.
Section 6. Amendment or Repeal. Any repeal, amendment or alteration of the
foregoing provisions of this Article shall not adversely affect any right or
protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring
prior to the time of such repeal, amendment or alteration.
ARTICLE XI.
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Stockholders. These By-Laws may be amended, altered or repealed
or new By-Laws may be adopted at any annual or special meeting of the
stockholders; provided, however, that the notice of such meeting shall have been
given as provided in these By-Laws, which notice shall mention that amendment,
alteration or repeal of these By-Laws, or the adoption of new By-Laws, is one of
the purposes of such meeting.
Section 2. Board of Directors. These By-laws may also be amended, altered
or repealed or new By-Laws may be adopted by the Board at any meeting thereof;
provided, however, that notice of such meeting shall have been given as provided
in these By-Laws, which notice shall mention that amendment, alteration or
repeal of the By-Laws, or the adoption of new By-Laws, is one of the purposes of
such meeting. By-Laws adopted by the Board may be amended or repealed by the
stockholders as provided in Section 1 of this Article.
17