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EXHIBIT 3.3
BYLAWS
OF
ASIA ONLINE, LTD.
(A DELAWARE CORPORATION)
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ARTICLE I OFFICES.................................................................1
Section 1. Registered Office..................................................1
Section 2. Other Offices......................................................1
ARTICLE II CORPORATE SEAL..........................................................1
Section 3. Corporate Seal.....................................................1
ARTICLE III STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS..................................................1
Section 4. Place of Meetings..................................................1
Section 5. Annual Meeting.....................................................1
Section 6. Special Meetings...................................................2
Section 7. Notice of Meetings.................................................3
Section 8. Quorum.............................................................3
Section 9. Adjournment and Notice of Adjourned Meetings.......................4
Section 10. Voting Rights......................................................4
Section 11. Joint Owners of Stock..............................................4
Section 12. List of Stockholders...............................................5
Section 13. Action Without Meeting.............................................5
Section 14. Organization.......................................................5
ARTICLE IV DIRECTORS...............................................................6
Section 15. Number and Term of Office..........................................6
Section 16. Powers.............................................................6
Section 17. Term of Directors..................................................6
Section 18. Vacancies..........................................................6
Section 19. Resignation........................................................7
Section 20. Removal............................................................7
Section 21. Meetings...........................................................7
(a) Annual Meetings....................................................7
(b) Regular Meetings...................................................8
(c) Special Meetings...................................................8
(d) Telephone Meetings.................................................8
(e) Notice of Meetings.................................................8
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(CONTINUED)
PAGE
(f) Waiver of Notice...................................................8
Section 22. Quorum and Voting..................................................8
Section 23. Action Without Meeting.............................................9
Section 24. Fees and Compensation..............................................9
Section 25. Committees.........................................................9
(a) Executive Committee................................................9
(b) Other Committees...................................................9
(c) Term...............................................................9
(d) Meetings..........................................................10
Section 26. Organization......................................................10
ARTICLE V OFFICERS...............................................................10
Section 27. Officers Designated...............................................10
Section 28. Tenure and Duties of Officers.....................................11
(a) General...........................................................11
(b) Duties of Chairman of the Board of Directors......................11
(c) Duties of President...............................................11
(d) Duties of Vice Presidents.........................................11
(e) Duties of Secretary...............................................11
(f) Duties of Treasurer...............................................12
Section 29. Delegation of Authority...........................................12
Section 30. Resignations......................................................12
Section 31. Removal...........................................................12
ARTICLE VI EXECUTION OF CORPORATE INSTRUMENTS AND
VOTING OF SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION..........................12
Section 32. Execution of Corporate Instruments................................12
Section 33. Voting of Securities Owned by the Corporation.....................13
ARTICLE VII SHARES OF STOCK........................................................13
Section 34. Form and Execution of Certificates................................13
Section 35. Lost Certificates.................................................14
Section 36. Transfers.........................................................14
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(CONTINUED)
PAGE
Section 37. Fixing Record Dates...............................................14
Section 38. Registered Stockholders...........................................15
ARTICLE VIII OTHER SECURITIES OF THE CORPORATION....................................15
Section 39. Execution of Other Securities.....................................15
ARTICLE IX DIVIDENDS..............................................................16
Section 40. Declaration of Dividends..........................................16
Section 41. Dividend Reserve..................................................16
ARTICLE X FISCAL YEAR............................................................16
Section 42. Fiscal Year.......................................................16
ARTICLE XI INDEMNIFICATION........................................................16
Section 43. Indemnification of Directors, Executive Officers, Other Officers,
Employees and Other Agents........................................16
(a) Directors and Officers............................................16
(b) Employees and Other Agents........................................17
(c) Expenses..........................................................17
(d) Enforcement.......................................................17
(e) Non-Exclusivity of Rights.........................................18
(f) Survival of Rights................................................18
(g) Insurance.........................................................18
(h) Amendments........................................................18
(i) Saving Clause.....................................................19
(j) Certain Definitions...............................................19
ARTICLE XII NOTICES................................................................20
Section 44. Notices...........................................................20
(a) Notice to Stockholders............................................20
(b) Notice to Directors...............................................20
(c) Affidavit of Mailing..............................................20
(d) Time Notices Deemed Given.........................................20
(e) Methods of Notice.................................................20
(f) Failure to Receive Notice.........................................20
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(CONTINUED)
PAGE
(g) Notice to Person with Whom Communication Is Unlawful..............20
(h) Notice to Person with Undeliverable Address.......................21
ARTICLE XIII AMENDMENTS.............................................................21
Section 45. Amendments........................................................21
ARTICLE XIV RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.................................................21
Section 46. Right of First Refusal............................................21
ARTICLE XV LOANS TO OFFICERS......................................................24
Section 47. Loans to Officers.................................................24
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BYLAWS
OF
ASIA ONLINE, LTD.
(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 Wilmington, County of New
Castle.
SECTION 2. OTHER OFFICES. The corporation shall also have and maintain
an office or principal place of business at such place as may be fixed by the
Board of Directors, and may also have offices at such other places, both within
and without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to
time determine or the business of the corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
CORPORATE SEAL
SECTION 3. CORPORATE SEAL. The corporate seal shall consist of a die
bearing the name of the corporation and the inscription, "Corporate
Seal-Delaware." Said seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be
impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
ARTICLE III
STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS
SECTION 4. PLACE OF MEETINGS. Meetings of the stockholders of the
corporation shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of
Delaware, as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors, or,
if not so designated, then at the principal 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.
(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
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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 not
later than the close of business on the sixtieth (60th) day nor earlier than the
close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the first anniversary of
the preceding year's annual meeting; 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 not earlier than the close of
business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later
than the close of business on the later of the sixtieth (60th) day prior to such
annual meeting or, in the event public announcement of the date of such annual
meeting is first made by the corporation fewer than seventy (70) days prior to
the date of such annual meeting, the close of business on the tenth (10th) day
following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is
first made by the corporation. 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 stockholders' 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) For purposes of this Section 5, "public announcement"
shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service,
Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly
filed by the corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to
Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act.
SECTION 6. SPECIAL MEETINGS.
(a) Special meetings of the stockholders of the corporation
may be called, for any purpose or purposes, by (i) the Chairman of the Board,
(ii) the President, (iii) the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution
adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors (whether or
not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the
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time any such resolution is presented to the Board for adoption) or (iv) by the
holders of shares entitled to cast not less than ten percent (10%) of the votes
at the meeting, and shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time
as they or he shall fix.
(b) If a special meeting is properly called by any person or
persons other than the Board of Directors, the request shall be in writing,
specifying the general nature of the business proposed to be transacted, and
shall be delivered personally or sent by registered mail or by telegraphic or
other facsimile transmission to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the
Chief Executive Officer, or the Secretary of the corporation. No business may be
transacted at such special meeting otherwise than specified in such notice. The
Board of Directors shall determine the time and place of such special meeting,
which shall be held not less than thirty-five (35) nor more than one hundred
twenty (120) days after the date of the receipt of the request. Upon
determination of the time and place of the meeting, the officer receiving the
request shall cause notice to be given to the stockholders entitled to vote, in
accordance with the provisions of Section 7 of these Bylaws. If the notice is
not given within sixty (60) days after the receipt of the request, the person or
persons properly requesting the meeting may set the time and place of the
meeting and give the notice. Nothing contained in this paragraph (b) shall be
construed as limiting, fixing, or affecting the time when a meeting of
stockholders called by action of the Board of Directors may be held.
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 and hour and purpose or purposes of the
meeting. Notice of the time, place and purpose of any meeting of stockholders
may be waived in writing, signed by the person entitled to notice thereof,
either before or after such meeting, and will be waived by any stockholder by
his attendance thereat in person or by proxy, except when the stockholder
attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the
meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully
called or convened. Any stockholder so waiving notice of such meeting shall be
bound by the proceedings of any such meeting in all respects as if due notice
thereof had been given.
SECTION 8. QUORUM. At all meetings of stockholders, except where
otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, or by
these Bylaws, the presence, in person or by proxy duly authorized, of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum,
any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned, from time to time, either by the
chairman of the meeting or by vote of the holders of a majority of the shares
represented thereat, but no other business shall be transacted at such meeting.
The stockholders present at a duly called or convened meeting, at which a quorum
is present, may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding
the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum. Except as
otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, or
by any contract which the corporation may enter into from time to time, all
action taken by the holders of a majority of the vote cast, excluding
abstentions, at any meeting at which a quorum is present and shall be valid and
binding upon the corporation; provided, however, that directors
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shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or
represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of
directors. Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series is required,
except where otherwise provided by the statute or by the Certificate of
Incorporation or these Bylaws, or by any contract which the corporation may
enter into from time to time, a majority of the outstanding shares of such class
or classes or series, present in person or represented by proxy, shall
constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that
matter and, except where otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of
Incorporation or these Bylaws, or by any contract which the corporation may
enter into from time to time, the affirmative vote of the majority (plurality,
in the case of the election of directors) of the votes cast, excluding
abstentions, by the holders of shares of such class or classes or series shall
be the act of such class or classes or series.
SECTION 9. ADJOURNMENT AND NOTICE OF ADJOURNED MEETINGS. Any meeting of
stockholders, whether annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time
either by the chairman of the meeting or by the vote of a majority of the shares
casting votes, 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 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 10. VOTING RIGHTS. For the purpose of determining those
stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of the stockholders, except as
otherwise provided by law, only persons in whose names shares stand on the stock
records of the corporation on the record date, as provided in Section 12 of
these Bylaws, shall be entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders. Every
person entitled to vote or execute consents shall have the right to do so either
in person or by an agent or agents authorized by a proxy granted in accordance
with Delaware law. An agent so appointed need not be a stockholder. No proxy
shall be voted after three (3) years from its date of creation unless the proxy
provides for a longer period.
SECTION 11. JOINT OWNERS OF STOCK. If shares or other securities having
voting power stand of record in the names of two (2) or more persons, whether
fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants
by the entirety, or otherwise, or if two (2) or more persons have the same
fiduciary relationship respecting the same shares, unless the Secretary is given
written notice to the contrary and is furnished with a copy of the instrument or
order appointing them or creating the relationship wherein it is so provided,
their acts with respect to voting shall have the following effect: (a) if only
one (1) votes, his act binds all; (b) if more than one (1) votes, the act of the
majority so voting binds all; (c) if more than one (1) votes, but the vote is
evenly split on any particular matter, each faction may vote the securities in
question proportionally, or may apply to the Delaware Court of Chancery for
relief as provided in the Delaware General Corporation Law, 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. ACTION WITHOUT MEETING.
(a) Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of
Incorporation, any action required by statute to be taken at any annual or
special meeting of the stockholders, or any action which may be taken at any
annual or special meeting of the stockholders, may be taken without a meeting,
without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth
the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having
not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize
or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon
were present and voted.
(b) Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of
each stockholder who signs the consent, and no written consent shall be
effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within sixty
(60) days of the earliest dated consent delivered to the corporation in the
manner herein required, written consents signed by a sufficient number of
stockholders to take action are delivered to the corporation by delivery to its
registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business or
an officer or agent of the corporation having custody of the book in which
proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to a
corporation's registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered
mail, return receipt requested.
(c) Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action
without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those
stockholders who have not consented in writing. If the action which is consented
to is such as would have required the filing of a certificate under any section
of the Delaware General Corporation Law if such action had been voted on by
stockholders at a meeting thereof, then the certificate filed under such section
shall state, in lieu of any statement required by such section concerning any
vote of stockholders, that written notice has been given in accordance with
Section 228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
SECTION 14. ORGANIZATION.
(a) At every meeting of stockholders, the Chairman of the
Board of Directors, or, if a Chairman has not been appointed or is absent, the
President, or, if the President is absent, a chairman of the meeting chosen by a
majority in interest of the stockholders entitled to vote,
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present in person or by proxy, shall act as chairman. The Secretary, or, in his
absence, an Assistant Secretary directed to do so by the President, shall act as
secretary of the meeting.
(b) The Board of Directors of the corporation shall be
entitled to make such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of
stockholders as it shall deem necessary, appropriate or convenient. Subject to
such rules and regulations of the Board of Directors, if any, the chairman of
the meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules,
regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such
chairman, are necessary, appropriate or convenient for the proper conduct of the
meeting, including, without limitation, establishing an agenda or order of
business for the meeting, rules and procedures for maintaining order at the
meeting and the safety of those present, limitations on participation in such
meeting to stockholders of record of the corporation and their duly authorized
and constituted proxies and such other persons as the chairman shall permit,
restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement
thereof, limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by
participants and regulation of the opening and closing of the polls for
balloting on matters which are to be voted on by ballot. Unless and to the
extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting,
meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with
rules of parliamentary procedure.
ARTICLE IV
DIRECTORS
SECTION 15. NUMBER AND TERM OF OFFICE. The authorized number of
directors of the corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors from time
to time.
Directors need not be stockholders unless so required by the
Certificate of Incorporation. If for any cause, the directors shall not have
been elected at an annual meeting, they may be elected as soon thereafter as
convenient at a special meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose in
the manner provided in these Bylaws.
SECTION 16. POWERS. The powers of the corporation shall be exercised,
its business conducted and its property controlled by the Board of Directors,
except as may be otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of
Incorporation.
SECTION 17. TERM OF DIRECTORS. Subject to the rights of the holders of
any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified
circumstances, directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of stockholders
for a term of one year. Each director shall serve until his successor is duly
elected and qualified or until his death, resignation or removal. No decrease in
the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the
term of any incumbent director.
SECTION 18. VACANCIES.
(a) Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of
Incorporation, any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death,
resignation, disqualification, removal or other causes and any newly created
directorships resulting from any increase in the number of
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directors shall, unless the Board of Directors determines by resolution that any
such vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled by stockholders,
be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in
office, even though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors. Any director
elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the
remainder of the full term of the director for which the vacancy was created or
occurred and until such director's successor shall have been elected and
qualified. A vacancy in the Board of Directors shall be deemed to exist under
this Bylaw in the case of the death, removal or resignation of any director.
(b) If at the time of filling any vacancy or any newly created
directorship, the directors then in office shall constitute less than a majority
of the whole board (as constituted immediately prior to any such increase), the
Delaware Court of Chancery may, upon application of any stockholder or
stockholders holding at least ten percent (10%) of the total number of the
shares at the time outstanding having the right to vote for such directors,
summarily order an election to be held to fill any such vacancies or newly
created directorships, or to replace the directors chosen by the directors then
in offices as aforesaid, which election shall be governed by Section 211 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law.
SECTION 19. RESIGNATION. Any director may resign at any time by
delivering his written resignation to the Secretary, such resignation to specify
whether it will be effective at a particular time, upon receipt by the Secretary
or at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. If no such specification is made,
it shall be deemed effective at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. When one
or more directors shall resign from the Board of Directors, effective at a
future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who
have so resigned, shall have power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote
thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become
effective, and each Director so chosen shall hold office for the unexpired
portion of the term of the Director whose place shall be vacated and until his
successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.
SECTION 20. REMOVAL. Subject to any limitations imposed by applicable
law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors or any director
may be removed from office at any time (i) with cause by the affirmative vote of
the holders of a majority of the voting power of all then-outstanding shares of
voting stock of the corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors or
(ii) without cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
voting power of all then-outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation,
entitled to vote at an election of directors.
SECTION 21. MEETINGS.
(a) ANNUAL MEETINGS. The annual meeting of the Board of
Directors shall be held immediately before or after the annual meeting of
stockholders and at the place where such meeting is held. No notice of an annual
meeting of the Board of Directors shall be necessary and such meeting shall be
held for the purpose of electing officers and transacting such other business as
may lawfully come before it.
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(b) REGULAR MEETINGS. Unless otherwise restricted by the
Certificate of Incorporation, regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be
held at any time or date and at any place within or without the State of
Delaware which has been designated by the Board of Directors and publicized
among all directors. No formal notice shall be required for a regular meeting of
the Board of Directors.
(c) SPECIAL MEETINGS. Unless otherwise restricted by the
Certificate of Incorporation, special meetings of the Board of Directors may be
held at any time and place within or without the State of Delaware whenever
called by the Chairman of the Board, the President or any two of the directors.
(d) TELEPHONE MEETINGS. Any member of the Board of Directors,
or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting by means of conference
telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons
participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting
by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
(e) NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Notice of the time and place of all
special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be orally or in writing, by
telephone, including a voice messaging system or other system or technology
designed to record and communicate messages, facsimile, telegraph or telex, or
by electronic mail or other electronic means, during normal business hours, at
least twenty-four (24) hours before the date and time of the meeting, or sent in
writing to each director by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least seven
(7) days before the date of the meeting. Notice of any meeting may be waived in
writing at any time before or after the meeting and will be waived by any
director by attendance thereat, except when the director attends the meeting for
the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the
transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or
convened.
(f) WAIVER OF NOTICE. The transaction of all business at any
meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, however called or
noticed, or wherever held, shall be as valid as though had at a meeting duly
held after regular call and notice, if a quorum be present and if, either before
or after the meeting, each of the directors not present shall sign a written
waiver of notice. All such waivers shall be filed with the corporate records or
made a part of the minutes of the meeting.
SECTION 22. QUORUM AND VOTING.
(a) Unless the Certificate of Incorporation requires a greater
number and except with respect to indemnification questions arising under
Section 43 hereof, for which a quorum shall be one-third of the exact number of
directors fixed from time to time, a quorum of the Board of Directors shall
consist of a majority of the exact number of directors fixed from time to time
by the Board of Directors in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation;
provided, however, at any meeting, whether a quorum be present or otherwise, a
majority of the directors present may adjourn from time to time until the time
fixed for the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors, without notice
other than by announcement at the meeting.
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(b) At each meeting of the Board of Directors at which a
quorum is present, all questions and business shall be determined by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present, unless a different vote
be required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, or by any
contract which the corporation may enter into from time to time.
SECTION 23. ACTION WITHOUT MEETING. Unless otherwise restricted by the
Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted
to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof
may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board of Directors or
committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and such writing or
writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or
committee.
SECTION 24. FEES AND COMPENSATION. Directors shall be entitled to such
compensation for their services as may be approved by the Board of Directors,
including, if so approved, by resolution of the Board of Directors, a fixed sum
and expenses of attendance, if any, for attendance at each regular or special
meeting of the Board of Directors and at any meeting of a committee of the Board
of Directors. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any
director from serving the corporation in any other capacity as an officer,
agent, employee, or otherwise and receiving compensation therefor.
SECTION 25. COMMITTEES.
(a) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Board of Directors may appoint an
Executive Committee to consist of one (1) or more members of the Board of
Directors. The Executive Committee, to the extent permitted by law and provided
in the resolution of the Board of Directors shall have and may exercise all the
powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business
and affairs of the corporation, and may authorize the seal of the corporation to
be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have
the power or authority in reference to (i) approving or adopting, or
recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the
Delaware General Corporation Law to be submitted to stockholders for approval,
or (ii) adopting, amending or repealing any bylaw of the corporation.
(b) OTHER COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors may, from time to
time, appoint such other committees as may be permitted by law. Such other
committees appointed by the Board of Directors shall consist of one (1) or more
members of the Board of Directors and shall have such powers and perform such
duties as may be prescribed by the resolution or resolutions creating such
committees, but in no event shall any such committee have the powers denied to
the Executive Committee in these Bylaws.
(c) TERM. Each member of a committee of the Board of Directors
shall serve a term on the committee coexistent with such member's term on the
Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, subject to any requirements of any
outstanding series of Preferred Stock, the provisions of subsections (a) or (b)
of this Bylaw may at any time increase or decrease the number of members of a
committee or terminate the existence of a committee. The membership of a
committee member shall terminate on the date of his death or voluntary
resignation from the
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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 25 shall be held at such times and places as
are determined by the Board of Directors, or by any such committee, and when
notice thereof has been given to each member of such committee, no further
notice of such regular meetings need be given thereafter. Special meetings of
any such committee may be held at any place which has been determined from time
to time by such committee, and may be called by any director who is a member of
such committee, upon written notice to the members of such committee of the time
and place of such special meeting given in the manner provided for the giving of
written notice to members of the Board of Directors of the time and place of
special meetings of the Board of Directors. Notice of any special meeting of any
committee may be waived in writing at any time before or after the meeting and
will be waived by any director by attendance thereat, except when the director
attends such special meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the
beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting
is not lawfully called or convened. A majority of the authorized number of
members of any such committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business, and the act of a majority of those present at any meeting at which a
quorum is present shall be the act of such committee.
SECTION 26. ORGANIZATION. At every meeting of the directors, the
Chairman of the Board of Directors, or, if a Chairman has not been appointed or
is absent, the President, or if the President is absent, the most senior Vice
President, (if a director) or, in the absence of any such person, a chairman of
the meeting chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall preside over
the meeting. The Secretary, or in his absence, any Assistant Secretary directed
to do so by the President, shall act as secretary of the meeting.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
SECTION 27. OFFICERS DESIGNATED. The officers of the corporation shall
include, if and when designated by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the
Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, one or more Vice
Presidents, the Secretary, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer and the
Controller, all of whom shall be elected at the annual organizational meeting of
the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may also appoint one or more
Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers, Assistant Controllers and such
other officers
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and agents with such powers and duties as it shall deem necessary. The Board of
Directors may assign such additional titles to one or more of the officers as it
shall deem appropriate. Any one person may hold any number of offices of the
corporation at any one time unless specifically prohibited therefrom by law. The
salaries and other compensation of the officers of the corporation shall be
fixed by or in the manner designated by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 28. TENURE AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS.
(a) GENERAL. All officers shall hold office at the pleasure of
the Board of Directors and until their successors shall have been duly elected
and qualified, unless sooner removed. Any officer elected or appointed by the
Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the Board of Directors. If the
office of any officer becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy may be filled
by the Board of Directors.
(b) DUTIES OF CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The Chairman
of the Board of Directors, when present, shall preside at all meetings of the
stockholders and the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board of Directors
shall perform other duties commonly incident to his office and shall also
perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors
shall designate from time to time. If there is no President, then the Chairman
of the Board of Directors shall also serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the
corporation and shall have the powers and duties prescribed in paragraph (c) of
this Section 28.
(c) DUTIES OF PRESIDENT. The President shall preside at all
meetings of the stockholders and at all meetings of the Board of Directors,
unless the Chairman of the Board of Directors has been appointed and is present.
Unless some other officer has been elected Chief Executive Officer of the
corporation, the President shall be the chief executive officer of the
corporation and shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have
general supervision, direction and control of the business and officers of the
corporation. The President shall perform other duties commonly incident to his
office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as
the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time.
(d) DUTIES OF VICE PRESIDENTS. The Vice Presidents may assume
and perform the duties of the President in the absence or disability of the
President or whenever the office of President is vacant. The Vice Presidents
shall perform other duties commonly incident to their office and shall also
perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors
or the President shall designate from time to time.
(e) DUTIES OF SECRETARY. The Secretary shall attend all
meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors and shall record all
acts and proceedings thereof in the minute book of the corporation. The
Secretary shall give notice in conformity with these Bylaws of all meetings of
the stockholders and of all meetings of the Board of Directors and any committee
thereof requiring notice. The Secretary shall perform all other duties given him
in these Bylaws and other duties commonly incident to his office and shall also
perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors
shall designate from time to time. The President may direct any Assistant
Secretary to assume and perform the duties of the Secretary in the absence or
disability of the Secretary, and each Assistant Secretary shall perform
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other duties commonly incident to his office and shall also perform such other
duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the President
shall designate from time to time.
(f) DUTIES OF TREASURER. The Treasurer shall keep or cause to
be kept the books of account of the corporation in a thorough and proper manner
and shall render statements of the financial affairs of the corporation in such
form and as often as required by the Board of Directors or the President. The
Treasurer, subject to the order of the Board of Directors, shall have the
custody of all funds and securities of the corporation. The 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. The President may direct any
Assistant Treasurer, or the Controller or any Assistant Controller to assume and
perform the duties of the Treasurer in the absence or disability of the
Treasurer, and each Assistant Treasurer and each Controller and Assistant
Controller shall perform other duties commonly incident to his office and shall
also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of
Directors or the President shall designate from time to time.
SECTION 29. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY. The Board of Directors may from
time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officer
or agent, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
SECTION 30. RESIGNATIONS. Any officer may resign at any time by giving
written notice to the Board of Directors or to the President or to the
Secretary. Any such resignation shall be effective when received by the person
or persons to whom such notice is given, unless a later time is specified
therein, in which event the resignation shall become effective at such later
time. Unless otherwise specified in such notice, the acceptance of any such
resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation shall
be without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the corporation under any
contract with the resigning officer.
SECTION 31. REMOVAL. Any officer may be removed from office at any
time, either with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
directors in office at the time, or by the unanimous written consent of the
directors in office at the time, or by any committee or superior officers upon
whom such power of removal may have been conferred by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VI
EXECUTION OF CORPORATE INSTRUMENTS AND VOTING
OF SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION
SECTION 32. EXECUTION OF CORPORATE INSTRUMENTS. The Board of Directors
may, in its discretion, determine the method and designate the signatory officer
or officers, or other person or persons, to execute on behalf of the corporation
any corporate instrument or document, or to sign on behalf of the corporation
the corporate name without limitation, or to enter into contracts 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.
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All checks and drafts drawn on banks or other depositaries on funds to
the credit of the corporation or in special accounts of the corporation shall be
signed by such person or persons as the Board of Directors shall authorize so to
do.
Unless authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors or within the
agency power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power
or authority to bind the corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge
its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.
SECTION 33. VOTING OF SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION. All stock
and other securities of other corporations owned or held by the corporation for
itself, or for other parties in any capacity, shall be voted, and all proxies
with respect thereto shall be executed, by the person authorized so to do by
resolution of the Board of Directors, or, in the absence of such authorization,
by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President, or any Vice President.
ARTICLE VII
SHARES OF STOCK
SECTION 34. FORM AND EXECUTION OF CERTIFICATES. Certificates for the shares of
stock of the corporation shall be in such form as is consistent with the
Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. Every holder of stock in the
corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of
the corporation by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the President or
any Vice President and by the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary
or Assistant Secretary, certifying the number of shares owned by him in the
corporation. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be facsimiles.
In case any officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or whose
facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be
such officer, transfer agent, or registrar before such certificate is issued, it
may be issued with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent,
or registrar at the date of issue. Each certificate shall state upon the face or
back thereof, in full or in summary, all of the powers, designations,
preferences, and rights, and the limitations or restrictions of the shares
authorized to be issued or shall, except as otherwise required by law, set forth
on the face or back a statement that the corporation will furnish without charge
to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and
relative, participating, optional, or other special rights of each class of
stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of
such preferences and/or rights. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or
transfer of uncertificated stock, the corporation shall send to the registered
owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set
forth or stated on certificates pursuant to this section or otherwise required
by law or with respect to this section a statement that the corporation will
furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers,
designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special
rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. Except as
otherwise expressly provided by law, the rights and obligations of the holders
of certificates representing stock of the same class and series shall be
identical.
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SECTION 35. LOST CERTIFICATES. A new certificate or certificates shall
be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the
corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, upon the making of
an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be
lost, stolen, or destroyed. The corporation may require, as a condition
precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, the owner of
such lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his legal
representative, to agree to indemnify the corporation in such manner as it shall
require or to give the corporation a surety bond in such form and amount as it
may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the
corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen,
or destroyed.
SECTION 36. TRANSFERS.
(a) Transfers of record of shares of stock of the corporation
shall be made only upon its books by the holders thereof, in person or by
attorney duly authorized, and upon the surrender of a properly endorsed
certificate or certificates for a like number of shares.
(b) The corporation shall have power to enter into and perform
any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes of
stock of the corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the
corporation of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner
not prohibited by the Delaware General Corporation Law.
SECTION 37. FIXING RECORD DATES.
(a) In order that the corporation may determine the
stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or
any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record
date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution
fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record
date shall, subject to applicable law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than
ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the
Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to
notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of
business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or if
notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on
which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to
notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment
of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new
record date for the adjourned meeting.
(b) In order that the corporation may determine the
stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a
meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall
not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted
by the Board of Directors, and which date shall not be more than ten (10) days
after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by
the Board of Directors. Any stockholder of record seeking to have the
stockholders authorize or take corporate action by written consent shall, by
written notice to the Secretary, request the Board of Directors to fix a record
date. The Board of Directors shall promptly, but in all events within ten (10)
days after the date on which such a request is received, adopt a resolution
fixing the record date. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of
Directors within ten (10) days of the date
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on which such a request is received, the record date for determining
stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a
meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by
applicable law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent
setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the
corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its
principal place of business or an officer or agent of the corporation having
custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are
recorded. Delivery made to the corporation's registered office shall be by hand
or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date
has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board of
Directors is required by law, the record date for determining stockholders
entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at
the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the
resolution taking such prior action.
(c) In order that the corporation may determine the
stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution
or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights
in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of
any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record
date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution
fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than
sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record
date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of
business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution
relating thereto.
SECTION 38. REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS. The corporation shall be entitled
to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the
owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and shall not
be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share
or shares on the part of any other person whether or not it shall have express
or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.
ARTICLE VIII
OTHER SECURITIES OF THE CORPORATION
SECTION 39. EXECUTION OF OTHER SECURITIES. All bonds, debentures and
other corporate securities of the corporation, other than stock certificates
(covered in Section 34), may be signed by the Chairman of the Board of
Directors, the President or any Vice President, or such other person as may be
authorized by the Board of Directors, and the corporate seal impressed thereon
or a facsimile of such seal imprinted thereon and attested by the signature of
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or the Chief Financial Officer or
Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer; provided, however, that where any such
bond, debenture or other corporate security shall be authenticated by the manual
signature, or where permissible facsimile signature, of a 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
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Treasurer of the corporation or such other person as may be authorized by the
Board of Directors, or bear imprinted thereon the facsimile signature of such
person. In case any officer who shall have signed or attested any bond,
debenture or other corporate security, or whose facsimile signature shall appear
thereon or on any such interest coupon, shall have ceased to be such officer
before the bond, debenture or other corporate security so signed or attested
shall have been delivered, such bond, debenture or other corporate security
nevertheless may be adopted by the corporation and issued and delivered as
though the person who signed the same or whose facsimile signature shall have
been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer of the corporation.
ARTICLE IX
DIVIDENDS
SECTION 40. DECLARATION OF DIVIDENDS. Dividends upon the capital stock
of the corporation, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of
Incorporation and applicable law, if any, may be declared by the Board of
Directors pursuant to law at any regular or special meeting. Dividends may be
paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the
provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.
SECTION 41. DIVIDEND RESERVE. Before payment of any dividend, there may
be set aside out of any funds of the corporation available for dividends such
sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in their absolute
discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for
equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the
corporation, or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors shall think
conducive to the interests of the corporation, and the Board of Directors may
modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.
ARTICLE X
FISCAL YEAR
SECTION 42. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be
fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE XI
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 43. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, OTHER
OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND OTHER AGENTS.
(a) DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. The corporation shall indemnify
its directors and officers to the fullest extent not prohibited by the Delaware
General Corporation Law or any other applicable law; provided, however, that the
corporation may modify the extent of such indemnification by individual
contracts with its directors and officers; and, provided, further, that the
corporation shall not be required to indemnify any director or officer in
connection with
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any proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless (i) such
indemnification is expressly required to be made by law, (ii) the proceeding was
authorized by the Board of Directors of the corporation, (iii) such
indemnification is provided by the corporation, in its sole discretion, pursuant
to the powers vested in the corporation under the Delaware General Corporation
Law or any other applicable law or (iv) such indemnification is required to be
made under subsection (d).
(b) EMPLOYEES AND OTHER AGENTS. The corporation shall have
power to indemnify its employees and other agents as set forth in the Delaware
General Corporation Law or any other applicable law. The Board of Directors
shall have the power to delegate the determination of whether indemnification
shall be given to any such person or other persons as the Board of Directors
shall determine.
(c) EXPENSES. The corporation shall advance to any person who
was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending
or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative
or investigative, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer,
of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, prior to the final disposition of the proceeding, promptly
following request therefor, all expenses incurred by any director or 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.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise determined pursuant to paragraph
(e) of this Bylaw, no advance shall be made by the corporation to an officer of
the corporation (except by reason of the fact that such officer is or was a
director of the corporation, in which event this paragraph shall not apply) in
any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, if a determination is reasonably and promptly made (i) by the
Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who
were not parties to the proceeding, or (ii) if such quorum is not obtainable,
or, even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by
independent legal counsel in a written opinion, that the facts known to the
decision-making party at the time such determination is made demonstrate clearly
and convincingly that such person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such
person did not believe to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation.
(d) ENFORCEMENT. Without the necessity of entering into an
express contract, all rights to indemnification and advances to directors and
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 officer. Any right to indemnification or
advances granted by this Bylaw to a director or officer shall be enforceable by
or on behalf of the person holding such right in any court of competent
jurisdiction if (i) the claim for indemnification or advances is denied, in
whole or in part, or (ii) no disposition of such claim is made within ninety
(90) days of request therefor. The claimant in such enforcement action, if
successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of
prosecuting his claim. In connection with any claim for indemnification, the
corporation shall be entitled to raise
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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 or
any other applicable law for the corporation to indemnify the claimant for the
amount claimed. In connection with any claim by an officer of the corporation
(except in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such officer is or
was a director of the corporation) for advances, the corporation shall be
entitled to raise a defense as to any such action clear and convincing evidence
that such person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such person did not
believe to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, or
with respect to any criminal action or proceeding that such person acted without
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was lawful. Neither the failure of
the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or
its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such
action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances
because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware
General Corporation Law or any other applicable law, nor an actual determination
by the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel
or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of
conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that claimant
has not met the applicable standard of conduct. In any suit brought by a
director or officer to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement
of expenses hereunder, the burden of proving that the director or officer is not
entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this
Article XI or otherwise shall be on the corporation.
(e) NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. The rights conferred on any
person by this Bylaw shall not be exclusive of any other right which such person
may have or hereafter acquire under any applicable statute, provision of the
Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity
and as to action in another capacity while holding office. The corporation is
specifically authorized to enter into individual contracts with any or all of
its directors, officers, employees or agents respecting indemnification and
advances, to the fullest extent not prohibited by the Delaware General
Corporation Law or any other applicable law.
(f) SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS. The rights conferred on any person by
this Bylaw shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director,
officer, employee or other agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs,
executors and administrators of such a person.
(g) INSURANCE. To the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware
General Corporation Law, the corporation or any other applicable law, 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.
(h) 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.
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(i) SAVING CLAUSE. If this Bylaw or any portion hereof shall
be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the
corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each director and officer to the full
extent not prohibited by any applicable portion of this Bylaw that shall not
have been invalidated, or by any other applicable law. If this Section 43 shall
be invalid due to the application of the indemnification provisions of another
jurisdiction, then the corporation shall indemnify each director and officer to
the full extent under applicable law.
(j) CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For the purposes of this Bylaw, the
following definitions shall apply:
(1) The term "proceeding" shall be broadly construed
and shall include, without limitation, the investigation, preparation,
prosecution, defense, settlement, arbitration and appeal of, and the giving of
testimony in, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative.
(2) The term "expenses" shall be broadly construed
and shall include, without limitation, court costs, attorneys' fees, witness
fees, fines, amounts paid in settlement or judgment and any other costs and
expenses of any nature or kind incurred in connection with any proceeding.
(3) The term the "corporation" shall include, in
addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including
any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which,
if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to
indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person
who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under
the provisions of this Bylaw with respect to the resulting or surviving
corporation as he would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its
separate existence had continued.
(4) References to a "director," "executive officer,"
"officer," "employee," or "agent" of the corporation shall include, without
limitation, situations where such person is serving at the request of the
corporation as, respectively, a director, executive officer, officer, employee,
trustee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise.
(5) References to "other enterprises" shall include
employee benefit plans; references to "fines" shall include any excise taxes
assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to
"serving at the request of the corporation" shall include any service as a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on,
or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect
to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and a person
who acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the
interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an
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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 44. NOTICES.
(a) NOTICE TO STOCKHOLDERS. Whenever, under any provisions of
these Bylaws, notice is required to be given to any stockholder, it shall be in
writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (i) upon personal delivery to the
party to be notified, (ii) when sent by telex or facsimile, receipt of which is
confirmed personally by the recipient or his or her designated representative,
(iii) eight (8) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (iv) three (3) days after deposit
with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery,
with written verification of receipt. All notices shall be addressed to each
stockholder of record at the address of such stockholder appearing on the books
of the corporation.
(b) NOTICE TO DIRECTORS. Any notice required to be given to
any director shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (i) upon
personal delivery to the party to be notified, (ii) when sent by telex or
facsimile, receipt of which is confirmed personally by the recipient or his or
her designated representative, (iii) eight (8) days after having been sent by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (iv)
three (3) days after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier,
specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt.
(c) AFFIDAVIT OF MAILING. An affidavit of mailing, executed by
a duly authorized and competent employee of the corporation or its transfer
agent appointed with respect to the class of stock affected, specifying the name
and address or the names and addresses of the stockholder or stockholders, or
director or directors, to whom any such notice or notices was or were given, and
the time and method of giving the same, shall in the absence of fraud, be prima
facie evidence of the facts therein contained.
(d) 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.
(e) FAILURE TO RECEIVE NOTICE. The period or limitation of
time within which any stockholder may exercise any option or right, or enjoy any
privilege or benefit, or be required to act, or within which any director may
exercise any power or right, or enjoy any privilege, pursuant to any notice sent
him in the manner above provided, shall not be affected or extended in any
manner by the failure of such stockholder or such director to receive such
notice.
(f) 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
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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.
(g) NOTICE TO PERSON WITH UNDELIVERABLE ADDRESS. Whenever
notice is required to be given, under any provision of law or the Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws of the corporation, to any stockholder to whom (i)
notice of two consecutive annual meetings, and all notices of meetings or of the
taking of action by written consent without a meeting to such person during the
period between such two consecutive annual meetings, or (ii) all, and at least
two, payments (if sent by first class mail) of dividends or interest on
securities during a twelve-month period, have been mailed addressed to such
person at his address as shown on the records of the corporation and have been
returned undeliverable, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be
required. Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to
such person shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly
given. If any such person shall deliver to the corporation a written notice
setting forth his then current address, the requirement that notice be given to
such person shall be reinstated. In the event that the action taken by the
corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate under any
provision of the 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 45. AMENDMENTS. Subject to paragraph (h) of Section 43 of the
Bylaws, these Bylaws may be amended or repealed and new Bylaws adopted by the
stockholders entitled to vote. The Board of Directors shall also have the power,
if such power is conferred upon the Board of Directors by the Certificate of
Incorporation, to adopt, amend, or repeal Bylaws (including, without limitation,
the amendment of any Bylaw setting forth the number of Directors who shall
constitute the whole Board of Directors).
ARTICLE XIV
RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL
SECTION 46. RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. No holder of Common Stock of the
Company (a "Stockholder") shall sell, assign, pledge, or in any manner transfer
any of the shares of Common Stock of the corporation or any right or interest
therein, whether voluntarily or by operation of law, or by gift or otherwise,
except by a transfer which meets the requirements hereinafter set forth in this
bylaw. As used in this bylaw, "Common Stock" shall not include any shares of the
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Common Stock of the corporation issued upon conversion of any shares of
Preferred Stock of the corporation.
(a) If the Stockholder desires to sell or otherwise transfer
any of his shares of Common Stock, then the Stockholder shall first give written
notice thereof to the corporation. The notice shall name the proposed transferee
and state the number of shares to be transferred, the proposed consideration,
and all other terms and conditions of the proposed transfer.
(b) The corporation may assign its rights hereunder.
(c) In the event the corporation and/or its assignee(s) elect
to acquire any of the shares of Common Stock of the transferring Stockholder as
specified in said transferring stockholder's notice, the Secretary of the
corporation shall so notify the transferring Stockholder and settlement thereof
shall be made in cash within thirty (30) days after the Secretary of the
corporation receives said transferring Stockholder's notice; provided that if
the terms of payment set forth in said transferring Stockholder's notice were
other than cash against delivery, the corporation and/or its assignee(s) shall
pay for said shares of Common Stock on the same terms and conditions set forth
in said transferring Stockholder's notice.
(d) In the event the corporation and/or its assignees(s) do
not elect to acquire all of the shares of Common Stock specified in the
transferring Stockholder's notice, said transferring Stockholder may, within the
sixty-day period following the expiration of the option rights granted to the
corporation and/or its assignees(s) herein, transfer the shares of Common Stock
specified in said transferring Stockholder's notice which were not acquired by
the corporation and/or its assignees(s) as specified in said transferring
Stockholder's notice. All shares of Common Stock so sold by said transferring
Stockholder shall continue to be subject to the provisions of this bylaw in the
same manner as before said transfer.
(e) Anything to the contrary contained herein notwithstanding,
the following transactions shall be exempt from the provisions of this bylaw:
(1) A Stockholder's transfer of any or all shares of
Common Stock held either during such Stockholder's lifetime or on death by will
or intestacy to such Stockholder's immediate family or to any custodian or
trustee for the account of such Stockholder or such Stockholder's immediate
family or to any limited partnership of which the Stockholder, members of such
Stockholder's immediate family or any trust for the account of such Stockholder
or such Stockholder's immediate family will be the general of limited partner(s)
of such partnership. "Immediate family" as used herein shall mean spouse, lineal
descendant, father, mother, brother, or sister of the Stockholder making such
transfer.
(2) A Stockholder's bona fide pledge or mortgage of
any shares of Common Stock with a commercial lending institution, provided that
any subsequent transfer of said shares of Common Stock by said institution shall
be conducted in the manner set forth in this bylaw.
(3) A Stockholder's transfer of any or all of such
Stockholder's shares of Common Stock to the corporation or to any other
Stockholder of the corporation.
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(4) A Stockholder's transfer of any or all of such
Stockholder's shares of Common Stock to a person who, at the time of such
transfer, is an officer or director of the corporation.
(5) A corporate Stockholder's transfer of any or all
of its shares of Common Stock pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of
any merger, consolidation, reclassification of shares or capital reorganization
of the corporate Stockholder, or pursuant to a sale of all or substantially all
of the stock or assets of a corporate Stockholder.
(6) A corporate Stockholder's transfer of any or all
of its shares of Common Stock to any or all of its stockholders.
(7) A transfer by a Stockholder which is a limited or
general partnership to any or all of its partners or former partners.
In any such case, the transferee, assignee, or other recipient shall
receive and hold such Common Stock subject to the provisions of this bylaw, and
there shall be no further transfer of such Common Stock except in accord with
this bylaw.
(f) The provisions of this bylaw may be waived with respect to
any transfer either by the corporation, upon duly authorized action of its Board
of Directors, or by the stockholders, upon the express written consent of the
owners of a majority of the voting power of the corporation (excluding the votes
represented by those shares to be transferred by the transferring Stockholder).
This bylaw may be amended or repealed either by a duly authorized action of the
Board of Directors or by the stockholders, upon the express written consent of
the owners of a majority of the voting power of the corporation.
(g) Any sale or transfer, or purported sale or transfer, of
securities of the corporation shall be null and void unless the terms,
conditions, and provisions of this bylaw are strictly observed and followed.
(h) The foregoing right of first refusal shall terminate on
either of the following dates, whichever shall first occur:
(1) On November 6, 2008; or
(2) Upon the date securities of the corporation are
first offered to the public pursuant to a registration statement filed with, and
declared effective by, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(i) The certificates representing shares of Common Stock of
the corporation shall bear on their face the following legend so long as the
foregoing right of first refusal remains in effect:
"THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A
RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL OPTION IN FAVOR OF
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THE CORPORATION AND/OR ITS ASSIGNEE(S), AS PROVIDED IN THE
BYLAWS OF THE CORPORATION."
ARTICLE XV
LOANS TO OFFICERS
SECTION 47. LOANS TO OFFICERS. The corporation may lend money to, or
guarantee any obligation of, or otherwise assist any officer or other employee
of the corporation or of its subsidiaries, including any officer or employee who
is a Director of the corporation or its subsidiaries, whenever, in the judgment
of the Board of Directors, such loan, guarantee or assistance may reasonably be
expected to benefit the corporation. The loan, guarantee or other assistance may
be with or without interest and may be unsecured, or secured in such manner as
the Board of Directors shall approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of
shares of stock of the corporation. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to
deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the corporation at
common law or under any statute.
24.