a6099008.htm
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
8-K
CURRENT
REPORT
Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Date of
Report (date of earliest event reported):
November
10, 2009
CHEMED
CORPORATION
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
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1-8351
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31-0791746
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(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
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(Commission
File Number)
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(I.R.S. EmployerIdentification
Number)
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2600
Chemed Center, 255 East 5th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
(Address
of principal executive
offices) (Zip
Code)
Registrant's
telephone number, including area code:
(513)
762-6900
Check the
appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions (see General Instruction A.2 below):
[_]
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Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
CFR 230.425)
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[_]
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Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240-14a-12)
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[_]
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240-14d-2(b))
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[_]
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4 (c) under Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240-13e-4(c))
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Item
5.03 Amendments
to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year
On
November 10, 2009 the Board of Directors of Chemed Corporation approved an
amendment to the Company’s Bylaws to, among others, the advance notice
provisions, adjournment and postponement of shareholder meetings, shareholder
consent in lieu of meetings, rules for conduct of shareholder meetings, and
director qualifications. A copy of the Amended and Restated Bylaws is
included as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. The full
text thereof is incorporated herein by reference
Item
9.01 Financial
Statements and Exhibits
Exhibit Number Description
3.1
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Chemed Corporation
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.
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CHEMED
CORPORATION
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/s/ Arthur V. Tucker Jr.
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Arthur
V. Tucker, Jr.
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Vice
President and Controller
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Page 2 of
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a6099008ex3-1.htm
BY-LAWS
(As
amended through November 10, 2009)
AMENDED
AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
of
CHEMED
CORPORATION
(a
Delaware Corporation)
ARTICLE
I
Meeting
of Stockholders
Section
1.01. Place. Meetings of stockholders shall be held
at such places, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be specified
in the respective notices or waivers of notice thereof.
Section 1.02. Annual
Meetings. An annual meeting of stockholders for the election
of directors and the transaction of such other business as may come before it
shall be held at 11:00 o’ clock in the forenoon, or at such other hour as may be
stated in the notice thereof, on (i) the third Monday of May in each year unless
such day is a holiday, in which case it shall be held on the next day following
that is not a holiday or (ii) on such other date in such year as the Board of
Directors shall determine.
Section 1.03. Special
Meetings. (a) 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, the President or the Secretary, and shall be called by
the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the
Secretary upon the written request of a majority of the Board of Directors or of
the holders of record of shares having a majority of the voting power of the
stock of the corporation then entitled to vote for the election of directors
;provided that any such written stockholder request shall be made in accordance
with the procedures set forth in Section 1.03(b).
(b) Any
stockholder or stockholders seeking to have the Chairman of the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary call a special meeting of the
stockholders pursuant to Section 1.03(a) shall deliver a written request (the
“Meeting Request”) in proper form to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary at the corporation’s principal
executive offices. Such Meeting Request shall (i) be signed by
stockholders holding not less than a majority of the voting power of the stock
of the corporation then entitled to vote for the election of directors as of the
date such request is received by the corporation, (ii) specify whether the
purpose of the special meeting is the election of directors and/or the conduct
of other business and (iii) if the stockholder or stockholders are proposing
that business other than, or in addition to, the election of directors be so
conducted, include a description of the nature of the proposed business and the
exact text of any such proposal or business (including the text of any proposed
resolutions).
After
receipt by the corporation of a Meeting Request in proper form, the Chairman of
the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary shall
duly call a special meeting of the stockholders for a date no later than 90 days
after the receipt of such Meeting Request, for the purpose or purposes specified
in the Meeting Request and any other purposes specified by the Board of
Directors. The corporation shall promptly provide written notice of
such special meeting, and the purpose or purposes thereof, to the stockholders
in accordance with Section 1.04.
If the
Board of Directors shall determine that any Meeting Request was not properly
made in accordance with this Section 1.03(b) or that the subject matter is not a
proper purpose for action by the stockholders under applicable law, then the
Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the
Secretary shall not be required to call a special meeting of the stockholders
pursuant to Section 1.03(a). If none of the stockholders who
submitted a Meeting Request appears or sends a Qualified Representative, the
corporation need not present such matters for a vote.
Section 1.04. Notice and
Waiver of Notice. Unless otherwise provided by law, notice of
each annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders, stating the time, place
and purpose or purposes thereof, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to
vote at such meeting, not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the day
on which the meeting is to be held, by any manner permitted by
applicable law. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be 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 any meeting of stockholders need not be given
to any person who may become a stockholder of record after the record date for
such meeting fixed pursuant to Section 7.03, nor to any person who shall attend
the meeting in person or by proxy nor to any stockholder who shall sign a waiver
of such notice in writing either before, after or at the time of such
meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, notice of any adjourned
meeting of stockholders need not be given.
Section 1.05. List of
Stockholders. The Secretary, or other officer of the
corporation who has charge of the stock ledger of the corporation, shall prepare
and make, at least ten days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete
list of the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, arranged in
alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number
of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall
be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the
meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten days prior
to such meeting, (i) 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 (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal
place of business of the corporation, and such list shall be produced and kept
at the time and place of such meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be
inspected by any stockholder who is present. Except as required by law the stock
ledger shall be the only evidence of permitted examiners of such
list.
Section 1.06. Quorum
Adjournment and Postponement. (a) At all meetings of
stockholders, the holders of record, present in person or by proxy, of shares
having a majority of the voting power of the stock of the corporation entitled
to vote thereat, shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for
the transaction of business. A stockholder shall be treated as being
present at a meeting if (i) present in person at the meeting or (ii) represented
at the meeting by a valid proxy, whether such proxy card is marked as casting a
vote or abstaining or is left blank.
(b) In the
absence of a quorum, the Chairman of the Board or the holders of record of
shares having a majority of the voting power of the stock of the corporation
present in person or by proxy at the time and place of the meeting, or of any
adjournment thereof, may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice
other than announcement at the time and place of such meeting or adjournment,
until a quorum shall be present. At any adjourned session of any such
meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted which might
have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed. The
stockholders present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact any
business for which a quorum existed at the commencement of such meeting until
adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less
than a quorum.
(c) Any
previously-scheduled meeting of stockholders may be postponed by the Board of
Directors upon public notice given prior to the time previously scheduled for
such meeting.
Section
1.07. Voting. (a) When a quorum is present at any
meeting of stockholders, the vote of the holders of shares having a majority of
the voting power of the stock of the corporation present and entitled to vote at
such meeting shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the
question is one upon which, by express provision of law or of the Certificate of
Incorporation or these By-Laws, a different vote is required, in which case such
express provision shall govern and control the decision of such
question.
(b) Each
stockholder shall at every meeting of stockholders be entitled to one vote for
each share of the capital stock of the corporation registered in such
stockholder’s name on the books of the corporation at the record date fixed as
provided in Section 7.03.
(c) At all
meetings of stockholders, a stockholder may vote either in person or by proxy as
may be permitted by applicable law; provided, however, that no proxy shall be
voted after one year from its date unless the proxy provides for a longer
period. Any proxy to be used at a meeting of stockholders must be delivered to
the Secretary or his representative at the principal executive offices of the
corporation at or before the time of the meeting.
(d) The
vote on any matter, including the election of directors, need not be by written
ballot. Any written ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting,
or by such stockholder’s proxy, and shall state the number of shares
voted.
Section 1.08. Consent in
Lieu of Meeting. (a) Any action required or permitted to be
taken at a meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior
notice and without a vote, if consents in writing, setting forth the action so
taken, shall be signed by the holders of record of shares having not less than
the minimum voting power that would be necessary to authorize or take such
action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present
and voted and 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.
(b) For
the corporation to determine the stockholders entitled to take corporate action
by written consent 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 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 for such purpose. The Board of
Directors shall promptly, but in all events within ten days after the date on
which such request is received by the Secretary, adopt a resolution fixing such
record date. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of
Directors within ten days of the date on which such a request is received, the
record date for determining stockholders entitled to take corporate action by
written consent 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 in the manner set forth in Section
1.08(a). If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors
and prior action by the Board of Directors is required by applicable law, the
record date for determining stockholders entitled to take corporate action by
written consent 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) Every
written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs
the consent and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate
action referred to therein unless, within 60 days of the earliest dated consent
delivered in the manner required hereby to the Corporation, written consents
signed by a sufficient number of holders to take action are delivered to the
corporation as set forth in Section 1.08(a).
(d) A
facsimile, electronic mail message, telegram, cablegram or other electronic
transmission (each an “electronic
transmission”) consenting 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 hereof if such
electronic transmission sets forth or is delivered with information from which
the corporation can determine: (i) that the 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
electronic transmission. The date on which such electronic
transmission is transmitted shall be deemed to be the date on which such consent
was signed. No consent given by 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 as set
forth in Section 1.08(a). Notwithstanding the foregoing limitations
on delivery, consents given by electronic transmission may be otherwise
delivered to the principal place of business of the corporation or to the
Secretary as provided by resolution of the Board of Directors.
(e) Any
copy, facsimile or other reliable reproduction of a consent in writing may be
substituted or used in lieu of the original writing and all purposes for which
the original writing could be used; provided that such is a complete
reproduction of the entire original writing.
(f) In the
event of the delivery to the corporation of a written consent or consents
purporting to represent the requisite voting power to authorize or take
corporate action and/or any related revocations, the Secretary shall provide for
their safekeeping. The Secretary, or such other officer of the corporation as
the Board of Directors may designate, shall, as promptly as practicable, conduct
a ministerial review of the validity of the consents and/or any related
revocations deemed necessary and appropriate; provided, however, that if the
corporate action to which the written consent relates is the removal or
replacement of one or more members of the Board of Directors, the Secretary, or
such other officer of the corporation as the Board of Directors may designate,
shall promptly designate two persons, who may be employees of the corporation,
but who shall not be members of the Board of Directors or officers of the
corporation, to serve as inspectors with respect to such written consent and
such inspectors shall discharge the functions of the Secretary, or such other
officer of the corporation as the Board of Directors may designate, under this
Section 1.08.
(g) No
action by written consent without a meeting shall be effective until such date
as the Secretary, such other officer of the corporation as designated by the
Board of Directors or the inspectors as appointed in accordance with Section
1.08(f), as applicable, completes its review, determines that such consents
represent not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to
authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote
thereon were present and voted and so certifies to the Board of Directors for
entry in the records of the corporation.
(h) 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 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 holders
to take the action were delivered to the corporation as provided
herein.
(i) Any
stockholder giving a written consent, or the stockholder’s proxyholder, may
revoke the consent in any manner permitted by applicable law.
Section 1.09. Notice of
Stockholder Business and Nominations.
(a) Annual Meetings of
Stockholders. (i) Nominations of persons for election to
the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by
the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only
(A) pursuant to the corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement
thereto) delivered pursuant to Section 1.04, (B) by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof)
or (C) by any stockholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting on the
election of directors or such business (as applicable), who complies with the
notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.09 and who is a stockholder
of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary.
(ii) For
nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by
a stockholder pursuant to clause (C) of paragraph (a)(i) of this
Section 1.09, the stockholder must have given timely notice in writing to
the Secretary and, in the case of business other than nominations, such other
business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action under
applicable law. 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 90th day, nor earlier than the close
of business on the 120th day, prior to the first anniversary of the preceding
year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that if no annual meeting was held in
the preceding year or if the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than
30 days, or delayed by more than 90 days, from such anniversary date,
timely notice by the stockholder must be so delivered not earlier than the close
of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later
than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such
annual meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such annual
meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the
10th day following the day on which the public announcement of the date of
such meeting is first made by the corporation. In no event shall the
public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting
commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a
stockholder’s notice as described in this Section 1.09(a)(ii).
(iii) (A)
A stockholder’s written notice
to the Secretary for the conduct of business (other than nominations of persons
for election to the Board of Directors) shall set forth as to each proposed
matter:
(1) a brief
description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the
reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting and the text of the
proposal (including the complete text of any resolution(s) proposed for
consideration and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend
these By-Laws, the complete text of the proposed amendment); and
(2) any interest
of the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person in such business;
and
(B) As to
the stockholder giving such notice and, where noted below, each Stockholder
Associated Person, the stockholder’s notice shall set
forth the following:
(1) the name and
address, as they appear on the record books of the corporation, of the
stockholder proposing such business and the name and address of any Stockholder
Associated Person;
(2)
(a) a
description of each agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether written or
oral) with any Stockholder Associated Person, (b) the class or
series and number of equity and other securities of the corporation which are,
directly or indirectly, held of record or beneficially owned (as determined
under Regulation 13D (or any
successor provision thereto) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (such act, and any successor statute thereto, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder are collectively referred to herein as the
“Exchange
Act”)) by
such stockholder and by any Stockholder Associated Person and documentary
evidence of such record or beneficial ownership and (c) a list of all
of the derivative securities (as defined under Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act
or any successor provision thereto) and other derivatives or similar agreements
or arrangements with an exercise or conversion privilege or a periodic or
settlement payment or payments or mechanism at a price or in an amount or
amounts related to any security of the corporation or with a value derived or
calculated in whole or in part from the value of the corporation or any security
of the corporation, in each case, directly or indirectly held of record or
beneficially owned by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person and
each other direct or indirect opportunity of such stockholder or any Stockholder
Associated Person to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or
decrease in the value of any security of the Corporation, in each case,
regardless of whether (x) such interest
conveys any voting rights in such security to such stockholder or Stockholder
Associated Person, (y) such interest
is required to be, or is capable of being, settled through delivery of such
security or (z) such person
may have entered into other transactions that hedge the economic effect of such
interest (any such interest described in this clause (2)(c) being
a “Derivative
Interest”);
(3) the name of
each person with whom such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person has any
agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether written or oral) (a) for the
purposes of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy
given to such person in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made
generally by such person to all holders of shares of the corporation) or
disposing of any shares of capital stock of the corporation, (b) to cooperate
in obtaining, changing or influencing the control of the corporation (except
independent financial, legal and other advisors acting in the ordinary course of
their respective businesses), (c) with the
effect or intent of increasing or decreasing the voting power of, or that
contemplates any person voting together with, any such stockholder or
Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any shares of the capital stock of
the corporation or any business proposed by the stockholder or (d) otherwise in
connection with any business proposed by a stockholder and a description of each
such agreement, arrangement or understanding (any agreement, arrangement or
understanding described in this clause (3) being a
“Voting
Agreement”);
(4) details of
all other material interests of each stockholder or any Stockholder Associated
Person in such proposal or any security of the corporation or Derivative
Interests (including any rights to dividends or performance-related fees based
on any increase or decrease in the value of such security or Derivative
Interests) (collectively, “Other
Interests”);
(5) a description
of all economic terms of all such Derivative Interests, Voting Agreements or
Other Interests and copies of all agreements and other documents (including
master agreements, confirmations and all ancillary documents and the names and
details of counterparties to, and brokers involved in, all such transactions)
relating to each such Derivative Interest, Voting Agreement or Other
Interest;
(6) a list of all
transactions by such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person involving
any securities of the corporation or any Derivative Interests, Voting Agreements
or Other Interests within the six-month period prior to the date of the
notice;
(7) any other
information relating to such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person
that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings
required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the proposal
pursuant to Regulation 14A of the
Exchange Act (or any successor provision thereto);
(8) a
representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of capital stock of
the corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person
or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business; and
(9) a
representation as to whether the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated
Person intends, or is part of a group that intends, to (a) deliver a
proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of
the corporation’s outstanding
capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or (b) otherwise
solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such
proposal.
(iv) A
stockholder’s
written notice to the Secretary for nominations of directors shall set
forth:
(A) as to
each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection
as a director:
(1) all
information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in
solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election (even
if a contested election is not involved), or is otherwise required, in each case
pursuant to Regulation 14A of the
Exchange Act (or any successor provision thereto) (including such person’s written consent
to be named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serve as a director if
elected);
(2) a description
of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements,
arrangements and understandings (whether written or oral) during the past three
years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder
or Stockholder Associated Person, if any, and such proposed nominee
or his respective affiliates and associates (each as defined under
Regulation 12B of the
Exchange Act (or any successor provision thereto)), or others acting in concert
therewith, including all information required to be disclosed pursuant to
Rule 404
promulgated under Regulation S-K (or any
successor provision thereto) if the stockholder making the nomination and any
Stockholder Associated Person on whose behalf the nomination is
made, were the “registrant” for purposes of
such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such
registrant;
(3) a completed
and signed Director Questionnaire; and
(4) a completed
and signed Director Representation and Agreement; and
(B) as to
the stockholder giving notice and, where referred to in Sections
1.09(a)(iii)(B)(1)-(9) or noted below, each Stockholder Associated Person, the
written notice of the stockholder shall set forth the following:
(1) the
information that would have been required by Sections 1.09(a)(iii)(B)(1)-(9) if
Section (a)(iii)(B) were applicable to nominations of persons for election to
the Board of Directors and the references therein to “proposing such
business”,
“business
proposed” and
“such
proposal”
were to “proposing such
nomination”,
“nominees for
election to the Board of Directors” and “such
nomination”,
respectively;
(2) any other
information relating to such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person
that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings
required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the election
of directors in a contested election (even if a contested election is not
involved) pursuant to Regulation 14A of the
Exchange Act (or any successor provision thereto);
(3) a
representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of capital stock of
the corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person
or by proxy at the meeting to propose such nomination; and
(4) a
representation as to whether the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated
Person intends, or is part of a group that intends, to (a) deliver a
proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of
the outstanding capital stock of the corporation required to elect the nominee
or (b) otherwise
solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such
nomination.
(v) For
purposes of this Section 1.09, the following terms have the following
meanings:
(A) “Director
Questionnaire” as defined in
Section 2.02(b).
(B) “Director
Representation and Agreement” as defined in
Section 2.02(b).
(C) “public
announcement”
means disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service,
Associated Press or other 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 (or any successor provisions thereto).
(D) “Stockholder
Associated Person” of any
stockholder means (1) any
beneficial owner of shares of stock of the corporation on whose behalf any
proposal or nomination is made by such stockholder; (2) any
affiliates or associates of such stockholder or any beneficial owner described
in clause (1); and
(3) each
other person with whom any of the persons described in the clauses (1) and (2)
either is acting in concert with respect to the corporation or has any
agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether written or oral) for the
purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy
given to such person in response to a public proxy solicitation made generally
by such person to all stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting) or disposing
of any capital stock of the corporation or to cooperate in obtaining, changing
or influencing the control of the corporation (except independent financial,
legal and other advisors acting in the ordinary course of their respective
businesses).
(b) Special Meetings of
Stockholders. Business transacted at any special meeting of
stockholders shall be limited to the purpose or purposes stated in the
corporation’s
notice of meeting delivered pursuant to Section 1.04. At a special
meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the
corporation’s
notice of meeting, nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors
may be made (A) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly
authorized committee thereof) or (B) by any
stockholder of the corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time the
notice provided for in this Section 1.09(b) is delivered to the Secretary, who
is entitled to vote for the election of directors at such meeting and who
complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section
1.09(b). Any stockholder entitled to vote in an election of directors
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 for a special meeting of stockholders, if (i) the
stockholder’s
notice required by this Section 1.09(b) shall be delivered to the Secretary at
the principal executive offices of the corporation not earlier than the close of
business on the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the
close of business on the 90th day prior to such special meeting or, if the first
public announcement of the date of such special meeting is less than 100 days
prior to the date of such special meeting, the 10th day following the day on
which public announcement of the date of the meeting and of the nominees
proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting is first made
by the corporation, and (ii) such
stockholder’s
notice contains the information that would have been required by Section
1.09(a)(iv) if Section 1.09(a)(iv) were applicable to nominations of persons for
election to the Board of Directors made in connection with a special meeting of
the stockholders. No public announcement of an adjournment or
postponement of a special meeting shall commence a new time period (or extend
any time period) for the giving of such a stockholder’s
notice.
(c) General. (i) Only such
persons nominated in accordance with this Section 1.09 shall be eligible to be
elected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders 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 this Section
1.09. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of
Incorporation, these By-Laws or applicable law, and in furtherance of Section
1.10, the person presiding over the meeting shall have the power and duty
(A) to
determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the
meeting was made or proposed in accordance with this Section 1.09 (including
whether any stockholder or beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination or
proposal is made solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so
solicit, proxies or votes in support of such stockholder’s nominee or
proposal in compliance with such stockholder’s representation
as required by Section 1.09(a)(iii)(B)(9) and Section 1.09(a)(iv)(B)(4)) and
(B) if
any proposed nomination or business was not so made or proposed in compliance
with this Section 1.09, to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or
that such proposed business shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.09, unless otherwise required by
applicable law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the
stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders to
present a nomination or, in the case of an annual meeting, proposed business,
such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be
transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been
received by the corporation. For purposes of these By-Laws, to be
considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a
duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be
authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic
transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy
at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or
electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic
transmission, at the meeting of stockholders (“Qualified
Representative”).
(ii)
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.09, (A) a stockholder
shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with
respect to the matters set forth in this Section 1.09 and (B) nothing in
this Section 1.09 shall be deemed to affect any rights of any stockholder to
request inclusion of proposals for business (other than nominations of persons
for election to the Board of Directors) in the corporation’s proxy statement
if the stockholder has notified the corporation of its intention to present a
proposal at an annual meeting of stockholders in compliance with the Exchange
Act, and if such stockholder’s proposal has
been included in a proxy statement prepared by the corporation to solicit
proxies for such annual meeting, such stockholder shall be deemed to have
satisfied the notice requirements of this Section 1.09 with respect to such
proposal.
(iii) A
notice delivered by or on behalf of any stockholder under Section 1.09(a) or
1.09(b) shall be deemed to be not in compliance with such Section 1.09(a)
or 1.09(b), and not be effective if, after delivery of such notice, any
information or document required to be included in such notice changes or is
amended, modified or supplemented, prior to the date of the meeting and such
information and/or document is not delivered to the corporation by way of a
further written notice as promptly as practicable following the event causing
such change in information or amendment, modification or supplement, and where
such event occurs within 45 days of the date of the relevant meeting, within
five business days after such event; provided, however, that the Board of
Directors shall have the authority to waive any such non-compliance if the Board
of Directors determines that such action is appropriate in the exercise of its
fiduciary duties.
Section 1.10. Inspectors
of Elections; Opening and Closing the Polls. (a) To the extent
required by applicable law, the Board of Directors by resolution or the Chairman
of the Board shall appoint one or more inspectors, who may be employees of the
corporation, to act at the meeting and make a written report
thereof. One or more persons may be designated as alternate
inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. Each inspector,
before discharging 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 ability. The inspectors shall have the duties prescribed by the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
(b) Meetings
of the stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, or if
he is not present, by the Chief Executive Officer, or if he is not present, by
the President, the Chief Operating Officer (if one has been elected) or a Vice
President, as designated by the Board of Directors, or if none of such officers
is present, by another person designated by the Board of Directors to preside
over the meeting. The Secretary, if present, shall act as secretary of such
meetings, or if he is not present, an Assistant Secretary shall so act; if
neither the Secretary nor an Assistant Secretary is present, then a secretary
shall be appointed by the person presiding over the meeting. 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 at the meeting by the
person presiding over the meeting. The Board of Directors may adopt by
resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of
stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent
with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the person
presiding over any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to
convene and (for any or no reason) to adjourn the meeting and to prescribe such
rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of
such presiding person, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting.
Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors
or prescribed by the person presiding over the meeting, may include the
following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the
meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and
the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or
participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting,
their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as such
presiding person shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting
after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on
the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The person presiding
over any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations
that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts
warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not
properly brought before the meeting and any such matter or business not properly
brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered.
ARTICLE
II
Directors
Section
2.01. Number. The number of directors which shall
constitute the Whole Board of Directors shall be no fewer than three nor more
than forty. The first Board of Directors as of the date of these
By-Laws shall consist of eleven directors. Thereafter,
within the minimum and maximum above specified, the number of directors which
shall constitute the Whole Board of Directors shall be determined by resolution
of the Board of Directors or, in the absence thereof, shall be the number of
directors elected at the preceding annual meeting of
stockholders. The term “Whole Board of Directors” shall mean the
total number of directors most recently determined pursuant to this Section
2.01, whether or not there exist any vacancies or unfilled previously authorized
directorships.
Section 2.02. Election;
Qualification. (a) Directors shall be elected at each annual
meeting of stockholders, and may also be elected as provided in Section 2.04 of
this Article. Directors shall be chosen by a plurality of the votes
cast. Directors need not be stockholders of the
corporation.
(b) Each
director of the corporation and nominee for election as a director of the
corporation must, as a qualification to serve as a director, deliver to the
Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation: (i) a written
questionnaire with respect to the background and qualifications of such person
and of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is made (which
questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request) (a
“Director Questionnaire”) and (ii) a written representation and agreement (in
the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) (the “Director
Representation and Agreement”) that such person: (A) is not, if serving as
a director of the corporation, and will not become, while serving as a director
of the corporation, a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding
(whether written or oral) with, and has not given any commitment or assurance
to, any person or entity (1) as to how such person will act or vote on any issue
or question to be considered by the Board of Directors (or any committee
thereof) or (2) that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to
comply with such person’s duties as a director of the corporation under
applicable law while serving as such that, in the case of this clause (2), has
not been disclosed therein, (B) is not and will not become a party to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether written or oral) with any
person or entity other than the corporation with respect to any direct or
indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with
service or action as a director of the corporation that has not been disclosed
in writing to the corporation, (C) is, if serving as a director of the
corporation, or would be if elected as a director of the corporation, and will
be, while serving as such, in compliance with all applicable corporate
governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and securities ownership and
trading policies and guidelines of the corporation (copies of which shall be
provided by the Secretary upon written request) (subject to any waivers or
exemptions granted pursuant to a resolution of the majority of the disinterested
members of the Board of Directors) and any other policies applicable to
directors of the corporation and (D) irrevocably submits such person’s
resignation as a director, if serving, or if elected as a director of the
corporation, effective upon a finding by a court of competent jurisdiction that
such person has breached the Director Representation and Agreement in any
material respect.
Section 2.03. Term of
Office. Each director shall serve until his successor is
elected and qualified, or until his death, resignation, disqualification or
removal.
Section
2.04. Resignations; Removals; Filling of
Vacancies. Any director may resign at any time by giving
notice of such resignation to the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board,
the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. Unless otherwise
specified in such notice, such resignation shall be effective upon receipt of
such notice by the Board of Directors or such officer. Any director
may be removed at any time, either for or without cause, by vote of the holders
of shares having a majority of the voting power of the stock of the corporation
entitled to vote for the election of directors.
Vacancies
in the Board of Directors, whether caused by resignation, removal, death or any
other reason, and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the
authorized number of directors, may be filled either by majority vote of the
directors then remaining in office (whether or not sufficient in number to
constitute a quorum), or by a sole remaining director, or by a plurality of the
votes cast at the meeting of stockholders held for that purpose. In
the event that one or more directors shall resign from the Board, effective at a
future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who
have so resigned effective at a future date, shall have power to fill the
vacancy or vacancies which will result when such resignation or resignations
become effective, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or
resignations become effective.
Section
2.05. Powers. The business and affairs of
the corporation shall be managed by the Board of Directors, which may
exercise all such powers of the corporation and do all such lawful acts and
things as are not by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these
By-Laws directed or required to be exercised or done by the
stockholders.
Section 2.06. Chairman of
the Board. The Board of Directors may elect from its members a
Chairman of the Board who shall serve until the next annual election of
directors, or until his death, resignation, disqualification or
removal. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all stockholder
and Board meetings and perform such duties and have such powers as from time to
time may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors. The Chairman
may resign at any time by giving notice of such resignation to the Board of
Directors. Unless otherwise specified in such notice, such
resignation shall be effective upon receipt of such notice by the Board of
Directors. The Chairman of the Board may be removed from such
position at any time, either for or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the Whole Board of Directors. In the event that the
position of Chairman of the Board becomes vacant for any reason, the Chief
Executive Officer shall assume the position of Chairman of the Board until such
time as a new Chairman of the Board is elected by a majority of the Whole Board
of Directors.
ARTICLE
III
Meetings
of the Board of Directors
Section
3.01. Place. Meetings of directors, both regular
and special, may be held either within or without the State of
Delaware.
Section 3.02. Annual and
Regular Meetings. The annual meeting of the Board of Directors
for the election of officers, and for the transaction of such business as may be
deemed desirable by the directors present, shall be held in each year
immediately following the annual meeting of stockholders, at the place of such
meeting, or at such time and place as the retiring Board of Directors may have
designated. If the annual meeting of the Board of Directors is so
held, no notice thereof need be given. If the annual meeting of the
Board of Directors shall not be so held in any year, such meeting shall be held
as soon after the annual meeting of stockholders as practicable, upon notice as
required for special meetings of the Board of Directors under Section
3.03. The Board of Directors from time to time may provide for the
holding of regular meetings and fix the times and places of such meetings, and
no notice need be given of regular meetings held at the times and places so
fixed.
Section 3.03. Special Meetings and Notice Thereof;
Waiver of Notice. Special meetings of the Board of Directors
may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive
Officer, the President or the Secretary, and shall be called by the Chairman of
the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary upon the
written request of any two directors, such written request to state the purpose
or purposes of the meeting and to be delivered to the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. Each such
special meeting shall be held at such place, date and time as shall be
designated by the officer or directors calling such meeting. Notice
of each special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be mailed to each
director, postage prepaid, addressed to him at his residence or his usual place
of business, at least two days before the day on which the meeting is to be
held, or shall be sent to him at such place by telegram, radio or cable or shall
be telephoned or delivered to him personally not later than the day before the
meeting is to be held. Notice of any special meeting need not be
given to any director who shall attend such meeting in person or who shall waive
notice thereof in writing or by telegram, radio or cable, either before, after
or at the time of such meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law,
notice of any adjourned meeting of the Board of Directors need not be
given.
Section
3.04. Quorum. At each meeting of the Board of
Directors (subject to the provision of Section 2.04 regarding the filling of
vacancies), the presence of a majority of the total number of directors
constituting the Whole Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. Except as otherwise provided in these
By-Laws, the vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which
a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. In
the absence of a quorum, a majority of the directors present at the time and
place of any meeting or of any adjournment thereof (or if only one director be
present, then that one) may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without
notice other than announcement at the time and place of such meeting or
adjournment, until a quorum shall be present. At any adjourned
session of any such meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be
transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally
noticed.
Section 3.05. Consent in
lieu of Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken
at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if all
members of the Board of Directors consent thereto in writing and the writing or
writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of
Directors.
Section
3.06. Participation by Telephone. Directors may
participate in any meeting of the Board of Directors by means of conference
telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons
participating in such meeting can hear each other, and such participation shall
constitute such directors' presence at such meeting.
ARTICLE
IV
Executive
Committee and Other Committees
Section 4.01. Creation of
Committee. The Board of Directors may, by action of a majority
of the whole Board of Directors, designate an Executive Committee and/or one or
more other committees, each consisting of one or more directors.
Section 4.02. Powers of
Committee. Subject to any limitations imposed by law or by
resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board of Directors, the Executive
Committee shall have and may exercise, when the Board of Directors is not in
session, all power and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of
the business and affairs of the corporation, except any power or authority in
reference to (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders any
action or matter, other than the election or removal of directors, expressly
required by the General Corporation Law of Delaware to be submitted to
stockholders for approval, or (b) adopting, amending or repealing any By-Law of
the corporation. Each other committee shall have and may exercise,
when the Board of Directors is not in session, such powers, not exceeding those
which may be granted to the Executive Committee, as the Board of Directors shall
confer.
Section 4.03. Meeting and
Proceedings. Except as otherwise provided in these By-Laws or
by resolutions of the Board of Directors, each committee shall adopt its own
rules governing the conduct of its proceedings. All action by any
committee shall be reported to the Board of Directors at the next meeting
thereof and shall be subject to revision and alteration by the Board of
Directors, provided that no such revision or alteration shall affect the rights
of third parties. At each meeting of any committee, the presence of a
majority of the total number of members constituting the committee shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The vote of a
majority of the members of the committee present at any meeting at which a
quorum is present shall be the action of the committee.
Section 4.04. Term of
Office; Resignations; Removals; Filling of Vacancies. The term
of office of a member of a committee shall be as provided in the resolution of
the Board of Directors designating the committee or designating him as a member
but shall not exceed his term of office as a director. If prior to
the end of his term of office as a member of a committee a member should cease
to be a director, he shall cease to be a member of the committee. Any
member of any committee may resign at any time by giving notice of such
resignation to the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. Unless otherwise
specified in such notice, such resignation shall be effective upon receipt of
such notice by the Board of Directors or such officer. Any member of
any committee may be removed at any time from such committee, either for or
without cause by action of a majority of the Whole Board of
Directors. Vacancies in any committee may be filled by the Board of
Directors by action of a majority of the Whole Board of Directors.
ARTICLE V
Officers
Section 5.01. Election;
Number; Qualifications; Term. The officers of the corporation
shall be elected by a majority of the Whole Board of Directors, and shall
include a Chief Executive Officer, a President, one or more Executive Vice
Presidents, one or more Senior Vice Presidents, one or more Vice Presidents, a
Secretary, one or more Assistant Secretaries, a Treasurer, one or more Assistant
Treasurers and such other officers as may be elected in the discretion of the
Board of Directors. Any two or more offices may be held by the same
person. Officers need not be directors or stockholders of the
corporation. Each officer shall hold office until his successor is
elected and qualified, or until his death, resignation, disqualification or
removal.
Section 5.02. Power and
Duties in General. In addition to the powers and duties
prescribed by these By-Laws, the officers and assistant officers shall have such
powers and duties as are usually incident to their respective offices, subject
to the control of the Board of Directors.
Section 5.03. The Chief
Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer of the
corporation shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have
general charge of the business and affairs of the corporation and general
supervision of its officers and agents and shall, in the absence of the Chairman
of the Board, preside at all meetings of stockholders and of the Board of
Directors at which he shall be present. He shall prepare and present
reports to the Board concerning the state of the corporation's business and
affairs. The Board may designate one of the other officers of the
corporation to perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer in his
absence.
Section 5.04. The
President. The President shall, during any absence of the
Chief Executive Officer, carry out all of the duties of the Chief Executive
Officer. He shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned
to him by the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 5.05. The Vice
Presidents. An Executive Vice President, a Senior Vice
President or Vice President shall perform such duties as from time to time may
be assigned to him by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or by the Board
of Directors or by any committee thereunto authorized.
Section 5.06. The
Secretary. The Secretary shall cause the minutes of all
proceedings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors to be recorded in the
minute book of the corporation, shall cause all notices to be duly given in
accordance with the provisions of these By-Laws and as required by law, and
shall have charge and custody of the records and the seal of the
corporation.
Section 5.07. The
Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of the
corporate funds and securities, shall keep full and accurate accounts of
receipts and disbursements, shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects
in the name and to the credit of the corporation in such depositories as may be
designated in accordance with these By-Laws, and shall render a report and
account of the transactions of the corporation and of the financial condition of
the corporation whenever so required by the Board of Directors or the Chief
Executive Officer.
Section
5.08. Resignations; Removals; Filling of
Vacancies. Any officer may resign at any time by giving notice
of such resignation to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President or the Secretary. Unless otherwise specified in such
notice, such resignation shall be effective upon receipt of such notice by the
Board of Directors or such officer. Any officer may be removed at any
time, either for or without cause, by action of a majority of the Whole Board of
Directors.
Section
5.09. Bonding. None of the officers, assistant
officers and other employees, agents or representatives of the corporation shall
be required to give bond unless the Board of Directors shall in its discretion
require any such bond or bonds. Any bond so required shall be payable
to the corporation in such amount and with such conditions and security as the
Board of Directors may require.
ARTICLE
VI
Instruments,
Deposits, Checks, Proxies
Section 6.01. Execution of
Instruments. The Chief Executive Officer, the President or any
Vice President may enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument
(including, but not limited to, any check, bill of exchange, order for the
payment of money, promissory note, acceptance, evidence of indebtedness or proxy
to vote with respect to shares of stock of another corporation owned by or
standing in the name of the corporation) in the name and on behalf of the
corporation, subject to the control of the Board of Directors. The
Board of Directors may authorize any officer, employee or agent to enter into
any contract or execute and deliver any such instrument in the name and on
behalf of the corporation, and such authorization may be general or confined to
specific instances. To the extent authorized by the Board of
Directors, the signature of any such person may be a facsimile.
Section
6.02. Deposits. Monies and other valuable effects
of the corporation may be deposited from time to time to the credit of the
corporation with such depositories as may be selected by the Board of Directors
or by any committee, officer or agent of the corporation to whom power of
selection may be delegated from time to time by the Board of
Directors.
ARTICLE
VII
Stock
Certificates; Registered Holders
Section 7.01. Issuance;
Signatures. Every holder of stock of the corporation shall be
entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the corporation by
the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President, and by either
the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary, of the corporation certifying the number of shares owned by him in
the corporation. If such certificate is countersigned by a transfer
agent other than the corporation or one of its employees, or a registrar other
than the corporation or its employees, any other signature on the certificate
may be a facsimile. Stock certificates shall be in such form as shall
be approved by the Board of Directors.
Section 7.02. Continuing
Validity of Signatures. In case any officer, transfer agent or
registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any
such certificate shall cease to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar,
whether because of death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate is
issued, such certificate may nevertheless be issued by the corporation with the
same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at
the date of issue.
Section 7.03. Record
Date. (a) In order that the corporation may determine the
stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any
adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date,
and only such stockholders as shall be stockholders of record on the date so
fixed shall be entitled to such notice of, such meeting or any
adjournment thereof, , notwithstanding any transfer of any stock on the books of
the corporation after any such record date fixed as aforesaid. Any
record date set to determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote
at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof shall not precede the
date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of
Directors and shall, unless otherwise required by applicable law, not be more
than 60 nor less than ten days before the date of such
meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall
also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at
such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such
record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the
date for making such determination. 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 determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the
adjourned meeting and, in such case, shall also fix as the record date for
stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier
date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in
accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.
(b) 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
entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange
of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors
may fix a record date, which shall not be more than sixty days prior to such
action. If no such 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 7.04. 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 have the rights of a stockholder with respect thereto, 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 law.
Section 7.05. Lost
Certificates. When any certificate of stock is alleged to have
been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the corporation shall issue a new
certificate if the owner (a) so requests before the corporation has notice that
the certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, (b) files with the
corporation a sufficient indemnity bond and (c) satisfies any other reasonable
requirements imposed by the corporation. The Board of Directors may
waive the requirement of any such indemnity bond.
ARTICLE
VIII
Miscellaneous
Section
8.01. Offices. The principal office of the
corporation in the State of Delaware shall be at No. 100 West Tenth Street,
Wilmington, Delaware. The corporation may also have offices at other
places within or without the State of Delaware.
Section 8.02. Fiscal
Year. The fiscal year of the corporation shall begin on the
1st day of January in each year, and shall end on the 31st day of December in
such year.
Section
8.03. Seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed
thereon the name of the corporation, the year of its organization and the words
"Corporate Seal, Delaware". The seal may be used by causing it or a
facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced.
Section 8.04. Compensation
of Directors. The Board of Directors shall have authority to
fix the compensation of directors (including the Chairman of the
Board). The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of
attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and/or a stated salary as
director. No such payment shall preclude any director or committee
member from serving the corporation in any other capacity and receiving
compensation therefore. Members of committees may be allowed like
compensation for attending committee meetings.
Section 8.05. Compensation
of Officers and Employees. The compensation of officers and,
to the extent the Board of Directors shall deem advisable, the compensation of
all other employees, agents and representatives of the corporation shall be
fixed by the Board of Directors of in accordance with procedures adopted by
it. Compensation may be contingent and/or measured in whole or in
part by the profits of the corporation and its subsidiaries or a segment
thereof. Bonuses, other extra or incentive compensation, deferred
compensation and retirement benefits may be paid. Such amounts may be
payable in cash, stock of the corporation or other property. The
Board of Directors may delegate the authority contained in this section to such
directors, officers, employees or agents of the corporation as the Board of
Directors deems advisable.
Section 8.06. Amendment of
By-Laws. The By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed from
time to time, and new By-Laws may be made and adopted, by action of a majority
of the Whole Board of Directors or by the stockholders.
ARTICLE
IX
Indemnification
Section 9.01. Right to
Indemnification. The corporation shall to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law as then in effect indemnify each person (the
"Indemnitee") who was or is involved in any manner (including, without
limitation, as a party or a witness) or is threatened to be made so involved in
any threatened, pending or completed investigation, claim, action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (including,
without limitation, any action, suit or proceeding by, or in the right of, the
corporation to procure a judgment in its favor)(a "Proceeding") by reason of the
fact that he is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or is or was
serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (including,
without limitation, any employee benefit plan) against all expenses (including
attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with such Proceeding. Such
indemnification shall be a contract right and shall include the right to receive
payment in advance of any expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with
such Proceeding, consistent with the provisions of applicable law as then in
effect.
Section 9.02. Insurance, Contracts
and Funding. The corporation may purchase and maintain
insurance to protect itself and any Indemnitee against any expenses, judgments,
fines and amounts paid in settlement as specified in Section 9.01 of this
Article or incurred by any Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding referred
to in Section 9.01 of this Article, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law as then in effect. The corporation may enter into
contracts with any director or officer of the corporation in furtherance of the
provisions of this Article and may create a trust fund, grant a security
interest or use other means (including, without limitation, a letter of credit)
to ensure the payment of such amounts as may be necessary to effect
indemnification as provided in this Article.
Section
9.03. Indemnification; Not Exclusive Right. The
right of indemnification provided in this Article shall not be exclusive of any
other rights to which those seeking indemnification may otherwise be entitled,
and the provisions of this Article shall inure to the benefit of the heirs and
legal representatives of any person entitled to indemnification under this
Article and shall be applicable to Proceedings commenced or continuing after the
adoption of this Article, whether arising from acts or omissions occurring
before or after such adoption.
Section 9.04. Advancement
of Expenses; Procedures; Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings;
Remedies. In furtherance, but not in limitation of the
foregoing provisions, the following procedures, presumptions and remedies shall
apply with respect to advancement of expenses and the right to indemnification
under this Article:
(a) Advancement of
Expenses. All reasonable expenses incurred by or on behalf of
the Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding shall be advanced to the
Indemnitee by the corporation within 20 days after the receipt by the
corporation of a statement or statements from the Indemnitee requesting such
advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final
disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall
reasonably evidence the expenses incurred by the Indemnitee and, if required by
law at the time of such advance, shall include or be accompanied by an
undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay the amounts advanced if
it should ultimately be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be
indemnified against such expenses pursuant to this Article.
(b) Procedure for Determination of
Entitlement to Indemnification. (i) To obtain indemnification
under this Article, an Indemnitee shall submit to the Secretary of the
corporation a written request, including such documentation and information as
is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to determine
whether and to what extent the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification (the
"Supporting Documentation"). The determination of the Indemnitee's
entitlement to indemnification shall be made not later than 60 days after
receipt by the corporation of the written request for indemnification together
with the Supporting Documentation. The Secretary of the corporation
shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the
Board of Directors in writing that the Indemnitee has requested
indemnification.
(ii) The
Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification under this Article shall be
determined in one of the following ways: (a) by a majority vote of the
Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined), if they constitute a quorum of
the Board of Directors; (b) by a written opinion on Independent Counsel (as
hereinafter defined) if (x) a Change of Control (as hereinafter defined) shall
have occurred and the Indemnitee so requests or (y) a quorum of the Board of
Directors consisting of Disinterested Directors is not obtainable or, even if
obtainable, a majority of such Disinterested Directors so directs; (c) by the
stockholders of the corporation (but only if a majority of the Disinterested
Directors, if they constitute a quorum of the Board of Directors, presents the
issue of entitlement to indemnification to the stockholders for their
determination); or (d) as provided in Section 9.04(c).
(iii) In
the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by
Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 9.04(b)(ii), a majority of the
Disinterested Directors shall select the Independent Counsel, but only an
Independent Counsel to which the Indemnitee does not reasonably object;
provided, however, that if a Change of Control shall have occurred, the
Indemnitee shall select such Independent Counsel, but only an Independent
Counsel to which the Board of Directors does not reasonably object.
(c) Presumptions and Effect of
Certain Proceedings. Except as otherwise expressly provided in
this Article, the Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification
under this Article upon submission of a request for indemnification together
with the Supporting Documentation in accordance with Section 9.04(b)(i), and
thereafter the corporation shall have the burden of proof to overcome that
presumption in reaching a contrary determination. In any event, if
the person or persons empowered under Section 9.04(b) to determine entitlement
to indemnification shall not have been appointed or shall not have made a
determination within 60 days after receipt by the corporation of the request
therefore together with the Supporting Documentation, the Indemnitee shall be
deemed to be entitled to indemnification and the Indemnitee shall be entitled to
such indemnification unless (a) the Indemnitee misrepresented or failed to
disclose a material fact in making the request for indemnification or in the
Supporting Documentation or (b) such indemnification is prohibited by
law. The termination of any Proceeding described in Section 9.01, or
of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or
conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its
equivalent, shall not, of itself, adversely affect the right of the Indemnitee
to indemnification or create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not act in
good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not apposed
to the best interests of the corporation or, with respect to any criminal
Proceeding, that the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct
was unlawful.
(d) Remedies of
Indemnitee. (i) In the event that a determination is made
pursuant to Section 9.04(b) that the Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification under this Article, (a) the Indemnitee shall be entitled to seek
an adjudication of his entitlement to such indemnification either, at the
Indemnitee's sole option, in (x) an appropriate court of the State of Delaware
or any other court of competent jurisdiction or (y) an arbitration to be
conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the rules of the American
Arbitration Association; (b) any such judicial proceeding or arbitration shall
be de novo and the
Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of such adverse determination; and
(c) in any such judicial proceeding or arbitration the corporation shall have
the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification
under this Article.
(ii) If a
determination shall have been made or deemed to have been made, pursuant to
Section 9.04(b) or (c), that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the
corporation shall be obligated to pay the amounts constituting such
indemnification within five days after such determination has been made or
deemed to have been made and shall be conclusively bound by such determination
unless (a) the Indemnitee misrepresented or failed to disclose a material fact
in making the request for indemnification or in the Supporting Documentation or
(b) such indemnification is prohibited by law. In the event that (c)
advancement of expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 9.04(a) or (d)
payment of indemnification is not made within five days after a determination of
entitlement to indemnification has been made or deemed to have been made
pursuant to Section 9.04(b) or (c), the Indemnitee shall be entitled to seek
judicial enforcement of the corporation's obligation to pay to the Indemnitee
such advancement of expenses or indemnification. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the corporation may bring an action, in an appropriate court in the
State of Delaware or any other court of competent jurisdiction, contesting the
right of the Indemnitee to receive indemnification hereunder due to the
occurrence of an event described in subclause (a) or (b) of this clause (ii)(a
"disqualifying Event"); provided, however, that in any such action the
corporation shall have the burden of proving the occurrence of such
Disqualifying Event.
(iii) The
corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or
arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 9.04(d) that the procedures and
presumptions of this Article are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall
stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the corporation
is bound by all the provisions of this Article.
(iv) In
the event that the Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 9.04(d), seeks a
judicial adjudication of or an award in arbitration to enforce his rights under,
or to recover damages for breach of, this Article, the Indemnitee shall be
entitled to recover from the corporation, and shall be indemnified by the
corporation against, any expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him if the
Indemnitee prevails in such judicial adjudication or arbitration. If
it shall be determined in such judicial adjudication or arbitration that the
Indemnitee is entitled to receive part but not all of the indemnification or
advancement of expenses sought, the expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in
connection with such judicial adjudication or arbitration shall be prorated
accordingly.
(e) Definitions. For
the purposes of this Section 9.04: (i) "Change in Control" means a change in
control of the corporation of a nature that would be required to be reported in
response to Item 6(e) of Section 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the
Securities Exchange Act (or any successor provision thereto), whether
or not the corporation is then subject to such reporting requirement; provided
that, without limitation, such a change in control shall be deemed to have
occurred if (a) any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)
of the Exchange Act (or any successor provistion thereto)) is or becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act (or any
successor provision thereto)), directly or indirectly, of securities of the
corporation representing 5 percent or more of the combined voting power of the
corporation's then outstanding securities without the prior
approval
of at least two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors in office
immediately prior to such acquisition; (b) the corporation is a party to a
merger, consolidation, sale of assets or other reorganization, or a proxy
contest, as a consequence of which members of the Board of Directors in office
immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority
of the Board of Directors thereafter; or (c) during any period of two
consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted
the Board of Directors (including for this purpose any new director whose
election or nomination for election by the corporation's stockholders was
approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office
who were directors at the beginning of such period) cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors.
(ii)
"Disinterested Director" means a director of the corporation who is not or was
not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by
the Indemnitee.
(iii)
"Independent Counsel" means a law firm or a member of a law firm that neither
presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i)
the corporation or the Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party or
(ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for
indemnification under this Article. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the term "Independent Counsel" shall not include any person who, under the
applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing under the law of
the State of Delaware, would have a conflict of interest in representing either
the corporation or the Indemnitee in an action to determine the Indemnitee's
rights under this Article.
Section
9.05. Severability. If any provision or provisions
of this Article shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any
reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions of this Article (including, without limitation, all
portions of any paragraph of this Article containing any such provisions held to
be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that are not themselves invalid, illegal
or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (b)
to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article (including,
without limitation, all portions of any paragraph of this Article containing any
such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that are not
themselves invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give
effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable.
Section
9.06. Amendment. No provision of this Article shall
be amended retroactively. In no case shall any amendment of this
Article occur without thirty days' advance written notice to all
Indemnitees.
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