EXHIBIT 3.4
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AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS
OF
EPICOR SOFTWARE CORPORATION
a Delaware Corporation
As amended October 30, 2001
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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ARTICLE I OFFICES................................................................................1
Section 1. Registered Office.................................................................1
Section 2. Other Offices.....................................................................1
Section 3. Books.............................................................................1
ARTICLE II MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS..............................................................1
Section 1. Place of Meetings.................................................................1
Section 2. Annual Meetings...................................................................1
Section 3. Special Meetings..................................................................3
Section 4. Notice; Waiver of Notice..........................................................3
Section 5. Quorum; Adjournment...............................................................4
Section 6. Voting............................................................................4
Section 7. Stockholder Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting...........................4
Section 8. List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote.............................................4
Section 9. Stock Ledger......................................................................5
Section 10. Inspectors of Election............................................................5
Section 11. Organization......................................................................5
Section 12. Order of Business.................................................................5
ARTICLE III DIRECTORS............................................................................5
Section 1. Powers............................................................................5
Section 2. Number and Election of Directors..................................................6
Section 3. Vacancies.........................................................................6
Section 4. Time and Place of Meetings........................................................6
Section 5. Annual Meeting....................................................................6
Section 6. Regular Meetings..................................................................6
Section 7. Special Meetings..................................................................6
Section 8. Quorum; Vote Required for Action; Adjournment.....................................7
Section 9. Action by Written Consent.........................................................7
Section 10. Telephone Meetings................................................................7
Section 11. Committees........................................................................7
Section 12. Compensation......................................................................8
Section 13. Interested Directors..............................................................8
ARTICLE IV OFFICERS..............................................................................9
Section 1. Officers..........................................................................9
Section 2. Appointment of Officers...........................................................9
Section 3. Subordinate Officers..............................................................9
Section 4. Removal and Resignation of Officers...............................................9
Section 5. Vacancies in Offices..............................................................9
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Section 6. Chairman of the Board.............................................................9
Section 7. Vice Chairman of the Board........................................................9
Section 8. Chief Executive Officer..........................................................10
Section 9. President........................................................................10
Section 10. Vice President...................................................................10
Section 11. Secretary........................................................................10
Section 12. Chief Financial Officer..........................................................11
ARTICLE V STOCK.................................................................................11
Section 1. Form of Certificates.............................................................11
Section 2. Signatures.......................................................................11
Section 3. Lost Certificates................................................................11
Section 4. Transfers........................................................................11
Section 5. Record Holders...................................................................12
ARTICLE VI INDEMNIFICATION......................................................................12
Section 1. Right to Indemnification.........................................................12
Section 2. Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit................................................13
Section 3. Non-Exclusivity of Rights........................................................13
Section 4. Insurance........................................................................13
Section 5. Indemnification of Employees or Agents of the Corporation........................13
Section 6. Indemnification Contracts........................................................13
Section 7. Effect of Amendment..............................................................14
ARTICLE VII GENERAL PROVISIONS..................................................................14
Section 1. Dividends........................................................................14
Section 2. Disbursements....................................................................14
Section 3. Fiscal Year......................................................................14
Section 4. Corporate Seal...................................................................14
Section 5. Record Date......................................................................14
Section 6. Voting of Stock Owned by the Corporation.........................................14
Section 7. Construction and Definitions.....................................................15
Section 8. Amendments.......................................................................15
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ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. Registered Office. The registered office of the Corporation
in the State of Delaware shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New
Castle.
Section 2. Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such
other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of
Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may
require.
Section 3. Books. The books of the Corporation may be kept within or
without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time
determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Place of Meetings. All meetings of stockholders for the
election of directors shall be held at such place either within or without the
State of Delaware as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors,
or at such other place either within or without the State of Delaware as shall
be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the
notice of the meeting. Meetings of stockholders for any other purpose may be
held at such time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall
be stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice
thereof.
Section 2. Annual Meetings.
(a) Annual meetings of stockholders shall be held at a time and
date designated by the Board of Directors for the purpose of electing directors
and transacting such other business as may properly be brought before the
meeting.
(b) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business
shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be
properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be: (i) specified in
the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction
of the board of directors, (ii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by
or at the direction of the board of directors, or (iii) otherwise properly
brought before the meeting by a stockholder of record at the time of giving
notice provided for in these Bylaws, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and
who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2. For
business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the
stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of
the corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's notice must be delivered to or
mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the corporation (A)
not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day
nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day
prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year's meeting, or (B) not less
than the later of the close of business on the forty-fifth (45th) day nor
earlier than the close of business on the seventy-fifth (75th) day prior to the
first anniversary of the date on which the corporation first sent or gave its
proxy statement to stockholders for the preceding year's annual meeting,
whichever period described in clause (A) or (B) of this sentence first occurs;
provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the
previous year or the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days
before or more than sixty (60) days after the anniversary date of the previous
year's meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not
earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day
prior to such meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of
(x) the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such meeting and (y) the tenth (10) day
following the date on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is
first made. For purposes of this Section 2, a "public announcement" shall mean
disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Xxxxx News Service, Associated
Press or a comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by
the corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In no event shall
the public announcement of an adjournment of a stockholders' meeting commence a
new time period for the giving of a stockholder's notice as described above. A
stockholder's notice to the secretary shall set forth as to each matter the
stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting: (1) a brief description
of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons
for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (2 ) the name and address,
as they appear on the corporation's books, of the stockholder proposing such
business, (3) the class and number of shares of the corporation which are
beneficially owned by the stockholder, (4) any material interest of the
stockholder in such business, and (5) any other information that is required to
be provided by the stockholder pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), in his capacity as a
proponent to a stockholder proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in order to
include information with respect to a stockholder proposal in the proxy
statement and form of proxy for a stockholders' meeting, stockholders must
provide notice as required by the regulations promulgated under the 1934 Act. In
addition, with respect to a stockholder proposal, if the stockholder has
provided the corporation a notice as described above, the stockholder must have
delivered a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of a sufficient number
of shares to carry such proposal in order for such proposal to be properly
presented. Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business
shall be conducted at any annual meeting except in accordance with the
procedures set forth in this paragraph (b). The chairman of the annual meeting
shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare at the meeting that business
was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of
this paragraph (b), and, if he should so determine, he shall so declare at the
meeting that any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not
be transacted.
(c) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the
procedures set forth in this paragraph (c) shall be eligible for election as
directors. Nominations of persons for election to the board of directors of the
corporation may be made at a meeting of stockholders by or at the direction of
the board of directors, or by any stockholder who is a stockholder of record of
the corporation at the time of the giving of notice prescribed by these Bylaws,
who is entitled to vote in the election of directors at the meeting, and who
complies with the notice procedures set forth in this
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paragraph (c). Such nominations, other than those made by or at the direction of
the board of directors, shall be made in writing to the secretary of the
corporation in accordance with the requirements for timely notice set forth in
paragraph (b) of this Section 2. Such stockholder's notice shall set forth (i)
as to each person, if any, whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for
election or re-election as a director: (A) the name, age, business address and
residence address of such person, (B) the principal occupation or employment of
such person, (C) the class and number of shares of the corporation which are
beneficially owned by such person, (D) a description of all arrangements or
understandings between the stockholder and each nominee and any other person or
persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nominations are to
be made by the stockholder, and (E) any other information relating to such
person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for
elections of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to
Regulation 14A under the 1934 Act (including without limitation such person's
written consent to being named in the proxy statement, if any, as a nominee and
to serving as a director if elected); (ii) as to such stockholder giving notice,
the information required to be provided pursuant to paragraph (b) of this
Section 2; and (iii) a written statement executed by such nominee acknowledging
that, as a director of such corporation, such person will owe a fiduciary duty,
under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, exclusively to the
corporation and its stockholders. In addition, if the stockholder has provided
the corporation a notice as described above, the stockholder must have delivered
a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of a sufficient number of shares
to elect such nominee in order for the proposal to be properly nominated. At the
request of the board of directors, any person nominated by a stockholder for
election as a director shall furnish to the secretary of the corporation that
information required to be set forth in the stockholder's notice of nomination
which pertains to the nominee. No person shall be eligible for election as a
director of the corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures
set forth in this paragraph (c). The chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts
warrants, determine and declare at the meeting that a nomination was not made in
accordance with the procedures prescribed by these Bylaws, and if he should so
determine, he shall so declare at the meeting, and the defective nomination
shall be disregarded.
Section 3. Special Meetings. A special meeting of the stockholders may
be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board, if any, the President or the
Board of Directors, but such special meeting may not be called by any other
person or persons. In the case of a special meeting of stockholders called by
the Board of Directors, such meeting shall be called by the Secretary, or in the
case of the death, absence, incapacity or refusal of the Secretary, by an
Assistant Secretary or some other officer, upon application of a majority of the
Directors. Any such application shall state the purpose or purposes of the
proposed meeting. Any such call shall state the place, date, hour and purposes
of the meeting. Only such business shall be considered at a special meeting of
stockholders as shall have been stated in the notice for such meeting.
Section 4. Notice; Waiver of Notice. Whenever stockholders are required
or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting
shall be given which shall state the place, date and hour 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 law, 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
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record entitled to vote at such meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed
to be given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the
stockholder at his address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. A
written waiver of any such notice signed by the person entitled thereto, 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 the meeting for the express purpose of
objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business
because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
Section 5. Quorum; Adjournment. Except as otherwise required by law, or
provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the holders of a
majority of the capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote
thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business at all meetings of the stockholders. A meeting
at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business,
notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum, if
any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum to
conduct that meeting. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or
represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders entitled to
vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to
adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at
the meeting of the time and place of the adjourned meeting, until a quorum shall
be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be
present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been
transacted at the meeting as originally noticed. If the adjournment is for more
than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed
for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to
each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting.
Section 6. Voting. Except as otherwise required by law, or provided by
the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any question brought before
any meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present shall be decided by the
vote of the holders of a majority of the stock represented and entitled to vote
thereat. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, each
stockholder represented at a meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to cast
one vote for each share of the capital stock entitled to vote thereat held by
such stockholder. Such votes may be cast in person or by proxy, but no proxy
shall be voted on or after three (3) years from its date, unless such proxy
provides for a longer period. Elections of directors need not be by ballot
unless the Chairman of the meeting so directs or unless a stockholder demands
election by ballot at the meeting and before the voting begins.
Section 7. Stockholder Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting.
Common stockholders of the Corporation may not take any action by written
consent in lieu of a meeting. Any action contemplated by common stockholders
must be taken at a duly called annual or special meeting.
Section 8. List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The officer who has
charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least
ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the
stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order,
and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered
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in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of
any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary
business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting,
either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place
shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not 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 of the Corporation who is present.
Section 9. Stock Ledger. The stock ledger of the Corporation shall be
the only evidence as to the identity of the stockholders who are entitled to
examine the stock ledger, the list required by Section 8 of this Article II or
the books of the Corporation, or who are entitled to vote in person or by proxy
at any meeting of stockholders.
Section 10. Inspectors of Election. In advance of any meeting of
stockholders, the Board of Directors may appoint one or more persons (who shall
not be candidates for office) as inspectors of election to act at the meeting or
any adjournment thereof. If an inspector or inspectors are not so appointed, or
if an appointed inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act at a
meeting, the Chairman of any meeting of stockholders may, and on the request of
any stockholder or his proxy shall, appoint an inspector or inspectors of
election at the meeting. The duties of such inspector(s) shall include:
determining the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each; the
shares represented at the meeting; the existence of a quorum; the authenticity,
validity and effect of proxies; receiving votes, ballots or consents; hearing
and determining all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection
with the right to vote; counting and tabulating all votes or consents;
determining the result; and such acts as may be proper to conduct the election
or vote with fairness to all stockholders. In the event of any dispute between
or among the inspectors, the determination of the majority of the inspectors
shall be binding.
Section 11. Organization. At each meeting of stockholders, the Chairman
of the Board of Directors, if one shall have been elected, (or in his absence or
if one shall not have been elected, the President) shall act as Chairman of the
meeting. The Secretary (or in his absence or inability to act, the person whom
the Chairman of the meeting shall appoint secretary of the meeting) shall act as
secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof.
Section 12. Order of Business. The order and manner of transacting
business at all meetings of stockholders shall be determined by the Chairman of
the meeting.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 1. Powers. Except as otherwise required by law or provided by
the Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation
shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.
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Section 2. Number and Election of Directors. Subject to any limitations
in the Certificate of Incorporation, the authorized number of directors of the
Corporation shall be not less than four (4) nor more than seven (7). The exact
number of Directors within these limits shall be fixed from time to time by
resolution of the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The number of Directors
shall be so variable until changed by an amendment to this Section 2 of Article
III of these Bylaws adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire
Board of Directors or by the stockholders at the annual meeting. The number of
Directors presently authorized is four (4). Directors shall be elected at each
annual meeting of stockholders to replace directors whose terms then expire, and
each director elected shall hold office until his successor is duly elected and
qualified, or until his earlier death, resignation or removal. Any director may
resign at any time effective upon giving written notice to the Corporation,
unless the notice specifies a later time for such resignation to become
effective. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such
resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. If the resignation of a
director is effective at a future time, the Board of Directors may elect a
successor prior to such effective time to take office when such resignation
becomes effective. Directors need not be stockholders.
Section 3. Vacancies. Subject to the limitations in the Certificate of
Incorporation, vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death,
resignation, removal or otherwise and newly created directorships resulting from
any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by a majority
of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole
remaining director. Each director so selected shall hold office for the
remainder of the full term of office of the former director which such director
replaces and until his successor is duly elected and qualified, or until his
earlier death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the authorized number of
directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any
incumbent directors.
Section 4. Time and Place of Meetings. The Board of Directors shall hold
its meetings at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and
at such time, as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors shall meet for the
purpose of organization, the election of officers and the transaction of other
business, as soon as practicable after each annual meeting of stockholders, on
the same day and at the same place where such annual meeting shall be held.
Notice of such meeting need not be given. In the event such annual meeting is
not so held, the annual meeting of the Board of Directors may be held at such
place, either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date, and at such
time, as shall be specified in a notice thereof given as hereinafter provided in
Section 7 of this Article III or in a waiver of notice thereof.
Section 6. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors
may be held at such places within or without the State of Delaware, at such date
and time, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine and, if so
determined by the Board of Directors, notices thereof need not be given.
Section 7. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors
may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Secretary or by
any director. Notice of the date, time and place of special meetings shall be
delivered personally or by telephone to each director or
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sent by first-class mail or by facsimile, charges prepaid, addressed to each
director at the director's address or facsimile transmission number, as the case
may be, as is shown on the records of the Corporation. In case the notice is
mailed, it shall be deposited in the United States mail at least four (4) days
before the time of the holding of the meeting. In case the notice is delivered
personally or by telephone or facsimile, it shall be delivered personally or by
telephone or by facsimile at least forty-eight (48) hours before the time of the
holding of the meeting. The notice need not specify the purpose of the meeting.
A written waiver of any such notice signed by the person entitled thereto,
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 the meeting for the express
purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any
business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
Section 8. Quorum; Vote Required for Action; Adjournment. Except as
otherwise required by law, or provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or
these Bylaws, a majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business at all meetings of the Board of Directors and the
affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the directors present at any
meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the
directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting, from time to time, without
notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact
business, notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is
approved by at least a majority of the required quorum to conduct that meeting.
When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place (whether or not a quorum is
present), notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and
place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At
the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors may transact any business which
might have been transacted at the original meeting.
Section 9. Action by Written Consent. Unless otherwise restricted by the
Certificate of Incorporation, 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 the members of the Board of Directors or committee, as
the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are
filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.
Section 10. Telephone Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by the
Certificate of Incorporation, members of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may
participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the
case may be, by conference telephone or similar communications equipment by
means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other.
Participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 10 shall constitute presence
in person at such meeting.
Section 11. Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed
unanimously by the entire Board, 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 such committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at
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any meeting of the committee. In the event of the absence or disqualification of
a member of a committee, and in the absence of a designation by the Board of
Directors of an alternate member to replace the absent or disqualified member,
the committee member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from
voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint
another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of
the absent or disqualified member. Any committee, to the extent allowed by law
and as provided in the resolution establishing such committee, shall have and
may exercise all the power and authority of the Board of Directors in the
management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, but no such committee
shall have the power or authority in reference to amending the Certificate of
Incorporation, adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, 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 or the Certificate of
Incorporation expressly so provides, no such committee shall have the power or
authority to declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of stock. Each
committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report to the Board of
Directors when required.
Section 12. Compensation. The directors may be paid such compensation
for their services as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine.
Section 13. Interested Directors. 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 in which one or more of its directors or officers 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 the committee thereof which authorizes the contract or
transaction, or solely because his or their votes are counted for such purpose
if: (i) the material facts as to his 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; or (ii) the material facts as to his 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. Common or 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.
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ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. Officers. The officers of the Corporation shall be a
President, a Secretary and a Chief Financial Officer. The Corporation may also
have, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, a Chairman of the Board, a
Vice Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, one or more Vice
Presidents, one or more Assistant Financial Officers and Treasurers, one or more
Assistant Secretaries and such other officers as may be appointed in accordance
with the provisions of Section 3 of this Article IV.
Section 2. Appointment of Officers. The officers of the Corporation,
except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of
Section 3 or Section 5 of this Article IV, shall be appointed by the Board of
Directors, and each shall serve at the pleasure of the Board, subject to the
rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment.
Section 3. Subordinate Officers. The Board of Directors may appoint, and
may empower the Chief Executive Officer or President to appoint, such other
officers as the business of the Corporation may require, each of whom shall hold
office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as are
provided in the Bylaws or as the Board of Directors may from time to time
determine.
Section 4. Removal and Resignation of Officers. Subject to the rights of
an officer under any contract, any officer may be removed at any time, with or
without cause, by the Board of Directors or, except in case of an officer chosen
by the Board of Directors, by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be
conferred by the Board of Directors.
Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the
Corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of
that notice or at any later time specified in that notice; and, unless otherwise
specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be
necessary to make it effective. Any resignation shall be without prejudice to
the rights of the Corporation under any contract to which the officer is a
party.
Section 5. Vacancies in Offices. A vacancy in any office because of
death, resignation, removal, disqualification or any other cause shall be filled
in the manner prescribed in these Bylaws for regular appointments to that
office.
Section 6. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board, if such an
officer is elected, shall, if present, preside at meetings of the stockholders
and of the Board of Directors. He shall, in addition, perform such other
functions (if any) as may be prescribed by the Bylaws or the Board of Directors.
Section 7. Vice Chairman of the Board. The Vice Chairman of the Board,
if such an officer is elected, shall, in the absence or disability of the
Chairman of the Board, perform all duties of the Chairman of the Board and when
so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all of
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the restrictions upon the Chairman of the Board. The Vice Chairman of the Board
shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of
Directors or the Bylaws.
Section 8. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have
general supervision, direction and control of the business and the officers of
the Corporation. He shall exercise the duties usually vested in the chief
executive officer of a corporation and perform such other powers and duties as
may be assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Directors or prescribed
by the Bylaws. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board and any Vice Chairman
of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the
stockholders and of the Board of Directors.
Section 9. President. The President of the Corporation shall, subject to
the control of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation, if there be such an officer, have general powers and duties of
management usually vested in the office of president of a corporation and shall
have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors
or the Bylaws or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. In the absence
of the Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer, the President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors
and stockholders.
Section 10. Vice President. In the absence or disability of the
President, the Vice Presidents, if any, in order of their rank as fixed by the
Board of Directors or, if not ranked, a Vice President designated by the Board
of Directors, shall perform all the duties of the President, and when so acting
shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions upon, the
President. The Vice Presidents shall have such other powers and perform such
other duties as from time to time may be prescribed for them respectively by the
Board of Directors or the Bylaws, and the President, or the Chairman of the
Board.
Section 11. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, at
the principal executive office or such other place as the Board of Directors may
direct, a book of minutes of all meetings and actions of Directors, committees
of Directors, and stockholders, with the time and place of holding, whether
regular or special, and, if special, how authorized, the notice given, the names
of those present at Directors' meetings or committee meetings, the number of
shares present or represented at stockholders' meetings, and a summary of the
proceedings.
The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal
executive office or at the office of the Corporation's transfer agent or
registrar, as determined by resolution of the Board of Directors, a share
register, or a duplicate share register, showing the names of all stockholders
and their addresses, the number and classes of shares held by each, the number
and date of certificates issued for the same, and the number and date of
cancellation of every certificate surrendered for cancellation.
The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings
of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors required by the Bylaws or
required by law to be given, and he shall keep or cause to be kept the seal of
the Corporation if one be adopted, in safe custody, and shall have such
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powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of
Directors or by the Bylaws.
Section 12. Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall
keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct
books and records of accounts of the properties and business transactions of the
Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall deposit all moneys and other
valuables in the name and to the credit of the Corporation with such
depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. He shall make such
disbursements of the funds of the Corporation as are authorized and shall render
from time to time an account of all of his transactions as Chief Financial
Officer and of the financial condition of the Corporation. The Chief Financial
Officer shall also have such other powers and perform such other duties as may
be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Bylaws.
ARTICLE V
STOCK
Section 1. Form of Certificates. Every holder of stock in the
Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name
of, the Corporation (i) by the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board of
Directors, or the President or a Vice President and (ii) by the Chief Financial
Officer or 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.
Section 2. Signatures. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate
may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has
signed, or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon, a certificate shall
have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such
certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect
as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
Section 3. Lost Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new
certificate in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation,
alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit
of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost, stolen or
destroyed. The Corporation may, in the discretion of the Board of Directors and
as a condition precedent to the issuance of such new certificate, require the
owner of such lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate, or his legal
representative, to give the Corporation a bond (or other security) sufficient to
indemnify it against any claim that may be made against the Corporation
(including any expense or liability) on account of the alleged loss, theft or
destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.
Section 4. Transfers. Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in
the manner prescribed by law and in these Bylaws or in any agreement with the
stockholder making the transfer. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books
of the Corporation only by the person named in the certificate or by his
attorney lawfully constituted in writing and upon the surrender of the
certificate therefor, which shall be cancelled before a new certificate shall be
issued.
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Section 5. Record Holders. The Corporation shall be entitled to
recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the record
holder of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such record holder, and to
hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the
record holder of shares, 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 required by law.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. Right to Indemnification. Each person who was, or is, made a
party, or who is threatened to be made a party to, or is otherwise involved in,
any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (hereinafter a "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he or she
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 or of
a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with
respect to employee benefit plans (hereinafter an "indemnitee"), whether the
basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director
or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer,
shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent
authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may
hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent
that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification
rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such
amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys' fees,
judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in
settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection
therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has
ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the
indemnitee's heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that,
except as provided in Section 2 of this Article VI with respect to proceedings
to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such
indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such
indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board
of Directors of the Corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this
Section shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the
Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of
its final disposition (hereinafter an "advancement of expenses"); provided,
however, that, if the Delaware General Corporation Law requires, an advancement
of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or
officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by
such indemnitee, including without limitation, service to an employee benefit
plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by
or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall
ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no
further right to appeal that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified
for such expenses under this Article VI or otherwise (hereinafter an
"undertaking").
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Section 2. Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. If a claim under Section 1
of this Article VI is not paid in full by the Corporation within forty-five (45)
days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, the indemnitee
may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the
unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or part in any such suit or
in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses
pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be
paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit
brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but
not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of
expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit by the Corporation to
recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the
Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication
that, the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in
the Delaware General Corporation Law. Neither the failure of the Corporation
(including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its
stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such
suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances
because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in
the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the
Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its
stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of
conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the
applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by
indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to
enforce a right hereunder, or by the Corporation to recover an advancement of
expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the
indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified or to such advancement of expenses
under this Article VI or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.
Section 3. Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights of indemnification and
to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article VI shall not be
exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire
under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, bylaw,
agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
Section 4. Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its
expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the
Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense,
liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Section 5. Indemnification of Employees or Agents of the Corporation.
The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of
Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses,
to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the
provisions of this Article VI with respect to the indemnification and
advancement of expenses of directors or officers of the Corporation.
Section 6. Indemnification Contracts. The Board of Directors is
authorized to enter into a contract with any director, officer, employee or
agent of the Corporation, or any person serving at
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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 for indemnification rights
equivalent to or, if the Board of Directors so determinates, greater than, those
provided for in this Article VI.
Section 7. Effect of Amendment. Any amendment, repeal or modification of
any provision of this Article VI by the stockholders or the directors of the
Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director or
officer of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or
modification.
ARTICLE VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Dividends. Subject to limitations contained in the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the Certificate of Incorporation,
the Board of Directors may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of capital
stock of the Corporation, which dividends may be paid either in cash, securities
of the Corporation or other property.
Section 2. Disbursements. All checks or demands for money and notes of
the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person
or persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.
Section 3. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be
fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Corporate Seal. The Corporation shall have a corporate seal
in such form as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Record Date. 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 be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days
before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any
other action. 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. Stockholders on the record date are entitled to
notice and to vote or to receive the dividend, distribution or allotment of
rights or to exercise the rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any
transfer of any shares on the books of the Corporation after the record date,
except as otherwise provided by agreement or by applicable law.
Section 6. Voting of Stock Owned by the Corporation. The Chairman of the
Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President and any other officer of the
Corporation authorized by the
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Board of Directors shall have power, on behalf of the Corporation, to attend,
vote and grant proxies to be used at any meeting of stockholders of any
corporation (except this Corporation) in which the Corporation may hold stock.
Section 7. Construction and Definitions. Unless the context requires
otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction and definitions in the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware shall govern the construction
of these Bylaws.
Section 8. Amendments. Subject to the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws, the Board
of Directors may by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of
Directors amend or repeal these Bylaws, or adopt other Bylaws as in their
judgment may be advisable for the regulation of the conduct of the affairs of
the Corporation. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of
Incorporation, these Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, and new Bylaws
may be adopted, at any annual meeting of the stockholders (or at any special
meeting thereof duly called for that purpose) by a majority of the combined
voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of all classes and
series of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors, voting as a single class, provided that, in the notice of any such
special meeting, notice of such purpose shall be given.
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