Exhibit 3.3
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BY-LAWS
OF
UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
A Delaware corporation
(Adopted on January 20, 1999)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. Registered Office. The registered office of the
corporation in the State of Delaware shall be located at 1209 Orange Street,
Wilmington, Delaware, 19801, County of New Castle. The name of the corporation's
registered agent at such address shall be The Corporation Trust Company. The
registered office and/or registered agent of the corporation may be changed from
time to time by action of the board of directors.
Section 2. Other Offices. The corporation 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
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Place and Time of Meetings. An annual meeting of the
stockholders shall be held each year within one hundred twenty (120) days after
the close of the immediately preceding fiscal year of the corporation for the
purpose of electing directors and conducting such other proper business as may
come before the meeting. The date, time and place of the annual meeting shall be
determined by the president of the corporation; provided, that if the president
does not act, the board of directors shall determine the date, time and place of
such meeting.
Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders may be
called for any purpose and may be held at such time and place, within or without
the State of Delaware, as shall be stated in a notice of meeting or in a duly
executed waiver of notice thereof. Such meetings may be called at any time by
the board of directors, the president or the holders of shares entitled to cast
not less than a majority of the votes at the meeting.
Section 3. Place of Meetings. The board of directors may designate
any place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the place of
meeting for any annual meeting or for any special
meeting called by the board of directors. If no designation is made, or if a
special meeting be otherwise called, the place of meeting shall be the principal
executive office of the corporation.
Section 4. Notice. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to
take action at a meeting, written or printed notice stating the place, date,
time, and, in the case of special meetings, the purpose or purposes, of such
meeting, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not
less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting.
All such notices shall be delivered, either personally or by mail, by or at the
direction of the board of directors, the president or the secretary, and if
mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United
States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his, her or its
address as the same appears on the records of the corporation. Attendance of a
person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except
when the person attends 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.
Section 5. Stockholders List. The officer having charge of the stock
ledger of the corporation shall make, at least ten (10) days before every
meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to
vote at such 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 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.
Section 6. Quorum. The holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of capital stock, present in person or represented by proxy, shall
constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders, except as otherwise
provided by statute or by the certificate of incorporation. If a quorum is not
present, the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or
represented by proxy at the meeting, and entitled to vote at the meeting, may
adjourn the meeting to another time and/or place.
Section 7. Adjourned Meetings. When a meeting is adjourned to another
time and place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time
and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is
taken. At the adjourned meeting the corporation may transact any business which
might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for
more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is
fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be
given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
Section 8. Vote Required. When a quorum is present, the affirmative
vote of the majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the
meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the
stockholders, unless the question is one upon which by express
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provisions of an applicable law 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.
Section 9. Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided by the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or by the certificate of incorporation
of the corporation or any amendments thereto and subject to Section 3 of Article
VI hereof, every stockholder shall at every meeting of the stockholders be
entitled to one (1) vote in person or by proxy for each share of common stock
held by such stockholder.
Section 10. Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting
of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing
without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for him or her
by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years
from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed
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 proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the
interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an
interest in the corporation generally. Any proxy is suspended when the person
executing the proxy is present at a meeting of stockholders and elects to vote,
except that when such proxy is coupled with an interest and the fact of the
interest appears on the face of the proxy, the agent named in the proxy shall
have all voting and other rights referred to in the proxy, notwithstanding the
presence of the person executing the proxy. At each meeting of the stockholders,
and before any voting commences, all proxies filed at or before the meeting
shall be submitted to and examined by the secretary or a person designated by
the secretary, and no shares may be represented or voted under a proxy that has
been found to be invalid or irregular.
Section 11. Action by Written Consent. Unless otherwise provided in
the certificate of incorporation, any action required to be taken at any annual
or special meeting of stockholders of the corporation, or any action which may
be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken
without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or
consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken and bearing the dates of
signature of the stockholders who signed the consent or consents, shall be
signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum
number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a
meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and
shall be delivered to the corporation by delivery to its registered office in
the state of Delaware, or the corporation's principal place of business, or an
officer or agent of the corporation having custody of the book or books in which
proceedings of meetings of the stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the
corporation's registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered
mail, return receipt requested provided, however, that no consent or consents
delivered by certified or registered mail shall be deemed delivered until such
consent or consents are actually received at the registered office. All consents
properly delivered in accordance with this section shall be deemed to be
recorded when so delivered. No written consent shall be effective to take the
corporate action referred to therein unless, within sixty (60) days of the
earliest dated consent delivered to the corporation as required by this section,
written consents signed by the holders of a sufficient number of shares to take
such corporate action are so recorded. Prompt notice of the taking of the
corporate action without a
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meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those
stockholders who have not consented in writing. Any action taken pursuant to
such written consent or consents of the stock holders shall have the same force
and effect as if taken by the stockholders at a meeting thereof.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 1. General Powers. The business and affairs of the
corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the board of
directors.
Section 2. Number, Election and Term of Office. The number of
directors which shall constitute the board shall be set at seven. The number of
directors shall be established from time to time by resolution of the board. The
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 in the
election of directors. The directors shall be elected in this manner at the
annual meeting of the stockholders. Each director elected shall hold office
until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier
death, resignation or removal as hereinafter provided.
Section 3. Removal and Resignation. Any director or the entire board
of directors may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the holders
of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote in the election of directors.
Any director may resign at any time upon written notice to the corporation.
Section 4. 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. Each director so chosen shall hold office until a
successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death,
resignation or removal as herein provided.
Section 5. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of each newly elected
board of directors shall be held without other notice than this by-law
immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of stockholders.
Section 6. Other Meetings and Notice. Regular meetings, other than
the annual meeting, of the board of directors may be held without notice at such
time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of
the board. Special meetings of the board of directors may be called by or at the
request of the president on at least twenty-four (24) hours notice to each
director, either personally, by telephone, by mail, or by telegraph.
Section 7. Quorum, Required Vote and Adjournment. A majority of the
total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business. The vote of a majority of directors present at a meeting at which a
quorum is present shall be the act of the board of directors. If a quorum shall
not be present at any meeting of the board of directors, the directors present
thereat
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may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than
announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
Section 8. Committees. The board of directors may, by resolution
passed by a majority of the whole board, designate one or more committees, each
committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the corporation, which
to the extent provided in such resolution or these by-laws shall have and may
exercise the powers of the board of directors in the management and affairs of
the corporation except as otherwise limited by law. 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. Such
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. Each committee
shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the board of
directors when required.
Section 9. Committee Rules. Each committee of the board of directors
may fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by
such rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the board of
directors designating such committee. Unless otherwise provided in such a
resolution, the presence of at least a majority of the members of the committee
shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. In the event that a member and that
member's alternate, if alternates are designated by the board of directors as
provided in Section 8 of this Article III, of such committee is or are absent or
disqualified, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not
disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a
quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the board of directors to act
at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.
Section 10. Communications Equipment. Members of the board of
directors or any committee thereof may participate in and act at any meeting of
such board or committee through the use of a conference telephone or other
communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the
meeting can hear each other, and participation in the meeting pursuant to this
section shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 11. Waiver of Notice and Presumption of Assent. Any member of
the board of directors or any committee thereof who is present at a meeting
shall be conclusively presumed to have waived notice of such meeting except when
such member attends 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. Such member shall be conclusively presumed to have assented
to any action taken unless his or her dissent shall be entered in the minutes of
the meeting or unless his or her written dissent to such action shall be filed
with the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment
thereof or shall be forwarded by registered mail to the secretary of the
corporation immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to
dissent shall not apply to any member who voted in favor of such action.
Section 12. Action by Written Consent. Unless otherwise
restricted by the certificate of incorporation, any action required or permitted
to be taken at any meeting of the board of directors,
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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.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. Number. The officers of the corporation shall be elected
by the board of directors and shall consist of a chairman, president, one or
more senior vice presidents, one or more vice presidents, secretary, a
treasurer, and such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed
necessary or desirable by the board of directors. Any number of offices may be
held by the same person. In its discretion, the board of directors may choose
not to fill any office for any period as it may deem advisable, except that the
offices of president and secretary shall be filled as expeditiously as
possible.
Section 2. Election and Term of Office. The officers of the
corporation shall be elected annually by the board of directors at its first
meeting held after each annual meeting of stockholders or as soon thereafter as
conveniently may be. The president shall be elected annually by the board of
directors at the first meeting of the board of directors held after each annual
meeting of stockholders or as soon thereafter as conveniently may be. The
president shall appoint other officers to serve for such terms as he or she
deems desirable. Vacancies may be filled or new offices created and filled at
any meeting of the board of directors. Each officer shall hold office until a
successor is duly elected and qualified or until his earlier death, resignation
or removal as hereinafter provided.
Section 3. Removal. Any officer or agent elected by the board of
directors may be removed by the board of directors whenever in its judgment the
best interests of the corporation would be served thereby, but such removal
shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so
removed.
Section 4. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in any office because of
death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise, may be filled by the
board of directors for the unexpired portion of the term by the board of
directors then in office.
Section 5. Compensation. Compensation of all officers shall be fixed
by the board of directors, and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such
compensation by virtue of his or her also being a director of the corporation.
Section 6. Chairman of the Board. The chairman of the board shall
have the powers and perform the duties incident to that position. Subject to the
powers of the board of directors, he shall be in the general and active charge
of the entire business and affairs of the corporation. He shall preside at all
meetings of the board of directors and stockholders and shall have such other
powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the board of
directors or provided in these
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by-laws. Whenever the president is unable to serve, by reason of sickness,
absence or otherwise, the chairman of the board shall perform all the duties and
responsibilities and exercise all the powers of the president.
Section 7. The President. The president shall preside at all meetings
of the stockholders and board of directors at which he is present; subject to
the powers of the board of directors, shall have general charge of the business,
affairs and property of the corporation, and control over its officers, agents
and employees; and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the board of
directors are carried into effect. The president 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. The
president shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be
prescribed by the board of directors, chairman or as may be provided in these
by-laws.
Section 8. Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents. The senior
vice president or vice president, or if there shall be more than one, the senior
vice presidents and vice presidents in the order determined by the board of
directors or by the president, shall, in the absence or disability of the
president, act with all of the powers and be subject to all the restrictions of
the president. The senior vice presidents and vice presidents shall also perform
such other duties and have such other powers as the board of directors, the
chairman, the president or these by-laws may, from time to time, prescribe.
Section 9. The Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The secretary
shall attend all meetings of the board of directors, all meetings of the
committees thereof and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the
proceedings of the meetings in a book or books to be kept for that purpose.
Under the president's supervision, the secretary shall give, or cause to be
given, all notices required to be given by these by-laws or by law; shall have
such powers and perform such duties as the board of directors, the president or
these by-laws may, from time to time, prescribe; and shall have custody of the
corporate seal of the corporation. The secretary, or an assistant secretary,
shall have authority to affix the corporate seal 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. The assistant secretary, or if there be more than
one, the assistant secretaries in the order determined by the board of
directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the secretary, 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, the chairman, the
president, or secretary may, from time to time, prescribe.
Section 10. The Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. The treasurer
shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities; shall keep full
and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the
corporation; shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name and
to the credit of the corporation as may be ordered by the board of directors;
shall cause the funds of the corporation to be disbursed when such disbursements
have been duly
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authorized, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements; and shall render to
the president and the board of directors, at its regular meeting or when the
board of directors so requires, an account of the corporation; shall have such
powers and perform such duties as the board of directors, the president or
these by-laws may, from time to time, prescribe. If required by the board of
directors, the treasurer shall give the corporation a bond (which shall be
rendered every six (6) years) in such sums and with such surety or sureties as
shall be satisfactory to the board of directors for the faithful performance of
the duties of the office of treasurer and for the restoration to the
corporation, in case of death, resignation, retirement, or removal from office,
of all books, papers, vouchers, money, and other property of whatever kind in
the possession or under the control of the treasurer belonging to the
corporation. The assistant treasurer, or if there shall be more than one, the
assistant treasurers in the order determined by the board of directors, shall in
the absence or disability of the treasurer, perform the duties and exercise the
powers of the treasurer. The assistant treasurers shall perform such other
duties and have such other powers as the board of directors, the chairman, the
president may, from time to time, prescribe.
Section 11. Other Officers, Assistant Officers and Agents. Officers,
assistant officers and agents, if any, other than those whose duties are
provided for in these by-laws, shall have such authority and perform such duties
as may from time to time be prescribed by resolution of the board of directors.
Section 12. Absence or Disability of Officers. In the case of the
absence or disability of any officer of the corporation and of any person hereby
authorized to act in such officer's place during such officer's absence or
disability, the board of directors may by resolution delegate the powers and
duties of such officer to any other officer or to any director, or to any other
person whom it may select.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND OTHERS
Section 1. Nature of Indemnity. Each person who was or is made a
party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit
or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(hereinafter a "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he, or a person of whom
he is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer, of the
corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, officer, employee, fiduciary, or agent of another corporation or of a
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall be indemnified and
held harmless by the corporation to the fullest extent which it is empowered to
do so unless prohibited from doing so by the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the
case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the
corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted
the corporation to provide prior to such amendment) against all expense,
liability and loss (including attorneys' fees actually and reasonably incurred
by such person in connection with such proceeding) and such indemnification
shall inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and
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administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 2 hereof,
the corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in
connection with a proceeding initiated by such person only if such proceeding
was authorized by the board of directors of the corporation. The right to
indemnification conferred in this Article V shall be a contract right and,
subject to Sections 2 and 5 hereof, shall include the right to be paid by the
corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of
its final disposition. The corporation may, by action of its board of directors,
provide indemnification to employees and agents of the corporation with the same
scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification of directors and officers.
Section 2. Procedure for Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Any indemnification of a director or officer of the corporation under Section 1
of this Article V or advance of expenses under Section 5 of this Article V shall
be made promptly, and in any event within thirty (30) days, upon the written
request of the director or officer. If a determination by the corporation that
the director or officer is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article
V is required, and the corporation fails to respond within sixty (60) days to a
written request for indemnity, the corporation shall be deemed to have approved
the request. If the corporation denies a written request for indemnification or
advancing of expenses, in whole or in part, or if payment in full pursuant to
such request is not made within thirty (30) days, the right to indemnification
or advances as granted by this Article V shall be enforceable by the director or
officer in any court of competent jurisdiction. Such person's costs and expenses
incurred in connection with successfully establishing his right to
indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such action shall also be
indemnified by the corporation. It shall be a defense to any such action (other
than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any
proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking,
if any, has been tendered to the corporation) that the claimant has not met the
standards of conduct which make it permissible under the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware for the corporation to indemnify the claimant for the
amount claimed, but the burden of such defense shall be on the corporation.
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 General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, 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 the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
Section 3. Article Not Exclusive. The rights to indemnification and
the payment of expenses incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its
final disposition conferred in this Article V shall not be exclusive of any
other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute,
provision of the certificate of incorporation, by-law, agreement, vote of
stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
Section 4. Insurance. The corporation may purchase and
maintain insurance on its own behalf and on behalf of any person who is or was a
director, officer, employee, fiduciary, or agent of the corporation or was
serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee
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or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him
or her in any such capacity, whether or not the corporation would have the power
to indemnify such person against such liability under this Article V.
Section 5. Expenses. Expenses incurred by any person described in
Section 1 of this Article V in defending a proceeding shall be paid by the
corporation in advance of such proceeding's final disposition unless otherwise
determined by the board of directors in the specific case upon receipt of an
undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay such amount if
it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be
indemnified by the corporation. Such expenses 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 6. Employees and Agents. Persons who are not covered by the
foregoing provisions of this Article V and who are or were employees or agents
of the corporation, or who are or were serving at the request of the corporation
as employees or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust
or other enterprise, may be indemnified to the extent authorized at any time or
from time to time by the board of directors.
Section 7. Contract Rights. The provisions of this Article V shall be
deemed to be a contract right between the corporation and each director or
officer who serves in any such capacity at any time while this Article V and the
relevant provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or
other applicable law are in effect, and any repeal or modification of this
Article V or any such law shall not affect any rights or obligations then
existing with respect to any state of facts or proceeding then existing.
Section 8. Merger or Consolidation. For purposes of this Article V,
references to "the corporation" shall include, in addition to the resulting
corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a
constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate
existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its
directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or
was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this Article V
with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have
with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had
continued.
ARTICLE VI
CERTIFICATES OF STOCK
Section 1. Form. 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 president or a senior vice president
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or vice president and the secretary or an assistant secretary of the
corporation, certifying the number of shares of a specific class or series owned
by such holder in the corporation. If such a certificate is countersigned (1) by
a transfer agent or an assistant transfer agent other than the corporation or
its employee or (2) by a registrar, other than the corporation or its employee,
the signature of any such president, senior vice president, vice president,
secretary, or assistant secretary may be facsimiles. In case any officer or
officers who have signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been
used on, any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or
officers of the corporation whether because of death, resignation or otherwise
before such certificate or certificates have been delivered by the corporation,
such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be issued and delivered as
though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or
whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used thereon had not ceased to
be such officer or officers of the corporation. All certificates for shares
shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified. The name of the person
to whom the shares represented thereby are issued, with the number of shares and
date of issue, shall be entered on the books of the corporation. Shares of stock
of the corporation shall only be transferred on the books of the corporation by
the holder of record thereof or by such holder's attorney duly authorized in
writing, upon surrender to the corporation of the certificate or certificates
for such shares endorsed by the appropriate person or persons, with such
evidence of the authenticity of such endorsement, transfer, authorization, and
other matters as the corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all
necessary stock transfer stamps. In that event, it shall be the duty of the
corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel
the old certificate or certificates, and record the transaction on its books.
The board of directors may appoint a bank or trust company organized under the
laws of the United States or any state thereof to act as its transfer agent or
registrar, or both in connection with the transfer of any class or series of
securities of the corporation.
Section 2. Lost Certificates. The board of directors may direct a new
certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or
certificates previously 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 or her legal representative, to give the corporation a bond
sufficient to indemnify the corporation against any claim that may be made
against the corporation on account of the loss, theft or destruction of any such
certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.
Section 3. Fixing a Record Date for Stockholder Meetings. 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 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 the close of business
on the next day 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
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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 4. Fixing a Record Date for Action by Written Consent. 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. If no
record date has been fixed by the board of directors, 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
statute, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth
the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the corporation by
delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place
of business, or an officer or agent of the corporation having custody of the
book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery
made to the corporation's registered office shall be by hand or by certified or
registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by
the board of directors and prior action by the board of directors is required by
statute, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to
corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business
on the day on which the board of directors adopts the resolution taking such
prior action.
Section 5. Fixing a Record Date for Other Purposes. In order that the
corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or other distribution or allotment or any rights or the stockholders
entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange
of stock, or for the purposes of any other lawful action, 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, and which record date shall be
not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed,
the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at
the close of business on the day on which the board of directors adopts the
resolution relating thereto.
Section 6. Registered Stockholders. Prior to the surrender to the
corporation of the certificate or certificates for a share or shares of stock
with a request to record the transfer of such share or shares, the corporation
may treat the registered owner as the person entitled to receive dividends, to
vote, to receive notifications, and otherwise to exercise all the rights and
powers of an owner. The corporation 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.
Section 7. Subscriptions for Stock. Unless otherwise provided for in
the subscription agreement, subscriptions for shares shall be paid in full at
such time, or in such installments and at such times, as shall be determined by
the board of directors. Any call made by the board of directors for payment on
subscriptions shall be uniform as to all shares of the same class or as to all
shares of
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the same series. In case of default in the payment of any installment or call
when such payment is due, the corporation may proceed to collect the amount due
in the same manner as any debt due the corporation.
ARTICLE VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. 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. 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
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 any other purpose
and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which
it was created.
Section 2. Checks, Drafts or Orders. All checks, drafts, or other
orders for the payment of money by or to the corporation and all notes and other
evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the corporation shall be signed
by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the corporation, and in such
manner, as shall be determined by resolution of the board of directors or a duly
authorized committee thereof.
Section 3. Contracts. The board of directors may authorize any
officer or officers, or any agent or agents, of the corporation to enter into
any contract or to execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on
behalf of the corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to
specific instances.
Section 4. Loans. 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 subsidiary, including any officer or employee who is a
director of the corporation or its subsidiary, whenever, in the judgment of the
directors, such loan, guaranty or assistance may reasonably be expected to
benefit the corporation. The loan, guaranty or other assistance may be with or
without interest, and may be unsecured, or secured in such manner as the board
of directors shall approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of shares of
stock of the corporation. Nothing in this section contained shall be deemed to
deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the corporation at
common law or under any statute.
Section 5. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be
fixed by resolution of the board of directors.
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Section 6. Corporate Seal. The board of directors shall provide a
corporate seal which shall be in the form of a circle and shall have inscribed
thereon the name of the corporation 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.
Section 7. Voting Securities Owned By Corporation. Voting securities
in any other corporation held by the corporation shall be voted by the
president, unless the board of directors specifically confers authority to vote
with respect thereto, which authority may be general or confined to specific
instances, upon some other person or officer. Any person authorized to vote
securities shall have the power to appoint proxies, with general power of
substitution.
Section 8. Inspection of Books and Records. Any stockholder of
record, in person or by attorney or other agent, shall, upon written demand
under oath stating the purpose thereof, have the right during the usual hours
for business to inspect for any proper purpose the corporation's stock ledger, a
list of its stockholders, and its other books and records, and to make copies or
extracts therefrom. A proper purpose shall mean any purpose reasonably related
to such person's interest as a stockholder. In every instance where an attorney
or other agent shall be the person who seeks the right to inspection, the demand
under oath shall be accompanied by a power of attorney or such other writing
which authorizes the attorney or other agent to so act on behalf of the
stockholder. The demand under oath shall be directed to the corporation at its
registered office in the State of Delaware or at its principal place of
business.
Section 9. Section Headings. Section headings in these by-laws are
for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect
in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.
Section 10. Inconsistent Provisions. In the event that any provision
of these by-laws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the
certificate of incorporation, the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware or any other applicable law, the provision of these by-laws shall not
be given any effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be
given full force and effect.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
Except for Article III hereof, these by-laws may be amended, altered,
or repealed and new by-laws adopted at any meeting of the board of directors by
a majority vote. The fact that the power to adopt, amend, alter, or repeal the
by-laws has been conferred upon the board of directors shall not divest the
stockholders of the same powers.
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