Bylaws - MarketWatch.com Inc.
BYLAWS
OF
MARKETWATCH.COM, INC.
(a Delaware corporation)
As Adopted September 8, 1998
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1.1: Annual Meetings. An annual meeting of stockholders shall
be held for the election of directors at such date, time and place, either
within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors shall each
year fix. Any other proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting.
Section 1.2: Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders for any
purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer, by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors
or any holder of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the outstanding Common
Stock of the Corporation. Special meetings may not be called by any other person
or persons. If a special meeting of stockholders is called by any person or
persons other than by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, then
such person or persons shall call such meeting by delivering a written request
to call such meeting to each member of the Board of Directors, and the Board of
Directors shall then determine the time, date and place of such special meeting,
which shall be held not more than one hundred twenty (120) nor less than
thirty-five (35) days after the written request to call such special meeting was
delivered to each member of the Board of Directors.
Section 1.3: Notice of Meetings. Written notice of all meetings of
stockholders shall be given stating the place, date and time of the meeting and,
in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting
is called. Unless otherwise required by applicable law or the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Corporation, such notice shall be given not less than ten
(10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each
stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting.
Section 1.4: Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders may adjourn from
time to time to reconvene at the same or another place, and notice need not be
given of any such adjourned meeting if the time, date and place thereof are
announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however,
that 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, then a notice
of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled
to vote at
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the meeting. At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any
business that might have been transacted at the original meeting.
Section 1.5: Quorum. At each meeting of stockholders the holders of a
majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in
person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business, except if otherwise required by applicable law. If a quorum shall fail
to attend any meeting, the chairman of the meeting or the holders of a majority
of the shares entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, at the
meeting may adjourn the meeting. Shares of the Corporation's stock belonging to
the Corporation (or to another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled
to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation are held,
directly or indirectly, by the Corporation), shall neither be entitled to vote
nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall
not limit the right of the Corporation or any other corporation to vote any
shares of the Corporation's stock held by it in a fiduciary capacity.
Section 1.6: Organization. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided
over by such person as the Board of Directors may designate, or, in the absence
of such a person, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, or, in the
absence of such person, the Chairman of the Board, or, in the absence of such
person, such person as may be chosen by the holders of a majority of the shares
of stock entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, at the
meeting. Such person shall be chairman of the meeting and, subject to Section
1.10 hereof, shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the
meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of
discussion as seems to him or her to be in order. The Secretary of the
Corporation shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the
chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the
meeting.
Section 1.7: Voting; Proxies. Unless otherwise provided by law or the
Certificate of Incorporation, and subject to the provisions of Section 1.8 of
these Bylaws, each stockholder shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share
of stock held by such stockholder. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a
meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such
stockholder by proxy. Such a proxy may be prepared, transmitted and delivered in
any manner permitted by applicable law. Voting at meetings of stockholders need
not be by written ballot unless such is demanded at the meeting before voting
begins by a stockholder or stockholders holding shares representing at least one
percent (1%) of the votes entitled to vote at such meeting, or by such
stockholder's or stockholders' proxy; provided, however, that an election of
directors shall be by written ballot if demand is so made by any stockholder at
the meeting before voting begins. If a vote is to be taken by written ballot,
then each such ballot shall state the name of the stockholder or proxy voting
and such other information as the chairman of the meeting deems appropriate.
Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in
person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the
election of directors. Unless otherwise provided by applicable law, the
Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, every matter other than the
election of directors shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of
a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote thereon that are present in
person or represented by proxy at the meeting and are voted for or against the
matter.
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Section 1.8: Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.
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, or
entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment
of any rights, or 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 shall not
precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by
the Board of Directors and which shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than
ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days
prior to any other action. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors,
then the record date shall be as provided by applicable law. 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.
Section 1.9: List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. A complete list of
stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in
alphabetical order and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of
shares registered in the name of each stockholder, shall be open to the
examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during
ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the
meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held,
which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so
specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be
produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time
thereof and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present at the meeting.
Section 1.10: Inspectors of Elections.
(a) Applicability. Unless otherwise provided in the
Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation or required by the Delaware General
Corporation Law, the following provisions of this Section 1.10 shall apply only
if and when the Corporation has a class of voting stock that is: (i) listed on a
national securities exchange; (ii) authorized for quotation on an automated
interdealer quotation system of a registered national securities association; or
(iii) held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders; in all other cases,
observance of the provisions of this Section 1.10 shall be optional, and at the
discretion of the Corporation.
(b) Appointment. The Corporation shall, in advance of any
meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at
the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one
or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to
act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders,
the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act
at the meeting.
(c) Inspector's Oath. Each inspector of election, before
entering upon the discharge of his 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.
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(d) Duties of Inspectors. At a meeting of stockholders, the
inspectors of election shall (i) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and
the voting power of each share, (ii) determine the shares represented at a
meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and
ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period of time a record of
the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors,
and (v) certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the
meeting, and their count of all votes and ballots. The inspectors may appoint or
retain other persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance of
the duties of the inspectors.
(e) Opening and Closing of Polls. The date and time of the
opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders
will vote at a meeting shall be announced by the inspectors at the meeting. No
ballot, proxies or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes thereto, shall
be accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the Court of
Chancery upon application by a stockholder shall determine otherwise.
(f) Determinations. In determining the validity and counting
of proxies and ballots, the inspectors shall be limited to an examination of the
proxies, any envelopes submitted with those proxies, any information provided in
connection with proxies in accordance with Section 212(c)(2) of the Delaware
General Corporation Law, ballots and the regular books and records of the
Corporation, except that the inspectors may consider other reliable information
for the limited purpose of reconciling proxies and ballots submitted by or on
behalf of banks, brokers, their nominees or similar persons which represent more
votes than the holder of a proxy is authorized by the record owner to cast or
more votes than the stockholder holds of record. If the inspectors consider
other reliable information for the limited purpose permitted herein, the
inspectors at the time they make their certification of their determinations
pursuant to this Section 1.11 shall specify the precise information considered
by them, including the person or persons from whom they obtained the
information, when the information was obtained, the means by which the
information was obtained and the basis for the inspectors' belief that such
information is accurate and reliable.
Section 1.11: Notice of Stockholder Business; Nominations.
(a) Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
(i) Nominations of persons for election to the Board
of Directors and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders
at an annual meeting of stockholders shall be made (A) pursuant to the notice of
such meeting, (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (C) by any
stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time of
giving of the notice provided for in this Section 1.11, who is entitled to vote
at such meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this
Section 1.11.
(ii) For nominations or other business to be properly
brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (C) of
subparagraph (a)(i) of this Section 1.11, 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; provided,
however, that the provisions of this subparagraph (a)(ii) and subparagraph
(a)(iii) shall
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not apply to (A) any stockholder holding at least twenty-five percent (25%) of
the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation or (B) any stockholder that has
an agreement with the Corporation for the nomination of a person or persons for
election to the Board of Directors. To be timely, a stockholder's notice must be
delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation
not later than the close of business on the sixtieth (60th) day nor earlier than
the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the first anniversary
of the preceding year's annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event
that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more
than sixty (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
ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close
of business on the later of the sixtieth (60th) day prior to such annual meeting
or the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which
public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the
Corporation. Such stockholder's notice shall set forth: (a) 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, or is otherwise
required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), 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 (1) the name and address of such
stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation's books, and of such beneficial
owner, and (2) the class and number of shares of the Corporation that are owned
beneficially and held of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence
of subparagraph (a)(ii) of this Section 1.11 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 seventy (70) days prior to the first anniversary of
the preceding year's annual meeting (or, if the annual meeting is held more than
thirty (30) days before or sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, at least
seventy (70) days prior to such annual meeting), a stockholder's notice required
by this Section 1.11 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 of the Corporation at the principal executive office
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.
(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 such 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
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pursuant to the Corporation's notice of such meeting (i) by or at the direction
of the Board of Directors, (ii) by a stockholder holding at least twenty-five
percent (25%) of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation or having an
agreement with the Corporation for the nomination of a person or persons for
election to the Board of Directors, (iii) provided that the Board of Directors,
such holder of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the outstanding Common
Stock of the Corporation or such stockholder having such an agreement has
determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any other
stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of
giving of notice of the special meeting, who shall be entitled to vote at the
meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section
1.11. In the event the Corporation, any holder of, twenty-five percent (25%) of
the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation or any stockholder having an
agreement with the Corporation for the nomination of a person or persons for
election to the Board of Directors calls a special meeting of stockholders for
the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any
other 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 subparagraph (a)(ii) of this
Section 1.11 shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the
principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the ninetieth
(90th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of
business on the later of the sixtieth (60th) day prior to such special 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.
(c) General.
(i) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance
with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.11 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 1.11. Except as otherwise provided by law or these
bylaws, 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 Section 1.11 and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in
compliance herewith, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall
be disregarded.
(ii) For purposes of this Section 1.11, the term
"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.
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of
this Section 1.11, 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 herein. Nothing in this Section 1.11 shall be
deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in
the Corporation's proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
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ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 2.1: Number; Qualifications. The Board of Directors shall
consist of one or more members. The initial number of directors shall be seven
(7), and thereafter shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board
of Directors. No decrease in the authorized number of directors constituting the
Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. Directors
need not be stockholders of the Corporation.
Section 2.2: Election; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies. Each director
shall serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until his or
her earlier resignation or removal. Any director may resign at any time upon
written notice to the Corporation. Any director or the entire Board of Directors
may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the
shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors and any vacancy
occurring in the Board of Directors for any cause, and any newly created
directorship resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors
to be elected by all stockholders having the right to vote as a single class,
may be filled by the stockholders, by a majority of the directors then in
office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director.
Section 2.3: Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of
Directors may be held at such places, within or without the State of Delaware,
and at such times as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Notice of regular meetings need not be given if the date, times and places
thereof are fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 2.4: Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of
Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive
Officer or a majority of the members of the Board of Directors then in office
and may be held at any time, date or place, within or without the State of
Delaware, as the person or persons calling the meeting shall fix. Notice of the
time, date and place of such meeting shall be given, orally or in writing, by
the person or persons calling the meeting to all directors at least four (4)
days before the meeting if the notice is mailed, or at least twenty-four (24)
hours before the meeting if such notice is given by telephone, hand delivery,
facsimile or similar communication method. Unless otherwise indicated in the
notice, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.
Section 2.5: Telephonic Meetings Permitted. Members of the Board of
Directors, or any committee of the Board, may participate in a meeting of the
Board 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 participation in a meeting pursuant to
conference telephone or similar communications equipment shall constitute
presence in person at such meeting.
Section 2.6: Quorum; Vote Required for Action. At all meetings of the
Board of Directors a majority of the total number of authorized directors shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except as otherwise
provided herein or in the Certificate of
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Incorporation, or required by law, the vote of a majority of the directors
present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board
of Directors.
Section 2.7: Organization. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be
presided over by the Chief Executive Officer, or in his or her absence by the
Chairman of the Board, or in his or her absence by a chairman chosen at the
meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her
absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary
of the meeting.
Section 2.8: Written Action by 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
such 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,
respectively.
Section 2.9: Powers. The Board of Directors may, except as otherwise
required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, exercise all such powers
and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation.
Section 2.10: Compensation of Directors. Directors, as such, may
receive, pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, fees and other
compensation for their services as directors, including without limitation their
services as members of committees of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
Section 3.1: Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution
passed by a majority of the total number of authorized directors, designate one
or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of
the Corporation. 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. In the absence or disqualification of a
member of the committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting of
such committee who are not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or
they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of
Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified
member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in a 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 that may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or
authority in reference to amending the Certificate of Incorporation (except that
a committee may, to the extent authorized in the resolution or resolutions
providing for the issuance of shares of stock adopted by the Board of Directors
as provided in subsection (a) of Section 151 of the Delaware General Corporation
Law, fix the designations and any of the preferences or rights of such shares
relating to dividends, redemption, dissolution, any distribution of assets of
the Corporation, or the conversion into, or
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the exchange of such shares for, shares of any other class or classes or any
other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock of the
Corporation, or fix the number of shares of any series of stock or authorize the
increase or decrease of the shares of any series), adopting an agreement of
merger or consolidation under Sections 251 or 252 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of
all or substantially all of the Corporation's property and assets, recommending
to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation of a
dissolution, or amending the Bylaws of the Corporation; and unless the
resolution of the Board of Directors expressly so provides, no such committee
shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend, authorize the issuance
of stock or adopt a certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to section 253
of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Section 3.2: Committee Rules. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise
provides, each committee designated by the Board of Directors may make, alter
and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules
each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of
Directors conducts its business pursuant to Article II of these Bylaws.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 4.1: Generally. The officers of the Corporation shall consist
of a Chief Executive Officer and/or a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a
Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers, including a Chairman of the
Board of Directors, one or more Assistant Officers and/or Chief Financial
Officer, as may from time to time be appointed by the Board of Directors. All
officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the
Board of Directors may empower the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation to
appoint officers other than the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive
Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer. Each
officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or
until his or her earlier resignation or removal. Any number of offices may be
held by the same person. Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice
to the Corporation. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation by
death, resignation, removal or otherwise may be filled by the Board of
Directors. The Chief Executive Officer may also give one or more employees of
the Corporation position titles that include "Vice President" without making
such persons officers of the Corporation.
Section 4.2: Chief Executive Officer. Subject to the control of the
Board of Directors and such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the
Board of Directors, the powers and duties of the Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation are:
(a) To act as the general manager and, subject to the control
of the Board of Directors, to have general supervision, general management,
direction and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation and the
general supervision and direction of all of the officers, employees and agents
of the Corporation;
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(b) To preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the
Board of Directors;
(c) To call meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of
Directors to be held at such times and, subject to the limitations prescribed by
law or by these Bylaws, at such places as he or she shall deem proper; and
(d) To affix the signature of the Corporation to all deeds,
conveyances, mortgages, guarantees, leases, obligations, bonds, certificates and
other papers and instruments in writing which have been authorized by the Board
of Directors or which, in the judgment of the Chief Executive Officer, should be
executed on behalf of the Corporation; to sign certificates for shares of stock
of the Corporation; and, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, to
have general charge of the property of the Corporation and to supervise and
control all officers, agents and employees of the Corporation.
Section 4.3: Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall
have such powers and duties as provided in these bylaws and as the Board of
Directors may from time to time prescribe.
Section 4.4: President. The President shall be the Chief Executive
Officer of the Corporation unless the Board of Directors shall have designated
another officer as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. Subject to
the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors,
and subject to the supervisory powers of the Chief Executive Officer (if the
Chief Executive Officer is an officer other than the President), and subject to
such supervisory powers and authority as may be given by the Board of Directors
to the Chairman of the Board, and/or to any other officer, the President shall
have the responsibility for the general management and the control of the
business and affairs of the Corporation and the general supervision and
direction of all of the officers, employees and agents of the Corporation (other
than the Chief Executive Officer, if the Chief Executive Officer is an officer
other than the President) and shall perform all duties and have all powers that
are commonly incident to the officer of President or that are delegated to the
President by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.5: Vice President. Each Vice President shall have all such
powers and duties as are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors or
the Chief Executive Officer. A Vice President may be designated by the Board to
perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chief Executive Officer or the
President in the event of the Chief Executive Officer's or President's absence
or disability.
Section 4.6: Chief Financial Officer. Subject to the direction of the
Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer and the President, the Chief
Financial Officer shall perform all duties and have all powers that are commonly
incident to the office of chief financial officer.
Section 4.7: Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have custody of all monies
and securities of the Corporation. The Treasurer shall make such disbursements
of the funds of the Corporation as are authorized and shall render from time to
time an account of all such transactions. The Treasurer shall also perform such
other duties and have such other powers as are commonly
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incident to the office of Treasurer, or as the Board of Directors, the Chief
Executive Officer or the President may from time to time prescribe.
Section 4.8: Secretary. The Secretary shall issue or cause to be issued
all authorized notices for, and shall keep, or cause to be kept, minutes of all
meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall
have charge of the corporate minute books and similar records and shall perform
such other duties and have such other powers as are commonly incident to the
office of Secretary, or as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer
or the President may from time to time prescribe.
Section 4.9: Assistant Officers. The Assistant Officers, which may
include one or more Assistant Secretaries and/or one or more Assistant
Treasurers, in general shall perform such duties as are customary or as shall be
assigned to them by resolution of the Board of Directors. If required by the
Board of Directors, the Assistant Treasurers shall respectively give bonds for
the faithful discharge of their duties in such sums and with such sureties as
the Board of Directors shall determine.
Section 4.10: Delegation of Authority. The Board of Directors may from
time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officers
or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
Section 4.11: Removal. Any officer of the Corporation shall serve at
the pleasure of the Board of Directors and may be removed at any time, with or
without cause, by the Board of Directors. Such removal shall be without
prejudice to the contractual rights of such officer, if any, with the
Corporation.
ARTICLE V
STOCK
Section 5.1: Certificates. Every holder of stock 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 a Vice
President, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary, of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares
owned by such stockholder in the Corporation. Any or all of the signatures on
the certificate may be a facsimile.
Section 5.2: Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of
New Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in the
place of any certificate previously issued by it, alleged to have been lost,
stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost,
stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner's legal representative, to agree
to indemnify the Corporation and/or to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to
indemnify it, against any claim that may be made against it on account of the
alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of
such new certificate.
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Section 5.3: Other Regulations. The issue, transfer, conversion and
registration of stock certificates shall be governed by such other regulations
as the Board of Directors may establish.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 6.1 Indemnification of Officers and Directors. Each person who
was or is made a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, or is
involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative (a "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he
or she (or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative), is or was a
director or officer of the Corporation or a Predecessor (as defined below) or is
or was serving at the request of the Corporation or a Predecessor (as defined
below) as a director or officer of another corporation (including any subsidiary
of the Corporation or a Predecessor), or of a partnership, joint venture, trust
or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans,
shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent
permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, against all expenses,
liability and loss (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise
taxes and penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably
incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith, and such
indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or
officer and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and
administrators. As used herein, the term "Predecessor" means Marketwatch.Com,
LLC.
Section 6.2: Advance of Expenses. The Corporation shall pay all
expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by such a director or officer in
defending any such proceeding as they are incurred in advance of its final
disposition; provided, however, that if the Delaware General Corporation Law
then so requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by such a director or
officer in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding shall be made
only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such
director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it should be determined
ultimately that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under
this Article VI or otherwise; and provided, further, that the Corporation shall
not be required to advance any expenses to a person against whom the Corporation
directly brings a claim, in a proceeding, alleging that such person has breached
his or her duty of loyalty to the Corporation, committed an act or omission not
in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
law, or derived an improper personal benefit from a transaction.
Section 6.3: Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any
person in this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other right that such
person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the
Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaw, agreement, vote or consent of stockholders
or disinterested directors, or otherwise. Additionally, nothing in this Article
VI shall limit the ability of the Corporation, in its discretion, to indemnify
or advance expenses to persons whom the Corporation is not obligated to
indemnify or advance expenses pursuant to this Article VI.
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<PAGE> 13
Section 6.4: Indemnification Contracts. The Board of Directors is
authorized to cause the Corporation to enter into indemnification contracts with
any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or 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, including employee benefit plans, providing indemnification rights
to such person. Such rights may be greater than those provided in this Article
VI.
Section 6.5: Effect of Amendment. Any amendment, repeal or modification
of any provision of this Article VI shall be prospective only, and shall not
adversely affect any right or protection conferred on a person pursuant to this
Article VI and existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification.
ARTICLE VII
NOTICES
Section 7.1: Notice. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein
or required by law, all notices required to be given pursuant to these Bylaws
shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand
delivery (including use of a delivery service), by depositing such notice in the
mail, postage prepaid, or by sending such notice by prepaid telegram, telex,
overnight express courier, mailgram or facsimile. Any such notice shall be
addressed to the person to whom notice is to be given at such person's address
as it appears on the records of the Corporation. Each notice of a special
meeting of stockholders or directors shall specify the business to be transacted
and the purpose of such meeting. The notice shall be deemed given (i) in the
case of hand delivery, when received by the person to whom notice is to be given
or by any person accepting such notice on behalf of such person, (ii) in the
case of delivery by mail, upon deposit in the mail, (iii) in the case of
delivery by overnight express courier, on the first business day after such
notice is dispatched, and (iv) in the case of delivery via facsimile, when
dispatched.
Section 7.2: Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given
under any provision of these Bylaws, a written waiver of notice, signed by the
person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein,
shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall
constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person 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. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any
regular or special meeting of the stockholders, directors or members of a
committee of directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice.
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<PAGE> 14
ARTICLE VIII
INTERESTED DIRECTORS
Section 8.1: Interested Directors; Quorum. No contract or transaction
between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between
the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association or other
organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or
officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for
this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or
participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof that
authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because his, her or their
votes are counted for such purpose, if: (i) the material facts as to his, her or
their relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are
disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors or the committee, and the Board
of Directors or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction
by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even
though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; (ii) the material
facts as to his, her or their relationship or interest and as to the contract or
transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote
thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith
by vote of the stockholders; or (iii) the contract or transaction is fair as to
the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the
Board of Directors, a committee thereof, or the stockholders. Interested
directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of
the Board of Directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract or
transaction.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1: Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be
determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 9.2: Seal. The Board of Directors may provide for a corporate
seal, which shall have the name of the Corporation inscribed thereon and shall
otherwise be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board of
Directors.
Section 9.3: Form of Records. Any records maintained by the Corporation
in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of
account and minute books, may be kept on, or be in the form of, magnetic tape,
diskettes, photographs, microphotographs or any other information storage
device, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible
form within a reasonable time. The Corporation shall so convert any records so
kept upon the request of any person entitled to inspect the same.
Section 9.4: Reliance Upon Books and Records. A member of the Board of
Directors, or a member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors
shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in
good faith upon records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions,
reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of
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<PAGE> 15
the Corporation's officers or employees, or committees of the Board of
Directors, or by any other person as to matters the member reasonably believes
are within such other person's professional or expert competence and who has
been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.
Section 9.5: Certificate of Incorporation Governs. In the event of any
conflict between the provisions of the Corporation's Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws, the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation
shall govern.
Section 9.6: Severability. If any provision of these Bylaws shall be
held to be invalid, illegal, unenforceable or in conflict with the provisions of
the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation, then such provision shall
nonetheless be enforced to the maximum extent possible consistent with such
holding and the remaining provisions of these Bylaws (including without
limitation, all portions of any section of these Bylaws containing any such
provision held to be invalid, illegal, unenforceable or in conflict with the
Certificate of Incorporation, that are not themselves invalid, illegal,
unenforceable or in conflict with the Certificate of Incorporation) shall remain
in full force and effect.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENT
Section 10.1: Amendments. Stockholders of the Corporation holding a
majority of the Corporation's outstanding voting stock shall have the power to
adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws. To the extent provided in the Corporation's
Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall
also have the power to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws of the Corporation, except
insofar as Bylaws adopted by the stockholders shall otherwise provide.
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<PAGE> 16
CERTIFICATION OF BYLAWS
OF
MARKETWATCH.COM, INC.
(A DELAWARE CORPORATION)
KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS:
I, __________________, certify that I am Secretary of MarketWatch.com,
Inc. a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), that I am duly authorized to make
and deliver this certification, that the attached Bylaws are a true and correct
copy of the Bylaws of the Company in effect as of the date of this certificate.
Dated: ______, 1998
------------------------------
, Secretary
<PAGE> 17
BYLAWS
OF
MARKETWATCH.COM, INC.
A Delaware Corporation
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
<S> <C> <C>
ARTICLE I - STOCKHOLDERS ..................................................................... 1
Section 1.1: Annual Meetings...................................................... 1
Section 1.2: Special Meetings..................................................... 1
Section 1.3: Notice of Meetings................................................... 1
Section 1.4: Adjournments......................................................... 1
Section 1.5: Quorum............................................................... 2
Section 1.6: Organization......................................................... 2
Section 1.7: Voting; Proxies...................................................... 2
Section 1.8: Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders
of Record .......................................................... 3
Section 1.9: List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote................................ 3
Section 1.10: Inspectors of Elections.............................................. 3
Section 1.11: Notice of Stockholder Business; Nominations.......................... 4
ARTICLE II - BOARD OF DIRECTORS.................................................................. 6
Section 2.1: Number; Qualifications............................................... 6
Section 2.2: Election; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies............................ 7
Section 2.3: Regular Meetings..................................................... 7
Section 2.4: Special Meetings..................................................... 7
Section 2.5: Telephonic Meetings Permitted........................................ 7
</TABLE>
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<PAGE> 18
BYLAWS
OF
MARKETWATCH.COM, INC.
A Delaware Corporation
TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT'D)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
<S> <C> <C>
Section 2.6: Quorum; Vote Required for Action..................................... 7
Section 2.7: Organization......................................................... 8
Section 2.8: Written Action by Directors.......................................... 8
Section 2.9: Powers............................................................... 8
Section 2.10: Compensation of Directors............................................ 8
ARTICLE III - COMMITTEES ..................................................................... 8
Section 3.1: Committees........................................................... 8
Section 3.2: Committee Rules...................................................... 9
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS ..................................................................... 9
Section 4.1: Generally............................................................ 9
Section 4.2: Chief Executive Officer.............................................. 9
Section 4.3: Chairman of the Board................................................ 10
Section 4.4: President............................................................ 10
Section 4.5: Vice President....................................................... 10
Section 4.6: Chief Financial Officer.............................................. 10
Section 4.7: Treasurer............................................................ 10
Section 4.8: Secretary............................................................ 11
Section 4.9: Assistant Officers................................................... 11
</TABLE>
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<PAGE> 19
BYLAWS
OF
MARKETWATCH.COM, INC.
A Delaware Corporation
TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT'D)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
<S> <C> <C>
Section 4.10: Delegation of Authority.............................................. 11
Section 4.11: Removal.............................................................. 11
ARTICLE V - STOCK ..................................................................... 11
Section 5.l: Certificates......................................................... 11
Section 5.2: Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates;
Issuance of New Certificate.......................................... 11
Section 5.3: Other Regulations.................................................... 11
ARTICLE VI - INDEMNIFICATION..................................................................... 11
Section 6.1: Indemnification of Officers and Directors............................ 11
Section 6.2: Advance of Expenses.................................................. 12
Section 6.3: Non-Exclusivity of Rights............................................ 12
Section 6.4: Indemnification Contracts............................................ 13
Section 6.5: Effect of Amendment.................................................. 13
ARTICLE VII - NOTICES ..................................................................... 13
Section 7.l: Notice............................................................... 13
Section 7.2: Waiver of Notice..................................................... 13
ARTICLE VIII - INTERESTED DIRECTORS.............................................................. 14
Section 8.1: Interested Directors; Quorum......................................... 14
</TABLE>
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<PAGE> 20
BYLAWS
OF
MARKETWATCH.COM, INC.
A Delaware Corporation
TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT'D)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
<S> <C> <C>
ARTICLE IX - MISCELLANEOUS ..................................................................... 14
Section 9.1: Fiscal Year.......................................................... 14
Section 9.2: Seal................................................................. 14
Section 9.3: Form of Records...................................................... 14
Section 9.4: Reliance Upon Books and Records...................................... 14
Section 9.5: Certificate of Incorporation Governs................................. 15
Section 9.6: Severability......................................................... 15
ARTICLE X - AMENDMENT ..................................................................... 15
Section 10.1: Amendments........................................................... 15
</TABLE>
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<PAGE> 21
BYLAWS
OF
MARKETWATCH.COM, INC.
(a Delaware corporation)
As Adopted _____, 1998