Bylaws - Blue Nile Inc.
BYLAWS
OF
BLUE NILE, INC.
(A DELAWARE CORPORATION)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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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 Meetings......................................... 1
Section 6. Special Meetings........................................ 3
Section 7. Notice Of Meetings...................................... 4
Section 8. Quorum.................................................. 5
Section 9. Adjournment And Notice Of Adjourned Meetings............ 5
Section 10. Voting Rights........................................... 5
Section 11. Joint Owners Of Stock................................... 6
Section 12. List Of Stockholders.................................... 6
Section 13. Action Without Meeting.................................. 6
Section 14. Organization............................................ 8
ARTICLE IV Directors.................................................. 8
Section 15. Number And Term Of Office............................... 8
Section 16. Powers.................................................. 8
Section 17. Classes of Directors.................................... 8
Section 18. Vacancies............................................... 9
Section 19. Resignation............................................. 9
Section 20. Removal................................................. 9
Section 21. Meetings................................................ 10
Section 22. Quorum And Voting....................................... 11
Section 23. Action Without Meeting.................................. 11
Section 24. Fees And Compensation................................... 11
Section 25. Committees.............................................. 11
Section 26. Organization............................................ 12
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE V Officers................................................... 13
Section 27. Officers Designated..................................... 13
Section 28. Tenure And Duties Of Officers........................... 13
Section 29. Delegation Of Authority................................. 14
Section 30. Resignations............................................ 14
Section 31. Removal................................................. 14
ARTICLE VI Execution Of Corporate Instruments And Voting Of
Securities Owned By The Corporation........................ 15
Section 32. Execution Of Corporate Instruments...................... 15
Section 33. Voting Of Securities Owned By The Corporation........... 15
ARTICLE VII Shares Of Stock............................................ 15
Section 34. Form And Execution Of Certificates...................... 15
Section 35. Lost Certificates....................................... 16
Section 36. Transfers............................................... 16
Section 37. Fixing Record Dates..................................... 16
Section 38. Registered Stockholders................................. 17
ARTICLE VIII Other Securities Of The Corporation........................ 17
Section 39. Execution Of Other Securities........................... 17
ARTICLE IX Dividends.................................................. 18
Section 40. Declaration Of Dividends................................ 18
Section 41. Dividend Reserve........................................ 18
ARTICLE X Fiscal Year................................................ 18
Section 42. Fiscal Year............................................. 18
ARTICLE XI Indemnification............................................ 19
Section 43. Indemnification Of Directors, Executive Officers,
Other Officers, Employees And Other Agents.............. 19
ARTICLE XII Notices.................................................... 22
Section 44. Notices................................................. 22
ARTICLE XIII Amendments................................................. 23
Section 45. The Board of Directors is expressly empowered to
adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the
corporation............................................. 23
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE XIV Loans To Officers.......................................... 23
Section 46. Loans To Officers....................................... 23
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iii.
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BYLAWS
OF
BLUE NILE, INC.
(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 Washington, 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 Board of Directors may adopt a 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 may be held at such place, either within or without the State of
Delaware, as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. The
Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting shall
not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote
communication as provided under the Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL").
SECTION 5. ANNUAL MEETINGS.
(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. 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
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stockholders: (i) pursuant to the corporation's notice of meeting of
stockholders; (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 the stockholder's notice provided for in the following paragraph, who
is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures
set forth in Section 5.
(B) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business
shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. For
nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by
a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 5(a) of these Bylaws, (i) the
stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of
the corporation, (ii) such other business must be a proper matter for
stockholder action under DGCL, (iii) if the stockholder, or the beneficial owner
on whose behalf any such proposal or nomination is made, has provided the
corporation with a Solicitation Notice (as defined in clause (iii) of the last
sentence of this Section 5(b)), such stockholder or beneficial owner must, in
the case of a proposal, have delivered a proxy statement and form of proxy to
holders of at least the percentage of the corporation's voting shares required
under applicable law to carry any such proposal, or, in the case of a nomination
or nominations, have delivered a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of
a percentage of the corporation's voting shares reasonably believed by such
stockholder or beneficial owner to be sufficient to elect the nominee or
nominees proposed to be nominated by such stockholder, and must, in either case,
have included in such materials the Solicitation Notice, and (iv) if no
Solicitation Notice relating thereto has been timely provided pursuant to this
section, the stockholder or beneficial owner proposing such business or
nomination must not have solicited a number of proxies sufficient to have
required the delivery of such a Solicitation Notice under this Section 5. 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 ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the close of business on
the one hundred twentieth (120th) 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 advanced more than thirty (30) days prior to or
delayed by more than thirty (30) days after the anniversary of the preceding
year's annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so
delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth
(120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of
business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting
or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the
date of such meeting is first made. 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: (A) as to each person whom the stockholder proposed 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 "1934 Act") and Rule 14a-4(d) 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); (B) 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; and (C) as to
the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose
behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i)
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the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the corporation's
books, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class and number of shares of the
corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and
such beneficial owner, and (iii) whether either such stockholder or beneficial
owner intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of, in
the case of the proposal, at least the percentage of the corporation's voting
shares required under applicable law to carry the proposal or, in the case of a
nomination or nominations, a sufficient number of holders of the corporation's
voting shares to elect such nominee or nominees (an affirmative statement of
such intent, a "Solicitation Notice").
(C) Notwithstanding anything in the third sentence of Section 5(b)
of these Bylaws 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 naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the
size of the increased Board of Directors made by the corporation at least one
hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual
meeting, a stockholder's notice required by this Section 5 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 tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public
announcement is first made by the corporation.
(D) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the
procedures set forth in this Section 5 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 Section 5. Except as otherwise provided by law, 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 these Bylaws and, if
any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to
declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall not be presented for
stockholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded.
(E) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5, 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.
Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to
request inclusion of proposals in the corporation proxy statement pursuant to
Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act.
(F) 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 of
Directors, (ii) the Chief Executive Officer, or (iii) the Board of Directors
pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total
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number of authorized directors (whether or not there exist any vacancies in
previously authorized directorships at the time any such resolution is presented
to the Board of Directors for adoption).
(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 certified or registered mail, return
receipt requested, 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. 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.
(C) 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 (i) by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the
corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving notice provided
for in these Bylaws who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who
complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 6(c). 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 Section 5(b) of these Bylaws shall be delivered
to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not
earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day
prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the
later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such meeting or the tenth (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.
SECTION 7. NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Except as otherwise provided by law,
notice, given in writing or by electronic transmission, 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, if any, date and hour, in the case of
special meetings, the purpose or purposes of the meeting, and the means of
remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be
deemed to be present in person and vote at any such meeting. If mailed, notice
is given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to
the stockholder at such stockholder's address as it appears on the records of
the corporation. Notice of the time, place, if any, and purpose of any meeting
of stockholders may be waived in writing, signed by the person entitled to
notice thereof, or by electronic transmission by such person, either before or
after such meeting, and will be waived by any stockholder by his attendance
thereat in person, by remote
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communication, if applicable, 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, by remote communication, if applicable, 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
statute or by applicable stock exchange or Nasdaq rules, or by the Certificate
of Incorporation or these Bylaws, in all matters other than the election of
directors, the affirmative vote of the majority of shares present in person, by
remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy at the meeting and
entitled to vote generally on the subject matter shall be the act of the
stockholders. Except as otherwise provided by statute, the Certificate of
Incorporation or these Bylaws, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the
votes of the shares present in person, by remote communication, if applicable,
or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote generally 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, a majority of the outstanding shares of such
class or classes or series, present in person, by remote communication, if
applicable, or represented by proxy duly authorized, shall constitute a quorum
entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter. Except where
otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these
Bylaws, the affirmative vote of the majority (plurality, in the case of the
election of directors) of shares of such class or classes or series present in
person, by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy at the
meeting 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
present in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by
proxy at the meeting. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, if
any, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if
any, 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,
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as provided in Section 12 of these Bylaws, shall be entitled to vote at any
meeting of stockholders. Every person entitled to vote shall have the right to
do so either in person, by remote communication, if applicable, 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 DGCL, 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.
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, (a) on a reasonably
accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain
access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (b) during
ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the corporation.
In the event that the corporation determines to make the list available on an
electronic network, the corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that
such information is available only to stockholders of the corporation. The list
shall be open to examination of any stockholder during the time of the meeting
as provided by law.
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, or by electronic
transmission 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 or electronic transmission shall bear
the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent, and no written
consent or electronic transmission 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,
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written consents or electronic transmissions 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 or by electronic transmission and
who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to
notice of the meeting if the record date for such meeting had been the date that
written consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders to take action
were delivered to the corporation as provided in Section 228 (c) of the DGCL. If
the action which is consented to is such as would have required the filing of a
certificate under any section of the DGCL 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 consent has been given in accordance with
Section 228 of the DGCL.
(D) A telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission consent
to an action to be taken and transmitted by a stockholder or proxyholder, or by
a person or persons authorized to act for a stockholder or proxyholder, shall be
deemed to be written, signed and dated for the purposes of this section,
provided that any such telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission sets
forth or is delivered with information from which the corporation can determine
(i) that the telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission was
transmitted by the stockholder or proxyholder or by a person or persons
authorized to act for the stockholder or proxyholder and (ii) the date on which
such stockholder or proxyholder or authorized person or persons transmitted such
telegram, cablegram or electronic transmission. The date on which such telegram,
cablegram or electronic transmission is transmitted shall be deemed to be the
date on which such consent was signed. No consent given by telegram, cablegram
or other electronic transmission shall be deemed to have been delivered until
such consent is reproduced in paper form and until such paper form shall be
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 made by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt
requested. Notwithstanding the foregoing limitations on delivery, consents given
by telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission may be otherwise
delivered to the principal place of business of the corporation or to an officer
or agent of the corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of
meetings of stockholders are recorded if, to the extent and in the manner
provided by resolution of the board of directors of the corporation. Any copy,
facsimile or other reliable reproduction of a consent in writing may be
substituted or used in lieu of the original writing for any and all purposes for
which the original writing could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile or
other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original in
writing.
(E) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such action by written
consent or by electronic transmission may be taken following the closing of the
initial public offering pursuant
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to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "1933 Act"), covering the offer and sale of Common Stock of the
corporation to the public (the "Initial Public Offering").
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, 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. The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each
matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced
at the meeting. 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 in accordance with the Certificate of
Incorporation. 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, the Certificate of Incorporation or
these Bylaws.
SECTION 17. CLASSES OF DIRECTORS. Subject to the rights of the holders of
any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified
circumstances, following the closing
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of the Initial Public Offering, the directors shall be divided into three
classes designated as Class I, Class II and Class III, respectively. At the
first annual meeting of stockholders following the closing of the Initial Public
Offering, the term of office of the Class I directors shall expire and Class I
directors shall be elected for a full term of three years. At the second annual
meeting of stockholders following the closing of the Initial Public Offering,
the term of office of the Class II directors shall expire and Class II directors
shall be elected for a full term of three years. At the third annual meeting of
stockholders following the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the term of
office of the Class III directors shall expire and Class III directors shall be
elected for a full term of three years. At each succeeding annual meeting of
stockholders, directors shall be elected for a full term of three years to
succeed the directors of the class whose terms expire at such annual meeting.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, each director
shall serve until his successor is duly elected and qualified or until his
earlier 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. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of
Incorporation and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of
Preferred Stock, 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 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 Section 18 in the
case of the death, removal or resignation of any director.
SECTION 19. RESIGNATION. Any director may resign at any time by delivering
his or her notice in writing or by electronic transmission 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.
(A) Subject to the rights of any series of Preferred Stock
to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, following the
closing of the Initial Public
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Offering, neither the Board of Directors nor any individual director may be
removed without cause.
(B) Subject to any limitation imposed by law, any individual
director or directors may be removed with cause by the affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of
capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote generally at an election of
directors.
SECTION 21. MEETINGS.
(A) 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, either orally or in writing, by telephone, including a
voice-messaging system or other system designed to record and communicate
messages, facsimile, telegraph or telex, or by electronic mail or other
electronic means. No further notice shall be required for regular meetings of
the Board of Directors.
(B) 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 a majority of the
authorized number of directors.
(C) MEETINGS BY ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT. Any member of
the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a
meeting by means of conference telephone or other 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.
(D) NOTICE OF SPECIAL 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. If notice
is sent by US mail, it shall be sent by first class mail, charges prepaid, at
least three (3) days before the date of the meeting. Notice of any meeting may
be waived in writing, or by electronic transmission, 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.
(E) 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 who did not receive
notice shall sign a written waiver of notice or shall waive notice by electronic
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transmission. 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, 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.
(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.
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 or by electronic
transmission, and such writing or writings or transmission or transmissions are
filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.
Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form
and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic
form.
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
DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, or (ii) adopting, amending or
repealing any bylaw of the corporation.
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(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. The Board of Directors, subject to any requirements of
any outstanding series of Preferred Stock and 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 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 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
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. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of
Directors in the resolutions authorizing the creation of the committee, 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 (if a director), 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.
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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 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 the 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 the
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.
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(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 provided for in
these Bylaws and other duties commonly incident to the 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 other
duties commonly incident to the 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 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. The Chief Financial Officer
shall keep or cause to be kept the books of account of the corporation in a
thorough and proper manner and shall render statements of the financial affairs
of the corporation in such form and as often as required by the Board of
Directors or the President. The Chief Financial Officer, subject to the order of
the Board of Directors, shall have the custody of all funds and securities of
the corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall perform other duties commonly
incident to the 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 the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer,
or the Controller or any Assistant Controller to assume and perform the duties
of the Chief Financial Officer in the absence or disability of the Chief
Financial Officer, and each Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer and each
Controller and Assistant Controller shall perform other duties commonly incident
to the 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
notice in writing or by electronic transmission 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.
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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.
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
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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.
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 the owner's
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 DGCL.
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.
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(B) Prior to the Initial Public Offering, 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 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
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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 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.
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ARTICLE XI
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 43. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, OTHER
OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND OTHER AGENTS.
(A) DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. The corporation shall
indemnify its directors and executive officers (for the purposes of this Article
XI, "executive officers" shall have the meaning defined in Rule 3b-7 promulgated
under the 1934 Act) to the fullest extent not prohibited by the DGCL or any
other applicable law; provided, however, that the corporation may modify the
extent of such indemnification by individual contracts with its directors and
executive officers; and, provided, further, that the corporation shall not be
required to indemnify any director or executive officer in connection with any
proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person 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 DGCL or any other applicable
law or (iv) such indemnification is required to be made under subsection (d).
(B) OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND OTHER AGENTS. The corporation shall
have power to indemnify its other officers employees and other agents as set
forth in the DGCL 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 except executive officers to such officers 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 executive
officer, of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the
corporation as a director or executive 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 executive officer in connection with such proceeding
provided, however, that if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses
incurred by a director or executive officer in his or her capacity as a director
or executive officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is
rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an
employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the corporation of an
undertaking (hereinafter an "undertaking"), by or on behalf of such indemnitee,
to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final
judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a
"final adjudication") that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for
such expenses under this Section 43 or otherwise.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise determined pursuant to
paragraph (e) of this Section 43, no advance shall be made by the corporation to
an executive officer of the corporation (except by reason of the fact that such
executive officer is or was a director of the corporation in which event this
paragraph shall not apply) in any action, suit or proceeding,
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whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, if a determination is
reasonably and promptly made (i) by a majority vote of directors who were not
parties to the proceeding, even if not a quorum, or (ii) by a committee of such
directors designated by a majority vote of such directors, even though less than
a quorum, or (iii) if there are no such directors, or such directors so direct,
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 executive
officers under this Bylaw shall be deemed to be contractual rights and be
effective to the same extent and as if provided for in a contract between the
corporation and the director or executive officer. Any right to indemnification
or advances granted by this Section 43 to a director or executive officer shall
be enforceable by or on behalf of the person holding such right in any court of
competent jurisdiction if (i) the claim for indemnification or advances is
denied, in whole or in part, or (ii) no disposition of such claim is made within
ninety (90) days of request 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 the claim. In connection with any claim for indemnification, the
corporation shall be entitled to raise as a defense to any such action that the
claimant has not met the standards of conduct that make it permissible under the
DGCL or any other applicable law for the corporation to indemnify the claimant
for the amount claimed. In connection with any claim by an executive officer of
the corporation (except in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such
executive 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 DGCL 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 executive officer to enforce a right to indemnification
or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, the burden of proving that the
director or executive officer is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such
advancement of expenses, under this Section 43 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
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agents respecting indemnification and advances, to the fullest extent not
prohibited by the DGCL, or by 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 or executive
officer 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 DGCL or any
other applicable law, the corporation, upon approval by the Board of Directors,
may purchase insurance on behalf of any person required or permitted to be
indemnified pursuant to this Section 43.
(H) AMENDMENTS. Any repeal or modification of this Section 43
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.
(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 executive officer to
the full extent not prohibited by any applicable portion of this Section 43 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
executive officer to the full extent under any other 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 Section 43 with respect to the resulting or surviving
corporation as he would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its
separate existence had continued.
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(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 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 Section 43.
ARTICLE XII
NOTICES
SECTION 44. NOTICES.
(A) NOTICE TO STOCKHOLDERS. Written notice to stockholders of
stockholder meetings shall be given as provided in Section 7 herein. Without
limiting the manner by which notice may otherwise be given effectively to
stockholders under any agreement or contract with such stockholder, and except
as otherwise required by law, written notice to stockholders for purposes other
than stockholder meetings may be sent by US mail or nationally recognized
overnight courier, or by facsimile, telegraph or telex or by electronic mail or
other electronic means.
(B) NOTICE TO DIRECTORS. Any notice required to be given to any
director may be given by the method stated in subsection (a), as otherwise
provided in these Bylaws, or by overnight delivery service, facsimile, telex or
telegram, except that such notice other than one which is delivered personally
shall be sent to such address as such director shall have filed in writing with
the Secretary, or, in the absence of such filing, to the last known post office
address of such director.
(C) 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, or other agent,
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 recipients of notice, but
one permissible method may
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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) NOTICE TO PERSON WITH WHOM COMMUNICATION IS UNLAWFUL. Whenever
notice is required to be given, under any provision of law or of the Certificate
of Incorporation or Bylaws of the corporation, to any person with whom
communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be
required and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or
agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person. Any action or
meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to any such person with whom
communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice
had been duly given. In the event that the action taken by the corporation is
such as to require the filing of a certificate under any provision of the DGCL,
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.
(F) NOTICE TO STOCKHOLDERS SHARING AN ADDRESS. Except as otherwise
prohibited under DGCL, any notice given under the provisions of DGCL, the
Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws shall be effective if given by a
single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by
the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given. Such consent
shall have been deemed to have been given if such stockholder fails to object in
writing to the corporation within 60 days of having been given notice by the
corporation of its intention to send the single notice. Any consent shall be
revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the corporation.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 45. The Board of Directors is expressly empowered to adopt, amend
or repeal the Bylaws of the corporation. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of
the Bylaws of the corporation by the Board of Directors shall require the
approval of a majority of the authorized number of directors. The stockholders
shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the corporation;
provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or
series of stock of the corporation required by law or by the Certificate of
Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and
two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding
shares of the capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to
adopt, amend or repeal any provision of the Bylaws of the corporation.
ARTICLE XIV
LOANS TO OFFICERS
SECTION 46. LOANS TO OFFICERS. Except as otherwise prohibited by
applicable law, 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
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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.
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1.