Exhibit 3.2
BYLAWS
OF
EXAR (DELAWARE) CORPORATION
(a Delaware corporation)
Amended and Restated
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I - Offices
Section 1. Registered Office ............................................. 1
Section 2. Other Offices ................................................. 1
ARTICLE II - Corporate Seal
Section 3. Corporate Seal ................................................ 1
ARTICLE III - Stockholders' Meetings
Section 4. Place of Meetings ............................................. 1
Section 5. Annual Meeting ................................................ 1
Section 6. Special Meetings .............................................. 3
Section 7. Notice of Meetings ............................................ 4
Section 8. Quorum ........................................................ 4
Section 9. Adjournment and Notice of Adjourned Meetings .................. 5
Section 10. Voting Rights ................................................. 5
Section 11. Joint Owners of Stock ......................................... 5
Section 12. List of Stockholders .......................................... 6
Section 13. Organization .................................................. 6
ARTICLE IV - Directors
Section 14. Number and Term of Office ..................................... 6
Section 15. Powers ........................................................ 7
Section 16. Classes of Directors .......................................... 7
Section 17. Vacancies ..................................................... 7
Section 18. Resignation ................................................... 8
Section 19. Removal ....................................................... 8
Section 20. Meetings ...................................................... 8
Section 21. Quorum and Voting ............................................. 9
Section 22. Action Without Meeting ........................................ 9
Section 23. Fees and Compensation ......................................... 10
Section 24. Committees .................................................... 10
Section 25. Organization .................................................. 11
ARTICLE V - Officers
Section 26. Officers Designated ........................................... 12
Section 27. Tenure and Duties of Officers ................................. 12
Section 28. Delegation of Authority ....................................... 14
Section 29 Resignations .................................................. 14
Section 30. Removal ....................................................... 14
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ARTICLE VI - Execution of Corporate Instruments and Voting
Of Securities Owned by the Corporation
Section 31. Execution of Corporate Instruments ........................ 14
Section 32. Voting of Securities Owned by the Corporation ............. 15
ARTICLE VII - Shares of Stock
Section 33. Form and Execution of Certificates ........................ 15
Section 34. Lost Certificates ......................................... 15
Section 35. Transfers ................................................. 16
Section 36. Fixing Record Dates ....................................... 16
Section 37. Registered Stockholders ................................... 17
ARTICLE VIII - Other Securities of the Corporation
Section 38. Execution of Other Securities ............................. 17
ARTICLE IX - Dividends
Section 39. Declaration of Dividends .................................. 17
Section 40. Dividend Reserve .......................................... 18
ARTICLE X - Fiscal Year
Section 41. Fiscal Year ............................................... 18
ARTICLE XI - Indemnification
Section 42. Indemnification of Directors, Officers,
Employees and Other Agents ................................ 18
ARTICLE XII - Notices
Section 43. Notices ................................................... 22
ARTICLE XIII - Amendments
Section 44. Amendments ................................................ 24
ARTICLE XIV - Loans to Officers
Section 45. Loans to Officers ......................................... 24
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BYLAWS
OF
EXAR (DELAWARE) 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 in San Jose, California, 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. 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 Meeting. (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.
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(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 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, the stockholder must have given timely
notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the corporation. To be timely, a
stockholder's notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the
principal executive offices of the corporation on or before the date specified
in the corporation's proxy statement released to stockholders in connection with
the previous year's annual meeting of stockholders (or if no such date is
specified, then not less than one hundred twenty (120) calendar days in advance
of the date of said proxy statement); provided, however, that in the event that
no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the date of the annual
meeting has been changed by more than thirty (30) days from the date
contemplated at the time of the previous year's proxy statement, notice by the
stockholder to be timely must be so received a reasonable time before the
solicitation is made. A stockholder's notice to the Secretary shall set forth as
to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting: (i)
a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual
meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (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 which are beneficially owned by the stockholder, (iv) any material
interest of the stockholder in such business, and (v) any other information that
is required to be provided by the stockholder pursuant to Regulation 14A under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), in his
capacity as a proponent to a stockholder proposal. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, 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. Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no
business shall be conducted at any annual meeting except in accordance with the
procedures set forth in this paragraph (b). The chairman of the annual meeting
shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare at the meeting that business
was not properly brought before the meeting and in accordance with the
provisions of this paragraph (b), and, if he should so determine, he shall so
declare at the meeting that any such business not properly brought before the
meeting shall not be transacted.
(c) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures
set forth in this paragraph (c) shall be eligible for election as Directors.
Nominations of the persons for election to the Board of Directors of the
corporation may be made at a meeting of stockholders by or at the direction of
the Board of Directors or by any stockholder of the corporation entitled to vote
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in the election of Directors at the meeting who complies with the notice
procedures set forth in this paragraph (c). Such nominations, other than those
made by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, shall be made pursuant to
timely notice in writing to the Secretary of the corporation in accordance with
the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 5. Such stockholder's notice
shall set forth (i) as to each person, if any, whom the stockholder proposes to
nominate for election or re-election as a Director: (A) the name, age, business
address and residence address of such person, (B) the principal occupation or
employment of such person, (C) the class and number of shares of the corporation
which are beneficially owned by such person, (D) a description of all
arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and each nominee and any
other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the
nominations are to be made by the stockholder, and (E) any other 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 1934 Act (including without limitation such
person's written consent to being named in the proxy statement, if any, as a
nominee and to serving as a Director if elected); and (ii) as to such
stockholder giving notice, the information required to be provided pursuant to
paragraph (b) of this Section 5. At the request of the Board of Directors, any
person nominated by a stockholder for election as a Director shall furnish to
the Secretary of the corporation that information required to be set forth in
the stockholder's notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee. No person
shall be eligible for election as Director of the corporation unless nominated
in accordance with the procedures set forth in this paragraph (c). The chairman
of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare at the meeting
that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by
these Bylaws, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare at the meeting,
and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
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 (iii) the Board of Directors
pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized
directors (whether or not there exists any vacancies in previously authorized
directorships at the time any such resolution is presented to the Board of
Directors for adoption), on such date, and at such time as the President or the
Board of Directors, as the case may be, shall fix.
(b) If a special meeting is 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 President, 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
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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 sixty (60) days after the
receipt of the request, the person or persons 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.
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 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, time and purpose or purposes of the meeting.
Notice 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, 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 law, the Certificate of Incorporation or
these Bylaws, all action taken by the holders of a majority of the vote cast,
excluding abstentions, at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be
valid and binding upon the corporation; provided, however, that 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 is required, a majority
of the outstanding shares of such class or classes, present in person or
represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with
respect to that vote on the matter and the affirmative vote of the majority
(plurality, in the case of the election of
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Directors) of shares of such class or classes present in person or represented
by proxy at the meeting shall be the act of each class.
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, excluding abstentions. 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 faxed 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 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 the stockholders.
Every person entitled to vote or execute consents shall have the right to do so
either in person or by an agent or agents authorized by a written proxy executed
by such person or his duly authorized agent, which proxy shall be filed with the
Secretary at or before the meeting at which it is to be used. 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.
Elections of Directors need not be by written ballot, unless otherwise provided
in the Certificate of Incorporation.
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 General Corporation Law of Delaware, 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.
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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. Organization. (a) At every meeting of stockholders, the
President, or, if the President is absent, the most senior Vice President
present, or in the absence of any such officer, 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 or
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 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 14. Number and Term of Office. The authorized number of Directors
of the corporation shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of
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Directors by a resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors. Directors need
not be stockholders unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation. If
for any reason, 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 15. 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.
Section 16. Classes of Directors. The directors shall be divided into three
classes designed 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 filing of that certain Merger Agreement between the corporation
and Exar Corporation, a California corporation, with the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware (the "Effective Date"), 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
Effective Date, 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 Effective Date, 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.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article, 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 17. Vacancies. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of
Incorporation, any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death,
resignation, disqualification, removal or other causes shall be filled by either
(i) the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the
then-outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors (the "Voting Stock") voting together as a
single class; or (ii) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining
directors then in office, even though less than a quorum of the Board of
Directors. Newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number
of directors shall, unless the Board of Directors determines by resolution that
any newly created directorship shall be filled by the stockholders, be filled
only by the affirmative vote 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 class of directors in which
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the new directorship was created or the vacancy 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 Bylaw in the case of the
death, removal or resignation of any Director, of if the stockholders fail at
any meeting of stockholders at which Directors are to be elected to elect the
number of Directors then constituting the whole Board of Directors.
Section 18. 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 19. Removal. Subject to any limitations imposed by law or the
Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors, or any individual
Director, may be removed from office at any time with cause by the affirmative
vote of the holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding shares of the
capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote at an election of Directors.
Section 20. 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.
(b) Regular Meetings. Except as hereinafter otherwise provided,
regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held in the office of the
corporation required to be maintained pursuant to Section 2 hereof. Unless
otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, regular meetings of
the Board of Directors may also be held at any place within or without the State
of Delaware which has been designated by resolution of the Board of Directors or
the written consent of all directors.
(c) Special Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate
of Incorporation, special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any
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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. Written notice of the time and place of all
special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given at least one (1) day
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, or a consent to holding such meeting, or an approval of the minutes
thereof. All such waivers, consents or approvals shall be filed with the
corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting.
Section 21. Quorum and Voting. (a) Unless the Certificate of Incorporation
requires a greater number and except with respect to indemnification questions
arising under Section 42 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, but not less than one (1), 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, but not less than one (1); 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.
(b) At each meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is
present, all questions and business shall be determined by a vote of a majority
of the Directors present, unless a different vote be required by law, the
Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
Section 22. Action Without Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the
Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted
to
9
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 23. 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 therefore.
Section 24. Committees.
(a) Executive Committee. The Board of Directors may by resolution
passed by a majority of the whole Board of Directors 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 specifically granted by
the Board of Directors, shall have and may exercise when the Board of Directors
is not in session all powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the
business and affairs of the corporation, including, without limitation, the
power and authority to declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of stock,
except such committee shall not have the power or authority to amend the
Certificate of Incorporation, to adopt an agreement of merger or consolidation,
to recommend to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or
substantially all of the corporation's property and assets, to recommend to the
stockholders of the corporation a dissolution of the corporation or a revocation
of a dissolution or to amend these Bylaws.
(b) Other Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed
by a majority of the whole Board of Directors, 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 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 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.
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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 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 24 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 meetings at which a
quorum is present shall be the act of such committee.
Section 25. Organization.
(a) Chairman. The Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted by a
majority of the authorized number of directors, designate any director as
Chairman of the Board of Directors. The position of Chairman shall not be an
office of the corporation, but rather shall be a special assignment as a member
of the Board of Directors. The Chairman shall preside at meetings of the Board
of Directors. The Chairman shall also undertake such specific projects as the
Directors may from time to time specify by resolution adopted by a majority of
the authorized number of directors. The compensation of the Chairman shall be
determined under Section 23 of these Bylaws.
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(b) Vice Chairman. The Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted
by a majority of the authorized number of directors, designate any director as
Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. The position of Vice Chairman shall not
be an office of the corporation, but rather shall be a special assignment as a
member of the Board of Directors. The Vice Chairman shall preside at meetings of
the Board of Directors in the absence of the Chairman of the Board. The Vice
Chairman shall also undertake such specific projects as the Directors may from
time to time specify by resolution adopted by a majority of the authorized
number of directors. The compensation of the Vice Chairman shall be determined
under Section 23 of these Bylaws.
(c) Chairman and Secretary of Meetings. The Chairman of the Board
shall preside at every meeting of the Board of Directors, if present. In the
case of any meeting, if there is no Chairman of the Board or if the Chairman is
not present, the Vice Chairman of the Board shall act as chairman of such
meeting, or if there is no Vice Chairman of the Board or if the Vice Chairman is
not present, a chairman chosen by a majority of the directors present shall act
as chairman of such meeting. The Secretary of the corporation or, in the absence
of the Secretary, any person appointed by the Chairman shall act as secretary of
the meeting.
ARTICLE V
Officers
Section 26. Officers Designated. The officers of the corporation shall
include, if an when designated by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive
Officer, the President, one or more Vice Presidents, the Secretary, the Chief
Financial Officer and the Treasurer, all of whom shall be elected at the annual
organizational meeting of the Board of Directors. The order of the seniority of
the Vice Presidents shall be in order of their nomination, unless otherwise
determined by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may also appoint
one or more Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers and such other officers
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 27. 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
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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 President. The President shall preside at all meetings
of the stockholders and all meetings of the Board of Directors, unless a
Chairman of the Board of Directors has been appointed, is present, and, in the
case of stockholder meetings, has not designated the next senior officer to so
preside. 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.
(c) Duties of Vice Presidents. If and to the extent determined by the
Board of Directors, the Vice Presidents, in the order of their seniority, 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.
(d) 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 officer 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 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.
(e) 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 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
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the Board of Directors or the President shall designate from time to time. The
President may direct the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer to assume and
perform the duties of the Chief Financial officer in the absence or disability
of the Chief Financial officer, and each Assistant Treasurer 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 28. 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 29. 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 30. Removal. Any officer may be removed from office at any time,
either with or without cause, by the vote or written consent of a majority of
the Directors in office at the time, or by any committee or superior officers
upon whom such power or 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 31. 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 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.
Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Board of Directors or
otherwise required by law, promissory notes, deeds of trust, mortgages and other
evidences of indebtedness of the corporation, and other corporate instruments or
documents requiring the corporate seal, and certificates of shares of stock
owned by the corporation, shall be executed, signed or endorsed by the Chairman
of the Board of Directors, or the President or any Vice President, and by the
Secretary
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or Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer or any Assistant Secretary or Assistant
Treasurer. All other instruments and documents requiring the corporate
signature, but not requiring the corporate seal, may be executed as aforesaid or
in such other manner as may be directed by the Board of Directors.
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 32. 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 President, or any Vice President.
ARTICLE VII
Shares of Stock
Section 33. 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 Secretary or Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer
or any Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary, certifying the number of
shares owned by him in the corporation. Where such certificate is countersigned
by a transfer agent other than the corporation or its employee, or by a
registrar other than the corporation or its employee, any other signature on the
certificate may be a 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 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 designations, preferences, limitations, restrictions on transfer and
relative rights of the shares authorized to be issued.
Section 34. 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
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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 advertise the same 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 35. 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 General Corporation Law of Delaware.
Section 36. 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 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) 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.
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Section 37. 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 38. Execution of Other Securities. All bonds, debentures and
other corporate securities of the corporation, other than stock certificates
(covered in Section 33), 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 of a 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 39. 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 pursuant to law
at any regular or
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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.
Section 40. 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 41. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be
fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE XI
Indemnification
Section 42. Indemnification of Directors, Officers, Employees and Other
Agents.
(a) Directors and Executive Officers. The corporation shall
indemnify its Directors and executive officers to the fullest extent not
prohibited by the Delaware General Corporation Law; provided, however, that the
corporation may limit 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 or
any proceeding by such person against the corporation or its Directors,
officers, employees or other agents 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 or (iii) such indemnification is provided by the
corporation, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the
corporation under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
(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 Delaware General Corporation Law.
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(c) Good Faith.
(i) For purposes of any determination under this Bylaw, a
Director or executive officer shall be deemed to have 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, to have had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was
unlawful, if his action is based on information, opinions, reports and
statements, including financial statements and other financial data, in
each case prepared or presented by:
(A) one or more officers or employees of the corporation whom
the Director or executive officer believed to be reliable and competent in
the matters presented;
(B) counsel, independent accountants or other persons as to
matters which the Director or executive officer believed to be within such
person's professional competence; and
(C) with respect to a Director, a committee of the Board upon
which such Director does not serve, as to matters within such committee's
designated authority, which as, in each case, the Director or executive
officer acts without knowledge that would cause such reliance to be
unwarranted.
(ii) The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order,
settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent
shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in
good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any
criminal proceeding, that he had reasonable cause to believe that his
conduct was unlawful.
(iii) The provisions of this paragraph (c) shall not be deemed to
be exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may
be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth by the
Delaware General Corporation Law.
(d) Expenses. The corporation shall advance, prior to the final
disposition of any proceeding, promptly following request therefore, 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 Bylaw or otherwise.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise determined pursuant to
paragraph (e) of this Bylaw, no advance shall be made by the corporation 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
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.
(e) 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 indemnifaction
or advances granted by this Bylaw 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 therefore. 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. 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 Delaware General Corporation Law for
the corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed. 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 Delaware General Corporation 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.
(f) 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 statute, provision of the Certificate of
Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested
Directors of 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.
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(g) 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 person.
(h) Insurance. To the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General
Corporation 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 Bylaw.
(i) Amendments. Any repeal or modification of this Bylaw 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.
(j) Savings 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 Bylaw that
shall not have been invalidated, or by an other applicable law.
(k) Certain Definitions. For the purposes of this Bylaw, the following
definitions shall apply:
(i) 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.
(ii) 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.
(iii) 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 the 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 Bylaw with
respect to the
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resulting or surviving corporation as he would have with respect to such
constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(iv) References to a "director," "officer," "employee," or
"agent" of the corporation shall include, without limitation, situations
where such person is serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, officer, employee, trustee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.
(v) 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 Bylaw.
ARTICLE XII
Notices
Section 43. 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 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) Address Unknown. If no address of a stockholder or Director
be known, notice may be sent to the office of the corporation required to be
maintained pursuant to Section 2 hereof.
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(d) 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 such notice or notices was or were given, and the
time and method of giving the same, shall be conclusive evidence of the
statements there in contained.
(e) Time Notices Deemed Given. All notices given by mail, 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.
(f) 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.
(g) 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 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.
(h) 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 Delaware General Corporation Law, 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.
(i) 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,
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payments (if sent by first class mail) or 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 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 Delaware
General Corporation Law, 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.
ARTICLE XIII
Amendments
Section 44. Amendments. Except as otherwise set forth in paragraph (i)
of Section 42 of these 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. The Board of Directors shall also have the power, pursuant to
Section B of Article VI of the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation, to
adopt, amend, supplement or repeal the corporation's Bylaws.
ARTICLE XIV
Loans to Officers
Section 45. 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, 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 this
Bylaw 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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