1
EXHIBIT 3.2
BY-LAWS
OF
HEALTH GRADES, INC.
(a Delaware Corporation)
(effective October 18, 1996)
ARTICLE I
Offices, Fiscal Year and Records
1.01. Registered Office. The registered office of the Corporation shall
be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware until
otherwise established by resolution of the Board of Directors and a certificate
certifying the change is filed in the manner provided by statute.
1.02. Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such
other places within or without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors
may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation requires.
1.03. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on the
31st of December in each year.
1.04. Books and Records. The books and records of the Corporation may
be kept outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may from time
to time be designated by the Board of Directors. The stockholders and directors
of the Corporation shall have examination rights as specified in Section 7.06 of
these By-Laws.
ARTICLE II
Stockholders
2.01. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the stockholders of the
Corporation shall be held on such date and at such place and time as may be
fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
2.02. Special Meeting. Subject to the rights of the holders of any
series of stock having a preference over the Common Stock of the Corporation as
to dividends or upon liquidation ("Preferred Stock") with respect to such series
of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by
the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, or by the Board of
Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of
directors then in office.
2
2.03. Place of Meeting. The Board of Directors, the Chairman of the
Board or the Chief Executive Officer, as the case may be, may designate the
place of meeting for any annual meeting or for any special meeting of the
stockholders called by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President or the Chairman of the Board. If no designation is so made, the place
of meeting shall be the principal office of the Corporation.
2.04. Notice of Meeting. Written or printed notice, stating the place,
day and hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is
called, shall be delivered by the Corporation not less than 10 days nor more
than 60 days before the date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, to
each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. If mailed, such
notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail
with postage thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his address as it
appears on the stock transfer books of the Corporation. Such further notice
shall be given as may be required by law. Only such business shall be conducted
at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the
meeting pursuant to the Corporation's notice of meeting. Meetings may be held
without notice if all stockholders entitled to vote are present, or if notice is
waived by those not present in accordance with Section 7.01 of these By-Laws.
Any previously scheduled meeting of the stockholders may be postponed, and
(unless the Certificate of Incorporation otherwise provides) any special meeting
of the stockholders may be cancelled, by resolution of a majority of the total
number of directors then in office upon public notice given prior to the date
previously scheduled for such meeting of stockholders.
2.05. Quorum and Adjournment. Except as otherwise provided by law or by
the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of the voting power
of the outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors (the "Voting Stock"), represented in person or by proxy,
shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders, except that when
specified business is to be voted on by a class or series of stock voting as a
class, the holders of a majority of the shares of such class or series shall
constitute a quorum of such class or series for the transaction of such
business. The Chairman of the meeting or a majority of the shares so represented
may adjourn the meeting from time to time, whether or not there is such a
quorum. No notice of the time and place of adjourned meetings need be given
except as required by law. The stockholders present at a duly called 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.
2.06. Proxies. At all meetings of stockholders, a stockholder may vote
by proxy executed in writing (or in such manner prescribed by the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware) by the stockholder, or by his duly
authorized attorney in fact.
-2-
3
2.07. Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.
(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders.
(1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of
Directors of the Corporation and the proposal of business to be considered by
the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (i) pursuant
to the Corporation's notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board
of Directors or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a
stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this
By-Law, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice
procedures set forth in this By-Law.
(2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought
before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph
(a)(1) of this By-Law, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in
writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and such other business must
otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a
stockholder's notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal
executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the
60th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the
first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting; provided, however,
that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days
before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the
stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of
business on the 90th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the
close of business on the later of the 60th day prior to such annual meeting or
the l0th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such
meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall the public
announcement of an adjournment of an annual meeting commence a new time period
for the giving of a stockholder's notice as described above. Such stockholder's
notice shall set forth (i) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to
nominate for election or reelection as a director all information relating to
such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for
election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each
case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 14a-11 thereunder (including such person's
written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to
serving as a director if elected); (ii) as to any other business that the
stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the
business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting
such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such
stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is
made; (iii) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if
any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (A) the name and address
of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation's books, and of such
beneficial owner and (B) the class or series and number of shares of the
Corporation which are owned of record and beneficially by such stockholder and
such beneficial owner; and (iv) a description of
-3-
4
all arrangements or understandings among the stockholder and each nominee and
any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which
the nomination or nominations are to be made by the stockholder.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of
paragraph (A)(2) of this By-Law to the contrary, in the event that the number of
directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation is
increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of
the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of
Directors at least 70 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding
year's annual meeting, a stockholder's notice required by this By-Law shall also
be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions
created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the
principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of
business on the l0th day following the day on which such public announcement is
first made by the Corporation.
(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall
be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought
before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation's notice of meeting. Nominations
of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special
meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the
Corporation's notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors or (2) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that
directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the
Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice
provided for in this By-Law, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and
who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this By-Law. In the event
the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of
electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder
may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such
position(s) as specified in the Corporation's notice of meeting, if the
stockholder's notice required by paragraph (a)(2) of this By-Law shall be
delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation
not earlier than the close of business on the 90th day prior to such special
meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 60th day
prior to such special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public
announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the
nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no
event shall the public announcement of an adjournment of a special meeting
commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder's notice as described
above.
-4-
5
(c) General.
(1) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with
the procedures set forth in this By-Law shall be eligible to serve as directors
and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall
have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth
in this By-Law. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of
Incorporation, or these By-Laws, the Chairman of the meeting shall have the
power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be
brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in
accordance with the procedures set forth in this By-Law and, if any proposed
nomination or business is not in compliance with this By-Law, to declare that
such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.
(2) For purposes of this By-Law, "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 Exchange Act.
(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this By-Law,
a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set
forth in this By-Law. Nothing in this By-Law shall be deemed to affect any
rights (i) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the
Corporation's proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or
(ii) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under
specified circumstances.
2.08. Procedure for Election of Directors; Required Vote. Election of
directors at all meetings of the stockholders at which directors are to be
elected shall be by ballot, and, subject to the rights of the holders of any
series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, a
plurality of the votes cast thereat shall elect directors. Except as otherwise
provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these By-Laws, in all
matters other than the election of directors, the affirmative vote of a majority
of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and
entitled to vote on the matter shall be the act of the stockholders.
2.09. Inspectors of Elections; Opening and Closing the Polls. The Board
of Directors by resolution shall appoint one or more inspectors, which inspector
or inspectors may include individuals who serve the Corporation in other
capacities, including, without limitation, as officers, employees, agents or
representatives, to act at the meetings of stockholders and make a written
report thereof. One or more persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to
replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate has been
appointed to act or is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the Chairman of
the
-5-
6
meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each
inspector, before discharging his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath
faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and
according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall have the
duties prescribed by law.
ARTICLE III
Board of Directors
3.01. General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall
be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. In addition to the
powers and authorities by these By-Laws expressly conferred upon it, the Board
of Directors may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such
lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of
Incorporation or by these By-Laws required to be exercised or done by the
stockholders.
3.02. Regular Meetings. A regular meeting of the 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, or at such other place or
time as the Board of Directors may determine by resolution and without other
notice than such resolution. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, provide
the time and place for the holding of additional regular meetings without other
notice than such resolution.
3.03. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors
shall be called at the request of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive
Officer or a majority of the Board of Directors then in office. The person or
persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix
the place and time of the meetings.
3.04. Notice. Notice of any special meeting of directors shall be given
to each director at his business or residence in writing by first-class or
overnight mail or courier service, telegram or facsimile transmission, orally by
telephone or by hand delivery. If mailed by first class mail, such notice shall
be deemed adequately delivered when deposited in the United States mails so
addressed, with postage thereon prepaid, at least five (5) days before such
meeting. If by telegram, overnight mail or courier service, such notice shall be
deemed adequately delivered when the telegram is delivered to the telegraph
company or the notice is delivered to the overnight mail or courier service
company at least twenty-four (24) hours before such meeting. If by facsimile
transmission, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when the notice
is transmitted at least twelve (12) hours prior to the time set for the meeting.
If by telephone or by hand delivery, the notice shall be given at least twelve
(12) hours prior to the time set for the meeting. Neither the business to be
transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting
-6-
7
of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice of such meeting,
except for amendments to these By-Laws, as provided under Section 7.09. A
meeting may be held at any time without notice if all the directors are present
or if those not present waive notice of the meeting in accordance with Section
7.01 of these By-Laws.
3.05. Action by Consent of Board of Directors. Any action required or
permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any
committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or
committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or
writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.
3.06. Conference Telephone Meetings. Members of the Board of Directors,
or any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors
or such committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications
equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear
each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in
person at such meeting.
3.07. Quorum. Except as otherwise required by the Certificate of
Incorporation, a whole number of directors equal to at least a majority of the
total number of directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business, but if at any meeting of the Board of Directors there
shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of the directors present may
adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice. Except as
otherwise required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, the act
of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is
present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. The directors present at a
duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment,
notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough directors to leave less than a quorum.
3.08. Executive and Other Committees. The Board of Directors may
designate an Executive Committee to exercise, subject to applicable provisions
of law, all the powers of the Board in the management of the business and
affairs of the Corporation when the Board is not in session, including without
limitation the power to declare dividends, to authorize the issuance of the
Corporation's capital stock and adopt a certificate of ownership and merger
pursuant to Section 253 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware,
and may, by resolution similarly adopted, designate one or more other
committees. The Executive Committee and each such other committee shall consist
of two or more directors of the Corporation. The Board 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. Any such committee, other
than the Executive Committee (the powers of which are expressly provided for
herein), may to the extent permitted by law exercise such powers and shall have
such responsibilities as shall be specified in the designating resolution. In
the absence or disqualification of any member of such committee or committees,
the member or members thereof present at any
-7-
8
meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not constituting a quorum,
may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the
place of any such absent or disqualified member.
A majority of any committee may determine its action and fix the
time and place of its meetings, unless the Board shall otherwise provide. Notice
of such meetings shall be given to each member of the committee in the manner
provided for in Section 3.04 of these By-Laws. The Board shall have power at any
time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, or to dissolve any such
committee. Nothing herein shall be deemed to prevent the Board from appointing
one or more committees consisting in whole or in part of persons who are not
directors of the Corporation; provided, however, that no such committee shall
have or may exercise any authority of the Board.
3.09. Compensation of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the
Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to
fix the compensation of directors.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
4.01. Number, Qualifications and Designation. The officers of the
Corporation shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and shall be a Chief
Executive Officer, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a
Treasurer, and such other officers as may be elected in accordance with the
provisions of Section 4.03 of this Article. Any number of offices may be held by
the same person. Except as otherwise set forth herein, officers may, but need
not, be directors or stockholders of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may
elect from among the members of the Board a Chairman of the Board and a Vice
Chairman of the Board who may be officers of the Corporation if so designated by
the Board. All officers elected by the Board of Directors shall each have such
powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to
the specific provisions of this Article IV. Such officers shall also have such
powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board of
Directors or by any committee thereof.
4.02. Election and Term of Office. The officers of the Corporation,
except those elected by delegated authority pursuant to Section 4.03 of this
Article, shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors, and each such
officer shall hold office until the next annual organizational meeting of
directors and until a successor is elected and qualified, or until his or her
earlier resignation or removal.
-8-
9
4.03. Subordinate Officers, Committees and Agents. The Board of
Directors may from time to time elect such other officers and appoint such
committees, employees or other agents as it deems necessary, who shall hold
their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such
duties as are provided in these By-Laws, or as the Board of Directors may from
time to time determine. The Board of Directors may delegate to any officer or
committee the power to elect subordinate officers and to retain or appoint
employees or other agents, or committees thereof, and to prescribe the authority
and duties of such subordinate officers, committees, employees or other agents.
4.04. Removal. Any officer elected, or agent appointed, by the Board of
Directors may be removed by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total
number of directors then in office whenever, in their judgment, the best
interests of the Corporation would be served thereby. Any officer or agent
appointed by another officer by delegated authority pursuant to Section 4.03 may
be removed by him whenever, in his judgment, the best interests of the
Corporation would be served thereby. No elected officer shall have any
contractual rights against the Corporation for compensation by virtue of such
election beyond the date of the election of his successor, his death, his
resignation or his removal, whichever event shall first occur, except as
otherwise provided in an employment contract or under an employee deferred
compensation plan.
4.05. Vacancies. A newly created elected office and a vacancy in any
elected office because of death, resignation, or removal may be filled by the
Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term at any meeting of the
Board of Directors. Any vacancy in an office appointed by another officer by
delegated authority pursuant to Section 4.03 because of death, resignation, or
removal may be filled by such other officer.
4.06. The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the
Board, if there be one, or in the absence of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman of
the Board, if there be one, shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders
and of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may from
time to time be assigned to them by the Board of Directors. To be eligible to
serve, the Chairman of the Board and the Vice Chairman must be directors of the
Corporation.
4.07. The Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have
general supervision over the business, operations and affairs of the
Corporation, subject, however, to the control of the Board of Directors, and
such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the Board of
Directors.
4.08 The President. The President shall, in general, perform all duties
incident to the office of president, and such other duties as from time to time
may be assigned by the Board of Directors or by the Chief Executive Officer.
-9-
10
4.09 The Vice Presidents. The Vice Presidents shall perform such duties
as may from time to time be assigned to them by the Board of Directors or by the
Chief Executive Officer.
4.10 The Secretary. The Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, shall
attend all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors and shall
record the proceedings of the stockholders and of the directors and of
committees of the Board of Directors in a book or books to be kept for that
purpose; shall see that notices are given and records and reports properly kept
and filed by the Corporation as required by law; shall be the custodian of the
seal of the Corporation and see that it is affixed to all documents to be
executed on behalf of the Corporation under its seal; and, in general, shall
perform all duties incident to the office of secretary, and such other duties as
may from time to time be assigned by the Board of Directors or the Chief
Executive Officer.
4.11 The Treasurer. The Treasurer, or an Assistant Treasurer, shall
have or provide for the custody of the funds or other property of the
Corporation; shall collect and receive or provide for the collection and receipt
of moneys earned by or in any manner due to or received by the Corporation;
shall deposit all funds in his or her custody as treasurer in such banks or
other places of deposit as the Board of Directors may from time to time
designate; whenever so required by the Board of Directors, shall render an
account showing his or her transactions as treasurer and the financial condition
of the Corporation; and, in general, shall discharge such other duties as may
from time to time be assigned by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive
Officer.
4.12. Officers' Bonds. No officer of the Corporation need provide a
bond to guarantee the faithful discharge of the officer's duties unless the
Board of Directors shall by resolution so require a bond in which event such
officer shall give the Corporation a bond (which shall be renewed if and as
required) in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory
to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of office.
4.13. Salaries. The salaries of the officers and agents of the
Corporation elected by the Board of Directors shall be fixed from time to time
by the Board of Directors.
-10-
11
ARTICLE V
Certificates of Stock, Transfer, Etc.
5.01. Form and Issuance.
(a) Issuance. The shares of the Corporation shall be represented
by certificates unless the Board of Directors shall by resolution provide that
some or all of any class or series of stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any
such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until the
certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Notwithstanding the adoption of
any resolution providing for uncertificated shares, every holder of stock
represented by certificates and upon request every holder of uncertificated
shares shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the
Corporation by, the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the
President or Vice President, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, representing the number of shares
registered in certificate form.
(b) Form and Records. Stock certificates of the Corporation shall
be in such form as approved by the Board of Directors. The stock record books
and the blank stock certificate books shall be kept by the Secretary or by any
agency designated by the Board of Directors for that purpose. The stock
certificates of the Corporation shall be numbered and registered in the stock
ledger and transfer books of the Corporation as they are issued.
(c) Signatures. Any of or all the signatures upon the stock
certificates of the Corporation may be a facsimile. In case any officer,
transfer agent or registrar who has signed, or whose facsimile signature has
been placed upon, any stock certificate shall have ceased to be such officer,
transfer agent or registrar, before the certificate is issued, it may be issued
with the same effect as if the signatory were such officer, transfer agent or
registrar at the date of its issue.
5.02. Transfer. Transfers of shares shall be made on the stock register
or transfer books of the Corporation upon surrender of the certificate therefor,
endorsed by the person named in the certificate or by an attorney lawfully
constituted in writing. No transfer shall be made which would be inconsistent
with the provisions of Article 8, Title 6 of the Delaware Uniform Commercial
Code.
5.03. Lost, Stolen, Destroyed or Mutilated Certificates. The Board of
Directors may direct a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares to be
issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged
to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that
fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or
destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or uncertificated
shares, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a
-11-
12
condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost,
stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or the legal representative of
the owner, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify against any
claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss,
theft or destruction of such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate
or uncertificated shares.
5.04. Record Holder of Shares. 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. 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, except as otherwise provided by the laws of
Delaware.
5.05. Determination of Stockholders of Record.
(a) Meetings of Stockholders. 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 60 nor less than 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 unless the Board of
Directors fixes a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
(b) Dividends. In order that the Corporation may determine the
stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution
or allotment of any rights of 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 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 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.
-12-
13
ARTICLE VI
Indemnification of Directors, Officers and
Other Authorized Representatives
6.01. Indemnification of Authorized Representatives in Third Party
Proceedings. The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is an
authorized representative of the Corporation, and who was or is a party, or is
threatened to be made a party to any third party proceeding, by reason of the
fact that such person was or is an authorized representative of the Corporation,
against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such third party
proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person
reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the
Corporation and, with respect to any criminal third party proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe such conduct was unlawful. The termination of any
third party proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea
of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not of itself create a presumption
that the authorized representative did not act in good faith and in a manner
which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to, the best
interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal third party
proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such conduct was unlawful.
6.02. Indemnification of Authorized Representatives in Corporate
Proceedings. The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is an
authorized representative of the Corporation and who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any corporate proceeding, by reason of the fact
that such person was or is an authorized representative of the Corporation,
against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection
with the defense or settlement of such corporate proceeding, if such person
acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed
to, the best interests of the Corporation; except that no indemnification shall
be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall
have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent
that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such corporate proceeding was
brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of
liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such authorized
representative is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses
which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
6.03. Mandatory Indemnification of Authorized Representatives. To the
extent that an authorized representative or other employee or agent of the
Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any
third party or corporate proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter
therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses actually and
reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
-13-
14
6.04. Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification. Any
indemnification under Section 6.01, 6.02 or 6.03 of this Article (unless ordered
by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific
case upon a determination that indemnification of the authorized representative
or other employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because such person
has either met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 6.01 or
6.02 or has been successful on the merits or otherwise as set forth in Section
6.03 and that the amount requested has been actually and reasonably incurred.
Such determination shall be made:
(a) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum
consisting of directors who were not parties to such third party or corporate
proceeding; or
(b) if such a quorum is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, a
quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a
written opinion; or
(c) by the stockholders.
6.05. Advancing Expenses. Expenses actually and reasonably incurred in
defending a third party or corporate proceeding shall be paid on behalf of an
authorized representative by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition
of such third party or corporate proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or
on behalf of the authorized representative to repay such amount if it shall
ultimately be determined that the authorized representative is not entitled to
be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article. The financial
ability of any authorized representative to make a repayment contemplated by
this section shall not be a prerequisite to the making of an advance. 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.
6.06. Certain Terms. For purposes of this Article:
(a) "authorized representative" shall mean any and all directors
and officers of the Corporation and any person designated as an authorized
representative by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (which may, but need
not, include any person serving at the request of the Corporation as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise);
(b) "corporate proceeding" shall mean any threatened, pending or
completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a
judgment in its favor or investigative proceeding by the Corporation;
-14-
15
(c) "criminal third party proceeding" shall include any action or
investigation which could or does lead to a third party proceeding that could
result in criminal penalties, and any such proceeding;
(d) "expenses" shall include, but not be limited to, attorneys'
fees and disbursements;
(e) "fines" shall include, but not be limited to, any excise
taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan;
(f) "not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation" shall
include actions taken in good faith and in a manner the authorized
representative reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and
beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan;
(g) "other enterprises" shall include employee benefit plans;
(h) "party" to a proceeding shall include a person who gives
testimony or is similarly involved in such proceeding;
(i) "serving at the request of the Corporation" shall include any
service as a director, officer or employee of the Corporation which imposes
duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer or employee with
respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and
(j) "third party proceeding" shall mean any threatened, pending
or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative, or investigative, other than an action by or in the right of the
Corporation.
6.07. Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on
behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against the
person and incurred by the person in any such capacity, or arising out of his or
her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power or the
obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions
of this Article.
6.08. Scope of Article. The indemnification of authorized
representatives and advancement of expenses, as authorized by the preceding
provisions of this Article, shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to
which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled
under any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or
otherwise, both as to action in an official capacity and as to action
-15-
16
in another capacity while holding such office. The indemnification and
advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to this Article shall
continue as to a person who has ceased to be an authorized representative and
shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a
person.
6.09. Reliance on Provisions. Each person who shall act as an
authorized representative of the Corporation shall be deemed to be doing so in
reliance upon rights of indemnification provided by this Article.
ARTICLE VII
General Provisions
7.01. Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given to
any stockholder or director of the Corporation under the provisions of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or these By-Laws, a waiver
thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice,
whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to
the giving of such notice. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the
purpose of, any annual or special meeting of the stockholders or the Board of
Directors or committee thereof need be specified in any waiver of notice of such
meeting.
7.02. Dividends. Subject to the restrictions contained in the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and any restrictions contained in the
Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may declare and pay
dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the Corporation.
7.03. Contracts. Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate
of Incorporation, or these By-Laws, any contracts or other instruments may be
executed and delivered in the name and on the behalf of the Corporation by such
officer or officers of the Corporation as the Board of Directors may from time
to time direct. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances
as the Board may determine. The Chairman of the Board, if an executive officer,
the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President may execute
bonds, contracts, deeds, leases, and other instruments to be made or executed
for or on behalf of the Corporation. Subject to any restrictions imposed by the
Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, if an executive officer, the
Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President of the Corporation
may delegate contractual powers to others under his jurisdiction, it being
understood, however, that any such delegation of power shall not relieve such
officer of responsibility with respect to the exercise of such delegated power.
-16-
17
7.04. Corporate Seal. The Corporation shall have a corporate seal,
which shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its
organization and the words "Corporate Seal, Delaware". The seal may be used by
causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other
manner reproduced.
7.05. Deposits. All funds of the Corporation shall be deposited from
time to time to the credit of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies, or
other depositories as the Board of Directors may approve or designate, and all
such funds shall be withdrawn only upon checks signed by such one or more
officers or employees as the Board of Directors shall from time to time
determine.
7.06. Corporate Records.
(a) Examination by Stockholders. Every stockholder shall, upon
written demand under oath stating the purpose thereof, have a right to examine,
in person or by agent or attorney, during the usual hours for business, for any
proper purpose, the stock ledger, list of stockholders, books or records of
account, and records of the proceedings of the stockholders and directors of the
Corporation, and to make copies or extracts therefrom. A proper purpose shall
mean a 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 Delaware or at its principal
place of business. Where the stockholder seeks to inspect the books and records
of the Corporation, other than its stock ledger or list of stockholders, the
stockholder shall first establish (1) that the stockholder has complied with the
provisions of this section respecting the form and manner of making demand for
inspection of such documents; and (2) that the inspection sought is for a proper
purpose. Where the stockholder seeks to inspect the stock ledger or list of
stockholders of the Corporation and has complied with the provisions of this
section respecting the form and manner of making demand for inspection of such
documents, the burden of proof shall be upon the Corporation to establish that
the inspection sought is for an improper purpose.
(b) Examination by Directors. Any director shall have the right
to examine the Corporation's stock ledger, a list of its stockholders and its
other books and records for a purpose reasonably related to the person's
position as a director.
7.07. Resignations. Any director or any officer, whether elected or
appointed, may resign at any time by giving written notice of such resignation
to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary, and
such resignation shall be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on
the date said notice is received by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer, the President, or the
-17-
18
Secretary, or at such later time as is specified therein. No formal action shall
be required of the Board of Directors or the stockholders to make any such
resignation effective.
7.08. Proxies. Unless otherwise provided by resolution adopted by the
Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President or any Vice President may from time to time appoint an attorney or
attorneys or agent or agents of the Corporation, in the name and on behalf of
the Corporation, to cast the votes which the Corporation may be entitled to cast
as the holder of stock or other securities in any other corporation, any of
whose stock or other securities may be held by the Corporation, at meetings of
the holders of the stock or other securities of such other corporation, or to
consent in writing, in the name of the Corporation as such holder, to any action
by such other corporation, and may instruct the person or persons so appointed
as to the manner of casting such votes or giving such consent, and may execute
or cause to be executed in the name and on behalf of the Corporation and under
its corporate seal or otherwise, all such written proxies or other instruments
as he may deem necessary or proper in the premises.
7.09. Amendment of By-Laws. These By-Laws may be altered, amended, or
repealed at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of the stockholders,
provided notice of the proposed change was given in the notice of the meeting
and, in the case of a meeting of the Board of Directors, in a notice given not
less than two days prior to the meeting; provided, however, that, in the case of
amendments by the Board of Directors, notwithstanding any other provisions of
these By-Laws or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote
or no vote, the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office
shall be required to alter, amend or repeal any provision of these By-Laws; and
further provided, that in the case of amendments by stockholders,
notwithstanding any other provisions of these By-Laws or any provision of law
which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any
affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the capital
stock of the Corporation required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or
these By-Laws, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3 percent of
the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of the Voting Stock, voting
together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal any
provision of these By-Laws.
AMENDED: September 13, 2000
-18-